Design Problems Chapter 4

Circuits and System 1 - 2nd Semester - Week 5

Dr. Salman Ahmed

June 2, 2020
Design Problems Chapter 4

Recap of main topics chapter 3

In the last lecture (that we had in March), the performance in quiz was
poor. So, let us practice some more design questions before we proceed to
chapter 4.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1

The increasing number of Covid-19 patients has brought the healthcare system
of the world to a collapse. Policy makers need to come up with a well-planned
strategy for diagnosis and patient management in the light of the latest research
on COVID-19. To devise a mechanism to test Covid-19 patients, Dr. Mohsin
has built an electronic device that requires 250V dc voltage and 50W of dc
power. If you have dc batteries of 200V , can you design a circuit to operate
the electronic device requiring 250V dc voltage and 50W dc power. You are
free to use any value of resistor (as required) but use the combination of 200V
batteries only (as required - may be two or three or four batteries as you think are
required). Treat the electronic component as resistor (in your calculations). Use
a rectangle symbol to denote the computing systems in your circuit schematic.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution

We have 200V batteries. Let us first focus on getting the required voltage.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution

We have 200V batteries. Let us first focus on getting the required voltage.

We need at least two batteries connected in series as shown below

Figure: Battery Combination resulting in 400V

What is the next step?

Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution

We have 200V batteries. Let us first focus on getting the required voltage.

We need at least two batteries connected in series as shown below

Figure: Battery Combination resulting in 400V

What is the next step? Drop 150V across a resistor

Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution

Figure: Initial sketch of the circuit to operate the electronic device for Covid-19
patients
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution Method 1

In order to drop 150V across the resistor, we need to know the value of
current across the resistor R. Since, R and the electronic device are in
series, so current in series circuit is same.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution Method 1

In order to drop 150V across the resistor, we need to know the value of
current across the resistor R. Since, R and the electronic device are in
series, so current in series circuit is same.

The electronic device 250V and 50W , so the current can be computed
as follows:
P 50
P = V × I =⇒ I = = = 0.2A
V 250
The value of R can be computed as follows:
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution Method 1

In order to drop 150V across the resistor, we need to know the value of
current across the resistor R. Since, R and the electronic device are in
series, so current in series circuit is same.

The electronic device 250V and 50W , so the current can be computed
as follows:
P 50
P = V × I =⇒ I = = = 0.2A
V 250
The value of R can be computed as follows:
VR 150
R= = = 750Ω
IR 0.2
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution Method 2

In order to drop 150V across the resistor, we can replace the electronic
device by an equivalent resistor. What will be the value of that equivalent
resistor?
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution Method 2

In order to drop 150V across the resistor, we can replace the electronic
device by an equivalent resistor. What will be the value of that equivalent
resistor?

The electronic device 250V and 50W , so the resistance value of each
system can be computed as follows:

V2 V2 250 × 250
P = =⇒ R = = = 1250Ω
R P 50
Using voltage division rule, we can write the following:
R R
VR = × Vsource =⇒ 150 = × 400
R + 1250 R + 1250
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Solution Method 2

R
150 = × 400
R + 1250
150(R + 1250) = 400R
150R + 187500 = 400R
187500 = 400R − 150R
250R = 187500
R = 750Ω
The value of resistor would be same R = 750Ω, irrespective of what
method you choose.

Important Note: You can use 3 batteries which would result 600V can
you can draw a circuit, which is also perfectly correct.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 1 - Circuit

Figure: Circuit schematic to operate the computing clusters. The electronic

device is denoted by a rectangle.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Converting Design Problem 1 into Analysis Problem

If you have time in exam papers, then you can do reverse engineering to
verify if your circuit is correct or not.

Verify that the voltage across the electronic device (shown by resistor of
1250Ω) is 250V and consumes 50W ?

