Blog
Company To Pay $80k for Selling Unauthorized Electronic Equipment
The FCC monitors manufactures nationally and internationally, to make sure regulatory standards are met via intentional and non-intentional RF transmissions. Companies who violate regulations can be subject to fines and legal action. Created by Congressional statute to regulate interstate and global communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories;…
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Trilogy of Magnetics by Wurth Elektronik EMC / EMI Proactive Engineering
Understanding the subtleties involved with proper EMI / EMC design can be challenging. It involves competent knowledge of all the Design Disciplines; Digital Design, Board Layout, Signal Integrity, System Architecture, Power, and Mechanical. The parasitic circuits that are unintentionally created via RF signal coupling and induction are unseen and can be very confusing to the inexperienced engineer. Proper resources on…
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The deciBel (dB) Logarithmic Unit to Express Ratio Between 2 Values
The decibel (dB) is used for a variety of measurements in science and engineering, most prominently in acoustics, electronics, and EMC / EMI. Gains of amplifiers, attenuation of signals, and signal-to-noise ratios are often expressed in “dB”. [br] The decibel (dB) is a logarithmic unit used to express the ratio between two values of a physical quantity, often power or…
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Teardown and Repair of HP 8648C Synthesized Signal Generator
The HP 8648C Synthesized Signal Generator can be used for System Measurements and Calibration. It’s always important to have a few signal generators around the lab, you never know when you’ll need a good signal source. In this episode Shahriar attempts to repair an HP 8648C Synthesized Signal Generator from a dumpster dive. The cause of failure is investigated and…
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Recycled Electromagnetic Radiation Powers Smartphone Case
A new smartphone case prototype on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas featured a unique way to signal an incoming call that makes use of the cell phone’s electromagnetic radiation. Concepter’s Lune smartphone case detects when a call is being received based on the wavelength of the phone’s GSM signal and alerts the user by illuminating a…
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FAA Panel Advises Lifting Flight Restrictions on Electronics
A Federal Aviation Administration advisory committee tasked with investigating flight restrictions on personal electronic devices has concluded that most electronics, including those connected to onboard Wi-Fi, can be safely used during all portions of flight on most U.S. passenger aircraft. Established last year, the 28-member panel is comprised of representatives from the Federal Communications Commission, FAA, pilot and flight attendant…
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FAA Fix to Remove Interference on Airplane Display Units
The Federal Aviation Administration is pushing to replace certain older airplane cockpit instruments manufactured by Honeywell International Inc., claiming that they may be susceptible to Wi-Fi interference. The request comes as U.S. regulators finalize recommendations for easing restrictions on in-flight use of personal electronic devices. In a proposed directive released earlier this month, the FAA said Wi-Fi systems may interfere…
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Signal-Filtering Algorithms Tackle Smartphone Interference
New signal-filtering algorithms developed to reduce interference in smartphones could provide users with faster performance, longer battery life and fewer dropped calls. Created through a partnership between Kansas State University’s Electronics Design Laboratory and Lawrence, Kan.-based research company Avatekh Inc., the algorithms are intended to more efficiently combat interference between different radio technologies into the same device—such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,…
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New Type of Filter May Help Bring Order to Crowded Radio Spectrum
Scientists from the Netherlands have developed a new type of filter based on micromechanical resonators they say is ideal for maintaining order amidst the expected future growth of frequency standards. According to researchers at the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology at the University of Twente, the new solution consists of two mechanical resonators that vibrate at an adjustable frequency thanks to…
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