Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Measuring Noise of Low-Fixed-Gain Differential Amplifiers

Measuring noise of low-gain differential amplifiers presents a challenge, as their integrated feedback and gain resistors preclude high-gain configurations, and a differential-to-single-ended conversion is needed to match the spectrum analyzer. A second amplifier stage can provide gain and the differential-to-SE conversion, neatly solving both of these problems.

Detecting Human Falls with a 3-Axis Digital Accelerometer

Elderly individuals can suffer accidental falls due to weakness or dizziness. The initial injury can be further aggravated if treatment is not obtained within a short time. MEMS-based fall detectors can sense changes in body position by tracking acceleration, determine when an individual is falling, and issue an alert for assistance. This article describes the use of an ADXL345 three-axis digital accelerometer as a fall detector.

What shall we do with an unused op-amp?

Rarely Asked Questions -- Strange but true stories from the call logs of Analog Devices. View current and archived Rarely Asked Questions at http://www.analog.com/raq

Designing with Switching Regulators in High-Speed A/D Converter

Webinar Series -- View this webinar, recently archived webinars, or webinars by category at www.analog.com/webinars

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Automated Calibration Technique Reduces DAC Offset to Less than 1 mV

The AD5360 16-bit, 16-channel DAC is factory trimmed, but an offset of several millivolts can still exist. This idea shows how a simple software algorithm can reduce an unknown offset to less than 1 mV. This technique can be used for factory calibration, or for offset correction at any point in the DAC’s life cycle.

Digital Isolator Simplifies USB Isolation in Medical and Industrial Applications

Despite its low speed and point-to-point nature, RS-232 was tolerated in medical and industrial applications because it was universally available, well supported, and allowed easy implementation of the required isolation. The ADuM4160 digital isolator allows simple, inexpensive isolation of full- and low-speed USB peripherals—including the D+ and D– lines—increasing the usefulness of USB in medical and industrial applications.