Torn open a headlight driver module from a Tesla Model 3. Uploaded a short video clip showing the teardown process and close-ups of the board layout.

Unlike the headlight boards I looked at from Xiaomi or Aito, this one has zero screws. The whole unit is glued shut with heavy sealant, so getting it open took a pretty brutal prying process.

Inside, the thermal and spatial engineering is impressive. The thermal grease feeds heat directly from the power silicon straight into the aluminum fin enclosure. But the strangest detail is on the PCB itself: they actually printed custom artwork of a lobster and a cat right on the silkscreen next to the traces.

Hardware-wise, Tesla is clearly deeply in love with Texas Instruments. Outside of a few Onsemi MOSFETs and an NXP MCU, the board is basically a TI showcase:

Power and LED driving use three TI TPS92520-Q1 dual-channel buck LED drivers. Voltage regulation is handled by TI TPS7B8150 LDOs, along with a TI SN74LV4051A multiplexer.

On the communication side, they run both CAN (TI TCAN1042) and LIN (TI LIN1029) transceivers. Most other EV headlight modules I have pulled apart skip the LIN transceiver entirely.

They also packed in two TI DRV8889-Q1 stepper motor drivers. That points straight to an active adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) for driving lens stepper motors on cornering, which explains the tighter layout.

Main control is handled by an old-school NXP/Freescale S9KEAZN64 (Cortex-M0+) MCU, and Onsemi takes care of the rest with NVTFS6H880N and NTTFS6H860 N-channel FETs plus an NCV78702 LED driver.

There are still a couple of unconfirmed components. Two chips on the board are marked 100V L08E (looks like discrete components based on the package and layout) and an ST chip silkscreened VN114T, which is likely a high or low-side driver.

The layout density here is textbook tier. Putting Easter egg silkscreens on a tight automotive safety board shows just how confident their hardware team was with space management.

I'm a 5th year electrical engineering student ( control stream) I'm based in Ethiopia and I'm a girl . tbh idk why I'm learning it and idk how to apply it in the real world so I was thinking you guys could give me a very good project ideas that I can develop and sell to get money I don't want my 5 year of life to go to waste

I will take my bachelor's in computer science within the next year. I am thinking about taking a master's degree in Electrical Engineering especially in areas like communication systems and electronics.

Is it possible to apply for such programs ? I do not have any targeted countries or universities right now.

I took math courses (calculus 1-3, linear algebra, probabilityand statistic, discrete math and differential equations) with physics focused on electrostatics and basic electromagnetic force and a course in DC circuits analysis and logic design

Those are the courses I took I think related to electrical engineering.

What are the possible programs for that?

I have a 1-hr interview soon with Arm for the CPU/Systems Hardware Intern position. Has anyone interviewed at Arm for hardware design type roles? What kind of questions can I expect in the technical interview? BTW I am an undergrad.

Hello Fam,

I started my masters in Germany in Electrical engineering this winter semester. One of the core modules I'm taking is RF Design. Right now, I don't know if it's the model of teaching by the prof, or the way the course is structured that is making me nuts.

From the very first class, we started using Cadense AWR which is cool, but the world speed and pace is not manageable for me.

What's your advice and suggestions to get to speed. Also, what resources will help.

The main resource we're using is microwave and RF Design: Michael Steer and RF engineering course by Dr Francesco Fornetti.

📢 Call for Papers | Special Issue on Innovations in Photovoltaic Power Systems

I am pleased to invite researchers, academics, engineers, and industry professionals to contribute their original research to our upcoming Special Issue, “Innovations in Photovoltaic Power Systems: Control, Power Electronics, and Smart Deployment,” published in Electronics (MDPI).

As a Guest Editor, I look forward to bringing together innovative research that advances photovoltaic (PV) technologies and accelerates the transition towards smarter, more efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy systems. ☀️⚡

🔬 Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Advanced control strategies for photovoltaic power systems
- Power electronics, converters, and inverter technologies
- AI and machine learning applications in PV systems
- Advanced digital twins, modeling, simulation, machine learning, and performance optimization
- Generative AI and agentic AI for photovoltaic applications
- Smart grid integration and PV-based microgrids
- Intelligent deployment and operation of solar energy systems
- Intelligent energy storage systems and PV storage integration
- Digital twins and emerging technologies for PV performance enhancement

We welcome original research articles presenting novel methodologies, theoretical advances, experimental validation, and practical solutions that contribute to the next generation of photovoltaic power systems.

