Hardware Podcasts

The Spark Gap - Episode 42

The Spark Gap · 21 Oct 2015 · 1h 07m

What this episode covers

Chris Gammell, founder of parts.io, joins hosts Carl and Corey to discuss selecting the right operational amplifier for specific applications, using a 300mV DC signal and a 5nA current measurement as case studies. They also cover practical component choices like the LTC6903 programmable oscillator and the Microchip 24AA02 EEPROM with pre-burned MAC addresses. Gammell outlines parts.io's strategy to democratize access to Field Application Engineer (FAE) support by hiring an 'Internet Applications Engineer' and improving search algorithms to help small-scale designers.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
parts.io
Chips
LTC6903, 24AA02, LMC662, STM32, CC2540

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 02m

    AD620, DesignSpark, Instrumentation Amplifier - The Rant Rhetorical

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the AD620 instrumentation amplifier, its role in EEG applications, and the design benefits of its laser-trimmed resistors. They also review DesignSpark PCB version 2, praising its new 3D capabilities and bug fixes while noting its reliance on external models for mechanical integration. The episode includes rants about Atmel's cumbersome registration process for free software and the confusing rebranding of Tyco to TE Connectivity.

    EDA & CAD toolsSensors & measurement in products
    7 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 58m

    What's In A Name?

    Dave Jones of EEV blog and Chris Gammell of Chris Gammell's Analog Life launch the first episode of The Amp Hour, discussing the nascent maker movement, the business models of open-source hardware companies like SparkFun and Adafruit, and the challenges of component sourcing. They analyze industry consolidation, the impact of major customers like Apple on supply chains, and the strategic use of low-cost development tools by companies such as Texas Instruments and Microchip to capture market share. The conversation highlights the trade-offs in engineering design, from BOM optimization to the realities of manufacturing in China versus local hand-assembly.

    Direct-to-consumer & e-commerceSourcing & supply chain
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 01m

    EE Movies, Part Rants and SPICE.

    Dave Jones from EEVblog and Chris Gammell discuss the frustrations of using online component selection tools like WebMentional, which quote high-volume pricing that is inaccessible to prototypers, and the difficulties of sourcing parts directly from manufacturers. They critique the misleading metrics of electronics community platforms like Element14 and Design Spark, arguing that active user counts are vastly inflated compared to actual engagement. The hosts also debate the utility of SPICE simulation for complex analog designs, the historical evolution of capacitor unit notation, and the prevalence of free energy scams.

    Sourcing & supply chainStarting a product company
    10 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 20m

    Measuring Current with Matt Liberty

    Matt Liberty, creator of Joulescope, explains the engineering challenges of measuring high dynamic range currents in low-power IoT devices, specifically addressing the difficulty of switching between milliamp active states and microamp sleep states. He details how Joulescope uses a shunt ammeter design with seamless auto-ranging to minimize burden voltage, preventing device brownouts, and leverages Lattice iCE40 FPGAs for precise, sub-microsecond switching. The conversation covers practical applications for optimizing firmware power profiles, debugging leakage currents from components like bypass capacitors, and managing the supply chain and manufacturing processes for a small-batch hardware startup.

    Batteries & low-power designPCB design & layout
    10 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 13m

    Two and a Half Orders of Magnitude

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones celebrate The Amp Hour's 500th episode by reviewing past topics, including part shortages affecting Analog Devices' Analog Discovery devices and the challenges of sourcing components for educational labs. They discuss the new Google Skywater 130nm open-source PDK and free fabbing initiative, while debating the practicality of desktop chip printers and the logistics of a Mars colony. The episode concludes with a giveaway of the QuickLogic EOS S3 dev board and a discussion on open source hardware licensing standards like DIN 3105.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsSourcing & supply chain
    9 chapters

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