Tutorials

Emails are the most commonly used communication in the today’s digital era. The emails can also be way of communication with IoT devices. The emails can be used to pass commands to IoT devices. The devices can then be programmed and configured to read emails received and act accordingly. There can be interesting applications built this way. For receiving emails, the IoT devices need to configure as an Email Client. They can retrieve emails only over a standard email protocol. Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is one of the standard email message protocols.  

In the previous tutorial, it was mentioned that IMAP protocol is a standard email protocol which is used to store email messages and retrieve them. It was also mentioned that IMAP protocol can be used in IoT applications where commands can be passed to IoT devices by emails. This can be really helpful in certain situations like when security might be the main concern. Also, emails can be sent on any network without any special application or permissions. The IoT devices can receive emails as email clients where they can read emails and process information contained in them.

MicroPython implements the Python 3 programming language for microcontrollers and microcomputers. It is a firmware solution designed to implement high-level language features of Python into low-level hardware platforms. The firmware is optimized to run in constrained environments while allowing a small subset of Python 3 standard libraries into embedded programming. MicroPython firmware can run in…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about Python’s syntax — meaning its identifiers, keywords, comments, statements, literals, and data types. We also learned that Python is object-oriented and that these objects can be mutable or immutable. Python objects that point to a group of values are  iterable, which, in this case, is referred to as…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about basic syntax and several elements of Python’s language. Python offers six types of sequences: strings, bytes, byte arrays, range, tuples, and lists. Importantly, the strings, bytes, range, and tuples are immutable sequences that cannot be modified once defined. It’s only possible to create or destroy these sequences. This…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about manipulating data values in lists and byte arrays. Python also has mutable unordered collections, including sets and dictionaries. Let’s review these two and learn how to manipulate the data values/objects in sets and dictionaries. Sets Sets are unordered mutable collections of items. The items in a set can…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the sequences and unordered collections in Python, including the operations, functions, and methods applicable to them. However, there can be more complex data structures in an application, which are known as user-defined classes and objects. Any application uses data (values/objects/user-defined classes/objects) and code behavior (how the data is…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the object-oriented features of Python, which are important for organizing code and structuring our applications. Now, let’s discuss how to design graphic interfaces in Python. Embedded applications developed on microcontrollers typically have LEDs, character LCDs, or small graphic LCDs as display devices. However, these displays do not have…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the window widget in Tkinter and designed a blank GUI main window (which is not a child to any other window in the GUI application). Child windows serve as a container for other widgets There is no point of blank windows so there must be other widgets included…

In previous tutorials, we’ve covered serial communication using the UART and software serial in Arduino. The universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), I2C, and SPI are the most commonly used serial interfaces in embedded systems.  UART is useful for full-duplex serial communication with a single device over two wires. The I2C or two-wire interface (TWI) is used for half-duplex…

In the previous tutorial, we covered the I2C bus in Arduino. We also learned about using the wire library to communicate with the Inter-integrated circuit or I2C devices using Arduino boards.  The I2C bus is commonly used by digital sensors. When using this interface, hundreds of slave devices can be connected over just two wires. Each device —…

Application layer refers to OSI Level 5, 6 and 7. It is application layer in the TCP-IP model. In IOT architecture, this layer lies above the service discovery layer. It is highest layer in the architecture extending from the client ends. It is the interface between the end devices and the network. This layer is implemented through a dedicated application at the device end. Like for a computer, application layer is implemented by the browser. It is the browser which implements application layer protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP and FTP. Same way, there are application layer protocols specified in context to IOT as well.

EMC stands for Electromagnetic compatibility, which means that a device is compatible with (i.e., no interference is caused by) its electromagnetic (EM) environment. It does not emit levels of EM energy that generate electromagnetic interference (EMI) in other devices in the vicinity. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is the interference caused by one electrical or electronic device…

EMC test is known as Electromagnetic Compatibility, a certification for electronic devices to maintain their limitation of electromagnetic waves. As discussed in the previous article, there are two types of EMC tests – emission (EMI) and immunity (EMS). EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) tests measure the magnetic waves emitted by the device, and EMS (Electromagnetic Susceptibility) tests…

An EMC test is known as Electromagnetic compatibility, a certification for electronic devices to maintain their limitation of electromagnetic waves. As discussed in the previous article, there are two types of EMC tests: emission (EMI) and immunity (EMS). EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) tests measure the magnetic waves emitted by the device, and EMS (Electromagnetic Susceptibility) tests…

EMC testing is essential to get a certification of Electromagnetic Emission and Immunity test before launching the product in the market. However, actual EMC tests are pretty expensive. Before going for the actual EMC test, the product should test in EMC pre-compliance test Lab. Pre-compliance testing will mimic all tests performed at EMI/EMC test labs…

In the previous article, we learned about EMI/EMC pre-compliance test. EMS/EMC pre-compliance immunity test is required before the compliance test. EMS/EMC pre-compliance immunity test will give the confidence to pass the compliance test. The pre-compliance immunity test simulates all the tests done at the compliance test lab, but it is unnecessary to apply all the…

A diode is a two-terminal device that acts as a one-way switch. The Schottky is a metal-semiconductor diode known for very low forward voltage in which the metal forms the anode and the n-type semiconductor acts as the cathode. The diode is named after German physicist Walter H. Schottky. It is also called Schottky barrier…

by Ken Ghadia, Sales Engineer, TechnoTronix PCB fabrication is transforming circuit board design into a physical PCB based on design specifications. It is usually an outsourced activity done by a Contract Manufacturer (CM) who strictly follows the specifications provided by the designer. Certain critical factors like choice of the PCB substrate, layout strategy, surface coating requirements…

A tunnel diode—also called Esaki diode because Leo Esaki invented it in 1957—is a heavily doped PN junction diode that exhibits negative resistance and high conductivity due to the tunneling effect. In signal diodes (small signal diodes and rectifier diodes), charge carriers gradually overcome the depletion region. In a tunnel diode, the charge carriers spontaneously…