A subtle change to a standard circuit can enhance its usefulness and even save a resistor. If there were a prize for the most trivial Design Idea (DI) of the year, this one would likely be high on the shortlist (if not at the top). Most DIs involve ...
Op amps tend to make analog design easy. Maybe sometimes too easy? Don’t get me wrong. I like operational amplifiers. Some of my best friends are op amps. They embrace such a wide range of varied capabilities, including low noise, high power, ...
Simple math implemented in a (very) simple circuit. What’s not to like? A very cool (also warm!) property of the base-emitter junction of (most) small signal BJTs is the ΔV BE temperature-sensing effect. ΔV BE temperature ...
Tracking down rodentia (or otherwise)-caused cable cuts, and differentiating them from normal open circuits, is critical. Evolving the circuit design for expanded functionality makes it even more valuable. It’s just part of the job. Every ...
My recent DI contribution (Another silly simple precision 0/20 mA to 4/20 mA converter, Ref. 1 ) used the LM337 regulator in a novel circuit arrangement to translate an input 0-20 mA current source into a 4-20 mA two-wire transmitter current loop ...
A topic that has recently drawn a lot of interest (!) and no fewer than four separate design articles (!!) here in Design Ideas, is the conversion of 0 to 20 mA current sources into industrial standard 4 mA to 20 mA current loop signals. ...
A recent Design Idea (DI), “Silly simple precision 0/20 mA to 4/20 mA converter,” ( Ref. 1 ) by prolific DI contributor Stephen Woodward uses the venerable LM337 regulator in a creative configuration along with a few passive components, ...
Various designs for current mirror circuits have been an active topic recently here in Design Ideas (DIs). Usually, the mirror designer’s aim is to make the mirror’s input and output currents accurately equal, but Figure 1 shows one ...
Stephen Woodward’s “Ignoring the regulator’s reference” ( Ref. 1 ) Design Ideas (DI) (see Figure 1) is an excellent, working example of how to include a circuit in the feedback loop of an op amp to support the stabilization ...
The LM358 family of dual op amps is among those hoary industry work-horse devices that are inexpensive and still have their uses. These parts’ outputs can approach (and for the inputs even include) their negative supply rail voltage. ...