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    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips - TechBites]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[TechBites - The Science and Technology Collaborative Community]]></description>
        <link>http://www.techbites.com/</link>
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                <guid isPermaLink="false">484-651</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[GPS/Audio Selector Route March?  : Your brother has no business using earphones while riding]]></title>
	            <link>/20090910484/myblog/ingenuity/gpsaudio-selector-route-march.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Two things: In California, for one, it's against the law to wear earphones while driving.

But more importantly, because of the high ambient noise level, motorcyclists have to turn their audio devices WAY above the save 82 dB sound level.

This is a real danger! 70% of the inductees to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have hearing loss. But that's because they stood in front of a "Wall Of Marshalls" (a huge stack of high powered guitar amplifiers).

That's understadable.

Bur doctors of all stripes and audiologists are reporting alarming rates of significant hearing loss among kids who walk around all day with with MP3 player earbuds crammed in their ears with the volume cranked up.

Note that the Real Audio DSP routine's default gain level is 89 dB.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:37:59 -0600</pubDate>
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	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">2618-578</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Need a handy low-cost benchtop supply? Use an old PC ATX PSU!: Great way to reclaim old supplies]]></title>
	            <link>/201004232618/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-need-a-handy-low-cost-benchtop-supply-use-an-old-pc-atx-psu.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Ben-

This is a terrific post. With the countless tons of computer equipment that enter the landfill every year, it's good to see a simple and practical way to keep some fraction of it in service.

The only thing your design doesn't accommodate is the minimum-loading requirement for ATX supplies. A bit long-winded for this space, I've written up a discussion of this topic in a separate posting entitled "Further to Benjamin Jordon’s ATX PSU to bench-top supply conversion project"	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:50:45 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">542-559</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Brushless Fan Speed Control – Fine Tuning: Why only 100 Hz?]]></title>
	            <link>/20090917542/myblog/ingenuity/brushless-fan-speed-control-fine-tuning.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Barnaby. Why does the circuit only work up to 100 Hz. Don't PC fans rotate at up to 3-10 Khz?	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:05:16 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1392-540</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA["Goop proof" LINUX: Pro-Linux Campaign????]]></title>
	            <link>/200912091392/myblog/ingenuity/z0019-qgoop-proofq-linux.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I think that the same trick can be applied via creating an XP-Live CD. But the question is this - Is it the right solution?

Booting OSes from USB Drives in order to protect data doesn't seem to be a nice solution. One can argue with the pros and cons of storing data in USB vs. storing in hard-drive (multi-partition support, etc)

It would be more appropriate to get more hands on the OS (either Linux or Windows), and securing data via. other techniques such as encryption, user permissions, etc.). Ultimately, it comes up to the end-user to be a good administrator.

BTW - No offense intended by the title of the comment! Many people don't know the limits of the level of protection provided by their OSes.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 21 Mar 2010 18:30:57 -0500</pubDate>
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	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">486-537</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[White Noise Generator – Sound Check: my opinion]]></title>
	            <link>/20090910486/myblog/ingenuity/white-noise-generator-sound-check.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            A good white noise generator is the next best thing to sleeping through a rainstorm.

http://www.speechprivacysystems.com/white-noise	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:28:23 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">486-510</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[White Noise Generator – Sound Check: rôle of each component]]></title>
	            <link>/20090910486/myblog/ingenuity/white-noise-generator-sound-check.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            hello, can you explain circuit diagram for a white noise generator circuit to achieve this, tell me the role of each component,
respond me soon as possible and thank you	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:24:27 -0600</pubDate>
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	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1269-468</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[FM wireless transmitter: Your wish is my command.]]></title>
	            <link>/200911281269/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-fm-wireless-transmitter.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I've created a complete article for this gizmo as a couple of people have asked for some clarification on certain points; it gives construction details, part numbers from a couple of major suppliers and theres a PCB foil at the end. 

This should be suitable for constructors of any ability really.

Article here:
http://www.techbites.com/201001221838/myblog/articles/z001c-beginners-construction-fm-transmitter.html
	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:07:36 -0600</pubDate>
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	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1772-462</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[ESD Protection Made Simple: ESD protection: checking is only one aspect]]></title>
	            <link>/201001161772/myblog/ingenuity/z000c-esd-protection-made-simple.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Hi Gene

I agree that some sort of automatic checking tool can drastically reduce the risk of failures related to ESD and the Mentor PERC tool features seems right on for this job. I see a lot of potential in this new tool development. 

