Welcome to the October Analog Dialogue.
The article “How to Increase Power Efficiency in Software-Defined Radios” discusses the optimization of power efficiency in the new software-defined radio (SDR) system-on-module (SOM) from Analog Devices. By implementing a series of software and hardware modifications, power consumption was significantly reduced from 31.5 W to 10 W, while maintaining essential receiver capabilities for spectral monitoring. Key strategies include disabling unused functions, lowering the input voltage, and removing nonessential components. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing power efficiency in similar mobile electronic warfare and communications systems.
Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a safety analysis tool or method used to evaluate a system or process to define the ways in which it may fail, and the effects of such failure modes in the performance of such items and on the surrounding environment. The article “Know Your Safety Application Notes—Part 2: Failure Mode Distribution” delves into the use of FMEA, FMECA, and FMEDA in the design of safety-related systems. It underscores the significance of FMEDA, especially for compliance with standards such as IEC 61508. Key topics include failure mode distribution (FMD) and diagnostic coverage, which are crucial for improving the safe failure fraction (SFF) and reducing dangerous undetected failure rates. The article highlights the value of ADI’s safety application notes, which offer detailed FMD and diagnostic information, facilitating more accurate and efficient FMEDA processes and supporting better design decisions for safety-critical systems. Read more in “Know Your Safety Application Notes—Part 1: Failure Rates.” There’s also a related blog: “An Interesting Power Supply Monitoring Example from a Functional Safety Standard.”
The article “Mastering IC-CPD Design: Essential Hardware and Software Guidelines for In-Cable Control and Protection Devices” is our next featured article. It provides a comprehensive overview of designing Type 2 electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in line with IEC 61851-1 and IEC 62752 standards. It emphasizes the crucial functions of IC-CPDs, including electric shock protection and ensuring a protective earth. The reference design incorporates key hardware components for voltage and current measurement, for system control and communication, and for monitoring device temperature. Additionally, the design features a 6 mA DC/30 mA rms RCD and high efficiency buck converters for voltage regulation.
This month’s RAQ, “Secure Connectivity for At-Home Healthcare—Part 1: Challenges Beyond the Clinic,” discusses the growing trend of at-home healthcare and the essential need for secure connectivity to protect medical devices used outside clinical settings. It highlights unique security challenges such as data breaches and unauthorized access, and emphasizes the importance of regulatory compliance, particularly with FDA guidelines. The typical workflow for at-home healthcare involves initial device programming, patient data upload, clinician review, and remote firmware updates. To enhance security, the article recommends measures like secure boot, secure data storage, cryptographic checksums, digital signatures, and secure communication protocols.
Explore the world of Wien bridge oscillators with our latest StudentZone article, “Analyzing and Building the Wien Bridge Oscillator—Part 1: Background and Theory.” The objective of this lab activity is to understand the history and theory of the Wien bridge oscillator and to simulate using idealized components to understand its fundamental behavior. Stay tuned for Part 2 next month!
And as we have for over 58 years, we invite you to be part of the dialogue in Analog Dialogue. You can get in touch through our blog, Facebook page, or email. Let us know how we’re doing and what you’d like to see from us in the coming months.