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Good Deep-Knowledge Analog Design Books?

NorthNitro writes "I live in a part of the world where quality technical books are not accessible from local distributors. When I order, from international distributors, I have to keep exchange rate and shipping costs in mind; so I really need to be careful with my choices when purchasing books. I am a graduate engineer (5 years experience) that focuses on analog and digital hardware design. Next year I will be starting a complicated analog design project. This design will include circuits that integrating Pico amp currents, a lot of discrete transistor circuits and high precision op-amp circuits. I don't want a cookbook; I rather want something that can provide me with solid theoretical descriptions/models of circuits. The kind of knowledge that gives you deep understanding of analog circuits design. Can anyone suggest good books and maybe where to order them from?"

65 comments

  1. DOES NOT COMPUTE! by eldavojohn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Good Deep-Knowledge Analog Design Books?

    I'm sorry, please ask your question in the form of: "(Useful) Stupid <topic> Tricks?"

    Until then, I can't help you. Didn't you get the memo?

    --
    My work here is dung.
  2. Sounds like system design by DrLang21 · · Score: 1

    I think what you are looking for does not exist. You obviously already know a fair amount about analog circuit design if you have been in the field for 5 years dealing with them. It sounds to me more like you need something about system design. If you do not already have intimate knowledge with op amps, discrete transistor circuits, and problems associated with extremely low currents, then you will need to learn about each of these individually. The ability to develop a large and complex system is the mark of a very experienced, and knowledgeable engineer. Chances are that you will need to rely on the expertise of others to design the various sub-systems.

    --
    I see the glass as full with a FoS of 2.
  3. I know a great place for ordering things: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Internet.

  4. a couple of suggestions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you don't have Horowitz and Hill (The Art Of Electronics), you need it. It's surprisingly in depth for something that is ostensibly a primer, and covers useful techniques in many areas of the field, including micropower circuitry.

    Other than that, I'm afraid that much of the information you want lies on the cutting edge of the field, and therefore industry is the best resource: datasheets, white papers, etc. You might also browse Artech House, which has a well-deserved reputation for publishing useful, if esoteric, technical books.

    1. Re:a couple of suggestions by networkBoy · · Score: 1

      Seconded.
      My first thought was that it may be below him, but I've 9 years in the industry and still peek at it time to time.
      He can have my copy 50% off (all pages present, very *very* warn) and I'll go pick up a new one...
      -nB

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
  5. A bit general by shaka999 · · Score: 1

    Without more info its hard to give a good pointer. If you know the basics getting an IEEE account and searching for papers there is really the best approach. If your looking for a good general text I don't think you can go wrong with

    CMOS Circuit Design, Layout, and Simulation, Second Edition (Hardcover)
    by R. Jacob Baker (Author)

    Best general Analog text book I've read.

    --
    One should not theorize before one has data. -Sherlock Holmes-
    1. Re:A bit general by HardCase · · Score: 1

      I'll second that. I graduated from Boise State University, where Jake Baker teaches. I was lucky enough to take a few classes from him before he became chair of the EE department. He's a hell of a professor and wrote some very good books. Appropo to nothing, he was in the Marines - the GI bill paid for his undergrad degree. You can definitely tell when you're around him.

  6. The Art of Electronics by Xolotl · · Score: 3, Informative

    With 5 years of experience you may well be familiar with it, but if not (and for anyone else)

    The Art of Electronics

    by Horowitz and Hill was always the classic practical analog electronics text.

    1. Re:The Art of Electronics by bperkins · · Score: 3, Funny

      "I don't want a cookbook" is a code phrase that means, "I don't want to buy _The Art of Electronics_".

    2. Re:The Art of Electronics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Art of Electronics is not a deep knowledge book. It barely covers topics in an introductory circuits class. Good for the layman to learn though.

    3. Re:The Art of Electronics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the theme of "the art of...", I've found "The Art of Linear Electronics" by John Linsley Hood to be a wonderfully deep introduction to, well, linear electronics. It covers pretty much everything from high-level design considerations down to the low-level quantum mechanics of how tubes, transistors and other components work.

      It's sadly out of print, but used copies aren't hard to find. ISBN 0 7506 0868 4.

