Each week, the editor of Planet Analog finds items of interest and features and puts them into two sections, entitled “Also of Interest” and “Elementals”. Each cites items from publications outside the Planet Analog and EETimes portfolios.

It's an extension of our belief that engineers are interested in on-going tutorial on obviously relevant topics, as well as the serendipity of exploring topics which not directly related to their jobs, but which will broaden their knowledge and sometimes spurs innovative and creative approaches. The first box highlights a few items of general interest to the engineer, while the second highlights some basic and tutorial electronic-engineering material.

Among the publications we check are IEEE Spectrum , Machine Design , Design News , Laser Focus World , EDN , Electronic Design , NASA Tech Briefs , and Physics Today . Consider these items as “online-only” extras. (Please note: there are also links to the previous weeks' editions, at the bottom):

Also of Interest:

• Optically based monitoring of bioprocess reactors enables real-time, noninvasive interrogation of the bioprocess state:
  “BIOPROCESS MONITORING: Photonics takes a new look at bioprocesses,”
  Laser Focus World , March 2008
• Bonded bearing surfaces are coatings, good enough for NASCAR, made from high-performance polymers
  reinforced with hard nanosized particles:
  “The Bonded-On Bearing,”
  Machine Design , April 10, 2008
• Flexible rotors and thin lubricant films lead to noise and vibration:
  “Avoiding Stick-Slip Chatter in Low-Speed Bearings,”
  Machine Design , April 10, 2008
• These cells can be used in batteries for high-temperature applications:
  “Solid-State High-Temperature Power Cells,”
  NASA Tech Briefs , May 2008
• Kiva Systems wants to revolutionize distribution centers by setting swarms of robots loose on the inventory:
  “Three Engineers, Hundreds of Robots, One Warehouse,”
  IEEE Spectrum , July 2008

Elementals:

• As systems reduce the number of RF up-conversions, design of the D/A stage becomes more challenging:
  “Designing For High Speed In Current-To-Voltage Conversion,”
  Electronic Design , May 8, 2008
• Video amplifiers have unique and demanding specifications. Understanding them will help you select an amplifier that can do the job:
  “Selecting video op amps,”
  EDN , June 26, 2008
• Pease Porridge on this simple but misunderstood circuit function:
  “What’s All This Current-Source Stuff, Anyhow?,”
  Electronic Design , June 26, 2008

Previous Editions:

• July 21, 2008
• July 14, 2008
• July 7, 2008
• June 30, 2008
• June 23, 2008
• June 16, 2008
• June 9, 2008