water saving

Dear Gurus, Below I attach a snippet of a water saving project to see if there will be any interest. It depends heavily on analog and uC skills.
Bye
Fred

'It's still cold mum' she cries and the water goes down the drain
We will show a project to save water in many homes.
This project offers unique advantages because:-
*It does not oblige you to have your house rewired to take 50A or more.
*It does not oblige you to get a new contract from the your Electric Utility (12kW+)
*It does address the problem of getting instant hot water using a minimal point of use installation.
And.....
the Project is controlled by cheap 18F uCs

watersaverbasic block2.jpg

How does it work?
Switch on the battery charger to power up the system. .
Charge control can be many things, but we opted for a Lead Acid battery for cheapness.
So basically we monitor the voltage and charge as per one of the standard algorithms and cycles.
e.g. 3 stage charging with electronic sensing that prevents overcharging
The battery. Can be a standard small yacht 24V battery or two 12V car batteries in series. How many ampere hours? We can chose say a 200Ah type. This will give 2A for 100 hours almost certainly. But for our usage it will give 200A for maybe 10 minutes. Later we will see if this is OK.
Resistor Thyristor group. Without entering into the nitty gritty the thyristor is PWM modulated to pass the 200A which are available to a hollow resistor when water is being demanded. As we can see in the math appendix at the end, this is only for about 20 seconds when hot water from the storage tank or main house gas heater eventually arrives. So we need to monitor the temperature of the incoming remote 'hot' water and our heated tap water..
Water Flow hardware.
This can be very simple and cheap or very sophisticated.
Opening the hot water tap starts water flowing.
With a remote main gas heater it will also be started to heat this water flow.
Flow meter. This can be bought for about ( good quality) $350), or we can buy an old domestic water company meter,... or if we feel really inventive we put in the plastic tube a Mississippi steam boat metallic iron paddle wheel that rotates when the water starts moving.
We use a hall sensor and detect when each of the blades changes the magnetic field.
( I would buy the 2nd hand water meter.. maybe €5 )
A typical hot shower using water economiser shower heads is consuming about 12 – 18 litres a minute. The water flow is not conditioned in any way, simply we monitor the temperature of the water having passed through the tubular heating resistor and which is coming out of the shower..
So special hardware previous to the water outlet, tap or shower, or bath is reduced to electrical sensors before and after the tube resistor physically in contact with the water. Ah and a NO WATER sensor for safety.
Water flow monitors.
To elevate the cold water in pipe temperature, maybe only 10ºC we need to heat it instantly, which will require a lot of power. How much power have we got?
We said 200A batteries. 200A x 24V gives about 5kW. As we will see in the calculations appendix this is sort of minimum to go from 10ºC entry water to 35ºC coming out of the shower head.
So following the action, the remote gas heater is sending hot water into the pipe to the bathroom and at a given moment the water appearing in the bathroom is rapidly increases in temperature and is then at the desired 35ºC... in those last two or three seconds of our supposed 20 second wait..
The PWM from the uC rapidly reduces the duty cycle until there is no heating power being drawn from the battery. This reduction in PWM duty cycle is calculated from the water in and water out temperature sensors data.
Installation? A hole in the wall to let those 400A cables get to the heating block of resistor and thyristor. The heating block is physically very small and can be housed immediately below the 400A cable entry. Also the keypad and LCD on the wall to set the temperature desired. Outside some sort of housing for the batteries and charger..
Safety Well by not having 110 or 220V in the bathroom we have a basic electric shock safety. As we will see in the proposed uC routines. What if you deliver full power to the resistor when there is no water? In normal operation the resistor is water cooled by it's usage. , when there is no water, a “NO water'” sensor keeps the thyristor off..

You insist, and if the uC signal to the thyristor is lost.?
Then we use contingency Plan B.. a smoke detector and a sprinkler also call the fire department, police and ambulances.

This brings us to the end of the first part. The next part will cover, the maths involved and ( you will have noticed 400A cables) and the physical parameters we will need..
The third and final part will show the uC program routines required to control the sensors and display the water temperature on an LCD.

electronics

Teagueduino: making things really simple

[6 Sep 2011 | No Comment | 3,971 views]

A brief intro:
We love making interactive things and want to help more people join in the fun!
Teagueduino is an open source electronic board and interface that allows you to realize creative ideas without soldering or knowing how to code, while teaching you the basics of programming and embedded development (like arduino). Teagueduino is designed to help you discover your inner …

We present the candidature of Mr. Felice Pascarelli.
I propose my candidature for TiDiGino contest with an automation project of gardens made with Arduino interfaced to a PC via Bluetooth communication 100m (Class 2).
The idea was born a few days ago, I was a guest of a friend in his new villa with pool (lucky him!).
While we were strolling around the …

Water Tank level display with Arduino

[28 Aug 2011 | One Comment | 3,400 views]

We present the candidature of Mr. Danilo Abbasciano that is proposed for the realization of the firmware for the TiDiGino project and that presents us an application with Arduino: Display the level of a tank.
The project reads and displays the height of water level in a well or a cistern.
We will use the open source Arduino hardware device, an ultrasonic …

Arduino typewriter

Patel Sohil Sanjaybhai wants to partecipate to our iniziative “TiDiGino Contest”, sent us his application with Arduino to demonstrate his skills in this field: an Arduino Typewriter.
This project shows how to recycle an old PS2 keyboard and a dot matrix printer (DB25) to make a typewriter.
How works:
The idea is connect the keyboard to the printer with a basic and cheap …

Remote-controlled fiber-optic Ceiling Light with Arduino

Mauro Alfieri, who wants to partecipate to our iniziative “TiDiGino Contest”, sent us his new application with Arduino to demonstrate his skills in this field: a Remote-controlled fiber-optic Ceiling Light.
Mauro decribes himself:
Today my work is focused on open-source systems, supporting networking (CCNA) and scripting language programming, in small and mid-sized companies that use Linux/Aix.
Since I was 10 years old, I …

Real-Time Energy Monitor with Arduino and LabVIEW

[19 Aug 2011 | One Comment | 2,293 views]

We present the candidature of Mr. Michele Mancini for the TiDiGino Contest. He proposes us a recent application with Arduino: Real-Time Energy Monitor
This is a simple power meter to analize the current consuming in a house using the led indicator of a house energy meter.
Reading the red led of a home energy counters the system detects the corrent consumption in …

Arduino Moni

We present the candidature of Mr. Daniele Denaro for the TiDiGino Contest. He presents us a recent application with the Arduino: the Arduino Monitor.
This is a monitor that displays on the PC analog and digital values ​​read from Arduino. In short, a sort of display and keypad for Arduino made ​​with a computer. The use of a program in Java makes the application easier than a program written in Processing language and also lighter than the use of the protocol Firmata. At the end of the presentation you will find the files for the application on your …

The project TiDiGino
We developed a new GSM remote control called TiDiGino. The name recalls the initials (TDGxx) of our previous GSM remote control and is also based on the Arduino project. All the details of this circuit can be found below, but no the sketch, because this is your assignment.
The contestYou have to write the firmware for this project.  The device must perform all the functions of the past GSM remote control: TDG133 (remote 2IN 2 OUT), TDG134 …

A very interesting feature of Arduino is the great avalaibility of library that make the developer work very simple and fast.
Make a Web Server, a Web Client or post a Tweet haven’t difficulty.
Try to do the same application with the Microchip’s Stack TCP/IP…. It’s not impossible but for beginner developpers is of course hard.
With the Ethernet shield or WiFi shield …

Arduino Motor Shield

[25 Jun 2011 | No Comment | 2,143 views]

We are not the first to make an Motor Shield for Arduino.  But could be that we are the first that make a Motor Shield with a minimum of flexibility.
We are studing a WiFi robot with camera controlled by Arduino. The robot will be controlled by browser. But we find a problem with an existing shield: the pin SPI to …

Mini GSM localizer without GPS

It’s no the first time that we present a localizer without GPS. We remake the old device with the cheaper SimCom module SIM900. In the previous post we present the GSM section and now we can present the complete localizator.
Introduction
This system allows for localization without directly using GPS technology; we are able to locate the desired object fairly precisely by

Garden lights and antitheft control with Arduino via bluetooth

We present the candidature of Mr. Felice Pascarelli.

