Ele 0087 Dsmag en

ELECTRONICS EDITION - ISSUE 2
Online resources and design support for electronics engineers
Technologies Software & Tools Projects
DesignShare
Dedicated to DesignSpark
Community Collaboration
Click Here to find out more
www.designspark.com
Only scope with a built-in spectrum analyzer.
1 Time Domain Display

2 Frequency Domain Display
The world’s first mixed domain oscilloscope is now even more accessible.
The award-winning Tektronix MDO4000 series Mixed Domain Oscilloscope is turning heads with its revolutionary built-in
spectrum analyser. For the first time, you can capture up to 21 time-correlated analog, digital and RF signals with one
instrument. You can even view the RF spectrum at different points in time to see critical changes. With new models
starting at just 100MHz bandwidth / 3GHz RF, you can capture more signal types with one instrument than ever before.
For less than ever before.
MDO4000 Mixed Domain Oscilloscope
§ 4 analog channels § 1 RF channel

° 100 MHz to 1 GHz bandwidth models ° 50 kHz – 3 GHz and 50 kHz – 6 GHz frequency range models
§ 16 digital channels ° Ultra-wide capture bandwidth up to 3 GHz
§ Parallel and serial bus triggering and analysis § Unique RF analysis tools: automated markers, spectrogram display,
§ Built on the MSO4000B mixed signal oscilloscope platform RF vs. time traces, advanced RF triggers
For accurate, reliable and trusted measurement expertise, go to:

www.rs-components.com/tektronix
© 2012 Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Tektronix products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending.
TEKTRONIX and the Tektronix logo are registered trademarks of Tektronix.
IN this issue
Technologies
PiGo
Software & Tools PROJECTS

DESIGNSPARK DesignShare Earth Rover Projects
Technologies Software & Tools Projects
• PiGo • DesignSpark DesignShare • Mini Stroboscope by Elektor

• STMicroelectronics EEPROM • DesignSpark PCB v5 • Earth Rover Project
• HARTING har-flex® • WEBENCH to DesignSpark PCB • Universal Measurement
Amplifier/Attenuator by Elektor
• Renesas YRPBRL78G13
Kit Review • The Open Source Hardware
User Group
• ebmpapst Fan Selector
• Rechargeable Battery
• New Products Checker by Elektor
DESIGNSPARK MAGAZINE
is also available on iPad, iPhone and Android Tablet
Terms and conditions: Terms and conditions of sale are set out here ( www.goo.gl/lQVFc ) This issue is valid from July 2013 to October 2013.
Published by: RS Components Limited. Registered office: Birchington Road, Weldon, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 9RS. Registered No. 1002091.
RS Components Ltd 2013. RS are trademarks of RS Components Limited. An Electrocomponents Company.
Simple to use RN52 Bluetooth® Audio Module
Fully Certified Bluetooth Version 3.0 Module
RN52-I/RM FEATURES:
Microchip’s RN52-I/RM Bluetooth audio module provides an integrated ■ Fully certified Bluetooth® version 3.0 audio
solution for delivering high-quality stereo audio in a small form factor. module, fully compatible with Bluetooth
It combines a Class 2 Bluetooth radio with an embedded DSP processor, version 2.1+EDR, 1.2, and 1.1
controlled and configured by simple ASCII commands and/or GPIO. ■ Software configurable through
It integrates RF, a baseband controller, and DSP, making it a complete Bluetooth commands over UART console interface
audio wireless link. The RN52 supports HSP/HFP, A2DP, AVRCP, SPP, and iAP ■ Standalone capability – works with or
profiles and includes support for codecs such as SBC, aptX®, and AAC. It provides without a microcontroller
a UART interface, GPIO, stereo speaker outputs, stereo microphone inputs, ■ Embedded Bluetooth stack profiles: SPP,
and a USB port. A2DP, HFP/HSP, and AVRCP
■ Supports iAP profile discovery for iPhone®
Applications and iPod® Bluetooth data accessories
■ Wireless stereo speakers and headsets ■ Available as an A2DP audio source or sink
■ Wireless audio docking station for smartphones ■ Postage-stamp-sized form factor,
■ High-quality, 2-channel audio streaming 13.5 x 26 x 2.7mm
■ Smartphone app streaming
■ Dual-channel, differential audio input and
output for highest quality audio
■ Automotive hands free audio ■ External audio codecs supported via
■ Remote control for media player I2S and S/PDIF interface
■ Intercom push-to-talk audio connection ■ Castellated SMT pads for easy and reliable
PCB mounting
Ordering Information ■ Additional support for codecs such as
RN52-I/RM - Bluetooth 3.0 Class 2 surface mount audio module with PCB trace antenna aptX®, AAC, MP3, and others
RS Part No 775-6328 ■ Environmentally friendly, RoHS compliant
RN-52-EK - Evaluation kit for the RN52 audio Bluetooth module - includes evaluation ■ Certifications: FCC, IC, CE
board, USB cable, 2 mini-speakers and microphone RS Part No 774-7908 ■ Bluetooth SIG certified
www.rs-components.com/microchip
The Microchip name and logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.
©2013 Microchip Technology Inc. All rights reserved. DS70005118A. ME1060Eng03.13
Technologies
PiGo
STMicroelectronics EEPROM
HARTING har-flex®
Renesas YRPBRL78G13 Kit Review
ebmpapst Fan Selector
New Products
DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

Technologies
PiGo
Expanding Hardware
Horizons of Raspberry Pi
By Mike Brojak, Electronics Applications Manager, RS Components
The enormous success of Raspberry Pi has energised the

younger generation to get into software development –
but what about hardware? Now building upon the Pi,
a modular and expandable development solution from
RS is soon to be launched…

Raspberry Pi is something
of a phenomenon – with one
million units shipped in the
first year of its existence – and
is generating excitement
in the educational sphere
and increasingly in
industrial applications.
1/2
Technologies
It is becoming clear that Raspberry PiGo Enriches Life of Pi Each module gains access to all
Pi is something of a phenomenon The PiGo is essentially a modular the Raspberry Pi peripherals, while
– with one million units shipped in expansion system for Raspberry Pi. also offering enhanced protection
the first year of its existence – and It takes a highly modular approach and extending the Pi with extra I/O
is generating excitement in the and allows virtually any hardware capability. Plug-in jumper wires
educational sphere and increasingly to be simply plugged in, based on can be used to make different
in industrial applications. However, standardised module sockets. The connections or components can
it is also clear that Raspberry Pi is platform offers flexibility with easy be soldered on directly for
primarily concerned with getting access to the Raspberry Pi pins, more a permanent setup.
young people into software connecting via a ribbon cable on
programming. But there is now a the I/O header/connector on the Pi Flexible and Modular
significant initiative to build upon board and via the USB for power. The PiGo platform is an
the success of Raspberry Pi and also The PiGo baseboard (See Figure 1) exceptionally flexible one. As the
take hardware development into accepts up to four interchangeable baseboard accepts up to four
education. RS has devised a new and compatible modules, interchangeable and compatible
hardware development solution that therefore opening up tremendous modules, it could use four motor
piggybacks upon the capabilities opportunities not only for controller modules, for example,
of the Raspberry Pi and takes it education, but also for hobbyist meaning that functionality is not
into the physical computing world and professional hardware fixed and is dependent upon which
by hooking up extra hardware development and can be modules are plugged in.
such as motor drives, actuators, considered as a prototyping
accelerometers and other sensors. platform for any hardware-related The platform allows the hardware
Raspberry Pi products. community to develop any type
of module that runs on standard
In addition to the PiGo baseboard communication busses, such
the initial offering from RS starts as the SPI bus or I2C bus, to be
with four basic PiGo modules plugged into the PiGo baseboard.
(See Figure 2): In addition, the PiGo is prototyping-
board compatible, so more complex
• a basic prototyping board, modules could span two or even all
which is essentially an four slots of the baseboard.
empty module allowing
component soldering; Open Source
In addition, PiGo is also unique in
• a motor controller module; terms of licensing, as it is fully open
source (OpenHardware). Designed in
• an analogue-digital DesignSpark PCB, the design files for
/digital-analogue (AD/DA) the modules will be made available
conversion module; on www.designspark.com as open-
source hardware free for download
• and lastly, an ATmega328-based and modification for DesignSpark
module, which also accepts user-community exchange of
Arduino Shields, dramatically hardware design ideas.
expanding the hardware
capabilities of the Raspberry The PiGo software is written in
Pi platform. Python (as is for the Pi) and a shell
script is provided along with the

Figure 1 : Pi plus PiGo Figure 2 : PiGo modules Figure 3 : PiGo Kit
...the design files for the modules will be made available

on www.designspark.com as open-source hardware
free for download and modification for DesignSpark
user-community exchange of hardware design ideas.
Pi’s Broadcom processor and I2C example, sitting on a bench ready basic prototyping module will be
software kernel modules, in addition for experimentation, the PiGo Mini significantly lower in cost.
to the Python serial library and I2C is aimed not only at real beginners
tools. The PiGo library provides perhaps in the relatively early years In a nutshell, the PiGo and PiGo
simple functions for items such as of schooling, but also for those Mini are set to significantly expand
configuring the direction of general- that want to do something highly the hardware possibilities of the
purpose input/output pins, reading portable with the Pi platform. Raspberry Pi universe, and energise
and setting their state, and using the interest in electronics hardware
UART, SPI and I2C interfaces. Pricing and Availability design in education, perhaps in a
The PiGo, which was first way not seen before.
And introducing the PiGo Mini… demonstrated at electronica China
And if that was not enough, there 2013 back in March, and PiGo Mini,
is also the PiGo Mini. The PiGo are now under evaluation and further
Mini is designed to be the entry- development with the expectation
point product in the PiGo universe. that they will be made available
It is a daughter-card that plugs during the second half of this year.
directly into the Raspberry Pi Pricing for the PiGo and PiGo Mini is
board or into the PiGo baseboard not yet set, but early estimates are
and is a quarter of the size of the £30 for the PiGo and in the range
PiGo baseboard or the size of one of £15 for the PiGo Mini. The PiGo Share your views...
PiGo module. Whereas the PiGo modules are expected to be in the
...on www.designspark.com
is aimed at university labs, for range of £8 to £10, although the
2/2
Technologies
Brave New World of Applications for

Innovative Dual-Interface
Contactless Memory

It’s probably fair to say that the reliable,
trusty and well-known non-volatile memory
device called the serial EEPROM (Electrically
Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory)
might not normally set an engineer’s heart
aflutter. And certainly the device receives
much less press than the latest ultra-low-
power microcontroller. But there is at least
one EEPROM that is changing perceptions…
1/3
Technologies
Designed and manufactured by or NFC (Near Field Communication)

