Driving motion: A practical guide to electric linear actuators
Electric linear actuators (ELAs) turn intention into motion—precise, predictable, and quietly powerful. This guide offers elementary notes and practical pointers on their basics and everyday use. Let’s begin with a quick distinction: linear…
Optical scaling turning into an architectural challenge
For decades, semiconductor progress trained us to think about scaling in a particular way. Make the fundamental building block smaller, increase density, improve performance, and integrate more functionality into the same physical space. However,…
How will zonal architecture impact automotive troubleshooting?
A zonal power distribution network for cars offers many benefits, but how it affects finding problems is unclear.
In the few years, I’ve been seeing a lot of stories about zonal architecture, the next stage in the evolution of providing power…
Debugging intermittent Comcast, part 2: Remediation details
While updating and streamlining the hardware setup improved the situation, why it achieved this welcome outcome was less clear. And then there was the truly “shocking” discovery…
Last time, in part 1 of this series, I gave a historical…
How AI is reshaping IC signoff: Trust, speed, and intelligent workflows
We stand at the dawn of a new era in chip design as artificial intelligence (AI) moves from a conceptual promise to a practical necessity in the semiconductor landscape. Semiconductor companies are looking to AI to help manage design complexity,…
Semtech expands LoRa Plus transceiver lineup
Semtech’s LR2022 and LR2012 LoRa Plus transceivers target a range of IoT deployments, from sub-GHz sensors to global multiband non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). The devices are subsets of the previously announced LR2021 and share its fourth-generation…
Morse Micro simplifies Wi-Fi HaLow integration
Morse Micro’s MM8108-RD09 and MM8108-RD17 USB dongle reference designs add Wi-Fi HaLow connectivity to existing devices. The RD09 uses host-side drivers for Windows, Linux, and macOS, while the driverless RD17 presents itself as a standard…
eFuse protects 48-V power lines
Toshiba’s TCKE1401NM 75-V, 6-A eFuse provides 48-V power-line protection for industrial and consumer equipment, including servers and power tools. In addition to short-circuit, overcurrent, and overvoltage protection, it integrates reverse…
Advantech brings 100-TOPS AI to vision systems
Advantech has launched four industrial vision intelligence products based on the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-9075 processor. The AOM-6741 SMARC module, ASR-A503/AFE-A503 robotic controllers, and AIR-055 edge AI system deliver up to 100 TOPS of AI…
SiC MOSFET relay switches up to 3300 V
The G3VH SiC MOSFET relay from Aratas America supports high-voltage switching applications requiring load voltages of 1800 V or 3300 V. SiC MOSFET technology enables high-voltage switching with low leakage current and fast switching while minimizing…
DPOT push up/down
Some folks prefer pushbutton switches to take effect on push instead of release. These buttons do that very thing.
I suppose it’s really just a matter of taste, but I’ve always liked momentary contact switches that act when you push them…
A 4-step guide to selecting PFC conduction mode: CrM/DCM vs. CCM
The power factor correction (PFC) boost converter is the industry-standard topology for meeting harmonic current regulations such as IEC 61000-3-2. This circuit is essential in modern AC/DC power supplies, where it shapes the input current (IIN)…
