Innovation is critical in today’s engineering world and it demands technical knowledge and the highest level of creativity. Seeing compact articles that solve design problems or display innovative ways to accomplish design tasks can help to fuel your electronics creativity.
You can find many very circuit ideas at ePanorama.net circuits page.
In addition to this links to interesting electronics design related articles worth to check out can be posted to the comments section.
1,784 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
This simple #circuit turns the #generator on only when a load demands #power #DesignIdeas #DIWednesday https://buff.ly/2rktUGF
Load detector controls power sources
https://www.edn.com/design/analog/4359102/Load-detector-controls-power-sources?utm_content=buffer51378&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Tomi Engdahl says:
What’s the maximum idle time for capacitors?
https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/living-analog/4462407/What-s-the-maximum-idle-time-for-capacitors-
Aluminum electrolytic capacitors would be absolutely necessary and such components could not be guaranteed to still be serviceable after seven years of disuse.
I read somewhere that two years of disuse is pretty much the maximum idle time for modern day electrolytic capacitors, but in my personal opinion, I would lean toward even shorter time frames for those parts being purchased, installed, and energized.
If you ever happen to come across some geriatric aluminum electrolytic capacitors that have been sitting idle in a cabinet somewhere for a very long time, chances are those capacitors will have degraded pretty badly. However, you might be able to achieve capacitor resurrection along the lines of “aluminum electrolytic reclamation.”
https://licn.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/12/aluminum-electrolytic-reclamation-john-dunn-consultant-ambertec-pe-pc.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2019/11/crowbar-circuit.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2019/11/simple-overvoltage-protection-circuit-using-zener-diode.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Overcoming #design obstacles in #video doorbells #sensors #audio #power https://buff.ly/2CIqqjM
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.jlmelectrical.co.uk/i-p-ratings-explained/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Successful PCB grounding with mixed-signal chips – Part 1: Principles of current flow
https://www.edn.com/design/analog/4394761/Successful-PCB-grounding-with-mixed-signal-chips—Part-1–Principles-of-current-flow
Tomi Engdahl says:
Space-grade CPUs: How do you send more computing power into space?
Figuring out radiation was a huge “turning point in the history of space electronics.”
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/11/space-grade-cpus-how-do-you-send-more-computing-power-into-space/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/capacitive-multi-touch-sensor-prototyping-techniques-015c0281d14e
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.hackster.io/news/electroluminescent-temporary-tattoos-bring-us-one-step-closer-to-becoming-cyborgs-22dcb0dc0e98
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/design/analog/4462406/Polarity-correcting-circuit-protects-battery-powered-devices
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/design/test-and-measurement/4407078/Understanding-grounding–shielding–and-guarding-in-high-impedance-applications
Tomi Engdahl says:
Load detector controls power sources
https://www.edn.com/design/analog/4359102/Load-detector-controls-power-sources
Tomi Engdahl says:
Researchers Have Created a Self-Healing User Interface
This project fuses flexible and conductive materials together automatically.
https://www.hackster.io/news/researchers-have-created-a-self-healing-user-interface-8dad0fd6433b
Tomi Engdahl says:
NEEDLING YOUR PROJECTS: 3D PRINTED PCB PROBING JIG USES ACCUPUNCTURE NEEDLES
https://hackaday.com/2019/11/15/needling-your-projects-3d-printed-pcb-probing-jig-uses-accupuncture-needles/
Trying to probe a modern electronic circuit with tiny SMD components, without letting the magic smoke escape in the process, can be quite a challenge. Especially since we hackers have not yet developed the number of appendages required to hold 3 different probes in place while operating both an oscilloscope and a computer. [Giuseppe Finizia] solved this problem with a 3D printed PCB probing jig that uses acupuncture needles.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3615910
Tomi Engdahl says:
Small, lower power temperature sensors: A cooling trend
https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/bakers-best/4462465/Small–lower-power-temperature-sensors–A-cooling-trend
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/living-analog/4462469/Reduce-switching-errors-in-a-quasi-resonant-power-converter?utm_content=buffer1299a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/power-points/4462472/Supercaps-solve-diverse-niche-problems
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sensors and Power Conditioning for Industry
https://www.eeweb.com/profile/steve6366/articles/sensors-and-power-conditioning-for-industry?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=link&utm_medium=EEWebEngInsp-20191219
Power conditioning acts as an interface between the power source and the load, which in most industrial applications performs critical functions, providing equipment protection and output waveform correction against noise, voltage fluctuations, radiofrequency, and electromagnetic interferences.
