ST unveils design app for Android devices

STMicroelectronics N.V. has announced a mobile app that according to the company helps engineers design circuits using operational amplifiers (op-amps) normally designed into audio, control, monitoring and communication systems. Available from the Google Play Store (formerly Android Market), engineers would now be able to design circuits with any of ST's op-amps using their smartphones or tablets, the company stated.

The ST op-amps is fully developed, tested and certified, and also claims to simplify and speed up op-amp selection and circuit design. It is the second Android application published by ST, and joins the Dual EE app that enables smartphones with NFC capabilities to read wireless tags containing ST's RF memory chips.

With reference schematics and guides built in, ST op-amps provide an intuitive, mobile design assistant accessible at any time or place, described the company. Touch-sensitive menus and scrollable pages make navigation through the application simple and take full advantage of the smartphone or tablet multitouch user interface. Unlike similar apps by other manufacturers, ST op-amps is focused only on design with op-amps and is not dependent on an Internet connection, since much of the functionality is native to the app. This approach enables engineers to find the information they need quickly and easily, and, when an Internet connection does exist, also provides a link to the ST website for further information as required.

The mobile app allows the user to browse op-amps, comparators and current-sensing products. It provides design guidance on current-sensing, compensation, stability criteria and op-amp parameters. The Android app likewise lets the user see possible schematics for popular functions and calculate external component values. Additionally, ST op-amps gives the package mechanical information and allows download of datasheets.