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I'm wondering if there is a minimum book of analog electronics for embedded electronics (and especially the hacking of). I dabbed into a Tiva launchpad from las

I'm wondering if there is a minimum book of analog electronics for embedded electronics (and especially the hacking of). I dabbed into a Tiva launchpad from last Dec to Feb and went through a beginner textbook, but put the project to suspend as I failed to bit bang a few peripherals so got discouraged. Nevertheless I noticed that I only need a minimum amount of analog electronics, basically: 1. Resistors (of course, for voltage divider mostly) 2. Capacitors (to be connected to power pins to filter, and usually pF/uF for different places. I forgot the "rules" since I haven't touched it for a few months) 3. Diodes (to protect against backward flow) And that's pretty much it. From my understanding, the pins are also transistors but there is no need to go down that level (only need to know voltage tolerance, output signal strength and such). And even transistors are pretty easy to understand for TTL gates. To go a bit further, I never read much about Op Amp, but considering you can build logic gates with Op Amps, maybe it not that difficult if I do not need to look into the details? I found anything that can be abstracted into logic gates to be easier to digest, but of course actually building a computer from Op Amp or TTL is still a feat beyond my reach (Ben Eater has a very good series).

igorkraw 5y ago
There is: Horowitz celebrated "art of electronics" https://artofelectronics.net/ https://artofelectronics.net/
- hnthrowaway0315 5y ago
  I think this is an encyclopedia?
auxym 5y ago
Heard some good from this book: https://www.mheducation.ca/practical-electronics-for-inventors-fourth-edition-9781259587542-can https://www.mheducation.ca/practical-electronics-for-invento... Also a free one: https://www.analog.com/en/education/education-library/linear-circuit-design-handbook.html https://www.analog.com/en/education/education-library/linear...
- markus_zhang 5y ago
  Thanks! Still looks a bit generic than I hope for. What I have in mind is sort of best practice cookbooks for embedded developers but focused on the analog part. It should provide formulas if needed but avoid any mathematical explanation if possible. It should also be based on scenarios instead of components, in a "You should use an X component parallel/serialized between point a and b for the purpose of Y". For example: "You probably want to protect the Vcc pin by connecting a capacitor between A and B from spikes, because XYZ will bring these spikes". It should also supply a real life picture because I found it difficult to translate circuits on books to real life breadboards. On textbooks they usually use ideal components such as power sources with one terminal but it's kinda hard to wrap them around my head sometimes. I understand it's probably too much to ask and one should build such knowledge slowly. But sometimes I dream a bit :D
  - buescher 5y ago
    You can learn a lot of that kind of thing from reading app notes and data sheets carefully when you're starting out. For analog, the old applications handbooks from National, Burr-Brown, Analog, Linear, etc. are all available scanned to pdf if you look for them.
    - markus_zhang 5y ago
      Got it. Now that you said, I did remember reading a few app notes. There was one written by TI regarding ALL their chip X (IIRC it's a RAM chip) that did speak about how to protect the Vcc by connecting a capacitor as a best practice. Thanks! Yeah I probably should read more of those app notes. I'm mostly interested in digital though.
  - tuatoru 5y ago
    Very large and expensive textbooks have been written on the subject of power protection and grounding. A good (at the no-mathematics level), cheap but somewhat older book on power protection is Protection of Electronic Circuits from Overvoltages, Ronald B Standler, published by Dove. Focused more on whole-device protection rather than individual-IC protection though. NB. Capacitors on supply pins of ICs are usually more for 1. mitigating noise emission from the IC onto the power rails, affecting other circuit components; 2. stabilising the power supply to the IC (and so its operational parameters) while it deals with signal transients. If you are worried about an individual IC getting voltage spikes on its power supply pin(s), then you're probably doing it wrong. If not, use TVSes (transient voltage suppressors).
tuatoru 5y ago
If you are getting analog signals into digital circuits there is quite a bit more to know. Sensor characteristics, signal conditioning and level shifiting, anti-aliasing, grounding, input protection, circuit layout, power supply effects. Arduino For Scientific Measurement covers many of these in a straightforward, somewhat chatty way, for low frequency and DC signals. It's by a guy who has done a lot of well/bore measurement for the oil and gas industry and it is very focussed on the practice--there's no theory at all (except a very brief qualitative sketch of an ADC, IIRC). Radio frequency is a whole other kettle of lobsters. Lots more to learn there.

igorkraw 5y ago

There is: Horowitz celebrated "art of electronics" https://artofelectronics.net/ https://artofelectronics.net/

hnthrowaway0315 5y ago
I think this is an encyclopedia?

auxym 5y ago

Heard some good from this book: https://www.mheducation.ca/practical-electronics-for-inventors-fourth-edition-9781259587542-can https://www.mheducation.ca/practical-electronics-for-invento... Also a free one: https://www.analog.com/en/education/education-library/linear-circuit-design-handbook.html https://www.analog.com/en/education/education-library/linear...

markus_zhang 5y ago
Thanks! Still looks a bit generic than I hope for. What I have in mind is sort of best practice cookbooks for embedded developers but focused on the analog part. It should provide formulas if needed but avoid any mathematical explanation if possible. It should also be based on scenarios instead of components, in a "You should use an X component parallel/serialized between point a and b for the purpose of Y". For example: "You probably want to protect the Vcc pin by connecting a capacitor between A and B from spikes, because XYZ will bring these spikes". It should also supply a real life picture because I found it difficult to translate circuits on books to real life breadboards. On textbooks they usually use ideal components such as power sources with one terminal but it's kinda hard to wrap them around my head sometimes. I understand it's probably too much to ask and one should build such knowledge slowly. But sometimes I dream a bit :D
- buescher 5y ago
  You can learn a lot of that kind of thing from reading app notes and data sheets carefully when you're starting out. For analog, the old applications handbooks from National, Burr-Brown, Analog, Linear, etc. are all available scanned to pdf if you look for them.
  - markus_zhang 5y ago
    Got it. Now that you said, I did remember reading a few app notes. There was one written by TI regarding ALL their chip X (IIRC it's a RAM chip) that did speak about how to protect the Vcc by connecting a capacitor as a best practice. Thanks! Yeah I probably should read more of those app notes. I'm mostly interested in digital though.
- tuatoru 5y ago
  Very large and expensive textbooks have been written on the subject of power protection and grounding. A good (at the no-mathematics level), cheap but somewhat older book on power protection is Protection of Electronic Circuits from Overvoltages, Ronald B Standler, published by Dove. Focused more on whole-device protection rather than individual-IC protection though. NB. Capacitors on supply pins of ICs are usually more for 1. mitigating noise emission from the IC onto the power rails, affecting other circuit components; 2. stabilising the power supply to the IC (and so its operational parameters) while it deals with signal transients. If you are worried about an individual IC getting voltage spikes on its power supply pin(s), then you're probably doing it wrong. If not, use TVSes (transient voltage suppressors).

tuatoru 5y ago

If you are getting analog signals into digital circuits there is quite a bit more to know. Sensor characteristics, signal conditioning and level shifiting, anti-aliasing, grounding, input protection, circuit layout, power supply effects. Arduino For Scientific Measurement covers many of these in a straightforward, somewhat chatty way, for low frequency and DC signals. It's by a guy who has done a lot of well/bore measurement for the oil and gas industry and it is very focussed on the practice--there's no theory at all (except a very brief qualitative sketch of an ADC, IIRC). Radio frequency is a whole other kettle of lobsters. Lots more to learn there.