The increasing industrial use of electrical and electronic equipment has led to a rise in the demand for electricity, which in such applications must be as much freedom as possible from disturbances, drops, or undesirable harmonic components. In industrial production processes, it is mandatory to guarantee the availability of electricity uninterruptedly and regularly — an equipment downtime would, in fact, result in lost productivity, with inevitable consequences on the company’s profits. To mitigate these risks, the most commonly adopted solution is to install a power-conditioning system. This electronic device has the task of monitoring the input voltage (tri-phase voltage from the electrical distribution network), ensuring that the connected loads are safely protected by spikes, surges, sags, ground noise, undesired harmonics, and other types of phenomena that can interrupt the functioning or damage the sensitive electrical and electronic equipment. A power-conditioning system for industrial applications is able to detect any anomalies in the supply voltage. By applying the appropriate corrective actions in a very short time, it ensures the supply of a regular and reliable three-phase power source. The response times are very fast (in the order of milliseconds), while the output power varies from a few hundred VA up to about 1,000 kVA, with an input voltage between 380 and 415 VAC. In summary, power conditioning acts as an interface between the power source and the load, which in most industrial applications performs critical functions, providing equipment protection and output waveform correction against noise, voltage fluctuations, radiofrequency, and electromagnetic interferences.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pass/fail testing using an oscilloscope’s signal processing capabilities
https://www.edn.com/pass-fail-testing-using-an-oscilloscopes-signal-processing-capabilities/
Pass/fail testing is an analysis function of an oscilloscope that shows whether waveforms meet a set of defined criteria. The criteria are defined by a series of one or more qualifying conditions that judge whether the waveform passes or fails to meet the criteria.
There are two broad categories of qualifying situations mask testing or parameter comparison. Mask testing compares the sampled values of an acquired waveform to a pre-defined template or mask to see if the waveform sample fall inside or outside the mask. Parameter comparison offer two alternatives, one compares a measurement, based upon the waveform being tested, to a pre-defined value (Param compare) or to another measurement parameter (Dual param compare). Multiple qualifying conditions (termed Qn) each using either method, which are then enabled by selecting them on the pass/fail dialog and defining what results constitute a passing or failing conditions and then what Actions can be taken.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Use finite element analysis to your advantage
https://www.edn.com/use-finite-element-analysis-to-your-advantage/
Tomi Engdahl says:
InspectAR Augmented Reality PCB Inspection Has Come a Long Way in Four Months
This tool uses augmented reality to test, debug and rework your circuit boards.
https://www.hackster.io/news/inspectar-augmented-reality-pcb-inspection-has-come-a-long-way-in-four-months-c21c57c77c0b
Tomi Engdahl says:
Enhanced temperature controller is both fast and precise
https://www.edn.com/enhanced-temperature-controller-is-both-fast-and-precise/
Despite the common perception of temperature control as a mature and largely unchanging area of technology, applications such as injection-molding processes increasingly require not only precise temperature control but also fast response to heat disturbances and minimal overshoot and undershoot when temperature setpoints change. Traditional PID (proportional-integral-derivative) control techniques are inadequate; extra capabilities are necessary.
Introducing a feedforward member
You can, however, add a feedforward member to the control system to make the power level more closely follow the optimal curve (Figure 7 ‘s bold dashed line). If you know what power level is necessary for a required setpoint temperature, you can simply replace the contribution of the controller’s integral member with the output of a suitable feedforward member.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Formal-based methodology cuts digital design IP verification time
https://www.edn.com/formal-based-methodology-cuts-digital-design-ip-verification-time/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Use finite element analysis to your advantage
https://www.edn.com/use-finite-element-analysis-to-your-advantage/
Every physical process takes place within some kind of time scale. Every process that happens in the real world is rate limited by something. Nothing in the real world actually occurs in zero time. Zero rise time and zero fall time waveshapes are a mathematical artifice, useful for many calculation purposes, but you will never find them in any physical system.
Instead, all physical events proceed differentially. A falling rock gathers velocity gradually (acceleration) and you can examine differentials in its falling velocity as it homes in on your skull. Voltages and currents vary differentially and in dependence on values of reactance, either inductive or capacitive.
