Useful websites is the theme of the 2004 Reader’s Resource. We’re certain that you will find interesting, helpful, and indeed useful entries in the accompanying list of sites. The selected material is diverse, partly because of the subjective search criteria and partly due to the ad hoc search methodology. If you know where to look on the Internet, chances are that what you seek will be what you find. Of course, that is the problem: knowing where to look. Finding things is the role filled by an increasing number and variety of search engines. According to the searchenginewatch.com site, 41% of visits to product websites in 2003 originated from a search engine. Using a search engine is by far the most popular way to find information.
Initially, I used Google with keywords useful electronic websites. In time, useful was replaced by interesting, important, unusual, and essential. The results were very good, but eventually I found I was returning to the same major sources.
For example, www.eevl.ac.uk/, the Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library, is a U.K. gateway to more than 150 useful engineering sites. Each of these may provide a large number of white papers, datasheets, and links to yet other sites. Often, collections of sites are maintained by colleges and universities or their departments and faculty members.
Other recurring sites were associated with bitpipe.com listings. For example, whitepapers.americasnetwork.com/ data/web/amnet/amnet_index.jsp accessed white papers from more than 70 online research libraries, but so did many other seemingly independent sites. So, although it appeared that there were several sources of information, actually there was one: bitpipe.com.
I tried Yahoo! next. The catalog style may have been more appropriate to this exercise than Google’s approach because I could progressively fine-tune the search. Given that useful websites was such a nebulous topic, I didn’t know in detail what I wanted to search for. Yahoo! presented its material in a structured manner that helped me to better understand what types of things were available.
Without turning the article research into an exercise in search-engine comparison, I also dabbled a bit in meta search engines. These entities issue commands to several actual search engines, such as Google and Ask Jeeves, and report back the findings.
One that I tried was Kartoo.com, which uses a graphical format to depict the relationships among several items. Linking lines and keywords show subgroup associations within the search engines’ findings, helping you to better define your search criteria.
The Listing
As mentioned, there are several high-level sites that reference other collections of information or lists of libraries. Standards organizations are included, and many standards can be obtained free of charge from these sites. Generally, IEEE sites only contain abstracts of papers and standards, and unless you are a member of the institution, you must pay for the full-text download. A major exception is the Get IEEE 802™ program at standards.ieee.org/getieee802/index.html. Through a partnership with industrial sponsors, all of the 802.xx standards are available free at this site.
Besides standards, the listing contains references to individual white papers, complete online textbooks, and an acronym dictionary. Subjects include ATE, algorithms, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, instrumentation, ATM, environmental testing, WAN, xDSL, and network protocols. There’s even a map of the Internet.
Perhaps the most arcane material is found at micro.magnet.fsu.edu/creatures/index.html, a photo exhibition of curious creatures and designs etched into commercial silicon chips. Similar to the graphical marginalia added to medieval manuscripts by creative monks, these embedded drawings say much more about a chip’s designer than about its electrical function. Enjoy your browsing!
ATE
Agilent Technologies
This is a top-level page from which you
can access application and technical
notes on topics ranging from
semiconductor test equipment to PCB
test and inspection.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-176
Teradyne
ATE technical papers can be
downloaded from this site.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-177
Credence Systems
The top-level site from which technical
notes, white papers, and product
datasheets are accessible. Some require
registration before download is allowed.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-178
Stridge
Discussion of core test language (CTL)
and its relationship to STIL.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-179
Pickering Interfaces
Source of several white papers including
one comparing VXI and PXI capabilities.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-180
Communications Test
3G Newsroom.com
White papers and reports focusing on
3G telecommunications issues.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-181
University of Strathclyde
A full-text overview of the GSM system.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-182
University of North Carolina
Good starting point for ATM-related
sites and papers.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-184
DSL Forum
Good starting point for xDSL technical
and testing information.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-185
Canadian Instrumentation &
Research
A fiber-optics tutorial that covers
sensors, evanescent wave technology,
optical contact, polarization modes,
polarization mode dispersion,
polarization field rotation, polarization
maintaining fiber, polarization isolation,
and cross coupling.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-186
Design
Frequency Devices
Design guide for analog and digital
filters.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-187
The University of York
Interactive filter design site.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-188
Grand Valley State University
A book on programmable logic
controllers (PLCs) is presented free of
charge and can be downloaded in one
large file or in individual chapters.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-189
Xilinx
FPGA-oriented design white papers.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-190
Micro Power
A discussion of battery selection for
mission-critical applications.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-191
Austin City Links
A tutorial on fuzzy systems and fuzzy
logic.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-192
The University of Sheffield
Information on designing a neural
network. Notes from Dr. K. Gurney’s
course.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-193
EMC/ESD
Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
NASA
A collection of EMC modeling software,