STMicroelectronics, one of the enabled mobile phones.
world’s largest semiconductor
makers, the advanced M24LR dual- In circuit, the memory behaves as
interface EEPROM family is opening a conventional serial EEPROM and
up a whole new universe of potential can be read or programmed through
applications, in addition to offering its industry-standard I2C two-wire
some unique energy-harvesting serial interface. For RF operation,
capabilities. ST’s RFID-compatible the EEPROM gathers both data and
contactless M24LR memory family energy, via an inductive coupling
comes with two interfaces: the antenna, from the radio signal
industry-standard I2C serial interface, emitted by the RF reader-writer or
operating at 400kHz from 1.8 to NFC phone. The M24LR therefore
5.5V and providing communication has the ability to be programmed
with most microcontrollers; and a or read wirelessly, as well as via
ISO15693 standard 13.56MHz RF wire. The only external component
interface for wireless communication necessary for remote programming
with RFID (Radio-Frequency is a standard 13.56MHz RFID
Identification) reader-writers loop antenna.
Block diagram for M24LR family

of dual-interface EEPROMS VCC SCL
GND
I2C interface
(1.8-5.5V, 400kHz)
SCL
I2C
SDA
4-Kbit
RF WIP_BUSY Power or
(Digital Output) RF WIP_BUSY management 16-Kbit
& I2C/RF or
arbitraion 64-Kbit
unit
Vout Power
VOUT EEPROM
(Energy Harvesting from RF) extraction
ISO 15693 AC1

RF interface RF
protocol
AC0

RFID and NFC Enabled OEMs addressing global markets. applications. As a general rule of
Communication The integration of the M24LR dual- thumb, the read and write range of
The M24LR EEPROM’s ISO15693 interface EEPROM means end an ISO15693 M24LR64-based credit-
RF interface can be accessed by a products can be reprogrammed after card-size product is roughly the
wide range of existing RFID readers, leaving the factory without having same distance as the diagonal of
including hand-held devices, pad to be powered up or even removed the reader’s antenna. For example,
antennas, gate systems, and tunnel from their box or packaging. for a high-power RFID reader in a
readers. In addition, NFC enabled Software updates can be applied large-antenna passenger-ticketing
smartphones can also be used to in the supply chain, saving costs gateway, the read distance could
both energise and communicate and delays normally incurred when indeed be up to 1m; but for an
with the M24LR. There are now returning units for reprogramming. NFC phone, it would be more
more than 250 Android smartphone Or region-specific settings can be like several centimeters.
models supporting NFC and the applied after units have arrived in
ISO15693 standard, enabling the destination territory, rather than Energy Harvesting and
communication with ST’s M24LR. before shipping. Application Development
To energise application
There is also a free downloadable Another application could be development for the device, ST
app available for NFC-enabled electronic shelf labels, delivering has made available an easy-to-
Android smartphones, which what can be described as an use development platform. The
enables communication with ’augmented consumer experience.’ M24LR Discovery Kit contains
ISO15693 products including the Shoppers could gain important everything engineers need to start
M24LR family and also ST’s LRI pre-programmed information on designing ‘battery-free’ applications
family of RF tags. The ‘NfcV-reader’ products that might easily influence that can exchange data with
NFC app enables the reading and the buying decision via a user- ISO15693-compatible NFC-enabled
writing of NDEF messages by using friendly interface on either their smartphones or RFID reader-writers.
the NFC features of Android. NDEF NFC smartphone or the retailer’s
(NFC Data Exchange Format) is an NFC/RFID reader. However, these
NFC Forum specified format that examples should not attempt to set
offers interoperability between any boundaries for the use of the
different NFC devices. M24LR; they are just a couple out of
a myriad of potential applications.
Some Applications…
Although the possible applications RFID Standards
are almost limitless for a product The M24LR family actually supports
of this nature, perhaps the widest two ISO RFID standards. ISO15693
interest is in logistics markets. Serial is an established industry standard
EEPROMs are typically used to operating at 13.56MHz in the ISM The kit comprises two boards,
store data such as software, product (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) including an RF transceiver
parameters, calibration data, or frequency band and does not cause board with a 13.56MHz multi-
event-log data. As no external interference with mobile phones protocol RFID/NFC RF transceiver
power is required to operate the or Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ZigBee driven by an STM32 32-bit
M24LR in RF mode, it provides easy based applications. The standard microcontroller. This board powers
remote access to electronic product offers a 26-kbit/s data rate and is and communicates wirelessly with
parameters in consumer goods. optimised for range, offering read a battery-free board that includes
The challenge of programming distances of up to 1m, making an M24LR04E, an ultra-low-power
for multiple languages or regional it ideal for applications in asset 8-bit microcontroller (STM8L) and a
standards is a continuous one for tracking, healthcare and industrial temperature sensor (STTS75).
2/3
Technologies
The M24LR’s RF interface converts scheme to protect applications

the ambient radio waves emitted by from unauthorised tampering
the transceiver board, RFID reader- or to prevent unexpected
writers or NFC smartphones/tablets access to memory.
into energy to power its circuits
and enable complete battery-free Parts, Price and Packages
operation. The device can deliver Available devices in the family
3mA at voltages below 3.3V, include the M24LR04E, M24LR16E,
which is enough to power an M24LR64E, which come with
ultra-low-power microcontroller memory densities of 4, 16 and
such as the STM8L. 64-Kbit, respectively. Packages
available are 8-pin SO8N, TSSOP8
While the M24LR is not a hugely and UFDFPN8 (MLP8). Check the
complex device and is relatively RS website for the latest prices
simple to design into prototypes, if on the M24LR family.
there is an area that often requires
support, it is probably concerning In summary, the M24LR should
the antenna. Not everyone is an RF enable new types of products,
expert and therefore application including those requiring asset
notes and reference designs are tracking, data collection, diagnostics
available via www.st.com. The or traceability, in markets such
EEPROMs can be used with either as medical devices, industrial
on-board or off-board antenna equipment and consumer
types in various form factors, electronics among many others. Related Products
allowing designers to optimise The only limits in terms of
aspects such as overall dimensions, applications for ST’s dual-interface M24LR04E EEPROM
communication range and EEPROM, it appears, are those Discovery Kit
PCB complexity. of the imagination.
In addition, ST has also made

available datalogger reference
designs to help engineers start their
own RF reader prototype designs.
Supporting materials include an
application note, user manual, MCU
firmware code, board layout Gerber
files and the ‘NfcV-reader’ NFC app Buy Now
source code for developers to build
into their applications.
Also worth mentioning is that the Share your views...

M24LR comes with a unique and
flexible 32-bit password protection
DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2 3/3

More scope than you thought you could afford.
Play video
Agilent 1000B series

Bandwidth 50 MHz, 70 MHz, 100 MHz, 150 MHz
Channels 2
Memory Up to 16 kpts
Sample rate Up to 1 GSa/s
Advanced features 23 automatic measurements, mask testing,
digital filters, sequential acquisition of 1000
trigger events
Display 5.7” color QVGA
Agilent and our

Distributor Network See the 1000B series
Right Instrument.
Right Expertise. www.agilent.com/find/1000BSeries
Delivered Right Now. www.rs-components.com/agilent
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2012

Technologies

Increasing Complexity in
Circuit-Board
Connectors
By Penelope Stanton, Market Development, HARTING Ltd
Although technology trends in industrial

and consumer markets are highly diverse, a
common factor is miniaturisation. Demands
for increased levels of miniaturisation along
with flexibility and data transfer performance
presents a complex challenge for printed-
circuit-board (PCB) connectors.
1/2
Technologies
Smaller chips with higher levels interface. Depending on the

of performance make it possible configuration, displays and buttons
to produce increasingly compact must be flexibly combined with the
designs; circuit boards are board, which can be enabled by a
becoming smaller and there har-flex® connector with a ribbon
is a need for increased cable junction using Insulation
layout flexibility. Displacement Connection (IDC)
technology. Connectors need to
Flexibility provide compatible and consistent
Modern industrial products and solutions, irrespective of whether
devices are often designed into they are used for board-to-board
the same housings to save costs, or cable-to-board applications.
independent of their deployment
in different market sectors Performance
and applications; functional Major industrial systems and
differentiation is achieved via the networks are increasingly being
design and make-up of the devices equipped with backup structures
themselves. Built-in interconnection and controls. Machine status, for
components need to be increasingly example, has to be analysed on
flexible so they can be integrated site and controls need to be directly
without changing interfaces in any accessible. On-site response times
fundamental way. are becoming faster and not just in
terms of direct user intervention:
The development of new modular automated control mechanisms such
and user-friendly technology means as camera inspection applications
that a great number of variants of are increasingly accessing processes
Clearly, the same connector device are now independently on a continuous
interconnection possible. For example, the HARTING basis, and in real time.
har-flex® mezzanine connectors,
technology is an which offer a modular design Components and machines
important element and are available in both straight therefore need to be equipped with
and angled variants, are being increasingly intelligent and rapid
in the development used in an increasing number of control elements; and data transfer
of these types of applications. The family variant for rates need to be as fast as those for
ribbon cables enables the creation the external receiver, especially in
systems and the
of a wide range of board layouts. image processing applications. The
modular design, Connectors can be freely combined consistency of data and information
performance and and adapted to the housing, plays a key role in an increasingly
allowing developers to have automated and network-dependent
user friendliness... increased freedom to produce new world. The har-flex® connectors,
housing designs with significantly which can be fitted in switch
relaxed restrictions in terms of cabinets and mobile devices, also
layout and rigid right angles. meet the requirements for the latest
transfer protocols such as Gigabit
For example, har-flex® connectors Ethernet and PCI Express, easily
are suitable for all products that achieving data transfer rates of
are fitted with a man-machine up to 3.125-Gbit/s.

Data transfer rates also need to be
increased to supply central controls
with sufficient information and data
required for accurate facility and
production control procedures.
Clearly, interconnection technology

is an important element in the
development of these types of
systems and the modular design,
performance and user friendliness
of the HARTING har-flex® portfolio
is already attracting a great deal
of interest in industrial automation
technology markets and has already
gained a number of key design-ins.
In addition, it is now a minimum benefits right from the design stage.

requirement for the overall system It also has a positive effect on cost
to stand up to harsh industrial as machines no longer have to be
environments: load capacity must incorporated in the overall system
be high with no restrictions in for functionality testing; system
performance or availability. Impact, and function capability can be
vibration, dust and water must not ensured on a stand-alone basis. This
be allowed to influence operational requirement is also being met
reliability – which clearly has by increasing decentralisation in
significant repercussions on the industrial automation and larger Related Products
device, machine and components. production machines.
The rugged, compact design of HARTING har-flex®
har-flex® ensures reliable operation, Larger components and machines range
also under adverse conditions. are fitted with decentralised control
elements that allow the activation
Industrial Systems of these devices, both directly
Systems also need to be extremely on site and also out in the field.
user-friendly and easy to maintain. Machine status enquiries, logs
Devices and machines are and analysis of error reports and
increasingly being configured in damage correction are all diverted
a modular fashion and it needs to to the individual components and
be possible to replace components machines, which reduces the load
quickly and easily with minimum on networks and central controls.
input from users. Any errors must Consequently, components and Buy Now
be identified accurately as soon as machines need to be equipped
they arise to reduce downtime. with ever more intelligent control
elements without reducing Share your views...
The decentralised structure of performance to meet the demands
modern facilities brings enormous of the industrial environment.
2/2
TRACOPOWER launches new DC/DC converters that meet the stringent requirements
for mobile and stationary railway applications in accordance to EN50155 standard.
Main upgrades for railway capability:

Increased EMC immunity against surge, burst, radiated and conducted disturbances
Input voltage ranges cover the nominal 24, 36, 72 and 110 VDC with ±40 % tolerance
Shock and vibration / thermal shock in accordance to EN61373 and MIL-STD-810F
New DC/DC-Converters
for harsh enviroment
TEN-8WI Series
8 W in DIP 24 metal package
TEN-20WIR Series
20 W in 2“ x 1“ metal package
• Single and dual output models
• Excellent line load regulation
• No minimum load required
• Remote On/Off control
Model selection at RS: • UL60950-1 approval
www.rs-components.com/tracopower
TEP-160WIR Series
160 W, half brick package
TEP-200WIR Series
200 W, chassis mount package
with screw terminal blocks
• Very high efficiency up to 91 %
• No minimum load required
• Adjustable output voltage +10/-20 %
• Sense line
• Remote On/Off control
• Reverse input voltage protection
• Over-temperature protection
• UL60950-1 approval
www.tracopower.com
Technologies
Renesas
YRPBRL78G13
Kit Review
YRPBRL78 is a humble-looking yet power-packed development board
released by Renesas. In spite of being called a promotional board for
the RL78 family of microcontrollers, the features of this board not only
fulfil most of the standard expectations, but surpasses a few of them.
RL78/G13 MCUs YRPBRL78 compact for a development tool. It

The RL78 family combines The pack contains the YRPBRL78G13 is powered via USB interface and
the advanced features of the USB development stick, a tiny supports on-board debugging and
78K and R8C families. screwdriver (helps in tuning the flash programming.
Low-power consumption potentiometer connected to the
and high-performance go hand ADC), a CD which contains the Two 30 pin connectors J1 and J2
in hand, whilst the 16 bit CISC necessary documentation, a GUI provide access to most of the I/O
architecture provides processing to interact with the stick, WriteEZ5 pins including the AVref pins and
power with analogue rich – a flash programming tool, and the Reset. Renesas Emulator E1 can
functionality. Applilet3, an automatic code be connected via J5. With this kind
generating tool for the RL78. of arrangement, one could easily
The G13 chip is suitable for most make an application board to house
general purpose applications with Measuring about 100 mm by 30 this stick as a piggyback board and
peripherals such as DMAC, 10 bit mm, this USB stick appears quite straight away start their project.
ADC and UART.

Technologies
Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4
Graphical User Interface RTC RL78 can be well appreciated when

The highlighting feature of this Setting the alarm is as easy as doing the Low Power modes are tested.
board is the accompanying GUI. so on an Android phone. You could
This GUI provides seamless sync the RTC time to the host PC in J3 provides a means to measure
communication with the stick which the GUI is running. The RTC the current consumption of the
through USB and demonstrates interrupt feature can be tested with RL78. The three power modes,
functionality of the RL78 from selectable intervals through a namely, HALT, STOP and SNOOZE
simple I/O functions to advanced drop-down menu. (Figure 3. RTC can be tested just by clicking the
ones like serial interface, RTC, Sync, Interrupts and Setting) relevant buttons. (Figure 5. HALT,
ADC, On chip data flash and STOP and SNOOZE)
Safety Functions. The stick is Memory
pre-programmed to be used Temperature and voltage Figures 6, 7 and 8 show the
with the GUI. (Figure 2. GUI - measurement values can be written measurements produced by a
Voltage & Temperature Graphics) into the Data Flash and read back. general purpose multi-meter.
Read Read and Write operations on (Figure 6. Normal Operation - Figure
ADC Internal RAM performed. Internal 7. Halt Mode - Figure 8. Stop Mode)
The ADC input voltage and data flash written with temperature
temperature monitored by the and voltage values measured by Self-Test
internal temperature sensor of ADC and read back. (Figure 4. Data Background and Peripheral CRC,
RL78 are plotted as graphs. By Flash & RAM) RAM and SFR protection and Internal
varying the potentiometer R15, Clock Frequency measurements
we could notice the graph nicely Power Consumption are the tests available.
changing to indicate the ADC The ingenuity of the GUI and also
input voltage variation. the low power consumption of the
In spite of being called a promotional board for the RL78 family

of microcontrollers, the features of this board not only fulfil most
of the standard expectations, but surpasses a few of them.

Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 9
WriteEZ5
Flash Programming Software
WriteEZ5 is a Windows-based flash
programming software and can
be used to download application
programs to the YRPBRL78G13.
However, to program flash through
WriteEZ5, ensure that jumpers J6
through J9 are shorted in the right
manner.
Figure 7 Figure 10
Applilet3
Device Driver Code Generator
Applilet3 makes programming
easier by way of visually selecting
the peripheral functions of RL78
and automatically generating
relevant C code. (Figures 9 & 10
Applilet3 – Device Driver Code
Generator)
On the whole, the YRPBRL78

offers unmatched convenience
and freedom to the developers to
evaluate the full capabilities of RL78
and learn to leverage its potential in Figure 8
their designs
Share your views...

2/2
Technologies
Fan
l e c t i o
Se ectronic & n
in El i c a t i o n s
m m u n
Teleco m e n t
Equi p
fan e of the
o r t a n c
e t i m e s the imp i g n can be
So m d e s
e l e ctronic
e l e c t r i c a l a n d
a s e ve r faster
in
e d , p a r t icularly
n d e re s t i ma t
n o l o g y tends
u e r f ul tech
e p o w
and mor t e m o re h eat.
to genera

M odern portable devices
have seen further heat load
increases combined with reducing
to reduce a component of mass (m)
and specific heat capacity (c) from a
normal operating temperature 2 to
The advantages of positioning fans
on the inlet are that the direct air-
flow enables good hot spot cooling
space available for heat dissipation. cooled working temperature 1, Δ . and the turbulent airflow discharged
This requires optimisation of the As this can be quite complicated, the from the fan enables very good
thermal management system, amount of heat to be removed may thermal transfer. Also the intake of
usually by the use of fans of the simply be measured experimentally cool ambient air places less thermal
appropriate size and type and or estimated using manufacturers stress on the fan resulting in longer
merits proper consideration. data for the equipment or service life. However, positioning
components involved. the fan at the exhaust provides more
Define the Application laminar flow over the device cross
The first step is to define the The required air flow (2) can then section and consequently uniform
application and system operating be calculated by: heat dissipation. However, as the
requirements in detail particularly : fan operates in hot air, the specified
operating temperature of the fan
• Inlet or exhaust and air path needs to be considered.
• Controlled or fixed speed
• Temperature of application Alternatively if the power is known : Noise is a factor often discounted
and heat load in the process and this can lead to
• Space constraints problems if cabinets or controls are
installed in or near work areas even
• Power supply available,
a.c. or d.c. at sea level. if there is no specified maximum.
Noise sources can be either at the
• Noise restrictions
Location of the fan equipment inlet, exhaust or within the device.
• Lifetime / reliability requirements If the equipment is to be located
• Ambient conditions – humidity, outside, in say a street cabinet, A final consideration should
outdoors, dust etc. what are the ambient conditions of be the number of fans required
temperature and moisture? The space and if redundancy is necessary
The amount of heat to be removed available for installation, and also for operation critical or fragile
and the number and location of the maintenance and repair, needs to components. This consideration
components generating heat is the be considered as do any limitations could be linked to controller
beginning. To determine the amount concerning weight, electrical requirements and the most eminent
of air-flow required the main heat capability, noise and vibration. fan suppliers would be able to
sources must be identified and the address all of these issues with their
max and min operating or junction The evaluation of the location engineering and design teams.
temperature assessed. As always also includes whether the fan will
the amount of heat to be removed be ducted on the inlet, the outlet,
(1) is defined by: or both. Furthermore, if the fan
will need to be controlled to meet
changing system requirements
the type of controller will
For each major source where Q is need consideration.
the amount of heat to be removed
1/3
Technologies
Fan Characteristics – Types of Fan

The first choice is usually either axial fan or centrifugal fan or a blower. Axial fans are good for moving
high volumes of air at low counter pressure. If the pressure drop in the device increases, the airflow rapidly
decreases. These fans are, however, generally quieter. Review the different types of fans below:
Axial Fans Diagonal Fans Tangential Cross Flow Fans
High air flow – relatively High flow rate – relatively High flow rate
low pressure build-up high pressure build-up at low pressure
Axial fans have propeller shaped This fan is very similar to axial Characterised by cylindrical
impellers creating an air flow fans, but with the air being impellers with blades orientated
which is largely parallel to the drawn in axially and expelled parallel to the axis of rotation,
axis. Axial fans with free air diagonally. Therefore this fan the rotating blades are
delivery at zero static pressure is a hybrid solution. Recently intersected twice in the radial
have the lowest power input these types of fans have been direction by air currents. These
that rises with increasing back increasingly used for electronics cross-flow blowers are used
pressure. Axial fans for cooling cooling. Due to the conical shape principally for blowing air over
electronic equipment are mostly of the wheel and housing, the air large areas in equipment with
equipped with external housing pressure is higher. low system resistance.
and an electric motor integrated
in the hub thus saving space and,
due to flange located mounting
holes, ease of fitting.

Centrifugal/Radial Fans
High pressure build-up

at limited flow rate
Centrifugal fans fall into two categories; forward and backward curved.
The air intake is also parallel to the axis of rotation, but the exhaust is
radial and usually focussed in a particular direction. Forward curved
fans must have a scroll shaped fan housing to work properly.
Centrifugal fans are typically

used in telecommunications
applications and high end
servers because these systems
operate under high system
resistance. These fans have more
concentrated airflow in which the With backward-curved blades, Forward-curved blades enable
equipment pulls air in from the pressure build-up already occurs a more powerful deflection of
sides and forces it out at essentially within the impeller, the air currents and thus greater
a concentrated 90˚ angle. eliminating the need for a scroll. energy conversion. However, a
The airflow in centrifugal greater proportion of the energy
fans depends on the outer of velocity must be converted to
circumference of the impeller; pressure behind the impeller.
a higher pressure can be A scroll, with very specific design
achieved due to the greater geometry is usually employed
circumferential speeds. to do this.
View the full range click here
2/3
Technologies
Fan performance curves

Performance Curves
Pressure
Forward Curve Fan performance curves indicate the airflow quantity,

fan speed, static pressure and power required. The
necessary fan output is calculated from the required air
flow ( equation 2 above ) and pressure differential to be
overcome by the fan. One point can be found on these
Backwards Curve
performance curves at which the efficiency of the fan is at
a maximum. This is also usually the point at which the fan
produces the lowest noise.
Pressure drops can be caused by restrictions to the airflow

Axial in the equipment due to the components and such as
Tangential
guards, filters and reduced cross-sections and the fan
Volume must compensate for these. This pressure drop can be
characterised by so called system curves and they can be
measured in air performance test rigs. The intersection of
the system curve and the fan curve defines the optimum
duty point in terms of pressure increase and flow rate as
Intersection of Fan & Enclosure Curves shown in the graph below.
Fan Characteristic Curve Because of their design, compact fans have relatively small
and low performance drive motors and consequently the
speed and electric power consumption vary greatly at
different loads. For axial fans the highest speed usually
Device
Characteristic coincides with the maximum air flow, which in turn is also
Static Pressure
Curve the point of the lowest power consumption. With a greater

pressure increase, the power requirement increases and
System
Operating the motor speed decreases until the power available from
Point the motor matches the power demand from the impeller.
Conclusion
Choosing the correct fan for cooling electrical and
electronic equipment is an important and sometimes
overlooked consideration which can affect the performance
Airflow
and lifetime of the components or even the chassis or
frame. In turn, the final matter in the selection process
should be the reliability or quality of the fan. Future
exchange may be difficult or costly or even involve a
Modern portable devices reputation damaging and expensive product recall.
Reputable fan makers will be able to provide lifetime or
have seen further heat load MTBF data and assist with the design-in if required.
increases combined with
reducing space available
for heat dissipation. Share your views...

