THE ELECTRONTC,51VMtAZ/NZ WITH TYIP PRACTiCAL APPROACH

UK SI 70 IP 2,2 52 (orr;!. VAI) February 1990

ifterthlek Killer
- 11:idit)

glellor Video Mixer (21

Initi3lization Aid

glecirooscs C:Jrieni Sensors

Becket Crigade Devices
For fast delivery telephone All prices ex VAT.
your order on 01-205 9558
using VISA/Access Card
ILIACILITABSI TECHNOMATIC
Techno House 468 Church Lane, London NW9 8TQ,
Prices are subject to
change without notice.
Please add carriage
(a) £8.00 (Courier)
(b) £3.50
Orders welcome from
government depts & (c) £2.00
educational establishments Tel: 01.205 9558 Fax: 01.205 0190 (d) £1.00

What we offer in addition to efficient

rchimedes sales service and professional backup!
Model Basic Dolour
A3000 £649 £784 We not only otter professional advice when you FREE COLOUR MONITOR
ee are purchasing your system but we will also with every Special
A410/1 £1199 provide friendly assistance afterwards. We
A420/1 £1699 Special Offer
A440/1 £2499 Offer
also offer the following incentives to make your 400/1 Base System
purchase worthwhile. Offer limited to current stocks
^.4ith Philips CME,333 Mzriitor.
Specify if Acorn Monitor required.
Carriage f5/computer £12/system 0% Finance
R140 UNIX SYSTEM We are now offering a totally interest free credit to enable you to purchase a system of your choice
Technomatic is an Acorn Authorised UNIX by allowing you to spread your payments over 11 easy manageable monthly payments as shown
dealer. We have the R140 system on demo and below at no extra cost on our normal prices.
a range of R140 peripherals in stock. Deposit 10 instalments Final Cost
R140 Base Station £3500(a) ex inc VAT ex inc VAT " ex inc VAT
Ethernet Card £449(b) A3000 £ 65.22 £ 75.00 £ 58.38 £ 67.14 £ 648 £ 746.35
A3000 (use with TV) £ 80.00 £ 69.57 £ .62.84 £ 72.27 £ 698 £ 802.70
SCSI HD Interface £275(b) A3000 Colour £ 78.26 £ 90.00 £ 70.57 £ 81.16 £ 784 £ 901.60
System Admin. Guide £25(b) A410/1 Colour £120 £138.00 £107.90 £124.09 £1199 £1378.85
Prog Ref Manual £65(b) A410/1 + Taxan 770+ £152.17 £175.00 £139.18 £160.06 £1544 £1775.60
4 Port Expansion Card £499(b) A420/1 Colour £170.43 £196.00 £152.86 £175.79 £1699 £1953.85
A420!1 + Taxan 770+ £204.35 £235.00 £183.97 £211.56 £2044 £2350.60
Maintenance contracts availacie on full systems.
A440/1 Colour £250.43 £288.00 £224.86 £258.59 £2499 £2873.85
TECHNOMATIC UPGRADE A44011 -- Taxan 770+ £286.96 £330.00 £255.07 £294.06 £2689 £3092.35
R140 £347.85 £400.00 £323.04 £371.50 £3500 £4025.00
SPECIALS £5 to be added to 1st instalment for acceptance fee. Phone us with your requirements and we will
Our specially priced upgrades offer an get our detailed offer on its way to you. We are a licensed credit brokers and can also offer credits
economical upgrade to full capability of 410/1 up to 24/36 months. Please ask for details.
and 420/1 systems as indicated below:
1Mb RAM upgrade £120(c)
1Mb RAM + 20Mb HD £299(a) ON -SITE MAINTENANCE
3Mb RAM + 40Mb (Toshiba) £629(a)
20Mb HD + Controller (310) £349(a) Archimedes Computers like all other Acorn equipment are very reliable systems however, to give
you peace of mind in the unlikely event of a failure, we now offer you an on site maintenance
2Mb RAM upgrade £234(c) contract.
3Mb RAM + 20Mb £395(a) The contract will be through Granada MicroCare. Acorn's on site maintenance contractors who with
3Mb RAM + 49.5Mb £699(a) over 160 field engineers and 8 strategically located service depots in the country are able to
HD Controller (310) £199(b) guarantee 8 working hour service call. with no restriction on the number of calls you make during
the year. Not many companies can offer such capability or guarantees. Contracts upto 5 years are
Ask for our price on 410/1 upgraded to 420/1 or available. When you enter into a maintenance contract remember ridiculously low cost contracts
440/1 spec and save ££££s. like many low cost insurnces normally result in problems if not in grief.
Granada MicroCare. the only truly nationally established service company for Acorn computers.
MONITORS offers high quality service at a very reasonable rate as shown below.
Philips CM8833 14 " Colour £199(a)
Taxan 770+ 14" MultiSync Col £395(a) And that's not all we offer!
Taxan 770+ LR Low Radiation £415(a)
CM168616'Hi Res (1280x 1024) £1249(a) When you purchase a system from us we will allow you the following incentives on on -site
Taxan Viking 1119" Mono £849(a) maintenace contracts and credits to purchase from our extensive range of add-ons. peripherals.
Maintenance contracts available on above monitors.
software and accessories.
Payment method: with 0% finance cash credit card
Ask for details on techno scanner digitising tablet.
expansion cards and software
A3000: on -site contract at £30 Free on site contract plus
OR £35 to spend £35 to spend
A3000 Colour on site contract at £48 Free on site contract plus
Techno OR £35 to spend £40 to spend
This is a special A3000 (TV) on site contract at £413` Free on site contract plus'
offer not likely OR £35 to spend £40 to spend
to be repeated 'Or A410!1 Colour on site contract at £80
OR £60 to spend
Free on site contract plus
£45 to spend
Archimedes 410-1 A410/1 Taxan 770* on site contract at £85 Free on site contract plus
upgraded to full OR £75 to spend £100 to spend
440 1 spec plus Taxan 770-- A420!1 Colour on site contract at £85 Free on site contract plus
LR Radiation Monitor OR £100 to spend £140 to spend
for only £1999 A420/1 Taxan 770+ on site contract at £105
OR £100 to spend
Free on site contract plus
£140 to spend

Finance and Maintenance contract available. Offer A440/1 Colour on site contract at £50 Free on site contract plus
limited to current stocks. OR £120 to spend £260 to spend
A440/1 Taxan 770+ on site contract at £60 Free on site contract plus
We can provide attractive discounts to OR £120 to spend £275 to spend
Education Authorities, Schools, Colleges R140 Free on site contract plus Free on site contract plus
and Health Authorities. Simply phone us or £120 to spend £350 to spend
write, outlining your requirements, and we 'Contract does not cover UHF Modulator. Above prices are ex VAT. Offer on current stocks only
will su..ly a . uotation.
If you do not like any of the frills we offer ask for our barebone prices.

TEL: 01 205 9558

 .°3

r I -- -1 February
Feb 1990
1

-- .

'
so

CONTEN S .1.-
Volume 16
Number 175

Theme of the month in

LEADER CORRECTION
March will be
In the description of the pho-
Components 11 Launch of the digital communications era tograph on the front cover of
the December 1989 issue of
Also in the March issue: AUDIO & HI-FI Elektor Electronics, we stat-
Sinewave inverter
Calsod now even more versatile ed that the 4.5 m dia. antenna
Bucket brigade memories 23
A review had won a 1989 Queen's
Surge plug
Pause switch for cam- 34 PROJECT: Feedback killler Award for Technological
corders by T. Giffard Achievement. This was
Low-cost V/I display based on wrong information.
module AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS In fact. Precision Metal Ltd.
SAVE decoder: Part 2 the designer and manufac-
11
__ PROJECT: Car theft deterrent
. Temperature compensa- turers of the antenna.
by David Butler received a 1989 Queen's
tion for LCD modules
Award for Export Achieve-
COMPONENTS
ment.
24 Introducing the OP -series opamps
by J. Ruffell
44 AC -DC current sensors

COMPUTERS & MICROPROCESSORS

rt._,.1

'
-Ili
14 PROJECT: Initialization aid for printers
h' A. Rigby ..
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.7

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:

:J-.--:
I
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-:.

- -- - DESIGN IDEAS _ - A.---- '-- - -..-

'.
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32 Waveform modulation of the mains voltage illn \
;" h) A.M. Karailiev
1::::::
...-
GENERAL INTEREST
s3 PROJECT: The digital model train - Part 11 Initialization aid for printers
by T. Wigmore p. 14
Front cover 62 PROJECT: Dark -room clock
New singers and musicians.
by A. Rigby
like Kathy and Ian shown
here, can now set up their
own home recording studio,
INTERMEDIATE PROJECT \i
I
, *.

using the 16 -track console WOO

57 Part 8: Reflex MW AM receiver 0:11116
developed by Remix to pro- by J. Bareford
fessional standards but at a
non-professional price.
The Remix has proved attrac-
RADIO & TELEVISION 11
tive not only to bands, corn-
posers and song -writers who
27 PROJECT: SAVE decoder - Part 1
by P.N.P. Wintergreen
ANA
want to mix and record at 38 PROJECT: PC Radio
home, but also to smaller, an ELV design Capacitance meter. p. 18
mid -priced commercial music 47 PROJECT: Video mixer - Part 2
and film studios. by A. Rigby
Features include: 6 auxiliary
sends, separate tape inputs. TEST & MEASUREMENT t: r"
peak and status LEDs, +4 dB -
Pk. -41.
a,
to -10 dB selectable, 8 bus IS PROJECT: Capacitance meter . %
with 16 -track monitoring. 8 by D. Folger
effects returns, 100 mm . Jr.

smooth action faders, direct MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

outputs on all channels, send
and return patch points News 12 &13; New books 46: Events 51: Corrections 59;
Throughout, and monitoring Readers' Forum (letters & stiff itchboard) 60: Readers services 67
with equalization. Buyers guide 74: Classified ads 74: Index of advertisers 74
S AVE decoder. p. 27

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 Please mention ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS when contacting advertisers

BASIC COMPUTER
\\\, \\\\ \A\\\\\ Intel 8052AH-BASIC

89.00 1
o0
o °° * I

!", fJ
0

COLOUR TEST PATTERN

GENERATOR
A PAL -compatible colour video source that
supplies a number of test patterns for aligning
DEN HAAG HOLLAND television sets.
FUNCTION GENERATOR
SELF-INDUCTANCE METER zn generator is without doubt on essential test
Measuring self-inductance reliably - Tent in any electronics workshop or laboratory. It is
E .
-LOe stabie, (mu -.2-spensible wherever sines -waves, triangle waves or square
notoriously difficult and inductance 77.e!ers
are, therefore, few and far between and
: 7,2: on an CE: - .esare needed.Thefunctiongenerator described in Elektor
also quite expensive. The instrument Electronics December 1984 hos a number of features only
described in Elektor Electronics September found on for more expensive ready-made units.
1988 has an LCD read-out, and achieves
an accuracy of ± 1%. Four switch - inc. case and front! £ Frequency range:
selectable inductance 1 Hz to 110 kHz in 5 decades
ranges ore available: rums. - External -voltage controlled: 0.1 V to 10 Von the VCO input
2 rnH, 20 mH. 200 mH gives a frequency range of 1 to 100. Z '-'Co 1m
2 H. Adjustable output offset and amplitud

£ 29.00
ed enclosure
S . .0 0.1
..)

