Embedded Systems Conference covers analog, too

There are eight analog sessions set for ESC, not counting those devoted to power-supply issues. It's nice to see that the basic analog building block—the op amp—gets two of these. After all, op amps don’t do much by themselves, but they can do almost everything depending on their in-circuit configuration. And since that mythical "ideal" op amp doesn't exist, two of the sessions look at factors in op amp selection, tradeoffs, and parameter evaluation.

Of course, most op amps work with converters, the other key element in the signal chain. ESC sessions look at the various converter architectures and how they mesh with specific applications, especially as converters become increasingly end-application focused. Of course, design effort is more than about part selection and placement. Proper technique and finesse define successful designs, versus marginal or delayed product release. Increasingly, system clocks are key design challenges, since the ever-higher speed of these clocks makes them victims of the real world of jitter, distortion, noise, slew rate, and other analog world ills. Several sessions will deal with the care and feeding of clocks for make sure that a marginal clock design or implementation doesn't compromise performance of an otherwise good design.