However, I fear that it might be too costly for (small) fabless outfits to get the tool and additionally spend time to write the rules themselves. Is there any news on Mentor working together with major foundries to port (at least) the foundry ESD rules into PERC's rule format?

Finally, while checking if the right ESD devices are connected is one thing. Ensuring that the selected ESD device is the right one is another. At Sofics (www.sofics.com) we are focused on product proven ESD protection IP and related services and provide ESD protection clamps that are complementary to the foundry approaches: Clamps with extremely low leakage, low capacitance, small area or scaled for high ESD protection or any other custom requirement. 	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:46:27 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">946-457</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Do NOT Over-Engineer Things!: occupational hazard]]></title>
	            <link>/20091106946/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-do-not-over-engineer-things.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Yes, I, too, find myself starting with a reasonable goal only to feature-increment myself to death. If I don't reign myself in, the project will not even get off the ground let alone finished.

At this point, you may want to consider the theory of Sunk Costs: should you continue to throw good money (time) after bad? Humans are notoriously bad at this.

Here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_costs

Good luck!	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:14:57 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1643-456</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[A replacement for a mercury tilt switch: Discontinued]]></title>
	            <link>/201001051643/myblog/ingenuity/z0019-a-replacement-for-a-mercury-tilt-switch.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            According to the datasheet, this part was released by Osram in October 2007.
Their website now lists it as discontinued and they dont seem to have a suitable replacement. Actually, I couldnt find an equivilant from any company when I did a very brief search.

I guess this part gave an on/off value, and is now being replaced with parts that give a variable indication of angle, as used in iPhones etc.

	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:41:05 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">346-455</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[CCO Metal Detector – New Seekers: jare]]></title>
	            <link>/20090807346/myblog/ingenuity/cco-metal-detector-new-seekers.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Good CCO Metal Locator	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:21:26 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1643-439</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[A replacement for a mercury tilt switch: obsoleted]]></title>
	            <link>/201001051643/myblog/ingenuity/z0019-a-replacement-for-a-mercury-tilt-switch.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            digikey says no stock, and:

"Limited quantity available, not recommended for new design"!

so is it too new or too old?	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:42:44 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1643-438</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[A replacement for a mercury tilt switch: price high, performance low]]></title>
	            <link>/201001051643/myblog/ingenuity/z0019-a-replacement-for-a-mercury-tilt-switch.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            quite expensive, at least with digikey list prices	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:16:26 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1392-420</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA["Goop proof" LINUX: Article was a bit hard to follow]]></title>
	            <link>/200912091392/myblog/ingenuity/z0019-qgoop-proofq-linux.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I am afraid I was not able to follow the thread of this article.  While using a read only filesystem and storing personal data on a flash disk is a good solution for some issues, I can not figure out how embedded comes in to play here.

I can not remember the last time I had an embedded device with a CD/DVD drive that was not a set top box.  Also "protecting the system from hacks and attacks can be challenging" indicate that this system is deployed and not on an isolated network next to your desktop.

Most systems now boot from USB, in this case you can create 2 partitions, the root fs mounted readonly and the dynamic partition which is mounted read write.  As you pointed out large Flash Sticks are cheap now.  You can even use unionfs to make it look like the read-only root fs is read/write.  It should be noted that using a flash stick, or CD will significantly effect the speed of your system due to inherent bottlenecks.

