Introduction Switch systems enable the routing of test equipment signals to multiple devices or test points, allowing for efficient measurement of multiple parameters. This is achieved through automatic sequential connection and disconnection of test equipment to the devices or test points. Two specific use cases that are particularly relevant to me are PCB testing and …
Introduction Thermal systems are difficult to model because of the complexity of the modes of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. Thermal conductivity can vary depending on the temperature and direction (such as with some crystals). Convection needs to consider fluid dynamics, which can be free or forced, laminar or turbulent. Thermal radiation is electromagnetic …
Thermal Capacity and Rate of Heat Loss Estimation Read More »
Introduction Properly optimizing energy consumption of battery powered microcontrollers (MCUs) is fundamental to extend their battery life. Questions like when it is better to keep the device idling and when to enter light- or deep-sleep cannot be answered without measuring the power consumption during those sleep modes and the time and energy overhead required to …
Introduction COordinate Rotation DIgital Computer (CORDIC) is an efficient iterative algorithm that uses rotations to compute some elementary functions. The algorithm is based on applying a sequence of rotations that only require additions, subtractions and bit shifts. Here I will present the principles of how the algorithm works, followed by how it is implemented to …
Introduction A Peltier device is a solid-state heat pump that transfers heat from one side to the other. This heat transfer simultaneously reduces the temperature of one side of the device and increases it on the other side, generating in this way a temperature gradient across the sides of the device. Peltier cooling is not …
Introduction DC-DC converters are devices that convert a source at one DC voltage into another. They can be classified in many ways, such as between linear and switching, between step-up and step-down, based on their topology, and so on. Depending on the application one may prioritize different figures of merit. For instance, for IoT applications …
Introduction JLCPCB is a popular Chinese prototype PCB manufacturer and PCB assembler. Their low prices and short manufacturing time make the company attractive for low volume production. One limitation of the assembly service is that they only support a limited number of components (~40k at the time of writing). These components can be divided into …
Introduction Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are fascinating integrated circuits (ICs) that just like central processing units (CPUs) can compute, but unlike them, operate in a completely different way. While a CPU implements an algorithm as a sequence of machine instructions, an FPGA implements it as interconnection and configuration of logic elements. Said differently, FPGA programming …
Introduction The history of timepieces dates back to ancient civilizations such as the Ancient Egypt, where obelisks were used to track the movement of the sun. Ancient timekeeping devices included sun dials, candle clocks, water clocks and hourglasses. In the 14th century, the first mechanical clocks were invented and their accuracy continuously improved through multiple …
Accuracy Measurement and Vibration Analysis of a Mechanical Timepiece Read More »
Introduction Machine vibration analysis is used in predictive maintenance to check machinery health and predict their failure. When performed regularly (or continuously) machine faults can be detected in their early stages and appropriate action can be taken to avoid machine failure or in the opposite end, replacing parts that are still in good condition (preventive …