It seemed like such a good idea at the time.
I’ve wanted an autotransformer for electronic troubleshooting work for a while. Autotransformers are variable transformers that let you bring the AC voltage up slowly on a piece of gear under test. I owned a Radio Shack/Micronta variable transformer for decades, but it didn’t survive my move to … Read More → "Pimping My Variac Autotransformer (Actually, it’s a Philmore)"
“Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” – Satchell Page
Dave Jones, the multitalented proprietor of EEVblog.com has posted more than 1100 online videos covering all aspects of electronics, including numerous teardown videos that I used frequently in a prior life to highlight certain revealed design aspects in the equipment he’s torn down. Recently, Jones posted a 1-hour (!) teardown … Read More → "A Tale of Two Spectrum Analyzers"
“Silicon Valley is not a magical place, but magical things happen there.” – Jonathan C. Baer
Earlier this week, more than 100 engineering consultants, a few marketers, and four mad scientists (self-proclaimed “consulting physicists”) met under the auspices of the IEEE-CNSV—that’s the Consultants’ Network of Silicon Valley—to schmooze, eat Stuft pizza, and hear serial … Read More → "Decoding Silicon Valley"
Design and verification technologies are front and center in this week’s episode of Fish Fry. DVCon General Chair Dennis Brophy joins us with a special sneak peak of the 2018 Design and Verification Conference. Dennis and I chat about how the biggest trends are reflected at DVCON, including machine learning, automotive technologies, and big data analysis. We also discuss the addition of shorter format workshops to … Read More → "DVCon and the Big Data Problem"
“I was a peripheral visionary. I could see the future, but only way off to the side.” – Steven Wright
Persistent processor appraisers promulgate propitious program promoting peripheral parsimony.
Translation: EEMBC has a new benchmark that measures MCU power efficiency.
Once upon a time, estimating an MCU’s power consumption was … Read More → "Measuring PPs for Science"
“We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
I hate writing about security. I hate it because I wish it were unnecessary. There was a time when engineering meant making a product that did what you wanted it to do. Now it means spending a bunch of time making it not do what other people want but … Read More → "Security: Hard and Soft"
