Hardware Podcasts

Texas Instruments, OPA & Chevy Volt - Nerdy Neuroelectronic Neurosis

The Amp Hour · 31 May 2011 · 1h 05m · Episode 45

What this episode covers

Dave Jones of EEVBlog and Chris Gammell of Analog Life discuss Jones's new role as a father to his son Sagan, while also covering industry topics. They analyze the valuation of LinkedIn and the challenges of electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt, and review the Texas Instruments OPA171 op-amp as the 'Chip of the Week'. The episode concludes with a debate on the necessity of ESD protection during hardware teardowns.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Texas Instruments, LinkedIn, Altium, Freescale Semiconductor, DigiKey, EE Journal, EEVBlog
Products
Chevy Volt, MakerBot
Chips
OPA171

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Hackaday Podcast · 59m

    EP 372: Pop Tubers, Shifty Semiconductors, and Shelving Shelf Labels

    Hosts Tom Nardi and Kristina Panos discuss a range of hardware hacks, including Texas Instruments' changes to legacy op-amps like the NE5532 and OPA134, which create compatibility issues for designers. They explore creative projects such as loading Sega Genesis games from vinyl records using a Mega EverDrive Pro and a Pico 2, and projecting live ADS-B aircraft data onto a ceiling with an RTL-SDR. The episode also covers a DIY router build by Maya, the ethical concerns surrounding electronic shelf labels, and a ceramic circuit board prototype by Emily Velasco.

    Analog & power electronicsMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

  • The Spark Gap · 1h 19m

    The Spark Gap - Episode 32

    Hosts Carl and Corey revisit topics from their first 31 episodes, discussing the NXP acquisition of Freescale, MakerBot's layoffs, and Tesla's certified pre-owned program and Powerwall. They also analyze the John Deere firmware ownership controversy, the performance trade-offs of No-OS and Lua on microcontrollers, and the evolution of the Raspberry Pi. The episode highlights specific components like NXP current-sensing MOSFETs and the PCA8550 I2C dip switch, while addressing software bugs in Boeing 787 generator control units and the importance of checking simple parts like LDOs.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsBatteries & low-power design
    11 chapters

  • Moore's Lobby · 1m

    Don't Miss Season 2 of Moore's Lobby

    Host Daniel Bogdanoff previews Season 2 of Moore's Lobby, launching January 21st, featuring engineering leaders from Virgin Hyperloop, Formula E, and NS Nanotech. The trailer highlights insights from previous guests at NASA, Tesla, Amazon Web Services, iRobot, and Lockheed Martin Space Systems. It teases discussions on power electronics in electric vehicles, the R&D role of motorsport, and common fatal mistakes in product design and market fragmentation.

    PCB design & layoutAnalog & power electronics
    5 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 58m

    122: Glue a Board to Your Resume

    Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss the embedded job market, advising engineers to build hardware projects to demonstrate manufacturing knowledge. They explain bypass capacitors using a software buffer analogy, review development tools like Visual Studio and Visual Micro, and offer advice on contracting rates and contract terms. The episode also covers the VW emissions scandal, drone registration regulations, and the hosts' move to a new recording location.

    Careers & educationAnalog & power electronics
    7 chapters

  • The Spark Gap · 59m

    The Spark Gap - Episode 41

    Chris Gammell, founder of Parts IO and Contextual Electronics, joins hosts Carl and Corey to discuss the complexities of selecting operational amplifiers (op-amps) and the challenges of component sourcing. They analyze specific parts like the AD5339 DAC and MAX7400 filter, highlighting how datasheet marketing often obscures real-world performance issues like offset voltage and noise. Gammell introduces Parts IO, a component search engine designed to aggregate data from multiple distributors and manufacturers to provide risk assessments, pricing trends, and availability metrics that standard distributors like Digi-Key often lack.

    Analog & power electronicsSourcing & supply chain
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.