Understand quadrature encoders with a quick technical recap
An unexpected revisit to my earlier post on mouse encoder hacking sparked a timely opportunity to reexamine quadrature encoders, this time with a clearer lens and a more targeted focus on their signal dynamics and practical integration. So,…
The Linksys MX4200C: A retailer-branded router with memory deficiencies
How timely! My teardown of Linksys’ VLP01 router, submitted in late September, was published one day prior to when I started working on this write-up in late October.
What’s the significance, aside from the chronological cadence? Well,…
Motor drivers advance with new features
Industrial automation, robotics, and electric mobility are increasingly driving demand for improved motor driver ICs as well as solutions that make it easier to design motor drives. With energy consumption being a key factor in these applications,…
A 0-20mA source current to 4-20mA loop current converter
A 4 to 20 mA loop current is a popular terminology with Instrumentation/Electronics engineers in process industries. Field transmitters like pressure,temperature,flow, etc., give out 4 to 20 mA current signals corresponding to the respective…
Top 10 AC/DC power supplies
AC/DC power supply manufacturers have focused their latest designs on meeting the increased demand for higher efficiency and miniaturization in industrial and medical systems. A few of them are also leveraging wide-bandgap (WBG) technologies…
Module streamlines smart home device connectivity
The KGM133S, the first in a range of Matter over Thread modules from Quectel, enables seamless interoperability for smart home devices like door locks, sensors, and lighting. Powered by Silicon Labs’ EFR32MG24 wireless chip, the module uses…
Rad-tolerant MCUs cut space-grade costs
Vorago has announced four rad-tolerant MCUs for LEO missions, which it says cost far less than conventional space-grade components. Part of the VA4 series of rad-hardened MCUs, these new chips provide an economical alternative to high-risk upscreened…
Power switch offers smart overload control
Joining ST’s lineup of safety switches, the IPS1050LQ is a low-side switch featuring smart overload protection with configurable inrush and current limits. Three pins allow selection between static and dynamic modes and set the operating current…
SiC modules boost power cycling performance
Wolfspeed’s YM 1200-V six-pack power modules deliver up to 3× the power cycling capability of comparable devices in the same industry-standard footprint. The company reports that the modules also provide 15% higher inverter current.
Built…
SiC power modules gain low-resistance options
SemiQ expands its 1200-V Gen3 SiC MOSFET family with SOT-227 modules offering on-resistance values of 7.4 mΩ, 14.5 mΩ, and 34 mΩ. GCMS models are co-packaged with a Schottky barrier diode (SBD), while GCMX types rely on the intrinsic body…
Compute: Powering the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0
Industry 4.0 has transformed manufacturing, connecting machines, automating processes, and changing how factories think and operate. But its success has revealed a new constraint: compute. As automation, AI, and data-driven decision-making scale…
A holiday shopping guide for engineers: 2025 edition
As of this year, EDN has consecutively published my odes to holiday-excused consumerism for more than a half-decade straight (and intentionally ahead of Black Friday, if you hadn’t already deduced), now nearing ten editions in total. Here…
