[SI-LIST] Re: What do you do?
- From: "Julian Ferry" <julian.ferry@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jeff.loyer@xxxxxxxxx>, "Signal Integrity Mailing List" <si-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:28:09 -0400
I start out by asking the questioner if they know what an electrical
signal is. Many people do. But if not, I describe a signal in terms of
a radio or TV broadcast, or maybe a cell phone call. I give some
examples of signals transmitted over wire or cable, like telephones,
cable TV or a computer network. =20
Then I talk a bit about how signals degrade, usually with distance, or
interference. Most people can relate to this, especially with examples
like AM radio, or cell pone calls.
Then I explain that my job is to make sure that a signal gets from point
A to point B, in the strongest and most useable form possible. I might
go so far as to explain that the signal carries some sort of
information, and that information needs to be decoded at the receive
end. And the signal needs to meet certain requirements when it's
received if it is to be decoded properly.
At the same time I have to make sure that "my" signal isn't so strong
that it swamps out or interferes with other signals. And I have to do
this all at the lowest cost, and in the shortest amount of time
possible.
And if they keep asking after that point, I pull out a pen and paper and
start writing out differential equations. That usually shuts them up.
-----Original Message-----
From: si-list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:si-list-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Loyer, Jeff
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 5:11 PM
To: Signal Integrity Mailing List
Subject: [SI-LIST] What do you do?
Sorry if this is a little off-task, but ABOUT the most perplexing
problem I've had for a while is answering the question "So, what do you
do?". I faced this again while buying a dirt bike in the panhandle of
Idaho - not a place exactly full of E-mag expertise (though maybe a
certain eastern Washingtoner might have relatives there?). After years
of blank looks, I've never found a good answer. I mostly resort to "I
design computers" or something like that. Does anyone have a good SHORT
explanation of what a "Signal Integrity Engineer" does, for the general
public, who think "fast busses" is an oxymoron? I recently heard of
"Microwave Plumber" and am thinking that comes pretty close!
Thanks,
Jeff Loyer
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=20
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