  7. Gray and Meyer, Razavi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    The standard texts in analog design are:

    * Gray, Hurst, Lewis, and Meyer - Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits (http://tinyurl.com/6pk45f)
    * Razavi - Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits (http://tinyurl.com/66wzgt)

    If you know more specifics about what you'll be designing (e.g., RF, very low power, ADC, filters, etc.) you can find more specific references for each area I'm sure. As for where to buy them, half.com is a great place to buy cheap books (e.g., international edition of Razavi will run around $30).

    1. Re:Gray and Meyer, Razavi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GHLM - this is a solid text.

  8. A bit offtopic, but.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I cant help you with a book about what you need, but I can help you get cheaper books. Look at http://www.newagepublishers.com/ . They have a lot of good books about electronic engineering. They are VERY cheap. Just have caution with the delivery time (took 2 months to arrive from India to Brazil) and with the paper quallity (not very good, but usable).

  9. You probably need to specify a bit... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I do not think you will find usefull infos in generic books.

    You already know Maxwell, Ohms and all the other's laws (well, you should!), and probably have all kind of well-written references in class notes and books from you grad years.

    Now, you need to specialize a bit.. "Analog" design is just "the non-binary part of a design". Even digital design needs to take analog effects in account (remember the eye diagram?).

    So, what is your analog topic of interest? Closed-loop retroaction and characterisation?
    RadioFrequencies amplifier and design?
    Parasitics on PCB design?
    Audio design?
    Shielding and active counter-action?

    Books, when at this level often tend to either have the name of your project on it, or will only give small introductory tips on your particular project.

  10. Power Systems by Ideally+Nowhere · · Score: 1

    I can't direct you to a particular book, but a good deal of analog circuit literature revolves around power systems so you may want to start your search there.

  11. Here is one by krog · · Score: 1

    I found Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits (Gray/Hurst/Lewis/Meyer) to be a good book on deep-down transistor electronics. It is very theoretical, as you are looking for, and will support a strong understanding of analog transistor circuits.

    I bought the "developing country" paperback edition for a lot less than $115 or whatever Amazon wants for the hardcover. Not a word is different.

    1. Re:Here is one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I used Gray/Hurst/Lewis/Meyer in my grad work also- as you said, its great for deeper transistor level stuff. It happily resides on my bookshelf at work, though I rarely grab it anymore.

      I think he wants something inbetween Gray/Hurst/Lewis/Meyer and the Art of Electronics. H/H is not deep enough- every time I pull it open, it just barely scratches the surface, whereas G/H/L/M is deeper than snot. It goes through all kinds of basic amplifier blocks (FET and BJT), and the building blocks of op-amps and comparators.

      I have another book I used in an analog circuit design class (EE433, University of Washington), that might be right in the middle- sadly, the book is at work and I can't remember the name- I don't do this crap at home anymore. Anyway, the text is perhaps the best example of real world meets theoretical. I love the book.

      Good luck!

  12. Analog Integrated Circuits by Komi · · Score: 3, Informative

    Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits
    by Behzad Razavi
    http://www.amazon.com/Design-Analog-CMOS-Integrated-Circuits/dp/0072380322

    Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits
    by by Paul R. Gray, Paul J. Hurst, Stephen H. Lewis, Robert G. Meyer
    http://www.amazon.com/Analysis-Design-Analog-Integrated-Circuits/dp/0471321680

    Analog Integrated Circuit Design
    by David Johns, Ken Martin
    http://www.amazon.com/Analog-Integrated-Circuit-Design-David/dp/0471144487

    I have these three books. They're all for integrated circuit design, but they definitely give an in-depth coverage of analog design. They're pretty heavy in terms of material. You might be looking for something a bit broader in scope.

    --
    The ultimate goal of science is to unify all forces of nature to a single law that can be silk-screened onto a T-shirt.
    1. Re:Analog Integrated Circuits by PsiCTO · · Score: 1

      Definitely 3 of the books I'd recommend. As per another poster, if you don't have a solid base book like Sedra and Smith, look for it. Millman and Halkias is dated, but still relevant IMHO. The new edition is probably what you want, but I've not yet seen it.

      http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070634556/information_center_view0/

      Don't overlook noise. I started with Howard Johnson's "Black Magic" book, but there are definitely better books out there. For exampele,

      http://www.amazon.com/High-Speed-Circuit-Integrity-Microwave-Library/dp/1580531318/ref=pd_sim_b_4

  13. My take on this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No such one book. I have a collection of old and new books. The MIT Rad Lab series is invaluable, if you can find the entire series it's worth it. But even one or two volumes of interest are good.
    Then there's the entire set of design app notes from Linear Tech.

