VoltJots Issue 31

NEWS & ARTICLES

AI in your pocket: running an LLM from a USB stick

A creator has built a USB stick that can run a local large language model (LLM) from a Raspberry Pi Zero W. This means you can interact with an LLM offline, generating text content privately, and safely.

All-in-one MEMS sensor for wearables

STMicroelectronics has introduced a compact all-in-one MEMS sensor designed for wearables that enables precise impact sensing, enhancing the ability to monitor physical activities and track user movements effectively.

Freewheeling diodes explained

Learn how freewheeling diodes provide an alternate current path, protecting electronic switches from voltage spikes caused by inductive loads, improving reliability, and helping circuits run smoothly.

What is bit jitter, and what are its component jitters?

Understand bit jitter as timing inaccuracies in digital signals, including random jitter from noise and deterministic jitter from predictable sources, which can degrade high-speed digital communication quality.

Tiny screens, big graphics editing

Check out this web-based graphics editor that makes creating bitmap images for your displays easy, with handy pixel-level tools, import/export options, and built-in support for popular tiny-screen formats.

Revolutionary washable touchless tech

Discover how new washable touchless technology is set to transform electronic textiles by enabling them to respond to gestures, improving usability while maintaining durability and easy cleaning.

PROJECTS & TUTORIALS

Speech-to-text magic on ESP32

Check out how an ESP32 captures audio data, streams it online to Google's Gemini API, and quickly converts spoken words into accurate text in real-time.

PWM current source converters simplified

Discover how PWM current source converters use IGBTs and controlled switching at variable duty cycles to transform steady DC current into efficient, PWM-modulated AC output for reliable motor and power control applications.

Raspberry Pi Pico: 20 free guides for sensors and modules

Looking for inspiration? Take a peep at this extensive set of beginner-friendly tutorials showing you clearly how to connect and program Raspberry Pi Pico with different sensors, modules, and peripherals using MicroPython and Arduino IDE.

Power your Raspberry Pi with PoE

Learn how to power your Raspberry Pi through Power over Ethernet (PoE) using a PoE HAT, allowing you to both power the device and connect to a network using a single Ethernet cable for cleaner setups.

Smart human safety device unveiled

Build this human safety device to detect and respond to emergencies, complete with a MEMS sensor for fall detection, a temperature sensor for health monitoring, and GPS and GSM modules for location tracking and communication.

DIY RFID door lock with Arduino

Improve security and get easier access to your home with a secure RFID door lock system using Arduino.

PRODUCTS

Renesas RA4L1 simplifies embedded HMI design

The Renesas RA4L1 microcontroller combines a low-power Arm Cortex-M4 core, capacitive-touch sensing, and display features to simplify interface design and boost performance in embedded human-machine interface (HMI) applications.

Compact solar-powered CO₂ sensor

Check out this innovative CO₂ sensor incorporating a power management IC and an indoor solar cell, designed for energy-efficient operation in environmental monitoring applications without the need for batteries.

Game-changing coin battery power supply

Imagine a high-performance battery module that includes a power management system, solar energy harvesting system, Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) 5.3, wireless power transmission (WPT), and optional IO pins contained in the form factor of a coin-sized battery. Imagine no longer.

Make IoT development easier with the all-in-one board

Make IoT development easier with the all-in-one IoT development board that combines integrated sensors, communication capabilities, and compatibility with various programming environments.