by Sebastiano Grasso, Leonardo Agatino Miccoli, Giusy Gambino, Filippo Scrimizzi, STMicroelectronics, Catania, Italy The automotive landscape constantly evolves, driven by the increasing demand for automation, safety enhancements, and power efficiency. Within this dynamic environment, the deployment of DC motors in automotive body applications has gained significant prominence. These versatile motors find application in both traditional combustion…
The crucial role of thermal interface materials
As electrical engineers, we are always searching for new and innovative ways to optimize the performance of our devices. However, one often overlooked aspect of electronic design is the management of heat. Excessive heat can have disastrous effects on the performance, reliability, and longevity of electronic components. This is where Thermal Interface Materials (TIMs) come…
What AI can bring to PCB manufacturing
by Ken Ghadia, Sales Engineer, TechnoTronix The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in PCB manufacturing has largely improved the product quality, optimized the production process, and significantly reduced the manufacturing cost. AI drives independent automation of PCB production by using the vast data aggregated from several sensors. Machine learning and deep learning are the AI…
PCB assembly tips for medical device manufacturing
By Suresh Patel, Sales Engineer, Mer-Mar Electronics Medical PCBs are built with the highest quality standards to ensure the precision and reliability of medical devices. PCB fabrication and assembly processes are converging on greater accuracy of health monitoring and diagnostic devices. Flexible treatments and faster information exchange systems are possible due to the improved design,…
Writing a bootloader for Arm Cortex-A35/A5X microprocessors
By Aaron Bauch, Senior Field Application Engineer, IAR Systems Design specifications require the ability to update a device’s firmware in the field dynamically. This is done commonly via a bootloader. Designing a bootloader, however, is challenging as it must meet various requirements. For example, the mechanism for getting the new application into the MPU is…
Medical PCB assembly: Know these regulations and standards
by Ken Ghadia, Sales Engineer, TechnoTronix The reliability and safety of Medical PCB assembly are of utmost importance as they directly impact human healthcare. It is one of the most critical applications that demand the best PCB performance. Setting stringent regulatory standards is compulsory in medical device manufacturing. The standards also apply to the printed circuit…
Accessing Raspberry Pi terminal using MQTT
In this article, we will learn how to access raspberry pi from anywhere in the world using MQTT. This will all be done with a python script. Several applications are already available to access Linux-based terminals over remote/network, but they all require port forwarding, but MQTT allows without port forwarding. We will not need any…
Creating unique devices with haptic touch technology
By Nedko Ivanov, Aito Consumer technology products are becoming increasingly difficult for designers and manufacturers to differentiate. Laptops, in particular, are all of a similar size and shape and offer the same functionality. Clamshell laptops typically combine the same three features – a display, a keyboard, and a touchpad – with few aspects that distinguish…
What is sensor fusion?
by Charles Pao, senior marketing specialist, CEVA Motion sensing devices are all around us and in several of the electronics that we use daily. Motion sensors are in earbuds – noticing taps to change songs or pausing music when we take them out of our ears. They’re used for head tracking in virtual reality (VR)…
Top ten tips for nailing your PCB silkscreen design
By Suresh Patel, Sales Engineer, Mer-Mar Electronics Silkscreen represents the outer layers of a PCB that include text-based readable information like component reference designator, test points, company logos, PCB part number and version number, etc. This is necessary for circuit board assembly, rework and debug support. The silkscreen ink is different from the regular printing…
Using SMTP in the IoT
Controlling IoT devices requires specific apps and settings. But you can also control them using emails since emailing is possible using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), which is on the TCP/IP stack. Therefore, the devices that support TCP/IP stack can use emails as command and control. So, for an application purpose, we will be making…
Through-hole vs. surface mount: Selecting the right technology for your next PCB
By Suresh Patel, Sales Engineer, Mer-Mar Electronics When designing and manufacturing your PCB, one of the early decisions involves the type and style of components to be used. Traditionally, the option available was to insert components into plated through-holes on the PCB. Increasingly, the trend has been to use a method that does not involve…
A comprehensive guide to PCB prototype testing
By Arshon Technology For PCB prototype applications, one prerequisite is a must: reliable testing. These early products are built with the sole purpose of testing design ideas to ensure they work for approved use and sale. Be that as it may, PCBs can be unpredictable as there are many parts and patch associations. When electronic…
Switches: The complete guide
From DIP, rotary DIP, and slide switches to tactile, rocker, push button, and toggle switches, there is a nearly limitless range of mechanical switches differing in size, shape, interfaces, and features. Although a relatively basic component in electronic design, each switch type has its benefits, drawbacks, and ideal use cases. Because all switches serve a…
Centralized control system for IoT devices
In this project, we will be creating a single control center for all of our IoT devices. We will control all of our IoT devices with just one single tool and get the status of all of them live on a single screen. We can implement these types of control centers for most of the…
SMTP – Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It is a worldwide email transmission standard for receiving email. Mostly, the IMAP (Internet message access protocol) is used. Earlier In the 1960s, one-to-one email communication was used. People used specific mainframe systems in this. As more computers were introduced in the network while the internet was developing,…
A Bluetooth-controlled datalogger robot
Robots are supporting human behaviors, activities, and jobs in several notable ways. From robotic arms and hands to robots that provide surveillance and maintenance tasks, this technology is rapidly advancing to assist in ways that make certain tasks safer, quicker, or more accessible. Such robots are either automatic — meaning they can operate automatically without…
SMS-enabled scrolling message board using Arduino
In the previous article, we learned how to send a message to scroll on a notice board from a smartphone using the Bluetooth application, and how to display the date and time. However, Bluetooth is only adequate for short-distance communication of about 10 meters. But what if it’s necessary to send notifications from a greater…
Remote wireless data-monitoring system using Arduino
Remote data-monitoring systems have been widely used in nearly all manufacturing industries for many years and with several benefits. For example, these systems allow for the tracking, recording, and ongoing monitoring of data from different sensors — such as for temperature, pressure, flow, humidity, etc. — in a central control room of a plant. Various…
Bluetooth-operated scrolling message board using Arduino
In the previous tutorial, we learned how to use the applications of the Matrix LED scrolling message boards. This included how to send a message or notice to display on such a board by using a laptop or desktop PC. In this article, we’re going to learn how to send that message from a smartphone…