I propose my candidature for TiDiGino contest with an automation project of gardens made with Arduino interfaced to a PC via Bluetooth communication 100m (Class 2).
The idea was born a few days ago, I was a guest of a friend in his new villa with pool (lucky him!).
While we were strolling around the garden, we receive a call from another friend who tells us that for a few minutes was out of the gate with another large group of people (we were waiting for a while) who tried in every way (bell and trumpeted the horn) to “notify” their presence.
Once open the gate each of the newcomers has proposed a solution to replicate the sound of the bell, who has proposed to install a siren, who to include strobe lights like a disco and I proposed to replicate the bell, and maybe even open the gate on the computer.
At this point the owner, with an ironic tone, he asked me if I could do better and that the circuit have to be able to control the lights in the garden and irrigation system and check the status of microwave sensors installed to protect the garden.
After returning home I started thinking about how to resolve the issue.
I decided to design a software to run on PC that communicates via Bluetooth with a unit built around the Arduino and interfaced to the main power panel.
This led to the project “Automation Garden”.

Of course I designed the software and firmware for Arduino, although perfectly functional, but should be optimized, for lack of time (August 31 is the deadline for submissions), I send it anyway.
Let me explain briefly how it works:
the PC software communicates via Bluetooth (of course the PC must be equipped with built-in Bluetooth or USB) with another Bluetooth/RS232 HandyWave module connected to Arduino using the UART serial lines available on the pins 0 (RX) and 1 (TX).

To interface Arduino to the electrical panel I used some relay, and for interfacing it to alarm bells I used a circuit with optocouplers to avoid possible problems of shocks and surges that could destroy the Arduino.
I drew the schematic, but due to time constraints, I decided to temporarily mount it all on protoboard.

Before you start the software “Automazione_Giardino” on the PC, we associate, using the appropriate utility on the PC, the PC with the Bluetooth module mounted on the Arduino.
Once paired the Bluetooth and start the software, just select the checkbox associated to Bluetooth serial port and press the “Connect” button in the lower (see the location of these controls in the picture).
At this point, just click on the icon of the light bulbs to activated or deactivated the corresponding relay on the interface connected to the Arduino.
For the gate relay I planned pulse operation. Each time you press the icon associated with the relay opening the gate closes for 1s and then reopen.
To notify the alarm or intervention, even when the software is minimized, I provided a window that opens automatically when the event occurs and overrides any other application open on the PC.
Then just click on it to close.
The firmware installed on the Arduino does nothing more than to receive incoming commands on the serial port, interpret, active o deactive the relay and re-send the new state of the outputs or inputs. As mentioned previously the firmware should be optimized and maybe insert a checksum on the serial communication routines. But it works anyway.
You can use any other Bluetooth module perhaps with TTL output. Using a module with TTL output can eliminate RS232/TTL converter (MAX232 and boundary components) added to interface Arduino with Bluetooth HandyWave.
For those who haven’t a Bluetooth transmitter and want to try the circuit can without problems use Arduino connected via USB to the PC on which you installed the software and select the COM port assigned to the serial of Arduino.
Code

// Sistema Di Automazione Giardino
// Felice Pascarelli 2011
// fpascar@tiscali.it
long ritardo =300;
byte rxrs232;
String ricezione = "";
String rele = "0";

String bufferrx = "0";
String uscite = "K";
String rel = "0";
String rel1 = "a";
String rel2 = "b";
String rel3 = "c";
String rel4 = "d";
String rel5 = "e";
String rel6 = "f";
String in1 = "2";
String in2 = "4";

void setup()
{
  pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(6, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(7, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(8, INPUT);
  pinMode(9, INPUT);
  pinMode(10, INPUT);
  pinMode(11, INPUT);
  pinMode(12, INPUT);
  Serial.begin(19200);
}

void loop()
{
  if (Serial.available() > 0)
    ricevirs232();
    ingressi();
  delay(ritardo);

      if(rel == "1")
      {
        if (rele == "A")
        {
          rel1 = rele;
          digitalWrite(2, HIGH);
        }
        if (rele == "B")
        {
          rel2 = rele;
          digitalWrite(3, HIGH);
        }
        if (rele == "C")
        {
          rel3 = rele;
          digitalWrite(4, HIGH);
        }
        if (rele == "D")
        {
          rel4 = rele;
          digitalWrite(5, HIGH);
        }
        if (rele == "E")
        {
          rel5 = rele;
          digitalWrite(6, HIGH);
        }
        if (rele == "F")
        {
          rel6 = rele;
          digitalWrite(7, HIGH);
          delay(1000);
          digitalWrite(7, LOW);
          rel6 = "f";
        }        

        if (rele == "a")
        {
          rel1 = rele;
          digitalWrite(2, LOW);
        }
        if (rele == "b")
        {
          rel2 = rele;
          digitalWrite(3, LOW);
        }
        if (rele == "c")
        {
          rel3 = rele;
          digitalWrite(4, LOW);
        }
        if (rele == "d")
        {
          rel4 = rele;
          digitalWrite(5, LOW);
        }
        if (rele == "e")
        {
          rel5 = rele;
          digitalWrite(6, LOW);
        }
        if (rele == "f")
        {
          rel6 = rele;
          digitalWrite(7, LOW);
        }        

        rel = "0";     

      }
        Serial.print(rel1);Serial.print(rel2);Serial.print(rel3);Serial.print(rel4);
        Serial.print(rel5);Serial.print(rel6);Serial.print(in1);Serial.print(in2);
}

void ingressi()
{
  if (digitalRead(8) == 0)
  {
    in1 = "1";
  }
    if (digitalRead(8) == 1)
  {
    in1 = "2";
  }
    if (digitalRead(9) == 0)
  {
    in2 = "3";
  }
    if (digitalRead(9) == 1)
  {
    in2 = "4";
  }
}

void ricevirs232()
{
  if (Serial.available() > 0)
  {

    rxrs232 = Serial.read();

    if (isDigit(rxrs232))
    {
      ricezione += (char)rxrs232;
    }
    if(rxrs232 =='A' || rxrs232 =='B'|| rxrs232 =='C'|| rxrs232 =='D'|| rxrs232 =='E'|| rxrs232 =='F'
    ||rxrs232 =='a'|| rxrs232 =='b'|| rxrs232 =='c'|| rxrs232 =='d'|| rxrs232 =='e'|| rxrs232 =='f')
     {
      rele = rxrs232,BYTE;
      rel = "1";
     }
  }   