Kit, complete with supply and enclosure £ 69.00

4.!
.

or . ,

.I 1

"PLOTTER"
Contains all rnechc:-.:::
(filed and turned,
electro-magnets and 2 5-'.,pper MICROPROCESSOR -CONTROLLED
motors (100 steps/rev.) FREQUENCY METER
a -_,15ional grade multi -purpose frequency meter, designed
Individual ports cy Eleidor Electronics, that con be built by many at affordable
stepper motor: oost. Described in Elektor Electronics December 1984, IC TESTER FOR IBM-PC-XT/AT
January & February 1985. L1665B-based prescaler.
£23.00
£ 11.50 Frequency meter:
£ 9.00 0.01 Hz to 1.2 GHL
Pulse duration meter:
Stepper motor interface
board
0.1 s to 100 s.
Pulse counter:
. .
- :
..: 2
CC.
2.7

test sofhvare.
7.2
t
0 to 10' pulses
Comple,--- - 871 Complete kit including software G847481a £ 60.85
Period meter:
£, 36.- 1- 10 as to 100 ns
Sensitivity:
Ready Assembled Module GB474F
Software, single G8474SW
£ 113.00
£ 17.85
input A: 10 mV (Z-=2 Ma;
Input B: TTL or CMOS compatible (Z=25 ka);
input C: prescoler input:10 (2.-=50o).
Auto -ranging and completely menu -driven.
6 or 7 digit accuracy.
Kit includes power supply,
Plotter in kit form: £ 120. - prescaler and enclosure 169.00
Ordering and
payment S -VHS -RGB-CONVERTER SVR 7000
_ SVR 7000 video recc-de eas of the new
. 76 generation con E.4. a TV sets
- the TV set
. e SVR 70Y3

E.
-:m the
CCC.2.int%irCete.:.t.:E7 7.0
All payments must be a::: -:
by full nameand VARIABLE DUAL POWER SUPPLY
Postageoncipoc,:r T.: _ --ono 2-2 asca-- za cket are able
The most frequently used equipment in an electronics Tr,e unit.
orders. laboratory or workshop is an all-purpose power supply. Such
EXPORT: divide total value c 7:=" :7 . The !age supply is obtained from a 12V/21-1_ L. -DC vol-
unit should not only provide o variable, stable, output, but also tage ma:h&c:dap:a-
1.185
be able to withstand the occosionol overload. The supply
Meei--it Elektronika Complete kit GB497131( L. £ 76.25
described in Elektor Electronics April 1986 does all that, twice
/Viz' der Service
over! Ready Assembled Module GB497F £ 176.00
.:2,--.sorach135A
HAAG
Main technical features:
Te - 70609554 (only Output voltage: 2 x 0 to 20V
-2_ - - -2-,r,aibus;riess Output current 2 x0 to 1.25 A
hours, Internal resistance: 2 m Ohm
Output ripple & noise: 5 mV.
Minimum dissipation by virtue of pre -regulation circuit
Supplied with enclosure £ 149.00

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 Tr}

Editortpublisher: Len Seymour

Technical Editor: J. Bulling
LALNCH OF
Editorial Offices:
Down House
BroortffIl Road
THE DIGI AL COMMUNICATIONS ERA
LONDON SW18 4J0
England
Telephone: 01-877 1688 (National) Plans for the digital communications era of the tions combining voice and data to achieve
or +44 1877 1688 (International)
Telex: 917003 (LPC 0) future - paving the way for even more high-tech improved communications:
Fax: 01-874 9153 (National) applications, such as the picture phone, ultra -fast longer term lower cost for ordinary telephone
or +44 1874 9153 (international) fax and high speed data transfer - have been un- connexions because ISDN2 should eventu-
Advertising: PRB Limited
3 Wolseley Terrace cited by British Telecom. The company has ally prove cheaper than two separate lines.
CHELTENHAM GL50 1TH launched a new advanced service to carry voice, It is expected that call charges for inland calls
Telephone: (0242) 510760
Fax: (0242) 226626 data and pictures. called British Telecom ISDN2. will follow the principle adopted by British Tele-
European Offices: The new service-the first ISDN service in com for its other ISDN services: the cost of
Postbus 75 the world to conform to the latest international high-speed data and voice calls over digital links
6190 AB BEEK
The Netherlands standards now being adopted worldwide-could will be the same as inland telephone calls over
Telephone: +31 4490 89444 become, by the mid 1990s. the standard ex- ordinary lines.
Telex: 56617 (etekt nil
Fax: +31 4490 70161 change line service for all customers who want Connexion and rental charges have not yet
Managing Director: M.M.J. Landman two or more connexions. It enables a broad spec- been announced. Initially, they will be at a pre-
Overseas editions:
trum of British Telecom customers to take ad- mium compared to charges for ordinary ana-
FEDERAL GERMANY \ antage of information technology (IT) services logue exchange lines, but because call charges
Elektor Verlag GmbH previously available only to large businesses. In form the larger part of most business customers'
SOsterfeld Strafe 25
5100 Aachen so doing. it will accelerate the introduction of phone costs, the benefits of ISDN2 will be avail-
Editor: E.J.A. Krempeisauer the information society. able for no more than a small increase in users'
FRANCE
Elektor sari
ISDN2 will provide high-speed digital ser- bills.
Route Nationale; Le Seau vices to branch offices of large companies as The initial network capacity of up to 90 000
B.P. 53: 59270 Bailleul well as to small and medium businesses. Such digital connexions will be rolled out over 18
Editors: D.R.S. Meyer
G.C.P. Raedersdorf ser% ices have until recently been available only months. This will enable British Telecom to
GREECE to large business sites. ISDN2 started as a test offer an ISDN2 service from all its System X
Etektor EPE
Kariskald 14
market at the end of last November and will be- digital exchanges-currently totalling more than
16673 Voula - Athena come a fully public commercial service from 2000-by the end of next year. This will cover
Editor: E. Xanthoutls the end of April. all business centres and recognized high streets
INDIA
Elektor Electronics PVT Ltd The launch of ISDN2 follows a £23 million in the United Kingdom. Service will also be
Chhotani Building order with STC Telecommunications for equip- made available in the near future on British Tele-
520, Proctor Road, Grant Road (E)
Bombay 400 007
ment to provide up to 90 000 lines of network - corn's AXE 10 exchanges.
Editor: Surendra lyer capacity. This is equivalent to 180 000 ordinary British Telecom has been working closely
NETHERLANDS phone connexions. with industry to encourage development of ter-
Elektuur BV
Peter Treckpoeistraat 2-4 The new service allows British Telecom's minals that customers can connect to ISDN2.
6191 VK Beek public network to meet customers' communica- These are expected to become available from a
Editor: P.E.L. Kersemakers
PAKISTAN tion needs for data. text. fax. graphics. and video number of suppliers at about this time. Initially,
Etectro-shop over a single high-speed digital connexion. It they are likely to be the normal industry -stan-
35 Naseem Plaza combines the power of advanced private net- dard personal computers found in offices today,
Lasbella Chawk
Karachi 5 works with the simplicity and universality of the but equipped with ISDN communication cards
Editor: Zain Ahmed ordinary telephone. for data/voice conferencing, tile transfer and dis-
PORTUGAL
Ferreira 8 Bento Lda. ISDN2 provides customers with two high- tributed processing. They will still be able to
R.D. Estefani, 32-1' speed digital exchange connexions on one pair perform word processing and other office IT ap-
1000 Lisboa of wires. Customers can use the new service to plications. as well as operating as ISDN termi-
Editor: Jeremias Sequeira
SPAIN make national and international phone calls in nals. Later, integrated ke stems and small pri-
Ingelek S.A. the ordinary way and at the same cost. In addi- vate branch exchanges are expected to be intro-
Plaza RepUblica Ecuador
2-28016 Madrid tion. they are able to make data, video and other duced.
SWEDEN digital services calls within the UK, and to ISDN2 will be able to carry many of the ap-
Electronic Press AB France, Japan and the USA. More international plications now being run on private lOng-dis-
Box 5505
14105 Huddinge links are planned. tance networks and local area networks. These
Editor: Bill Cedrum ISDN2 offers many benefits over existing could include EPOS (electronic data transfer at
Distribution. services, including: the point of sale). mortgage and insurance quota-
SEYMOUR even better quality basic telephone service tions, and retrieval of the financial and commer-
1270 London Road
LONDON SW16 4DH
with faster call set-up, clearer speech. and cial data many businesses use for their day-to-
fewer data transmission errors: day activities.
Written and composed on Apple and greater flexibility and efficiency. allowing In the next few years even more imaginative
IBM corporate publishing systems by
Etektor Electronics (Publishing) customers to use their lines for data and applications should appear, such as the view -
speech at will; phone. high-speed fax. and the transfer of
Printed in the Netherlands by NDB.
Zoeterwoude
lower cost data calls because of higher speed coloured maps and diagrams originating from
operation: optical disc stores. Such applications would be
Copyright 1990 Elektuur BV identification of callers on incoming calls especially useful to small -to -medium businesses
and of called lines on outgoing calls on digi- and branch offices: firms such as estate agents.
tal end -to -end connexions: advertising agents. designers. and other graphics
ABC setting up of wide -area quasi private net-
works over the public network:
arts companies. publishers and consumer goods
suppliers. IN
tIEUM,13 OF 11+1 AZ.,OtT
ot support for true integrated -services worksta-