Technologies
Introducing the
Motorman Hybrid
Connector
TE Connectivity’s solution for
decentralised automation
The Motorman hybrid connector from TE

Connectivity combines communication,
signal and power which can lead to a more
efficient, energy-saving industrial product
line. The innovative design and compact size
reduces housing size by up to 50% giving you
significant space savings in comparison with
traditional rectangular industrial connectors.
The Motorman hybrid connector can also
enable you to keep costs to a minimum
by reducing the amount of overall cabling
needed by up to 50% as well as shortening
cable length by up to 70%.
Buy Now

Technologies
TRACOPOWER TEN 50 series,
NEW Products
50W DC/DC converters
The new TEN 50 series is a range of
isolated high-performance DC/DC 50W
converter modules. They offer very high-
efficiency of up to 92% and the highly
reliable components come with a footprint
of only 1.0” x 2.0”. They do not need
a minimum load and provide a high-
efficiency also at low load conditions.
Remote On/Off and protection against
overload and short circuit are standard
features of these converters.
Tektronix TBS1000 series oscilloscopes

The new TBS1000 Digital Storage Oscilloscope series provides you
with affordable performance in a compact design. With up to 150 MHz
bandwidth and 1 GS/s maximum sample rate, no other digital storage
oscilloscope offers as much bandwidth and sample rate for the price.
Buy Now
Buy Now
Molex micro-SIM card sockets

Available with or without a detect switch,
Molex’s micro-SIM card sockets offer
maximum PCB and vertical space-savings
with added anti-short and polarised
card-insertion features for ultra-slim
handheld devices.
FCI D-Subminiature connectors

FCI’s D-Subminiature connectors are part of an industry standard
for applications requiring robust and reliable connectors.
Buy Now Buy Now

MEC Multimec® 5 series
Multimec® 5 series high performance
switches with tactile feedback and a wide
range of caps providing many different
solutions for front panel design.
Harting har-flex®
HARTING’s new har-flex® range of 1,27mm pitch
board-to-board and cable-to-board connectors are
available with SMT terminations to the PCB.
Buy Now
TE Connectivity
Buy Now RJ point five connectors
The RJ point five connector system is the
next generation Ethernet link, offering
a higher density cabling solution for
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
RECOM RACV30 AC/DC power supplies who desire a lower cost per port while
The new RECOM RACV30 series of constant voltage LED drivers is suitable maintaining the convenience of a single
for use worldwide, thanks to their voltage range of 90 to 264VAC. The connector per channel.
output voltages are regulated to compensate for varying loads and supply
charges of max 2%. The RACV30 LED drivers have active PFC and are able
to supply LED chains in parallel with their integrated constant current
source. They are smaller than comparable products, making them perfect
for use where space is limited.
Buy Now
Have a look...
at more NEW electronics
Buy Now products online
1/1
Technologies
You thought it’s not possible

to operate a touch screen with
gloves on. We say, try two!
Capacitive-Sensing IC from ON Semiconductor

Detects Touch through Gloves and Thick Front Panels
High input-capacitance resolution allows the LC717A00AR from

ON Semiconductor to detect capacitance changes in the order of
femto Farads. With the high sensitivity of the detection system, the
device can be used in applications such as domestic or commercial
appliances where users may be wearing gloves (works when there
are two layers of gloves too!), or where an air gap or thick front-
panel material could impair operation of ordinary capacitive touch-
detection circuitry. Noise-compensation circuitry is also built in.
Buy Now

Software & Tools
DesignSpark DesignShare
DesignSpark PCB v5
WEBENCH to DesignSpark PCB
USB Design – done right!

Complete Design Solution for USB from Würth Elektronik
USB Controller
ESD protection: WE-TVS Super Speed Diode USB Dust Covers

USB Connector
V-BUS filter: WE-CBF SMD Ferrite Data line filter: WE-CNSW
EMC and ESD Design Solution for Data Line Filter: WE-CNSW HF USB Socket WR-COM
USB 2.0 and 3.0 from Würth Elektronik
USB interfaces are widely spread in our daily environment at home Get today your complete Würth Elektronik package including TVS
as well as in the industrial world and the components used in an USB Diodes, Common Mode Line Filters, Chip Bead Ferrites, Connectors,
circuit often exposed to electro static discharges (ESD). cables and dust covers and stop USB interface noise – no ‘try and
Additional protection is necessary. error’ anymore!
www.rs-components.com/wurth-elektronik

Software & Tools
DesignShare
Dedicated to DesignSpark
Community Collaboration
By David Tarrant, Head of Community Development, RS Components
The DesignSpark platform sees significant

extension for community collaboration with
the introduction of ‘DesignShare’.
Launched last month, and developed in conjunction with Elektor, the

purpose of the new open-source DesignSpark ‘DesignShare’ area is
to host project sharing, collaboration and concept discussions in a
design community environment. The new section now available via
www.designspark.com will host two main areas: ‘Ideas’ and ‘Projects’.

...the new ‘DesignShare’
area is a major extension
to the DesignSpark website
that will make it easier for
engineers, students and
hobbyists in the community
to collaborate on, share
and download projects
and ideas...
1/3
Software & Tools
Ideas Incubator
The ‘Incubator’ or ‘Ideas’
section within ‘DesignShare’ is
an idea-generation area which
is intended for community
members to post project ideas,
generate discussion and invite
comment from the community.
The ideas could be any – but
certainly not exclusively – of
the following: a project concept
where the community members
would like to invite discussion on
the validity of an idea; a facility
for community partners to gain
feedback on new product ideas;
or possibly a proposal idea that
could be developed further by
Elektor magazine, one of the
main drivers behind the
‘DesignShare’ site.
Elektor will take the most popular

or highly rated ideas from the
Ideas section and develop them
further via its network of 300
engineers. At each of the five
stages of the development of
a proposal – ‘Brief’, ‘Proposal’,
‘Design’, ‘Prototype’, and
‘Evaluation/Test’ – status updates
will be posted sharing the design
challenges along the way.

Projects
The ‘Projects’ area is where users project, which is also featured

will find all the available projects in this issue of DesignSpark
tagged with relevant keywords, Magazine, and is perhaps
allowing for easy navigation. a classic example of a
The individual project pages collaborative project; and
include details of how the project potentially one that may see
developed at each stage, along the involvement of university
with a collection of assets that engineering departments. It
will enable users to build the could also be a project where
project themselves. At each of the the hardware design has largely
five stages of the development been developed, but now requires
of a project – ‘Brief’, ‘Proposal’, significant software expertise to
‘Design’, ‘Prototype’, and complete the project.
‘Evaluation/Test’ – status updates
will be posted sharing the design However, at an alternative level,
challenges along the way. Project it could be a professional project
assets can include PCB schematics where the community member
and layout files for DesignSpark is looking to outsource part of
PCB for example, along with a project, or even all of it, to a
mechanical blueprints, software suitable consultant. In this second
code and/or machine code, example, ideas and on-going
mechanical drawings and CAD projects that are spawned from
files. Additionally, there is also these ideas can also be
a link to the main RS site made ‘private’ for selected
where users can purchase the contributors only.
kit of parts. The most interesting
and exciting projects will also All publicly viewable projects will
be featured in future issues of be available as open source and
DesignSpark Magazine. downloadable free-of-charge. The
intention is that users will be able
Projects can also be created to modify, add to, or take projects
with the explicit aim of gaining in different directions – with the
ideas and collaboration from the clear encouragement that users
community, and this element is will post completed projects on the
most likely to take one of two site. In addition, there also exists
forms. It could be hobby or fun the potential that RS will actually
project for which the community build and sell the most popular or
member requires collaboration highly rated projects as completed
from the wider community. An boards or products.
example of this is the ‘Earth Rover’
2/3
Software & Tools
Partners and Futures

A number of key semiconductor
partners will be uploading reference
designs to the site to allow
engineers to save time by using pre-
tested hardware snippets in their In summary, in conjunction with
own projects. In addition, the site support from Elektor and other
will be host to all the design files significant partners, the new
for the new PiGo baseboard (also ‘DesignShare’ area is a major
covered in this issue of DesignSpark extension to the DesignSpark
magazine). In the future, the website that will make it easier for
‘DesignShare’ area is expected engineers, students and hobbyists
to host design competitions, most in the community to collaborate on,
likely in conjunction with partners share and download projects and
and probably along similar lines ideas, along with the availability
to last year’s chipKIT™ Challenge of fully open-source assets and Have a look...
which RS organised with Elektor materials. We hope you can make
at DesignShare
and Microchip. the most of ‘DesignShare’…

With every new project,
our hope is the same: that
our technology will help
our customers realize their
own visions. By sharing our
expertise with innovators
around the world, we not only
bridge the gap between today
and tomorrow — we pave the
way for products that enhance
the way we live.
Get inspired. molex.com
BRILLIANT SOLUTIONS
MAKE A BRIGHTER WORLD
www.rs-components.com/molex
Join the conversation at:

connector.com
Software & Tools
The
Evolution
Continues
Delivering Time Saving & Error Reduction
Capabilities with DESIGNSPARK PCB v5
By Mike Brojak, Electronics Applications Manager, RS Components
DesignSpark was launched almost three years ago

offering free online resources and design support
to professional designers, hobbyists and students.
Developed by RS, in conjunction with Number One Systems, the

powerhouse of DesignSpark has been DesignSpark PCB – the completely
free and award-winning unrestricted professional-grade schematic-capture
and PCB-design environment.
The advanced project design and production capabilities of DesignSpark

PCB has seen it gain extraordinarily high adoption since its launch in July
2010 with more than 155,000 downloads recorded globally: it has become
the open-source hardware tool of choice for sharing and collaborating on
designs and projects. However, not content to rest on its laurels, over the
past three years RS has continued its strong commitment to maintaining
and improving what is rapidly becoming one of the most important
engineering resources to engineers in more than 150 countries across
the globe. Now in its fourth major revision, Version 5.0 is available for
download at www.designspark.com/pcb.

