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AN IMPORTANT FACET OF engineering is having the right tools. A lot of specialized tools already exist. One would most likely use some version of Spice to perform analog simulation [...]

Suppose you want to buy an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). You tell the clerk that you would like a 16-bit ADC with a 100-ksample/s rate and a 1.024-V input range. The [...]

Part 2 of this series showed how a dual-slope integrator could fix the major limitations of a single slope converter, and I received several e-mails in response (August 28, p. […]

Few things are more frustrating than a requirement for some feature that exceeds the ability of your present hardware. Say you're designing a product that has historically required an 8-bit […]

The article discusses how to turn a spreadsheet into a delta-sigma modulator (DSM). It explores the use of a spreadsheet model in understanding a DSM. The process for building the model is detailed which involves column A containing the sample number for each row, column B containing the inputs for each row and column C containing the accumulator values for each row. Other areas of the model mentioned include the input of zero, initial accumulator value of 0.01 and rising edges.

The article focuses on dithering in mixed signals. When a triangular dither with peak-to-peak amplitude of atleast one least significant bit (LSB) is added to a signal, the average of quantized signal becomes equal to the original signal value. Mixing two frequencies into analog-to-digital converter's (ADC) filter provides inexpensive source of dither. One type of dithering allows higher frequency dither with just single dither register in all digital-to-analog converters (DACs).

The article presents the author's suggestions for engineering students to design a robust career. He says that reputation as an honest, competent problem solver is more important for an engineer than anything else related to his job. According to him, students should develop their skills in such a way so that they can adapt to future parameter changes. He also talks about the importance of having some savings to be able to work ethically and to preserve reputation.

The article offers information on common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) and power-supply rejection ratio (PSRR) and their relation to differential amplifier. It mentions that CMRR gives equivalent differential input for a specific common-mode input, however, PSRR is the ratio of differential and power supply gain. The equation for the inputs and outputs of an ideal differential amplifier and for achieving a real-world amplifier are also presented.

The article discusses the advantages of the utilization of delta-sigma modulator (DSM). The author states that most commercialized DSMs are made up of switched capacitor technology. He cites that a DSM should have a different (delta) circuit, an integrate (sigma) circuit and a quantization (modulation) circuit comprising of an ADC and a DAC. He adds that the op-ohm feedback induces the quantized output to be subtracted from the input and the result is integrated. He further adds that the comparator on the output functions as the single bit ADC and is the density output.

The article discusses the practicability of integrating delta-sigma modulation with the dual-slope analog-to-digital converter (ADC). It cites the integration of the ADC technique is very useful for industrial applications, wherein many 60-Hz power present in signals can be measured. It notes that the dual-slope integration can function with 20 to 24 bits of resolution. However, it discusses several limitations of a dual-slope ADC integration, including comparator sensitivity, comparator response time and dielectric absorption.

Focuses on the utilization of switched capacitors in programmable analog current source. Achievement of a closed-loop stability; Characteristics of the voltage across the reference resistor; Addition of a bipolar transistor to the output of the differential integrator to make a current source.