Electronic hardware filters can be classified into two types: active and passive. Active Filters: Filter circuits that consist of active components like transistors and op amps with passive components like resistors, capacitors, etc., are called active filters. Passive filter: Filter circuits that consist of only a resistor, capacitor, and inductor and are tuned to resonate…
How to send MQTT data from ESP32/ESP8266 to Raspberry Pi
It’s possible to set up a do-it-yourself home automation system with an ESP board and Raspberry Pi (RPi). Both offer Wi-Fi connectivity and can easily communicate via a home network. However, a communication protocol is required for wireless communication for devices operating in a wider network. Since conventional internet protocols like HTTP are typically too…
How to convert Raspberry Pi into a 24×7 Torrent Box
Torrents are a popular way of distributing and sharing files on the internet. Next to browsing, torrenting is the next most common activity on the web. The person who uploads the torrent seed or users who have already downloaded the file are called seeders. Those who are in the process of downloading files are known…
VHDL Tutorial 1: Introduction to VHDL
What is VHDL? VHDL is a short form of VHSlC Hardware Description Language where VHSIC stands for Very High Speed Integrated Circuits It’s a hardware description language – means it describes the behavior of a digital circuit, and also it can be used to derive or implement a digital circuit/system hardware It can be used…
VHDL Tutorial 2: VHDL programs
In the previous tutorial on the basics of VHSlC Hardware Description Language or VHDL, we discussed the VHDL design flow and program structure. Now, it’s time to learn about the VHDL programs. However, please note, the prerequisite for VHDL programming are the fundamentals of digital electronics and digital circuit design. To fully understand these programs,…
VHDL Tutorial 3: Using MAX+II to compile, simulate & verify a VHDL program
In the previous two tutorials, we learned about VHDL basics and programs. Next, we’ll simulate and verify the VHDL programs. To edit, compile, execute (simulate), or verify a VHDL program, there are requirements including software tools, such as: ISE from XILINX ModelSim from Mentor Graphics Riviera from Aldec Quartus-II from Altera etc. All of these…
VHDL Tutorial – 4: design, simulate and verify all digital GATE (AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR & XNOR) in VHDL
In previous tutorial VHDL tutorial 3, we have learned how to design, simulate, and verify any digital circuit in VHDL using Altera’s MAX+II VHDL simulator software. (If you are not following this VHDL tutorial series one by one, you are requested to go through all previous tutorials of these series before going ahead in this…
VHDL Tutorial – 5: Design, simulate and verify NAND, NOR, XOR and XNOR gates using AND-OR-NOT gates in VHDL
In the previous VHDL tutorial 4, we designed and simulated all seven logic gates (AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, and XNOR) in VHDL. (If you are not following this VHDL tutorial series one by one, please go through all previous tutorials of these series before going ahead in this tutorial) In this tutorial, We…
VHDL Tutorial 6: Design and verify De Morgan’s Theorem using VHDL
In previous tutorial VHDL tutorial 5, we built NAND, NOR, XOR, and XNOR gates using AND-OR-NOT gates in VHDL. (If you are not following this VHDL tutorial series one by one, please go through all previous tutorials of these series before going ahead in this tutorial) In this tutorial, We shall write a VHDL program…
How to design a DC-to-DC buck converter
Most appliances require 5Vs for operation. In this experiment, we’ll design a DC-to-DC buck converter that provides 5Vs of the regulated output. We’ll use an Adjustable AP65111AWU-7 switch-mode IC for the DC voltage conversion and analyze its performance. Specification of the IC: A step-down 12V DC to 0.8V to 6V DC An output current of…
What are the different types of electric vehicles?
Electric cars are the present and future of the automotive industry, yet it may not be easy to believe the first electric cars were introduced in the 1880s. The electric technology in automobiles was shunned due to cheaper gasoline cars and the unexpected developments and innovations in internal combustion (IC) engines. Electric vehicles, a greener…
Designing an Online UPS – (Part 11/17)
The main source of power is usually the AC Mains. The Mains Supply is used to charge a battery through the charger circuit. The battery provides the power backup when the mains supply is cut off. A battery stores electrical energy in the form of DC current. The power backup is provided by connecting the load circuit to the inverter. The inverter draws the power from the charged battery on power failure, converts back the DC power to AC power and provides power backup to the load. This is how any basic UPS works.