  14. To everyone who thinks H & H is a good book by stewbee · · Score: 5, Informative

    I am not trying to troll here, but Horowitz and Hill does not sound like what he is looking for. This is circuit design light. It vaguely describes circuits, however I will admit there are a bunch of circuit ideas with cook book solutions (or circuit ideas, as the book puts it) but I found them never to be described enough to my liking. Even more of a pet peeve of mine about this book is that it gives drawings of 'bad' circuit ideas. In most cases it is obvious why one of these circuits won't work, but others are not as obvious. The thing is, it never explains why they are bad. If you are trying to learn analog circuitry, it is almost as important to know why something won't work as to why it will. I almost feel people suggest this book if they are not EE's but it makes you sound knowledgeable. (full disclaimer: I am an RF design EE )

    I will agree with one poster who suggested Grey, Hurst, Meyer, and Lewis called "Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits" (and I own), with the disclaimer that it is geared for IC design. With that said, it does a good job of teaching analog circuits.

    1. Re:To everyone who thinks H & H is a good book by Xolotl · · Score: 1

      As one of the people who suggested H&H, I didn't do it 'to sound knowledgeable', but because I do consider it a useful book for practical analog design. Also I don't think of it as a cookbook, I always thought it too vague for what I would consider 'a cookbook' (i.e. a book of recipes to follow), but that is perhaps a matter of taste.

      Still, you may be right that it is not an EE book, I'm a physicist and admittedly haven't had to do electronics design for years now. I'm sure Grey et al. is also a good book.

    2. Re:To everyone who thinks H & H is a good book by networkBoy · · Score: 1

      I think that, while you are right in your criticisms, it is still a useful book to have on the shelf. I still refer to mine now and then, though admittedly less so each passing year.
      -nB

      --
      whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
    3. Re:To everyone who thinks H & H is a good book by backwardMechanic · · Score: 1

      Your comments are interesting. I too am a physicist, and have made good use of H&H. I think the style of H&H is much more 'read the chapter, understand the basic ideas, go out and design stuff' and less 'here is a design model, plug in your parameters'. We don't suggest it just to sound knowledgable, but because it fits well with a physics style of thinking. Apparently it jars with an engineers thought patterns.

      But I'd agree, it sounds like the original questioner knows about H&H (whether he likes it or not) and is looking for something with a bit more depth - I hard question to answer without a bit more information. Where are we going? High/low frequency? Low noise? Low power? ...

    4. Re:To everyone who thinks H & H is a good book by PersonOfInterest · · Score: 1

      As soon as I read the question I knew that H&H would be quickly recommended. There is nothing wrong with H&H as an introductory text but the OP identified himself as a degreed engineer with 5 years experience. He is well beyond H&H and "The ARRL Handbook." As other engineers have, I recommend: "Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits" Gray, Hurst I also learned a lot from: "High Speed Digital Design: A Handbook of Black Magic" Johnson, Graham Although it says "Digital" in the title, at high speeds everything is analog design.

  15. Some favorites on my shelf by John+Miles · · Score: 4, Informative

    Jim Williams' first book
    Jim Williams' second book
    Bob Pease's book
    Hans Camenzind's book (an especially-cool book by the designer of the original 555)

    --
    Dahlmann tightly grips the knife, which he may have no idea how to use, and steps out into the plain.
    1. Re:Some favorites on my shelf by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FYI: Hans Camenzind's book is free to download from his webpage

      http://www.designinganalogchips.com/_count/designinganalogchips.pdf

    2. Re:Some favorites on my shelf by Swan1 · · Score: 1

      I second the books John suggests, and would add: High Speed Digital Design: A handbook of Black magic by Howard Johnson and Martin Graham.

    3. Re:Some favorites on my shelf by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hans Camenzind has made his book available for download: http://www.designinganalogchips.com/. I'm at best a novice when it comes to analog circuits, but the book was fascinating. This was the guy who gave us the 555 -- a design masterpiece according to 9 out of 10 chip nerds.

