Despite the contention that “everything is going digital,” amplifiers of analog signals have always been and continue to be important and unavoidable functions in real circuits and systems. Yet amplifiers which must produce significant output power from audio to RF face challenges of performance and efficiency. The industry has some long-established designations for classes of […]
basics
Flashovers and clearance in electronic equipment
Electronic circuits accomplish so much with single-digit supply voltages that it’s easy to lose track of the precautions that higher-voltage circuits demand. But getting to those single-digit supplies often requires power-train sections operating at hazardous potentials. Although human safety is a key concern, it isn’t the only one. If sufficient clearances aren’t maintained between conductive […]
What’s your type? Walk-thru of semiconductor diodes
There are quite a few different types of semiconductor diode from junction diodes, Schottky diodes, Zener diodes etc. You need to know the difference between them in order to select one. A good place to start the description of the types would be a comparison of a conventional PN junction diode and a fast recovery […]
What are amplifier classes and their power efficiencies?
Amplifiers which must produce significant output power face challenges of performance and efficiency. The industry has some long-established designations for classes of amplifiers as well as some relatively new classes. First a look at the older but still widely used classes commonly known as A, B, AB, C, and D. The Class A amplifier provides […]
When should I use an LDO versus a switching regulator?
Both switchers and LDOs have their place in power distribution, as each has special attributes. With few exceptions, every electronic circuit needs at least one well-regulated, accurate, stable dc power rail at 12, 5, 3.3 V, or even at 1 V, and many systems need five, ten or more such rails. This power must come […]
What are the benefits of 48 V distribution?
Mains-connected computational resources have been powered primarily by 12-V distribution feeds for decades. The 12-V distribution potential has been a convenient choice because it lets designers route power efficiently throughout small-to-medium-sized systems and operate inexpensive, off-the-shelf fans and disk drives directly from the distribution voltage. Advances in the semiconductor fabrication process have driven significant reductions […]
Understanding op amp input stages
Choosing an op amp and getting the best out of it involves some understanding of what is inside the chip, particularly the input stage. Simple bipolar input stage A conventional bipolar opamp will usually have a long-tailed-pair with two NPN or PNP input transistors as shown below. This explains the limited working range of a […]
