Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Ultrahigh-Performance Differential-Output Programmable-Gain Instrumentation Amplifier

Data-acquisition systems and PLCs require versatile high-performance analog front ends that interface with a variety of sensors to measure signals accurately and reliably. Depending on the magnitude of the voltage or current being measured, the signal may need to be amplified or attenuated to match the full-scale input range of the ADC used for further digital processing and feedback control.

S-Parameters Allow High-Frequency Verification of RF Switch Models

S- (scattering) parameters characterize electrical networks using matched impedances. Scattering refers to the way traveling currents or voltages are affected when they meet a discontinuity in a transmission line. S-parameters allow a device to be treated as a “black box” with inputs and outputs, enabling a system to be modeled without having to deal with the complex details of its actual structure.