Capacitor Selection: A Comprehensive Technical Guide
The differences between ceramic, electrolytic, tantalum and film capacitors, and a roadmap to the right choice with critical parameters like ESR, ripple current, derating and temperature coefficient.
Inductor Selection: Saturation Current, DCR and Core Losses
How should you evaluate inductance, saturation current (Isat), DC resistance (DCR) and core losses when choosing a power inductor? A comprehensive guide for SMPS design.
Diode Types and Selection: Schottky, Zener, TVS and Rectifier
The differences between rectifier, Schottky, Zener, TVS and signal diodes, and choosing the right diode by forward voltage (Vf), reverse voltage (PIV) and switching speed.
MOSFET Selection: Rds(on), Gate Charge and Thermal Design
How should you evaluate Rds(on), gate charge (Qg), voltage/current ratings and thermal behavior when choosing a power MOSFET? A comprehensive guide with conduction and switching losses.
Power Distribution Network (PDN) Basics in PCB Design
A comprehensive technical article on decoupling capacitor selection and placement, plane impedance, target impedance and noise management for a stable power distribution network.
PCB Stackup and Impedance Control
How do you plan a PCB stackup for high-speed designs? A technical guide on reference planes, controlled impedance and layer ordering.
Connector Selection: Current, Mating Cycles and Environmental Durability
How should you evaluate current/voltage rating, contact mating cycles, pitch, locking and environmental durability when choosing a connector? A practical selection guide.
Microcontroller (MCU) Selection Criteria: Peripherals, Memory and Power
How do you choose the right microcontroller (MCU) for your project? Comprehensive selection criteria in terms of core, memory, peripherals, power consumption and ecosystem.
Crystal and Oscillator Selection: Frequency Stability and Load Capacitance
How do you choose between a crystal (XTAL) and an oscillator (XO)? Choosing the right timing source with frequency tolerance, stability, load capacitance (CL) and ESR.
EMC/EMI Basics: Ways to Reduce Noise on a PCB
Ways to reduce noise and emissions in PCB design for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC): ground plane, return current path, filtering and layout principles.