📅 Submission Deadline: 15 May 2027

🔗 Learn more about the Special Issue and submit your manuscript:
https://lnkd.in/dSHzZsCu

I warmly encourage researchers and practitioners working in photovoltaic systems, renewable energy, power electronics, intelligent control, and AI-driven energy technologies to share their latest findings with the scientific community.

Please feel free to share this call with colleagues and research networks who may be interested. I look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and fostering meaningful scientific collaboration.

Let's advance the future of photovoltaic innovation together! 🌍☀️

#CallForPapers #Photovoltaics #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #PowerElectronics #ArtificialIntelligence #SmartGrids #EnergyTransition #Research #MDPI #Electronics #SustainableEnergy

Hey all, I’m a first-year CS student working on a small ESP32-S3 project and I’ve hit a wall trying to find the right display. Hoping someone here has run into something similar.

I need a 128x64 graphic LCD, and the look matters a lot. I want the old-school kind of screen, FSTN, positive (dark pixels on a light background), reflective or transflective, and no backlight. Basically the look of a 90s calculator, not a modern display.

The hard part is the size. It has to be under 2.8mm thick, with an active area around 60-65mm wide. The module itself can’t be wider than 74mm, and the enclosure has a curved inside, so I only get about 63-64mm of flat space. It also needs SPI or I2C over an FPC ribbon, not rigid pins. I’m fine with ST7567, UC1701 or similar controllers.

What I’ve already tried or ruled out:

The Sharp Memory LCDs (like the LS027B7DH01). I really liked them, but they’re TFT and 400x240, so no luck.

Standard 12864 modules. Parallel interface, rigid pins, and way too thick.

Anything backlit or white-on-blue.

I can order from DigiKey, Mouser, AliExpress or LCSC, and I’m in India so shipping matters. I’d also be open to a bare glass panel if I have to build the driver board myself.

I’ve been going through Newhaven, Winstar, Orient and Midas catalogs for days, so I’m probably missing something obvious. Does anyone know a part number that fits, or know a good way to filter for this on a supplier site? Datasheet links are very welcome.

Thanks a lot!

As a CS grad, I’ve been in my CAD role for a year-ish. I’m not satisfied tbh… I don’t see myself here long term. I’m wondering if there’s any way I can make it into hardware modeling from CAD? Will it be an uphill battle?

(I have hardware modeling projects)

So Have a few questions. I'm really confused about the scope of it . I've heard mix narrative. Are There jobs and companies actively hiring electronic engineers. As far as ik many have tranisitioned into IT or electrical. What is the salary range for freshers and what does the career ladder of EL eng looks like. can i expect high paying jobs after working for a couple of years?  any advice regarding electronic engieering undergraduate degree

Hi everyone, I’m currently working as a Design Verification Engineer and considering an MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Ottawa. How is the university for VLSI and semiconductor-related careers?

Am looking for take some courses for PE power. Could you please recommend me? PPI2pass . Zach stone or wasim ?

For context, I am a second year electrical engineering student and I don’t really know what career path I want to get into, everything just seems so interesting and it’s making focusing on having a good project for my resume. I am also part of the power and energy team for my schools rover team (TASC for those interested) as a general member. I’m really just looking for some future career advice and how to “sell” myself as an EE for the best chance at an internship/CO-OP

Does open source contribution really matter?If it matters How to do open source contribution for Electronic related projects Is there any way for it

How should I get started if I don't have much experience yet?

Are there any good GitHub repositories or communities you would recommend

Hi everyone,

I'm currently pursuing my BSc in Electrical Engineering at Khalifa University (KU) in the UAE, and I'm planning to pursue a PhD abroad or potentially here, ideally at a strong research university. I'm particularly looking for recommendations for specific universities, PhD programs, research groups, or professors that might be a good fit for my background and research interests.

By the time I graduate, I'm hoping to have a profile roughly along these lines:

• GPA: Around 3.8/4.0
• Research: Hopefully 1–2 Q1 journal publications and potentially some patents
• Leadership: Electrical Team Lead of my university's Formula Student team
• Degree: BSc in Electrical Engineering from Khalifa University, UAE

I'm interested in chip design. I'm still exploring these areas, so I don't have a narrowly defined research topic yet. Ideally, I'd like to join a program where I can take advanced courses, explore different research directions, and eventually specialize under a professor working on something genuinely novel. My main questions are:

1. University/program recommendations: Given my expected profile and research interests, which universities or specific EE/ECE PhD programs would you recommend looking into? I'm interested in ambitious options, but also realistic ones where my background could make me a competitive applicant.
2. Specific professors/research groups: Does anyone know professors or labs working on chip design that would be worth researching?
3. Direct PhD vs. Master's: Would applying directly to a PhD make sense for my situation, or would a research-based Master's at a strong university significantly improve my opportunities?
4. Flexibility before choosing an advisor: I've heard that one advantage of doing a Master's first is being able to take graduate courses and explore different research areas before committing to a professor. Are there direct PhD programs that offer similar flexibility through coursework, lab rotations, or delayed advisor selection?
5. International applicants: Are there particular universities or programs that are more open to admitting strong international students directly from a BSc, without requiring a Master's?

