What are magnetic rotary encoders?
Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the optical rotary encoder, a low-cost, high-resolution, easy-to-use sensor for indicating incremental shaft position (although it can be “upgraded” to indicate absolute...
View ArticleFAQ on voltage and current sources, Part 2
Voltage and the lesser-known current sources provide important IC, circuit, and system functions. Current sources We have examined voltage sources, and now we can examine their less-known but necessary...
View ArticleFAQ on voltage and current sources: part 3
Voltage and lesser-known current sources provide important IC, circuit, and system functions. This section continues the discussion of current sources and related topics. Q: How do you construct a...
View ArticleThe winding path to the infrared remote control: part 1
Today’s IR-based remote controls have little resemblance to their predecessors; it took the convergence of unrelated advances to get us here. We take the ubiquitous infrared-based (IR) remote control...
View ArticleThe winding path to the infrared remote control: part 2
Today’s IR-based remote controls have little resemblance to their predecessors; it took the convergence of unrelated advances to get us here. Part 1 examined dead-end precursors to our present-day...
View ArticleFAQ on X- and Y-capacitors
X-capacitors and Y-capacitor placements are needed for performance and mandated for safety in most AC-line systems. What are X-capacitors and Y-capacitors? No, they are not references to various...
View ArticleEdison’s revenge? High-power DC gets another chance
DC-based power transmission lost out to AC, but DC is making a comeback. Many things we now use as basic knowledge were not fully understood in the early days of electricity and power in the late...
View ArticleDebugging can make you do dumb things, and quickly
It’s easy to skip past the basic points to check first in troubleshooting “rush.” I have always regarded debugging circuit hardware and software as the most challenging engineering disciplines. Yes,...
View ArticleProduct longevity sometimes defies expectations
Battery self-discharge can limit product life, but sometimes there’s an inexplicable outlier. We’re all familiar with products that fail before too soon. I’m not talking about those that suddenly...
View ArticleHow “smart” should appliances be – or become?
Internet and smart-home-linked appliances are available, but user reaction has been lukewarm — for many reasons. It’s hard not to notice the recent trend hitting even basic home appliances: adding...
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