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 NEWS while reducing board space and compo-
nent costs.
demonstrations at exhibitions will be well
known to many of our readers. His past
experience as director of a large Essex
SWITCH OF EUTELSAT SERVICES music school and first London synthesizer
EUTELSAT, the European Telecommuni- CUSTOMER REVOLUTION IN school, creator of Electronics & Music
cations Satellite Organization, has TELECOMMUNICATIONS Maker (now Music Technology) and Home
switched some services from EUTELSAT British Telecom has implemented one of Studio Recording magazines and frequent
I -F1 at 16° E to EUTELSAT I -F2 at 7° E the world's most challenging computer lecturer in Europe should make your day a
and vice versa. Transferred from Fl are projects to transform its services to cus- worthwhile event-he has also designed
full-time leases while in return telephony, tomers. the software you'll be using with his team
European Broadcasting Union (EBU) of programmers, so you'll be finding out
transmissions and some occasional -use new ways of making music with your
traffic is transferred from F2 to Fl. computer.
The changes are carried out to guaran- Full details from EMR CMLC, Suite 1-3,
tee complete continuity of all services on 50 Hamlet Court Road, WESTCLIFF-ON-
EUTELSAT satellites. EUTELSAT I -F1 is SEA SSO 7LX, Telephone (0702) 335747.
now entering inclined orbit after almost
seven operational years. All telephony and
most EBU traffic can be carried by a satel- US TAKE-OVER BOOSTS
lite in inclined orbit since transmission RACAL'S CAE PRESENCE
and reception are conducted via gateway Britain's Racal Electronics Group, already
earth stations that track satellites in space dominant in computer -aided design (cAD)
with great precision. systems for printed -circuit boards, has
strengthened its presence in computer -
aided engineering (CAE) with a £12 million
THE ATV COMPENDIUM take-over of the American HHB Systems
The British Amateur Television Club has simulation software company.
recently published the latest issue of its HHB Systems, based in Mahwah, New
magazine CQ - TV. This includes as usual Jersey, was set up in 1977 to develop and
a varied and interesting selection of arti- sell high-performance logic and fault sim-
cles, ranging from general topics such as ulation software for use in the design and
"Using oscilloscopes" by Mike blooding, test of complex electronic circuits. Since
G6IQM, and "Broadcast band DX-TV re- The project, known as Customer Ser- then, the company has gained over 200
ception" by Gary Smith and Keith Hamer vice Systems, draws together all the main customers worldwide with sales worth S12
to more technical articles such as "Camera elements of the customer services British million a year and its products have be-
tubes explained" by Peter Delaney, Telecom provides. All 23 million cus- come established as industry standards.
G8KZG. CQ - TV is a must for all those tomers of British Telecom are now able to The two companies have a working re-
who are interested in this stimulating benefit from its advantages. lationship dating back to 1984, and HHB's
branch of amateur radio. You can obtain Basically, it is state-of-the-art informa- products are already fully integrated
this issue and much more by joining the tion technology in action, ensuring that within Racal-Redac's workstation -based
British Amateur Television Club. For de- customers get the best possible response to electronic design autopmation (EDA) sys-
tails write (enclosing a SAE) to Mr D. their needs. tem, Visula Plus. At present, the combina-
Lawton, "Grcnehurst", Pinewood Road, tion of Visula Plus and CADAT is the only
High Wycombe HP12 4DD. proven and commercially available system
FIRST COMPUTER MUSIC LEARN- that can design and simulate application
ING CENTRE IN THE UK specific integrated circuits (Asics) in the
NEW SWITCHMODE ICS Equipped with a wide range of the latest context of their target systems.
Siliconix has introduced two new switch - MIDI instruments, video and computers,
mode power -control ICs, the Si9112 and EMR's Computer Music Learning Centre
Si9120, which include the first device ca- (CMLC) is based in Southend, Essex, and POWERFUL WEAPON AGAINST
pable of operating in 'universal -input' offers a unique opportunity to gain first- CANCER
power supplies from either 110 V or 220 hand experience of using EMR's extensive A new computer developed by the Active
V AC power lines. music software and hardware. Memory Technology (AMT) company of
The new devices allow the design of The CMLC will initially provide one - Reading is contributing to what has been
day courses for beginners and more expe- described as one of the greatest scientific
rienced users during holiday periods and adventures in human history: to map and
at weekends, as well as training for teach- identify all human genes.
ers and dealers. The aim of the project is to decipher
The centre has been in the pipeline for the complete set of biological instructions
two years, with EMR providing more and used by nature to make a human being.
more seminars to education and user The resulting "Book of man" may provide
groups in the UK and Europe, particularly the basis for preventing or treating most
on the Archimedes, althoug they have pro- human diseases in the next century. Its tar-
duced systems for the Spectrum, Com- get completion date is the year 2000.
highly efficient (greater than 80%) power modore, Amstrad, MSX and BBC Micro The human genome consists of chemi-
converters with fewer components than since the company started in 1983. cal beads twisted into the famouse double
other semiconductor solutions, so that de- The courses are under the direction of helix of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
signers can improve system performance Mike Beecher, LRAM, GRSM, whose music molecule. There are four types of bead,
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 MCA-to itself. It seems, however, that way linking the major financial centres of
IBM has seriously underestimated the the world. The vessel will also be used to
strength of the clone makers. maintain existing analogue coaxial cables.
To enable the vessel to pick up and lay
*AST Research, Compaq, Epson, Hewlett- cable in the most efficient manner, it is the
Packard, NEC, Olivetti, Tandy, Wise, first of its type to be equipped perma-
Zenith. nently with a submersible remotely oper-
ated vehicle (Rov).

SATELLITE ACCESS SYSTEM

TO BEAT TV PIRATES EARTH STATION FOR
A new British Telecom satellite manage- OLYMPUS LINK
known scientifically as bases. They are the ment system will allow broadcasters to One of the two £750,000 mobile earth sta-
four chemical letters of the genetic code keep track of their customers and avoid tions designed and built by British
(A, G, T and C) discovered by James Wat- piracy of TV entertainment services. It can Aerospace under contract to the European
son and Francis Crick at Cambridge Uni- also prevent pictures being received in Space Agency has been handed over to
versity in 1953. Watson is one of the lead- specified areas. one of Britain's leading academic institu-
ers of the human genome project in the The BT Vision system uses transmis- tions for communications technology and
United States. sion and encryption technology to ensure educational broadcasting, Polytechnic
that only authorized subscribers can re- South West in Plymouth.
ceive satellite TV programming, and of-
DUAL -OUTPUT HALL EFFECT fers programme providers the technology
SWITCHES to control transmission of potentially of-
Industry's first family of dual -output Hall fensive satellite broadcast material.
effect switches with outputs that are inde- The system effectively prevents piracy
pendently activated by magnetic fields of by securely encrypting the programme sig-
opposite polarity is available from the nal with the aid of a complex algorithm
Sprague Semiconductor Group. before it is uplinked to the satellite. A
stream of authorization messages is sent
out along with the television pictures, au-
thorizing subscribers' set -top decoders to
accept the programming signal.
A very useful feature of the system is
its ability to black out pictures in specific
locations. broadcasts The station, known as TDS 4, will be
will not be received in countries where the used for demonstration purposes. It will
distribution rights have not been agreed or enable the polytechnic to communicate via
where the broadcasting control body con- Olympus, the world's most powerful civil
siders their content unacceptable (so much communications satellite, which was also
for those who thought that the age of cen- built by British Aerospace.
The UGN3235K and UGS3235K Hall sorship was over!). The TDS 4 earth station is mounted on
effect sensors are bipolar ICs designed for a 12 -metre long articulated trailer and in-
commutation of brushless DC motors and corporates its own auxiliary diesel genera-
other applications that use multi -pole ring NEW SUPPORT SHIP FOR tor. In operation, it will transmit in the
magnets in industrial and automotive envi- TRANSATLANTIC CABLE 13.00-13.25 GHz and the 14.00-14.30
ronments. Cable & Wireless Marine's new cable GHz bands, and receive signals in the
ship, the Sir Eric Sharp, is said to be the 12.50-12.75 GHz band. The antenna fitted
most technically advanced vessel of its is a 3.5 metre design with hinged sides
MORE HEADACHES FOR IBM kind in the world. It has to be, because it is that can be folded down for ease of trans-
Shortly after the news that IBM's trade designed to service and maintain the port.
figures were "disappointing" and that the world's first private trans -ocean fibre optic
company was consequently laying off link between Britain and the United States.
10 000 employees, it was announced that This is the PTAT-1 system, part of Cable EEC MEASURES TO LIMIT
the US Navy is to impose an indefinite & Wireless Marine's global digital high- ADVERTISING ON TELEVISION
ban on doing business with IBM. Britain is supporting the proposed EEC
The Navy decided on the ban after it measures to limit the amount of advertis-
had come to light during a House Govern- ing on TV and the number of American
ment Operation Committee hearing that programmes shown. The new measures
IBM had defrauded the US Navy by sell- were agreed at a recent meeting of EEC
ing it used computer equipment as new. foreign ministers.
As if that was not enough, a group of Under the new rules, no advertisement
clone makers* have defined their EISA will be allowed during news, religious or
32 bit bus standard, which is compatible children's programmes under half an hour
with the ISA-Industry Standard Archi- long. Advertisements will be allowed dur-
tecture-system. IBM had hoped to keep ing films after the first 45 minutes.
the clone makers out of the 32 -bit market The decision is unlikely to have much
by keeping their 32 -bit (with data path) effect in the UK where standards are
standard-Mi croch an n el Architecture, among the strictest in Europe.
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 j
AL] AT au K)k MON -
A. Rigby

Many computer users have difficulty in changing printer settings

without the help of a manual or handbook. The circuit presented here
allows one of sixteen pre-programmed printer settings to be called
up at the flick of a switch. Very useful for a good many computer
programs that lack a real printer driver, the initialization aid is a
low-cost and simple -to -build circuit.

