Articles and news - 5

Precision current source is software-programmable
Precision current source is software-programmable
09.12.2024 Articles

With the addition of a few inexpensive miniature components, the hard-wired, voltage-controlled current source of yesterday becomes a software-programmable voltage-controlled current source...

Gain-of-two instrumentation amplifier uses no external
Gain-of-two instrumentation amplifier uses no external resistors
09.09.2024 Articles

An instrumentation amplifier offers precise gain without feedback resistors, and, at any value of gain, it provides high input impedances at its noninverting and inverting inputs. In a typical IC instrumentation amplifier, a single resistor...

LED drivers minimize power dissipation
LED drivers minimize power dissipation
09.03.2024 Circuits

One option for driving high-brightness LEDs uses the standard stepdown buck converter. The sense resistor, RS, generates a feedback voltage, VFB, that sets the desired LED current...

One-wire bus powers water-level sensor
One-wire bus powers water-level sensor
09.02.2024 Circuits

You can use the simple sensor circuit to remotely monitor the level of liquid water in a vessel such as a swimming pool. The LMC555 sensor oscillator provides an output-signal frequency that is a function of the water level...

8-bit PWM 8-bit Dpot 16-bit hybrid
8-bit PWM + 8-bit Dpot = 16-bit hybrid DAC
08.29.2024 Circuits

Pulse width modulation is a terrific basis for digital to analog conversion. Credit goes to features like simplicity and perfect differential and integral linearity. Unfortunately, PWM’s need for ripple filtering tends to make it slow...

Microcontroller supervises 0- 20-mA protection circuit
Microcontroller supervises 0- to 20-mA protection circuit
08.29.2024 Circuits

The 0- to 20-mA current loop is a reliable means of data communication in industrial applications. These circuits use a precision shunt in the receiver to convert the current signal into a voltage signal...

Dpot pseudolog log lookup table actual
Dpot pseudolog + log lookup table = actual logarithmic gain
08.28.2024 Articles

This is the Microchip MCP41xxx digital potentiometer data sheet that includes an interesting application circuit comprising a Dpot controlled amplifier with pseudologarithmic gain settings...

Voltage-reference IC integral heater offers single
Voltage-reference IC with integral heater offers single ppm-class results
08.27.2024 Articles

Designers charged with creating precision analog front ends and signal chains know that the performance of the voltage reference is often the ultimate determinant of system performance...

MEMS microphone interfaces Analog vs. digital
MEMS microphone interfaces: Analog vs. digital outputs
08.26.2024 Articles

The utilization of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems microphones presents an opportunity to incorporate sophisticated communication and monitoring capabilities into a diverse range of devices...

Floating output variable potential battery simulator
Floating output, variable potential battery simulator
08.22.2024 Circuits

Battery stack voltage monitor development is aided by a floating, variable potential battery simulator. This capability permits monitor accuracy verification over a wide range of battery voltage...