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:

• Light can exert enough force to flip switches on a silicon chip:
  “Photonics Breakthrough for Silicon Chips,”
  IEEE Spectrum , October 2009
• This system is modeled on safe human climbing of steep slopes:
  “Cooperative Three-Robot System for Traversing Steep Slopes,”
  NASA Tech Briefs , October 2009
• Engineers at Peregrine Semiconductor have developed unique measurement approaches to test the firm's line of RF switches:
  “Testing the tester components,”
  Test & Measurement World , October 2009
• Smaller, streamlined electronics make lubricant-free, low-friction magnetic bearings feasible for more rotating machines:
  “Slimmed-Down Magnetic-Bearing Systems Fit More Rotating Machinery Applications,”
  Machine Design , October 5, 2009

Elementals:

• A clean look at signals of interest is paramount in effective debugging; here are some guidelines on which oscilloscope filtering techniques are most useful for your application:
  “Blocking Out The Noise Means Selecting The Right Filter,”
  Electronic Design , August 27, 2009
• The RS-232 serial-to-Ethernet adapter cost-effectively bridges legacy systems to the latest networking applications::
  “Connect The Dots Toward Efficient Serial-To-Ethernet Adapter Design,”
  Electronic Design , August 27, 2009
• Outsourcing is becoming a mandatory skill for IC-design managers. But it's not intuitively obvious:
  “Outsourcing an IC design: Some advice from the trenches,”
  EDN , September 3, 2009
• The effects of location and surrounding objects on antenna performance, demonstrating the need to include analysis of antenna placement early in the design process:
  “Antenna Environment Impacts Efficiency and Radiation Pattern,”
  High Frequency Electronics , August 2009

Previous “Also of Interest” and “Elementals” Editions:

• November 9, 2009
• November 2, 2009
• October 26, 2009
• October 19, 2009
• October 12, 2009
• October 5, 2009

Recent Planet Analog Newsletters:

• November 11, 2009
• November 4, 2009
• October 28, 2009
• October 21, 2009