}

BOM

| C1         100nF
| C2         100uF
| C3         0,33uF
| C4         0,33uF
| C5         0,33uF
| C6         100nF
| C7         47uF
| C8         0,33uF
| C9         0,33uF
| C10        1uF
| C11        1uF
| C12        100nF
| C13        100nF
| D1         1N4007
| D2         4,8V
| D3         4,8V
| D4         1N4007
| D5         1N4007
| D6         LED
| D7         LED
| D8         LED
| D9         LED
| D10        LED
| D11        LED
| J1         DB9
| K1         RELAY_G5V-2
| K2         RELAY_G5V-2
| K3         RELAY_G5V-2
| K4         RELAY_G5V-2
| K5         RELAY_G5V-2
| K6         RELAY_G5V-2
| K7         CONN_3_V
| K8         CONN_3_V
| K9         CONN_3_V
| K10        CONN_3_V
| K11        CONN_3_V
| K12        CONN_3_V
| P1         CONN_6
| P2         CONN_8
| P3         CONN_2_V
| P4         CONN_8
| P5         CONN_2_V
| P6         CONN_2_V
| R1         10K
| R2         10K
| R3         270
| R4         270
| R5         470
| R6         470
| R7         300
| R8         300
| R9         300
| R10        300
| R11        300
| R12        300
| U1         7805
| U2         PHDARL
| U3         PHDARL
| U4         MAX232
| U5         ULN2803A

Download

	Software
	Arduino sketch
	PCB design (Kicad)

Toolbox Review: Circuit Sidekick

My colleague Collin Cunningham has an iPad app called Circuit Sidekick which consists of several tools for assisting electronics aficionados with their work.
Let’s start with the Resistor Values function, pictured above. It helps you determine the value of a resistor by selecting the color bands you see on the actual resistor. The image also demonstrates how Circuit Sidekick looks in portrait mode… I like it much better landscape.


The second tool is the Capacitor Values function, which helps you interpret the sometimes cryptic markings on the component. You can also get a sense of the landscape view of the app in this pic; I like it because you can see the menu at all times rather than having to hit a drop-down menu.

The next two functions help you determine the overall capacitance or resistance of a group of capacitors or resistors. It essentially plays the role of a calculator, letting you type each separate resistor or capacitor’s value and find the total number.

By contrast, the LED Resistor Calculator offers a more clear value since, in essence, it helps you design an actual electronic assembly. You choose the number of LEDs and voltage/current, and the tool tells you how much resistance you need to provide to protect the circuit.

The sixth tool on Circuit Sidekick is an Ohm’s Law calculator. You enter two of voltage, amperage, and resistance and the app fills in the third. Like other aspects of the app, Circuit Sidekick shows you the formula and tells you how it arrives at the answer, which will surely help people learn the stuff on their own. The last two tools are a binary/decimal/hex/octal/ascii number converter and a PDF reader that manages component datasheets.
Circuit Sidekick costs $2.99, a great value if you’re a beginning electronics hobbyist or simply want a ‘tronics-focused app for helping you with your computations. It’s a well-designed and slick app with the potential to save time and keep the magic smoke inside your components

A History of the Hackerspace Movement, Circa 2008

In 2008, an eternity ago in the hackerspace world, Bre Pettis, Astera Schneeweisz, and Jens Ohlig solicited entries from hackers around the world to create a book about hackerspaces. They’ve finally put it out!

This book documents where the hackerspace movement was in December of 2008. In that way it’s a bit of a time capsule. It’s not an exhaustive book, but we hope there are enough stories in here to show that all your excuses for not starting up a hackerspace are invalid. Each group faced down their own dragons to bring their hackerspace into existence including floods, rats, and drama. If they can do it, so can you.

In addition to profiles of hackerspaces there is Bre’s history of the CCC from the NYC Resistor blog, Club-Mate recipes, and coverage of the now-legendary Design Patterns speech Ohlig and collaborator Lars Weiler gave at CCCamp ’07.
It’s super cool! If you’re at all interested in the history of the hackerspace scene, check it out.

“We urge Microchip to give something significant back to the community they’re tapping”

@ Dangerous Prototypes Ian has a fantastic article “Editorial: Our friend Microchip and open source”…

It’s great that Microchip invested in the Arduino open source IDE. Unfortunately the contributions seem to stop with support for their product. Parts of chipKIT toolchain are still closed-source, and Microchip isn’t contributing open source drivers for the highly-advertised USB and Ethernet features of the chipKIT Mega.
We buttressed this editorial by saying we’re huge fans of Microchip stuff. It’s their time-honored right to deal in closed source software – most companies do! With the chipKIT, however, Microchip wants to tap the Arduino buzz. They want promote products using the work of an open source community, but they’re not participating in the spirit of that community. It’s not illegal, it’s being a bad neighbor.
We urge Microchip to give something significant back to the community they’re tapping. Open source drivers for the chipKIT shield would be a great first step.

Read more…
I have a much larger article on this topic coming out later, but I wanted to say I think it’s great to see Microchip coming in to the open-source hardware world and I’m really looking forward to them addressing some of the issues Ian outlined. Disclosure, I’m fairly certain Micrchip has sponsored MAKE in the past, present and future – at this time Maker Shed does not sell the chipKit(TM) Uno32(TM).

by Sean Michael Ragan

In September of last year, Matt Mets blogged about Visual 6502, an in-browser simulation of the landmark MOS 6502 microprocessor, produced by San Francisco hacker Greg James and Montreal brothers Barry and Bryan Silverman.
Recently, the July/August issue of the American Institute for Archaeology’s Archaeology featured an interesting article about the story behind Visual 6502. It provides a concise overview of the 6502′s historical significance, and then goes on to cast the team’s reverse-engineering project in terms of “digital archaeology,” emphasizing the “excavation” metaphor: Like physical archaeologists, James and the brothers Silverman “dig” into the chip package, itself, to recover lost knowledge of our history.

Back in 1974, the original schematic for the 6502 was sketched out by hand on a drafting board. (In contrast, today’s design methodology has hundreds of engineers working on hundreds of computers creating archived digital files of their work when collaborating on today’s microprocessors.) The creator of the 6502’s schematic doesn’t know where that document is today, and very little information on how the chip was created survives. Further, in the more than 35 years since its design, the understanding of how this remarkable chip performed its functions was lost.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/makezineonline/~3/UKc0KJId_1g/fabfi-cnced-wifi-antennae.html

FabFi is an open-source, FabLab-grown system using common building materials and off-the-shelf electronics to transmit wireless ethernet signals across distances of up to several miles. With Fabfi, communities can build their own wireless networks to gain high-speed internet connectivity—thus enabling them to access online educational, medical, and other resources

