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Reusable general-purpose components can give embedded engineers a proven starting point for power, sensing, signal conditioning, control and timing circuits instead of forcing a redesign of every function for each product generation. That is the central argument in a sponsored Electronic Design interview published September 25, 2026, with Mayrim Verdejo, a product line manager at Texas Instruments. It is a design rationale, not a measured claim that a particular component or supplier will shorten a project schedule.
Why reuse matters in embedded-system design
Embedded products gain features and complexity, while teams face pressure to bring new generations to market sooner. Reusing a well-understood circuit can preserve engineering work and provide a known foundation for the next design. In the interview, Verdejo describes designers carrying circuits and parts forward between generations, citing voltage sensing as one example.
That approach does not mean copying an entire design without review. A reused circuit still needs to be checked against the new product’s electrical requirements, operating conditions, constraints and lifecycle needs. The practical benefit is a familiar starting point—not proof that the new design needs no engineering work.
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Which general-purpose functions form the foundation?
Verdejo identifies five functions as essential building blocks:
- Power: supplies and manages the energy required by the system.
- Sensing: detects conditions such as voltage for monitoring or control.
- Signal conditioning: prepares sensor or other signals for reliable use by the rest of the circuit.
- Control: supports the system’s responses and operation.
- Timing: provides timing functions needed for coordinated operation.
Her point is that designers should be able to build around dependable components for these functions “without having to start from scratch every time.” The interview does not identify specific parts or circuits, so these categories are a framework for design planning rather than a component recommendation.
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How to evaluate a component for reuse or second sourcing
Start with the circuit’s requirements, then assess the trade-offs that determine whether a part is suitable for the current design and any planned reuse. Verdejo describes designers as balancing performance, cost, design time and product availability, including confidence in supply over the long term.
- Match the required function and electrical specifications. Check the candidate against the circuit’s actual requirements before considering convenience or reuse.
- Compare performance and total component cost. Consider the effect on the design as a whole, not just a headline part price; the interview supplies no prices or part-level comparison.
- Assess engineering effort. A familiar component or circuit may reduce the work needed to establish a design foundation, but the interview gives no measured time savings.
- Check reuse and package compatibility. If a replacement is described as pin-to-pin, verify the specific part’s electrical specifications and the circuit’s constraints. Matching pins alone does not establish functional interchangeability.
- Review lifecycle and supply evidence. Confirm current availability and the evidence supporting long-term supply for the exact part and purchasing context.
- Use design support as an input, not a substitute for verification. Application notes and design tools can inform evaluation, but the chosen part still has to meet the design requirements.
What support can contribute
Verdejo says TI offers application support, application notes, design tools and pin-to-pin alternatives to help with selection and second sourcing. Those are claims from a TI representative in a sponsored interview, not an independent comparison establishing that TI’s support or portfolio is better than a competitor’s. Engineers evaluating a real design should consult current documentation for the candidate parts and verify compatibility themselves.
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The interview makes a case for dependable general-purpose building blocks as a way to preserve proven circuits amid increasing system demands. It cites autonomous vehicles, AI, next-generation medical equipment and data centers as examples of those demands. It does not provide market measurements, a named component, current stock information, a competitive part test or quantified time-to-market results.
Verdejo also characterizes TI’s portfolio as having “thousands of products, maybe more than 100 categories.” That is her qualified description of her company’s portfolio, not an audited count or evidence of comparative superiority. The interview’s strongest practical takeaway is therefore a selection principle: use reusable components as a design foundation, then validate each choice against the circuit, required performance, development effort and supply needs.
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