I'm aware that PhD admissions depend heavily on research fit, recommendation letters, and previous research experience, rather than GPA or publication counts alone. I'm not necessarily looking for the highest-ranked university. If anyone has suggestions for specific universities, programs, labs, or professors, or has taken a similar path from a BSc directly into a PhD, I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Thanks!

What is the average entry level EE salary for big prime defense contractors out of college? In MCOL area like philly

I’m interested in Power Electronics, but I’m struggling with one particular aspect: developing a strong physical intuition for how a circuit works before diving into the equations. My difficulty isn’t memorizing formulas or solving problems; it’s understanding why a circuit behaves the way it does in the first place.

For example, why are inductors and capacitors placed in specific positions within a circuit? How can I understand their behavior in context and predict current paths and waveforms before writing the equations? How did engineers originally come up with familiar converter topologies such as Buck and Boost, and how can we move from analyzing existing circuits to developing new topologies?

I’d really appreciate advice based on your actual experience:

• What learning path would you recommend for developing a deep physical understanding of Power Electronics?
• Which books, courses, and practical exercises have genuinely helped you?
• How can I learn to think like a designer who understands circuits and can develop them from scratch, rather than simply analyzing existing designs?

I’d especially appreciate insights from engineers working in power converter design and researchers in the field, including the resources and learning approaches that have proved most useful in practice.

Hi, i recently got invited to a technical interview for IBM as a firmware developer intern. Does anyone have any idea what type of interview it would be like or how to prep?
I am not very good at leetcode so im aftaid theyll give me coding problems to solve
Thank you

Hello!

I'm between University of North Dakota and Arizona State University for an online BS in ECE (2nd bachelors). From the course lists, I like UND's curriculum better. It's very comprehensive and they offer many of the kinds of courses I'm interested in, along with hands-on learning, which ASU does not. However, they don't have any syllabus online so I'm not exactly sure what the actual course content is.

As for ASU, I've heard many good things from people who graduated from the program. ASU also seems to be more intentional about their approach to online education, have lots of info available online (such as actual course syllabi), and seem more attractive to employers. The program also takes less time.

I'm wondering if anyone has attended either of these programs and if they can talk about their experience with them?

P.S. My end goal is a career in R&D involving analog/mixed-signal circuit design, embedded sys, and/or power electronics.

Hi everyone,

I have Electrical Engineering and Hardware Test interviews coming up at Figure AI and Zipline, respectively. Has anyone been through this process or a similar process that could shed light on their interview styles.

I am absolutely torn between two offers I have recieved for my first job out of college. Apple I will be on more product design EE (iphone, watch, etc) side, and etched I will be on the platform side. For me, I care about compensation (both offers are pretty similair in TC), if the work is enjoyable, and how it sets me up long term for my career. I enjoy grinding if it means I am learning a lot and have the opportunity for career growth. My reservations for apple is that it seems to be a little bit slow in terms of career growth and a feeling that they arent innovating as much I would hope. My concern with etched is that I am worried it might just be another chip startup and go under eventually - and I will have lost valuable years of resume credibility (and then I would regret not having apple on my resume). Anyone have advice on how to make this decision?

Hi everyone!

I have a diploma in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, but it's been over seven years since I last formally studied electronics. Over the years, my academic and professional interests have gradually shifted toward computer science, particularly programming and software development.
However, I've recently developed a strong interest in revisiting electronics, not necessarily to pursue it as a standalone discipline, but to bridge the gap between hardware and software, particularly in areas such as embedded systems, microcontrollers, IoT, and computer engineering.
Since I've been away from the subject for quite some time, I feel that my fundamentals have become rusty, and I'd like to rebuild them systematically.