I agree that cruft build-up can be an issue while developing for an embedded Linux device, I would suggest looking at build tools to mitigate this risk.  A good set of build tools and an NFS share can be lifesavers in this respect.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:56:44 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1269-402</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[FM wireless transmitter: As Bono Says... ]]></title>
	            <link>/200911281269/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-fm-wireless-transmitter.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            F***'n brilliant! I wish my daughter was into electronics so we could build this up together. But once I get my basement dried out and put back together from a recent water incursion I may try it myself. You wouldn't happen to have any PCB artwork for this little project, would you? I think there would be a number of readers that would appreciate it. In any case, thanks for posting this Joe, it brings back some good memories, and may even create some new ones!	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:00:23 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1512-387</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[SystemVerilog Snippets for Emacs: Great Tip]]></title>
	            <link>/200912181512/myblog/ingenuity/z000e-systemverilog-snippets-for-emacs.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Hi Ben -- thanks for the tip -- keep them coming -- Max	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:23:07 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1269-330</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[FM wireless transmitter: FM Wireless Transmitter]]></title>
	            <link>/200911281269/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-fm-wireless-transmitter.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Yes, I remember building these as well when I was in my teens.  The first one I made in a metal orange juice can with the antenna sticking out.  I had it connected to my record player, then went walking down the road in wintertime with a FM radio pressed against my ear.  I managed to get about 1/4 mile range with it.  Then I miniaturized it and it didn't perform as well.  Unfortunately I didn't have the background at the time to understand the poor performance other than the close proximity and layout of the components was somehow to blame.  Great circuit to introduce someone to radio.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:39:05 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">972-315</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Altera NIOS II/e is now fully FREE of charge!: "Pull" or "drag" justification]]></title>
	            <link>/20091110972/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-altera-nios-iie-is-now-fully-free-of-charge.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Jaime makes a common argument in favor of free MCU designs.

Twenty five years ago TI argued internally in favor and against using free stuff to sell your chips.

In most cases, the drag happens spottily or eventually goes away. And when a downturn happens operations managers want to kill those money-sucking projects.  It usually happens.

Beware!
	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:25:45 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1269-314</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[FM wireless transmitter: FM Xmitters]]></title>
	            <link>/200911281269/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-fm-wireless-transmitter.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Boy that takes me back a good number of years.

Good warning about using the circuit in some locations may be illegal. Kep the radiated power down below limits in teh US and you're OK - so long as you don't trash a commercial broadcaster.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:04:45 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">960-306</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[SOT23 PIC killer samples arrived: Competitiion at all levels... that is great!]]></title>
	            <link>/20091109960/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-sot23-pic-killer-samples-arrived.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            It is very interesting to see strong competition, not only on high performance embedded processors of the likes of leagues like ARM Cortex-Whatever, Intel's Atom, DaVinci, Sitara, i.MX, Blackfin, and a long etcetera, but also in the small, low efficient MCUs... Electronics is such an interesting field, every day new toys!

As with Antti, lack of time to solder and program is what keeps one from being able to play with all those new and interesting goodies.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:21:24 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">540-300</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[PC Controlled DC Motor – Keyboard Control: software ??]]></title>
	            <link>/20090917540/myblog/ingenuity/pc-controlled-dc-motor-keyboard-control.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I cant find the QuickBasic program ???	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:16:30 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">972-299</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Altera NIOS II/e is now fully FREE of charge!: Free or almost - depends on the point of view]]></title>
	            <link>/20091110972/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-altera-nios-iie-is-now-fully-free-of-charge.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Following Henry's comment, I agree that in some sense when a product (MCU core in this case) becomes absolutely free, something "bad" might happen to it in the long run.

However, I see the idea here is to help NIOS sell more FPGAs and make it even more mainstream rather than keep developing the core itself, since it comes to a point on which further improvements do not add much more value to it, and it is maybe better to keep the efforts on the MCU core for the ones who need the highest performance and are willing to pay for it, and let smaller versions of the -now working, and working good- MCU be free for users taking advantage of it, but most important, to help selling of the ICs.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:06:30 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1014-298</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Using UrJTAG to program Actel FPGA's: UrJTAG for Xilinx USB Platform Cable II too?]]></title>
	            <link>/200911131014/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-using-urjtag-to-program-actel-fpgas.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Hi Antti,

This is certainly an interesting tip; have been using UrJTAG to program some small Altera CPLDs with Xilinx Parallel Cable III, but as usual, timing is the problem... too slow. Now that I would like to test on some bigger ICs (Lattice's XP2-5 FPGA) I would like to know if Xilinx USB Platform Cable II would work as well; under that name is does not appear among the supported cables.

