Pulse-density modulation (PDM) audio explained in a quick primer
Pulse-density modulation (PDM) is a compact digital audio format used in devices like MEMS microphones and embedded systems. This compact primer eases you into the essentials of PDM audio.
Let’s begin by revisiting a ubiquitous PDM MEMS microphone…
How to design a digital-controlled PFC, Part 1
Shifting from analog to digital control
An AC/DC power supply with input power greater than 75 W requires power factor correction (PFC) to:
Take the universal AC input (90 V to 264 V) and rectify that input to a DC voltage.
Maintain the output…
MES meets the future
Industry 4.0 focuses on how automation and connectivity could transform the manufacturing canvas. Manufacturing execution systems (MES) with strong automation and connectivity capabilities thrived under the Industry 4.0 umbrella. With the recent…
Optical combs yield extreme-accuracy gigahertz RF oscillator
It may seem at times that there is a divide between the optical/photonic domain and the RF one, with the terahertz zone between them as a demarcation. If you need to make a transition between the photonic and RF words, you use electrooptical…
FIR temperature sensor delivers high accuracy
Melexis claims the first automotive-grade surface-mount (SMD) far-infrared (FIR) temperature sensor designed for temperature monitoring of critical components in electric vehicle (EV) powertrain applications. These include inverters, motors,…
High-performance MCUs target industrial applications
STMicroelectronics raises the performance bar for embedded edge AI and industrial applications with the new STM32V8 high-performance microcontrollers (MCUs) for demanding industrial applications such as factory automation, motor control, and…
Accuracy loss from PWM sub-Vsense regulator programming
I’ve recently published Design Ideas (DIs) showing circuits for linear PWM programming of standard bucking-type regulators in applications requiring an output span that can swing below the regulator’s sense voltage (Vsense or Vs). For example:…
Signal integrity and power integrity analysis in 3D IC design
The relentless pursuit of higher performance and greater functionality has propelled the semiconductor industry through several transformative eras. The most recent shift is from traditional monolithic SoCs to heterogeneous integrated advanced…
Norton amplifiers: Precision and power, the analog way we remember
The Norton amplifier topology brings back the essence of analog design by using clever circuit techniques to deliver strong performance with minimal components. It is not about a brand name—it’s about a timeless analog philosophy that continues…
The Fosi Audio V3 Mono: A compelling power amp with a tendency to blow
One of the PFFB (Post-Filter Feedback Technology)-based Class D audio amplifiers showcased in a recent writeup of mine was Fosi Audio’s V3 Mono, which will get sole billing today:
It interestingly (at least to me) originally launched as a…
Edge AI powers the next wave of industrial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is moving out of the cloud and into the operations that create and deliver products to us every day. Across manufacturing lines, logistics centers, and production facilities, AI at the edge is transforming industrial…
The ecosystem view around an embedded system development
Like in nature, development tools for embedded systems form “ecosystems.” Some ecosystems are very self-contained, with little overlap on others, while other ecosystems are very open and broad with support for everything but the kitchen…