Figure: Circuit schematic for analysis purposes

Design Problems Chapter 4

Converting Design Problem 1 into Analysis Problem

The total voltage supplied to the circuit is 400V . The total series resis-
tance can be computed as follows:

Req = 750 + 1250 = 2000Ω

The current in the circuit can be computed as follows:

V 400
I= = = 0.2A
R 2000
The voltage across 1250Ω resistor can be computed as follows:

V = I × R = 0.2 × 1250 = 250V

The power consumed by 1250Ω resistor would be i2 R = 0.2 × 0.2 ×

1250 = 50W

All of the calculations indicate that the circuit was designed correctly.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 2
A wireless sensor network (WSN) consists of one or more sensor nodes
which are connected to a microcontroller. The micrcontroller communi-
cates with outer world using a wireless network. Energy optimization in a
wireless sensor network has been one of the most researched topic in the
field of wireless communications. Numerous recent scientific publications
have addressed this area. The main power usage in a sensor node is during
its exchange of data with other sensor nodes in the network. Inside a sensor
node, there is a sensing module connected to a microcontroller unit which
has transmission and reception modules. The replacement of batteries is
a big problem for remotely deployed sensor nodes. Dr. Mohsin has built a
WSN having a sensor node which can monitor temperature and humidity
inside his home. The sensor node requires 5W and 5V to operate. If you
are given a pool of 3A current sources, can you design a circuit to operate
the sensor node and satisfy its exact power requirements. You are free to
use any value of resistor (as required) and treat the sensor node as resistor
(for calculation purposes) but use the combination of 3A current sources
only (as required). Use a rectangle symbol to denote the sensor node in
your circuit schematic.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 2 - Solution

Let us compute the current required by a sensor node as follows:

V 5
I= = = 1A
P 5
If we use only one current source of 3A it is sufficient but we need to drop
the extra 2A. Let us find the value of resistor as follows:
V 5
R= = = 2.5Ω
I 2
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 2 - Solution

Figure: Circuit schematic to operate the sensor node. The sensor node is
denoted by a rectangle.
Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 2 into Analysis one

Verify that 5Ω resistor exactly consumes 5W and 5V

Figure: Circuit schematic for analysis purpose

Design Problems Chapter 4

Design Problem 2 into Analysis one

The equivalent resistance is as follows:
2.5 × 5 12.5
Req = = = 1.67Ω
2.5 + 5 7.5
The voltage can be computed as follows:
V = I × Req = 3 × 1.67 = 5V
The power accross 5Ω resistor can be obtained as follows:
V2 5
P = = = 1W
R5 5
Using current division rule, we can obtain the following:
5
i2.5 = 3 × = 3 × 0.667 = 2A
2.5 + 5
2.5
i5 = 3 × = 3 × 0.333 = 1A
2.5 + 5
All facts support that the circuit is correct.
Design Problems Chapter 4
Chap 4

Chapter 4 - Methods of Analysis of Resistive Circuits

Till now, we are familiar with 3 methods used in circuit analysis.

Design Problems Chapter 4
Chap 4

Chapter 4 - Methods of Analysis of Resistive Circuits

Till now, we are familiar with 3 methods used in circuit analysis.

Ohm Law: V = IR
Design Problems Chapter 4
Chap 4

Chapter 4 - Methods of Analysis of Resistive Circuits

Till now, we are familiar with 3 methods used in circuit analysis.

Ohm Law: V = IR

KCL: Sum of current entering a node = sum of current leaving that node.
Design Problems Chapter 4
Chap 4

Chapter 4 - Methods of Analysis of Resistive Circuits

Till now, we are familiar with 3 methods used in circuit analysis.

Ohm Law: V = IR

KCL: Sum of current entering a node = sum of current leaving that node.

KVL: Algebraic sum of voltages in a loop is zero.

Design Problems Chapter 4
Chap 4

Chapter 4 - Methods of Analysis of Resistive Circuits

Till now, we are familiar with 3 methods used in circuit analysis.

Ohm Law: V = IR

KCL: Sum of current entering a node = sum of current leaving that node.

KVL: Algebraic sum of voltages in a loop is zero.

In chapter 4, we will study two more techniques for circuit analysis.