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Choosing the Right Galvanic Isolation Method for Your ApplicationOriginally Webcast 12/12/2007 Design engineers have multiple options and design considerations when choosing and implementing galvanic isolation. Such options include capacitive, optical and inductive/magnetic isolation and their associated isolation standards issues such as voltage rating and creepage/clearance distances. This Analog eLab webcast will provide information to help simplify the decision making process in choosing the right isolation solution for your application. Filter Design for PWM Systems: Digital Audio vs Switching SuppliesOriginally Webcast 10/10/2007 The LC filter is one of the most important circuit blocks used with a power converter or a Class-D amplifier. In a power converter application, it stores the energy to be bucked to a lower voltage or boosted to a higher voltage. When used with a Class-D amplifier, the output LC filter improves the audio quality by removing the carrier frequency and out-of-band noise, facilitates EMC compliance by attenuating the RF component of the switching waveform, and improves reliability by limiting di/dt during a short-circuit error condition. This lab will discuss key parameters for LC filter design in both categories and a simplified approach to LC filter design for Class-D amplifiers. It will provide an example, through simulation and a lab experiment, to illustrate the effect of correct and incorrect inductor selection in the output filter of a Class-D amplifier. Improved Voltage Reference Circuits Maximize Converter PerformanceOriginally Webcast 09/12/2007 The performance of ADCs and DACs is tied directly to the performance of the associated voltage reference. Converters present a unique current demand load for the reference buffer amplifier. Understanding the load dynamics is necessary to insure the proper drive is supplied. Reference accuracy is a major factor in the overall accuracy of the conversion. Noise reduction techniques usually demand large filter capacitors. Various circuit topologies allow the voltage reference output to be stable with no degrading of the output voltage accuracy. Improved Procedures for Selecting an Analog-to-Digital ConverterOriginally Webcast 06/13/2007 Selecting an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for a new design can be a daunting task considering the various descriptive parameters, the varied signal sources, and ways in which the output data is used. While it is possible to duplicate the test conditions and procedures used by the device manufacturers to characterize their converters, it requires extreme investment in test equipment and engineering effort. Many manufacturers offer evaluation modules for their converters to assist in the evaluation process. Selection of the proper test equipment is critical and much can be learned about the performance of a converter from collected time-domain, histogram and FFT data. Using proper software to analyze the data is essential. The lab segments will demonstrate the usefulness of ADCPro, a new tool from Texas Instruments. Power Stage Design Concepts for Solar- or Fuel-cell ApplicationsOriginally Webcast 04/11/2007 The quest to achieve ever-lower operating voltage and lower power consumption levels in circuit design is a trend producing difficult challenges for electrical engineers as they run up against the very constraints placed upon them by basic semiconductor device characteristics. These characteristics, long been viewed by engineers as fundamental, may have prevented them from maximizing the usable voltage range that would otherwise make a novel circuit successful. For example, solar-cell designs and the challenge of meeting the ultra-low operating voltage of the fuel cell. In many applications, the nominal voltage is 0.3V per cell. Another example of a key constraint is dealing with the generation of a standard 3.3V or 5V output from a solar-cell array in a parallel configuration. This analog workshop will highlight new options for generating lower operating voltages in circuit designs. It is intended to stimulate new ways of thinking about circuit design and how the latest generation of synchronous boost converters can be implemented to achieve results that were either unattainable or highly improbable. The lab segment will demonstrate a boost converter in solar panel application. The Analog eLAB Design Center Introduces SwitcherPro™Originally Webcast 02/14/2007 SwitcherPro is a new online tool that allows the development of both internally and externally compensated power supply designs and helps users to quickly achieve high-performance solutions. SwitcherPro generates test-case schematics and loop responses, evaluates efficiency and analyzes circuit performance. Having an easy-to-use interface, SwitcherPro allows users to work with multiple designs simultaneously and its reference design library assists in initial design concept and development. The guests this month are Power Management Marketing Engineer, Rich Nowakowski, and Software Design Engineer, Heath Gallimore, who will discuss and demonstrate how to:
Analog eLAB Design Center Manager, Mike Caruso, will also give a short overview of the Analog eLAB Design Center and its capabilities in other areas of analog design and analysis. EMI / RFI as Seen by Analog ICsOriginally Webcast 12/06/2006 All analog circuits can be sensitive to ElectroMagnetic Interference (EMI), which is a general case of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). Understanding the physics of EMI, and how this energy interacts with analog ICs, can help identify EMI's impact on circuit performance and provide insight for developing techniques to measure how well design changes modify and minimize the impact of the EMI energy. With complex test equipment, it is possible to measure the exact sensitivity. However, with simple test techniques, it is possible to get a relative indication of circuit sensitivity to EMI. PCB Layout Techniques for Switching RegulatorsOriginally Webcast 10/11/2006 As system voltages decrease and currents increase, engineers are moving away from the traditional three-terminal regulator to a more efficient power conversion technique; namely, a high frequency switching regulator. The standard three-terminal linear regulator can be placed on a PCB with little thought and few, if any, issues. Switching regulators, however, are quite different. As the name suggests, these "new" regulators use high-frequency switching techniques to convert from one voltage level to another. Switching techniques create high voltage and current slew rates. High slew rates interact with PCB parasitics and can wreak havoc on system performance. This e-Lab is designed to help the systems engineer avoid the pitfalls of poor PCB layout. The discussion will demonstrate how to minimize parasitic components when laying out the PCB and how to determine what traces create noise and what traces are susceptible to noise within a switching regulator. Also included is some basic information for laying out a switching regulator and how to place and route the power train and control. With this information, the design engineer should be able to avoid the most common issue when using a switching regulator—noise. Class-D Audio Power Amplifiers: Operation, Efficiency and EMCOriginally Webcast 09/06/2006 Class-D audio power amplifiers use switched output devices to produce power with high efficiency. Various techniques are available for controlling switching patterns. A technique called BD modulation permits filter-free operation (operation without an output filter) in many applications, reducing cost and complexity. The output devices in a Class-D amplifier operate primarily in saturation, with low voltage drops and power dissipation. Efficiency of Class-D amplifiers can be as high as 95%, so Class-D amplifiers can reduce heat generation in high power applications and increase battery life in handheld applications. These advantages contrast sharply with the low-efficiency of Class-AB amplifiers, as much as 25% in average operation. The broad output spectrum of a Class-D amplifier can produce EMI if it is not properly controlled. Solutions to this sort of problem are often considered black magic. However, it is reasonably easy to achieve EMC through knowledge of EMI filter component characteristics and PCB layout principles. The discussion will include a special focus on BD modulation as well as elements of EMC testing, filter component characteristics and proper PCB layout. We will conduct several lab sessions, including one in a working EMI chamber to illustrate EMI testing. Required Analog Support for Digital Media-Based SystemsOriginally Webcast 06/14/2006 Digital Media-based systems for video applications require considerable analog circuit support. These support functions include video input and output in both analog and digital form, audio input and output, clocking solutions and power management. No matter how powerful the Digital Media system is, if any of these support functions corrupt the data, the system quality can be severely compromised. Each of these subjects will be treated as it applies to a Digital Media-based application. Power Concerns for LEDs Used for Display LightingOriginally Webcast 05/10/2006 Driver concerns for LEDs used in general display lighting continue to change rapidly. Because of increased of efficacy (Lumens/Watt), LED use for lighting continues to move forward. LED lighting has its own vocabulary and set of issues that need to be understood by the design engineer. Starting with the important features of general display lighting, the current methods and practices employed to provide power are examined. LED manufacturers also assist with suggestions for improved light quality. A full study can be made of control techniques for various types and topologies of lighting systems with the advantages and disadvantages of various solutions highlighted. Optimizing Power in Low-Power Wireless SystemsOriginally Webcast 04/12/2006 Most applications for low-power wireless products are in some way power-constrained. This session will cover issues related to power consumption, including systems design, selection of power sources and protocol design. Also important to low-power systems are the trade-offs between component cost, component count and battery life, which will be discussed. The lab session will take a closer look at how to practically measure power consumption in a polling system and how to perform accurate estimation