Tutorials

In the previous tutorial, we learned about basic syntax and several elements of Python’s language. Python offers six types of sequences: strings, bytes, byte arrays, range, tuples, and lists. Importantly, the strings, bytes, range, and tuples are immutable sequences that cannot be modified once defined. It’s only possible to create or destroy these sequences. This…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about manipulating data values in lists and byte arrays. Python also has mutable unordered collections, including sets and dictionaries. Let’s review these two and learn how to manipulate the data values/objects in sets and dictionaries. Sets Sets are unordered mutable collections of items. The items in a set can…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the object-oriented features of Python, which are important for organizing code and structuring our applications. Now, let’s discuss how to design graphic interfaces in Python. Embedded applications developed on microcontrollers typically have LEDs, character LCDs, or small graphic LCDs as display devices. However, these displays do not have…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the sequences and unordered collections in Python, including the operations, functions, and methods applicable to them. However, there can be more complex data structures in an application, which are known as user-defined classes and objects. Any application uses data (values/objects/user-defined classes/objects) and code behavior (how the data is…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the window widget in Tkinter and designed a blank GUI main window (which is not a child to any other window in the GUI application). Child windows serve as a container for other widgets There is no point of blank windows so there must be other widgets included…

ATtiny85 microcontroller is a very popular 8-bit RISC microcontroller. It has become the first choice for professionals and developers because of its incredible features in such a small size. As its name suggests, it’s a tiny 8-pin (PDIP) microcontroller with almost all required features that any microcontroller should have such as built-in FLASH, EEPROM, SRAM,…

What is a Battery? A battery is an electrochemical device that can store energy in the form of chemical energy. It translates to electric energy when the battery is connected in a circuit due to the flow of electrons because of the specific placement of chemicals. It was invented by Alessandro Volta, whereas Gaston Plante…

In this article, we will learn how to choose a battery according to the specifications and requirements of your application. Some applications need more power and some need to be cheap with less power. There are various factors and parameters that to consider when choosing the best battery for your application. No one battery is…

A battery-management system (BMS) is an electronic system or circuit that monitors the charging, discharging, temperature, and other factors influencing the state of a battery or battery pack. It’s used to monitor and maintain the health and capacity of a battery. Today’s BMS devices are advanced and will often provide pop-up notifications as you’ve likely…

The battery stores electrical energy in form of chemical energy and the chemical energy again able to convert into electrical energy. The conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy is called discharging. The chemical reaction during discharge makes electrons flow through the external load connected at the terminals which causes the current flow in the…

The open loop buck converter designed in the previous tutorial did not had a regulated output. The output voltage was varying with the resistance of the load. The output of the circuit designed in the previous tutorial could be regulated by adding a feedback circuit in it. The feedback circuit could help in error detection of the output voltage and change duty cycle of the frequency on which circuit operates to provide a constant output voltage irrespective of the load resistance.  Contrary to Linear Regulators which step down the DC voltage by dissipating the heat, Buck Converters step down the DC voltage through switching regulators and also step up the output current. According to the law of power conservation, input power must be equal to output power. 

The designing of Boost Converter SMPS has been already discussed in the previous tutorials. In this tutorial, an open loop buck converter SMPS will be designed. The Buck Converter is also one of the topologies of the SMPS (Switched Mode Power Supply). These type of SMPS steps down the DC voltage unlike the Boost converters step up the DC voltage. So the buck Converter is also a DC to DC step down converter in which the output voltage is always less than the input voltage. Contrary to Linear Regulators which step down the DC voltage by dissipating the heat, Buck Converters step down the DC voltage through switching regulators and also step up the output current.

The closed loop boost converter designed in the previous tutorial though had a constant and regulated voltage at the output but it could not be varied. For a stable output that Boost converter had an error detection circuit. The error detection was done by adding a feedback circuit which continuously checks the error in the output voltage and provided a regulated voltage at the output. For making the output of the circuit adjustable, it must be drawn through a variable resistor. This closed loop boost converter not only had a feedback circuit, its output is also adjustable. Therefore in this tutorial, a closed loop non–isolated boost converter is designed.

The open loop boost converter designed in the previous tutorial had a fixed output voltage respective to the input voltage level. The output voltage of the circuit can be made variable by drawing the output through a variable resistor. The output voltage in this circuit still remains unregulated as no feedback is used.Therefore in this tutorial, an open loop non–isolated boost converter is designed. The boost converter can be designed in two ways- Open loop boost converter and closed loop boost converter. There are certain design parameters involved in the designing of the boost converter. It is important to understand these design parameters. Any boost canverter can operate in either of the two possible modes of operation.

The open loop boost converter designed in the previous tutorial did not have constant and regulated voltage at the output. For a stable output, a Boost converter with error detection circuit needs to be designed. The error detection can be done by adding a feedback circuit which continuously checks the error in the output voltage and provides a regulated voltage at the output. Therefore in this tutorial, a closed loop non–isolated boost converter is designed. The boost converter can be designed in two ways- Open loop boost converter and Closed loop boost converter. In the former, there is no feedback from output to input contrary to the closed loop which has a feedback circuit. So, the output of an open loop boost converter is not regulated. In the latter, there is a feedback from the output to the input. So, the output of a closed loop boost converter is regulated. 

In this tutorial, an open loop boost converter SMPS will be designed. The Boost Converter is one of the topologies of Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS). It has a DC source as Input power like a battery, generator or rectifier. In the case of a boost converter, the output power is always greater than the input power.So, the boost converter circuit will step up the power from one DC level to a higher DC level. The method of converting one DC voltage to a different DC voltage is called DC to DC conversion. The boost converter is a DC to DC converter which steps up the input signal to the higher voltage level.

SSD1306 is a popular OLED display driver. Portable and wearable devices are the new trends. Small OLED displays are just perfect for such compact and portable devices. SSD1306 is a single-chip CMOS OLED/PLED driver. It can manage a 128×64 dot-matrix graphic display.  It is designed to control common-cathode OLED panels. The chip has several built-in…

In the previous article, we discussed the fundamentals and working principles of an inductor. We also learned about some common types of inductors like solenoidal coils, toroids, pot cores e and transmission line inductors. Inductors come in a variety of many other types based on construction. When select selecting an inductor for a given circuit,…

In the previous tutorial, we learned about the different properties and characteristics of Inductors. These specifications are useful in determining the efficiency of an inductor in a circuit. Manufacturers supply inductors for application-specific categories including RF chokes, power, high current, and high-frequency. So, choosing an inductor is quite simple compared to resistors or capacitors (which…

In the previous tutorials, we discussed the basic concept of an inductor, properties of an inductor, and different types of inductors. Now it’s time to know how to select an inductor for a given circuit. Fortunately, different types of inductors are designed to suit specific applications. So, for any given application, either there is exclusively…