
Sam Holland
About:
Sam Holland received a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Portsmouth in 2012, and he's currently working towards a copywriting distinction from The College of Media & Publishing. Sam has considerable experience in the electrical engineering publishing field, having worked with Industrial Media Limited as an assistant editor. He's fascinated by all things artificial intelligence and hopes to write more about emerging trends in neuromorphic computing. Sam currently resides in the UK.
Articles
Crystalline Insulator Layers in 2D Materials Enable Efficient Microelectronics
Researchers at Tu Wien (Technische Universität Wien) have introduced crystalline insulator layers to single-layer (‘2D’) materials. This offers a turning point for component miniaturisation: it provides the ability to manufacture efficient microelectronics that maintain their ideal electronic properties.
7 months ago
News
Machine Learning Diagnostics Tool Shows Promise for the Future of Europe’s Energy Management
Researchers from Rovira i Virgili University (translated from the Catalan title, 'Universitat Rovira i Virgili') have introduced an artificial intelligence system that presents users with an accurate reading of the effectiveness and feasibility of both water and room heating installations in the EU.
7 months ago
News
UK and Switzerland Lead the Way in European 5G According to International Report
Switzerland and the UK have been deemed two leading countries (third and sixth place respectively) in their integration of 5G. This is according to research company Omdia’s ‘5G Market Progress Assessment, End-2019’, which accounts for a total of 22 countries.
8 months ago
News
Researchers Achieve Record-Breaking Sodium-Ion Battery Performance
Washington State University (WSU) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) researchers have developed a sodium-ion battery, or SIB, whose capacity and performance is comparable to that of many lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) on the market.
about 9 months ago
News
“Micro-Comb” Technology Achieves Record 44.2 Tbps Internet Speed
Researchers from Monash, Swinburne University of Technology (SUT), and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) have achieved world-beating internet efficiency: their 44.2 terabits per second micro-comb chip has an optical technology that can replace the equivalent function of 80 lasers in traditional optic fibre-based internet solutions.
about 9 months ago
News
Arm Announces Its Hardware and Software-Focused Devsummit Conference Is Going Virtual
In the wake of the lockdown, computing giant Arm has unveiled that DevSummit—the new name for its developer and designer-targeted, software and hardware-focused tech conference—will be hosted virtually (online) from the 5th to the 9th of October, 2020.
9 months ago
News
Biotechnology Materials Science Breakthrough Enables Enhanced Biocompatibility in Bioelectronics
Columbia University researchers have developed a materials science technology they call ‘MCP’, which enables the bonding of soft and rigid components—thus facilitating bioelectronics that can safely process complex neurological signals within the user’s skin.
about 10 months ago
News
Improving Lithium-ion Battery Performance: Hybrid Material Proven to Extend Silicon Capacity
Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) have discovered a way to improve silicon performance within Lithium-ion batteries. The accomplishment involves a hybrid material consisting of silicon microparticles and carbon nanotubes.
10 months ago
News
Generative Design: A Breakthrough in 3D Printing?
As 3D printing’s popularity grows, one of the new areas that it has opened up—generative design—has become a hot topic. Are its benefits to product design and engineering as prevalent as we’re told? We define generative design, consider the industrial implications, and ultimately consider this question.
11 months ago
Opinion
What AI Can Do for Tech Development — and What It Can’t
While AI, or artificial intelligence, is already revolutionising all manner of industries, it is nevertheless nothing more than a system. We look at what AI is at its crux, consider its industrial implications, and ultimately cover its limitations.
one Year ago
Opinion
How Can the Electronics Industry Tap into the Potential of 5G?
5G may one day be a universal communication feature, but so far, it is still far from ready. We look at what is holding it back in the consumer world, and what engineers and manufacturers can do to help both its integration in towns and cities—which may ultimately involve increasing the fifth generation’s capabilities in the industrial IoT.
one Year ago
Opinion
Are Analog Circuit Design Engineers Still Relevant in the Electrical Engineering industry?