  16. Analog Circuit Design - Williams, 1991 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Analog Circuit Design - Art, Science and Personalities (Williams, 1991)
    http://www.amazon.com/Analog-Circuit-Design-Personalities-Engineers/dp/0750696400/

    A great book for getting more insight on designing real systems - light on analysis (Amazon lists a companion book with more technical stuff - haven't read that one) but shows some of the real-world problems faced by designers. The chapter on Digiphase may be particularly interesting, as it is a high-precision system (in frequency, rather than current) with lots of trade-offs.

  17. ARRL Handbook by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Try the ARRL Handbook too. The signal-to-noise ratio is off the scale! (Very condensed knowledge -- good for review.) Though it's more of a reference manual and focuses a lot on radio electronics.

    http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=NO-HB2009#top
    http://www.amazon.com/ARRL-Handbook-Radio-Communications-2009/dp/0872591395/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/178-4944870-1002452

  18. More detail would be useful by hardie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think more detail would help recommendations. I don't have a copy of H&H, but a good number of folk I know like it. I have a copy of Gray and Meyer, which I use a lot (but my copy is 30 years old, I imagine it has had a lot added to it). I'm very fond of Operational Amplifiers by J.K. Roberge. It is not in print, but there are used copies out there. I'm not aware of any really excellent books on discrete transistor level analog design.

    You didn't mention this, but there is a really good (i.e. practical) book on grounding and shielding:
    Grounding and Shielding Techniques in Instrumentation by Ralph Morrison

    I strongly recommend spending as much time at the bench as you can, building and measuring your circuits. If you want to get good at it, hands-on experience is crucial.

    Steve

  19. Essential digital book that covers analog effects. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    High Speed Digital Design: A Handbook of Black Magic (Hardcover) by Howard Johnson, Martin Graham

  20. Check Analog Devices literature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Analog Devices has compendiums of appnotes and tutorials. I'm looking at the following on my shelf:
    Systems Application Guide
    OpAmp Applications Seminar
    Power and Thermal Management
    The Best of Analog Dialog 67' to 91'
    Ask The Apllications Engineer

    Natsemi's Analog Signal Path Design Seminar

    GHLM is a good textbook but contains nothing on actual implementation.

  21. Microelectronic Circuit Design by Nashirak · · Score: 1

    This was the book that we used @ Auburn for our Analog design courses. Its a good book with a LOT of theory: Microelectronic Circuit Design

  22. University Library Access for Alumni by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Without more info its hard to give a good pointer. If you know the basics getting an IEEE account and searching for papers there is really the best approach.

    University libraries generally have subscriptions to IEEE journals and many others. Some of these libraries offer alumni yearly subscription access to library resources including all their journals for a nominal fee (for me it's $55). Bang-for-buck that's a much better option than joining the IEEE.

    This is also a fairly good option if you have other problems with the IEEE. Despite being ostensibly international, the organisation still restricts membership rights to engineers in countries the US doesn't play nice with. Supporting the IEEE is supporting some of the worst parts of US foreign policy, including denying basic academic freedoms in countries that need them more than most to drag themselves out of the problems they have.

  23. Here's my suggestion by dpaton.net · · Score: 3, Informative

    Analog Integrated Circuit Applications

    Prof. Jacob is wonderfully knowledgeable on the subject, and his teaching style is easy to follow. Additionally, his book covers a lot more than just the ICs in the title.

    --
    This is not a sig. this is a duck. quack.
  24. Sergio Franco's op-amp book is great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    "Design with Operational Amplifiers and Analog Integrated Circuits"

    There's a preview on his site:

    http://online.sfsu.edu/~sfranco/Books.html

  25. Book I use by usul294 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'm an undergraduate electrical engineer here in the states, I'm on my 2nd analog design course at this point, and both times we have used Microelectronic Circuits by Sedra/Smith. The book covers op-amps, diodes,MOSFET's, BJT's, JFET's, amplifier designs, feedback control, ADC/DAC and CMOS as its basic topics. Some final sections on Memory and fancy digital circuits, filters and tuned amplifiers, signal generators and waveform shaping circuits, and finally output stages and amplifiers. There is, however, nothing on phase-locked loops but a quick google search on those has some very useful material. If you are looking for something more signal processing oriented, Lathi's Signal Processing and Linear Systems is a great book that covers the basics of everything I've ever heard of in analog signal processing. If I knew more of what your project was I could suggest something more specific to that field, but those two books cover the core analog electrical engineering concepts except for the very introductory circuit theory (Kirchoff, Ohm's Law, phasors)

