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:

• Avoiding the High Hidden Costs of Noncompliance:
  "Getting Green and Staying Green,"
  NASA Tech Briefs, October 2009
• MOSFETs using silicon carbide and gallium nitride technology are emerging to fill the power-controller need in electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and, while they are not yet in volume production, they show promise:
  "SiC and GaN Vie for Slice of the Electric Vehicle Pie,"
  Power Electronics Technology, November 2009
• Multimode fibers have charged back into the limelight, thanks in part to optical measurement standards that ensure their performance for short-distance, high-bit-rate data-communication links:
  "Gigabit Ethernet drives evolution of multimode fiber-optic specifications,"
  Laser Focus World, November 2009
• Future wireless designs will replace electronics with precision mechanical components:
  "Radios With Micromachined Resonators,"
  IEEE Spectrum, December 2009

Elementals:

• Computer-aided-engineering (CAE) simulations can help in evaluating bandwidth efficiency and BER performance tradeoffs in different digital modulation formats:
  "Analyze BER Performance Of Wireless FSK Systems,"
  Microwaves & RF, November 2009
• A low-voltage device doesn't necessarily have greater protection. Protection comes from low clamping voltage and low dynamic resistance:
  "Evaluating ESD-protection components: Clamping voltage and dynamic resistance are crucial,"
  EDN, November 26, 2009
• Take advantage of the multiple short-range wireless technologies available to maximize your performance:
  "Don't Be Intimidated By Low-Power RF System Design,"
  Electronic Design,October 8, 2009
• Several practical issues must be addressed when designing the clock tree for a system running synchronously at high speed:
  " Control Jitter And Interference During Clock Distribution,"
  Electronic Design, October 8, 2009

Previous "Also of Interest" and "Elementals" Editions:

• January 18, 2010
• January 11, 2010
• January 4, 2010
• December 28, 2009

Recent Planet Analog Newsletters:

• January 20, 2010
• January 13, 2010
• January 6, 2010
• December 16, 2009