Continuous-time variables—sound, pressure, temperature and so on—make up our world. Engineers, especially electronic and electrical engineers, take these variables and manipulate them in the making of analog electronic devices.
one Year ago
Opinion
Nexperia PCMFxUSB3BA Series EMI Filters with ESD Protection
Produced by leading semiconductor manufacturer, Nexperia, the PCMFxUSB3BA is a common mode EMI Filter that provides integrated bidirectional electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection for differential channels.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
What Every Student Should Know Before Pursuing an Electrical Engineering Degree
The journey to becoming an electronic or electrical engineer starts at university, where students are trained and introduced to theories and principles about their chosen field. In most European countries, this takes between three-to-four years.
one Year ago
Opinion
Vishay Intertechnology’s DCRF Series of Wirewound Resistors
The direct water-cooled wire-wound resistors (DCRF) series by Vishay Intertechnology features ultra-high-power ratings up to 9,000W. There are six model resistors in the series, suitable for use in large drives as discharge resistors.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
Disruptive Electrical Engineering Technologies: the System-on-Chip
Almost every kind of electronic device used today utilises a system-on-chip (SoC). Measuring about the size of a human thumbnail, these chips comprise both software and hardware components that add functionality to electronic devices and equipment.
one Year ago
Research
Disruptive Electrical Engineering Technologies: Supercapacitors
With growing concerns over environmentally-unfriendly materials—as well as of course the often low reliability of batteries—many manufacturers are turning to supercapacitors as the energy storage devices of choice for their applications.
one Year ago
Opinion
ams Inductive Position Sensor for Automotive and Industrial Electric Motors
The AS5715 inductive sensor, which is the first inductive position sensor for automotive, industrial, and high-speed electric motors, provides size, cost and weight savings unlike the resolvers commonly used in cars today.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
Electrical Engineering Discoveries That Shaped the World: AC and DC Power
Fought in 1880 between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, the ‘war of the currents’ defined modern electric power transmission: Edison believed in the use of DC (direct current) power, and Tesla the use of AC (alternating current) power. This article considers both sides of the fence.
one Year ago
Research
Electrical Engineering Inventions That Shaped the World: The Transistor
The invention of the crucial transistor marked a departure from bulky vacuum tubes in favour of cheaper and more portable electronic products. In this first entry in our ‘Electrical Engineering Inventions That Shaped the World’ series, we look at the now-universal component.
one Year ago
Research
The Importance of Control Systems in Electrical Engineering
Automated process control is an integral part of modern industry. For example, automation allows integrated circuit manufacturers to both minimise errors during the fabrication process and improve production efficiency—ultimately enhancing the quality of the final products.
one Year ago
Opinion
Dialog Semiconductor Has Introduced Its Record-Breaking BLE Technology: Product Marketing Group Manager Adrie Van Meijeren Discusses
BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) is a mainstay, whose energy efficiency has led to countless applications. Now, with Dialog Semiconductor’s latest BLE system-on-chip (SoC), the DA14531 (nicknamed the SmartBond TINY for its ground-breaking size-to-power ratio) on the market, Dialog’s product marketing group manager, Adrie Van Meijeren, talked to Electronics Point about the breakthrough.
one Year ago
Interviews
Becoming a Licensed Engineer in Germany: What Every Engineer Should Know
If you are a non-German engineer who wishes to become an engineer in Germany, there are a number of points to bear in mind—including the need for your native qualification to be certified by the relevant bodies.
one Year ago
Opinion
Becoming a Professional Engineer in the United States: What Every Electrical Engineer Should Know
According to the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), a professional engineering licence is the highest standard of competence, while also being an assurance of quality—and, of course, an overall symbol of achievement in the engineering profession.
one Year ago
Opinion
The Changing Needs of IC Packaging
IC (integrated circuit) packaging innovations are driven by need: the need for greater bandwidth, less latency, and more functionality on a single chip—just to name a few. These needs have resulted in new approaches to both packaging and its manufacture that have the potential to revolutionise electronics.
