Logic & translation

A commonly encountered problem when working with the microcontroller is not having enough GPIO pins to read in multiple sensors; but upgrading to a larger controller is not the only solution.  You can use a serial-input parrallel-output shift register as a general purpose output expander.  Using as few as two GPIO pins, shift registers can produce 8, 16, 24, 32, or more outputs. With this method you can offload the work from the MCU or eliminate the MCU altogether. 

• Versatile: Output number not limited by pin count of MCUs or FPGAs.
• Increased outputs:  Daisy-chain 8-bit shift-registers to enable as many outputs as you need.

• Cost-effective: Eliminate the need for a higher pin-count MCU or FPGA.

Managing noise in a system continues to be a challenge.  With modern CMOS logic, sharp-edged square waves with minimal noise are required for optimal operation. Slow edges into CMOS inputs produce excessive power consumption. When slow edges and excessive noise combine, this can result in erroneous outputs and system failure. You can address this by adding a Schmitt-trigger buffer or Schmitt-trigger input logic device into the signal chain when noise or slow inputs are a problem. This will improve your noise margins, reduce power consumption, reduce noise, and produce fast edges at the output.

• Eliminate noise: Use Schmitt-triggers to add hysteresis and improve noise margins.
• Prevent errors: Improved digital signal integrity ensures correct operation.
• 4+ mA outputs: Drive long or high capacitance traces.
  

Across industrial and communications equipment, it is common to connect daughter cards in a system through parallel communication lines known as “ribbon cables” or “flex cables.” These cables add capacitive load to the driver and, in many cases, can produce excessive loading such that the system controller can no longer communicate with the daughter card. If your system requires bidirectional communication, this creates a unique challenge since both boards need to have the direction changed simultaneously for correct operation. You can address this by adding a transceiver on both boards to increase drive strength and enable communication.  With this approach you will also need a unidirectional buffer to transmit the direction signal across the cable to the distant end. By combining use of the transceiver and buffer, you improve drives strength and enable parallel communication across your sytem.

• Improved signal integrity: Reduces capacitive loading of the system controller

• Cost effective: Reduces the total number of required components for parallel communications

• Strong output drivers: Enable communication over long parallel communication lines