Positive feedback is primarily used to rapidly amplify a desired change or signal, often in situations where a large response is needed, like triggering a process to reach a specific threshold quickly. It must be carefully managed due to its potential for instability and runaway effects. It’s used in digital electronics to force voltages away […]
FAQ
What’s the relationship between Ohm’s Law and quantum mechanics?
Ohm’s Law is the classical physics explanation of the linear relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in a conductor. Quantum mechanics provides insights into the mechanisms behind this behavior, explaining why Ohm’s Law still holds true even on very small scales where quantum effects are significant. Ohm’s law is a macroscopic view of classical physical […]
What does a watchdog timer watch?
Watchdog timers (WDTs) watch MCU operations to ensure reliability, especially in embedded systems, robotics, medical devices, electric grid monitoring, deep space missions, and other critical applications. They are used to detect and correct MCU and software glitches without human intervention. The WDT monitors system operation by listening to signals from the MCU. The system software […]
What is the Coherent Hub Interface?
The Coherent Hub Interface (CHI) is used in system-on-chip (SoC) designs to track which processor has the most recent copy of a data block, preventing other processors from using old data. CHI is used in a wide range of applications requiring high-performance cache coherence, such as mobile devices, networking equipment, automotive systems, and data centers. […]
Securing IoT devices against quantum computing risks
The key to modern asymmetric cryptography is to create an equation that is easy to solve in one direction but difficult to reverse by an adversary in the other direction. Traditionally, this was done through modular arithmetic, where a large prime modulus and a generator were used to generate a key, although there are multiple […]
A survey of Wi-Fi connectivity modules for IoT applications: part 4
This last FAQ in this series will cover Broadcom, Telit Cinterion, and Renesas’s latest innovations in Wi-Fi connectivity solutions for IoT applications. These innovations continue to focus on Wi-Fi 6 and 7 technologies, which offer improved speed combined with other features. Broadcom: BCM43740/43720/47722/6765/6726/67263 Broadcom’s BCM43740/43720/47722/6765/6726/67263 are the latest versions of the company’s Wi-Fi modules, featuring […]
A survey of Wi-Fi connectivity modules for IoT applications: part 2
This second part of the multipart FAQ will focus on Wi-Fi modules from u-blox and Microchip Technology. u-blox, a Swiss company primarily known for GPS and cellular technologies, has recently expanded into Wi-Fi modules. Microchip Technology is based in the US and is known for developing low-power connectivity options for IoT applications. u-blox: MAYA-W4 Series […]
A survey of Wi-Fi connectivity modules for IoT applications part 1
Wi-Fi connectivity has become important for many IoT ecosystems, enabling data exchange with cloud servers and facilitating real-time monitoring. This multipart FAQ on Wi-Fi connectivity for modules for IoT applications will focus on 10 prominent manufacturers and their modules that every electronics engineer should know. This first part focuses on Expressif Systems and Texas Instruments, […]
Accelerating high-performance AI workloads with photonic chips
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) continue to push the limits of conventional semiconductor architectures. To increase speeds, lower latency, and optimize power consumption for high-performance workloads, semiconductor companies and research institutions are developing advanced photonic chips that operate on the principles of light rather than electrical currents. This article discusses the limitations of […]
How to minimize design cycles for AI accelerators with advanced DFT and silicon bring-up
Design for testability (DFT) embeds testable features into an integrated circuit (IC) during design, while silicon bring-up initiates chip evaluation and debugging. Streamlining these sequential processes minimizes design cycles and shortens time-to-market (TTM) for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators. This article explores the complexities of AI chip design and outlines strategies for optimizing DFT and […]