one Year ago
Opinion
Texas Instruments Overvoltage Reset IC for Low Voltage Supply Systems
The TPS3870-Q1 overvoltage reset integrated circuit (IC from Texas Instruments is an overvoltage monitor or reset IC also known as a voltage supervisor. The device uses a voltage comparator for overvoltage detection and is suitable for systems that operate on low voltage supply.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
Analog Devices’ DC2911A Evaluation Board: Ease Thermal Design Efforts and Optimise Power Delivery
Analog Devices’ DC 2911A evaluation board, which features the LT4321 PoE (Power over Ethernet) ideal diode bridge controller and the LT4293 PD (Powered Device) interface controller, is an IEEE 802.3bt-compliant and LTPoE++ (Linear Technology Power Over Ethernet++)-interoperable PoE Powered Device.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
The Most Rewarding Specialities for Electrical and Electronic Engineers Today
Electrical and/or electronic engineering (EEE) encompasses highly rewarding professions—not just concerning financial compensation, but job satisfaction, too. But even within these fields, not all specialities are the same. We explore some of the most rewarding specialisations for both budding and experienced engineers alike.
one Year ago
Opinion
Evaluating an Innovative IoT Sensing and Communication Unit for Smart Farming
Researchers from the Technical University of Liberec (TUL) in Liberec, Czechia have developed an innovative, smart, farming-focused IoT sensing and communication unit—which has proven instrumental in precision agriculture.
one Year ago
Research
Tips on Troubleshooting and Repairing PCBs
Equipment failure, burnt components, and damaged traces are just some of the common problems that engineers encounter while working with PCBs. This calls for engineers to consider the frequent causes of such failures in PCBs—and the vital steps for troubleshooting and repairs.
one Year ago
Research
The Challenges Associated with 3D IC Implementation
A new trend of vertically-stacked integrated circuits (or circuitry) is being touted as a means to decelerate Moore’s law. Set to meet electronic device requirements like lower power consumption and higher performance, 3D integration is piquing the interest of several design teams who plan to efficiently pack high functionality into small form factors. There are, however, both advantages and challenges alike.
one Year ago
Opinion
What Makes C++ Useful for Electrical Engineers
Gone are the days where only a computer science engineer is required to develop software and an electrical engineer (EE) has to work with pieces of hardware alone. Accordingly, there has been an increasing trend among non-computer engineers, particularly EEs, to learn at least one programming language—of which C++ is a chief example.
one Year ago
Opinion
Maxim Integrated’s Precision Voltage Reference and Evaluation Kit: The MAX6078 and MAX6078EVKIT
The MAX6078 and the MAX6078EVKIT—respectively, Maxim Integrated’s Precision Voltage Reference and its evaluation kit—are both analogue devices. The former allows access to both a low drift and low noise at the optimal power supply (15µA), whereas the latter is an intricately-designed circuit board used to accurately evaluate the MAX6078’s voltage references.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
High Frequency Voltage Signal Transmission Under Remote Control
As much of the world transitions from fossil fuels to green energy, a new, transformed transmission system must be realised. Indeed, electrical engineers must ultimately transform the traditional grid into a smart grid.
one Year ago
Research
Texas Instruments AM574x Sitara Processors
Sitara Processors by Texas Instruments are industrial development kits (IDKs) used in a wide range of applications, including industrial communications, video processing, automation, and control. The latest IDK for such processors—which incorporate Arm Cortex as their main processing cores—is the AM574x.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
Electronics Hardware Prototyping Basics: Building and Testing Prototypes
Early efforts at launching new electronic hardware products were long and complicated. However, with recent advances in microcontrollers and manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing and injection moulding, engineers and designers can now take products to market faster than ever.
one Year ago
Research
Benefits of PCB Design Software to Electrical Engineers and Where to Find Them
For designing electronic circuits on PCBs, there is a variety of both free-to-use and paid software tools available on the internet. Accordingly, it’s important to know the benefits of PCB design software and some of the best tools for electrical engineers.
