An analog switch is an IC that can be used to control connections to analog and digital signals. These switches provide bidirectional connections when “on” and high impedance paths when “off.” There’s a wide range of analog switches for special functions. In some instances, they are used in place of mechanical switches. In other embodiments, […]
FAQ
Why should you be using rigid-flex PCBs rather than flex PCBs in your next project?
by Ken Ghadia, Sales Engineer, TechnoTronix Rigid-flex or rigid-flexible PCBs are the preferred interconnection circuits in today’s electronics. They have simplified the PCB assembly with superior mechanical stability and electrical reliability features. The driving factors for their popularity are reduced product weight, compact packaging, and quick assembly. Rigid-flex PCBs were designed primarily for critical interconnections in […]
Minimizing electrical noise to improve medical-ultrasound images, Part 2
Low-noise circuitry is critical to image quality of medical ultrasound; an indispensable diagnostic tool. Despite the conceptual simplicity of the underlying principle, a complete, high-end ultrasound imaging system is a complicated device (Figure 1). The ultimate performance of the system is largely determined by the transducer and analog front end (AFE), while post-processing of the […]
Minimizing electrical noise to improve medical-ultrasound images, Part 1
Low-noise circuitry is critical to the image quality of medical ultrasound, an indispensable diagnostic tool. Ultrasound technology, a widely used non-invasive tool in medical diagnostics and other applications, has shifted from static to dynamic images and from black-and-white to color Doppler images. These important enhancements are largely due to the introduction of digital ultrasound technology […]
How cloud PCB manufacturing is unlocking new doors for the PCB industry
By Suresh Patel, Sales Engineer, Mer-Mar Electronics Cloud manufacturing is an AI-based, advanced manufacturing approach that streamlines different production processes, integrates stand-alone functions, and automates all manual tasks through remote-hosted software. It is also known as digital manufacturing or Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS). This model aims at continual improvement of the manufacturing process with […]
What causes signal attenuation in a PCB and how can it be controlled?
Except for the most basic designs, system clock rates are inexorably creeping upward across a wide range of applications, from 5G telephony to automotive advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), medical, industrial, and mil/aero systems. As frequencies rise into the GHz range, the need for impedance control to minimize signal attenuation and protect signal integrity gets […]
When to filter, attenuate, and equalize signals
Signal chain management is important in various applications like medical imaging, 5G communications, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and a range of consumer, industrial, and military devices. Filters, attenuators, and equalizers are some of the tools designers have available to optimize signal chain operation. This FAQ begins by looking briefly at the definition of decibels […]
Optical attenuators and loopbacks, what’s the difference?
Fiber optic attenuators (optical attenuators) are used to reduce or control the energy of optical signals. They are used in optical communications systems to protect sensitive receivers or to modulate signals and for engineering evaluation, testing, and system validation. This FAQ reviews the basic operation of optical attenuators, looks at practical applications for optical attenuators, […]
Why use attenuators in quantum computers?
Quantum computers are cryogenically cooled because their quantum bits (qubits) are extremely delicate and sensitive to disruptions from even minute amounts of thermal noise, such as Johnson-Nyquist (J-N) noise. J-N noise is generated by the thermal agitation of electrons, regardless of any applied voltage, when the conductor is at equilibrium. Even small amounts of J-N […]
What kinds of attenuators are there?
Attenuators are often defined as electronic devices that reduce the power of a signal without introducing significant distortion. While that’s not incorrect, it’s also not complete. For example, optical attenuators can be based on fixed or variable neutral density (ND) filters and are largely mechanical constructions. This FAQ considers basic types of electronic attenuators. Other […]
