Zero maintenance asset tracking via energy harvesting
Real-time tracking of assets has enabled both supply chain digitalization and operational efficiency leaps. These benefits, driven by IoT advances, have proved transformational. As a result, the market for asset-tracking systems for transportation…
AI workloads demand smarter SoC interconnect design
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the semiconductor industry from the inside out, redefining not only what chips can do but how they are created. This impacts designs from data centers to the edge, including endpoint devices such…
Controllers simplify USB-C dual-role power delivery
Diodes’ AP53781 and AP53782 are USB Type-C Power Delivery 3.1 dual-role power (DRP) controllers for battery-powered systems. They manage USB PD power negotiation for USB-C ports that can operate as either a power sink or power source, supporting…
Samsung achieves live single-server vRAN
Samsung has completed the industry’s first commercial call using its virtualized RAN (vRAN) on a Tier 1 U.S. operator’s live network. Powered by an Intel Xeon 6 SoC with up to 72 cores, the vRAN is designed to accelerate AI-native, 6G-ready…
Low-power TMR switches boost magnetic sensitivity
Two omnipolar magnetic switches, the LF21173TMR and LF21177TMR from Littelfuse, combine tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) and CMOS technologies in a compact LGA4 package. Compared with conventional Hall-effect switches, these TMR devices offer…
Snap-in capacitors handle higher voltages
Vishay has added 550‑V and 600‑V options to its 193 PUR‑SI line of miniature snap‑in aluminum electrolytic capacitors. According to the manufacturer, the capacitors deliver up to 30% higher ripple current than standard components of…
Plastic TVS devices meet MIL-grade requirements
Microchip’s JANPTX transient voltage suppressors (TVS) are among the first to achieve MIL-PRF-19500 qualification in a plastic package. With a working voltage range from 5 V to 175 V, the JANPTX family provides a lightweight, cost-effective…
Sonic excellence: Music (and other audio sources) in the office, part 2
Last time, our engineer covered the audio equipment stacks on either side of his laptop. But what do they connect to, and what connects to them? Read on for the remaining details.
I wrapped up the initial entry in this two-part series with the…
Extend the LM358 op-amp family’s output voltage range
The LM358 family of dual op amps is among those hoary industry work-horse devices that are inexpensive and still have their uses. These parts’ outputs can approach (and for the inputs even include) their negative supply rail voltage. Unfortunately,…
The AI design world in 2026: What you need to know
We live in an AI era, but behind the buzzword lies an intricate world of hardware and software building blocks. Like every other design, AI systems span multiple dimensions, ranging from processors and memory devices to interface design and…
5 octave linear(ish)-in-pitch power VCO
A few months back, frequent DI contributor Nick Cornford showed us some clever circuits using the TDA7052A audio amplifier as a power oscillator. His designs also demonstrate the utility of the 7052’s nifty DC antilog gain control input:
Power…
Fundamentals in motion: Accelerometers demystified
Accelerometers turn motion into measurable signals. From tilt and vibration to g-forces, they underpin countless designs. In this “Fun with Fundamentals” entry, we demystify their operation and take a quick look at the practical side of…
