Imogen Moody

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐎𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬? Analog oscilloscopes might seem like they're all about old-school tech, but they have some fascinating tricks up their sleeves. Unlike digital oscilloscopes, they don’t store data. Instead, the screen is directly driven by the input signal. Signal conditioning amplifies the signal linearly. 🏚️ In my previous post, we dove into triggers and how they help us stabilize continuous waveforms. But how does this work when dealing with a continuous, real-time data stream?🤔 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲! Analog oscilloscopes use 𝐂𝐑𝐓 (Cathode Ray Tube) displays. Picture this: a beam of electrons strikes a fluorescent screen, making it glow wherever it hits. This concept dates back to 𝐉.𝐉. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧’s groundbreaking experiments with cathode rays that we all studied in school.🏫🎒 The electron beam bends in a magnetic field, either towards or away from the source, depending on the field's polarity and strength. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝? Magnets! 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝?Electromagnets!🔌🧲 In an analog oscilloscope, electromagnetic deflection coils on the 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐦'𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 control its vertical movement. This movement directly proportional to the input signal, and adjusting the vertical sensitivity (V/div) changes the proportionality constant.↕️ For horizontal movement, electromagnets deflection coils on the 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 are driven by an internal saw-tooth wave generator. These perform a 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭-𝐭𝐨-𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐩 at a constant speed, with its time period adjustable by changing the time/div setting.↔️ Now we have control over both vertical and horizontal movements. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤: to ensure the waveform looks steady, the oscilloscope’s internal saw-tooth wave resets when the trigger circuit detects the desired value and slope of the input signal. This ensures the displayed wave maintains a consistent amplitude and slope in the middle of the screen (assuming offsets are zero).🧙🪄 Now 𝐰𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 on an analog oscilloscope from the desired value and slope even when we can't control or store the input signal.📔 But if the horizontal movement resets whenever the same value is detected, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞?🤨 Stay tuned for my next post to find out! 🔔 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 to learn more about the inner workings of oscilloscopes? 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐞🤝 and let’s explore together. Got a 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭 idea💡? I've got the skills. 𝐋𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞🤝 picture source: practicalee.com #Electronics #AnalogOscilloscope #Oscilloscope #EngineeringTech #CircuitDesign

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📈 2024 Market Trends for Freelance Hardware Engineers in Germany 🇩🇪 Freelance hardware engineers are in high demand across Germany, especially in automotive, renewable energy, and IoT sectors. Here are some top technical trends driving the market: Embedded Systems & IoT Demand: Expertise in real-time OS, ARM Cortex, and automotive-grade hardware is critical. Engineers skilled in embedded systems and microcontrollers are sought for projects in automotive, industrial IoT, and sensor-rich environments. Automotive & E-Mobility: As Germany shifts towards electric and autonomous vehicles, demand for specialists in Battery Management Systems (BMS), sensor integration, and functional safety (ISO 26262) is skyrocketing. Freelancers with experience in ADAS and vehicle communication protocols (CAN, FlexRay) are at the forefront. Remote & Hybrid Flexibility: Project-based, remote roles are on the rise, appealing to freelancers who excel in agile development and digital collaboration tools like Git, Jira, and Confluence. This trend allows companies to tap into talent without geographical constraints. Renewable Energy Innovations: As the renewable energy sector grows, so does the need for hardware engineers with power electronics and PCB design expertise. Engineers skilled in EMI/EMC standards are essential for designing high-efficiency power conversion systems and storage solutions. Reliability & Compliance: There’s a growing call for reliability engineering in safety-critical fields like autonomous systems and industrial automation. Skills in risk assessment, failure analysis, and adherence to compliance standards (ISO 13849, IEC 61508) are in high demand. Germany’s freelance hardware engineering market is ripe with opportunities for highly specialized engineers who can deliver innovation in evolving industries! 🔋🚗💡 #HardwareEngineering #FreelanceLife #IoT #Automotive #RenewableEnergy #EngineeringJobs

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Join VVDN Tools for an immersive training session on LabVIEW and FlexLogger, where we delve into the world of data acquisition and logging. Gain valuable insights into harnessing the potential of NI hardware, and discover how LabVIEW simplifies the integration process. From sensor connectivity to high-performance DAQ systems, we've got you covered! Click below to register now! NI (National Instruments) Dhamodharan Anbazhagan Sumit Kumar Agrawal #vvdntools #ni #DataAcquisition #LabVIEWTraining #FlexLogger #DataLogging #HardwareIntegration #NIHardware #SensorConnectivity #DataAnalysis #HighPerformanceDAQ #VVDNTechnologies #BangaloreTraining #DataDrivenExcellence "

