Broadcast FM radio has extended its user-friendly capabilities through the addition of embedded, backward-compatible functionality which adds text and even graphics to the radio display. This part looks at other radio-receiver upgrades that preceded RDS. Q: Is this the first time that FM radio has been “upgraded”? A: No, not at all. In the 1970s, […]
FAQ
The Radio Data System: FM radio adds features to stay viable, part 1
Broadcast FM radio has extended its user-friendly capabilities through the addition of embedded, backward-compatible functionality which adds text and even graphics to the radio display. From the late 1920s and for decades afterward, AM-based broadcast radio was the primary real-time mass media in the US and the world. In the AM band (550 kHz to […]
FAQ on fractal antennas, Part 1
Antennas based on fractal mathematics offer some significant advantages but also some controversy. Although all antenna designs are derived from either the basic dipole or monopole/ground-plane configurations, there are almost countless antenna variations in use (Figure 1). Each one offers a different combination of key attributes such as center frequency, bandwidth, bandwidth, side lobes, front-to-back […]
When to buffer and when to drive signals
Buffers and drivers both provide impedance transformation between the input and output. The differences begin to appear when looking at the common types of buffers and drivers, for example, voltage and current buffers, clock buffers, line drivers, and gate drivers. Basic buffers and drivers have one input and one output, but there are others that […]
How to specify and use analog switches
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, […]
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 […]