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.

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 are 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 , Portable Design , and Physics Today , among others.

Consider these items as “online-only” extras, and worth a look! (Please note: there are also links to the previous weeks' editions, at the bottom).

Also of Interest:

• In situ tests are conducted using a bench digital multimeter and a fast-pulsed current source:
  “Measuring LED Junction Temperature,”
  Photonics Spectra , July 2008
• Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan program is set to take to the skies with innovations ranging from reduction gearing to low-emission combustion cycles:
  “Green Technology: Jets Gear up to Fly Greener,”
  Machine Design , June 19, 2008
• An after-the-fact fix can be complicated and expensive, so get it right the first time:
  ” Fastener Selection: Guidelines for Precision,”
  Desktop Engineering , June 2008
• Researchers at the University of Maryland have constructed a 30-ton sphere that spins at more than 90 mph to generate magnetic fields:
  “30-Ton Metal Sphere Spins for Magnetic Fields (With Video!),”
  Popular Mechanics , September 2008

Elementals:

• The phase noise of the local oscillator used in a passive UHF RFID system can prove to be a key limiting factor on the ultimate interrogation range of the system:
  “Examine The Effects Of Phase Noise On RFID Range,”
  Microwaves & RF , July 2008
• It pays to take a system-level approach to powering LED backlights in small-format LCDs:
  “Backlight LED Driver System in Small Format Liquid Crystal Displays,”
  Portable Design , May 2008
• The field failures of individual batteries result in the potential for serious injuries:
  “Protect Yourself From The Dangers Of Knockoff Battery Packs,”
  Electronic Design , July 10, 2008
• Before performing ESD immunity tests, you must verify the output of your ESD simulator with a calibrated ESD target:
  “Check ESD simulators first,”
  Test & Measurement World , August 2008

Previous Editions:

• September 15, 2008
• September 8, 2008
• September 1, 2008
• August 25, 2008
• August 18, 2008
• August 11, 2008
• August 4, 2008