GaN half-bridge simplifies 650-V power stages

MasterGaN6 from ST integrates two 650-V enhancement-mode GaN transistors with typical RDS(on) of 140 mΩ in a half-bridge configuration, delivering a compact, efficient power stage. This power system-in-package also integrates a high-voltage…

Low-loss MLCCs deliver wideband RF performance

Kyocera AVX has expanded its 550/560 series of ultra-broadband MLCCs to support high-speed, high-bandwidth optical communication systems. The capacitors provide reliable, repeatable RF/microwave performance from 7 kHz to 110 GHz and exhibit…

3-in-1 IoT module cuts complexity

The Iridium 9604 IoT module integrates satellite, LTE-M (Cat-M1), and multi-constellation GNSS into a compact 16×26×2.4-mm form factor. Built on the u-blox SARA-R5 platform, it integrates Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD), cellular connectivity,…

5G RedCap module enables high-speed IoT connectivity

Cavli’s CQM220 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) module provides power- and cost-optimized 5G connectivity for IoT applications. Compliant with 3GPP Release 17, it delivers downlink speeds up to 220 Mbps and uplink up to 120 Mbps, with LTE…

Jumping the Jeep: An alternative cost-effective solar cell example app

A solar charging kit, inexpensive as-is and purchased after further promotional enticement, enables keeping a remotely located vehicle battery topped off. One of the things I enjoy most about technology is watching a new approach (along with…

Power Tips #150: Overcoming high-voltage monitoring challenges in gigawatt-scale data centers

As AI and machine learning workloads accelerate, data center power consumption is beginning to outstrip existing infrastructure capacity. To meet this rising demand, new high-voltage DC standards support the higher-power, denser server racks…

Variable‑reluctance sensors: From fundamentals to speed sensing

Variable reluctance (VR) sensors transform mechanical motion into electrical signals by exploiting changes in magnetic flux. As a ferromagnetic target moves past the sensor’s pole piece, the reluctance of the magnetic circuit varies, inducing…

An LM317-based 0-20mA to 4-20mA 2-wire converter

My recent DI contribution (Another silly simple precision 0/20mA to 4/20mA converter) used the LM337 regulator in a novel circuit arrangement to translate an input 0-20 mA current source into a 4-20 mA two-wire transmitter current loop (a standard…

Simple shorts sniffer

Recently, frequent and favorite contributor Nick Cornford gave us a cool and novel acoustic-interface design for a super sub-ohmmeter capable of audibly sniffing out defects in PWBs: “Tuneful track-tracing.” Figure 1’s design shamelessly…

A real-world approach for AI-driven semiconductor manufacturing

The semiconductor manufacturing industry faces an unprecedented data challenge. For the newest devices, test programs can contain over a million test items, generating gigabytes of data per chip across probe, assembly, and test operations. The…

Probing a USB analog audio adapter

How do engineers squeeze all the necessary circuitry (and what is it?) into one of these devices, and do so this inexpensively? With the demise of analog audio line out, headphone (output-only), and headset (adding mic-in) jacks in modern electronics…

SAW filters made simple: A quick front-end primer

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters may sound exotic, but they are everyday workhorses in wireless front-ends. Compact, cost-effective, and reliable, they shape signals with precision while keeping designs simple. This quick primer walks through…