Designing an Offline UPS – Part (12 /17)
In the previous tutorial, Online UPS was assembled from its basic building blocks like Lead Acid battery Charger, Square Wave Inverter and Modified Sine Wave Inverter. Now in this tutorial, offline UPS will be designed. The Offline UPS is one of the topologies of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). In UPS system, the term topology refers to the switching mechanism of the UPS system. Contrary to online UPS, in offline UPS, the load circuit is initially directly powered by the AC mains. On the failure of power supply, the power failure is detected by a switching circuit and the power is provided to the load through the battery and inverter after the power failure has already occurred. So, in the offline UPS, the load experiences the power cutoff once before it receives the power backup from the UPS.
High and Low Side Switching of MOSFET – ( Part 13/17)
While designing the UPS circuits, MOSFET were used in the inverter circuits. The MOSFET were used as High side switches in the circuit. For driving the MOSFET in high side configuration, IR2110 gate driver IC was used. IR2110 is a High –Low side Gate Driver IC which is used with power MOSFET and IGBT. A Gate Driver is a specially designed circuit that is used to drive the Gate of MOSFET or IGBT in High Side Switching application. That means when MOSFET/IGBT is used in High side configuration then a Gatedriver IC is need to be used. In this tutorial, some important concepts like the High and Low side Switching of MOSFET, need of Gate Driver circuit and driving methods of High side MOSFETs will be discussed. These concepts will crystal clear the working of MOSFET as a switch and will so justify the use of MOSFET in inverter circuit as switching component.
Testing IR2110 Gate Driver IC- ( Part 14/17)
In the previous tutorial, it was discussed that for driving a MOSFET as high side switch, a gate driver circuit needs to be used. The IR2110 IC is one of the high speed and high voltage gate driver ICs for IGBT and power MOSFET. The IC is having independent low and high side output channel. By using a single IC, a half bridge circuit can be operated in which one MOSFET is in high side configuration and another one is in the low side configuration. For driving the high side MOSFET, this IC uses a bootstrap circuit which otherwise could have to be designed externally. Before using this IC for driving the half or full bridge circuit, it is necessary to test the faultiness of the IC. A faulty IC can give unstable output and may blow up the MOSFET or other components in the circuit. In this tutorial, the method to test the IR2110 IC is discussed.
Introduction to Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and its design (Part – 1/17)
The Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is an electronics device which supplies power to a load when main supplies or input power source fails. It not only acts as an emergency power source for the appliances, it serves to resolve common power problems too. Any UPS has a power storage element which stores energy in the form of chemical energy like the energy is stored in batteries.It is like energy is stored in the form of motion in a flywheel. That is why these devices are also called battery backup or flywheel backup. The UPS not only provides emergency power, they also help to sort out common power related issues like providing protection from input power interruptions, protection from overvoltage, output voltage regulation and stabilization.
How do dc-dc converters work?
A DC power supply is used in almost all of devices where a regulated voltage is required. A DC converter implements the process of DC conversion. There are two types of DC converters: Buck converter- Steps down the input source voltage Boost converter – Steps up the input source voltage Conversion topology Linear regulator –…
How to animate text on SSD1306 using MicroPython and ESP8266
Organic light-emitting diode or OLED displays have become essential for many embedded devices. OLEDs are considered one of the highest-quality displays to showcase device information. Typically, embedded devices use single-screen graphics, but complex interfaces are required when there are several user interactions. For example, such interfaces might use menus or other graphical navigation. Adding a…
MicroPython: How to write and read text files on a MicroSD card using ESP32
Data logging is an integral part of many embedded projects. Typically, data logging is used to record sensor readings, with or without a timestamp. For example, many IoT applications use data logging to store network changes or data for troubleshooting or verification. The ideal way to log data locally is using an SD or MicroSD…
Designing a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
Everyone must be familiar with the term – Switched Mode Power Supply or SMPS. Yes, they are used in every personal computer. In fact, the Switched Mode Power Supply is widely used with many other devices. Once it is understood that what SMPS actually is, its countless applications can be easily imagined. An SMPS is used for converting the electronic power supply efficiently. Any SMPS has some storage components which store electrical energy to supply to the load device and some switching components which turn on and off at high frequencies charging and discharging the storage components.