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Week 2 is an Embedded Software Challenge: You have a microcontroller running at 16 MHz. You need to implement a delay function in C that precisely waits for 1 second without using any hardware timers, just a simple for-loop. Here’s the skeleton of the function: void delay_1s() { volatile unsigned int i; for (i = 0; i < ?; i++) { // Do nothing } } What value should replace the "?" to make the function delay exactly 1 second? Hint: Assume that each iteration of the loop takes 4 clock cycles. Bonus question: Why is the volatile keyword used here? Comment your answers below:

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❓❓𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲: 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐈 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠❓❓ An interesting article written by Kai Beckmann on the rapid innovation and evolution of AI, where semiconductors are now becoming more critical than ever. With the demand quickly increasing, the industry is turning to innovative solutions like 3D heterogenous integration (HI). With advanced developments in 3D HI, metrology is becoming increasingly more crucial as the traditional two-dimensional measurement techniques are no longer sufficient. Whilst the semiconductor industry has traditionally followed Moore's Law, Dr Beckmann explains that with the development of generative AI, we are now facing new challenges in optimizing the architecture of the chips to manage the growing data requirements that is needed. The most common challenge in modern chip design being the 'Memory Wall' Or 'von Neumann bottleneck' - a limitation in the speed where data can be transferred between the memory and logic units within a chip. The semi industry has embraced 3D HI to overcome this, a technology which stacks the memory and logic units vertically rather than placing them side by side. This in turn shortens the data pathways, and therefore increasing the energy efficiency - allowing greater interconnect density. This allows for faster data transfer, something that is crucial for AI accelerators and SiP solutions. Due to this, it is evident that manufacturers aim to maximize the yield - also known as metrology. As chips become more complex, the role of metrology becomes crucial. It allows for the quality and functionality of these advanced semiconductor devices - especially in 3D HI where the two-dimensional measurement techniques are no longer sufficient. New metrology tools are being designed to measure these complex 3D structures, and are crucial for detecting defects, monitoring critical dimensions, and verifying the integrity of materials used in semiconductor devices, states Kai. As for the future of AI chip manufacturing, Dr Beckmann ends his piece with 'As chip architectures become increasingly complex, with smaller features and more intricate interconnects, precise measurement and inspection will be essential to ensure quality and functionality. These capabilities are crucial for maintaining high yields and achieving the performance requirements of advanced technologies, such as AI, AR/VR and many others.' Where do you see the future of advanced semiconductor metrology going? #semiconductor #semiconductormanufacturing #metrology #AI #CHIPSAct

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What does a Software Automation Architect do? Here’s a breakdown of your role: - Designing Robust Architectures: You’re the mastermind behind software structures. Whether it’s control systems for semiconductor manufacturing or automation workflows, you create robust, scalable architectures. This means ensuring seamless integration of machine control software with hardware components. - Navigating Business and Tech Terrain: You’re the bridge between business needs and technical realities. You translate high-level requirements into actionable plans. In the semiconductor world, this involves understanding yield optimization, equipment efficiency, and quality control. - Technical Standards and Tools: You set the rules! From coding practices to platform choices, you define the technical standards. Software architects evaluate tools like SECS/GEM and OPC-UA, ensuring smooth communication between equipment and host systems. - Smart Manufacturing and Digital Twins: Industry 4.0 is your playground. Smart factories, data-driven processes, and digital twins—these are your tools. Software architects optimize production lines using digital twins, predicting maintenance needs and enhancing efficiency. Contact me if you are interested in similar opportunities in our industry. #SemiconductorIndustry #AutomationEngineering #SECSGEM #Innovation #TechCareers #ManufacturingExcellence

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Some interesting thoughts on the RISC-V specification from someone with huge experience in ISA specifications: https://lnkd.in/ekG2cvHU I strongly agree with Alastair, there is much that could be improved in the RISC-V specification.

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Came across this brilliant article today on the highly relevant topic of low power FPGA design considerations written by none other than Lance Harvie Bsc (Hons). Highly recommend a read and well done Lance! https://lnkd.in/gFPgs6qi

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Are C and C++ at risk of being replaced by Python? https://lnkd.in/g6ZqxstC I was reading the blog post above (looks like an old one) and I wasn’t surprised to hear that Python is growing in popularity (my clients have been looking for python experience for over a decade) but I was surprised to see “Universities have even taken note of Python’s popularity, and older languages like C and C++ are rarely taught in university courses anymore.” Can that possibly be true? I have never worked on an embedded software search where C/C++ were not a requirement. I also haven’t talked to any recent CE grads that haven’t learned about C/C++.

