A previous article about optimizing power efficiency in microcontrollers concentrated on optimizing code and using low power MCUs from manufacturers. A closer look at power saving techniques in hardware is in order, however, if you need to squeeze every drop out of an MCU that can’t be traded in for a lower-power model. Components: Many […]
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What is an embedded bootloader?
Anyone who has turned on a computer might be familiar with the boot-up sequence as computer flashes lines of text on screen before the Windows logo appears. What you are seeing is a bootloader in action, loading essential software to get the minimum running on the processor chip before higher-level software can run. Embedded bootloaders […]
What is an open drain on a FET device and how is it used?
If you are working with an integrated circuit (IC) and the datasheet mentions an open drain or open collector, that’s engineering speak for a current sink on an output pin. For those unfamiliar with the terminology, a “current sink” means that the current is flowing into the pin (or node, etc.), not out of the […]
Top microcontroller threads on EDAboard.com – June
(editor’s note: Intrigued by the problem? Have a similar challenge? Have a question or another solution? Then click the “Read more” link and follow the conversation on EDAboard.com or log in to EDAboard and participate in the microcontroller forum thread.) Stuck in ISR, RCIF is not firing when UART with PIC18f5420 and SIM800 – I am […]
Board Support Package: what is it?
When designing a new system, you might find yourself drawn to a new processor with features that can make a real difference in the final product. Most semiconductor vendors will provide an evaluation board that you can use to evaluate whether or not you want to invest your time and money into that particular processor […]
What is DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) vs SRAM?
Both DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) are types of Random Access Memory (RAM). RAM is a semiconductor device internal to the integrated chip that stores the processor that a microcontroller or other processor will use constantly to store variables used in operations while performing calculations. RAM refers to the […]
Accurately measure power consumption with Kelvin configuration
How do you accurately measure power consumption when the leads of your multimeter add resistance to your measurement? How do you accurately measure the resistance of a device that’s low, (e.g., less than 10 ohms) when the leads of your multimeter add resistance? One way to get a more accurate reading is to use the […]
Image gallery: Cool autonomous vehicle tech at TU-Automotive Detroit
The recently wrapped-up TU-Automotive Detroit conference on autonomous and connected vehicles played host to 150 conference speakers and 3,000 people kicking tires in the 200,000-ft2 exhibition area. In the pages that follow are some of the more interesting technologies we found on display as we roamed the exhibit aisles. Taking a ride in a robotic […]
Display options for MCUs: LCD, LED, and OLED
Microcontrollers (MCUs) have a few display options available. A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a common, low-cost option that uses a backlight made of either cold-cathode fluorescent tubes (CCFL) or light emitting Diodes (LEDs). The term “LED display” actually refers to an LCD display with LED backlighting, and thus is the same thing as an […]
Top microcontroller threads on EDAboard.com – May
(editor’s note: Intrigued by the problem? Have a similar challenge? Have a question or another solution? Then click the “Read more” link and follow the conversation on EDAboard.com or log in to EDAboard and participate in the microcontroller forum thread.) PWM interrupt Microchip clarification -I have configured a PWM interrupt for every 30 microseconds. The […]