Analog Diablog is the place to comment on the articles found in Analog Dialogue (or those that you'd like to see). It can also be used as a discussion forum on products, applications, technology, and techniques for analog, digital, and mixed-signal processing using Analog Devices components.
High-performance ADCs typically run on low-voltage supplies. To process ±10 V or larger signals, an amplifier precedes the ADC, attenuating the signal to keep it from saturating or damaging the inputs. Differential outputs are desirable to capture the full benefits of the differential-input ADC, including increased dynamic range, improved common-mode rejection, and reduced noise sensitivity.
Pedometers that use MEMS inertial sensors and sophisticated software to accurately detect steps can encourage individuals to get fit and lose weight. Small, low-cost, low-power MEMS sensors allow pedometers to be integrated into music players and mobile phones. This design uses an accelerometer in a full-featured pedometer that can count steps, measure distance, speed, and calories burned.
In This Issue: Editors’ Notes and Product Introductions Termination of High-Speed Converter Clock Distribution Devices ADIsimPower Provides Robust, Customizable DC-to-DC Converter Designs New Touch-Screen Controllers Offer Robust Sensing for Portable Displays Driving PIN Diodes: The Op-Amp Alternative Ask the Application Engineer—39 Zero-Drift Amplifiers Free and Open-Source Software—An Analog Devices Perspective
An audio "panpot" circuit continuously varies the position of a monophonic audio signal between left and right channels in response to a potentiometer setting. This circuit can be built discretely, but integrating the amplifiers and resistors on a single chip offers improved specifications, less PCB area, and lower production cost. The AD8273 dual low-distortion difference amplifier uses on-chip gain-setting resistors to ensure excellent matching.
Demand is increasing for efficient noninverting dc-to-dc converters that can operate in either buck or boost mode—with minimal cost and component count. The inverse SEPIC (single-ended primary inductor converter) is ideal for this function. An analysis of its operation and implementation with the ADP1877 dual-channel synchronous switching controller will reveal its many useful properties.
