It is now trivial and non-invasive to measure blood-oxygen saturation SpO2, thanks to LEDs, algorithms, and ICs for pulse oximetry — and it’s a very long way from having to draw blood and send it out for assessment. Just a few decades ago, determining the vital medical parameter known as blood oxygen level — formally […]
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Isolated amplifier enables more accurate measurements of ±10-V signals
Texas Instruments introduced a new reinforced isolated amplifier that features the industry’s highest precision and working voltages, and longest lifetime reliability. With exceptional performance that includes better nonlinearity, lower offset and gain error, and higher temperature stability, the ISO224 allows engineers to overcome performance limitations and design high-precision systems. The new amplifier is designed for […]
Why use an e-fuse? Part 1
The electronic fuse is a powerful and versatile tool in the designer’s kit, but building one requires careful selection of the core amplifier; IC embodiments solve the problem. The traditional thermal-based fuse, Figure 1, is a low-cost, widely used, well-understood, highly reliable, easy-to-apply circuit- protection component. It is available in a wide range of ratings, […]
20 mA current loops, Part 2: Advanced features
Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the basics of the 20-mA current loop, why it is still used extensively, and its primary attributes. In this part, we’ll look at how the analog current loop is used for digitized signals and at self-powered loops – two developments which have extended its life and viability. Q: […]
20-mA current loops, Part 1: Basic functions
You’ve been given an “easy” assignment: get the low-rate data from a temperature sensor to a control computer located 100 feet (30 m) away, in an industrial setting. After much investigation and assessment, you choose a widely used standard called the 20-mA loop, which has been in use for over 50 years, rather than Wi-Fi, […]
Electrical noise, Part 2: Additional perspectives
In Part 1, we looked at some facets of noise: sources, external versus internal (intrinsic) noise, and equations. Part 2 goes further into noise specifics. Q: What are some of the types of noise? A: It’s a long list. The same noise may have different names depending on the perspective of the person describing it, […]
Electrical noise, Part 1: Introductory concepts
Electrical noise is a consideration that engineers think, talk, worry, sometimes obsess about, and deal with nearly all the time, with few exceptions. In many applications, it is the limiting factor on ultimate achievable system performance. If it were not for the existence of noise, many design situations would be far, far easier. Noise is […]
Active noise cancellation, Part 2: Implementation
Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the basic concept of active noise cancellation, how it might be implemented in principle using analog circuitry, and the harsh reality of actually providing the ANC function. Part 2 looks at modern ANC systems and how they function, as well as their practical issues. Q: Is ANC using […]
Analog Top Talks in April on EDABoard.com forums
Peer-to-peer, engineer-to-engineer questions and answers from the EDABoard.com engineering community around analog ICs and analog design. Click the “Read more” link and follow the entire conversation and maybe add your two cents by logging in to EDAboard.com. Bode plot DC gain not showing in boost converter transfer function – I have designed a boost converter with […]
Op amps, comparators said to be smallest ever
Texas Instruments introduced the industry’s smallest operational amplifier and low-power comparators at 0.64 mm2. As the first amplifiers in the compact X2SON package, the TLV9061 op amp and TLV7011 family of comparators enable engineers to reduce their system size and cost, while maintaining high performance in a variety of Internet of Things (IoT), personal electronics […]
