A diode is the simplest electronic device. There are many different types of diodes. Most of are semiconductor diodes, while many diodes have a different construction from the typical PN junctions. All diodes are, by definition, two-terminal one-way voltage-controlled electronic valves. Signal diodes are frequently used in electronic circuits. Often, the term signal diode is…
An introduction to ultrasonic sensors
Ultrasonic sensors have been a popular method for distance measurement and object detection for many years. Their basic operating principle works by measuring the amount of time it takes for their emitted ultrasonic pulse of sound to bounce off an object and return, hence the name ultrasonic sensor. With the market for autonomous robots, vehicles,…
What is Cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrencies are getting popular day by day. Bitcoin was the first-ever cryptocurrency and is the most popular one right now. At present, there are more than 6700 cryptocurrencies around the world. In the future, where the world may go cashless with different kinds of electronic money, and all financial transactions may become digital, cryptocurrencies have…
What are the different types of IC packages?
Integrated Circuits rule the world of electronics. Electronic components are available either in discrete or integrated form. The discrete form is reserved for standalone components only, like a transistor, diode, resistor, capacitor, or inductor. It is the ICs that actually made electronics so popular and ubiquitous it is today. All sorts of circuits – analog,…
What are Application Specific ICs?
The electronics industry has always focused on miniaturization. This miniaturization was driven by the desire to integrate maximum logic in minimum dimensions. Still, in 2021, the industry is not prepared for the end of Moore’s law, despite a gradual rise in the R&D costs to continue along this path. The ability of transistor logic to…
What are the different types of integrated circuits?
Integrated circuits (ICs) are synonymous with electronics. Wherever there are any electronics, there are definitely one or more ICs. There are no electronics without ICs. Electronics became so popular, widely acceptable, and ubiquitously applicable, all due to the invention of integrated circuits. Integrated circuits are miniaturized integration of complete electronic circuits on a single semiconductor…
What are the different types of fingerprint scanners?
Fingerprint scanners, which were once reserved for biometric logging systems and attendance systems, are now part of regular smartphones and much more. Fingerprints have been a trusted method of personal identity. Combined with face id or other biometric identification systems like retina scanning, fingerprints offer an impeccable way to recognize any person. With a blast…
What is IOTA?
Internet of Things already has billions of devices by 2021. This globe-spanning network of sensors and consumer devices holds the future of a human-machine world. Well, financial transactions are all-important in a world of humans. IOTA is a cryptocurrency designed to add economics to the internet of machines. IOTA is quite different from thousands of…
What is the Artificial Intelligence of Things?
The Internet commenced as a medium to share files remotely. It didn’t take time to flourish as the most popular globe-spanning communication network for sharing information, messages, and all kind of data. With the evolution of technology, the internet is now the one-stop solution for everything. The Internet made the computers, and then the mobile…
What are the AMBA protocols?
As electronic miniaturization has been an all-time goal of chip manufacturers, motherboard-based computer/electronic systems have been eventually replaced by System-on-Chip (SoC) and Package-on-Package (PoP) ICs. Complex computer systems are now condensed to smartphones and other handheld devices. These sophisticated electronic devices and gadgets have an SoC at their heart which manages complete computing and control.…
What is the difference between current feedback and voltage feedback op amps?
Current feedback (CFB) operational amplifiers (op amps) and voltage feedback (VFB) op amps have almost as many similarities as differences. CFBs and VFBs both have inverting and non-inverting inputs, a signal output, inputs for positive and negative voltage supplies and use feedback and gain resistors to stabilize circuit operation and set circuit gain. That can…
What is the Z-Wave protocol?
Smart homes need wireless connectivity, and Z-wave has emerged as the ultimate solution for home automation. The Z-wave protocol is a wireless, radio frequency protocol designed primarily for smart home networks. All the existing wireless communication protocols had one or the other problem. Bluetooth and Zigbee often shortfall of range while Wi-Fi poses its own…
What is the HART protocol?
Data communication over analog signals is a common process. In automation, the data is communicated to and from controllers with several different process instruments. Quality is important as the controllers and smart instruments must communicate over long distances. Additionally, the data communication between a device and a controller must be dictated by a protocol (i.e.…
What is an Integrated Circuit? Specifications to tapeout
An integrated circuit, or an IC, is a miniature circuit made up of thousands or even billions of transistors. It can be described as a set of electronic circuits fabricated on a semiconductor material. Usually, this material is silicon. The integration of MOS transistors leads to chips being faster, smaller in size, and less expensive…
What is an SoC?
A System on Chip or an SoC is an integrated circuit that incorporates a majority of components present on a computer. As the name suggests, it is an entire system fabricated on a silicon chip. The beauty of an SoC is that it integrates all the components on a single substrate. In semiconductors, a substrate…
What is a Transformer?
A transformer is an apparatus for converting electrical power in an ac system at one voltage or current into electrical power at some other voltage or current without the use of rotating parts. Transformers have been an essential component in electrical as well as electronic circuits. Apart from stepping up or stepping down the voltages, they are used for providing isolation, for impedance mismatch and so on. Development of new technologies has reduced the usage of transformers, but still they are quite vital in many applications.
What is Multiplexer?
A Multiplexer (commonly called Mux) is a device that can select one of several input signals and then forward it to a single output line. It is generally implemented using a combinatorial circuit which prior information on the number of inputs. Mux are generally used to increase the amount of data that can be sent…
What is DFSS?
DAFS is a network file system protocol that enables applications to bypass Operating System control, buffering and network protocol operations while transferring data to and from application buffers. It uses Virtual Interface architecture as its transport mechanism to achieve this and is designed for cluster.ed, shared-file networks used for e-commerce, Internet and database applications over…
What is Digital Footprint?
A digital footprint is the trace left by people when they are online or any interaction with the digital environment. On the internet, a digital footprint may be forum registrations, emails or digital images which leave traces of personal information of the user accessible by other users. It can be an indicator of the users…
What is Data Vaulting?
Data vaulting is the process of protecting the data from hardware failures and security threats by sending it to some other off-site location. This is generally achieved through a direct data line or through the internet. The off site locations may compress and encrypt data for further security and also have auxiliary power backups to…