some free, some commercial.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-194
Wyle Laboratories
Tips on working with an EMC test lab.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-195
ESD Association
Source of electrostatic discharge
information and standards as well as a
large white paper discussion of ESD
prevention and cure.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-196
dBi
A detailed course, Designing Electronic
Equipment for ESD Immunity, with an
extensive annotated bibliography.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-197
Environmental Test
Cincinnati Sub-Zero Industrial
Links to standards organizations and
downloadable white papers related to
environmental testing, including
choosing a chamber, refrigerant
comparison, and environmental stress
screening.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-198
The Shock and Vibration Digest
A source of dynamic test information.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-199
Agilent Technologies
The Fundamentals of Modal Analysis
application note.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-200
m+p International
The Basics of Vibration Testing
application note.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-201
ReliaSoft
Source of reliability information. Most
important terms are listed, and many
definitions can be expanded in detail.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-202
GHI Systems
Good source of application notes and
technical articles relating to shock and
vibration testing.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-203
Inspection
Dublin City University
Machine vision resource site. The links
to collections of papers, online journals,
and other online publications are at the
very bottom of the page.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-204
Image Labs International
Top-level site linking to related imaging
organizations, consultants, news
groups, frequently asked machine-vision
questions, glossary, and machine-vision
and image-processing databases.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-205
Carnegie Mellon University
A list of links to downloadable
computer-vision software and related
papers.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-206
The University of Adelaide
Many downloadable papers related to
computer vision.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-207
Instrumentation
Michigan State University
Tutorial on measuring S parameters
using a vector voltmeter.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-208
IOtech
A large number of application notes,
most relating to environmental testing
and the data acquisition process
necessary to record the test
information.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-209
Spread Spectrum Scene
Direct digital synthesis tutorial.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-210
LeCroy
Access to 18 scope-related application
notes. Technical notes, white papers,
and lab notes also are available.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-211
Agilent Technologies
The starting point for accessing an
extensive collection of test and
measurement application and technical
notes.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-212
Tektronix
Instrumentation application notes.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-213
Lists and Lists of Lists
eg3.com
White papers, seminars, web sites, and
other industry information using specific
keywords.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-214
Bob Anderson Scilutions
Engineering Consultancy
A list of links to tutorials, associations,
and free online learning opportunities.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-215
Electronic Engineers Master
A parametrically searchable database of
integrated circuits.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-216
Edinburgh Engineering Virtual
Library
U.K. gateway to more than 150 useful
engineering sites.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-217
Bitpipe.com
Free gateway to technical white papers,
but you must register with COMDEX as
well as each paper provider.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-218
Bitpipe.com
Many white papers download free and
with access to more than 70 online
research libraries.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-219
Builder UK
A gateway to free white paper
download for a wide range of technical
electronics-related subjects.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-220
State University of New York
Institute of Technology
Good links to network, protocol, and
WAN white papers.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-221
Measurement/Analysis
Campbell Scientific
A white paper on voltage measurement
accuracy, self-calibration, and
ratiometric measurements.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-222
Rowan University
A guide to wavelet analysis.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-223
DSP Development
Download of a free 30-day evaluation
version of DADiSP, a spreadsheet for
signals and signal processing.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-224
Keithley Instruments
From this site, you can request a CD
containing a collection of online
seminars on measurement methods.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-225
University of Cambridge,
Cavendish Laboratory
Information theory, inference, and
learning algorithms in a 600-page online
textbook.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-226
The University of Edinburgh
A collection of digital signal processing
tools.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-227
California Technical Publishing
The Scientist and Engineer’s Guide to
Digital Signal Processing by Dr. Steve
Smith, a book about digital signal
processing free, in its entirety.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-228
Rice University
Full-text papers on digital signal
processing.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-229
University of London, Imperial
College
Full-text papers on image compression
and signal processing.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-230
Tektronix
An application note that discusses safe
ways to measure floating voltages.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-231
Miscellaneous
Mountain Data Systems
Finds the meaning of more than
160,000 acronyms.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-232
MEMS and Nanotechnology
Clearinghouse
A website dedicated to MEMS devices,
materials, and development
information.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-233
Lumeta
This site describes efforts to map the
Internet and displays maps.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-234
Carnegie Mellon University
This site discusses the Platform for
Privacy Preferences (P3P).