DESIGNSPARK PCB
1/2
Software & Tools
Latest Release of the tool’s evolution and these

The latest version of the software two features have both been popular
builds upon Version 4.0, which requests from the DesignSpark user
was launched in October 2012 and community.
added functionality including an
enhanced library manager and Online Design
tools to obtain quotes for the Bill- Rule Checking (DRC)
of-Materials (BOM) and production Design Rule Checking determines
quotes from PCB manufacturing whether the physical layout of an
DesignSpark PCB and assembly subcontractors. integrated circuit satisfies a series
Version 5.0 strongly In parallel with the release of of recommended parameters called
Version 4.0, RS also announced the design rules. DRC is an important
reaffirms the ModelSource component library, the step during the physical verification
commitment of RS industry’s largest free component of a design, which is normally
library, which supports all major carried out in the post-design phase.
in delivering the
schematic capture and PCB design Online DRC is an advancement of
best possible open- tools. ModelSource contains this process that enables engineers
source experience to more than 80,000 component to detect errors in real-time during
schematics and PCB footprints the design stage, highlighting any
electronic engineers. of semiconductors, passives and issues before finalising the design
electromechanical components from and completing the layout.
leading manufacturers. Additionally,
ModelSource also includes 3D The inclusion of online DRC
CAD models of more than 30,000 within DesignSpark PCB Version
parts from more than 40 suppliers 5.0 is a significant addition to the
and is available in CAD formats for software’s functionality, introducing
widely used software tools in 3D considerable time saving benefits,
mechanical design. as any errors can be rectified
immediately with minimum knock-
The latest evolution of DesignSpark on effect to the rest of the design,
PCB, called Version 5.0, naturally ensuring maximum yield and
enough, integrates two new features reliability.
that will further reduce design
times and minimise errors during Buses
the design process, namely: online The increasing adoption of digital
design rule checking and buses. design has resulted in the use of
User feedback is an important part on-chip buses, or bundles of related
The DesignSpark July 2010 March 2011

PCB Timeline: First release of
DesignSpark PCB.
Addition of 3D visualisation
of PCB layouts and increased
library management
functionality.

DESIGNSPARK PCB
wires, to transfer data, enabling

engineers to combine multiple data DesignSpark PCB Tutorials
signals into a bus in multiples of 8
(e.g. 8, 16, 32). Instead of drawing
and/or labelling the individual Download, Installation
wires in a schematic, a single ‘bus & Activation
wire’ can be used to represent
related wires, thus simplifying the
final schematic. This also enables
simulation and debugging to be
carried out with minimum errors.
Buses have been added directly
into DesignSpark PCB Version 5.0,
allowing the engineer to refine the
schematic during the design phase.
User interface
Commitment
DesignSpark PCB Version 5.0
strongly reaffirms the commitment
of RS in delivering the best possible
open-source experience to electronic
engineers. This latest release of
the software offering increased
functionality is yet another landmark
moment in the evolution of the
award-winning highly functional
design tool. Library structure
& Library Manager
DOWNLOAD DESIGNSPARK
PCB FOR FREE Now
Have a look... More tutorials are available here

at DesignSpark PCB
November 2011 October 2012 February 2013

Addition of simulation Enhanced library manager with Integration of online Design
interface, design calculators access to 80,000 part numbers in Rule Check and buses.
and component-grouping ModelSource component library,
functionality. and addition of Bill-Of-Materials
quote and PCB manufacturing
quote functionality.
2/2
Software & Tools
Delivering Advanced Productivity in

Power Supply Design
Mark Cundle, Head of Technical Marketing at RS Components, explains
how the combination of the industry’s best power supply design software
– WEBENCH – and the most powerful free PCB design tool – DesignSpark
PCB – can lead to significant design productivity gains.

Design engineers face growing pressure to bring products
to market that offer increasing amounts of functionality and
performance in ever-shorter design timeframes. However, one of
the major challenges facing the industry today is the decreasing
availability of specialist skills within design teams. Engineering
departments have been shrinking over the past 10 to 15 years,
which has meant a loss of these specialists, especially power
supply designers along with others with expertise in RF and
analogue. Engineers today, and particularly those fresh out of
university, are increasingly expected to have a broad skillset and
knowledge base across all electronic engineering disciplines.
However, the good news is that free software design tools are
opening up the possibilities to address this challenge directly.
1/3
Software & Tools
Option
1 Online design and circuit-simulation suite

(powered by WEBENCH)
It is clear that design engineers are

becoming increasingly reliant on
online sources of design support,
and fortunately there is a major
suite of online free tools available
was created as a way to quickly
and easily produce highly efficient
PSUs and it quickly developed into
the industry’s most powerful power-
supply design software and has
that significantly addresses this met with industry acclaim, not to
lack of specialist know-how to mention winning many awards. In
help engineers get their designs
fact, TI has continued to highlight
up and running in record time: the
WEBENCH as one of the key
free online WEBENCH suite from
reasons why it acquired National
Texas Instruments (TI) is probably
Semiconductor, and had TI products
the world’s leading power and
analogue circuit simulation set of integrated into the WEBENCH
tools. They use powerful software component library in
algorithms and visual interfaces that late 2011, within less than six
can deliver complete power, lighting months of the acquisition.
or sensing applications in seconds,
enabling engineers to make quick The WEBENCH suite has grown
decisions using advanced analysis over the years to include a series of
and simulation capabilities on both new architect and designer tools,
a system and Bill-of-Materials including Power Designer, Power
(BOM) cost level before committing Architect (for multiple-power-supply
to a design. designs), LED Architect, Sensor
AFE Designer and Sensor Designer,
It was National Semiconductor that among many others. Taking
originally developed the WEBENCH WEBENCH Power Designer as an
suite, a decade or so ago, and example, it enables the creation of
obviously prior to the company’s customised power supplies or DC-
acquisition by TI in 2011. National DC converters circuits, allowing the
Semiconductor saw this increasing solving of switching-power-supply
lack of specialisation as a major design problems before moving to
block to enabling engineers to get the prototype stage. For example,
the best out of its products, as its the tool helps engineers find the
technology demanded a high level best switching regulator or
of power-supply design experience MOSFET controller for the
and expertise. Hence WEBENCH power-supply circuit.

Option
2
Client/consultant collaboration
(powered by DesignSpark PCB)
An alternative option for efficient power- Bill-of-Materials (BOM) and production

supply design, given the case of a quotes from PCB manufacturing
design team with no power specialist and assembly subcontractors, and
for example, is outsourcing to a an enhanced library manager. The
design consultant. The launch of the software’s library manager features an
DesignSpark PCB by RS in July 2010 has easy-to-use attribute and part number
made it significantly easier to collaborate driven interface to the ModelSource
with external consultants by breaking component library, which contains more
down the financial barriers. DesignSpark than 80,000 component schematics and
PCB has quickly established itself as the footprints of semiconductors, passives
defacto standard software for sharing and electromechanical components from
circuit design files, as there is no leading manufacturers.
financial or time penalty by being able
to work on the same free PCB-layout- Clearly, these two approaches can
software platform. be combined and there is a fast and
easy-to-use solution that brings out
The latest version of DesignSpark PCB the best of both…
includes tools to obtain quotes for the
2/3
Software & Tools
Option
3 WEBENCH and DesignSpark PCB:

one plus one, equals more…
Engineers can now create a
design in WEBENCH and output
it to DesignSpark PCB. WEBENCH
Schematic Export is an online tool
the spec to generate a basic design
within the tool. Several iterations
later and engineers can analyse the
hot spots or adjust the width of the
that can export analogue-design files tracks, move components, change
from the WEBENCH suite, including thermal parameters and analyse
Power Designer, to DesignSpark the electrical response. Importantly,
PCB among other industry-leading within the WEBENCH Visualizer
computer-aided design (CAD) environment, the tool’s Optimizer
development platforms. This can Dial uses built-in software algorithms
save significant time and money as to allow engineers to differentiate
their consultant now only needs to and optimise the design based on
tinker, modify and optimise a design demands of footprint, efficiency
rather than having them potentially or system cost, and automatically
begin the design from scratch. In generate a design and schematic
addition, Schematic Export means within seconds. Schematic Export
that engineers do not have to is supported by schematic and
manually enter a design created in footprint layout symbols more than
WEBENCH into a CAD platform. 40,000 TI components, in addition to
And more than that, there is no the 40,000 passive component library
longer any concern over errors in WEBENCH tools.
made in the process.
In summary, the combination of
Virtually all designs being done the two free tools, WEBENCH and
today demand low power operation DesignSpark PCB, with fast and error-
and highly efficient power supply free conversion from one format to
design. WEBENCH makes it very another via Schematic Export, can
easy for engineers, getting them enable significant increases in design
at least 90 per cent of the way and development productivity in
there, before sending it to their shrinking design teams and
consultant power expert. Input and ease collaboration between
output voltages can be entered and client and consultant.
components can be selected that fit

Overview
Below is an overview of the capabilities of WEBENCH Power Designer and demonstrates

how to use Schematic Export to import schematic design files and the associated
components used in the design into the DesignSpark PCB layout tool.
The video also demonstrates some of the new and advanced abilities of DesignSpark PCB
such as how to generate a BOM quote and use the PCB-quote service for prototype and
small-batch manufacturing partners.
DOWNLOAD DESIGNSPARK PCB View WEBENCH Power Designer
Have a look...
at DesignSpark PCB
3/3
Available in English, German & Japanese.
Download Download
iPad & iPhone Android Tablet Only

Projects
Mini Stroboscope by Elektor
Earth Rover Project
Universal Measurement Amplifier/Attenuator by Elektor
The Open Source Hardware User Group
Rechargeable Battery Checker by Elektor
Small Ultrahigh Eﬃciency DC-to-DC

Regulators from Analog Devices
• Input voltage: 4.5 V to 20 V

• Integrated MOSFET:44 mΩ/11.6 mΩ
• Reference voltage:0.6 V ± 1%
• Continuous output current: 4 A
• Programmable switching frequency:200 kHz to 1.4 MHz
• Synchronizes to external clock: 200 kHz to 1.4 MHz
• 180° out of phase clock synchronisation
• Internal soft start with external adjustable option
• Startup into a precharged output
• Supported by ADIsimPower design tool
www.rs-components.com

PROJECTS
Mini
Stroboscope
By Wilfried Wätzig
Physics teachers often rely on test equipment to

make certain phenomena observable. Stroboscopes
are useful for getting a closer look at vibrating
strings and rotating motor parts.
Conventional stroboscopes however, fragile and require the application of
will often not flash at a rate fast a high DC voltage for the flash. The
enough to ‘stop’ the motion for words ‘lethal voltage’, ‘fragile’ and
observation. The author is of the ‘glass’ used in the same sentence as
belief that a hands-on physical ‘classroom environment’ are likely to
demonstration is worth a hundred arouse the interest of health and safety
hours of ‘chalk and talk’ officials. An alternative (not just an
whiteboard explanations. iPhone strobe app) is to use a power
LED in a low-voltage stroboscope
Strings vibrating at a frequency design. It would not produce such an
high enough to be audible will be intense flash as a xenon version but
oscillating at a few hundred hertz. still be bright enough in a partially
This flash rate is difficult for achieve shaded room. A battery powered LED
with a xenon flash tube. Flash tubes stroboscope would make a robust and
also have a reputation for being useful teaching tool.

