# An Interview with Ted Yapo

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-11-04
- Length: 1h 25m
- Episode: 465
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-04-an-interview-with-ted-yapo
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/465-an-interview-with-ted-yapo/

## Summary

Ted Yapo, an engineer with a background in image processing, networking, and computer vision, discusses his diverse hardware projects, including a diode-based logic clock, a 10-year battery life LED marker, and an 8 GHz sampling oscilloscope. He explains the technical challenges of building logic gates from commodity diodes and optimizing low-power LED drivers using pulse-width modulation and inductive kickback. Yapo also details his work on a scalar network analyzer algorithm to compensate for internal leakage in cheap spectrum analyzers, highlighting the importance of test equipment in validating high-speed designs.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-04-an-interview-with-ted-yapo#t=0) Introduction and Career Background
- [26:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-04-an-interview-with-ted-yapo#t=1606) The Diode-Based Logic Clock
- [36:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-04-an-interview-with-ted-yapo#t=2166) The Tritiled 10-Year LED Marker
- [45:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-04-an-interview-with-ted-yapo#t=2745) Building an 8 GHz Sampling Oscilloscope
- [1:11:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-04-an-interview-with-ted-yapo#t=4284) Scalar Network Analyzer Calibration

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Roden Schwartz (company)
- Hackaday (other)
- Cisco (company)
- Tektronix (company)
- ADCMP582 (chip)
- 1N4007 (chip)
- 1N914 (chip)
- CR2032 (chip)
- Siglent (company)
- DSA815 (product)
- Supercon (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [36: Drive the Boat with a Wii Mote](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-22-36-drive-the-boat-with-a-wii-mote) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep057: Dismantled LCD Panels, Unexpected Dynamometer, a Flappy POV, and Dastardly Encryption](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-03-06-ep057-dismantled-lcd-panels-unexpected-dynamometer-a-flappy-pov-and-dastardly-en) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep006: Reversing iPod Screens, Hot Isotopes, We <3 Parts, and Biometric Toiletseats](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-02-15-ep006-reversing-ipod-screens-hot-isotopes-we-3-parts-and-biometric-toiletseats) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [066 - Use Your Scope!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2023-12-09-066-use-your-scope) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-10-21-the-spark-gap-episode-42) (The Spark Gap)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-04-an-interview-with-ted-yapo. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.