Sometimes the conveniences of using an Arduino board start to conflict with the performance that you expect, at least from a strict engineering point of view. When you develop with the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE), there are some things you need to know to understand the processing delays, functions, and how to overcome them […]
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Microcontroller Top Talks in January 2019 on EDABoard.com forums
Peer-to-peer, engineer-to-engineer questions and answers from the EDABoard.com engineering community around microcontrollers. Click the “Read more” link and follow the entire conversation and maybe add your two cents by logging in to EDAboard.com. PIC12F683 pin high problem – I’m using PIC12F683 which reads through ADC voltage and blinks led in various frequencies. That part works […]
Protecting an MCU: Build your own optocoupler
Microcontrollers are widely used for controlling transistors and relays. Transistors and relays are used for actuating or (energizing) equipment with a higher voltage than an MCU can handle. For example, fans, lights, television, door locks, furnaces, and appliances can be automated using an MCU. However, most operate at higher voltages than the voltage tolerances designated […]
What’s new with Wi-Fi 6? Focus on high-efficiency
The first widespread home electrical appliance was the toaster, and 90% of homes today still have one.[i] Today, wireless connectivity to the internet is as ubiquitous as electricity was a hundred years ago. Smartphones, tablets, wearables, laptops, televisions, Nest thermostats, Alexa, Google Home, Ring video doorbell sensors, surveillance cameras, door locks, smart lighting, and anything […]
Teardown: Rexing V1 dash cam
The Rexing V1 is a simple wedge-shaped dash camera that films in a 1080-line progressive scanning format. The lens is made of six glass layers and is fish-eyed to capture a 170° view of whatever it sees. There’s also a built-in vibration sensor, called a G-sensor in the promotional literature, that automatically locks any files […]
How to learn anything for free: Massive open online courses
Positions for someone with a Masters degree in Data Science are $300K and up, according to a friend of a friend of mine who works in Human Resources for a well-known company. The company’s data scientists, who work on algorithms to predict usage based on data collected from the product’s platforms, are continually lured away […]
Choosing PCB materials to optimize applications, Part 2
Have you ever wondered which type of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) materials would be worth investing in to improve signal integrity? Would your high-frequency signaling work better with a tighter, more uniform weave in the core sheet of the PCB? What’s a high-frequency signal, anyway? When should you invest in a rigid, moisture-proof PCB? Properties […]
BGP hijacking: How the Internet is getting hacked and what you can do about it
By Rudy Ramos, Mouser Electronics Most of us are familiar with the tricks used by malicious hackers to steal passwords or intercept private data. When we click a link, or start a chat, or send an email, it’s second nature to quickly check URLs and addresses to make sure that our data is going where […]
Programmable Logic Controllers, Part 2: Evolution and history
The programmable logic control (PLC) is the controller for many industrial processes; it is tightly focused and optimized for the task due to its rugged electrical, software, mechanical, and thermal design. Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the basics of the PLC, its attributes, and virtues. Part 2 looks at how the PLC has […]
Choosing PCB materials to optimize applications, Part I
There are many different materials and methods for creating PCB materials. The electronics used in numerous applications benefits from the large number of options for PCBs. Hobbyists often choose the least expensive PCB, however, it’s essential to choose appropriate PCB materials when prototyping is done, and high-volume product development and manufacturing become the focus. Applications […]