This was reason enough for the author to reduces the source impedance of the power
set about designing and building this mini supply so that high current pulses can be
stroboscope using an LED light source. delivered to the LED even when the circuit is
The design is built around the NE556; powered by four AA size dry batteries.
the dual-version of the biggest
selling chip ever designed. One The author used an LED ‘OSLON SSL
half of this chip (IC1B) takes LCWCQ7P’ type LED from OSRAM.
care of the flash frequency According to its data sheet [1] this small
generation and is therefore LED can be pulsed with a current of 2 A for
configured as a standard 50 ms. Running with 1 A pulses of 50 µs
astable multivibrator. duration neither the LED or T3 will require
Variable pot P1 allows any additional cooling. This particular
the flash rate to LED has an electrically isolated ‘thermal
be adjusted pad’ between the two power connections
from around which can be used as a heat sink contact
120 to 650 Hz. point. With a heat sink in place the LED
The design will be able to pass a higher current. IC1.A
includes a switchable outputs a constant pulse width so the LED
loudspeaker in the emitter dissipates more power if the value of C5 is
path of T2 to make the flash reduced to increase the maximum strobe
frequency audible. Transistor T2 is flash frequency. It is of course possible to
only necessary if you, like the author, use experiment with more powerful LEDs and
the CMOS version of the NE556. to increase the LED current by reducing the
size of the three parallel shunt resistors.
The second half of the dual timer chip is T3 still has a little more in hand even when
configured as a monostable multivibrator running with a pulse current of 3 A in this
to provide a pulse shaping function. The application. To achieve maximum brightness
differentiating RC network formed by C4 it is better to avoid warm white LED
and R1 produces a 10 µs pulse on the variants. Higher colour temperatures are
positive and negative edges of the output perceived as being brighter.
signal from IC1B. The negative going pulse
is transferred to the trigger input of IC1.A Using the suggested components and a
via diode D1. R4 and C6 are chosen so that CMOS version of the NE556 the LED current
IC1.A gives a 50 µs positive output pulse in has an average value of around 20 mA
response to the trigger pulses. when running at 650 Hz. With the speaker
switched on this rises to around 40 mA.
The pulses are connected to the gate of Using the standard non-CMOS version of
MOSFET T3 via resistor R5. LEDs are driven the NE556 increases the current drain by
by a constant current source, in this circuit about 5 mA.
the voltage drop across the shunt resistors
R7, R8 and R9 is added to the forward The author has supplied a PCB layout for
conduction voltage VF of D2 to control this design. It uses standard non-SMD
transistor T1. When the voltage drop over components so assembly is very simple.
the shunt resistors reaches 300 to 350, mV The PCB can be ordered from the project
T1 begins to conduct the drive voltage of T3 web site [2] where the layout files are also
to ground thereby limiting current through available for download.
the LED to around 1 A. C1 effectively
1/2
Projects
Components List
+6V
R3 T2 R1 R2 R4 R6
D3
1k 4k7 22k 2k2 4k7 S1

10
BC639 R10
4
R
R
13 1 T3
DIS DIS
R11
C7 14 IC1B C4 220R D1 IC1A R5 + C1
12 9 2 5
IC1 THR OUT THR OUT BT1
1k 1000u
100n 7 10k
8
2n2 1N4148 6 IRLU024
T1 10V
P1 TR
LS1
TR
D2 NPbF
CV
CV
R7 R8 R9
3
11
47k C5 C2 C6 C3 BAT42
S2 BC546
100n 100n 22n 100n 1R 1R 1R 4x 1V5
120055 - 11
IC1 = NE556
Resistors Semiconductors
• R1,R6 = 4.7kΩ • D1 = 1N4148
• R2 = 22kΩ • D2 = BAT42
• R3,R5 = 1kΩ • D3 = Power-LED, OSRAM type LCW CQ7P.PC-KTLP-5J7K
• R4 = 2.2kΩ • T1 = BC546
• R7.R8.R9 = 1Ω • T2 = BC639
• R10 = 220Ω • T3 = IRLU024NPbF (TO-251AA)
• R11 = 10kΩ • IC1 = TS556 or TLC556 (DIP16)
• P1 = 47kΩ, potentiometer, linear Miscellaneous
Capacitors • S1 = on/off switch, 1 A
• C1 = 1000µF 10V, radial, pitch 5mm, diam. max. 13mm, • S2 = on/off switch
1 A ripple current
• LS1 = loudspeaker, 8Ω 200mW
• C2,C3,C5,C7 = 100nF, MKT, pitch 5 or 7.5mm
• BT1 = 4 pcs AA alkaline battery with holder
• C4 = 2.2nF, MKT, pitch 5 or 7.5mm
• 3 pcs 2-way PCB screw terminal blocks, pitch 5mm, for
• C6 = 22nnF, MKT, pitch 5 or 7.5mm BT1, S1 and D3
• 3 pcs 2-way pinheader, pitch 0.1”, for LS1, S2 and P1

Web Links
• PCB # 120055-1 (see text))
[1] http://goo.gl/SBDqs
[2] http://goo.gl/mwmr9
Share your views...

...on www.designspark.com Download The COMPONENTS list

THAT’S WHy LEADInG InDUSTrIAL CoMPAnIES
CoUnT on TE ConnECTIVITy.
Find out more at EveryConnectionCounts.com
1773465-3
Projects

Is there life on
Earth?
The project to design, develop
and deploy an ‘Earth Rover’.
Perhaps the most ambitious project thus far to grace the pages of
DesignSpark.com: the designing and building of a mobile robotic
science lab, similar to the Curiosity Mars rover, but for eventual
deployment somewhere on earth. Paul Clarke needs your help.
1/3
PROJECTS
Paul Clarke, an engineer at ebm- Conception

papst, a leading manufacturer Clarke came up with the idea
of high-efficiency fan and motor – described in a blog on the
products, has initiated an ambitious DesignSpark site – based upon
and challenging engineering project NASA’s plans to build a clone of
that requires collaborative help from the Curiosity rover, which of course
all around the world. The project is currently on its Mars Science
goal is to design and build a mobile Laboratory mission to explore and
robot or ‘Earth Rover’ and deploy it carry out experiments on the Red
somewhere in the world for a year Planet. The NASA idea is to keep
– and all for zero cost. In addition costs extremely low and make the
to energising the professional Curiosity clone rover from various
engineering community in this leftover parts such as from the
fascinating project, one of the key original prototype. This had Clarke
aims is to involve the academic thinking about all his leftover
world and get schools, colleges and electronics bits, bobs and boards:
universities to become involved why not emulate NASA and use
in the design of the rover or to them to design and build a rover
carry out experiments that can aid robot? And then deploy it for at
mission objectives. least one year in a remote setting on
Earth. It would probably not be the
size of a full-size Curiosity rover –
Curiosity is 10ft long (not including
its arm), 9ft wide and 7ft tall and
weighs 900kg – but be closer
to earlier Mars rovers, perhaps
measuring 3ft square and weighing
somewhere in the range of
20 to 50kg.
Clarke expects this to be a three-

year project: the first year – 2013
– will be the overall system
design, coming up with ideas for
experiments, putting designs ‘out to
tender’ and also probable selection

of the deployment site; the second Where on Earth? System Design and Modules
year – 2014 – will be pinning down Of course, a major question is Clarke, as chief engineer and
the specific overall and module where might the rover be deployed? project leader, has put together
designs, followed by a test and It is absolutely crucial to the end an overall project committee of
evaluation period toward the end design to know where and what the specialists, including several highly
of the year; and the third year, environment is like. The rover needs experienced design engineers along
on-site deployment of the Earth to run for 365 days, or more, so with experts in communications,
Rover, most probably in February clearly the battery has to last. Part open source project development
2015, after the harshest part of the of the overall project will include and a mechanical engineer with
winter (this assumes deployment smaller projects, such as developing knowledge of materials science
will be somewhere in the northern probes to be left in various possible and computational fluid dynamics;
hemisphere and probably in Europe deployment sites to discover in addition to professionals in the
or possibly North America). environment factors, including areas of promotional activities and
terrain, average temperatures over also STEM (Science, Technology,
Once placed in a remote location, the year and hours of daylight. These Engineering and Mathematics)
the plan is for the robot to be left early background experiments will education advisors. This group
completely untouched, at least be key to the eventual design. will evaluate and come up with
physically. This means it has to an overall system design and
ensure its battery is charged while Another key issue for the put out ‘designs for tender’, such
also carrying out mission objectives deployment site is security. Whereas as requesting a camera module
and sending back data via a the threat of theft probably appears design based on size, power and
relay unit. This unit will be placed quite low on NASA’s list of likely weight parameters and limitations,
relatively close to the rover and will contingencies as far as Curiosity in addition to communications
carry out the RF communications is concerned, the likelihood of protocol requirements.
to post information on the Internet. theft or intentional damage to an
In addition, during deployment of Earth Rover is significantly higher. Possible modules or components
the rover, the idea is that it will also Consequently, it will be crucial to that could be implemented on the
be an interactive mission where have some level of monitoring of Earth Rover could include: night-
people can remotely control, drive the site. However, a site is required vision camera; light detector (also
and experiment with the vehicle. that offers challenges. A grass for infra-red and ultra-violet); sound
Access to the rover will initially field could become very dull, very recorder; metal detector; compass,
be for contributing engineers with quickly. It is therefore possible that gyroscope and accelerometer; GPS;
access following for schools and the chosen environment may have radio; sensors for temperature,
universities. A further possibility is, to be developed, adding obstacles relative humidity, wind speed and
at the end of the project, the for instance or perhaps giving radiation levels; and of course, the
rover will be loaned out to schools the rover robot some tough proverbial robot arm. Clarke also
and universities. mission objectives. expects the Raspberry Pi platform
2/3
PROJECTS
to be used in the project as the Can You Help?

‘satellite interface’ or relay unit, The project is now looking
which will include a camera to take for companies, engineers and
photos periodically of the site and the world of academia to help
handle the RF data uplink. with sponsorship or to supply
hardware or mechanical design
Power Consumption and More… know-how or software expertise,
One of the major design challenges or to actually help build
will be energy generation and the rover.
power consumption. Clarke believes
that solar power will be the most So, if you can help the Earth
likely energy source for the rover; Rover project to meet its
wind power is another possibility, significant challenges not only
but perhaps a more remote one. in the design, but also in its one-
The rover will be running on year mission to explore strange
extremely tight energy-consumption new worlds and seek out new
limitations of something like 100 or life… then please contact Paul
200 milliamps over a 24-hour period. Clarke via his DesignSpark
The system will have objectives to blog : http://goo.gl/3oqip or
ensure it stays charged, meaning via the dedicated project website
that modules and subsystems will at http://earthrover.monpjc.com.
have to be powered down at certain
times. In addition, the plan is to Alternatively you can find
have the Earth Rover and its various out more information by
modules and subsystems remotely contacting Paul via :
download software updates, which
could be for example algorithms Monpjc Earth Rover
for improved battery charging or to http://goo.gl/Zb8e4
enable lower power consumption,
among many other application @rover_monpjc
possibilities. http://goo.gl/cdIcs
One absolutely essential element

of the project is that it must be Have a look...
completely open source; all details
at the DesignSpark blog
including mechanical drawings,
schematics, PCB layouts and
software code will be posted online,
so the final Earth Rover design, or
individual modules such as a motor
or a camera design, become real
open resources that can be reused,
or indeed easily rebuilt.

