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You are here: Home / Radio Show / #478 – Optimization Beast

#478 – Optimization Beast

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  • We have a sponsor and a new form of advertising this week. Here are some of the links mentioned:
    • Wave sign-up link (gets bonus entry)
    • The ESD Checklist
    • 4 easy ways to blow up your test gear
    • Can a cable electrically damage equipment?
  • Impersonation scam
  • Dave may be moving back to his old office park.
  • Working in constrained space
  • Chris mentioned that in Skunkworks they pushed to declassify some of their work because it was such a hassle.
  • The SR71 was actually the RS71 but it was written poorly and they worked to just change the designation.
  • Barrie Gilbert of ADI has passed away
  • Some videos of him teaching:
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQNJVtcFrCc
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sATM6gi7bn8
  • Computer History Museum
  • Chris had previously confused Dave’s friend Doug Ford (the microphone maker) with Doug Self (an author about audio principles)
  • KiCon 2020 will be at CERN!
  • They have lots of events at CERN, including an upcoming one on analog computing.
  • Fermi is a national lab outside of Chicago
  • Astra is a new low payload, high frequency rocket startup out of the bay area.
  • Former guests have worked there, but weren’t able to mention it previously.
    • Jeri Ellsworth (her most recent show talking about CastAR’s flameout)
    • Todd Bailey
  • Chris just finished the Elon Musk Biography
  • We heard from our listeners about Starlink and were pointed at this fantastic animated video showing how it all will/might work.
  • COTW – The OnSemi (nee Fairchild Semiconductor) FSBB20CH60C
    • Is it technically a DIP? Since it has staggered pins
    • 2500V RMS
    • Designing for transients
  • Creepage and clearance
  • Putting a slot can help increase the creepage spec.
  • Creepage and clearance changes with altitude
  • How much time do you spend in various parts of your office/lab throughout a project?
  • Task switching
  • Chris was on Embedded.fm talking about firmware, it will be out later this week.
  • Former guest Ron Quan has a new book out about Troubleshooting. His past books were:
    • Build your own transistor radios
    • Electronics from the ground up

 

Thanks to gideon for the picture of Domokun

Comments

  1. Simon says

    February 11, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    Yay! More Dave!
    Now – when will we get more Swag? (Thinks of the note book, drools).

  2. Mike Powell says

    February 12, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    Chris, the Gilbert cell is a key circuit used in analog multipliers. It’s widely used as an RF mixer. Given your interest in exploring RF design, it’s something I recommend you explore. It’s covered in a hands on approach in Experimental Methods in RF Design by Hayward, Campbell, & Larkin (available from the ARRL). And if you can find a copy of Analog Circuit Design; Art, Science, and Personalities ed. by Jim Williams, you’ll find a chapter by Barrie Gilbert that provides a glimpse into his design thoughts.

  3. John Pitney says

    February 15, 2020 at 8:07 am

    The Art of Electronics says not to call current “amperage,” but hearing the word from the well-informed engineer in the ad has me wondering. Where do Chris and Dave stand on the amperage issue?

  4. Thomas A says

    February 27, 2020 at 1:38 pm

    Coming back to the show after one year of abscense I find that it is still good and going strong. It’s always nice chilling with Chris and Dave chatting away 🙂

    The sound quality is also very good 👍

    • Thomas A says

      February 27, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      Also, superb show notes, as always!

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