www.rsleads.com/412ee-235
National Institute of Standards
and Technology
Set your computer clock from the NIST
Internet Time Service.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-236
Florida State University
Exhibition of curious creatures and
designs etched into commercial silicon
chips.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-237
U.S. Department of Justice
A source of electronic crime information
including papers related to the proper
handling of digital evidence.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-238
Networks
GGH Marketing
Communications
A website dedicated to the industrial
application of Ethernet.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-239
Wireless LAN Association
Full-text papers and related information.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-240
IBM
986-page TCP/IP technical tutorial
document.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-241
Yet Another Software Company
Gateway to downloadable TCP/IP
technical white papers.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-242
Daryl Banttari’s Website
Ethernet/IP detail formatted as one very
big page.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-243
Lexcon Consulting
Network protocol reference site.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-244
SecurityFocus
Collection of network security-related
topics, papers, and news.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-245
Anixter
Free white papers related to network
structured cabling.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-246
Cisco Systems
White paper on Gigabit Ethernet.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-247
Power
University of Tennessee
Power electronics papers, many full-text,
downloadable.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-250
Liebert
Preventative maintenance targeting UPS
longevity is the subject of this white
paper, but the recommendations and
theory apply widely to electronic
products.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-251
Liebert
K-factor transformers and nonlinear
loads explained.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-252
SweetHaven Publishing
Services
Online AC electricity tutorial.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-253
RF Engineering
University of Alaska
Y-factor noise figure measurement
technique.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-254
Spread Spectrum Scene
Smith Chart tutorial.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-255
RF Café
Source of RF shareware and technical
papers.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-256
Sensors/Transducers
University of Siena
A discussion of gas sensors and artificial
olfactory systems.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-257
Standards
IEEE
Source of all 802.xx standards with free
download.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-259
International Electrotechnical
Commission
Contains brief synopses of all current
and past International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) standards.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-260
Conformance Engineering
Services
Downloadable CE marking in various
formats and useful links on the subject
of CE marking.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-261
JEDEC Solid State Technology
Association
Semiconductor engineering
standardization body of the Electronic
Industries Alliance (EIA) developing
standards and guidelines through its 48
committees/subcommittees. Free
downloads.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-262
ePanorama.net
Information about standards and
standards issuing bodies.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-263
Infrared Data Association
Specifications downloadable from this
site.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-264
National Institute of Standards
and Technology
A huge amount of reference material,
journal articles, and standards
information is available online.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-265
Surrey University
Technical discussion of worldwide TV
and video standards.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-266
National Polar-Orbiting
Operational
Environmental Satellite System
Site with a long list of specifications
relevant to satellites such as hazardous
material handling, clean-room
particulate requirements, and software
development and documentation. Many
standards can be downloaded free.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-267
British Standards Institute
Source of British, European, or
international standards as well as
technical handbooks; codes of practice;
guidelines; specifications for products,
dimensions, and performance; and
glossaries.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-268
University of Maryland
Starting point for obtaining military and
nonmilitary reliability and safety-related
standards.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-269
Society of Automotive
Engineers
Source of automotive and aerospace
specifications, generally for a fee.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-270
IPC
PCB-related information and standards.
A number of basic standards can be
downloaded free, and many more can
be purchased.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-271
Telcordia
Telecommunications standards
organization originally associated with
the old Western Electric arm of Bell
Telephone. The source of NEBS, optical
fiber, DWDM, and ATM test
requirement documents.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-272
Scientific and Technical
Information Network
(STINET) Service
Helps the DoD community access
scientific and technical information to
meet mission needs more effectively.
Military standards can be downloaded
from this site.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-273
International Electrotechnical
Commission
Search for and buy standards at this site.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-274
Test Methods
Defense Supply Center
Columbus/MIL-STD-883
Test Methods and Procedures for
Microelectronics establishes methods
and procedures for testing
microelectronic devices suitable for use
within military and aerospace electronic
systems and can be downloaded free at
this site.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-275
Defense Supply Center
Columbus/MIL-STD-202
Test Method Standard, Electronic and
Electrical Component Parts establishes
uniform methods for testing electronic
and electrical component parts,
including basic environmental tests to
determine resistance to deleterious
effects of natural elements and
conditions surrounding military
operations, and physical and electrical
tests. This link provides free
download.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-276
Real-Time Technology
Solutions
White paper on end-to-end testing of IT
architecture and applications.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-277
ASSET InterTech
Introduction to boundary scan
description language (BSDL) and serial
vector format (SVF).
www.rsleads.com/412ee-278
Wireless
Berkeley Wireless
Research Center
A list of wireless-related papers,
publications, and presentations
organized by year from 1990 to 2004.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-279
Palowireless Wireless
Resource Center
A good place to start when looking for
information on any wireless topic.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-280
Broadband Wireless Exchange
Large selection of white papers related
to WiFi and WiMAX.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-281
Virginia Tech
MATLAB code for experimenting with
turbo codes.
www.rsleads.com/412ee-282
December 2004