How-To: Car Battery Welding

Welding! Welding is a glorious, mystery-infused, thoroughly bad-ass way to stick things together. Welders move in their own cloud of mythos and danger – they are dirtier, tougher, and sexier than other kinds of makers, and the things they build are big and strong and hold our world together. This positive stereotype permeates at all levels of pop culture: if a character is introduced while welding, you immediately know that they will be some kind of blue-collar superhero, or some kind of cliched contradiction – the welder quoting Hegel after winning the bar fight, or the classic trope of seeing a welder at work, and then, they flip off their helmet, and OMG IT’S A GIRL! A GIRL WELDING!
Over on Make: Projects, I’ve written a welding tutorial to get you started with barely any gear at all – simply three car batteries and some jumper cables give you the ability to perform basic stick (arc) welding.
Popout
Meg Allan Cole welds at my shop in this CRAFT Video about a typecase table with an homage to Flashdance.
Who doesn’t want to get in on this skill set?  Soldering makes electronic magic happen, knitting keeps you warm, but knowing how to weld will make attractive people of whatever orientation you are into swoon. Everyone wants to know how to weld. The biggest problem, for most people, is that you need access to a welding machine.
There are a few options here: you can borrow someone’s welding rig. I suppose welders are common on farms, but only 2% of Americans live on farms, and if you are one of them, you were probably out welding the cows and milking the corn within minutes of birth (I have only a vague idea of what goes on at farms, as you can see. Something with dirt, right?) If you live in the grittier, more industrial parts of cities, there are welding shops all over the place, but they are dark, scary places (part of their appeal) and if you were to walk into one, expecting to find dedicated tradesman open to the DIY spirit and eager to teach a snot-nosed kid, you will quickly discover that welders are dark, scary, busy people, bribe-able with beer, maybe, but not usually interested, at all, in teaching.
You can buy a welder. You can pick up a cheap 110v stick welder for about a hundred bucks (check big hardware stores, Amazon, or Craigslist) or a bare-bones, break-in-a-couple-of-hours MIG (wire feed) machine for under $150 (just saw some for that much, and lower, on Amazon. Do not buy them. They are garbage), but I know that many, many people cannot even afford that.
Also, if you are not sure about the whole welding thing and want to try it out, or just need to do a day of welding to finish that one big project, or need to repair things every now and then, buying a new piece of equipment is probably not the best course of action, especially since when it comes to welders (as it is with pretty much everything else), you get what you pay for.
The final option, and best for the poor or non-committed-to-welding maker, is to build a welder. There are many ways to do this, ranging from impressive feats of DIY electrical engineering all the way down to the easiest, simplest one: wiring together some car batteries. It is quick and uses stuff you either have lying around or can pretty easily obtain. Follow the instructions, and you can go from zero to welding in under an hour.
Caveats, cautions, and all that
Welding is dangerous! Even if you take every possible safety precaution, you will occasionally burn and cut yourself, and electric shocks and retinal burns are very common, even if you know what you’re doing — and you probably do not. Skimp on safety and you can blind yourself, suffer injuries that will make hardened ER doctors puke, and die in any number of closed-casket ways. When you’re starting out, wear a good, rated helmet, thick gloves, non-flammable natural fiber clothing (as much leather as possible), and boots. Later, when you have a couple of hundred hours of welding experience and the scar tissue has rendered you insensitive to pain (and pleasure — a downside of welding), you can do the weld in a T-shirt or gloveless bit, but at that point, you will know what you’re getting into (and trust me — UV-burned armpits suck).
One important bit of information that other welding tutorials leave out: At first, you will be horrible at this. There is a good chance you will not even be able to strike an arc, or if you do, you will not be able to maintain one. Or, if you can maintain one, you will burn through the things you are trying to weld or not really weld them at all. People tend to not document their failures online, and it is easy for the person who’s new at welding (or skateboarding, or juggling, or pretty much anything) to forget that the thing they are trying to learn is hard, and that the flaw is not in the instructor, but in the student. The flaw is in the student, but not in the way that you might think — remember that worthwhile things are hard and people do not document their learning curve or all of their countless failures. You will fail, but just keep trying and you will eventually get it right. It will just likely take longer than you think.
Lastly, welding is really not the be-all/end-all panacea for fabrication. It is difficult to do on anything except for steel, welded things are hard to take apart, and the heat tends to distort small or thin parts.
With all that said

Manhattan-Style Circuit in a Copper Cladding Chassis

Yesterday, we posted about a technique used in ham radio to solder together project boxes/radio chassis using PCB copper cladding. Some folks, in comments and on the twitters, were wondering how well this works. Take a look. Here’s a lovely Wheatstone Bridge Regenerative (WBR) Receiver built inside of such a chassis using the Manhattan-style circuit construction technique (using small pads as connecting points on a conductive surface).
As somebody said in the comments to the chassis piece, imagine some lovely copper etching on the faceplate.
BTW: Here are some MeSquares and MePads you can get for easy Manhattan circuit building. We’ve mentioned them here before. [Thanks, Roy Roberts!]

Water Tank level display with Arduino

We present the candidature of Mr. Danilo Abbasciano that is proposed for the realization of the firmware for the TiDiGino project and that presents us an application with Arduino: Display the level of a tank.

The project reads and displays the height of water level in a well or a cistern.
We will use the open source Arduino hardware device, an ultrasonic Parallax sensor to measure the height of the water, a 16 x 2 LCD display with Hitachi HD44780 driver and a buzzer that is activated when the level exceeds the threshold.

The project, as we have already mentioned, is composed of several parts. A sonar sensor to be placed at the top of the well (at a safe distance from water level) that points downward so as to measure the distance between the point of placement (in our case the highest point of the well) and the surface water. Taking a simple difference between known quantities: the distance between the bottom and the measurement read from the sensor, we get the height of the water surface. Knowing the surface of the well also it is easy to calculate the volume of water present. At predetermined intervals Arduino reads the distances and displays the height and volume of water in the well.

There is a horizontal bar that shows the trend in relative water level inside the well for an easily and immediately read.

If the level exceeds a first threshold warning triggered the alarm buzzer to beep slowly if the level exceeds the second threshold, the ringing frequency increases until the level will drop back below the threshold or when you manually turn off the ringer through a button.

Arduino controls the operating logic, using the following sketches:

/* -*- mode: c -*- */
/**
 * pozzo.pde
 * version: 1.2
 */

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

#define PING_PIN 13
#define BUZZER_PIN 8
#define SWITCH_INT 0 /* 0 => pin 2 */
#define PI 3.1415926535898
#define SUPERFICE_BASE (R_POZZO * R_POZZO * PI)
#define SIZE_BAR (16 * 5)
#define ALARM_ICON 0 /* code */
#define SOUND_ICON 6 /* code */
#define SOUND_ICON_ON 7 /* code */

#define R_POZZO 0.5 /* raggio pozzo (m) */
#define H_POZZO 146.0 /* cm */
#define SOGLIA_ALLARME_1 100 /* cm */
#define SOGLIA_ALLARME_2 120 /* cm */
#define DELAY_0 60000 /* ms; 1000 * 60 * 1 = 1 min */
#define DELAY_1 600 /* ms */
#define DELAY_2 200 /* ms */

/* initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins */
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 6);

int mute = 0;

byte *getChar(int n, byte newChar[]) {
  int i;
  byte code[5] = {
    B10000,
    B11000,
    B11100,
    B11110,
    B11111};

  for (i = 0; i < 8; i++)
    newChar[i] = code[n - 1];

  return newChar;
}

void setup() {
  int i;
  float h;
  byte newChar[8];

  /* set up the LCD's number of rows and columns: */
  lcd.begin(16, 2);

  for (i = 1; i < 6; i++)
    lcd.createChar(i, getChar(i, newChar));

  newChar = {
    B00000,
    B00100,
    B01010,
    B01010,
    B11111,
    B00100,
    B00000,
  };

  lcd.createChar(ALARM_ICON, newChar);

  newChar = {
    B00011,
    B00101,
    B11001,
    B11001,
    B11001,
    B00101,
    B00011,
  };

  lcd.createChar(SOUND_ICON, newChar);

  newChar = {
    B00100,
    B10010,
    B01001,
    B01001,
    B01001,
    B10010,
    B00100,
  };

  lcd.createChar(SOUND_ICON_ON, newChar);  

  pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);

  /**
   * LOW to trigger the interrupt whenever the pin is low,
   * CHANGE to trigger the interrupt whenever the pin changes value
   * RISING to trigger when the pin goes from low to high,
   * FALLING for when the pin goes from high to low.
   */
  attachInterrupt(SWITCH_INT, button, RISING);

  /* initialize serial communication */
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  long hWatherCm;
  int litres;

  hWatherCm = read_height();
  if (check_alarm(hWatherCm) != 0) /* read again wather height */
    hWatherCm = read_height();

  lcd.clear();

  print_histogram(hWatherCm);

  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);

  lcd.print(hWatherCm);
  lcd.print(" cm - ");

