A new data converter platform is now available, offering 10-, 12-, 14-, and 16-bit resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with sample rates ranging from 20 to 250 megasamples per second (Msps). The devices are part of a scalable architecture that allows factory configuration to meet various application needs in industrial and communication systems. The architecture enables […]
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How does a basic digital-to-analog converter (DAC) perform signal conversion?
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) transforms digital binary data into an analog signal using weighted contributions from each bit. In this FAQ, we discuss the two most commonly known ways of DAC conversion: weighted resistor DAC and R-2R ladder DAC. Before getting into the conversion types, let us understand the basic steps involved in a DAC […]
How op amps work and why you should use them: part 1
Operational amplifiers (op amps) may initially look intimidating, but with a bit of study, they can be easily understood and used in a variety of applications. Op amps can be thought of as a perfect amplifier in a black box. When we create a design using an op amp, we initially presume that the device […]
Temperature variable attenuators deliver stable performance from -55 to +125 °C
International Manufacturing Services, Inc. (IMS) is now producing Temperature Variable Attenuators (TVAs) for a wide range of applications to 20 GHz and beyond. Its new AV-0607-C TVAs are ideal for RF power amplifiers (PAs), broadcast equipment, and multiband communications systems. With their low-noise, thin-film construction, the TVAs exhibit decreasing attenuation with increasing temperature to help […]
Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 1
Analog-to-digital converters are the heart of most test equipment, setting the stage for the digital processing of analog signals. Several posts over the past year or so have involved digital signal processing. For example, we have covered the fast Fourier transform (FFT), the inverse FFT, and discrete convolution. To perform these operations on real-world signals, […]
Amplifier delivers 0.15% gain accuracy with 2.1 MHz bandwidth
STMicroelectronics’ TSC1801 low-side current-measurement amplifier integrates matched resistors to set the gain, which simplifies the circuit design, saves bill-of-materials costs, and ensures gain accuracy within 0.15% over the entire temperature range. The fixed gain also eliminates production trimming of external resistors. Combining very high accuracy and wide bandwidth, the TSC1801 is used for motor control, […]
Design a circuit for ultra-low power sensor applications
Sensors monitoring mechanical and biological systems must often scavenge power from the thing being sensed. The oscillator circuits shown here let you operate those sensors. Sensor circuits that connect to thermocouples, electromagnetic mechanical-to-electrical transducers, and piezoelectric mechanical-to-electrical transducers often use oscillators powered through energy harvesting from solar cells and other sources. These power sources can […]
9 mm square module achieves -100 dBm receive sensitivity
Insight SIP is launching the ISP2554-HM module. This module represents a dynamic IOT node, with support for Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, and Zigbee radios and high-performance computing including an ability to run AI at the Edge. It can thus form the core of a complex IOT device with an unparalleled mixture of features, performance, and […]
Do I need an analog switch or multiplexer?
If an application calls for a device with multiple inputs and a single output, it needs a multiplexer. A switch can be used if the need is for one input per output. Analog switches and multiplexers are used in a wide array of systems, including industrial, medical, military/aerospace, consumer, 5G infrastructure, and more. This article […]
Infrared preamps improve sensitivity and better reject interference
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. announced that it has upgraded its VSOP383xx series of preamplifier circuits for infrared (IR) remote control applications in consumer products with the new Cyllene 2 IC. Offered in the 2 mm by 2 mm by 0.76 mm QFN package, the enhanced solutions provide drop-in, plug-and-play replacements for existing devices in the series […]
