EmbeddedRelated.com
The 2026 Embedded Online Conference

Modulation Alternatives for the Software Engineer

Jason SachsJason Sachs November 8, 20111 comment

Jason starts with a hardware curiosity, the 7497 synchronous rate multiplier, and turns it into a practical lesson for firmware engineers. He contrasts conventional PWM with a simple accumulator-based method called "synthetic division," showing how it implements first-order delta-sigma behavior in software. The post explains when to pick PWM or delta-sigma and why the accumulator trick can give higher effective resolution at low update rates.


Modulation Alternatives for the Software Engineer

Jason SachsJason Sachs November 8, 20111 comment

Jason starts with a hardware curiosity, the 7497 synchronous rate multiplier, and turns it into a practical lesson for firmware engineers. He contrasts conventional PWM with a simple accumulator-based method called "synthetic division," showing how it implements first-order delta-sigma behavior in software. The post explains when to pick PWM or delta-sigma and why the accumulator trick can give higher effective resolution at low update rates.


The 2026 Embedded Online Conference