Paper-based passives show impact of re-thinking substrate

I like to read about research innovations even if most of them don’t represent in an advance that can be commercialized or even leveraged to boost technology in general. Sometimes, the work that the team has done demonstrates innovation, discusses…

Drone bans harm customers and don’t actually close the door

Attempted prohibitions of foreign-sourced products based solely on theoretical claims, absent irrefutable supportive factual evidence, only invites domestic-supplier favoritism accusations. Last year I went on a “bit” of a(nother) drone-buying…

DDR5 MRDIMM chipset boosts server bandwidth

Renesas announced its third-generation DDR5 Multiplexed Rank DIMM (MRDIMM) chipset, delivering server-class speeds of up to 16,000 MT/s. The memory interface components, including the RRG5013 multiplexed registering clock driver and the RRG5103…

BMICs enable scalable battery monitoring

Two battery monitoring ICs (BMICs) from Nuvoton, the KA49703A and KA49713A, are designed for battery backup units used in AI servers and energy storage systems. They can monitor up to 16 lithium-ion cells, while daisy-chain communication enables…

CXL controller scales server memory

Montage Technology has introduced the M88MX6852, a CXL 3.2 Memory eXpander Controller (MXC) chip for AI infrastructure and data center applications. The device has entered trial production and has been integrated into next-generation CXL products…

MRDIMM enables higher DDR5 bandwidth

Innodisk’s DDR5 Multiplexed Rank DIMM (MRDIMM) uses a multiplexed registering clock driver and a multiplexed data buffer to achieve data rates up to 12,800 MT/s. By enabling simultaneous access to two ranks, the memory module increases bandwidth…

MCUs streamline single-motor control

Entry-level MCUs in Toshiba’s TXZ+ Series M4L Group integrate dedicated hardware and security functions for single-motor control applications. The devices feature an 80-MHz Arm Cortex-M4 core with an FPU and target home appliances, consumer…

Hz to 4-20mA or 0-20mA current source is compatible with grounded loads

Minimal circuit converts input frequency to a precision current source that also accommodates grounded inputs. I recently had the opportunity to share a design for frequency to current loop conversion using the versatile (if somewhat ancient)…

GNSS oscillator with 24-hour holdover in a postage-stamp size

During a severe sandstorm, a transport aircraft attempts to land at a remote forward operating location. Visibility is nearly zero, forcing the crew to rely on navigation, communications, and landing-assistance systems. If the aircraft were…

Push to increase, decrease a digital potentiometer

Front-panel push button controls can conveniently adjust a PCB-mounted internal potentiometer’s resistance. Digital potentiometers in conjunction with MCUs find common use in analog circuits. The processor can adjust the gain of an amplifier,…

TTD for wideband phased array beamforming: Eliminating beam squint in AESA

Radar, communications, and sensing systems increasingly rely on phased array antennas to achieve agile, precise beam steering without mechanical motion. As bandwidths widen to support higher data rates and better resolution, traditional phase-shifter-based…

Fluxgate basics: How magnetic saturation changes everything

Picture a satellite holding its course high above Earth, its mission dependent on flawless orientation, or an electric vehicle with a high-voltage battery that demands exact current monitoring to safeguard performance and safety. In these moments,…