Differential equations are descriptive of the proceedings of physical events. Finite element analysis relies on exactly that. Software for such analysis can be a wallet buster, but if we write our own software, we can use the finite element analysis concept to great advantage.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Capacitor Current Calculator
http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/Capacitor-current-calculator.php
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/slew-rate-and-rise-time-not-quite-the-same/
Tomi Engdahl says:
#Signalintegrity analysis of a #BeagleBone Black reveals how designers could violate #design rules to cut costs & still produce a working #board #DDR3 #microcontroller #engineering #maker https://buff.ly/2PWZjsJ
Tomi Engdahl says:
Clap Switch Circuit Using IC 555 Timer & Without Timer
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2014/10/clap-switch-circuit-electronic-project.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Reduce EMI and power loss in dual-battery automotive systems with optimized power-stage layout
https://www.edn.com/reduce-emi-and-power-loss-in-dual-battery-automotive-systems-with-optimized-power-stage-layout/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/high-voltage-current-sensing-with-low-voltage-transistors/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/macro-models-let-engineers-simulate-circuits-and-systems/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Oscilloscope math functions aid circuit analysis
https://www.edn.com/oscilloscope-math-functions-aid-circuit-analysis/
Tomi Engdahl says:
EMI Suppression Shields: Understanding the Basics
https://www.mwrf.com/materials/article/21119915/emi-suppression-shields-understanding-the-basics?utm_source=RF+MWRF+Update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS200107060&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
With so many different magnetic materials to choose from, one must discern the frequencies and noise levels where EMI problems are prevalent and deduce how the materials’ parameters can impact noise suppression to comply with regulatory limits.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Use LTspice to simulate mixed continuous and sampled systems
https://www.edn.com/use-ltspice-to-simulate-mixed-continuous-and-sampled-systems/
Did you know that you can use LTspice to do Digital Signal Processing (DSP)? Actually, I should say it is useful for validating the operation of a signal-processing algorithm under development. This article summarizes how to use LTspice to simulate the operation of a mixed continuous and sampled systems.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/readers-choice-2019/
Tomi Engdahl says:
EDN Readers’ Choice 2019
https://www.edn.com/readers-choice-2019/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Precision voltage-controlled current sink tests power supplies
https://www.edn.com/precision-voltage-controlled-current-sink-tests-power-supplies/
To discover potential power-supply problems, you must run dynamic and static tests. This simple current sink tests low- to medium-power supplies and voltage sources. In this application, the current sink can draw current of 0 to 1.5A for an input-voltage range of 0 to 5V with a supply voltage as high as 20V.
Tomi Engdahl says:
EMI Suppression Shields: Understanding the Basics
https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/analog/article/21119921/emi-suppression-shields-understanding-the-basics?utm_source=EG+ED+Analog+%26+Power+Source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS200116087&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.ident%5Bpull%5D=omeda%7C7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R
With so many different magnetic materials to choose from, one must discern the frequencies and noise levels where EMI problems are prevalent and deduce how the materials’ parameters can impact noise suppression to comply with regulatory limits.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How and why to replace discrete MOSFETs with load switches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtLr3bbIx58
What you’ll learn:
How to identify a discrete power switching solution in a schematicThe challenges of using a discrete solutionHow load switches provide better performance for power switching with more features and a smaller solution size
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/use-ltspice-to-simulate-mixed-continuous-and-sampled-systems/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/pdn-issues-occur-in-the-simplest-of-circuits/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Precision voltage-controlled current sink tests power supplies
https://www.edn.com/precision-voltage-controlled-current-sink-tests-power-supplies/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Harvest #energy using a piezoelectric #buzzer #DesignIdeas #circuit https://buff.ly/38bbFnD
Tomi Engdahl says:
Build a Simple Analog Active Load for Testing Constant Current
https://www.hackster.io/news/build-a-simple-analog-active-load-for-testing-constant-current-5f7cceacbc89
This DIY active load tester measures constant current can be set between 0A and 10A and can dissipate up to 190W.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Care and feeding of capacitors
https://www.edn.com/care-and-feeding-of-capacitors/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/zero-offset-active-lowpass-filter-part-4/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Researchers Design Rapid Iron-On Textile User Interfaces
A novel fabrication technique for enhancing fabrics with interactive functionalities.
https://www.hackster.io/news/researchers-design-rapid-iron-on-textile-user-interfaces-0265dcc5657e
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/ensure-emc-compliance-in-automotive-led-design/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.edn.com/simple-ber-meter-is-easy-to-build/