Op Amps for Linear Designs: Back to the Basics
Op amps are the basic building blocks for much of linear circuit design. You probably learned about them in college and even designed some products containing an op amp.As an electronic engineer, you will at some point in your career probably need to design a linear circuit.
If you’re not an advanced linear or analog circuit designer, perhaps the best way to fulfill your linear design needs is to use an op amp. These ICs are widely available, inexpensive, and can be configured in hundreds if not thousands of ways to satisfy most linear requirements. Here’s a summary and update on these versatile devices.
Microcontroller Efficiently Measures Frequency and Period
When you need to take accurate timing measurements in hardware without overloading a microcontroller, the signal measurement timer module (SMT) in the Microchip16F1619 PIC microcontroller is perfectly suitable for this application. The SMT module captures features of a signal such as Period and Frequency, among others. This design measures input frequency signals within the range of 8 Hz to 10 MHz, and Period signals within the range of 0.1 µs to 125 ms.
Engineering Startup Makes PCBs Accessible to Next-Generation Electrical Engineers
Every circuit design project starts somewhere, whether it’s breadboarded or built up bug-style. Eventually, that project will need to be prototyped. Gerber Labs, a startup based in Tustin, CA, is rolling out a platform that makes custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) accessible to electrical engineering students, hobbyists, and small businesses.
Getting your hands on a custom PCB can sometimes present hassles. If you’re a large business or manufacturer, a traditional PCB house will spin you a prototype in anticipation of a large order down the road. But that often entails working through salespeople and/or overseas reps. PCB’s traditionally have only been accessible for large businesses and manufacturers. Gerber Labs is changing this by making PCBs available in prototype quantities to the consumer and small-business markets.