We always admire when companies produce useful tools or documentation that aren’t specific to their products. For example, consider LTSpice. Sure, it has the company’s models baked in. But there’s no reason you can’t use it for anything. Thanks! We were interested to see Texas Instrument’s fifth edition of the “Analog Engineer’s Pocket Reference” is still freely available. While we aren’t sure a book with nearly 200 pages in it is a “pocket reference,” we do think you’ll enjoy it, even if you don’t want to use TI’s offerings. This book has been around for 50 years, but it is updated periodically, and this version is the fifth iteration.
The book has several sections ranging from conversion between units and color codes to amplifier noise calculations and understanding ADC settling times. Want to know more about PCB microstrips? Page 85.
You do have to create a TI account to download, but if that bothers you, you surely have a throwaway e-mail address somewhere. Some of the information is basic. You probably know how capacitors add in parallel, for example. But some of the data is a bit more obscure. For example, most people don’t know the slope of the change in voltage drop over a diode according to temperature.
Besides, it is nice to have everything in one place and in a PDF that you can tuck away anywhere. Outside of branding, there is little to remind you this book is from a vendor, although on page 4, they have a list of other free resources of general interest such as “The Signal e-book” and “Circuit Cookbooks,” although some of those may be more TI-specific.
We love freebie books from vendors that are generally applicable. For example, Analog has a great SDR book. You can also find a link to a great DSP book from them in that post. Of course, there are good books from the community, too.
slope of the change in voltage drop over a diode according to voltage
Huh???
Yeah…dV/dt by V… :)
dV/dT where T is temperature (usually in °C).
p.s. it’s about -2mV/°, depending on the magnitude of the current.
That was supposed to say according to temperature…. (page 99)
Disable javascript, and reject all cookies…download starts immediately (might require a browser restart if this is not your normal mode of operation)… :)
While it lasts…
No js or cookies involved, that’s expected behavior with http 301/302 redirects.
The direct pdf link in the article was just downloadable for me in Firefox with my normal settings (ublock origin plus some extra privacy extensions).
Same here, download just started without a hitch. I can’t understand how can most users bear the atrocious experience that is today’s web without Ublock Origin and Firefox.
There was a time when they offered a printed version in their online shop. It was delivered in the well known esd protective bag and got a partnumber sticker as well as every other semiconductor sample from TI. The format was indeed a pocket book.
As much as I like PDFs, this is the kind of reference material I’d like to have physically printed.
Actually, this is where PDF editors prove their worth.
You can change paper size, borders, font type and size. Delete the sections on parallel components, if you wish. Re-index the table of contents.
After that, you can print a hard copy. Or just have a more concise version of the original.
I have the hard copy 4th ed. It’s spiral bound and 5.5″ x 8.5″ (half-sheet) size. It would fit in your cargo pants pocket, but shirt pocket would be a tight squeeze, unless you’re XXXXL.
+1 for LTSpice. I met the author once (he’s a crusty old guy) and he told me it was intentionally built to work on Linux under WINE. Whic is how I use it. I thanked him and I thought I saw a hint of a smile.
Book came through but not the SDR one.
http://www.analog.com/en/education/education-library/scientist_engineers_guide.html
“We always admire when companies produce useful tools or documentation that aren’t specific to their products.”
Back in the early 1980s, AudioControl https://www.audiocontrol.com/ built graphic equalizers for stereos. They published a pulp catalog of their offerings, but if you flipped the catalog vertically, then the “back side” was a booklet titled (IIRC) “How to hook up and enjoy your stereo.”
Inside that booklet were easy to follow instructions explaining how to hook up a graphic equalizer with or without tape deck(s) or other equipment (such as a reverb) through the Tape In/Out jacks on the rear of your receiver/amplifier.
It also included instructions on mounting a cartridge to a turntable, especially helpful in which colored wire of the cartridge shell goes to its proper pin.
I lost track of my copy over the years. When I contacted AudioControl’s Customer Service a few years ago for another copy, they did not have any copies or photocopies available. (Sigh!)
It’s a pocket reference if you keep it on a thumb drive!
“…We were interested to see Texas Instrument’s fifth edition of the “Analog Engineer’s Pocket Reference” is still freely available…”
Information like this is deeply appreciated, Mr Williams; information as to how to obtain a hard-copy would–for a lot of people–be appreciated even more (an answer to this request might be provided by a brief statement, and link, as to where you found this information).
Good article; many thanks.
“While we aren’t sure a book with nearly 200 pages in it is a “pocket reference,” ”
Link you provided (downloads with no requirements) returns 162 pages, that is 81 sheets of paper – pretty pocket thickens. My pocket notebook is usually A6 98 pages or B7 144 pages (both with hard cover) and it fits front pocket of my coverall (but will fit hoodie, jacket etc.). Real challenge for the pocket is a format – anything from A6 up requires either solid cargo pants or backpack/bag.
But to be fair – this is PDF so you can just keep it in your mobile device.
By the way – some time ago there was a HAD entry on some free SDR book and a lot of comments contained links to other free available material. I think someone mentioned that HAD should have like a library section with material like this (or I mistook it with “books you should read” series).
Rane published some really good basic material on audio equipment and connections. Not sure if still available.
I would love a hard copy of this book.