When looking across the discrete components in your electronic armory, it is easy to overlook the humble diode. After all, one can be forgiven for the conclusion that the everyday version of this ...

This circuit was designed to meet a medical application’s requirement to drive a laser diode with reasonable precision and a minimum of components and footprint (the device is now in clinical trials).

The polarity markings on LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) seem to be a common cause of confusion. The polarity may be indicated by a flat section on one side of the body or by one lead being shorter than ...