Analogue Circuit Design

Microcontrollers enable huge functionality to be achieved and appear to be ubiquitous in modern electronic circuits. However, there are many cases where the use of a microcontroller may not offer the best solution. Listed below are a few good reasons why a microcontroller might not be used:

Manufacturing cost – some circuit functions are much cheaper to implement using analogue techniques

Design cost – the absence of software can reduce the design cost

Reliability – analogue circuits do not crash

Resolution – an analogue measuring circuit has infinite resolution whereas digital is limited by the number of bits

Speed – there are many cases where digital methods are unable to match the speed of analogue

Power delivery – analogue methods and components inevitably need to be applied to the design of power supplies and audio drivers (even when switching techniques are employed)

Reliability of supply – second sources and equivalent types are available for most analogue components. This is rarely the case with microcontrollers.

Even circuits using microcontrollers commonly need analogue circuits. Power supplies (both linear and switched-mode), sensor signal conditioners and actuator drivers require analogue design skills for correct implementation.

PJB Systems Technology has many years of experience in the design of analogue circuits for many applications, including:

Precision signal conditioning of many types of transducers, including temperature, pressure, displacement, optical, chemical and ultrasonic types

The design of linear and switched-mode power supplies

The driving of laser diodes and Peltier coolers

Timing and signalling devices

Interfacing to microcontrollers.

PJB Systems has the skills, experience and design tools (including SPICE simulation) to offer the best solutions to a wide variety of electronic design problems, whether those solutions require analogue methods, digital methods, or a mixture of the two (mixed signal).

For more information please view our data sheet (size: 99kb) available in pdf format. You will require the Acrobat Reader to view this document.