of battery life time. We will measure the changing power consumption of a wireless mouse and use this as a basis for discussion for estimating the power consumption of a complex system (incorporating different power modes), etc. Managing Noise and Ground in Precision Analog System ApplicationsOriginally Webcast 03/08/2006 Sensor applications often have low-level signals. A peaceful co-existence of the sensor signal, analog circuitry, and processor requires careful attention to layout and noise reduction techniques. In this e-lab we will discuss three sources of noise, the paths noise travels, and how to reduce noise to tolerable levels. We will discuss the proper selection and placement of noise isolating and limiting components to keep analog and digital noise out of sensitive input circuits. Optimizing Analog-to-Digital Conversion in DSP-based ApplicationsOriginally Webcast 02/28/2006 Any system that touches the "real world" will need some form of data conversion. Many DSPs have integrated data converters. However, designers often face the challenge of determining whether or not a DSP's on-board converter is up to the task and, if it is not, choosing an appropriate off-chip converter. With any sensor signal - to data converter - to DSP signal chain there is a need for some form of analog processing. The selection of the converter, either on- or off-chip, has an impact on the analog pre-processing amplifier. In this e-Lab webcast, we will discuss how a selection criterion for the amplifier is developed from an understanding of the source and the converter demands, as well as how the entire signal chain must be viewed as an integrated system, not just individual parts, for optimum performance. The expert panel will be made up of application engineers from Texas Instruments DSP and Data Converter product groups. Voltage Feedback or Current Feedback Op Amps in High-Speed Applications: Pros, Cons and Design TricksOriginally Webcast 12/14/2005 Over the past 10 years, a wide range of high-speed amplifiers have emerged to support the needs of high-frequency design applications. Two particular types of amplifiers have found wide application; the current feedback amplifier and the more common voltage feedback amplifier. Each of these devices has particular applications for which they are best suited. In this eLab we will explore the differences between these devices, namely their internal construction, and what that means for the external application circuit Additionally, several key performance characteristics and design tricks will be illustrated using lab equipment similar to that used in characterizing these devices. Look for an informative discussion into pulse response, slew rate, full-power bandwidth, bandwidth control and distortion measurement. Designing with Power Modules: Transient Response, Noise Reduction and Minimizing CapacitorsOriginally Webcast 11/09/2005 On complex boards, designers are increasingly asked to provide more voltage rails for a wide variety of DSPs, ASICs and FPGAs. Frequently, as many as 6-10 voltages are required, creating power system design challenges for sequencing, EMI suppression and minimizing voltage deviation in the presence of current transients created by high speed digital circuits. In this eLab we will provide applications solutions for each of these challenges and demonstrate how to minimize the amount of input and output capacitance for DC to DC converters. Techniques for doing simultaneous and sequential sequencing will be demonstrated along with techniques to reduce EMI and how to handle high speed current transients with a minimum amount of bulk output capacitance. The application examples will be based on TI's new 2nd generation PTH power modules. Elements of the Analog Signal ChainOriginally Webcast 10/12/2005 Sensors that measure real world variables seldom have output signals that can be directly connected to a data converter in a system. Typically, there are requirements to amplify, filter, shift offset, and perform other conditioning functions. These analog signal processing functions are performed by various device families, each having unique strengths and application requirements. Join our experts in an informative exchange designed to help you better understand the basic characteristics of various data converter architectures, the special considerations that must be made when considering input signal conditioning and how to best optimize the design of your signal chain. Exploring the SPICE simulator TINA-TIOriginally Webcast 09/14/2005 The SPICE based simulation program, TINA-TI, is now available to the design community free from Texas Instruments. This powerful application program can perform DC, AC, noise, transient and Fourier analysis. In addition to an intuitive schematic capture user interface, the program will perform a repeated analysis on a circuit as a component is stepped through a range of values. Comparison of results between TINA-TI and those obtained on the lab bench prove the simulation to be very accurate when employing good models. Join our panel of experts for an engaging discussion and hands-on demonstrations on how to fully leverage the power of this uniquely capable SPICE simulator from TI. Utilizing High-Speed ADCs for UndersamplingOriginally