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I am really interested in how we can effectively utilise our FPGA targets and develop good efficient code. This week I am looking at the DSP58 in Versal and how we can map to it in FP32 mode using Vitis Unified in the HLS flow. It is very powerful, and I was surprised how easy it was. #fpga #electronics #engineering #embeddedsystems #embeddedsoftware https://lnkd.in/ecxhHYpd

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Following on from my look at fixed and floating point numbers in this past weeks blog. I have spent this afternoon looking at how Simulink, HDL coder uses AMD Libraries to map directly to the DSP58 in DSPFP32 mode. It results in a more efficient implementation. #fpga #engineering #electronics #embeddedsystems #embeddedsoftware

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CONTRACTORS OF THE WEEK #10... ✨ FPGA Special ✨ For the 10th weekly post I had to pull out something special (I have to compete with all these Euros posts somehow!), as a result this week focuses specifically on 3 superb FPGA engineers I am currently working with. If you or your organisation could use any of the below contractors to support ongoing or upcoming projects, bottlenecks or deadlines see below and get in touch 👇 Contractor 1: FPGA/Asic Engineer ⚡ Contractor 2: FPGA Engineer - SDR specialist 📻 Contractor 3: FPGA Engineer with Physics background 📡 If you're not looking for any of these specific skill sets get in touch with myself or Chetan Shah as we have an extensive network of pre-referenced experts ready to support your current needs! We are also still sourcing for multiple FPGA contracts so if you have a skillset similar to those in this post drop me a message. 📞02084454577 ✉️[email protected] #contract #hiring #recruitment #FPGA #electronics

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Hi folks, embedded systems are increasingly reliant on battery power, powering everything from wearables to drones. But designing a robust Battery Management System (BMS) is crucial for ensuring safety, maximizing performance, and extending battery life. 💪 Here's your guide to creating effective BMS solutions: 1️⃣ Understand the Basics: Grasp key concepts like charging curves, discharge profiles, cell chemistry, and internal resistance. 📚 2️⃣ Choose the Right Components: Select high-quality batteries (Li-ion, LiPo), charge controllers, protection circuits, and sensors (temperature, voltage) based on your application's needs. ⚙️ 3️⃣ Implement Cell Balancing: Equalize individual cell voltages to prevent overcharging or deep discharge of specific cells, prolonging battery life. ⚖️ 4️⃣ Design for Safety: Integrate over-current protection, over-voltage protection, short-circuit protection, and thermal management systems to mitigate risks. 🔥 5️⃣ Monitor Battery Health: Continuously track key parameters (SOC, SOH, voltage, temperature) and implement algorithms to estimate battery state of health. 📈 6️⃣ Communication & Control: Establish reliable communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART) between the BMS and the embedded system for data exchange and control functions. 💬 7️⃣ Optimize Charging & Discharging: Implement intelligent charging algorithms (trickle charge, fast charge) and discharge strategies based on usage patterns. ⚡️ Benefits of a Well-Designed BMS: ✨ Extended Battery Life: Prevent premature degradation and maximize the lifespan of your batteries. ⏱️ 💪 Enhanced Safety: Protect against overcharging, overheating, short circuits, and other potential hazards. 🛡️ 💡 Improved Performance: Optimize charging & discharging for consistent power delivery and extended runtime. 🚀 Share your experiences in the comments 🔋 #BatteryManagement #EmbeddedSystems #IoT #PowerElectronics

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Do you want to learn how to create models of electrical systems within Simulink and Simscape Electrical, that are optimized for fast execution? Join us on Tuesday, May 28th for a demonstration on how to determine optimal settings and modeling constructs for the fastest simulation speed of Simscape Electrical.

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Definitely my favourite set of videos on basics of OS/embedded from Francis Stokes: https://lnkd.in/gJyf5rif Highly recommend anyone trying to learn low level/embedded development. Things I loved from this: - printf() internals and redirection to uart console - Fencing usage in code (compiler barrier + CPU barrier) - Best (void *) definition: It is not important what data it points to, but what is important is the address it contains - Memory management linked list (with seemingly no memory overhead?) and a lot more...

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Your feedback will help the electronics engineering ecosystem—understand how things have changed and what matters most to you today 🛠️. #MindOfTheEngineer #ElectronicsSurvey #EngineerFeedback #TechCommunity #QuickLogic

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