Do you know/guess it would work?	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:57:09 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">1198-244</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Invalid Token work-around: offline writing]]></title>
	            <link>/200911201198/myblog/ingenuity/z0000-invalid-token-work-around.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            actually, its a good idea to write the content OFFLINE, then it's sure it does not get lost because of session logout or any other submit failure.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:37:50 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">972-192</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Altera NIOS II/e is now fully FREE of charge!: Free beats almost free?]]></title>
	            <link>/20091110972/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-altera-nios-iie-is-now-fully-free-of-charge.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            In the last 30+ years there has been more than one MCU company that's justified market entry or new pricing based on what marketers call "drag through." Often as not, "drag through" becomes "drag down." And when that happens most freebies get "de-emphasized," dropped, or divested. In most cases it isn't good news in the long haul.

Henry 	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:52:16 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">902-177</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Ideas for voltage shifting between different parts: Consider the AC circuit conditions]]></title>
	            <link>/20091104902/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-ideas-for-voltage-shifting-between-different-parts.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            In addition to ensuring the correct settled potentials, level-shift circuits must also deliver signal edge trajectories that fall within the application’s requirements. One of the many benefits of standards-based signaling conventions is that they specify AC performance and, thereby, provide clear criteria by which to evaluate a level shifter’s performance within a specific implementation. Less formal signaling arrangements must derive AC performance criteria, often from the signal’s client circuits’ worst-case input-pin specifications.

Assuming that the signal’s client circuit is fabricated in CMOS, your circuit considerations are essentially the signal’s source impedance, the load capacitance (the sum of the signal’s client circuits and interconnect parasitics), and the required edge speed. Consider these quantities when evaluating competing level-shifting circuits. For example, these issues limit the utility of resistive dividers for high-speed signals.
	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:28:45 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">346-173</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[CCO Metal Detector – New Seekers: kristina184]]></title>
	            <link>/20090807346/myblog/ingenuity/cco-metal-detector-new-seekers.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Very good CCO Metal Detector	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:53:17 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">960-172</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[SOT23 PIC killer samples arrived: more features]]></title>
	            <link>/20091109960/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-sot23-pic-killer-samples-arrived.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            There are actually more "special features" that make the ATtiny10 better than PIC10F series

* in system programmability at 5V (no high voltage required)
* more interrupts sources
* there must be more :)

I have looked at PIC10F (the SOT23-6 PIC's) for many many years, but never bothered to get one of them. For me the most no-no was maybe the high voltage programming requirement. 

ATtiny10 are nice, but Atmel had to make some compromises as well, missing are
1) self programming
2) programming in FULL VCC range, for programming the VCC has to be 5V

But nevertheless ATtiny10 was attractive enough for me to go the hassle of getting samples.

ATtiny10 samples ARE NOT available via Atmel web order, and if you ask distributors they can not help either, usually saying there is 5K min order, and at digikey there is no stock, not yet.

I hope the devices come available soon for masses too





 

	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:18:03 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">960-171</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[SOT23 PIC killer samples arrived: More on the ATtiny10]]></title>
	            <link>/20091109960/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-sot23-pic-killer-samples-arrived.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            For those not already familiar with the extensive product line, the ATtiny10 is one of the AVR microcontrollers from Atmel. The ATtiny10 features
* 1K Bytes of In-System Programmable Flash
* 32 Bytes Internal SRAM
* 1  16-bit Timer/Counter with PWM channels, 8-bit ADC, Analog Comparator
* Up to 12 MIPS throughput at 12 MHz
* 1.8 - 5.5 V operation	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:39:11 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">535-164</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Model Police Car L.E.D.s – In A Flash: Fun!]]></title>
	            <link>/20090917535/myblog/ingenuity/model-police-car-leds-in-a-flash.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            You know,

If you've ever seen the film Ratatouille - this post is a bit like the theme from that film (the harsh food critic is astounded by being served an extraordinarily good rendition of Ratatouille that immediately brings back memories of his happy childhood).

I spent my early years (around 8 I began discovering electronics), building circuits just like this one - albeit usually for model trains.

Happy memorie of childhood (only in those days we didn't have blue LEDs :-))	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:11:40 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">902-163</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Ideas for voltage shifting between different parts: Good tip]]></title>
	            <link>/20091104902/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-ideas-for-voltage-shifting-between-different-parts.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I like this tip. A lot of inexperienced designers fall into the trap of assuming everything's tolerant of the main supply voltage signaling.

Common based BJT's work well too for level shifting, and can even be used when the signal is in a range below 0V.