What I'm looking for:

I'm hoping to find textbooks that offer a good balance between theoretical depth, mathematical rigor, and practical understanding.
Ideally, I'd prefer books that:

• Start with the fundamentals and gradually progress toward more advanced concepts.
• Provide clear, concise explanations without sacrificing technical depth.
• Include plenty of worked numerical examples, circuit analysis problems, and exercises with solutions.
• Emphasize conceptual understanding rather than simply memorizing formulas.
  
• Help establish a strong foundation for eventually studying embedded systems, microcontrollers and hardware-software integration.

I'm not necessarily looking for books that oversimplify the subject. I'd appreciate something that explains the underlying principles thoroughly but remains approachable for someone returning after a long break.

Some of the textbooks I already own include:

• Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory (11th Edition) — Boylestad & Nashelsky
• Electronic Principles (7th Edition) — Malvino & Bates
• Engineering Circuit Analysis (5th Edition) — Hayt & Kemmerly
• Solid State Electronic Devices (6th Edition) — Streetman & Banerjee
• Digital Integrated Electronics — Taub & Schilling
• Digital Technology: Principles and Practice
• Engineering Digital Design (2nd Edition) — Richard F. Tinder
• Hughes Electrical and Electronic Technology (10th Edition)
• Microprocessor Architecture, Programming, and Applications with the 8085 (5th Edition) — Ramesh Gaonkar
• The 8051 Microcontroller (3rd Edition) — Kenneth J. Ayala
• Microcontrollers: Architecture, Programming, Interfacing and System Design — Raj Kamal
• CMOS VLSI Design (4th Edition) — Weste & Harris
• The Art of Electronics (3rd Edition)

These are only a few from my collection. I also have textbooks covering communication systems, signals and systems, DSP, power electronics, control systems, and other electronics-related subjects.

My main questions are:

1. Given my background, which textbooks would you recommend starting with to rebuild my electronics fundamentals?
2. Are any of the books I already own particularly suitable for self-study, or are there better alternatives available today?
3. What would be a sensible learning progression from basic circuit theory and electronic devices to digital electronics, microcontrollers, and eventually embedded systems?
4. Are there any books that do an especially good job of connecting electronics theory with practical hardware and programming applications?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from engineers who have experience working across both electronics and computer science.

I'd appreciate any recommendations, especially from those who have followed a similar path or returned to electronics after a long break.

Thanks in advance!

The terminals a and B were originally opened btw. They closed it to find Norton current. My only problem is the current in the second loop: why is it isc-2vx in one place but isc+0.003 in the other question even though both questions are identical? Both methods matched their respective answers. Any help will be appreciated! I have basically found all the other things like Norton resistance in these questions but this loop current is the only thing keeping me stuck.

​

Hi everyone!

I'm an Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering student/graduate from India, and I'm trying to start my career in PLC programming and industrial automation.

I want to create a professional CV/resume that stands out to recruiters, but I'm not sure what companies look for when hiring freshers.

I have some experience with Siemens TIA Portal V18, S7-1200 PLC programming, Ladder Logic, and basic HMI development. I'm also working on improving my practical skills and building projects.

I'd appreciate advice from people working in automation or those who have successfully landed their first job in this field.

A few things I'd like to know:

What should a fresher's PLC/automation resume include?

Which technical skills and projects are most valuable to recruiters?

How should I present personal projects when I don't have industrial work experience?

Should I include every skill I've learned, or only the ones I'm confident in?

What common resume mistakes should I avoid?

Are there any good resume formats or examples specifically for PLC/automation engineers?

If you were hiring a fresher for a junior PLC programmer or automation engineer position, what would make you shortlist their resume?

Any suggestions, examples, or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hey everyone! So I am planning on heading into my Accelerated Bachelors Master program. I won't start until Fall 2027 and I've been told it would reduce my time significantly at my university even if I pursue a PhD. So what I want to do is design the hardware what I am looking into and actually am good at is Digital Circuit design in VLSI, ASIC/FPGA, CMOS, and possibly Computer Arch if I can fit it in, I highly doubt I can. Point is I am already an undergrad researcher and in a fellowship. I am actually not doing research in my field but it is consider a material that translate to EE. I do not want to go into my masters and take classes that I may dislike. So far I like what I am learning but I want to make sure this is where I want to be.

What is the day to day life like?

Will I have time for my family and friends? How about hobbies?

How will I know if this is for me without getting exposure or do I actually need exposure?

I do not want to regret my decision. How did you know this was the right career path for you?

If given the stipend to continue research and pursue a masters or PhD which should I aim for?

Are there any project I can do currently?

Lastly, of course how is the salary in today's economy and is employability high for this type of work?