one Year ago
Opinion
The Forefathers of Lithium-ion Batteries Have Been Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry
For their past lithium-ion research, which was pivotal in realising today’s world of portable, rechargeable devices, 3 scientists were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry on the 9th of October.
one Year ago
News
Safety in the Workplace: What Every Electrical Engineer Should Know
Electrical safety is a crucial aspect of any electrical engineer’s (EE) career that can, quite literally, be a ‘life or death’ matter. Every day, EEs work with electrical devices and equipment that utilise potentially hazardous voltages. Here’s how to avoid them.
one Year ago
Opinion
Electrical and Electronics Engineering: What’s the Difference?
People tend to think of electrical engineering and electronic engineering as the same. Even more confusing is the fact that many engineering graduates leave the university with a joint degree in both fields. However, several differences exist between the two disciplines...
one Year ago
Opinion
u-blox’s Product Manager, Alex Ngi, Discusses u-blox’s Dead Reckoning, Vehicle-to-Everything Positioning Solutions
To demonstrate u-blox and Siemens’ high-accuracy, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) positioning solutions, the tech giants attended the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) European Congress 2019, where they showcased u-blox’s ZED-F9K sensor module and what it brings to intelligent cars and fleets. u-blox’s Alex Ngi explains the technology involved.
one Year ago
Interviews
How the Product Development Cycle Has Evolved Over the Years
Today, engineering products and systems are increasing in complexity due to rapid miniaturization and expanding functionality. Nonetheless, manufacturers must introduce new, innovative products to keep up with a competitive market.
one Year ago
Opinion
Introduction to Basic Electrical Theory: Circuit Theory
Electric circuit theory is one of the most vital aspects of electrical engineering. Understanding how components work individually and collectively is the basis for designing, manufacturing, and troubleshooting all kinds of electronic devices and systems. This article will cover the basic circuit components, laws, and parameters in electrical engineering.
one Year ago
Research
Eaton XLR 48V and 51V Energy Storage Supercapacitor Modules Based on Carbon Technology
A supercapacitor, also known as a double-layer/ultracapacitor, differs from the ordinary capacitor due to its different characteristics such as energy density, materials used, cost, and so on.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
An Introduction to Embedded Design and Development: Define and Understand Embedded Systems and Design
In the electronic engineering and computer science fields, several terminologies evolve and become popularised without many people understanding what they mean. For those curious to learn more about embedded systems, this article explains some of the elaborate terms.
one Year ago
Research
Pushing the Limits of Power Generation: Harvesting Electric Power from Rust
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and Northwestern University have discovered a way to generate electric power from a thin coating of rust. What does this solution mean for us, and can it have a meaningful impact on sustainable power generation in the future?
one Year ago
Research
How Engineers Work Today: Situations That Require Collaboration in the Engineering Field
In a typical product development lifecycle (PDLC), several professionals are involved in bringing the design to life: the engineering teams that perform front-end engineering design and backend software development, product designers that specify design requirements, supply chain professionals that handle supplies and logistics, and project managers that oversee all activities of the cross-functional team at a high level.
one Year ago
Opinion
The Value of Effective Communication Skills for Electrical Engineers
To a layman, the picture that often comes to mind when they think of an electrical engineer (EE) is one working all alone in a room with a soldering iron, digital multimeter, and a PCB. But in truth, of course, engineers, like all manner of professionals, often do a great deal of speaking, writing, and listening in their daily work.
one Year ago
Opinion
Detect and Convert Low Frequency Vibrations in IIoT Applications with KEMET VS Vibration Sensors
KEMET’s VS Vibration Sensors have a 10Hz to 1,5000Hz frequency range, and the ability to detect even the most feeble levels of vibration throughout a large sensing bandwidth—making them ideal for industrial applications.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
How Solar Power Cars Work: Exploring Solar Electronics
The transport sector in Europe remains one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gases such as CO2 and nitrogen oxides (aka NOx) from the exhaust pipes of vehicles. Thankfully, engineers are working on eco-friendly automotive solutions—and an exciting example of them are solar-powered vehicles.
