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The interactive and animated applets are part of the Introductory Course on Power Electronics taught by Prof. Kolar at the ETH Zurich.

 Interactive Power Electronics Seminar

Interactive Power Electronics Seminar

Power Electronics Circuit Simulation

Applets to See – are the simple Buck-converter and the Rotating Three-Dimensional Field
More pages of Compulsory Reading for Students

  • Part I – An Overview of AC/AC-Converter Topologies
  • iPES-Circuits – DC/DC converters, thyristor converter, AC/DC inverter.
  • iPES-Circuits+ – Power electronic systems of higher complexity in industry.
  • iPES-Thermal – Dimensioning and operation of power electronic converters
  • iPES-EMFields – Electrostatic, magnetic fields, permeability, inductor design.
  • iPES-AET – Operational Amplifier – Applications.

Gecko Research

Power Electronics Simulation -Specialized Software to meet demands of Power Electronics Engineers. Gecko-Research is engaged in numerical simulations of circuits, control, 3D-thermal, electromagnetics, reliability issues and system optimization.

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In: Analog Design

What is the use of a Robot, which cannot perceive its environment in detail. Where can a Control system be effective, if it does not get a “feedback” about its actions. How could one do Analysis and Research or Verify, when he cannot Measure a parameter with good accuracy and resolution.

ADC are the Eyes and Ears for a uC, this brings the Real world as Numbers within the CPU. Without ADC a uC is like a Frog in the Well and has to create an Imaginary World for himself. That is beyond the scope of Engineering.

Bring your favorite PIC Microcontroller to his senses. Give him an ability to Perceive the Reality around him. Get him an Analog to Digital Converter and don’t forget to code.

MAX1169 ADC and PIC Microcontroller

MAX1169 ADC is better than 4 1/2 Digit Value. For me the Intersil chip is a Benchmark. Beyond 5 1/2 Resolution may be needed only for Scientific Research.

I would add, 2 1/2 is like Analog Meters/Bar Graphs, 3 1/2 for Control systems, 4 1/2 for T&M and beyond 5 1/2 is for R&D.  – delabs Notes

Interfacing the MAX1169 ADC to a PIC Microcontroller – Maxim

Abstract: This application note describes how to interface a MAX1169 analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to a PIC microcontroller. It includes an example circuit and software for a PIC18F442. The software contains function calls to interface the ADC to the PIC microcontroller using the internal MSSP I²C port at 400kHz.

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In: Integrated Circuits

Designs, develops, manufactures and markets microcomputer components of desktop and server systems. Since 1968, Intel has been dedicated to transforming the world through technology.

Intel Corporation – Microcomputer Components

Desktop Board DQ965WC

See Above is the DQ965WC in the PicoBTX form factor delivers valuable new capabilities for large and small businesses. With support for dual-core processors…

This small form factor desktop board merges the energy-efficient power of the Core 2 Duo processor with enhanced manageability, data protection and security capabilities.

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In: Handheld Portables, Software and Computing

These are types of the Chumby Mini Web Computer, it was a Web Widget App System with Touch Interface. Innovative System ahead of its time. It manifested in 2006 before the Touch Screen Tablets.

HandHeld Green Cloud Computing

Success of iGoogle in 2005 with Mini Web Apps and a Free App Store like System. The Desktop widgets of Yahoo, Google Desktop Search who created a Apps Shop or App Vending Store formed the ideas.

iGoogle Widgets and The First App Store

These innovations and rapid Hardware size shrinking, low power chips, flash+, wireless and broadband technology boost have lead to the Tablets you see today,

Chumby Web Computer

Chumby Mini Embedded Computer

I made this post today when many facts feel in place and i came to the conclusion that the Tablets, AppStore manifested from the concepts of touch usability, widgets etc. that came from gadgets like chumby and web services like iGoogle, both are gone today – 2009 to 2012 delabs

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In: Data Interface, Process Control

I will give a simple example for the purpose of understanding and assimilation of the concept. Consider the Toaster a Vital Home Appliance, Build a Embedded Internet Interface into the toaster. Then make it Wireless Networking capable. The gadget can also get connected thru Mains Carrier Communication. Digital Timer Page.