	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:03:12 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">955-162</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Two LED's blinking using one "blink-LED": Very clever and very interesting]]></title>
	            <link>/20091108955/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-two-leds-blinking-using-one-qblink-ledq.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            This is a very clever little circuit -- it's got very few components so beginners can "wrap their brains" around the circuit -- but it also provides a real good framework to describe the way in which diodes in general (and LEDs in particular) work and their voltage drops and suchlike. 	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:03:51 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">777-151</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Polarity protection...it’s no racket.: Reverse protection diodes dont always work]]></title>
	            <link>/20091022777/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-polarity-protectionits-no-racket.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Reverse protection diodes are a disaster waiting to happen.

I used to work in the car audio industry; specifically repairing in-car equipment that some Neanderthal had installed badly, and you would often find the remains of a humble 1N4001 diode connected across the power lines input pins; along with the a charred PCB. There’s no way a 1 amp diode is going to sink 800+ amps from a car battery and survive (car batteries are good for 60+ amps/hr but will happily produce 800+ for cranking). That industry also taught me a valuable lesson; electronic components explode slightly faster than a fuse will often blow.

The concept of using a bride rectifier for polarity protection is a safe way or providing polarity and voltage type protection. Yes, it has its draw backs but I’m yet to see a solution that doesn’t, and in some applications the voltage drop would be unacceptable, but I’ve seen too many pieces of damaged equipment that have had AC plugged into them or incorrect polarity to worry about the couple of instances where the voltage drop would have been a problem; you should of course be using the correct PSU in the first place so the bridge is just saving you from a costly mistake. The bridge rectifier is also cheap and commonly available.

The bottom line is, if you buy a piece of equipment and use the supplied power adapter it will work perfectly well, but if you accidentally plug in a PSU from something else, unless it’s putting out a much higher than usually found voltage, it shouldn’t do any harm to the equipment. 


	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:34:55 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">358-130</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Budget Light Sensor – Topped: true blast from the past]]></title>
	            <link>/20090810358/myblog/ingenuity/budget-light-sensor-topped.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Glass housed transistors, in 2009? They are a real rarity, and it possible costs a fortune to obtain one. My mom was baking metal can transistors in 1965, and I happened to find some of that brand, UNUSED transistors last week. Sure when I was young we did open up the hats, and used them as sensors, everybody did know that trickery.

It was common knowledge at that times.

But in 2009? Oh no! Its much much more easier to take just any LED and use in reverse polarity and you have your cheap as cheap can be sensor. Sure you need small micro to make the sensor reading, but small micros are cheap as dust as well. 	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:34:08 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">902-117</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Ideas for voltage shifting between different parts: Sometimes, you just don't have too many options available.]]></title>
	            <link>/20091104902/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-ideas-for-voltage-shifting-between-different-parts.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            It depends what your trying to do of course.

For example, some LCD displays will only run at 5v and start to behave very strangly at anything less.

Some PIC's like the 18F4550 won't run their clocks at full speed if you don't give them at least 4.2v. So this means that if your project needs a PIC with USB support and you want to use Microchips new SSRAM's you've got no choice but to voltage level shift... currently.


	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:07:59 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">777-111</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Polarity protection...it’s no racket.: more drawbacks, other solution]]></title>
	            <link>/20091022777/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-polarity-protectionits-no-racket.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Most DEVKIT's (at least FPGA kits) do come with 5V wall plug supply.

With 5V coming in, there is no margin for full bridge rectifier. 

The best solution would be to use ONLY one type of adapters, 5V only and with "known" polarity.

As this is not possible, well just need pay attention what to plug in. If you have a few boards that "are reverse protected" and some that are not, you will very quickly fry some board for sure.

Some boards have polyfuses and reverse protecting diodes, that is a better solution as it doesnt have voltage drop at all.

	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:24:16 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">902-107</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Ideas for voltage shifting between different parts: 3.3V tolerance is going away soon too]]></title>
	            <link>/20091104902/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-ideas-for-voltage-shifting-between-different-parts.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            While some components still require 5V supplies, the majority works with 3.3V or less, and has 3.3V input voltage tolerance, at least. However some newer components are dropping 3.3V tolerance as well, in favor to 2.5V.

The example described seems real odd to me, as all modern MCU's support 3.3V (or less power supply) and those have no trouble working with other 3.3V IC's.

