Articles – Page 5

The Radio Shack at the Other End of the Universe

August 4, 2025

When I wrote “The Radio Shack at the End of the Universe” for EEJournal back in 2018, I assumed it described my last visit to a Radio Shack. The number of Radio Shack stores had crashed following two corporate bankruptcies. All the corporate-owned stores had been closed and the real estate sold off. What remained was a dwindling collection of dealers and affiliate stores, like the TV and radio repair shop named Crystal TV, located in Hollister, Colorado, which my wife and I had visited … Read More → "The Radio Shack at the Other End of the Universe"

Powering the Ambient IoT with Over-the-Air Wireless Power Networks

by Max Maxfield

July 31, 2025

The older I get, the more I recall how new technologies made their way onto the market and into the collective consciousness when I wore a younger man’s clothes. Paradoxically, it also seems that the older I get, the more I forget, but since I don’t remember what I’ve forgotten, this really doesn’t prey, play, or weigh on my mind.

In the case of technologies that impinge on the unwashed masses (of which I’m a proud card-carrying member), a technological introduction is invariably accompanied by lots of messaging. … Read More → "Powering the Ambient IoT with Over-the-Air Wireless Power Networks"

An Awesome Addition to the Power Supply Market

by Max Maxfield

July 29, 2025

There’s a familiar expression along the lines of, “You can’t teach an old Max new tricks,” but that’s not true because I’m learning new tricks all the time. Take power supplies, for example…

I’m ashamed to say that when I was young and foolish, I didn’t give power supplies the recognition they deserved. My focus was on the digital logic side of things—the power supply was just something that lurked around in the background. In fact, I would rarely give power supplies much thought at all… … Read More → "An Awesome Addition to the Power Supply Market"

Is AI Poised to Run Amok (Part 1)?

by Max Maxfield

July 24, 2025

I know… I know… everywhere we turn these days, we’re presented with yet another story focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning (ML). Do we really need one more? Well, since I’m poised to pen one, I’d have to say “Yes” (otherwise, I’d have to go back and start again, and that’s a future I’m not prepared to embrace).

Writing the preceding paragraph caused a song by Wings to pop into my head (and that’s not something I expected to hear myself saying when … Read More → "Is AI Poised to Run Amok (Part 1)?"

Simulating Antenna(s) to Bits and Back in Wireless Communication and Radar Systems

by Max Maxfield

July 22, 2025

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a presentation by a company whose name requires no introduction, so I won’t introduce it (I’m joking—I’ll introduce it later). The topic of this talk was today’s “latest and greatest” tools and techniques for designing wireless communication and radar systems, with an emphasis on simulation.

Today’s simulation tools blow me away, but this got me wondering how analog and radio frequency (RF) engineers designed things deep in the mists of time before simulators entered the scene.

WTW (“What the What”)? Another 100 Mindboggling Columns!

by Max Maxfield

July 17, 2025

“Good grief, Charlie Brown!” I just exclaimed upon realizing that I’ve hit another 100-column milestone (including this one) here on EE Journal. That makes 400 columns since I joined the community.

As my columns average around 1,500 words apiece, that’s a whopping 600,000 words—each one handpicked at the crack of dawn whilst still glistening with the morning dew, fresh, fragrant, and full of promise.

The scary part? I’m a two-fingered hunt-and-peck typist, which explains why my fingers are so fatigued by the fall of the day. … Read More → "WTW (“What the What”)? Another 100 Mindboggling Columns!"

Remarkable Rotary Dial Delights

by Max Maxfield

July 15, 2025

I’m a weak-willed man. I was fully intending to write this column on the topic of simulating radio frequency (RF) designs and devices, including communications and radar systems, when… SQUIRREL!!!

To set the scene and ensure we’re all tap-dancing to the same skirl of the bagpipes—as I previously mentioned in my Retro Gadgets, Gizmos, Tools, and Technologies column—I’m currently having a lot of fun blathering, jabbering, and prattling about the technologies of yesteryear … Read More → "Remarkable Rotary Dial Delights"

Teaching AI to Semiconductor Students, Engineers, and Fabs

by Max Maxfield

July 10, 2025

My mission today is to inform you about a university course that is no longer offered and a master’s degree program that is not yet available. Intrigued? Read on…

To set the scene, first let me remind you that I originally hail from England. I started at Sheffield Polytechnic (now Sheffield Hallam University) in the summer of 1975. You can read more about how this all came to be in my column, There’s More Than One Way to … Read More → "Teaching AI to Semiconductor Students, Engineers, and Fabs"

You May Scoff, But AI-Powered PCB Layout Is Really Real

by Max Maxfield

July 8, 2025

Recently, I re-watched the epic science fiction movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Although this film was released in 1968, I don’t think I saw it on the big screen until 1969, when I was 12 years old. I know that by the time I watched the film, I’d already read the book, for which I was very grateful, because that’s pretty much key to understanding what’s going on in the first part of the film. … Read More →

Next-Generation Motion Sensing Facilitates Immersive Spatial Audio

by Max Maxfield

July 3, 2025

I was sitting here thinking (don’t worry, I’ll try not to make a habit of it). I was contemplating how, even when we think things have evolved to be rather good (technologically speaking), someone invariably leaps onto the center of the stage with a fanfare of flugelhorns, brandishing a “new and improved” solution.

This just happened to me twice in one day (I’m too young for all this excitement). The person to blame is Chad Lucien, Vice President and General Manager of the Sensor and Audio Business … Read More → "Next-Generation Motion Sensing Facilitates Immersive Spatial Audio"