    1. Re:Book I use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sedra and Smith is still being used today, well I'll be darned. Way back in the mid 1980's I used will taking my undergraduate degree in electrical engineering as well. I still have a copy, though I haven't looked at it years.

    2. Re:Book I use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree with usul294 Microelectronic Circuits is quite good. I use it as well. But being an anonymous coward who cares what i think

  26. It's all approximations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As has been noted you've been a bit too vague.

    I've got most of the books suggested and for a variety of reasons like them all. H & H is good for helping you figure out how to get out when you find yourself in a hole.

    To properly answer your question you need to specify the following:

    signal level and spectrum

    noise level and spectrum

    accuracy and S/(S+N) requirement

    Everything is just an approximation to reality and there are lots of approximations. The real key is choosing the appropriate approximation.

    rhb

  27. From Montana State: by movercast · · Score: 1

    I used Sedra and Smith's Microelectronic Circuits text during my undergrad and found it to be an excellent reference. It has a good balance of theory and real circuits.

  28. Answer from Analog Engineeer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Most of the books mentioned so far are better for HAM radio fanatics. As an Analog Engineer, here are my favorite books:

    'Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits' Gray, Hurst
    This is one of the best well-rounded books and is a must-have for any analog engineer.

    Based on the description, I assume you're not working in CMOS, but if you are: 'CMOS Analog Circuit Design' Allen, Holberg

    Another book I use on occasion is 'Analog Integrated Circuit Design' Johns, Martin
    This is an OK book, but I prefer Gray, Hurst.

    You may be interested in learning about device physics for your project. In this case, Streetman is a good author.

    Books previously listed are rather elementary (e.g. Jaeger / Sedra Smith) and will not help with such an advanced design project. The Art of Electronics is a terrible book for what you are trying to do. It is elementary, written by a physicist, and extremely old. I recommend The Art of Electronics to scientists who only need a good background in the subject.

     

    1. Re:Answer from Analog Engineeer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Based on his description - "This design will include circuits that integrating Pico amp currents, a lot of discrete transistor circuits and high precision op-amp circuits" - he isn't interested in IC design at all!

      (but those are all good books)

  29. This is the book you need sir... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits 4th edition.
    Gray, Hurst, Lewis Meyer

  30. Tieze and Schenk by gweihir · · Score: 1

    "Electronic Circuits: Handbook for Design and Application". The original is german and very good. It does not cover really, really exotic things, but for basic and deeper concepts it is the reference. It has a strong focus of telling you what is important and what not, providind theoretical models for everything and even listing sample ICs and commenting on them. It is possible that it is still to basic for your needs, but there may not be a book that really covers what you need.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
  31. femto amperes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just showed our analog engineer this message, he laughed and said, "There are no good books, it all comes from experience". He currently designs analog circuits that integrate femto amperes with a voltage to frequency circuit branched off of a current mirror. He does not need to buy $75 dollar op-amps, just inexpensive analog components.

  32. App notes and IC vendor texts... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since your focus seems to be on discrete stuff rather than IC design, and since you've probably already got a load of text books from college, I'd suggest including books and application notes published by IC vendors in your search. Analog devices has quite a few of these titles, many freely available in electronic format:

    Analog Dialogue is great:
    http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/

    Some ADI books:
    http://www.analog.com/en/content/cu_td_technical_bookstore/fca.html

    A good online op-amp book:
    http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives/39-05/op_amp_applications_handbook.html

    Don't miss the Potpourri (lots of online texts and great classic app notes):
    http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/pot/potpourri.html

    Especially articles like this one:
    http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/application_notes/500824934643930414583807523874018494695982855668424783486554001060AN348.pdf

    Good luck!

  33. Anonymous Coward. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some more: Mix of circuit design and device info.