one Year ago
Opinion
The Cause of a Power Systems Failure That Led to a UK Blackout
The 9th of August this year saw the worst UK blackout since 2008, with issues involving transport disruptions and almost a million British households left in the dark. Demands have since been made for reports that account for the mass power failure.
one Year ago
News
Electronically Securing IoT Devices for the Future
As IoT-connected devices continue to rise in popularity, there is a growing need to secure them against cyber-attacks that plague the internet daily and continue to grow in prominence. These threats have the potential to access sensitive information—to the extent that conventional anti-virus and firewall solutions will not suffice.
one Year ago
Opinion
Understanding and Minimising Power Loss in Electric Devices and Power Systems
Many types of power losses can occur in electric circuits for a multitude of reasons: troubling electrical engineers (EEs), they cause a host of problems that affect the efficiency, reliability, and safety of the systems that EEs design and build. Understanding how and where these losses occur—including heating, eddy current, and switching losses—can help engineers to keep them at a bare minimum.
one Year ago
Research
The Anticipated Concerns of a Renewables-Fuelled Power Grid in the UK
In a bid to lower energy costs, meet growing demand with sustainable power, and reduce toxic emissions, the UK is turning to renewables to replace its existing power systems now more than ever. From a technical perspective, however, the path to implementation remains lined with challenges...
one Year ago
Opinion
Common Issues Engineers Face Using PCBs and How to Fix Them
Printed circuit boards, aka PCBs, are arguably the most common components in electronic devices—and altogether set to be worth $89.7 billion by 2024, says GlobeNewswire. Engineers, however, need to be prepared for the following issues when dealing with such ubiquitous material...
one Year ago
Opinion
German Startup e-bot7 Improves Smart Chatbot Communication Through Deep Learning and AI
E-bot7, a German start-up, is becoming known for its innovations that combine chatbots, deep learning AI, and customer service workflows to develop solutions that help customer service representatives just as much as the customers who depend on them.
one Year ago
News
The Appeal Behind Designing Low-Power Electronics
In 1947, William Shockley, alongside a team of physicists at Bell Labs, demonstrated the first practical transistor, one of the earliest efforts at low power electronic design. The transistor replaced the bulky and energy-demanding vacuum tubes used at the time and paved the way for smaller electronics with lower power consumption.
one Year ago
Research
Safety Soldering Procedures for Electrical Engineers
Every electrical engineer has, at some point, come into contact with a soldering iron and some rolled up piece of solder. Here's a look at some of the tools, processes, and testing involved in soldering for the electrical engineering profession.
one Year ago
Opinion
Circuit Protection Devices That Ensure the Safety and Reliability of Electrical Circuits
Every electrical engineer charged with the responsibility of designing and building electrical systems must ensure that they are reliable, safe, and durable. But sometimes, things could go awry: burnt PCBs and components, static shocks, and tripped circuit breakers are just some of the myriad technical issues that come from inadequate circuit protection.
one Year ago
Research
Open Source Software Electrical Engineers Should Know About
‘Open-source software’ (OSS) refers to computer programs whose copyright holders have licensed their source codes to the public to study, modify, and distribute the software freely. Additionally, some of them have thriving online collaborative communities where users can share ideas, utilise and modify the source code for a host of applications.
one Year ago
Opinion
Has the Limits of Processing Power Been Reached?
