Analog Wire

  • Would you agree that RS-485 has turned out to be one of the most versatile communication standards when it comes to industrial applications? It’s very reliable for long distance communication and very popular. In all the years that the RS-485 standard...
  • Have you ever wondered how engineers designed active filters before the birth of software? They were able to do it using nomographs - but before we talk about what these are, let’s refresh our memory a little bit on active filters. Magnitude...
  • Before I suggest a suitable op amp to drive an ADC, I look at the application. This steers me toward one of two categories: low voltage or high voltage. If the system requires a low voltage operation, chances are I’ll look for a low power op...
  • The first operational amplifiers (op amps) used what is commonly called split power supplies, meaning the power for the amplifier was symmetrical around ground with both positive and negative polarities. Since most power supplies used transformers to...
  • This January, the European Commission implemented legislation to limit the power consumption in line-powered products when they are deemed in "standby" and "Off" mode. Traditionally, home audio products were guilty of wasting a...
  • No, I'm not actually going to talk about particle physics today - though that would be cool...instead we'll be discussing the theory of the string DAC architecture. String theory! The string DAC, sometimes referred to as the Kelvin divider...
  • Current feedback (CFB) amplifiers mostly belong in the realm of high speed amplifiers . There are lot of good application notes developed over the years that describe the operation and the main issues encountered when applying current feedback amplifiers...
  • More and more electronics are needed for very harsh environments, which then results in the need for multiple electronic components. For instance, oil and gas drilling, where temperatures reach up to 200°C require complete solutions for intelligent...
  • At TI, we often get questions about whether there are any quick tips or tricks to keep in mind when designing with RS-485. So, we've put together a comprehensive list of the top commandments to remember when working with RS-485. If you have any further...
  • In my last post, “ DAC Essentials: The pursuit of perfection ,” I explained the concept of the ideal DAC and established the key idioms of its performance. Now we’ll explore how real devices deviate from the ideal DAC transfer function...