1.27 mm x 1.27 mm grid
har-flex®
People | Power | Partnership

Different stacking
heights
All even numbered

pincounts from 6 to 100
Robust SMT fixing
SMT
termination
www.HARTING.com
har-flex®. Compact, rugged and highly flexible.
HARTING´s har-flex® offers a space-saving, rugged and flexible solution for the most
diverse “board-to-board“ applications. Available in 48 different lengths and 4 heights, the
har-flex® product line will continue to expand by offering compatible insulation displacement
connectors for „cable-to-board“ applications, as well as angled versions.
HARTING: Pushing Performance creates greater flexibility for you.
www.rs-components.com/harting
PROJECTS
Universal Measurement
Amplifier/Attenuator
For laptop or PC
By Michiel ter Burg (Netherlands)
A computer is very
suitable for making (audio)
measurements thanks to the
sound card that is usually
built in. Unfortunately, the
audio input on laptops is
usually too sensitive to measure
somewhat larger AC voltages.
A small amplifier/attenuator
circuit then comes in very handy.
If you build or repair audio equipment yourself, you

don’t always need an oscilloscope. Any
direct current or voltage can be measured with
a multimeter. You can do a lot more if you happen
to have a better model that can also measure (small)
AC voltages.
For more advanced measurements such as the frequency

response or the distortion it is very handy to use the
sound card in a computer combined with some software.
A laptop or notebook can also function without an AC
outlet, which means you’ll avoid earth loops and hum
during measurements. However, a laptop often has just an
oversensitive (microphone) input, so that you need to make a
range of voltage dividers for your measurements.

This measurement amplifier has attenuators to prevent irritatingly bandwidth at a gain of 100x. This is
been designed especially for these large time-constants caused by high- also the type that was used in the
situations. It has an adjustable input impedance probes. This is followed prototype built at Elektor Labs.
attenuation and an input impedance by an amplification stage (built round
of 1 MΩ, so that standard scope IC1.A and IC1.B). Potentiometers P3 The power is supplied by a 9 V
probes with built-in attenuators can and P4 are used to vary the gain of battery that has its voltage split into
be used for even larger AC voltages. this stage between 1x en 100x. Bear a negative and positive component
in mind what the value of the GBP with a Ground in between. LED2
The input signal is first attenuated (Gain Bandwidth Product) is for the functions as a Low-Battery LED (it
and then amplified to get the opamp used. The author first tried has to be a type that lights up at
required transfer function. The input an LM258 and a TS912, which should 2.5 V); the addition of R15 makes it
is DC coupled. The input signal is have a GBP of about 1 MHz (typical). light up when the battery voltage
attenuated by at least a factor of In practice a bandwidth of 15 kHz was is above 7 V, which is high time to
10; with the help of logarithmic measured with the gain set to 30x replace or recharge the battery!
potentiometers P1 and P2 the signal and a 9 V supply voltage. This means
can be attenuated that the GBP was 450 kHz, although The inputs of the opamps are
further. C1 and that can be compensated for by the protected by diodes against very
C2 provide DC measurement software. The best high input voltages or electrostatic
decoupling opamp is a TS922 (GBP of 4 MHz), discharges, since you can never
after the input which managed the complete audio be sure what voltages you’ll find
1/2
PROJECTS
in (switched off) audio circuits, calibrate them after they have been Web Links
especially when valves are used! mounted in the box. The calibration
[1] http://goo.gl/8iUx8
should be carried out in steps of
A printed circuit board has been 10 dB (= a factor of 3.1623) using
designed for this project, which has the measurement software. First Share your views...
room for all components, including mark out the calibration points on
the connectors and potentiometers. a piece of paper placed over the
The layout can be downloaded potentiometer, then scan this into
freely from the usual place [1]. the computer and use a drawing
Standard through-hole components package to create a professionally
have been used throughout, which looking scale.
makes the construction very easy.
The potentiometers are put through During the calibration P3 and P4
the solder side of the board and should be set to a gain of 1x, which
screwed into place, after which is normally only used with very
the solder tags are bent onto small input signals that still
the pads on the board and need some amplification.
subsequently soldered.
Since logarithmic input

potentiometers can deviate by
as much as ±20% it is best to

Components List
V+
P3
D1
R1 100k lin.
K2 C1 1N4148
1M8
3
R2 R13
1
100n R7 IC1.A
1M8 2 10k
P1 R6 R5 1M R14
D2
9V
100k
log. 1M 1k 4k7
1N4148 K1
Resistors
3
V- IC1 = TS922
5 • R1–R4 = 1.8MΩ
4
V+ 2 • R5,R9 = 1kΩ
1
P4
D3 • R6,R7,R8,R10 = 1MΩ
R3 100k lin.
K3 • R11,R13 = 10kΩ
1M8 C2 1N4148
3
R4 R11
1 • R12,R14 = 4.7kΩ
100n R10 IC1.B
1M8 2 10k
• R15 = 3.9kΩ
P2 R8 R9 1M R12
D4
• P1,P2 = 100kΩ potentiometer,
100k
log. 1M 1k 4k7
logarithmic law
1N4148 • P3,P4 = 100kΩ potentiometer,

D5 V+ linear law
V-
R15
1N4148 LED2 Capacitors
• C1,C2 = 100nF MKT, pitch 5mm
3k9
D6 C3 • C3,C4 = 10µF 16V, 6mm diam.,
10u
pitch 2.5mm
D7
BT1
8
Semiconductors
D8 IC1
4 • D1–D9 = BAT48 (DO-35 case)
9V 4x
1N4148 D9 • IC1 = TS922IN (dual opamp,
C4 DIP-8 case)
LED1
10u
• LED1,LED2 = LED, green, 5mm
Miscellaneous
120272 - 11 V-
• K1 = 3.5mm stereo socket (e.g.
Lumberg 1503-09)
• K2,K3 = BNC connector, right
angled pins, PCB mount
(e.g. TE connectivity 1-1337543-0)
• BT1 = 9V battery clip
• PCB # 120272-1 http://goo.gl/8iUx8
Download The
COMPONENTS list
2/2
DESIGNSPARK PCB
The
Evolution
Continues
Designspark PCB v5
Click here for more information
Unique
resources by
PROJECTS
“ Open source
hardware provides
a reference point for
people to base their
own designs on and
which they can modify
and extend as they
see fit and for their
”
own purposes.
Omer Kilic
Embedded Systems Engineer
Erlang Solutions
OSHUG
The Open Source
Hardware User Group
By Andrew Back, Principle, AB Open Ltd
The Open Source Hardware User Group hosts regular

talks in London and an annual two day conference.
Here we take a look at a selection of topics covered
at events, which range from simple circuits and
engineering techniques, to subjects as complex
as system-on-chip design.

PROJECTS
The origins of the group [1] can be known to many as architect of the
“
traced back to a NESTA conference transputer and author of the Occam
Open source is held in December 2009, which parallel programming language.
an important means brought together engineers,
of disseminating designers and experimenters to David gave us an introduction
explore the state of open source to the XMOS Software Defined
information to
hardware, what could be learnt from Silicon technology, which offers
budding engineers; open source software, and strategies a C programmable alternative to
whether that be in for collaboration. The event was a FPGAs that is based around 32-bit
the form of tutorials, resounding success and it provided multi-threaded processors and an
ideas, applications the inspiration for setting up OSHUG. event-driven programming model.
or schematics, to He also explained how XMOS
#1 — An introduction provide hardware designs, along
aid and encourage
to XMOS XCore XS1 with software implementations of
anyone at any level interfaces such as SPI and Ethernet,
to enjoy and develop under open source licences.
their knowledge
of electronics and #5 — High Performance
”
programming. Software-defined Radio
(HPSDR)
Rain Ashford
Researcher
Art & Computational The first OSHUG meeting [2] was
Technology Program held in April 2010 and at this we
Goldsmiths, University were very fortunate to have a
of London. talk from Professor David May,
co-founder and CTO of XMOS
semiconductor, and perhaps best

At the fifth meeting [3] we learned software, as well as promoting a
“
about HPSDR [4], an open source culture of sharing and also inspired
hardware and software project to many who went on to become In a commercial
create a next generation software- accomplished engineers. context open source
defined radio (SDR) for use by offers the ability to
radio amateurs. #17 — Program your own open substantially reduce
source FPGA SoC your cost base. In an
It may not be designed for
professional applications, but with
education context
its FPGA-based approach and the exploratory and
130 MSPS 16-bit A/D converters, collaborative nature
HPSDR is undeniably impressive. of open source means
Project contributor, John Melton, that it is perfectly
took us through the design of the
suited for training the
modular platform and covered in
next generation of
”
brief the VHDL architecture, before
demonstrating SDR software technologists.
connecting live over the Internet to Many open source hardware
remote HPSDR hardware. projects are at the simpler end of the
spectrum and involve, for example, Dr Jeremy Bennett
#7 — The BBC Computer combining a microcontroller with CEO
Literacy Project sensors and outputs. But this is by Embecosm
no means where the story ends
and one of the great things about
open source hardware is the
diverse nature of projects.
At the seventeeth [6] meeting Julius

Baxter of the OpenRISC project took
us through the steps required to
obtain and synthesise a fully open
source system-on-chip design,
Not every OSHUG talk is about open before bringing this up on an FPGA
source per se and at the seventh development board and using it to
meeting [5] we heard from television boot a complete Linux system!
producer, David Allen, about the BBC
Computer Literacy Project that he OSHCamp 2012 — Building GSM
had a pivotal role in, and which in Networks with Open Source
the early 1980s gave birth to the now
famous BBC Microcomputer.
The BBC Micro pre-dated open

source and even though copying
its hardware design was far
from encouraged, the computer
supported a vibrant ecosystem
of complementary hardware and
2/3
PROJECTS
At the second Open Source Future Workshop Links