    1.CMOS Analog Circuit Design
    by Phillip E. Allen , Douglas R. Holberg (Author), Allen . Esp. good for CMOS.

    2.Analog MOS Integrated Circuits, I,II (Ieee Press Selected Reprint Series) (Paperback)
    by Paul R. Gray (Editor), Bruce A. Wooley (Editor), Robert W. Brodersen (Editor)

    3.Analog MOS Integrated Circuits for Signal Processing (Hardcover)
    by Roubik Gregorian (Author), Gabor C. Temes (Author)

    4.Operation and Modeling of the MOS Transistor
    by Yannis Tsividis (Author)

    5.Fundamentals of Modern VLSI Devices
    by Yuan Taur (Author), Tak H. Ning (Author)

    Others: look thru ADI/National/Intersil data sheets for ckt configurations used.

  34. Data Books. by myspace-cn · · Score: 1

    Head on over to Motorola, and get a set of databooks. Head on over to Analog Devices pick up a set of databooks. Head on over to (insert your favorite company) pick up a set of databooks. Head on down to your local sunday market, hang around the electronics types, look through their boxes, and buy up all their databooks. Head on down to used bookstores, buy up their used databooks.

    Repeat.
    Repeat.

    Before you know it you'll not only know Analog, you'll know digital, power, discrete, mosfet, thermisters, instrumentation, audio, dsp, uP's, more truth tables than you can shake a stick at.

    But then you'll be needing parts..

    Head on down to the local flee markets again, buy up all the electronics, buy up the best soldering gun you can afford, buy a few propane torches, and then get to desoldering. You can do some boards all at once, heat one side and bang it on the floor the chips will drop off. If you smoke, quit, if you do drugs quit, also try to do this desoldering outside not inside. You'll learn you need chip pullers and other small tools. Many tools you will make yourself.

    Styrofoam pads can be used to store your chip sets when they are not on breadboard.

    You'll eventually get to the point where your whole home is nothing but electronics. And you rarely need to by parts except weird analog shit.

    Also some of these manufactures put out publications in addition to their data books, grab those up too.

    The good news is you will be able to fix anything after all this. The bad news is if you smoked you won't feel well.

    1. Re:Data Books. by myspace-cn · · Score: 1

      I also forgot ya need some fundamentals.

      Grob
      Malvino
      Floyd

  35. Bob Pease by ka9dgx · · Score: 2, Informative

    Find and read everything you can written by Bob Pease. You'll be entertained and enlightened.

    1. Re:Bob Pease by Almost-Retired · · Score: 1

      I was wondering when someone would get around to mentioning Bob Pease. He used to do a column in the old McGraw-Hill 'Electronics' IIRC. This man understand analog better than almost anyone on the planet. If his columns have ever been compiled into a book, or he has written a book on Analog, that would be easily the most worn book on my shelves here. He was for many years, THE analog guru at National Semi. Hit your bookstore and have them do a search for his name. Something useful and entertaining has got to fall out.

      --
      Cheers, Gene

    2. Re:Bob Pease by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's all this Pease Stuff, anyway? :-)

    3. Re:Bob Pease by HardCase · · Score: 2, Funny

      All we are saying is give Pease a chance.

  36. The Art of Electronics by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, from what you are telling you will build measurement instrumentation (photodiodes? quantum dots? sensitive CCDs?). I am a physicist and have designed some comparatatively low-precision ciruits (10s to 1000s of nA, 100s to 10000s of nV, 10s to 10000s of kHz). If you can afford the comfort to use integrated components, i found for this usually the application notes of the manufacturer a good starting point, especially the footnotes (like: use teflon, dont touch with your fingers, wash the board after soldering etc in xzy...). I remember there was a good guide from Keithley to low noise measurements in general. Since you seem to be advanced i probably dont need to tell you about "The Art of Electronics", which was written also by a physicist AFAIR, the chapter on low noise measurements is short, but concise and, as usual does not propagate "laboratory noise superstition".

  37. some suggestions by scatterbrained · · Score: 1

    "Noise Reduction Techniques in Electronic Systems" by Henry Ott.

    I've heard "Transistor Circuit Approximations" by Malvino is good. I don't have it, but I liked his style in some other books.

    I've also heard the "GE transistor handbook" from days of yore has good stuff in it.