Webcast 06/08/2005 Using high-speed A/D converters to digitize input frequencies above a converter's baseband region (dc to fs/2) is gaining much popularity in communications applications. In many of these applications the intermediate frequency (IF) can be as high as 250MHz - a frequency usually too high to digitize in an oversampling process. Join our experts in an engaging discussion on undersampling, or as it is sometimes called, direct-IF down conversion. Learn how undersampling can help you to reduce component count and eliminate a complete analog down conversion stage. Lab sessions will illustrate the theory and design techniques required to successfully select and apply high-speed pipeline A/D converter for undersampling applications. Precision Signal Conditioning for Delta-Sigma Data Converter SystemsOriginally Webcast 05/11/2005 Delta-sigma data converters are precise and accurate, but only if placed into the right environment. To fully exploit their true potential within a system, careful consideration should be given to the input signal conditioning circuit, reference voltage source and the design trade-offs influencing power, speed and accuracy. Anticipate a full exploration of the precision and accuracy characteristics of Delta-Sigma data converters, the filtering and amplification required to realize their optimal performance and discussions on when they may not need any signal conditioning at all. Power Concerns for Large Computational Devices: FPGAs and DSPsOriginally Webcast 04/13/2005 Advanced Field Programmable Gate Arrays and Digital Signal Processors continue to push the limits of computational performance and speed. To fully exploit their true potential within a system they must be properly powered. Engage in this learning opportunity to gain a more complete understanding of both system level and IC level power management requirements and trade-offs. Explore the trade-offs associated with designing a total power management solution, selecting appropriate power ICs, passive components and the requirements of new processors. Learn how to easily construct a suitable performance power solution and view lab sessions that illustrate performance of tested and approved power management circuits for these advanced devices. Amplifier Noise: Types, Origins, Magnitude Predictions and Reduction TechniquesOriginally Webcast 03/09/2005 All electronic circuits generate noise. Explore the random nature of various noise signatures and their origin. A new tool is introduced to predict the noise from operational amplifier circuits and techniques are explored to improve the noise performance of amplifier circuits. Lab tests demonstrate various noise signatures and results from reduction techniques. Quantifying Amp to ADC—Distortion ConsiderationsOriginally Webcast 02/09/2005 Interfacing an amplifier to an A/D converter requires more than a simple plug-and-play approach. When the applied signal is from an analog multiplexer, the system slew rate and settling time are critical. If the system is tracking a continuous wave form, the selection of the R-C values for the flywheel network are a major factor in the SINAD performance parameter. From the SINAD value the Effective Number of Bits (ENOB) can be calculated for the system. Lab bench demonstrations show that the type of capacitor used in the flywheel and the nature of the output stage of the driving amplifier can have significant impact. Results with various amplifiers and converters yield interesting design guidelines and insight to obtain the best system performance. Quantifying Amp to ADC Interface PerformanceOriginally Webcast 11/10/2004 This webcast provides insight into how three performance parameters, amplifier settling time, amplifier transient response to the ADC sample switch, and flywheel tuning for the minimum THD, can be quantized with new test circuits. Focuses on new techniques not only in quantifying, but also measuring performance. The live webcast will feature Lab bench demonstrations and very high resolution plots to provide a clear understanding of these new techniques and considerable insight to the system operation. A Designer's Guide to Portable System Power ImplementationOriginally Webcast 10/13/2004 Host Bill Klein and battery expert David Freeman have prepared useful tools for multi-chemistry battery designs to assist engineers with system challenges like the need for long standby and run times. Engineers will learn how to respond to dramatic changes in system load while considering cost and size restrictions. In addition, several power strategies for improving battery runtime in a wireless system will be highlighted. Klein and Freeman will provide a detailed analysis and lab bench demonstrations to show the impact of circuit and layout design on efficiency, output ripple, and load regulation. Avoiding the Pitfalls with Single-Supply Op AmpsOriginally Webcast 09/08/2004 Engineers will gain expertise on designing with single-supply op amps, finding the rough spots, and working around them. TI analog expert and eLab series host, Bill Klein, P.E. and his guest Gina Hann will highlight how signals with a common-mode voltage can exceed one or both of the supply rails without sacrificing performance. |
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