Hardware Camp — “OSHCamp” It’s still very much early days
for short [7]— we hosted ten talks for open source hardware when
on the first day and four parallel compared with its older and now
workshops on the second. Topics well understood cousin, open
covered included the Internet of source software, and when we
Things, embedded Linux, interfacing started OSHUG just over three years
Raspberry Pi and building GSM ago we had no idea whether there
networks with open source. would be sufficient topics to warrant
more than a handful of meetings.
In the GSM workshop we went
through the process of configuring Fortunately, interest in open
Constructing a simple persistence-of-vision project
local self-contained networks, source hardware continues to at the inaugural Open Source Hardware Camp.
first using OpenBTS [8] with SDR grow unabated as many come http://goo.gl/7I3Mc
hardware, then using OpenBSC to recognise the significant
[9] with a small form factor base opportunities it presents
station. In both cases, we were able for industry, education and
to provision handsets, make calls experimentation. As we prepare
and send text messages. for our third annual conference
it appears that there will be no
shortage of developments to cover,
“
and we look forward to a future
One of the in which open source hardware
reasons that open becomes mainstream.
source hardware is
important is that it The Building GSM Networks with Open Source
workshop at Open Source Hardware Camp 2012
confers on hardware http://goo.gl/oOwRn
the rights that we

have long enjoyed
with open source Web Links
software. Perhaps [1] http://goo.gl/gJA1G
most notably the [2] http://goo.gl/ATJbG
ability to openly [3] http://goo.gl/Sbq7M
collaborate and more [4] http://goo.gl/d2wnA
easily and rapidly [5] http://goo.gl/aROMi
develop things that [6] http://goo.gl/dUvh2
cannot be bought [7] http://goo.gl/oOwRn
”
off-the-shelf. [8] http://goo.gl/5WqDz
[9] http://goo.gl/aAA8R
Paul Tanner
Principal Consultant Have a look...
Virtual Technologies at the Open Source
Design Centre

PROJECTS
Rechargeable
Battery Checker
Measure capacity by controlled discharge
By Martin Ossmann (Germany)
The author’s rechargeable battery

collection comprises a large number of
cells of various types, ages and states.
Surely he cannot be the only person who
would find a ‘capability meter’ for batteries
of great value and interest!
A simple way of establishing the current and charge

capacity of a storage battery is to status parameters
recharge it and then discharge it are displayed continuously on
again in a controlled manner. With a the LCD and also exported over voltage for adjusting the contrast
meter of the kind described you can the serial interface, enabling the of the LCD, adjustable with trimpot
check accurately whether a battery’s discharge process P1. Jumper JP1 gives you the
capacity can be refreshed after a to be logged on a PC. option of background lighting
couple of charge/discharge cycles or for the display.
it has reached the end of its useful The circuit
life irreparably. The heart of this If that sounds simple enough, it The PWM signal at pin PB1 is
circuit is MOSFET T1 and associated turns out equally straightforward transformed using C2 and R3 into
shunt resistors R6 to R9. The in reality (that is, the circuit in a DC control voltage for MOSFET
transistor is driven by a PWM signal Figure 1). The ATmega88 controller T1. The discharge current is
in such a way that a predetermined IC1 handles all measurement, measured using shunt resistors
discharge current from the battery calculation and output tasks. The R6 to R9 and regulated with T1 so
(at K2) flows through the shunt. processor is clocked at 11.0592 MHz. that the discharge current flows
The discharge current and the An LM7805 supplies the operating as programmed. The two analog
voltage of the rechargeable battery voltage of 5 V; the supply voltage at channels ADC0 (PC0) and ADC1
are both measured, identifying the K4 comes from a 9 to 12 V plug-in (PC1) capture voltage and current.
charge Q drawn (by integrating the power supply (wall wart). The 2.5 V Jumpers JP2 to JP4 let you set the
current) and displayed in mAh after reference voltage for the analog to discharge current between 50 mA
conversion. From 1.1 V down to the digital converter (ADC) is produced and 1 A (Table 1).
final voltage of 1.0 V the current is by an LM385-2V5 (IC2). The
reduced linearly from its maximum squarewave voltage at pin 12 (PD6/ PD0 and PD1 on the controller
value down to zero. Time, voltage, PWM C0A) produces a negative represent the serial interface.

PROJECTS
+5V
IC3
D3 7805TV +5V
P1 LCD1
CTRL
1N4001 D4
K4 20k
1 D1
LED+
LEDC
2 +5V
VCC
VSS
DB0
DB1
DB2
DB3
DB4
DB5
DB6
DB7
R/W
2x
VO
RS
R10
E
C5 C6 BAT43 C1
9V 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
C3 D2
100u 10u 100n
1k
100n
7 20
+5V VCC AVCC
K1 12
PD6 PD4
6
ISP 16 5
PB2 PD3 JP1
10 MOSI 17 4 1
PB3 MOSI PD2
25 2
PC2
RESET 1 26 3
RESET PC3
SCK 19 27
PB5 SCK IC1 PC4
1 MISO 18 28
PB4 MISO PC5
R2 +5V R4
23
PC0
K2 T1 1k
1k ATMEGA88 +5V
1 IRL3803 21
R3 AREF
2 15
PB1 JP2
10k 1
R5
BATT 24 2
PC1
11 3
K3 1k PD5 JP3
3 2 13 1
PD0 RXD PD7
2 3 14 2
PD1 TXD PB0
R6 R7 R8 R9 1 R1 3
GND XTAL1 XTAL2 AGND JP4 IC2
1
UART 8 9 X1 10 22 C4
2
1R 1R 1R 1R S1 470R
C2 3 10u
1% 1% 1% 1% C7 C8
100n
LM285-2V5
RESET 22p 22p
X1 = 11.0592MHz 120477 - 11
Figure 1. The battery checker with the discharge circuitry connected to T1.
Here for example you can connect bare PCB and a ready-programmed
Table 1.
a USB-to-TTL converter and export controller. Naturally you also have
Jumper settings
at 19200 baud all parameters in the the option of doing everything
for setting the current
format yourself and as normal you can
download the PCB layout and all the Current
JP-4 JP-3 JP-2
T=00043 sek U=1.396 V I=0.502 A software from the website [1]. (mA)
Iset=0.500 A Charge=0003 mAh
1000 set set set
(sek = seconds). There is really not a lot to be
said as far as construction of the
500 set set not set
Connector K1 on the PCB is an ISP Battery Checker on the single-
programming interface, enabling sided PCB shown in Figure 2 goes.
250 set not set set
you to load new firmware into the We advise fixing the seven wire
controller if required. links first; one link (passing below
100 set not set not set
the crystal) needs to be attached
Construction and use to the trace (tracked) side of the
50 not set set set
For this project, Elektor provides a PCB. All components are of the

‘through hole’ type, avoiding the
need for SMDs. The display is piggy- Components List
backed on the PCB but in a way 2 1
1 2 3
1
that still leaves the control interface Resistors
(connections, press-buttons and • R1 = 470Ω
jumpers) accessible.
• R2,R4,R5,R10 = 1kΩ
1
Thanks to the LM385 reference, no • R3 = 10kΩ
1
alignment is necessary. The fuses • R6–R9 = 1W 1% 0.5W

in the controller are set for it to run 1
• P1 = 20kΩ trimpot, horizontal
using the external crystal. Transistor
T1 requires a small heatsink to 1
Capacitors
cope with the maximum rating of 1
• C1,C2,C3 = 100nF
1 A × 1.3 V = 1.3 W. Shunt resistors
2
• C4,C6 = 10µF 10V, radial,

R6 to R9 should be 1 percent types 1
2mm/5mm pitch
to ensure that current measurement
• C5 = 100µF 10V, radial,
10
is reliably accurate.
4 3
2.5mm/6 mm pitch
2 1
After attaching a freshly charged • C7,C8 = 22pF

1.2 V cell to K2 (connect a battery Figure 2. The PCB of the
Semiconductors
holder here), the reset button S1 battery checker.
is operated to start the timer anew • D1,D2 = BAT43
and reset the charging integration. • D3 = 1N4001
The rest of the process works by
• D4 = LED, red, 3mm
itself, with the circuitry adjusting the
current to the predetermined value. • T1 = IRL3803
During the first hour the voltage • LCD1 = TC1602C
falls from 1.4 V to 1.2 V. Then for
• IC1 = ATmega88-20, programmed,
a relatively long time the voltage Elektor # 120447-41
remains at a constant level of 1.2
V, as you would expect. Finally the • IC2 = LM285-2V5
voltage drops once more. When it • IC3 = 7805
reaches 1.1 V, discharging begins Miscellaneous
to reduce the discharge current.
At the same time the discharging • LCD1 = LC display 2x16,
e.g. Elektor # 120061-71
slows down. At 1.0 V the discharge
current is reduced to zero, to avoid • K1 = 10-pin (2x5) pinheader,
over-discharging the cell. When the 0.1‘‘ pitch
discharge period is finished you can • K2,K4 = PCB terminal block,
read the capacity of the battery on 0.2‘‘ pitch
the LCD at lower left.
• K3 = 3-way receptacle, 0.1’’ pitch
• JP1–JP4 = 3-pin pinheader,
0.1’’ pitch
Web Links
• S1 = pushbutton
[1] http://goo.gl/RCxaR
• PCB # 120447-1
Share your views...

Download The
...on www.designspark.com COMPONENTS list
2/2
New Switch
New Design
New 5 Series
More Possibilities
More Options
More MEC
www.rs-components.com/apem

Ele 0087 Dsmag en

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ele 0087 Dsmag en

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ELECTRONICS EDITION - ISSUE 2

Online resources and design support for electronics engineers

Technologies Software & Tools Projects

1 Time Domain Display

MDO4000 Mixed Domain Oscilloscope

§ 4 analog channels § 1 RF channel

For accurate, reliable and trusted measurement expertise, go to:

Software & Tools PROJECTS

Technologies Software & Tools Projects

• PiGo • DesignSpark DesignShare • Mini Stroboscope by Elektor

Renesas YRPBRL78G13 Kit Review

ebmpapst Fan Selector

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

The enormous success of Raspberry Pi has energised the

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

...the design files for the modules will be made available

Brave New World of Applications for

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

Designed and manufactured by or NFC (Near Field Communication)

Block diagram for M24LR family

ISO 15693 AC1

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

The M24LR’s RF interface converts scheme to protect applications

In addition, ST has also made

Also worth mentioning is that the Share your views...

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2 3/3

Agilent 1000B series

Agilent and our

© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2012

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

Although technology trends in industrial

Smaller chips with higher levels interface. Depending on the

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

Clearly, interconnection technology

In addition, it is now a minimum benefits right from the design stage.

Main upgrades for railway capability:

RL78/G13 MCUs YRPBRL78 compact for a development tool. It

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2 1/2

Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Graphical User Interface RTC RL78 can be well appreciated when

In spite of being called a promotional board for the RL78 family

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

On the whole, the YRPBRL78

Share your views...

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

Fan Characteristics – Types of Fan

Axial Fans Diagonal Fans Tangential Cross Flow Fans

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2

High pressure build-up

Centrifugal fans are typically

View the full range click here

Fan performance curves

Forward Curve Fan performance curves indicate the airflow quantity,

Pressure drops can be caused by restrictions to the airflow

Curve the point of the lowest power consumption. With a greater

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2 3/3

The Motorman hybrid connector from TE

DesignSpark Magazine Issue 2 1/1

Tektronix TBS1000 series oscilloscopes

Molex micro-SIM card sockets

FCI D-Subminiature connectors

Buy Now Buy Now