8 Wi-Fi security guidelines issued by Wireless Broadband Alliance

The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) has released guidelines to strengthen security, privacy, and trust across Wi-Fi networks. These guidelines help organizations reduce exposure to common Wi-Fi threats, improve user trust, and simplify interoperability…

Double-duty current loop transmitter

Tracking down rodentia (or otherwise)-caused cable cuts, and differentiating them from normal open circuits, is critical. Evolving the circuit design for expanded functionality makes it even more valuable. It’s just part of the job.  Every…

How system-level validation compresses schedule risk in device design

Flagship consumer electronic device launches are among the most operationally complex events in modern engineering. They require years of coordination across hardware, silicon, RF, software, operations, supply chain, and manufacturing. Yet,…

Magnet-free electric motors: Driving innovation beyond rare earths

Electric motors are everywhere—from the cars we drive to the appliances in our homes—but most rely on rare earth magnets that come with high costs and environmental challenges. A new wave of innovation is changing that story. Magnet-free…

Power electronics evolve to maximize efficiency

Following the introduction of Industry 4.0, power electronics are becoming more significant in both digital and industrial infrastructures. Factories, energy systems, and data centers are getting smarter and more connected. This requires efficient…

The Blink Sync Module 2: Faster response and local storage, too

The technology treadmill never stops, and so it goes with Blink’s second-generation hub device versus its predecessor. Last month, I compared the conceptually similar (and thankfully, concurrent-use RF-compatible) hub-and-spokes approaches…

Memory solutions for firmware OTA updates

Firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates are essential for improving system quality, adding new features after initial release, fixing bugs and vulnerabilities, improving system performance, and reducing recall and service costs. As new features…

Designer’s guide: Motor control and drivers

Motor control integrated circuits (ICs) and motor drives are essential elements for implementing smart manufacturing within the framework of Industry 4.0. A common requirement in modern industrial applications is high-efficiency motor solutions.…

Negative resistance amplification

We once looked at how conducted emissions testing could be affected by the negative input impedance of a switch-mode power supply. Please see: “Conducted Emissions testing.” Digital data signals that a client’s electric power company was…

RISC-V SoC supports voice-enabled IoT devices

Espressif Systems is sampling its ESP32-S31 dual-core RISC-V SoC with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, Thread, Zigbee, and Ethernet. Rich HMI and security features make it well-suited for IoT applications such as consumer and industrial appliances, voice-controlled…

GaN ICs drive robotics and motion control

Four 100-V GaN power-stage ICs from EPC are optimized for motor drives in humanoid robots, drones, and battery-powered platforms. The EPC23108, EPC23109, EPC23110, and EPC23111 integrate a gate driver, high- and low-side eGaN FETs, and level-shifting…

Tiny filters curb 5-GHz audio-line noise

Built with low-distortion ferrite material, TDK’s MAF0603GWY series of filters attenuates noise on audio lines in the 5-GHz band. The filters fit in a compact 0.6×0.3×0.3-mm package for use in small consumer devices like smartphones and…