    (Searching on that gave a link to an e-bay auction of 8 dvds of scanned old books, which looked like a treasure trove of good stuff. not my auction, no connection to it)

    I would second a thumbs up for "Handbook of Digital Black Magic" by Johnson and Graham. Not exactly what you wanted, but a good book.

    "Art of Electronics" is an OK book, but very broad, and doesn't seem to fit with your request.

    --
    -- All that's left of me, is slight insanity, whats on the right, I don't know. -- Bob Mould
  38. Some Good PDF Op-Amp References by arkarumba · · Score: 1

    Last year I did a course "Electronic Measurement" at USQ which dealt a lot with EMC compatability, PCB layout, noise resistance, etc - a lot of really non-obvious stuff until you read it.

    From this I've ended up with bundle of very enlightning PDFs, some of which I'll list below. I'm not sure if these are what you are looking for, but they certainly match your price range. I recommend anyone every using an op-amp read at least the first one, which I found quite amazing - for illustrating the different return paths AC and DC take across a PCB. In general, search the application notes of the device maufacturers - particular Analog Devices.

    + AN-345 Grounding for Low-and-High-Frequency Circuits.pdf
    + EMI and Layout Fundamentals for Switched-Mode Circuits R.W. Erickson.pdf
    + AN202 An IC Amplifier Userâ(TM)s Guide to Decoupling, Grounding, and Making Things Go Right for a Change.pdf
    + A Designer's Guide to Instrumentation Amplifiers 3rd Edition (Kitchin & Counts, Analog Devices 2006).pdf
    + Reducing RFI Rectification Errors in In-Amp Circuits (Analog Devices AN-671).pdf
    + Op Amps For Everyone - Design Reference (Ron Mancini, Texas Instruments 2002).pdf
    + Analog Dialogue vol39n3.pdf
    + The Instrumentation Amplifier Handbook (Neil Albaugh, Burr Brown Corporation).pdf
    + Shielding and Guarding (Alan Rich, The Best of Analog Dialogue 1983).pdf
    + Errors and Error Budget Analysis in Instrumentation Amplifier Applications (Analog Devices AN-539).pdf
    + PCB Design Tutorial RevA (David L. Jones, 2004).pdf

    If you can't find them yourself, I could upload them (if someone could provide a simple service to deposit them at.)

    1. Re:Some Good PDF Op-Amp References by John+Miles · · Score: 1

      I agree, it'd be a good idea to have all of those app notes in one place. You might zip them up into one archive file and upload it to the "Manuals" link at http://www.ko4bb.com/ . (Various people have been stashing EPROM images, useful emails, spreadsheets, and other resources in that directory, not just manuals.)

      --
      Dahlmann tightly grips the knife, which he may have no idea how to use, and steps out into the plain.
  39. ARRL Handbook by Cableless · · Score: 1

    I always found the ARRL Handbooks to be great refreshers for electronic theory. Although the intended audience is obviously the amateur radio community, these books are a great resource for anyone interested in electronics. Save some money and don't buy the latest greatest edition.

    ARRL Handbook

  40. Courses? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'd recommend starting off by going through a couple of online courses for a start. Here's one:
    http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906978189

    Also, a lot of online courses by Philip Allen (co-author of CMOS Analog Circuit Design - an excellent book) is available at www.aicdesign.org. A huge amount of slides containing a lot of material from the book can be found there and is a great resource.

  41. Perhaps Check Online College Course Materials by kuma · · Score: 1

    Cookbooks can be trouble because without insight into the advantages and vulnerabilities of a circuit, it might simply fail.

    In radio frequency work, we often added variable attenuators in the signal path, to allow tuning. To know the attenuator range though, required creating a spreadsheet to track worst case signal levels forward and backward to the attenuators.

    "The kind of knowledge that gives you deep understanding of analog circuits design. Can anyone suggest good books and maybe where to order them from?"

    Many of these sources are going to be focused on integrated circuit design, but they are still great sources when combined with course notes.

    You should be able to find course notes online from MIT or other universities. Universities have been videotaping professors for more than 20 years. Textbooks are terse. It is amazing to watch someone like Anton Mavretic casually calculate impedance and gain for various circuits.

    Aside from the text suggestions here, you might find good references in online course descriptions and class notes.