You are working hard on a BASIC pro- Basic operation sure stable levels on the datalines. After
gram which is almost finished, and hard the STROBE output line is actuated, the
copy on paper is required to do the final The flowchart in Fig. 1 illustrates the basic circuit enters a wait loop to allow the
debugging. Since the program is fairly operation of the circuit, which is inserted printer to process the databyte. Depend-
long, you think it wise to set the printer to between the computer's Centronics port ing on the position of jumper JP', the cir-
condensed characters at 8 lines per inch. and the parallel input of the printer. The cuit waits for a negative pulse transition
The printer manual is consulted and the diagram shows the functional blocks in on the BUSY or ACK handshaking line
following command is typed in the direct the circuit as well as the interrelated tim- from the printer. When the transition ar-
command mode of GWBASIC: ing at which these blocks operate. rives, the EPROM address counter is in-
At power -on, the circuit is reset and cremented by one. The counter starts at
LPRINT CHRS(15);CHRS(27);"0"; forms a straight 36 -way connection be- the lowest address, nil, by virtue of the
tween the computer's Centronics port and power -on reset, and the fact that the cir-
We think you will agree that pushing a the Centronics input on the printer. No cuit stops automatically when the counter
small button on the printer initialization change is made to the previously estab- reaches nil. In the latter case, the "all 16
aid is a lot easier than having to look up lished printer setting, and the computer bytes sent?" loop in the flowchart is left
eight or so ASCII characters, and typing can send printer files as before. via the "yes" exit, and the circuit forms a
them into the computer whilst observing When 52 is pressed, data buffer ICs straight connection between the computer
the correct order, brackets and delimiters. blocks the datastream from the computer. and the printer until 52 is pressed again.
In the above example, BASIC fortu- The circuit actuates the BUSY line to force All 16 bytes stored in the EPROM are
nately allows the printer to be set to the the computer to stop sending data. Mean- to the printer under the control of strobe
required mode, albeit in a rather complex while, the data outputs of the EPROM, pulses, which are started with the aid of
way prone to many errors. There are, IC-, are enabled, so that the byte at the the delayed BUSY or ACK printer signal.
however, many programs that lack even currently addressed location in the The delay allows some time for the ad-
the most rudimentary means to set the EPROM is sent to the printer. A strobe dress counter to reach the next higher out-
printer to a particular character or paper pulse is generated to signal to the printer put state. When all bytes have been sent,
format. For such programs, the initializa- that a byte is held ready for transmission. the same delay is used to reset the circuit
tion aid is a useful peripheral, provided its Since the start of the first strobe pulse to its start configuration.
setting is not overridden by a printer in- coincides with the moment the EPROM
itialization string prefixed to each print- datalines are enabled, the strobe pulse is
able file by the program in question. delayed by about one microsecond to en- 16 <16 in control
A part of the circuit drawn in Fig. 2 consist
of a set of printed -circuit board tracks
called the control bus. This bus takes all
Centronics control signals not used by the
initialization aid from the input- to the
output connector. Two lines, C18 and C35,
form an exception, because they may be
used to power the circuit. Whether or not
they can be used for this purpose depends
on the printer used. Diodes D2, D3 and D4
form an OR function that allows the cir-
cuit to be powered by different supplies.
In case the printer lacks a +5 V output on
its Centronics connector, the circuit is
powered by a 9 VDC mains adapter via D2
and voltage regulator ICs. If the printer
supplies -3 V via line C18, the circuit is
powered via D3. If +5 V is available on line
C35, D4 is used for the same purpose. The
current consumption of the circuit does
not exceed 50 mA.
As already discussed, the circuit is
reset automatically the moment the sup-
ply voltage is present. Bistable FF2 is reset
by 12,-C2, and in turn clears address
counter IC5. Bistable Hi is configured as
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 IIINITIALIZATION AID FOR PRINTERS

S1

address range
initialization data

0 0 0 0 00 ... OF
0 0 0 1 10 ... 1F
0 0 1 0 20 ... 2F
0 0 1 1 30 ... 3F
0 1 0 0 40 ... 4F
0 1 0 1 50 5F
0 1 1 0 60 ...OF
0 1 1 1 70 ... 7F
1 0 0 0 80 ... 8F
Switch ICS 6.-Itp..utm 1 0 0 1 90 ... 9F
to 3 -state. Block
computer data; 1 0 1 0 AO ... AF
enable data outputs 1 0 1 1 BO ... BF
of EPROM IC7
1 1 0 0 CO ... CF
1 1 0 1 DO DF
Put byte at EPROM ad- 1 1 1 0 EO EF
dress on datelines; 1 1 1 1 FO FF
start first strobe
pulse (R10/CS)
0, -switch closed
1=switch open
9C0007 -T1
Generate first
strobe pulse
(R12/C4)
Table 1. DIP switch settings.

The circuit waits until the printer is

ready to accept a new command by moni-
toring either BUSY or ACK. The selection
between these handshaking signals is
made by the user with jumper JPI; the two
are equally suitable, provided the printer
supplies the relevant signal. Whatever
signal is used, the negative pulse edge
signals readiness to accept a new charac-
ter. The pulse edge clocks address counter
Increment address
counter
ICs and causes a new strobe pulse to be
(get next byte generated. The start of the strobe pulse is,
from PROM)
however, delayed by R) -C3 to prevent an-
Disable EPROM data - Star next
other pulse being generated when the
lines and enable
buffer ICBJestore
strobe pulse using 16th (last) byte has been sent to the
delayed nagrie
datafiow between BUSY or ACK printer. This delay is used by the circuit to
computer and
printer
transition block FFi before it receives a new clock
pulse. The end of the printer initialization
900007 - sequence is marked by output QD of the
address counter going low when count 16
is passed. The change from 16 to 0 causes
Fig. 1. This flowchart illustrates both the structure of the circuit an the pertinent timing. FF2 to be clocked, so that FF1 is blocked -
hence, the clock pulse generated in the
mean time by RII-C3 has no effect. The
a monostable multivibrator (MMV) and to be taken high by N1-Nr7 and 1\12 -Nis toggling of FF2 also resets the circuit to its
does not require a power -on reset because respectively. The low level at the Q output initial state.
it goes to the stand-by state on its own. At of FF2 enables the databuffers in EPROM The circuit is fully compatible with the
this stage, the circuit functions as a 36 - 1C7, and ends the reset state of counter IC5. Centronics interface on the computer as
way connection between the computer at The first strobe pulse is generated by FFi well as on the printer by virtue of pull-up
the input (K)) and the printer at the output which receives at its S (set) input a short resistors and open -collector TTL drivers
(K2). The two devices are connected via pulse from the Q output of FF2 via net- respectively. DIP switch block Si selects
three -state inverter/buffer ICs, inverters work Rio -05. The length of the strobe one of 16 printer initialization strings
N4 -Nib and the gates inserted in hand- pulse is determined by R12 -C4. Capacitor which have been pre-programmed in the
shake lines BUSY, STROBE and ACK. C4 slowly discharges after FF1 has been EPROM. The selected address ranges in
When S2 is pressed, its contact noise is set, and resets the bistable. Consequently, the EPROM are listed in Table 1. If fre-
eliminated by debounce network R7-Ci. output Q goes high, so that C4 is rapidly quent changes are expected in the setting
The short pulse generated by CI -Rs pre- charged again via Di. This ensures that of this switch, it may be replaced with a
vents the initialization sequence being re- FFI is reads' to generate the next strobe more ergonomical type or a set of swit-
started on completion if the switch has not pulse. ches, e.g., four miniature SPST types or a
been released in the mean time. Actuation The strobe pulse is delayed by about thumbwheel switch.
of S2 causes FF2 to be set. The resultant one microsecond in network to
high level at the Q output of FF2 causes the allow sufficient time for the EPROM data
outputs of three -state buffer IC8 to be to reach output connector K2. Gates Ns Construction
switched to the high -impedance state, and and Ni. feed the strobe pulse to the The construction of the circuit on the
the BUSY and ACK inputs of the computer printer. double -sided, through -plated printed-cir-
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 CONIPUTERS AND MICROPROCESSORS
16

51 LULL 5

010 0 0 0 0 0 K2
Kt
2 2 5 7 8 9
Al YI
II DO 19

8
2
2 DI (712_,0
0- 7
3
1CB
13
14
D2

D3
21

22
A. Yd
6 5 74HCT 15 D4
0 As

0 7 4 540
Y6
16 :7
7 06
AlAS 77'
18 D7 26
a 1r31v .78. 27
119 28
corrtrot btA 23 0
13
C12
C13 !"- /// CIE C35
O
O
14

15
C14

C15
03
2x
04
0 5V
C12

C4 14
2

16 C16 1N4001
C17 :;,'"/ R3 R4 RR5156. C5 Is
O 17 0
CIS 127 28 C6 16
18

30 C30 f ics 11 00 Ca to
31 C31 :7, i ,T, 74HCT OA 12
CO
9 9 01 Nx, V., C30 30
14 7 93 pa Al Dl
8 13 D2 :Ss.. C31 31
33 C33 8
42
ra. RO(I) GC D2
7 5 03 C32 32
34 C34
11 R0(2) CD
11
A:
IC7 03 0
35 6 DA C33 33
C35 '14, 2764 D4
36 C35 ; 5 157 05 C3A 34
05
19
4
Du
-58 D5 C35 35
3 19 D7 ' C35 36
O 20 '7 0,
S
25 AB

0 2 24 `92 2
21 412
5
N104 3
2 23
0 1

25 2 20
12 CS N116
4 5 D2 5
25 6 NC
CND
27 N6 13 N12
28 03 9I 5

3 29
t41310

<N:
5V 4,7
0 0 05 1

5V R8 59 510 Cam. N152

R7
05
0 4705
N16
D7

10
t2n
5

cm -
8
0 10
52
FF2 FF1 512 R13
%1
CLK 0 _ 0
INIT 0
13

#44148
C61
U lm
5V 4n7 I1,

R2

05V

STROBE 5141 5151

12

13
D' N19.to

STROBE

N17
II
2
BUSY BUSY
FF1,FF2 = IC6 =74HCT74
N1 -.N4 =1C1 . 74HCT02
JP1 N5...N8 = IC2 = 74HCT132
N9-N14 = 1C3 = 74HCTO5
10 N15...N20 = IC4 = 74HCT05 10
ACK 1
ACK
5V0 D2

IN
i IC9
8...15V=
00
N20
o (5 6 ci 6 Cii 6 ci 6,1.
IC5 77,0,,,IC4 mr00,IC3 .700,IC2 .700,1C1
ocIN400, cs ...._ .,
7805
C9

1TIT1'
1C8 IC6
TjOn 1730,
1 12
'YTTI 1
902007. 2
.0.0

Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of the printer initialisation aid, a very useful peripheral device for advanced computer users.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 INITIALIZAIION AID FOR PRINTERS it
(mind the position of pin 1 of each connec-
tor). Next, solder the fingers to the pins,
taking good care to avoid short-circuits 10 RESTORE
between adjacent pins. Bolt the voltage 12 OPEN " 1ptl : " FOR OLTITIIr AS #1
regulator direct on to the board -a heat - 20 FOR N=1 TO 16
sink is not required. 30 READ X
90 PRINT #1 ,CliRS( X) ;
STROBE ;
50 NEXT N
DATA 0
DATA
GILD
Printer command strings 55 CLOSE
DATA 2 GILD 60 DATA &1154,E..H45,E..H53,&.H54
DATA 3
DATA
= 7.: GHII
GHD
Lpon completion of the board, the 65 DATA E.110005.1i00,&.1-100,E.H00
DATA 5
DATA 5
DATA 7 p
" GILD
GI:13
GILD
EPROM must be loaded with data. The
manual supplied with your printer
70 DATA &1454 4H45 ,b.H53 , W-154
75 DATA &H0O,E.H00,&}-100,E,H00
G/:15
BUSY = GILD should give ample information on com-
CT
PE

AUTSOTEIII
_
r:=
- -
=
ISPITTPPIITE Ps URN (GIID)
FIEgliglINPUT PRIME) mand strings to achieve the settings you Jf.