  // litres = SUPERFICE_BASE * (hWather / 100.0) * 1000
  litres = floor(SUPERFICE_BASE * hWatherCm * 10);
  lcd.print(litres);
  lcd.print(" l ");

  lcd.setCursor(14, 1);
  lcd.write(SOUND_ICON);
  lcd.setCursor(15, 1);
  if (!mute)
    lcd.write(SOUND_ICON_ON);
  else
    lcd.write('X');

/*
  Serial.print("cm = ");
  Serial.println(hWatherCm);
*/

  switch (check_alarm(hWatherCm)) {
  case 1:
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.write(ALARM_ICON);

    buzz(200);
    delay(DELAY_1);
    break;

  case 2:
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.write(ALARM_ICON);

    buzz(200);
    delay(200);
    buzz(200);
    delay(DELAY_2);
    break;

  case 0: // no alarm
    delay(DELAY_0);
  }
}

void print_histogram(int hWatherCm) {
  int i;
  int bloks;
  float histogram;

  // hWatherCm : HPOZZO = histogram : SIZE_BAR
  histogram = (SIZE_BAR * hWatherCm) / H_POZZO;
  histogram = histogram + 0.5;

  bloks = (int)histogram / 5;

  for (i = 0; i < bloks; i++)
    lcd.write(5);

  if ((int)(histogram) % 5 > 0)
    lcd.write((int)(histogram) % 5);
}

long read_height() {
  /**
   * establish variables for duration of the ping,
   * and the distance result in centimeters:
   */
  long duration, hWatherCm;

  /**
   * The PING))) is triggered by a HIGH pulse of 2 or more microseconds.
   * Give a short LOW pulse beforehand to ensure a clean HIGH pulse:
   */
  pinMode(PING_PIN, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(PING_PIN, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  digitalWrite(PING_PIN, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(5);
  digitalWrite(PING_PIN, LOW);

  /**
   * The same pin is used to read the signal from the PING))): a HIGH
   * pulse whose duration is the time (in microseconds) from the sending
   * of the ping to the reception of its echo off of an object.
   */
  pinMode(PING_PIN, INPUT);
  duration = pulseIn(PING_PIN, HIGH);

  /* convert the time into a distance */
  hWatherCm = H_POZZO - microseconds_to_centimeters(duration);

  if (hWatherCm < 0)
    return 0;

  if (hWatherCm > H_POZZO)
    return H_POZZO;

  return hWatherCm;
}

void buzz(int msec) {
  if (!mute)
    digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, HIGH);
  delay(msec);
  digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW);
}

int check_alarm(int hWatherCm) {
  if (hWatherCm > SOGLIA_ALLARME_1) {
     if (hWatherCm < SOGLIA_ALLARME_2)
       return 1;
     else
       return 2;
  }
  return 0;
}

long microseconds_to_centimeters(long microseconds) {
  /**
   * The speed of sound is 340.29 m/s or 29.4 microseconds per centimeter.
   * The ping travels out and back, so to find the distance of the
   * object we take half of the distance travelled.
   */
  return microseconds / 29.387 / 2;
}

void button() {
  //  Serial.println("Pulsante premuto");
  mute = !mute;

  lcd.setCursor(15, 1);
  if (!mute)
    lcd.write(SOUND_ICON_ON);
  else
    lcd.write('X');
}

Arduino typewriter

Patel Sohil Sanjaybhai wants to partecipate to our iniziative “TiDiGino Contest”, sent us his application with Arduino to demonstrate his skills in this field: an Arduino Typewriter.

This project shows how to recycle an old PS2 keyboard and a dot matrix printer (DB25) to make a typewriter.

How works:
The idea is connect the keyboard to the printer with a basic and cheap interface, we have used Arduino because is a fast development board for this kind of  projects. The board read the keyboard signals (use a data/clock system) and transform this info about the character to the printer.

Code:

#include <PS2Keyboard.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>

#define KBD_CLK_PIN 3
#define KBD_DATA_PIN 2
#define d0 4
#define d1 5
#define d2 6
#define d3 7
#define d4 8
#define d5 9
#define d6 10
#define d7 11
#define strobe 12
#define autofd 13

PS2Keyboard keyboard;

int caracter = 0;
byte key=0;
void setup()
{
  keyboard.begin(KBD_DATA_PIN);
  pinMode(d0, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(d1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(d2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(d3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(d4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(d5, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(d6, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(d7, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(strobe, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(autofd, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(autofd,HIGH);
  digitalWrite(strobe,HIGH);
  Serial.begin(9600);
  delay(1000);
}

void transmit(int x)
{
   if (x >= 128)
   {
    x = x - 128;
    digitalWrite(d7,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d7,LOW);
  }
  if (x >= 64)
  {
    x = x - 64;
    digitalWrite(d6,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d6,LOW);
  }
  if (x >= 32)
  {
    x = x - 32;
    digitalWrite(d5,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d5,LOW);
  }
  if (x >= 16)
  {
    x = x - 16;
    digitalWrite(d4,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d4,LOW);
  }
  if (x >=  8  )
  {
    x = x - 8;
    digitalWrite(d3,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d3,LOW);
  }
  if (x >= 4)
  {
    x = x - 4;
    digitalWrite(d2,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d2,LOW);
  }
  if (x >= 2)
  {
    x = x - 2;
    digitalWrite(d1,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d1,LOW);
  }
  if (x >= 1)
  {
    digitalWrite(d0,HIGH);
  }
  else
  {
    digitalWrite(d0,LOW);
  }
  digitalWrite(strobe,LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  digitalWrite(strobe,HIGH);
}

void loop()
{
  if(keyboard.available())
  {
    byte c = keyboard.read();
    Serial.println(c);
   // byte c=Serial.read();
    ascii(c);
   if(c == 13)
   {
     Serial.println(key);
     transmit(10);
   }
   else
   {
     Serial.println(key,HEX);
     transmit(key);
   }

   // Serial.println(c,HEX); 

    }

}

void ascii(byte x)
{
  switch(x)
  {
    case 0x1c:
    {
      key=0x41;
      break;
    }
    case 0x32:
    {
      key=0x42;
      break;
    }
    case 0x21:
    {
      key=0x43;
      break;
    }
    case 0x23:
    {
      key=0x44;
      break;
    }
    case 0x24:
    {
      key=0x45;
      break;
    }
    case 0x2B:
    {
      key=0x46;
      break;
    }
    case 0x34:
    {
      key=0x47;
      break;
    }
    case 0x33:
    {
      key=0x48;
      break;
    }
    case 0x43:
    {
      key=0x49;
      break;
    }
    case 0x3B:
    {
      key=0x4A;
      break;
    }
    case 0x42:
    {
      key=0x4B;
      break;
    }
    case 0x4B:
    {
      key=0x4C;
      break;
    }
    case 0x3A:
    {
      key=0x4D;
      break;
    }
    case 0x31:
    {
      key=0x4E;
      break;
    }
    case 0x44:
    {
      key=0x4F;
      break;
    }
    case 0x4D:
    {
      key=0x50;
      break;
    }
    case 0x15:
    {
      key=0x51;
      break;
    }
    case 0x2D:
    {
      key=0x52;
      break;
    }
    case 0x1B:
    {
      key=0x53;
      break;
    }
    case 0x2C:
    {
      key=0x54;
      break;
    }
    case 0x3C:
    {
      key=0x55;
      break;
    }
    case 0x2A:
    {
      key=0x56;
      break;
    }
    case 0x1D:
    {
      key=0x57;
      break;
    }
    case 0x22:
    {
      key=0x58;
      break;
    }
    case 0x35:
    {
      key=0x59;
      break;
    }
    case 0x1A:
    {
      key=0x5A;
      break;
    }
    case 0x0D:
    {
      key=0x09;
      break;
    }
    case 0x29:
    {
      key=0x20;
      break;
    }
    default:
    {
    }
  }
}

Electronic Equipments

Electronic Parts
Fundamental & Applications

As beginners to electronic parts and the construction of electronics projects, sometimes one may just take all the information provided in the magazines and start to build the project.
The schematics and PCB provided may not be understood fully and if there is a mistake in the information, one may not be able to troubleshoot the printed circuit board. Therefore, it is important that one understands why each electronic parts or electronic component is used and its unique characteristics.

