Inspiring the Evolution of Embedded Design

October 01, 2024


The Pulse of Power

Panasonic Energy Unveils New Nickel Metal Hydride Battery System for Railway Vehicles

Maintenance-free and equipped with a remote monitoring function, the Ni-MH battery system enables easy diagnosis and monitoring, enhancing operational reliability and safety. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for electrolyte refilling, offering a hassle-free solution for railway operators. If desired, the system can also replace an existing battery system running on Nickel Cadmium batteries.

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Keysight Introduces Advanced 14-bit Precision Oscilloscope

Newly designed and built from the ground up with a custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and deep memory architecture, the HD3 Series enables engineers to quickly detect and fix signal issues in a variety of applications.


The new Keysight HD3 Series oscilloscope gives digital designers and engineers the highest vertical resolution through a 14-bit ADC and a 50 µVRMS low noise floor that can detect the smallest signal anomalies. 

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OmniOn Power Offers Reliable, Consistent Power for 5G Radios with VoltScaler Boost System

OmniOn’s VoltScaler system adjusts output voltage at the boost module to achieve the targeted input voltage of a radio, enabling telecom providers to reuse existing cabling at macro cell sites to support higher-powered 5G equipment. It also allows for new towers to leverage smaller sized, lower-cost power cables while still delivering the voltage needed at the top of the tower. The boost system offers high power density by incorporating three boost converters, each equipped with three 2,708-watt (W) circuits, providing a total of nine individual circuits to power multiple RRHs with varying power requirements. It also provides up to 97% efficiency, helping to reduce OpEx costs.

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Editor's Desk by Kirsten Campbell



The ABCs of ADCs

In embedded design, engineers often work in the digital domain, but the real world doesn't speak in 1s and 0s. Our environment is full of continuous analog signals—temperature, sound, light intensity—that need translation before digital systems can understand and process them. Let's get into it.


Signal Conditioning is Your Friend

Before an analog signal reaches the ADC, it often needs to be conditioned. For example, if you're measuring a tiny voltage, you'll want to amplify it before it reaches the ADC to ensure accurate readings. Neglecting this can lead to noisy, inaccurate conversions. Think of it as the warm-up act before the main event.

Sampling Rate ≠ Data Accuracy

Faster sampling doesn’t always mean more accurate results. Engineers can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking a high sampling rate will automatically lead to better data. But if you’re not using an ADC with the right resolution, you'll just get a lot of imprecise data faster.


Aliasing: The Ghost in the Signal

Aliasing happens when your sampling rate is too low to accurately capture the changes in an analog signal, causing it to "look" like a lower frequency than it actually is. It’s like watching an old movie where the car wheels seem to spin backward. To avoid this, make sure your sampling rate follows the Nyquist Theorem, which says you need to sample at least twice as fast as the highest frequency in your signal.engineers are in for a wild ride because they can expect to deal with higher complexity, tighter integration, and an ever-growing need for security.


ADCs may not be the flashiest part of embedded design, but they’re an essential bridge between the analog signals all around us and the digital processors that control our devices.



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Raspberry Pi has launched a new low-cost AI Camera, bringing powerful AI capabilities to all Raspberry Pi models. Unlike the AI Kit, which is limited to the Raspberry Pi 5, the AI Camera is more versatile and compatible with a wider range of devices.

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