A failed switch in a wall plate = A garbage disposal that no longer masticates
How do single-pole wall switches work, and how can they fail? Read on for all the details.
Speaking of misbehaving power toggles, a few weeks back (as I’m writing this in mid-December), the kitchen wall switch that controls power going to…
Using a single MCU port pin to drive a multi-digit display
When we design a microcontroller (MCU) project, we normally leave a few port lines unused, so that last-minute requirements can be met. Invariably, even those lines also get utilized as the project progresses.
Imagine a situation where you have…
The high-speed data link to Mars faces a unique timing challenge
Experienced network designers know that the performance achievable of a data link depends on many factors, including the quality and consistency of the inherently analog medium between the two endpoints. Whether it’s air, copper, fiber, or…
Transmissive sensors increase vertical headroom
Two transmissive sensors from Vishay—the single-channel VT171P and dual-channel VT172U—feature a dome height that is 42% greater than that of previous-generation industrial devices. Housed in a 5.5×4×5.7 mm surface-mount package, the sensors…
Software proves AI behavior in high-risk systems
The Keysight AI Software Integrity Builder enables rigorous validation and lifecycle maintenance of AI-enabled systems to ensure trustworthiness. As AI development grows in complexity, the software delivers transparent, adaptable, and data-driven…
SoC unlocks 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 for smart IoT
According to Infineon, the AIROC ACW741x family of tri-radio SoCs features the first 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 device designed for IoT applications. The device also integrates Bluetooth LE 6.0 with channel sounding, IEEE 802.15.4 Thread connectivity, and…
Processors centralize vehicle intelligence
NXP has introduced the S32N7 super-integration processor series for centralized vehicle computing across propulsion, vehicle dynamics, body, gateway, and safety domains. The 5-nm series replaces distributed electronic control units with a single…
Vision SoC powers 8K multi-stream AI
Ambarella’s CV7 SoC leverages the CVflow computer vision architecture to bring 8K image processing and advanced AI inference to the edge. It supports simultaneous processing of multiple video streams at up to 8K at 60 Hz, making it well suited…
Sonic excellence: Music (and other audio sources) in the office, part 1
This engineer could have just stuck with the Gateway 2000-branded, Altec Lansing-designed powered speaker set long plugged into his laptop’s headphone jack. But where’s the fun in that?
Having editorially teased my recent home office audio…
LiDAR’s power and size problem
Awareness of LiDAR and advanced laser technologies has grown significantly in recent years. This is in no small part due to their use in autonomous vehicles such as those from Waymo, Nuro, and Cruise, plus those from traditional brands such…
CES 2026: Multi-link, 20-MHz IoT boost Wi-Fi 7 prospects
Wi-Fi 7 enters 2026 with a crucial announcement made at the CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wi-Fi Alliance is introducing the 20-MHz device category for Wi-Fi 7, aimed at addressing the needs of the broader Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem.…
Why gold-plated tactile switches matter for reliability
In electronic product design, the smallest components often have the biggest impact on system reliability. Tactile switches—used in control panels, wearables, medical devices, instrumentation, and industrial automation—are a prime example.…