N.C.
LOGIC MD .
LOGIC CND
H.G. require. The circuit allows a maximum of
CHASSIS
5Y
7-= 451,
SELEC 16 command strings to be programmed, Fig. 5. GWBASIC test program listing.
each with a fixed length of 16 bytes. The
mini EPROM programmer described in databytes to be programmed from
Ref. 1 is suitable for loading the 256 bytes.
If the required initialization sequence is databyte = 255-data.
900007. 13 shorter than 16 bytes, the remainder must
provide null characters (00), or any other This inverts each byte to negate the inver-
character which is ignored by the printer sion in the output buffers.
Fig. 3. Centronics connector pinning. (again, consult your manual).
The sequence of commands to be pro-
cuit board shown in Fig. 4 is straightfor- grammed in the EPROM Type 2764 is first Reference:
ward. The pins of the Centronics connec- tested 'on line' with the aid of, say,
tors are simply pushed over the relevant Gl\" BASIC. Document the final versions 1. Mini EPROM programmer. Elektor
copper fingers at the edges of the board of the command strings. Next, compile the Electronics January 1990.

Parts list

7 Resistors:
= SIL resistor array 8x10k
Rz - Rs = 10k
000000000 SI R7 = IMO
00 - Ris = 2k2
n
A Rs = 100k
00000000 0000
O 000
** Capacitors:
CI = 10n
C2 = 470n
IC7
C3:C6 = 1n0
C4 = 4n7
O i Oe Cs = 470p
'3 0-01F° CnCe;Cio-Cia= 100n
C7
Cs = 330n
000
m
Semiconductors:
"I
Di = 1N4148
0-101-° D2;113:D4 = 1N4001
0 R'12V't 01F0 Oi R11 to ICi = 74HCT02
C 0-01 FO 0 n 'L_110 Woo IC2= 74HCT132
IC3:IC4= 74HCT05
IC 6 80:>0-11-0 ICs = 74HCT93
0 000 00 ICs = 74HCT74
F.0 01R9 10 00110 IC7 = 2764 cr 27C64tA)
shoo 01R13 0+ ICs = 74HCT540
C'1
0,04 E0 oil ICs = 7805
olp 10
N Miscellaneous:
= 36 -way female Centronics connector
0 .g. 0--144-0 with straight pins.
:17
K2 = 36 -way male Centronics connector with
A
straight pins.
0 0o = 4 -way DIP switch block.
11
S2 = Dataswitch push-button.
3 -way pin header.
jumper.
PCB Type 900007 (double -sided: through -
plated; see Readers Services page).
Fig. 4. Component mounting plan for the double -sided. through -plated circuit board.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS I:HIRE-ARV 1991-)

 CAPA TAN_
D. Folger

A capacitance meter is indispensable for checking capacitors with

illegible or incomprehensible values printed on them, and for
matching capacitors in, for instance, higher -order filters. The
instrument presented here is based on a simple circuit, has a handy
size and five measurement ranges.

To own a capacitance meter with a maxi- simple to calculate from

mum error of 1 ci and a capacitance range
of 1 pF to I F is wishful thinking for many (1 t =1.1RC
electronics enthusiasts because such an in- I R = 10.5/(1.1x20 µF) = 477 LI
strument is not affordable, if it is at all
available. Fortunately, not many applica- A practical value of 475 LI (1 `", is used
tions require a capacitance meter with since this is available in the E96 series. The
such impressive specifications. Consider, other measurement ranges are created by
for instance, the selection of capacitors for multiplying the basic value of R by the
a higher -order audio filter: here, the capacitance range factor, i.e., 10: R = 4k75
relative difference is much more import- for the 2µF range; R = 4715 for the 200 nF
ant than the absolute value, and a simple range, R = 475k for the 20 nF range; R =
capacitance meter may be used with im- 4M75 for the 2 nF range.
punity to select matching capacitors from The output signal of ICs has a duty
an available lot. 2 20 factor t -/t and requires averaging to ob-
tain a direct voltage proportional to the
Measurement principle duty factor and, therefore, to the value of
Cs. Integration capacitor Cu is charged via
The measurement principle used is fairly potential divider R14-P3-Ris if the MMV
standard - see Fig. 1. The heart of the output is high, and discharged if the MMV
circuit is formed by a time -base which output is low. This arrangement produces
triggers a monostable multivibrator an average voltage,
\INIV). The time constant, t, of the time
base is set to a value that exceeds the maxi- U2 = 1-71(11)(tw /
mum monostable delay. The \I\ 1V output
changes from low to high on the negative Note, however, that because of the ad-
edge of the time -base signal. The time it justable potential divider the high level,
takes for the MMV to revert to the start U t3,, is lower than the high output level
state, L, is proportional to the value of the provided by the MMV. The maximum
capacitor under test, C.. Since the dura- value of LI: is not reached immediately,
tion of the measurement cycle is deter- but after a delay of about 600 ms, which
mined by t, an integrator may be used to corresponds roughly to the time constant
provide a voltage which is proportional to of the integration network.
the value of The 150 pF capacitor connected in par-
allel with Cs is required as a minimum
Circuit description capacitance in the external RC network of
MAIN SPECIFICATIONS the LinCMOS timer. Without Cs, the MMV
In spite of the relatively simple measure- may not be triggered reliably if small ca-
ment principle described above, the prac- Measurement ranges: 2 nF; 20 nF; pacitors (in the pF range) are tested. The
tical circuit presents a number of possible 200 nF; 2µF; resultant off -set is compensated with the
problems related to the translation of the 20 µF with aid of a second MMV, [Cm, of which the
unknown capacitance into an accurately overflow external configuration is almost identical
determined numerical value. indication to that of IC3b.
The time -base is formed by a 1 -MHz Max_ resolution: 1 pF The low voltage, UL, at the output of
quartz crystal and an oscillator/divider, Max. error: <5% the second integrator is used as a refer-
IC'. Output Q13 supplies a frequency of Display: 31/2 digit LCD ence for UH. Capacitors C7 and Cs and
1 MHz/16,384 = 61.035 Hz. This signal Scale factor: nF/i_tF resistors Rs -R12 determine the time delays
triggers IC b, one of two NI NI Vs contained Power supply: 9-V PP3 bat- set with the MMV, and must, therefore, be
in the Type TLC556 LinCMOS dual timer. tery close -tolerance types.
The choice of the oscillator frequency is a Current consumption: 10-20 mA Spurious triggering and incorrect ca-
compromise between the stability of the pacitance indications may occur if
read-out and acceptable current con- measured values exceed the maximum of
sumption when relatively large capacitan- a particular range. Each measurement
ces are measured. cycle is, therefore, stopped after 12 ms. As
Given a time constant a maximum monostable time of 10.5 ins shown in Fig. 3, the remaining 4 ms are
and a maximum capacitance of 20 j.tF, the used to discharge the capacitor under test
t = 1/61.035 = 16.4 ms, resistor R in the RC delay network is via FET T2. The timing of the discharge
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 CAPACITANCE METER 19

AF
Y,

,
voto:
Time Base
Cr1

7Kccti-,,

switching arranged by S213, D15+1319 and

N: -N;. The scale factor (nF or uF) indica-
tors, DI and D2, are driven by a diode
circuit, D2o-D!4.
The power supply of the circuit is of a
Cii
less usual configuration: a Type 79L05
voltage regulator is inserted in the nega-
tive supply line to create a supply with
+5 V and -4 V outputs. The non -regulated
negative voltage is applied as bias to the
r. ADC in the ICL7106, which requires that
the voltage at the v- input (pin 26) is al-
ways 1 V below that at IN HI.
The circuit around T3 controls the LOW
1C":7.5 IF.C.74. 2;:.,.:7.-s 2Kms 30:7.-4 :::.:7-5 4: 72 BAT symbol on the display. With Ri4=220k,
Tile 900012-12
this circuit is actuated when the battery
voltage drops below about 8 V.

.: ,.. .:.
Construction and
1 adjustment
The complete circuit is built on a printed -
circuit board that fits into an ABS, stand-
ard -size hand-held enclosure with
integral battery compartment. The circuit
to the right of the dashed line in the circuit
diagram, and diodes D15 -D24, may be
omitted if the capacitance meter is used in
conjunction with a digital multimeter that
assumes the display function.
The population of the PCB should not
present problems. The high -value 1% re-
sistors, Rs and RI2 (4.73 Mil), may be dif-
ficult to obtain in small quantities. They
may, however, be selected from a batch of
KC .
4.7 MS2 5% types with the aid of a D\IM.
Fit two four- or five -way terminal
blocks on to the front panel of the enclo-
._
sure for connecting the capacitors to be
tested. Be sure to use high -quality termi-
nals to avoid problems with wear and tear
of the contacts. A two-wav loudspeaker
Fig. 1. Measurement principle and graphs to illustrate the operation of the R -C integrator. terminal block for wire insertion is a fine
alternative to multi -way blocks since it
provides fairly wide contacts which allow
period is arranged by the AND diode con- troduced by Tr is compensated by its capacitors with different terminal spac-
figuration of D3 and D4 at the Q12- and counterpart, Ti, in the other MMV circuit. ings to be inserted.
Q13 -outputs of IC!. These diodes cause The display circuit is based on the well- Large capacitors of which the wires can
the MMV output to remain permanently known Type 1CL7106 A -D (analogue-to- not be inserted into the terminal blocks on
high when a too large capacitor is con- digital) converter with integrated the instrument must be connected with
nected. In this condition, the voltage at the 31/2 -digit LCD (liquid crystal display) test leads. Do not use these leads for small
two NINIV outputs causes the LC display driver. The 1CL7106 is used in a standard capacitors, since the wire capacitance will
to indicate '1'. The measurement error in- application circuit with the decimal point make the indicated value worthless. Pi is
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
20 TEST AND MEASUREMENT

5V

e2
5V 0

SV
20 30 4

Rib 02361
NO22101
P:4 los
1321

015 016 017 015

cx
BS170
EMI X 10x
1N4148

7 *DP

II

Pa RS R61 147 RE

C
LCD1
4V LCD 3

011 ou 01a Din a

pF-rr
D2
110
#I nF
414 4V
z
2
D oe 07 08 09 10

R33
2t
R9 R5) RII
t.= G2C2[12q 42t22Z
PE" HI 35
REF LC 36

2x 26
1N4148 C REF A/Z BUFF Oa
R2
4V
Cl'
I=1
503 T2y
6V
70, 20,
MKT MKT
100=
MKT

1C2

74 HC7 4060
135'170
PO RST

U
1C3 = TLCS56
141-N4 = 1C4 = 4030
Is

903312

Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of the capacitance meter.

either a preset with an adjustment spindle Connect a 1%. or 2% polystyrene (sty- just P2 until the DMM reads 0 V. Connect
or a potentiometer with a 4 mm spindle. It roflex) or silver -mica capacitor with a the reference capacitor and adjust P3 until
allows test lead capacitance to be compen- known value in the lowest measurement the correct value is indicated. Repeat the
sated. range (e.g., 1 nF). Set S2 to the 2 nF range, adjustments of P2 and P3 as detailed above
The accuracy of the instrument is set Pi to the centre of its travel and P2 and for P2 and P4.
determined mainly by the quality and P3 to maximum resistance to ground. Con-
tolerance of resistors 129-R12. nect the reference capacitor, and adjust P4
until the correct value is displayed. Dis-
connect the reference capacitor and adjust
the zero -indication of the meter with P2.
Repeat the adjustments of P2 (capacitor
connected) and P4 (capacitor discon-
nected) until the indicated value and the
zero indication are both correct.
DMM as display
The value of the test capacitor must be
adjusted with P3 instead of P4 if a DMM
set to the 2 V range is connected to points
L and H. The 'meter -zero' control, Pi, is
Fig. 3. The measurement cycle is stopped replaced by a 5.11 kfl 1 resistor in this
after 12 ms to discharge too large capaci- case because the adjustments for meter
tors. zero and capacitor value interact. Set P3 to Close-up of the battery compartment.
maximum resistance to ground, and ad-
EI.EKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBR \R1" Ivvu
 CAPACITANCE METER
111

00000000000000000000

PF
0
0
ON -ilk- METER nF

I
0000000000000000000
.2.

