Circuits & Schematics Measurement - 10

ADCs need adequate signal-acquisition analog interfaces to perform at their best. The classic general-purpose ADC front end includes multiple channels of differential input, digitally programmable gain, and track-and-hold capability. This Design ...

The circuit of Figure 1 includes a PIN photodiode that detects individual photons of gamma radiation. The reverse bias on the photodiode sometimes creates a depletion region. When such a photon strikes this depletion region, a small amount of ...

The simplest model of a battery comprises an ideal voltage source that connects in series with a resistance whose value often a few milliohms depends on the battery's electrochemical condition and construction. If you attempt to use an ordinary ...

Popularly known as “gauss meters,” various makes and models of magnetic field meters are available on the market at prices that make them unaffordable to many hobbyists and engineers. This Design Idea combines a commonly available DMM ...

The circuit in Figure 1 allows you to convert capacitance into a pulse train by using a constant current source and a linear monostable formed by two NAND-gate chips ( 74HC132 ). The circuit also provides two pulses to control external counter ...

An audio volume-unit meter displays peak-related audio amplitudes to aid in accurately setting recording levels or for displaying an amplifier's operating conditions. A simple diode and capacitor network provides a classic volume-unit ...

Some of the electrical signals we work with are said to be “floating” with respect to ground. A typical example might be a voltage drop over a shunt resistor in a power supply or a complex biomedical signal, such as an ECG. In such ...

To determine the specifications of a solar-generating plant, I needed to accurately measure the load current a product consumed. The product switched several internal devices on and off during an interval of several seconds. An ammeter showed that ...

You face a serious problem in using a slow ADC with a fast peak detector. The circuit in Figure 1 allows a slow ADC to measure a fast, sampled signal peak. The 100-MHz peak detector for ultrasonic-pulse sampling uses a fast MAX4231 amplifier. This ...

This Design Idea shows how to build a reliable, low-cost, and simple inductance tester. The basis for the tester is a Pierce buffered CMOS oscillator (Figure 1). Instead of using the usual quartz crystal, you connect the inductor under test. This ...