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1500 questions
48
votes
11 answers
Software for workshop - electronic components stock management
Im looking for reliable software that will help me to manage electronic components, tools, drills, wires in my workshop.
Currently I have probably more than 1000 diffrent components. My brain can't manage this anymore.
My "wishlist":
preferable…
Kamil
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47
votes
5 answers
Why are things like RESET/MCLR active low on most ICs?
Convention?
Easier to implement?
Another reason?
Is there a reason things like MCLR or RESET on microcontrollers are active-low, that is, you have to pull them down to reset the IC, and pull them up to "run" the IC.
I'm just curious because this…
Thomas O
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47
votes
9 answers
Can an FPGA design be mostly (or completely) asynchronous?
We had a very short FPGA/Verilog course at university (5 years ago), and we always used clocks everywhere.
I am now starting out with FPGAs again as a hobby, and I can't help but wonder about those clocks. Are they absolutely required, or can an…
Roman Starkov
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47
votes
2 answers
What is input and output impedance of an opamp?
I have never understood input and output impedances of an op-amp. If anyone can explain what these two terms mean in an op-amp I'd highly appreciate it. Thank you!
http://www.eecs.tufts.edu/~dsculley/tutorial/opamps/opamps5.html
user734861
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47
votes
1 answer
How can I implement regenerative braking of a DC motor?
I know that many electric cars are able to convert the momentum of the car into stored energy in batteries, rather than convert it to useless heat at the brake pads. How does this work? How can I implement it myself?
Phil Frost
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47
votes
8 answers
Can we build capacitors on a PCB board?
For the magnitude of nF or µF capacitors, I hope I can build them on a PCB board. The capacitor is like a two metal layer and something between them.
Is this possible?
Not buying the capacitor, just design the capacitor on the PCB board. Double…
alan
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47
votes
5 answers
Is Bluetooth Communication Possible Without Pairing?
I am working on a device which can wirelessly activate a system "instantly". The first thing which came to mind was to use RFID technology which has the advantage of instant and cheap communication. However, I am interested in using my phone's…
capcom
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47
votes
5 answers
Microcontroller shelf life
Our purchasing department requested the AT32UC3B1256 and the supplier has a few thousand in storage. However, those trays have a date code from 2009.
While shelf life is normally not much of an issue with integrated circuits, 10 years is quite a…
Rev
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47
votes
4 answers
Why don't we use wireless electricity today?
I was reading about Nikola Tesla today (via the Oatmeal) and read about the Wardenclyffe Tower which (among other things) was intended to transmit electricity wirelessly. Forgive the naivety of the question, but if technology that could transmit…
n00b
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47
votes
8 answers
How to choose a MCU platform?
There are numerous MCU platforms and once somebody has gotten used to one, they are generally reluctant to switch to another platform.
My question is: If one started using a MCU for general purpose tasks today, how would one go about choosing one?…
ARF
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47
votes
20 answers
What is a good microcontroller for Ethernet applications?
What is a good microcontroller for doing Ethernet applications? Or do I just need a good Ethernet library to connect with an Ethernet MAC/PHY?
Robert Deml
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47
votes
11 answers
Cheapest FPGAs?
How cheap do FPGAs get? I know they're more expensive than microprocessors of comparable capability, but I wonder if there exist FPGAs that could contain a Microblaze soft core running Linux, while leaving gates available for implementing DSP…
pingswept
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47
votes
6 answers
Is there a technical reason why most touch screens use glass rather than plastic?
Most modern touch screens in portable devices are made of glass.
This glass often breaks if accidentally dropped. Also, it is very reflective, making it difficult to use in strong light.
I know that touch screens without glass exist. For example,…
Fiksdal
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47
votes
5 answers
CMSIS vs HAL vs Standard Peripherals Library
So I'm switching from PICs to ARM and I bought an STM32F4 discovery board.
So far I understand that to program it you can either access all registers directly in memory (obvious way) and also there are 3 main libraries you can use to make your life…
John
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47
votes
7 answers
Why aren't headphone jack shaped plugs used for data?
With Apple's lightning cable, and USB 3.0, reversible cables are taking off, and I personally think this is very convenient. But we have had better than reversible for a long time, in the form of the headphone jack, which can be inserted in any…
Drew
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