Each week, the editor of Planet Analog finds items of interest and features them in two small text boxes, entitled “Also of Interest” and “Elementals”. Each cites items from publications outside the Planet Analog and EETimes portfolios. The first box highlights a few items of general interest to the engineer, while the second highlights some basic and tutorial electronic-engineering material.

Consider them as “online-only” extras (Note: there are also links to previous weeks' editions, at the bottom):

Also of Interest:

• Nanoscale techniques are yielding chip-level modulators, transceivers, amplifiers, and even lasers–all made from silicon:
  “OPTOELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS: NANOPHOTONICS – Silicon photonics sets the stage for optical datacom,”
  Laser Focus World , March 2008
• Basics of design engineering call for preventing predictable failures during design:
  “Corrosion Prevention and Control in Mechanical Assemblies,”
  Desktop Engineering, , May 2008
• Shifting to wavelengths not transmitted to the retina relaxes eye-safety requirements for applications that require beam transmission through open air, but corneal safety remains a concern:
  “PHOTONIC FRONTIERS: EYE-SAFE LASERS – Retina-safe wavelengths benefit open-air applications,”
  Laser Focus World, , March 2008
• These devices can be used safely where magnetic fields are not tolerated:
  “Coaxial Electric Heaters,”
  NASA Tech Briefs , April 2008

Elementals:

• Thermocouple, RTD, thermistor, and IC temperature sensors are vital ; learn more about how they work and where they will be most effective:
  “Temperature Sensors Are Hot… In Circuit Design,”
  Electronic Design , May 8, 2008
• “Pease Porridge” serves up a real challenge:
  “What’s All This One-Transistor Op-Amp Stuff, Anyhow?,”
  Electronic Design , May 8, 2008
• Testing circuits is hard; testing MEMS is harder:
  “MEMS create 3-D inspection challenges,”
  Test & Measurement World, June 2008

Previous Editions:

• July 7, 2008
• June 30, 2008
• June 23, 2008
• June 16, 2008
• June 9, 2008
• June 2, 2008