Exceptional Multi-Mode Antennas for Your Inimitable Connected Devices

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I’m a digital logic design engineer by trade. I bask in the certainty of the digital 0 and 1 domain, my mind lurches on its gimbals when faced with the wibbly-wobbly world of analog, and it cowers at the thought of radio frequency (RF) design, which—in my humble opinion—is best left to those who are … Read More → "Exceptional Multi-Mode Antennas for Your Inimitable Connected Devices"

The Trials and Tribulations of Connectivity Integration (and How Taoglas can Help!)

My special guest this week is Dermot O’Shea, CEO of Taoglas! Dermot and I discuss the biggest design and development challenges engineers face today when integrating connectivity into their designs, how Taoglas can speed up time to market for IoT designs and the educational resources included in the Taoglas AntennaXpert.

 

Read More → "The Trials and Tribulations of Connectivity Integration (and How Taoglas can Help!)"

Reinventing the Wheel… and the Motor… and the Powertrain

There are lots of things I know nothing about. If I were to create a list, electric motors would likely appear near the top. I do remember one of my lecturers at university droning on and on about electric motors and generators. Unfortunately, I don’t actually recall anything he said. All I vaguely remember is him sounding a bit like the muted, mwah-wah-WAH-wah trombone … Read More → "Reinventing the Wheel… and the Motor… and the Powertrain"

New FPGA Conference and Exhibition Coming to the UK and USA

If you have anything to do with the design and deployment of FPGA-based products and systems, then this is your lucky day because I’m poised to tell you about a new FPGA-centric conference and exhibition that’s heading your way. With events scheduled in both the UK and the US, this bodacious beauty will focus solely on FPGA designers and developers. No executive daydreaming, corporate fairy … Read More → "New FPGA Conference and Exhibition Coming to the UK and USA"

Shifting Left and The Road Ahead for Software Defined Vehicles

This week’s podcast is all about how shifting left can enable software defined vehicle innovation. My guests Wensi Jin from MathWorks, Thomas Hülshorst from FEV.io and I chat about the demand for software defined vehicles today, the engineering challenges associated with SDVs and why it is important to adopt a shift left mentality when it comes to SDV innovation.</ … Read More → "Shifting Left and The Road Ahead for Software Defined Vehicles"

August 21, 2025
August 20, 2025
August 19, 2025
August 14, 2025
August 12, 2025
August 11, 2025
August 8, 2025
August 7, 2025
August 6, 2025
August 5, 2025

featured chalk talk

OPTIGA™ Authenticate NBT
Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and Infineon
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Neeraj Kumar from Infineon and Amelia Dalton explore the features and benefits of the OPTIGA™ Authenticate NBT. They investigate the security elements, key hardware aspects and data transfer rates of this solution and how it can enable ultra-fast, contactless NFC communication between IoT devices and contactless readers.
Aug 12, 2025
11,446 views

Libby's Lab

Libby's Lab Viewer Survey

Sponsored by Mouser Electronics

Take this quick survey to give feedback on the Libby's Lab series from Mouser Electronics and EE Journal.

Click here to take the survey!

