SerDes (pronounced sir-dees) stands for Serializer/Deserializer. It is a set of blocks that is commonly found in high speed communications. SerDes’ general purpose is to compensate for limited input/output. The blocks can convert data between serial data and interfaces that are parallel in different directions. Functions of SerDes The generic function is made up of two blocks: Parallel In Serial Output (PISO) Serial In Parallel Output (SIPO) Additionally, there are four different SerDes architectures. They are: Parallel Clock SerDes Embedded Clock SerDes 8b/10b SerDes Bit interleaved SerDes Parallel Input Serial Read More

One of the significant developments with the widespread adoption of the personal computer for home, business, and school use is the digitalization of media and the subsequent mass adaptation by consumers and industry. While digital media is not a new concept, it has only recently made its way into the “normal” household and is commonly supported by digital audio cables. As a result, higher quality audio playback is now supported while watching movies or listening to music that can approach (or at times exceed) the experience found in a high-end Read More

A codec (Coder/Decoder) is a technology used to compress and decompress data files. Codecs can be found in software, hardware, or both. Codecs are used to make files that are usually large into much smaller sizes, making the file convenient to transfer throughout the Internet, local area network (LAN), wireless devices, or any other file transfer methods. Installing codecs into one’s computer eliminates errors such as “Unexpected File Format” when playing a video file. The MP4 file format is rapidly spreading throughout the web, making it the new revolutionary way Read More

Terahertz radiation is a selection of the electromagnetic wave spectrum that propagates at frequencies regarded as the terahertz band. ‘Radiation physics of energetic waves’ defines the terahertz band as tremendously high frequency. The terahertz band can be applied within the bracket of 300 gigahertz (high frequency microwave) and 3000 gigahertz (long wavelength far infrared light). This band’s wavelength can be as small as o.1mm infrared to 1.0mm microwave. Terahertz radiation is also known as: Submillimeter radiation Terahertz waves (T-waves) Terahertz light (T-light) T-rays T-Lux THz The terahertz band radiation travels Read More

RG-58 is a coaxial cable that is used for wiring purposes. A coaxial cable, in general, consists of an inner conductor that is surrounded by a spacer. The coaxial cable is electrically charged and sometimes consists of different uninsulated conductors that remain entangled with one another. The insulating spacer of the cable is further surrounded by a sheath that is cylindrical in shape. The final circle is formed by an insulating jacket. The insulation surrounding the RG-58 cable carries a low impedance of around 50 or 52 ohms. It is Read More

Two common video files that are found on the Internet include FLV (Flash Video) and MPEG (Motion Pictures Expert Group). While both are extremely easy to view and store, many computer users still prefer to convert Flash files to MPEG (specifically MPEG-2) for viewing on either PC Based media player or home DVD players. While it is easy to convert one type of file to the other, it is important to be aware of each file's attributes. What is a Flash File (FLV)? Flash files are used primarily on the Read More

As a Windows computer ages, the number of third party applications that users download increases. Many of these programs automatically configure themselves to be opened when Windows starts eating away at the resources available for the computer to perform routine tasks. This can significantly slow overall computer speed. Users can mitigate this problem by changing the Windows startup options to only include the applications that they really need started every time they reboot the Windows computer. The startup program listing can be modified with the System Configuration utility or by Read More

Network Infrastructure Security Overview Network infrastructure refers to the grouping of physical hardware and logical components which are needed to provide a number of features for the network, such as connectivity, routing and switching capabilities, network security, and access control. The physical infrastructure of the network refers to the physical design of the network together with the hardware components. The logical infrastructure of the network consists of all the software components required to enable connectivity between devices, and to provide network security. The network's logical infrastructure consists of software products Read More

The Wii, which Nintendo produced and distributed, is the latest console that Nintendo released. It allows users to play games via wireless motion detection. While Wiis have only been available for several years, they have quickly matched similar products such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in total sales. The Wii uses a wireless remote that has a built-in accelerometer that is able to detect the user’s movements and display the appropriate changes on the screen. While Wii was first released as an electronic sports console, with games like Read More

In electronics, a filter is a group of components in a circuit that performs signal processing. They are made from basic components such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors. They also include microprocessors in the case of digital filters. Parts of the input signal may either be blocked or have their frequency and amplitude modified depending on the arrangement of these components in the filter circuit. There are a wide range of filter categories including passive, active, linear, non-linear, analogue, and digital. Passive and Active Filters Passive filters use only the Read More