Batteries
The primary battery is intended for one time use only and is disposed after the charge has dropped to a level that cannot be used. The secondary battery can be recharged many times and is reusable.

Capacitor Types
An introduction to fundamental of capacitors. Electrolytic, ceramic, tantalum, metallized polyesther and safety types are introduced here.

Digital Light Sensor
In applications such as lighting controls, heating ventilation and air conditioning controls or temperature controls system, there are times when you will need to adjust the control parameters based on the intensity of the ambient light. You may want to consider using Intersil ISL29001 digital light sensor.

Digital Temperature Sensor
The recent decade has seen the use of integrated circuits devices in many temperature controlled related systems because they are much smaller, provide a more accurate measurement and simpler to be integrated to other digital control devices.

Diodes
Diode is a common device in most electronics devices. This page discussed their basic characteristics and applications in electronics project.


Electroluminescent Lighting and Drivers
Electroluminescent lighting is achieved by using an EL lamp which is a piece of plastic material coated with a phosphorous material. When a high voltage of 40V or greater is applied across this material and reverse, it will emit light. Fundamental of EL and driver are provided here.

Electronic Project Enclosures for housing assembled PCB
Electronic Project Enclosures are often needed to house assembled printed circuit board and other electronic parts. Some basics types are provided here.

Fuse
Terminology and functions of Fuse. Includes also some basic guidelines in the selection of fuse for certain application.

Heat Sink Characteristics
When a junction temperature of a semiconductor rises above its maximum allowable temperature, there is a need to dissipate this temperature or else the device will breakdown. One of the common method used to dissipate the heat is using a heat sink.

IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor)
The fundamental of IGBT and its characteristics are provided here. It has become a common device in motor controls in recent years.

Inductor or Coil
The fundamental of inductor, its characteristics and their applications in electronic devices are provided here.

LCD
An introduction to liquid crystal display which is now being widely used in most of the electronics project.

LEDs
Introduction to LEDs, its fundamentals and applications in various electronic circuits. It is fast replacing incandescent bulbs in many applications.

Microcontroller
The use of microcontroller as a major part of an electronic device has become indispensable these days.

Operational Amplifier
The Operational Amplifier is a differential amplifier having a large voltage gain, very high input impedance and low output impedance.

Relays
Mechanical relays are used in various types of applications. The DC coil voltage can range from 3V to 48V DC and AC coil can range from 6V to 240V AC. Its contact ratings can range from 0.01 Ampere to 30 Ampere.

Resistors
An introduction to carbon film resistors and their typical characteristics. It is one of the most common device that is used in almost every electronic device.

Seven Segment Displays
Fundamentals of Seven Segment Displays, its applications and drivers.

Thermistors
Thermistors' fundamentals and Applications.

Thyristors or SCR
Thyristors are switching devices based on PNPN structure. They are very reliable and have current ratings up to a few thousands amperes and voltage ratings up to 5000V.

Transformers
Fundamentals and construction of Tranformers.

Transistors
Introduction To Transistors. A brief history and typical characteristics of transistor and graphs are shown here.

Triac
A triac consists of two SCR connected in inverse parallel where the gates are connected together. The connections are labelled as MT1(Main Terminal 1), MT2(Main Terminal 2) and G(Gate).

Varistor as a protective electronic parts
Varistor is a voltage dependent device that clamp a voltage to a certain level and absorbed the energy to prevent damage to other parts of a circuitry.

Electronic Discovery...........

Electronic discovery or eDiscovery was a digital tool used in only the biggest document encompassing cases. Over the past 15 years eDiscovery has become a common trend in the majority of litigation processes conducted daily. The cutting-edge technology in electronic discovery simplifies the document review procedure in criminal and civil cases. Between 55% and 88% of all litigation costs originate from the document review phase. It’s a crucial and hefty expense for legal firms. Up to 70% of data can be reduced by using eDiscovery. Considering that generally the review phase in the litigation process is conducted manually this is an incredible improvement.

The main objective of a basic first level document review procedure is to decipher if a document is ‘receptive’ or ‘non-receptive’ as it relates to a certain case or issue.
This is the first step in the review phase designed to assist in dividing the documents in two categories. The process is started after attaining records following a legal “Request for Production of Documents.” Massive amounts of records in the millions often must be sifted through and examined by fellow volunteers and law firm associates. They must indicate four common principles during the review phase such as relevance to the case, confidentiality, legally protected information, and which documents are essential for the case.
Although, most individuals hired to aid in the examination of documents during the litigation are skilled like all manual tasks there will be inconsistencies. When different people are frantically searching boxes of information it’s bound to be error. These minor mistakes cost valuable time and money. eDiscovery provides legal professionals with an economic and efficient solution to their document review demands. Attorneys no longer need the assistance of large teams occupying entire floors painstakingly sorting through giant boxes stacked to the brim with paper documents in preparation for litigation. Now, legal professionals can utilize the eDiscovery technology to reduce costs, chaos, and inconsistency.
So, what is the legal professional’s alternative solution do? A litigation review program with eDiscovery simplifies your process creating an effective platform for you to win your case. It’s a computer program designed for the storage, sorting, reviewing, organizing, and accessing of files. This tool can effectively manage case files making the litigation process easier. A quality program eliminates the need to purchase software and permits users access from any computer with powerful data security enabled. Filter all of your records from a single database which allows collaboration and messaging. The ability to monitor reviewer activity quickens the pace of the process. The database should also be user-friendly. To completely ease the time consuming review phase compatibility with mainstream legal software such as IPRO and Summation is mandatory. This will increase productivity between tasks.
When investing in a litigation review program always remember to look for features that can ultimately speed up the discovery phase and create an efficient system to accomplish your objectives. A technical staff on call for around-the-clock assistance is an important feature to look for. Countless cases burn the midnight oil and having the assurance that if you do run into a problem at 2AM with the program help is available means the solution service has your best interest. Another must-have feature is a flexible interface which allows the resizing and rearranging of windows. Whenever you’re reviewing multiple documents the ability to switch windows with a click is essential. The best alternative solution for legal professionals is a litigation review program utilizing eDiscovery technology to save and simplify the process.
Electronic discovery or eDiscovery was a digital tool used in only the biggest document encompassing cases. Over the past 15 years eDiscovery has become a common trend in the majority of litigation processes conducted daily. The cutting-edge technology in electronic discovery simplifies the document review procedure in criminal and civil cases. Between 55% and 88% of all litigation costs originate from the document review phase. It’s a crucial and hefty expense for legal firms. Up to 70% of data can be reduced by using eDiscovery. Considering that generally the review phase in the litigation process is conducted manually this is an incredible improvement.
The main objective of a basic first level document review procedure is to decipher if a document is ‘receptive’ or ‘non-receptive’ as it relates to a certain case or issue. This is the first step in the review phase designed to assist in dividing the documents in two categories. The process is started after attaining records following a legal “Request for Production of Documents.” Massive amounts of records in the millions often must be sifted through and examined by fellow volunteers and law firm associates. They must indicate four common principles during the review phase such as relevance to the case, confidentiality, legally protected information, and which documents are essential for the case.
Although, most individuals hired to aid in the examination of documents during the litigation are skilled like all manual tasks there will be inconsistencies. When different people are frantically searching boxes of information it’s bound to be error. These minor mistakes cost valuable time and money. eDiscovery provides legal professionals with an economic and efficient solution to their document review demands. Attorneys no longer need the assistance of large teams occupying entire floors painstakingly sorting through giant boxes stacked to the brim with paper documents in preparation for litigation. Now, legal professionals can utilize the eDiscovery technology to reduce costs, chaos, and inconsistency.
So, what is the legal professional’s alternative solution do? A litigation review program with eDiscovery simplifies your process creating an effective platform for you to win your case. It’s a computer program designed for the storage, sorting, reviewing, organizing, and accessing of files. This tool can effectively manage case files making the litigation process easier. A quality program eliminates the need to purchase software and permits users access from any computer with powerful data security enabled. Filter all of your records from a single database which allows collaboration and messaging. The ability to monitor reviewer activity quickens the pace of the process. The database should also be user-friendly. To completely ease the time consuming review phase compatibility with mainstream legal software such as IPRO and Summation is mandatory. This will increase productivity between tasks.
When investing in a litigation review program always remember to look for features that can ultimately speed up the discovery phase and create an efficient system to accomplish your objectives. A technical staff on call for around-the-clock assistance is an important feature to look for. Countless cases burn the midnight oil and having the assurance that if you do run into a problem at 2AM with the program help is available means the solution service has your best interest. Another must-have feature is a flexible interface which allows the resizing and rearranging of windows. Whenever you’re reviewing multiple documents the ability to switch windows with a click is essential. The best alternative solution for legal professionals is a litigation review program utilizing eDiscovery technology to save and simplify the process.

