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Introduction The Internet is full of articles documenting successful electronic development projects showcasing the developer's skills and knowledge. However, this casts a somewhat unbalanced view of the reality of the development process, where not all projects run smoothly or succeed. However, the projects that don't go to plan often have the most valuable lessons to teach. So, to adjust the balance, here's a story about a prototype that didn...

There is a popular misconception that pull-up resistors are always required or necessary on the lines in a SPI bus. I am here to tell you unequivocally that pull-up resistors are not always required on an SPI bus in order for it to perform its basic function of sending and receiving digital data. The buffer in an SPI interface has a push-pull topology which (at a high-level) involves high-side and low-side switching MOSFETs, essentially forming...

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I've had multiple people ask me about a particular kind of 4-layer PCB stackup which uses a dedicated layer for power. No, it is not the SIG/GND/PWR/SIG stackup, of which I am in favor of in specific types of power systems. This stackup is the SIG/GND/PWR/GND stack up, which is a kind of stackup I have not contemplated in the past. Sure, it is very similar to the SIG/GND/PWR/SIG stackup in that we have a dedicated layer for power, and the bottom...

Whether you're designing a high-speed PCB, or a complex embedded system, it will need some level of testing. For the advanced high-speed and RF systems, that usually means simulations compared to VNA or scope measurements. For embedded software and firmware, the testing steps can be quite different. In fact, there are some things you can do in your prototype design to help you speed up the testing process and eliminate the need to probe around...

Watch our webinar to revolutionize your design workflow! Discover the power of Altium's MCAD CoDesigner and its compatibility with SOLIDWORKS.  We'll take you on a journey through a practical USB isolator project, demonstrating every step of this unified design approach. Learn how easy it is to define PCB shapes, route them in Altium Designer, and even craft end plates that can be brought to life through laser cutting or 3D printing.  At the...

As I sat across from a C-level executive from one of the leading semiconductor firms during my time interviewing industry leaders for Supply Chain Digital and Manufacturing Global magazines, I vaguely remember him saying something along the lines of, "The semiconductor industry is like the weather—foreseeable to an extent, but filled with sudden storms that can change everything." That’s probably not verbatim, and I believe he was repeating it...

You may notice something different about our search results pages on occasion: Our filters are periodically redesigned to improve usability and make them more intuitive. Here’s a rundown of our current search views and filters. Two Views to Choose From: Price View and Specs View Whenever you perform a search on Octopart, you’ll be taken to one of two search results views: Price View or Specs View. See Figures 1 and 2. With each view, at the...

Looking for a way to reduce time and increase the accuracy of the manual assembly of PCBs? Join us for a transformative session and learn how XVP Photonics achieved these goals with Assembly Assistant! At the webinar, you will learn how Assembly Assistant can help you: Achieve substantial time and cost savings  Enhance product quality Reduce the likelihood of errors  Optimize your electronic manufacturing and new product development Our...