As technology advances, so too does the need for more computing power to handle the explosive volumes of data generated. With growing trends in autonomous driving, high-bandwidth data transfer, and cloud computing, leading chipmakers are striving to push out lightning-fast processors every year through many manufacturing and design techniques.
one Year ago
Opinion
The Key Features of VadaTech’s VT931 MicroTCA Chassis Platform
VadaTech has announced its VT931, a 4U (i.e. 7 inches-high), rugged MTCA.1 Chassis Platform with 12 Advanced Mezzanine Card slots. It is specifically designed to be used in a lot of military, aerospace, industrial and transportation applications.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
STMicroelectronics STEVAL-DPSLLCK1 Evaluation Kit for Power Conversion Needs
The STEVAL-DPSLLCK1, by STMicroelectronics, is a 3-kilowatt isolated full bridge logical link control (LLC) DC-DC resonant converter that turns 375V–425V to 48V, and a maximum current of 62.5A.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
The Major Differences in Electrical Standards Between the U.S. and Europe
Working on an electrical engineering project for a country other than the one you were educated in is going to be a major challenge—especially when you consider that almost every country in Europe has its own version of electrical standards and codes.
one Year ago
Opinion
AVX’s Series of Poke-Home Wire-to-Wire Connectors
Wire-to-wire connectors are always best known for their simplicity and reliability. They have been used in the industrial market for years with traditional 2-piece (plug and socket) connector systems that require crimp and poke-wire terminations to connect electrical or electronic components.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
The ‘Beyond 5G’ Wireless Transceiver and The Future of High Speed Connectivity
A new radio chip from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), may have already paved the way for futuristic 6G, despite 5G cellular network standard still being in its infancy. Developed by electrical engineers at UCI’s Nanoscale Communication Integrated Circuits labs, the product promises to deliver up to 4 times greater speed and significantly higher bandwidth than 5G.
one Year ago
Research
A Guide to Basic Electronic Test Equipment for Electrical Engineers
Testing is a vital aspect of design and production for electromechanical devices. The need to verify, simulate, or monitor the behaviour of individual components and overall electric circuits exists to ensure the stability and reliability of the final products. Testing is also essential for troubleshooting faults in electronics after production.
one Year ago
Opinion
How Much Time Do Electrical Engineers Spend on Testing and Inspection?
Virtually every residential building, facility, or industrial plant requires myriad electrical systems to run various processes. This calls for extensive testing and inspection to ensure the reliability of assets and user safety.
one Year ago
Opinion
Smiths Interconnect Waterproof M23 Circular Connector Series
Many industrial applications are in need of robust, waterproof interconnectors that can be used for submersible motors and pumps in underwater environments. Accordingly, it is also required that these connectors maintain the same high electrical and mechanical durability even under dry conditions.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
STMicroelectronics’ X-NUCLEO-IKS01A3 MEMS and Environmental Sensor Evaluation Board
STMicroelectronics’ X-NUCLEO-IKS01A3 micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) and environmental sensor evaluation board is a miniature micro-mechatronic device designed for a broad range of sensor applications, as well as for prototyping and product evaluation.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
E-Switch CS Series Anti-Vandal Touch Sensor Switch: Prevent Damage or Tampering to Electrical Devices
E-Switches CS Series is an anti-vandal touch-sensitive electrical switch that helps deter tampering or damage to locations, applications, or devices, especially those in public settings.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
You’ll Hear Them Before You See Them: EVs in Europe Are Designed to Be Noisy
The shift to EVs has been a hot topic in recent years. As part of the efforts to combat the far-reaching effects of fossil fuel emissions on the global climate, the automotive industry has tilted its focus towards the research, design, and production of vehicles that run on alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen, solar panels, and powerful batteries.
one Year ago
Opinion
STMicroelectronics and Arrow Electronics Development Board for Optimal Automotive Engine Performance
STMicroelectronics and Arrow Electronics join forces to launch the SPC5-L9177A-K02 ECU reference design, intended to support compliance with future emission standards for single and twin-cylinder electronic fuel-injected gasoline engines.
one Year ago
Product Highlights
TE Connectivity Expands VAL-U-LOK Connectors for Higher Current Applications
TE Connectivity has recently expanded their VAL-U-LOK connector line to include high current 13 A connectors with a maximum 600VAC rating. This is a major addition to their existing portfolio of connectors and greatly expands its usefulness to higher power applications.
one Year ago
Product Highlights