)
0-I I-0 rj
a R25 W1:1 P1241 V
LO

N0_0 CC
nF j iF
0-° °-
cue-o o-oi Fo
6
a
a.

0
r aH C13
0 0 teti-P4 111-
Ur
_r L a a
1 .7a
-0- Et II

R22 09

itek. 0

ClaCI r 0
Cti 0,1
0000
+0

+
IIM11=1114
( ) 1111MIIMMIP

0- N
-WI 610
e e
_a_cg-L0/*
*-1111111=1111Nrrill
Fig. 4. Component mounting plan of the printed -circuit board tor the capacitance meter (left) and suggested front -panel lay -out (right).

Parts list spindle or 10k preset for horizontal mount- T3 = BC5478

ing with spindle. ICI = 79L05
P2;P3 = 10k multiturn preset 1C2 = 74HCT4060
Resistors: P4 = 2k mutlitum preset IC3 = TLC556 (LinCMOS)
= 10M IC4 = CD4030
F12;Rzo;R2i;1322;Rz5=100k Capacitors: ICs = ICL7106
R3 = 27k Ci;C2;011;C12 = 2211;16 V; radial
134 = 4750 1% C3 = 100n Miscellaneous:
1:15;R_ = 4k75 1% C4;C5 = 33p = miniature slide SPST slide switch.
1:15;R:a;Rze = 47k5 1% C6 = 1n0 S2 = 2 -pole 6 -way PCB -mount rotary switch.
Ft;R: t = 475k Ci;Cs = 150p polystyrene (styroflex) X: = 1 MHz quartz crystal.
Ra;RI2 = 4M7 5% (see text) Cs;Clo = lOn LCD: = general-purpose 31/2 -digit LC dis-
Ris= 15k 1% C13;CI5 = 100n MKT play.
R:4;R:5 = 10k 1% Cis = 100p 9-V PP3 battery with clip and leads.
Ris;F117 = 111#10 Ct6 = 470n MKT Hand-held ABS enclosure, e.g.. Monacor
Rta= 1k5 C17 = 220n MKT PI.G750BN (160x80'75 mm).
R g = 220k Loudspeaker terminal block.
R23 = 1M8 5% Semiconductors: PCB Type 900012 (see Readers Services
R24 = 200k 1% Di;D2 = LED; 3 rnm; red page).
R27 = 22k1 1% D3 - D24 = 1N4148
Pi = 10k linear potentiometer with 4 mm TI;T2 = BS170

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRU-kRY 1990

 CA THEFT INT
by David Butler

Cars seem to attract thieves, probably because of the relative ease

of entering them. Anyone who has locked their keys inside will
testify that a bent coathook can usually secure an early reunion.
The deterrent proposed is aimed at discouraging casual joyriders
who want not want to risk setting off an alarm - even if, as here,
one did not exist. In fact, the deterrent is simply an alarm type
indication that, if accompanied by suitable warning stickers,
should provide basic protection. It must be stressed, of course,
that this deterrent does not act as an alarm and it would be wise to
invest in a security system, such as an immobilizer or a Krookloc.

The idea of a dummy alarm is not new, but

the present design adds more credibility Features: R,-.s.tstors:
COMPONEIITS LIST
by the use of a single dual function LED. = ,:L25 ±5.r. :r titter: carbon
When the ignition is on, the LED radiates a - L5 defter: carbon
steady green light to show that the 'sys- Deters casual joyriders from
tem' is 'disarmed'. When the ignition is stealing your vehicle. o c Ito r

switched off, the LED emits a flashing red

light to simulate 'alarm enable'. Inexpensive, simple design. Semiconductors:
The success of this idea rests with dis- DI = EV1:400 mW: ze re odde
playing the LED prominently (say, next to Compact dimensions. D2 =1N4all
the ignition switch) and not telling any- contnuous green,fiashing red LED
body that it is just a flashing light! The pro- (Maplin Electronics order code
ject is inexpensive, simple to construct and Easy to install (3 wires).
install, and performs a worthwhile func- Miscellaneous:
RLA = rMorc
tion. _ _

:= -2 V 22C3R
flat on the casing) and requires a series ectronics orce- _ E.- -
current limiting resistor to operate from
Circuit description any supply. S-
=

=
E.. PCB
-:_sing Ors conia::i
The circuit is designed around a dual func- The relay used is of extremely small di- - :

tion LED. This device looks like a normal mensions, and has a single -pole change- F::? :
mm diameter clear LED, but has three over contact set. The coil is energized by !-- 150
terminals. The casing actually houses a the +12 V ignition circuit in the car, with
green LED and a red LED driven by a back e.m.f. protection provided by D2.
flasher unit. The cathodes of the LEDs are The LED terminals are connected to the
commoned to the centre pin. When a volt- relay contact set so that normally the red
age in the range 4.75-7.0 V is applied to flashing LED is actuated (ignition off
the 'R' terminal, the red LED will flash at a state). The regulator circuit formed by RI,
rate of about 1.3 Hz. The green LED is con- Di and CI provides a fixed voltage for both
nected to the other terminal (indicated by a LEDs. This was chosen to avoid problems

Fig. 2. Printed -circuit board of the deterrent. The

Fig. 1. Circuit diagram (ignition switched off). component side is shown true to scale.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FERRI -ARV 19911

 AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS

Construction notes Once the LED is mounted, three wires

run from the PCB may be connected to it
The prototype was constructed on a scrap with the aid of Scotchlock type break-in
of vero board and then transferred on to a terminals. Usually, the set of wires leading
PCB (see Fig. 2). Although the method of to the radio can be used: +12 V continuous
construction is not important, care should means that +12 V is available even when
be exercised in connecting the polarized the ignition is switched off; +12 V ign
components: Di, D2 and the LED. means that the +12 V line is switched via
the ignition.
For extra electrical protection an in -line
Installation notes fuse holder with a 150 mA fuse may be
The prototype unit was installed in the au- used: this rating depends on that of the car
thor's Metro, which conveniently has a fuse fitted to the circuit being used.
Fig. 3. Pinout of the relay (seen from the base.) spare blanking plate next to the rear screen Apart from these brief notes, no other
heater switch. This is quite close to the ig- fitting instructions can be given as each
nition switch and would be instantly no- vehicle will vary.
with the cars voltage supply. ticed by any curious potential thief. Generally, the unit should be fitted
The circuit consumes about 50 mA No doubt, other vehicles will have sim- away from sources of direct heat, with the
when the ignition is on and around 15 mA ilar places to mount the LED, which re- LED displayed in a prominent position
with the ignition switched off. quires a 6.35 mm dia. hole. where it does not distract the driver.

CALSOD NOW EVE\ MORE VERSA171

The computing and optimalization of loudspeaker enclosures is
nowadays normally effected by computer. One of the programs
that enables the complex calculations to be carried out on an
IBM PC desktop computer is CALSOD, the first version of which
was reviewed in this magazine last year. We have recently received
an improved version of this program that offers even more
possibilities to the professional designer to approach realistic
sound reproduction.

Designing loudspeaker enclosures re- tic, it is now also possible to optimalize

quires such extensive measurements the impedance of an individual loud-
and calculations nowadays that it has Teaker or of the entire system. To that
become virtually impossible without the end, compensation networks are added
use of a computer and a suitable pro- that are calculated by the computer in a
gram. Last year we reviewed* CALSOD, manner that keeps the impedance in a
a unique combination of a simulation predetermined frequency range within a
and an optimalization program. We then given percentage of a certain value. This
thought that there was very little left to is a very useful facility for compensating
be desired. None the less, the designers :CA) To 101 ;TA,
the behaviour of individual loudspeakers
have succeeded in adding some more and for straightening out the impedance
facilities to their latest version 2.00, ; characteristic of a complete system, to
which bring the results even more ensure that the power amplifier is con-
closely to realistic sound reproduction. nected to a truly resistive load.
The new version offers the possibil- There is also a 'student' version (1.20)
ity of working with a coprocessor. This of the program available at a sharply re-
is an especially welcome addition for duced price ($A99.00). This version offers
XTs, since computations on these of three - with respect to the listening axis (see illus- all the facilities we have discussed. Its data
or four-way systems are relatively slow tration above). files are compatible with Version 2.00
(but still a lot faster than with comparable The loudspeaker placement has also (SA349.00) so that transfer to the profes-
programs). However, this facility is merely been extended. The original version en- sional version at a later date is facilitated.
to do with speed of processing. ables the loudspeaker location to be calcu-
To us, the most interesting addition is lated in a three-dimensional space: the CALSOD is available from the design-
the RAB sub -module. This makes it possi- new version makes it possible to take into ers, Audiosoft, 128 Oriel Road, West Hei-
ble to calculate the frequency characteristic account that loudspeakers are placed at an delberg 3081, MELBOURNE, Australia. It
of the entire system at a given angle (both angle (for instance, in case of a backward may also be obtained from Old Colony
horizontal and vertical) with respect to the sloping enclosure front). Also, the effective Sound Lab, P 0 Box 243, PETERBOR-
listening axis, for instance, ±30'. Even in diameter of the drive units may be taken OUGH NH 03458, USA, or, in Europe,
the optimalization of the filters this off -axis into account, so that the program may from Audio Specialists, Weichselstrasse
response may be taken into account. It is make provision for the radiation pattern of 22, 1000 BERLIN, Federal Germany.
thus possibe, for example, to design a filter each individual drive unit.
whose characteristic remains within cer- Apart from optimalization of the filter
tain limits for an off -axis response of ±10' components to obtain a given characteris- *Elektor Electronics, January 1989, p. 62

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

24

INTRODUCING OP -SERIES
OPAMPS
J. Ruffen

Dozens of new, improved operational amplifiers are introduced every

month by leading IC manufacturers around the world. A number of
high-performance opamps from the 'young' OP -series are described
in relation with construction projects featured in this magazine over
the past year or so. The reasons for preferring these new devices
over, say, a Type 741 are manifold and call for an introduction to
opamp selection criteria.

ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS at Vs = :15V -55.0 -, -1. ---. -125.0 -- ess cterese,rte=

0 P.07A 01..07
PAPALIETIA SIAM. CO103,210,5 ti_Id rip 1,./A hip TIP YAP , ,s
.., .-t' - ZS 57 - 5: a:: -.

,...-, - 32 .35 - *3 '3

L'....,,,.. '., - 33.. N.._3 - *2 *. - wz '3
..,....:- sw ..;......, '-. _ za t 2 3A - :

Aeon, -.., Cr,Arf C....,7,1

0-w.
Set, .._=2 - 3 is - E 5.3 r 2

kw' 6,41.0..,..-1 's - ,a 72 't 1

A...V.' 2., as C -rr' :C., Nrst 2 - I 35 - .1 5:

EN,
ew 10371PLA-9. ,3 =,3 5 - .,E r"ZE -
C.=_-rn",-IA:Ce Rele,c,- . , :.,..= .... - =In' '76 '22 - `X 21 -
ft..* 5.15rt ../...1.,,,,i' , .S .A =_731.. 7 'A, - 3 23 - 5 -

LA---0-Ss-a.......Ape 'GA- _=80.1'7-='_r 270 .03 - tic LX -

0. -7....,03.,1E -S. ": ._,rn .tz srzt - .12 C.._ - .

NOTES,
r CP-:,A VE,.I. : , , -,, z ,

2 5.r.c..e xirez
2 G.A3.71,PC Pt on -sr

Designing a wide variety of clever elec-

tronic circuits on the basis of ideal oper-
ational amplifiers is fairly easy. In not a Parameter Conditions
Lull tk/L1.174tE t.M741 LIII741C
Lin 3
few cases, however, the efforts remain r,o,....t.leset V5,,S TA = 25%::
li_n Typ Vas 6i.":1 Typ Usa Ikn I Typ Mu
paper designs after the disappointing re- P. , 1-v::: 1 0 50 20 SO ,,. i
sults obtained with practical construc- R. -_-. E.::: :3 .:, : ri2
tions. The problem is clear: the ideal TAI.I, - TA - 73.1. At
Rs *. W11 AD I I 1712

opamp does not exist. The ideal model Rs , 1014: E0 75 ,..V

does have its uses, however, because it .0.330 ,...0...1.C.......SSI

E

allows the operation of complex circuits -"1 C...f-`.a.: V7--a9e T,, - 25';:.. 'Ws z 2; . -
4 3.-.57:e""t R3'ne
based on opamps to be analysed and -..-t C -',.set arse,. TA - 2.5.0 - 10 -
understood. TA,,,. f. TA s TAAAAA ,,,. zt E x.
In practice, the ideal opamp is only i Mera...,a Frpc...C1Iset
0.5
Carent Dr!
useful for the design of low -performance TA - 25C
5.0;,1 3,as C1rw,1 30 I sa i.-::-:.
circuits, and for function analyses. In all 7. , TA TOO), . 10.210 ,4
other cases, the most important non -ideal -:._ri R.Stf.,',7= TA - 25*C. Vs - .20V to so I ;; - ;;
characteristics must he taken into account. Ts.u.. ,. TA , T.,,,,,,
0.5 .::
Vs = -,-. 20:
The relative importance of all the design 1.-o.i Vu- Range TA = 2VC I 2 7'a
parameters involved depends on the type TAA, , TA , TA.,._, . ,2 , ' v
of circuit in which the opamp is to be used. 13.-.e. S .--.s." V=P Gan TA = 25.C. R, .., 2s.c1
vs = .20V. Vo = .15V 50 vimV
In an alternating -voltage amplifier, for in- vs - .. 15V Vo - 7 1DV
I

20 200 Vic -N
stance, off -set drift is less important than P1.., -. - , - Tasera

the slew rate. Conversely, the perfor-

mance of a DC amplifier is limited by off- I 25 15 V -.
V5- =V. v.: . V 17.
set drift rather than the slew rate.
Distinguishing between the important
and the not so important opamp charac- 590151 - II
teristics on the basis of the function of the
circuit not only raises the quality of the
final product, but also avoids needlessly Fig. 1. Main specifications of the OP07 and OPO7A compared to those of the 741A E C.
complex calculations. Clearly, a well -
ELF.KTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 INTRODUCING OP -SERIES OPAMPS

founded choice can only be made on the voltage without the need of a zero -adjust
basis of knowledge and experience. circuit at the sensitive inputs of the
Infinite amplification and input im- opamp. The principle is illustrated in the
pedance and zero output impedance are circuit diagram in Fig. 3.
probably familiar terms in relation to The designers of the OP07 have gone a
opamps. The real thing, however, starts little further, however, as shown in Fig. 4:
with off -set voltages, input bias currents, the collector resistor consists of a number
noise, slew rate, and many other factors. of series -connected individual resistors,
;,'t,t.0,11 of which two have a zener diode in paral-
Opamp technology lel. In the production process, the off -set
voltage is reduced to the minimum value
Several integration technologies are used 0 immediately after the chip is ready. Ac-
in the production of opamps. In their curately controlled current pulses are ap-
quest for the ideal opamp, manufacturers plied to blow ('zap') one or more zener
are faced with a real dilemma: improve- diodes, which then turn into shorting
ment of one opamp characteristic results wires.
in degradation of another. Inevitably, a This automatic 'zener-zap' process
particular integration technology is allows off -set voltages to be reduced to
linked with near -optimum performance 50 p.\- (typical)- In some cases, provision
in one or a few respects only. A clear is made to compensate even that level
example of this vicious circle is that an Fig. 3. Opamp input with external offset with the aid of an external trimmer preset,
increase of the slew rate is inevitably compensation preset. which is usually included in a resistive
coupled to increased current consump- bridge circuit. This arrangement is used
tion. Although not all opamp charac- This means that the drift specification of because the temperature co-efficients of
teristics can be optimized at the same the OP07 is roughly 15 times better than the components in the bridge have a much
time, today's production techniques do that of the 741. smaller effect than those in the circuit in
allow improvements in the performance Extracts from the datasheets of the Fig. 3.
to be achieved if the aim is clearly defined. OP07 and the 741 are given in Fig. I. All these goodies may lead you to start
This results in a particular opamp perfor- Clearly, the OP07 has a smaller drift, and replacing all 741s by OPO7s just like that.
ming better than another in the same ap- the absolute value of the off -set voltage is Remember, however, that the resultant
plication. The use of the most favourable also lower. Apparently, the drift specifica- improvement in the circuit performance,
production technology for a particular tion may be improved by keeping the ab- if at all required, does not come cheap: the
characteristic has resulted in many opamp solute off -set voltage. Li small. 0P07 is about 10 times as expensive as the
families with many members. Currently,
the four major technologies arc bipolar,
BiFFT. BiMOS and LinCNIOS (Ref 1). Zener-zap trimming
This technique is used to reduce LI,., of the Input bias current
OP07 to a value smaller than 200 jAV with- At room temperature, bipolar transistors
Off -set and drift out the use of external components. The have a much higher input bias current
Bipolar opamps such as the ubiquitous function and operation of zener-zap than JFETs (junction FETs), although this
741 consist of npn and pnp transistors. trimming is best explained by studying current is virtually temperature -inde-
Bipolar amplifiers have the best specifica- the cause of the off -set voltage. pendent. The input bias current of BiFET
tions as regards stability of the input off- The basic structure of a standard bipo- opamps roughly doubles for every ten de -
set voltage. This characteristic is often lar opamp input circuit is shown in Fig. 2.
referred to as input voltage drift, or the The output voltage, is the potential
temperature co -efficient, d T, of the difference between the collectors of Ti and
input off -set voltage. Ti:
Field-effect transistors are less easy to
match than bipolar transistors, and as a Ua = A ll-,111)Ra - /0T -IRA
result BiMOS and BiFET opamps gener-
ally suffer from the resultant drift effects. If the collector resistors Rc are equal in
Modern bipolar opamps such as the Type both branches, U, = 0 if I. equals I.
OP07 are specified for a maximum off -set Also, assuming that Ti and T-2 are perfect-
voltage drift of 1.3 gV/K, although values ly matched, i.e., identical, equal collector
better than 0.2 AV/ I: are no exception currents result in equal threshold voltages
LI: - and U,., From this it follows that
the output voltage, Lld, can only become
zero if the input voltage, Lli, equal to

U`'
-e'r') - Llb-e41-2)

is also zero. In practice, Ti and T2 are never

identical, so that the threshold voltages at
1_ r: = 1;,I-2, are always (slightly) different.
Hence, LI, must be made equal to the off-
set voltage to achieve L1 = 0 V.

