Each week, the editor of Planet Analog finds items of interest and then features them in two sections, entitled “Also of Interest” and “Elementals”. Each cites items from publications outside the Planet Analog and EETimes portfolios. And we also have an archive of recent weekly Planet Analog Newsletters, as pdf files; see the list at the very bottom.

“Also of Interest” and “Elementals” is 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 are not directly related to their jobs, but which will broaden their knowledge and sometimes spurs innovative and creative approaches. The first box highlights items of general interest to the engineer, while the second highlights 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 , Microwave Journal , RF & Microwaves , and Physics Today , plus others.

Consider these items as “online-only” extras, and worth a look. (Please note: there are also links to the previous weeks' editions, below this week’s items.)

Also of Interest:

• Capacitive-commutation techniques now replace optical and Hall-effect circuitry in brushless-dc motors:
  “Capacitive Technology Finds Use in BLDC Motor-Commutation Controls,”
  Machine Design , January 13, 2011
• Electronic devices generate their own power with design-integrated conductive plastics:
  “These Plastics Create Electricity,”
  Design News , January 2011
• A method has been developed for unambiguously measuring the exact magnetic field experienced by trapped mercury ions contained within an atomic clock intended for space applications:
  “A²⁰¹ Hg⁺ Comagnetometer for ¹⁹⁹ Hg⁺ Trapped Ion Space Atomic Clocks,”
  NASA Tech Briefs , February 2011
• Communications on the Move (COTM) satellite technology increasingly is helping the military with mission-critical connectivity when they need to be mobile:
  “Improving Military Communications Through COTM,”
  Defense Tech Briefs , February 2011

Elementals:

• Basic information on when and how time-related measurements are used in RF/microwave radar, communications, medical and industrial systems:
  “Fundamentals of Pulsed and Time-Gated Measurements,”
  High Frequency Electronics , November 2010 Year
• Most hot-swap-control integrated circuits are sophisticated and capable, but the designer must still contend with choosing a cost-effective switch element:
  “Selecting n-channel MOSFETs for High-Side Hot-Swap Control,”
  Power Electronics , November 2010
• Eye-mask tests can indicate where optical signal losses will lead to data errors:
  “Optical transceiver tests verify compliance,”
  Test & Measurement World , December 2010
• Use of tunable RF MEMS devices in solving handset reception problems:
  “MEMS Tuner Modules Could Solve Handset Reception Problems,”
  Microwave Journal , January 2011

Recent Planet Analog Newsletters:

• March 9, 2011
• March 2, 2011
• February 23, 2011
• February 16, 2011