general

http://books.google.com/books?id=ZGV1c0eevVsC&lpg=PP1&dq=general%20psychology&pg=PP4#v=onepage&q&f=false

semi conductor cunsumption in india

india semiconductor consumption is projected to total $8.2 billion (approximately Rs 36,080 crore) in 2011, a 15.5% increase from 2010 consumption of $7.1 billion (approximately Rs 31,240 crore) according to Gartner Inc. Based on this forecast, India is the fastest growing market in terms of semiconductor consumption for 2011.

"Changing demographics, increasing consumer affluence, economic growth and favorable government policy continues to drive the electronic equipment manufacturing industry in India," says Ganesh Ramamoorthy, research director, Gartner. “Numerous global electronic equipment manufacturing companies have set up production facilities in India, to take advantage of the growing domestic market and to cater to neighboring markets in the region. As a result, semiconductor consumption is also growing at a rapid pace.”

The communications electronics segment, which includes mobile phones, wireless local area networks (LAN), public switching and other communications infrastructure equipment will account for the largest chunk of nearly 52% of India’s semiconductor consumption in 2011. Data processing electronics segment comprising of desktop computers, laptops, monitors and storage equipment will follow with about 26% share of the total semiconductor consumption.

“Given the low penetration and the growing demand for key electronic equipment such as mobile phones, desktop and laptop computers and LCD TV’s, we believe the Indian market will be able to easily sustain high growth rates in the coming years. Therefore, we expect India’s semiconductor consumption to grow the fastest across the globe through 2015 at a compound annual growth rate of 15.9% to reach nearly $15 billion (approximately Rs 66,000 crore). Through 2015, nearly three-fourths of India’s semiconductor consumption will be accounted for by these three electronic equipment segments,” added Ramamoorthy.

indian electronics

India plans to boost manufacturing capacity in telecommunication networks, IT hardware to compete with China

NEW DELHI: India plans to undertake a five-pronged strategy to boost its manufacturing capabilities in telecom networks, IT hardware and electronics, and compete directly with China in this space. The telecom and IT departments share the view that major policy changes to kick-start large scale manufacturing in the country can create as many as 100 million jobs - directly and indirectly - by 2025.
As the first step, the Centre had invited expressions of interest from both technology companies and investors for setting up two semiconductor fabricators in the country, while also outlining a full package of incentives.
As per a confidential note circulated by the DoT, the Union Cabinet is also deliberating four other policy initiatives. These include incentives to companies to set up electronics clusters in towns, forcing all government departments to procure domestically manufactured products with regard to telecom, IT hardware and electronics, setting up an electronics development fund and a National Electronics Mission and also limiting telecom networks import to 20% of the industry's total requirement over an eight-year period.

semi conductor

The usage of semiconductors from power supply to displays is critical in medical equipment

The medical electronics segment is witnessing an increase in momentum fueled by an increasing need for quality- conscious, intelligent and time efficient health solutions which are affordable as well. Advancements in medical electronics has helped reduce the cost and size of equipment; especially for diagnostic solutions such as BP, ECG and blood sugar monitors and other assessment tools like CT, MRI, angiogram and ultrasound. Ganesh Guruswamy, Vice President and Country Manager, Freescale Semiconductor India reveals more about the dynamics of the medical electronics market in India, in conversation with M Neelam Kachhap

What is the size of medical electronics market in India and what are the main segments?

The Indian healthcare sector is one of the largest service sectors in the country. A December 2010 report on 'Current Status and Potential for Medical Electronics in India' by India Semiconductor Association(ISA) estimated the domestic market for medical equipment at $ 820 million. It is estimated to grow at 17 per cent CAGR over the next five years and reach $ 2.075 billion.

The medical electronics market can be divided into four segments:

• Imaging equipment, which is used largely in secondary and tertiary healthcare, constitutes approximately 57 per cent of the market
• Therapeutic products make up 26 per cent of market share.
• Home-care and handheld equipment accounts for approximately eight per cent and is largely imported; this has high potential for domestic manufacturers
• Patient monitoring systems, approximately nine per cent of the market.

What is the share of indigenous manufacturers vs MNC based in India in medical electronics?

The market for medical electronics is equally divided between indigenous manufacturers and MNCs. According to the ISA report the total market for the MNCs in India is 45 per cent and remaining market is occupied by smaller, niche players.

What are the trends in medical electronics market today? What are the drivers of this market in India?

Some key features that are the drivers for medical market in India is changing demographics and age profile which is prone to spend more on healthcare; rise of lifestyle diseases and the need for their diagnosis; an increasing awareness leading to the growth of preventive healthcare; increase in healthcare spending due to increase in healthcare insurance; growth in medical tourism to address international needs; and last but not the least the entry of corporates into the healthcare arena. Medical equipment today needs to offer accessibility, affordability and ease of usage

According to the ISA, the usage of semiconductors from power supply to displays is critical in medical equipment. This includes medical imaging, patient monitoring systems, digital hearing aids and infusion pumps, to name a few. Hence, growth in the medical equipment is expected to drive growth in semiconductor manufacturing. ISA proposes the need for high-level R&D to offer special medical equipment for India that offers accessibility, affordability and ease of usage; and closing the large gap in healthcare infrastructure and India's diverse landscape through private partnerships.

Why is India a preferred destination for most MNC for starting a manufacturing unit of medical devices? What is the effect of such reverse engineering on medical electronics market?

As mature markets like US, Europe and Japan reach their saturation point, medical device manufacturers are turning to emerging markets like India as engines of growth. This automatically implies that they will now need to develop and build products that are relevant to these markets, of which India is very promising for medical technology OEMs.

What are the challenges medical device manufacturers are facing currently?

