What’s that signal’s bandwidth?
A signal's bandwidth is related to its rise time because rising edges usually have the signal's highest frequency components.
Repair: HP 34401A capacitor failure
In another case of failed capacitors, this classic meter needed some power-supply capacitors replaced, and the diodes that came with…
PCB fixtures improve component measurements
Using PCBs as fixtures improves component characterization measurements over wires and connectors.
PCI Express 3.0 needs reliable timing design
Timing plays an essential role in determining the reliability of applications using PCI Express. With an understanding of the impact…
Substituting solid tantalum and tantalum polymer capacitors for surface-mount MLCCs
Examining key performance characteristics will help streamline the evaluation process of alternative capacitor technologies for the replacement of multilayer ceramic…
Analysis and simulation of PCB ACR losses for Vcore DrMOS optimization
PCB main-loop ripple current resistive losses are often neglected and overlooked as a switching power supply loss component.
Improve accuracy of electrical system thermal simulation with full-circuit 3D modeling
Full-circuit electro-thermal simulation, using an IGBT power inverter as an example, accounts for power dissipation and temperature variations throughout the…
It’s a wire-wrapped board sabotage
An unexpected discovery leads one engineer to believe his project was sabotaged.
Solder-wick trick characterizes bypass caps
Verify capacitor performance with a simple “homemade” test fixture.
A lifetime designing PCBs: Changing roles
Stay or go, finding the best avenue to project and company contributions involves tough choices.