The AI design world in 2026: What you need to know

We live in an AI era, but behind the buzzword lies an intricate world of hardware and software building blocks. Like every other design, AI systems span multiple dimensions, ranging from processors and memory devices to interface design and…

5 octave linear(ish)-in-pitch power VCO

A few months back, frequent DI contributor Nick Cornford showed us some clever circuits using the TDA7052A audio amplifier as a power oscillator. His designs also demonstrate the utility of the 7052’s nifty DC antilog gain control input: Power…

Fundamentals in motion: Accelerometers demystified

Accelerometers turn motion into measurable signals. From tilt and vibration to g-forces, they underpin countless designs. In this “Fun with Fundamentals” entry, we demystify their operation and take a quick look at the practical side of…

A failed switch in a wall plate = A garbage disposal that no longer masticates

How do single-pole wall switches work, and how can they fail? Read on for all the details. Speaking of misbehaving power toggles, a few weeks back (as I’m writing this in mid-December), the kitchen wall switch that controls power going to…

Using a single MCU port pin to drive a multi-digit display

When we design a microcontroller (MCU) project, we normally leave a few port lines unused, so that last-minute requirements can be met. Invariably, even those lines also get utilized as the project progresses. Imagine a situation where you have…

The high-speed data link to Mars faces a unique timing challenge

Experienced network designers know that the performance achievable of a data link depends on many factors, including the quality and consistency of the inherently analog medium between the two endpoints. Whether it’s air, copper, fiber, or…

Vision SoC powers 8K multi-stream AI

Ambarella’s CV7 SoC leverages the CVflow computer vision architecture to bring 8K image processing and advanced AI inference to the edge. It supports simultaneous processing of multiple video streams at up to 8K at 60 Hz, making it well suited…

Processors centralize vehicle intelligence

NXP has introduced the S32N7 super-integration processor series for centralized vehicle computing across propulsion, vehicle dynamics, body, gateway, and safety domains. The 5-nm series replaces distributed electronic control units with a single…

SoC unlocks 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 for smart IoT

According to Infineon, the AIROC ACW741x family of tri-radio SoCs features the first 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 device designed for IoT applications. The device also integrates Bluetooth LE 6.0 with channel sounding, IEEE 802.15.4 Thread connectivity, and…

Software proves AI behavior in high-risk systems

The Keysight AI Software Integrity Builder enables rigorous validation and lifecycle maintenance of AI-enabled systems to ensure trustworthiness. As AI development grows in complexity, the software delivers transparent, adaptable, and data-driven…

Transmissive sensors increase vertical headroom

Two transmissive sensors from Vishay—the single-channel VT171P and dual-channel VT172U—feature a dome height that is 42% greater than that of previous-generation industrial devices. Housed in a 5.5×4×5.7 mm surface-mount package, the sensors…

Sonic excellence: Music (and other audio sources) in the office, part 1

This engineer could have just stuck with the Gateway 2000-branded, Altec Lansing-designed powered speaker set long plugged into his laptop’s headphone jack. But where’s the fun in that? Having editorially teased my recent home office audio…