Now you build a Webware service, create API’s, Ready Gadgets and Wizards. So he can create-use the API from any Computer or PDA. He can Sub-Lease his custom API Service with Internet capable Gadgets.

When the Javascript of this is linked to the API of the Control Webapp that you created, This gadget can monitor and control the Quality of the Toast from anywhere in the world ;-).

Digital Timer for Internet – Live Widget

But Then, the service should be easy for just anyone to use, the coding is never done by the user of the service. He creates an account, hires the API, creates his own Gadgets and Apps with wizards. Then he gets to download the firmware for the Embedded Internet ASIC you Provide and the Product he manufactures goes with that circuit. See a Screenshot below

programmable-digital-timer

The end customer buys an Internet capable Toaster with a CD demo on how to access his free webservice. With this service, he can get all the web gadgets and tools to control his Home Appliance Arsenal.

Idea – 19:36 25-Feb-08, Nature – Open Source, – Ideas of delabs

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In: Instrumentation

For the past 30 years, National Instruments has been a technology pioneer and leader in virtual instrumentation – a revolutionary concept that has changed the way engineers and scientists in industry, government, and academia approach measurement and automation.

LabVIEW, Data Acquisition, Modular Instruments, PXI, Programmable Automation Controllers.
Here is a page from an old NI Catalog. RS-232 Tutorial of NI. drag-drop image to read.

National Instruments – Test and Measurement

One which is useful for beginners is the LabVIEW Student Edition – LabVIEW easily connects to any device be it hardware or outside applications like Microsoft Excel. You can depend on this seamless development experience as you write your program.

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Clean rooms and Dust free environment is a must for Precision Mechanical Engineering. It is not MEMS or nano sizes, even micron sizes accuracy in parts can be affected by Dust and Humidity.

In Electronics, Timepiece Manufacturing, Medical Equipment and Scientific Apparatus companies. Clan Rooms ensure long term reliability and safety of the products not to forget Precision.

EE Design Library – Electronic Product Design Resource.

Even if a Place is partially Dust free, it is better to have all objects with the least surface area. The way Motors are designed, Interiors of houses even a Machine

Clan Rooms and Electronics

You can enclose objects with many contours and unclean-able surfaces within a Spherical or Cubical Transparent Cover, this is easy for inspection and cleaning.

Dust, Oil, Sand and Humidity makes Grime. Never allow Rodents and Roaches in the Workplace they are larger than 100 microns.

Resources – Electronic Firms and Electronic Projects.

Tools and Equipment must be maintained free of rust/corrosion and exposure to brine or chemical fumes. Metal tools must be cleaned, oiled and stored in dry places when not in use.

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I first saw this practically in the Orthodox Cherokee SMPS. This is where we differentiate from Engineered Products and just Mass Production without following standards. The Cherokee SMPS was a work of art, perfect in all respects.

The Copper Desert or Isolation Land

There is a No Man’s Land in PCB. Any good power electronics designer should/will know. Product Safety and HV Isolation, Quality and Reliability all depend on this.

High Energy Circuits

Power Electronics Design Methods

These things don’t come overnight, it is a culture, learning, experience and integrity of some of these American Firms. Reliability and Product safety are important. Every human values his life very much. A manufacturer too should appreciate this.

Coming back to isolation, Keep in mind creepage distance, High energy circuits and Low voltage circuits should have clear isolation, use the best insulation. Fire and shock hazard. Mains HV transitions, spikes.

Regulated High Voltage Power Supply

Power supply faces all these, even other areas where a Human Life or Property can be endangered.

HV High Voltage Reliability and Safety

Use a Servo Stabilizer or CVT Constant Voltage Transformer or at least an Isolation Transformer. The First Defense form HV Surges, Spikes.

High Voltage Polyester & Polypropylene Metallized Capacitors in Stepdown Supplies should be Fire Retardant & Self Healing with a MOV too.