The main challenges for medical device manufacturers in India are mainly accessibility, affordability and availability. Since a large proportion of the Indian population resides in rural areas with limited access to healthcare providers, medical devices need to go to the patients, and these must be provided at an affordable price. Thus, it is obvious that medical devices manufacturers have to address the increasing demand of the Indian market for portable and affordable and easy to use devices.

How will the medical device market change in future and how will medical electronics segment adapt to this changing environment?

The medical device market is an ever evolving market which sees new standards, regulations and technologies coming in all the time. However, today there are companies investing in developing IP in the areas of short-range communication such as Bluetooth, IEEE 11073, imaging algorithms, 802.11n etc. Medical device manufacturing companies are now able to reduce time to market and R&D costs using these new technologies.

Telemedicine is another fast growing area through which medical device manufacturers can expand the scope of usage of their devices from a patient’s home to make medical data available to a doctor or a nurse providing primary healthcare. With the availability of internet and broadband technology in almost all the developed and rapidly developing countries, technology today is available where a patient or a primary health centre located in remote or rural regions can have a video conference with the doctors and specialists in the larger hospitals.

Advanced diagnosis can be done for cardio care (through exchange of ECG), orthopaedics (through exchange of digital X-ray) etc, connecting the medical devices to the telemedicine unit along with the user application software.

The evolving market will see the segment adapt to the changing environment by accommodating all the changes in the industry and understanding the pressing needs of the demography and adapting accordingly.

basics

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basics

 transmitters, receivers and vacuum tubes.

Today, most electronic devices use semiconductor components to perform electron control. The study of semiconductor devices and related technology is considered a branch of solid state physics, whereas the design and construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems come under electronics engineering. This article focuses on engineering aspects of electronics.

Contents  [hide] 1 Electronic devices and components 2 Types of circuits 2.1 Analog circuits 2.2 Digital circuits 3 Heat dissipation and thermal management 4 Noise 5 Electronics theory 6 Electronics lab 7 Computer aided design (CAD) 8 Construction methods 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links

[edit]Electronic devices and components

An electronic component is any physical entity in an electronic system used to affect the electrons or their associated fields in a desired manner consistent with the intended function of the electronic system. Components are generally intended to be connected together, usually by being soldered to a printed circuit board (PCB), to create an electronic circuit with a particular function (for example an amplifier, radio receiver, or oscillator). Components may be packaged singly or in more complex groups as integrated circuits. Some common electronic components are capacitors, inductors, resistors, diodes, transistors, etc. Components are often categorized as active (e.g. transistors andthyristors) or passive (e.g. resistors and capacitors).

[edit]Types of circuits

Circuits and components can be divided into two groups: analog and digital. A particular device may consist of circuitry that has one or the other or a mix of the two types.

[edit]Analog circuits

Main article: Analog electronics

Hitachi J100 adjustable frequency drive chassis.

Most analog electronic appliances, such as radio receivers, are constructed from combinations of a few types of basic circuits. Analog circuits use a continuous range of voltage as opposed to discrete levels as in digital circuits.

The number of different analog circuits so far devised is huge, especially because a 'circuit' can be defined as anything from a single component, to systems containing thousands of components.

Analog circuits are sometimes called linear circuits although many non-linear effects are used in analog circuits such as mixers, modulators, etc. Good examples of analog circuits include vacuum tube and transistor amplifiers, operational amplifiers and oscillators.

One rarely finds modern circuits that are entirely analog. These days analog circuitry may use digital or even microprocessor techniques to improve performance. This type of circuit is usually called "mixed signal" rather than analog or digital.

Sometimes it may be difficult to differentiate between analog and digital circuits as they have elements of both linear and non-linear operation. An example is the comparator which takes in a continuous range of voltage but only outputs one of two levels as in a digital circuit. Similarly, an overdriven transistor amplifier can take on the characteristics of a controlledswitch having essentially two levels of output.

[edit]Digital circuits

Main article: Digital electronics

Digital circuits are electric circuits based on a number of discrete voltage levels. Digital circuits are the most common physical representation of Boolean algebra and are the basis of all digital computers. To most engineers, the terms "digital circuit", "digital system" and "logic" are interchangeable in the context of digital circuits. Most digital circuits use a binary system with two voltage levels labeled "0" and "1". Often logic "0" will be a lower voltage and referred to as "Low" while logic "1" is referred to as "High". However, some systems use the reverse definition ("0" is "High") or are current based. Ternary (with three states) logic has been studied, and some prototype computers made.Computers, electronic clocks, and programmable logic controllers (used to control industrial processes) are constructed of digital circuits.Digital Signal Processors are another example.

Building-blocks:

• Logic gates
• Adders
• Flip-Flops
• Counters
• Registers
• Multiplexers
• Schmitt triggers

Highly integrated devices:

• Microprocessors
• Microcontrollers
• Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
• Digital signal processor (DSP)
• Field-programmable gate array (FPGA)

[edit]Heat dissipation and thermal management

Main article: Thermal management of electronic devices and systems

Heat generated by electronic circuitry must be dissipated to prevent immediate failure and improve long term reliability. Techniques for heat dissipation can include heat sinks and fans for air cooling, and other forms of computer cooling such as water cooling. These techniques useconvection, conduction, & radiation of heat energy.

[edit]Noise

Main article: Electronic noise

Noise is associated with all electronic circuits. Noise is defined^[1] as unwanted disturbances superposed on a useful signal that tend to obscure its information content. Noise is not the same as signal distortion caused by a circuit. Noise may be electromagnetically or thermally generated, which can be decreased by lowering the operating temperature of the circuit. Other types of noise, such as shot noisecannot be removed as they are due to limitations in physical properties.

[edit]Electronics theory

Main article: Mathematical methods in electronics

Mathematical methods are integral to the study of electronics. To become proficient in electronics it is also necessary to become proficient in the mathematics of circuit analysis.

Circuit analysis is the study of methods of solving generally linear systems for unknown variables such as the voltage at a certain node or the current through a certain branch of a network. A common analytical tool for this is the SPICE circuit simulator.

Also important to electronics is the study and understanding of electromagnetic field theory.

[edit]Electronics lab

Main article: Electronics lab simulation

Due to the empirical nature of electronics theory, laboratory experimentation is an important part of the study of electronics. These experiments are used to prove, verify, and reinforce laws and theorems such as Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, etc. Historically, electronics labs have consisted of electronics devices and equipment located in a physical space, although in more recent years the trend has been towardselectronics lab simulation software, such as CircuitLogix, Multisim, and PSpice.

[edit]Computer aided design (CAD)

Main article: Electronic design automation

Today's electronics engineers have the ability to design circuits using premanufactured building blocks such as power supplies,semiconductors (such as transistors), and integrated circuits. Electronic design automation software programs include schematic captureprograms and printed circuit board design programs. Popular names in the EDA software world are NI Multisim, Cadence (ORCAD), Eagle PCB and Schematic, Mentor (PADS PCB and LOGIC Schematic), Altium (Protel), LabCentre Electronics (Proteus), gEDA, KiCad and many others.

[edit]Construction methods

Main article: Electronic packaging

Many different methods of connecting components have been used over the years. For instance, early electronics often used point to point wiring with components attached to wooden breadboards to construct circuits. Cordwood construction and wire wraps were other methods used. Most modern day electronics now use printed circuit boards made of materials such as FR4, or the cheaper (and less hard-wearing) Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper (SRBP, also known as Paxoline/Paxolin (trade marks) and FR2) - characterised by its light yellow-to-brown colour. Health and environmental concerns associated with electronics assembly have gained increased attention in recent years, especially for products destined to the European Union, with its Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), which went into force in July 2006.

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