Embedded.com Tech Focus Newsletter (4-14-14): Dealing with the “ghosts” in nextgen embedded designs

The many spurious noise, ESD and EMI “ghosts” that can wreak havoc in an embedded design are still with us and getting worse as we push the limits of design and application. How will we deal with the challenges ahead in a ubiquitously connected world?

Vadim Konradi of Silicon Labs reviews the various EMI problems associated with projected-capacitance touchscreens in today’s portable devices. The author then outlines design and optimization techniques to deal with the interference coupling paths.

While not perfect, the finite element method (FEM) is a useful way to calculate the effect of electromagnetic interference and the effectiveness of various protective mechanisms.

How to address the testing and EMI conformity challenges of next generation printed circuit board design and what factors should be considered when evaluating a PCB design tool.

In this Product How-To design article, Jean Viljoen of Azoteq, details the EMI and other challenges of designing capacitive touch user interfaces and how to use the company’s ProxSense auto tuning technology to negate the need for calibration.

Here's a less time-consuming way to maintain magnetic card reader and card reliability in a variety of noisy electronic environments.

Proposed decreases in on-chip ESD protection in nextgen ICs mean that system designers must be more aware of building ESD protection into their designs by choosing the right devices and following key design principles.

To control EMI in consumer devices clock parameters like PLL charge pump current, VCO gain, and output drive strength, need to be programmable to improve system performance, reduce development time, and allow last minute changes.

How to use a mixed domain oscilloscope to test and troubleshoot high performance, wirelessly connected embedded systems designs for electromagnetic interference problems.

A survey of the ways in which electrical overstress (EOS) can cause the failure of integrated circuits and electronic systems and some of the techniques for protecting them.

How to use Freescale's capactive touch sensing-based Touch Sensing Software techniques to achieve faster capacitance measurements, and guaranteed maximal conversion time using typical hardware in touch applications