The hottest Circuits Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Resistors are out to get ya

lcamtuf’s thing • 2166 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🔬 Science Electronics Components Circuits
  1. Some components in electronics, like resistors, may not behave exactly as expected especially at high frequencies.
  2. Parasitic impedance and capacitance in resistors can affect circuit performance, especially in applications like feedback loops for operational amplifiers.
  3. Using a two-stage amplifier can help mitigate issues caused by resistor parasitics and ensure better signal integrity.

Signal reflections in electronic circuits

lcamtuf’s thing • 185 HN points • 25 Nov 23
đź•ą Technology Electronics Circuits
  1. Signal reflections in electronic circuits can cause echoes of previously-transmitted signals due to impedance discontinuities.
  2. Electronic signals do not propagate through wires instantly, but travel at high speeds, around 80% of the speed of light in vacuum.
  3. Matching the characteristic impedance of the transmission line to the transmitter helps avoid issues with signal reflections in high-speed digital electronics.

Fuses

Only Wonder Knows • 39 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
đź•ą Technology Electronics Devices Components Circuits Design
  1. Fuses are essential components for providing protection in electronic circuits by blowing up when the current exceeds a certain threshold.
  2. Fuses have specific ratings like amperage and voltage, and their behavior can be affected by factors like temperature and pulse energy.
  3. Understanding the details of fuses is crucial for designing reliable circuit boards and ensuring proper functionality.
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Chopper amplifiers: history and present

Only Wonder Knows • 19 implied HN points • 15 Dec 23
🔬 Science Electronics Engineering Physics Circuits
  1. Chopper amplifiers are a technique to reduce DC offset and low frequency noise in amplifiers.
  2. Historically, chopper amplifiers have been implemented using innovative methods like optical chopping with cadmium sulfide light-dependent resistors.
  3. Contemporary engineers can refer to Jim Williams' design for an ultrahigh performance instrumentation amplifier that resembles the old chopper amplifier concept.