discussion
Posted on Aug 21 at 1:48pm by JK
NOTES: “...best left to those who are already unhinged to start with.” I’m blushing! I wasn’t going to answer this article after my “Letters To The Writer” of yesterday, but when you practically name me, well... First, I should point out that analog actually IS digital, just in ...
Posted on Aug 20 at 5:59pm by traneusee
Small forklifts with hydraulic motors in their wheels have been driving sideways for years.
Posted on Aug 20 at 8:27am by Max Maxfield
Ever since your visit to Azerbaijan, I've been hearing great things about the plumbing over there :-)
Posted on Aug 19 at 2:35pm by JK
“...that’s why I’d take you along.” Oh no way. No sir. I’m not going through THAT again: (“Say, does this handkerchief smell like chloroform to you?”, and next thing you know you’re on a eight-month contract job in Azerbaijan).
Posted on Aug 19 at 2:21pm by Max Maxfield
I must admit that I'd been worrying about potential problems with the plumbing -- that's why I'd take you along. Re the Elves, I agree, they aren't always cuddly. Take the ones in Shadows Fall by Simon Green (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1932100458) -- these bad boys (and girls) come ...
Posted on Aug 19 at 12:56pm by JK
If you read Tolkien very carefully you’ll notice Elves don’t always have a great reputation – unless you’re another elf, a wizard, royalty, or have a Ring of Power, or such. In fact, normally I wouldn’t trust an Elf “Around a glass corner”, as the Russians say. ...
Posted on Aug 15 at 10:24am by Max Maxfield
I don't have many regrets in my life -- but one of them is that I didn't pay more attention when people were trying to teach me things. I'll try to do better if I get another spin at the wheel (I recently read Reincarnation Blues, which has given me ...
Posted on Aug 15 at 12:44am by RedBarnDesigner
Hi Max, About time too - I would say. I have been thinking about this sort of thing for years. I DID pay attention in the electric machines lectures (thank you Mr Robinson) but these days I do firmware with a nod towards VHDL as well! I would have loved ...
Posted on Aug 14 at 9:51am by Max Maxfield
Hi Peter -- that would be ideal in Europe and the UK, where parallel parking is pretty much the only option going -- I couldn't believe how different things were when I moved to the USA to discover that even small stores have excellent parking lots so people rarely need ...
Posted on Aug 14 at 9:48am by Max Maxfield
I just remembered that the folks at Orbis mentioned drones as another target market. Originally, I was thinking of small drones like the ones I play with, but it turns out they were talking about the sort og big hairy drones used for things like agriculture -- beasts that are 14...
Subscribe Now

featured blogs
Aug 18, 2025
When I grew up in the 1960s, the technologies of the time seemed incredibly advanced. Now, in hindsight (the one exact science), I choose to think of them as being "delightfully retro."...
Advanced Solenoid and Valve Control
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Lars Jaskulski from Analog Devices and Amelia Dalton explore the what, where, and how of solenoid actuators. They also investigate the challenges associated with solenoids and solenoid valve control and how Analog Devices’ Quad Smart Serial-Controlled Solenoid and Motor Driver can help detect solenoid plunger movements, improve energy efficiency, lower heat generation and more. 
Aug 18, 2025
2,255 views
Driving innovation in 3D IC Design: Siemens Calibre MultiPhysics Work Flow
In this episode of Chalk Talk, John Ferguson from Siemens and Amelia Dalton explore how we can drive 3D IC innovation with Siemens Calibre MultiPhysics Work Flow. They also investigate the implications of thermal issues on 3D IC design, the benefits of multiphysics simulations from the concept stage throughout the design cycle, and the steps included in the Siemens fully automated MultiPhysics Work Flow.
Aug 18, 2025
2,781 views
AMP Mini CT Low Profile Inverted Through Board Connectors
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Sarah Smith from TE Connectivity and Amelia Dalton investigate the benefits of the AMP Mini CT Low Profile Inverted Through Board Connectors from TE Connectivity. They also examine how these solutions can reduce shadowing in lighting applications and can facilitate a simpler assembly of solid-state LED lighting applications.
Aug 15, 2025
6,813 views
Simplifying Position Control with Advanced Stepper Motor Driver
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Jiri Keprda from STMicroelectronics and Amelia Dalton explore the benefits of the powerSTEP01 is a system-in-package from STMicroelectronics. They also examine how this solution can streamline overall position control architecture, the high level commands included in this solution and the variety of advanced diagnostics included in the powerSTEP01 system-in-package.
Jan 21, 2025
30,961 views
High Power Charging Inlets
All major truck and bus OEMs will be launching electric vehicle platforms within the next few years and in order to keep pace with on-highway and off-highway EV innovation, our charging inlets must also provide the voltage, current and charging requirements needed for these vehicles. In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Drew Reetz from TE Connectivity investigate charging inlet design considerations for the next generation of industrial and commercial transportation, the differences between AC only charging and fast charge and high power charging inlets, and the benefits that TE Connectivity’s ICT high power charging inlets bring to these kinds of designs.
Aug 30, 2024
36,235 views
Power Modules and Why You Should Use Them in Your Next Power Design
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Amelia Dalton and Christine Chacko from Texas Instruments explore a variety of power module package technologies, examine the many ways that power modules can help save on total design solution cost, and the unique benefits that Texas Instruments power modules can bring to your next design.
Aug 22, 2024
43,337 views