MCU's have usually wider input tolerance, FPGA's less, actually there is only modern FPGA with 5V tolerant inputs, ice65Lxx family. Actel Fusion has some high voltage capable pins as well, but the normal FPGA I/O's are 3.3V max.

For any new designs I would recommend to avoid ANYTHING that runs from voltage higher than 3.3V, this avoids instantly many problems.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:14:24 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">946-105</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Do NOT Over-Engineer Things!: what can I say... o yes - Told you so :-)]]></title>
	            <link>/20091106946/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-do-not-over-engineer-things.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Max,
Well some of his college ( who shall remain anonymous) did mention the small fact of OVER ENGINEERING, however the beer managed to wash this from his memory – You still have time to walk away from the red and yellow LED’s and just buy a bunch of flowers…..	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:22:26 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">946-103</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Do NOT Over-Engineer Things!: PCB's are your friend]]></title>
	            <link>/20091106946/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-do-not-over-engineer-things.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Max,

Perhaps having a PCB made would have saved you some time and burnt fingers.
Then again... wheres the fun in that.

I can't want to see this baby working.
	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:05:18 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">946-102</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Do NOT Over-Engineer Things!: Come on baby light my fire]]></title>
	            <link>/20091106946/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-do-not-over-engineer-things.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            So Max - You call this a "Man versus Woman Display-O-Meter". How exactly is it going to detect this and display it. There is crucial information missing - and I want to know if you intend to patent it. I could feature it in my silly patent series :)	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:14:32 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">946-96</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Do NOT Over-Engineer Things!: over kill is good]]></title>
	            <link>/20091106946/myblog/ingenuity/z0002-do-not-over-engineer-things.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Max, 

looks like you've found a great use for those mounds of LED's. The project just wouldn't be the same with a mere 24 LED's! Can't wait for the video of the prototype in action!	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:44:11 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">902-82</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Ideas for voltage shifting between different parts: Keep these tips coming!]]></title>
	            <link>/20091104902/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-ideas-for-voltage-shifting-between-different-parts.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Joe -- I love this stuff -- simple enough that even I understand it -- I would never have thought about using primitive logic gates as "cheap-and-cheerful" level shifters in this manner. Please keep these tips coming -- Max	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:04:30 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">777-81</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Polarity protection...it’s no racket.: Great advice]]></title>
	            <link>/20091022777/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-polarity-protectionits-no-racket.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I agree with the comment about the voltage drop -- but I would also point out that this would have "saved my bacon" on a number of occasions (I still remember the burning smell as those computer speakers transitioned to a new plane of existence).

Recently Joe (the author of this article) created a small PIC-based board and sent it to me for a project I was working on. The instructions were simple -- "Go to Radio Shack -- buy a power supply with an output between xxx and yyy volts -- plug it in -- don't worry about the polarity" -- if only the rest of my life was this simple!	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:01:46 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">411-80</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Lightning Detector – Ahead in the Clouds: 600A Battery ?]]></title>
	            <link>/20090831411/myblog/ingenuity/lightning-detector-ahead-in-the-clouds.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I do not imagine getting 600A out of 9V battery unless it takes a direct lightning hit.

So is it 600nA or 600uA remains a question.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:52:02 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">902-73</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Ideas for voltage shifting between different parts: Nice tip!]]></title>
	            <link>/20091104902/myblog/ingenuity/z0012-ideas-for-voltage-shifting-between-different-parts.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            I like simple, elegant solutions to nagging problems.  Thanks!	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:45:26 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">777-68</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Polarity protection...it’s no racket.: drawbacks]]></title>
	            <link>/20091022777/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-polarity-protectionits-no-racket.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Of course a good idea for many purposes, but be aware of the voltage loss over the diodes. Depending on current and diode type this loss wil be 2 x 0.7 to 2 x 1.0 volt.

Jo S.	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:46:19 -0600</pubDate>
            </item>
	        	        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">777-41</guid>
	            <title><![CDATA[Polarity protection...it’s no racket.: Very Cool]]></title>
	            <link>/20091022777/myblog/ingenuity/z001c-polarity-protectionits-no-racket.html</link>
	            <description><![CDATA[
	            	            Nice article, simple and very smart approach to a common problem	            ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[TB-Tech-Tips]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:06:16 -0500</pubDate>
            </item>
	        		    </channel>
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