Our teardown of R2-D2 shows what’s inside this little droid with a big personality. One of the hot new toys released in advance of the new Star Wars movie is R2-D2 by Sphero, the same toymaker that developed the BB8 for the 2015 Star Wars sequel called The Force Awakens. As with the BB8, R2 […]
Featured
Magnetic Reed switch: an amazing addition to your design toolbox
Reed switches are simple, passive, electromechanical components that were invented circa the 1940s. Reed switches aren’t mentioned much in electronic literature or forums that much, but they have some amazing capabilities. Reed switches are sometimes called magnetic switches. Reed switches open or close when exposed to a magnetic field. The reed switch consists of a […]
Microcontroller Top Talks in October on EDABoard.com forums
(editor’s note: Intrigued by the problem? 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 threads.) Need help for PIC12F675 Based 12V battery charger – I am trying to write code for a 12V battery […]
Driving high-wattage output with a solid-state relay
Microcontrollers are designed to handle only low voltage and current signals on their input and outputs. So how does one control and drive a high wattage load such as an electric heater using an MCU? One of the easiest and most efficient ways is to use a Solid-State Relay (SSR). An SSR allows you to […]
Microcontrollers vs. Microprocessors: What’s the difference?
Microcontrollers (MCUs) tend to be less expensive than, simpler to set-up, and simpler to operate than microprocessors (MPUs). An MCU can be viewed as a single-chip computer, whereas an MPU has surrounding chips that support various functions like memory, interfaces, and I/O. The MCU vs. MPU question may seem simple, but there are some prominent […]
Gallery: Neat tech on display at ADAS & Autonomous Vehicles USA
A focused forum on the here-and-now of self-driving technology held in Novi, Mich., staged by TU-Automotive, featured presentations by Tier 1 suppliers, researchers, and automakers. Also, there were a few displays of interesting technology. Here are a few examples of what was there to be seen. NEXT PAGE: A washer system for car cameras
Webinar: The RISC-V ecosystem is ready for prime time. Get started here! – October 25
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 2:00pm EDT / 11:00am PST The RISC-V ISA (instruction set architecture) is redefining the embedded processor marketplace. The open architecture of the RISC-V ecosystem has developed critical mass. Be on the leading edge of what is the next big thing. Attend this webinar to learn about: Fixed ISA allows customization for […]
Top microcontroller threads on EDAboard.com – September
(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 forums.) Button key navigation menu data value – I am struggling to get the updated values from the navigation […]
Teardown: The Apple Sport watch
Apple recently came out with the Series 3 version of its watch. We can get an idea of how the Series 3 goes together from a teardown analysis of Apple’s earlier Sport model. The Sport model we analyzed has an aluminum case but the watch is also available in stainless steel. It measures about 39 […]
Gold or Tin Contacts? Just don’t mate them together
You might know that gold is a noble metal, whose electron shells are completely filled and unlikely to be attracted to other elements. You might know that old contacts provoke less signal noise than other metals, but did you know that contacting tin with gold will corrode the gold over time? Mixing tin contacts with […]