In most opamp circuits, the output volt-

age is made zero by applying the required
bias voltage to the input terminals. Some
opamps, however, have separate termi-
nals that provide access to internal com- Fig. 4. Basic structure of OP07 input with
Fig. 2. Standard bipolar opamp input. ponents. This allows an external trimmer zener-zap collector resistors.
potentiometer to compensate the off -set
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 26 COMPONENTS

grees of temperature rise. In general, the

input bias current (at normal operating Application area Primary characteristics Opamp type
temperatures) of a commonly used BiFET
opamp such as the TL074 is often higher general-purpose low-cost LM741; OP02
than that of a good bipolar type. This (=741 upgrade)
should not be taken to mean that BiFET low -power low supply current (1<1 mA) TLC271; OP21
opamps do not have advantages over bi-
micro -power very low supply current (1<100 pA) TLC271: OP20
polar types, since they offer much higher
slew rate values in many cases. The BiFET high speed high gain -bandwidth LF356: CA3140:
Type OP16, for instance, has a slew rate of 0P15; OP16
25 V/us, which makes the device about high accuracy low input off -set: high DC gain: OP07; 0P77;
73 times faster than the OP07 and the 741. hich CM R R OP27 (low -noise)
BiMOS opamps such as the Type
CA3140 have MOSFET inputs and a bipo-
lar output circuit. Their input bias current
is strongly temperature -dependent owing ELECTR[CAL CH4.1R4CTEP,STICS - -.. _E-2- ..:;:.-,.. i, - Ve-C
to the presence of integrated input protec- OP -177A OP477B
PARAMETER . Us: iflE
tion diodes. --v.a.C,,sat V0-mca.
SYMBOL 23-4C,T.3'..5 IJ 1I ..= UM SOP OATS
,,,d
'OS
The use of current mirrors in the OP07 L r -C. - - -, 01`24..
has resulted in a drastic reduction of the .=e1). - .2 - - 22

input bias current with respect to the 741:

designers should allow for about 50 nA 6W. PS, -,.....,..,w, = ,....25.7 ,0:::im 2; - .3 - ,E ,sa _u
for the OP07 compared with 500 nA for ,0.176.241C., -e -f
",

. . ,Kr 3' ,O.,,,/..,... 2 - - 3 3

-

0...pus
the 741.
12,43 RV./
.4.-+ 3. 33 25 .5 - Salt

P'...2u - 2::. - 233 - GO

: ..- - -.==e-.3e f eq V, -,-,g A, :1 ,ta ., 4 - '1

CO-,...- tt,,,e

:-- :, .,,
nail vs -.3, -.: r, 3..i 123 'OS , S. !M -
__a-,..S.ra va,..-_:. as, A:0 P. a Zn_ vo ... :IC, 223..S:,33 !MCC - 5.332 ,233[C,

= :'0.:1 ,' 3 5 s0_T. m135 :,SO -

,', = 3,13 1125 :130
a' 2 3 e2C a,a5 -
. n SR _a - C O3 -
3 ,.E.r: -.IV 33'Cor., 5.3 - .a L..,
Cce--1.00c13,., r.st:th-ce P.. - - , - .
SC 33 - 30 EC
,:are Ccrs..-enc, P.- - ..

5,03., 2.,3"-t Is, e 2c -

0-3e1 a.a...,-,a, Rat -c4 ... . 2:.:: - - :3 .

NOTES: 2 Sarc -a -- _ ,..

' L.'S 7."'-' .1.-20....2%....**Saasar, rri.-s>= re alleasaet-c-a ant at 3 Cas,- ::: :.. :::, ;.-
.1,, es Taro .,,,, aWC,E017...,71 VW re fig 305533 a aca,ro-. Fa
.4.C1,-.27.-.2 ma ,-a0.c,cce.-m,..c-rs.,Vc,o_ergr-et,223:5..,-_:- 5 To re.-- . s -3. ...--..x-a-ca 4._ --t--:
- ;I - ,

Opamp selection -g c.ais V3 7,0,..a..la .2 7.21 2_ an? a: -, : _ -

Summarizing the above, the choice of an

opamp is governed by the type of circuit
it is used in. Broadly speaking, there are C106E0.1001. RESPONSE
INPUT BIAS CURRENT INPUT CFFSET CURRENT FOR VARIOUS GAIN
five application areas for opamps: 33 TEMPERATURE vs TEMPERATURE CONFIGURATIONS

general purpose
low -power i ;
i
¢

micro -power t
; D

high-speed i3 ! i
high accuracy
------------
Each of these applications requires a par- "raPIA.CiVE ,
s) ss ...
=.e.,
ticular type of opamp for optimum perfor- 833,51-15
mance- Each opamp family, in turn, has
members that are tailored to give opti-
mum performance in one respect only_ TOTAL INPUT NOISE
INPUT WU:1E13MM NOME vs
BANDWIDTH (111 Hs TO MAXIMUM OUTPUT SIV.IM
The overview in Table 1 may prove VOLTAGE vs FREQUENCY FREQUENCY INDICATED)
1r
vs FREQUENCY
-
useful as a first guide to opamp selection. --,-...... : - .. ,....-:.
.1 ..t.
The right-hand column gives the best- ..i. .
known types in a particular series. _--'Y
.
- - ----- - -
.... t
-.,..-...-. . '
Reference: WV.
, , .. es -
1. LinCMOS circuits. Elektor Electronics EU , le

July/August 1989, p. 20 ff. aacnsi-ls

Fig. 5. Introducing the OP177 ultra -precision opamp (illustrations courtesy Precision
Monolithics Inc. )

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 SAVE D ECO
Part 1: Operation and technical background
P.N.P. Wintergreen

The scrambling system employed for the BBC -TV Europe and the
now defunct Premiere channel on the Intelsat-VF11 TV satellite is
generally classified as a low-level video encoding scheme. Based on
controlled interference in the video spectrum it is, however, not so
simple to defeat with traditional filter designs that have already
caused much hair -pulling and teeth -gnashing among technically
inclined dish owners. The decoder discussed here leaves traditional
filters for what they are, yet offers a perfectly decoded picture at a
cost of 225 or so.

The Intelsat-VF11 TV satellite level. The suppression, in

is positioned in geostationary particular, of the inter-
orbit at 27.5' west, and can be ference poses considerable
received in large parts of problems if conventional fil-
western Europe if a dish of ter techniques are used.
1.2 m or larger is used. The The phase and amplitude
BBC -TV Europe programme recovery of the 94 kHz inter-
is transmitted at 10.987 GHz ference signal is affected by
with vertical polarization. the video signal, and de-
The channel is encoded ac- signers must take into ac-
cording to the SAVE (sound count that this can have an
encryption) system, infinite number of instanta-
with occasional changes in neous amplitude -frequency
the interference frequency configurations because the
used. spectrum is a function of the
current picture content,
Tackling SAVE which changes in real-time.
A narrow 94 kHz filter,
The SAVE scrambling system however, will give reason-
looks relatively simple at first able results in many cases. A
glance, because the encoding crystal filter as used in com-
is effected entirely in the fre- munications receivers is
quency domain. This is in contrast to ing it and doubling the amplitude. Al- ideal for this function. Unfortunately,
many other analogue encoding systems, though these measures result in a picture crystal filters are notoriously expensive
which use signal inversion in combination that can be recognized on many TV sets, and hard to obtain, especially for a non-
with amplitude -shifting and frame the quality is very poor owing to the inter- standard frequency like 94 kHz. These
and/or line polarity control (Ref. 1). fering carrier that is still present at its full problems may be resolved, however, by a
In the SAVE system, the video signal compensation circuit with a PLL (phase -
from the TV studio has its amplitude re- locked loop), and a VXO (variable crystal
duced by 50% before it is inverted. The SAVE DECODER oscillator) that functions as a VCO (voltage
original amplitude is then restored by the controlled oscillator). An advantage of this
addition of a pure sine -wave with a fre- low-cost design; no cut -to -order quartz arrangement is that it can be designed to
quency of about 94 kHz. This encoding crystal(s) operate at a multiple of 94 kHz.
scheme has prompted many technically The block diagram of Fig. 1 shows the
complete suppression of SAVE inter-
inclined dish owners to design and build ference
basic structure of a VXO-PLL (Ref. 2). Al-
a wide variety of filters, only to find that though not used for the present design,
the interfering signal is much harder to L -C oscillator with amplitude and phase the principle merits a short discussion.
get rid of than expected. This is mainly control loops for optimum stability The crystal is cut to order for one particu-
because any residual interfering signal, simple -to -connect to any indoor unit lar interference frequency around 94 kHz.
however small, gives an irritating effect standard clamped video output:
In practice, however, the interference fre-
on the TV screen. As found out the hard 1 Vpc175
quency is changed on an irregular basis,
way, the 94 kHz notch is simply not ca- so that a number of crystals are required
pable of ensuring a perfectly stable pic- automatic switch -over between non -en- when BBC -TV Europe is to be decoded.
ture. coded and SAVE -encoded channels Clearly, this is a relatively expensive sol-
Without a suitable decoder, a SAVE - automatic search for interference fre- ution since the station operators can
encoded video signal produces a totally quency within 1.5 kHz band change the interference frequency within
unintelligible picture. In principle, the a certain range, requiring new crystals to
signal becomes at least visible by invert- be cut. The present decoder is much more
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
28 RADIO & TELEVISION

flexible in respect of frequency control be-

cause it is based on an L -C oscillator that
uses inexpensive components, and works - Video
at 94 kHz. A number of special tech- Summing
niques, combined with 'all -analogue' sig- c amplifier amplifier
nal processing have resulted in a
stop -band filter (notch) whose perfor- - Video
Unclamped Decoded
mance in respect of selectivity comes close video video
to that of a crystal filter.
Synchronous VCX0
The low-cost decoder presented here detector 611Hz
features automatic processing of any
SAVE -encoded video signal that contains --ANTe
an interfering carrier between about
cancel
93 kHz and 94.5 kHz, so that BBC -TV Eu- 1
16
rope (A=93,275 Hz) is reliably recognized
and decoded, irrespective of the current
interference frequency. V

946Hz 9.4kHz
low-pass low-pass
Spectral analysis elliptic filler elliptic tiller
The frequency spectra of Fig. 2 illustrate +90'
the basic operation of pre- and de -emphasis
techniques used in the present decoder.
The spectrum of Fig. 2a shows the typical Fig. 1. The first approach to a SAVE decoder is nearly always a VCXO design. The inherent
amplitude distribution, within the fre- disadvantages are, however, relatively high cost and the 'one channel, one crystal' rule
quency range from 0 to 500 kHz, of a (source: Ref. 2).
video signal. It should be noted that the
drawing is purposely simplified: the spec- 575 Hz in the case of Premiere - and techniques are applied in FM communica-
trum applies to a completely black pic- make selective suppression of the inter- tions systems to improve the signal-to-
ture, while the effect of the raster ference frequency fairly difficult because noise ratio. At the transmitter side, a
synchronization pulses is not shown. The the phase and amplitude of the sixth har- certain part of the frequency spectrum of
simplified spectrum with line sync com- monic of the line sync must be left com- the modulation signal is given a greater
ponents and the interference signal is, pletely unaffected. If this condition is not amplitude, which is reduced again in the
however, still useful for a basic analysis. met, the picture is visibly distorted. receiver by a matched filter to restore the
The frequency range between 90 and Hence, a simple notch is unsuitable for original signal level. Ideally, the fre-
95 kHz is shown enlarged in the lower building a reliable SAVE -decoder. quency response between the input of the
spectrum of Fig. 2a. Clearly, the inter- For those less familiar with video tech- transmitter and the output of the receiver
ference carriers are quite close to the sixth niques, it may come as a surprise that the is flat because the pre- and de -emphasis
harmonic of the line frequency. The fre- interference signal must be amplified be- filters are closely matched by means of
quency differences are small - only fore it can be suppressed. Pre- en de -em- complementary curves.
475 Hz in the case of BBC -TV Europe, and phasis are used to achieve this. These A two -section L -C filter in the present

a b

C
rds
teB]
-^:. 544

SIM ha j S43251a
1E -.:-
1

I I]
--ph
73
33 33 5 9, St 5 33 33,J 733 3., 35

-it. 1 (kHz] t [kHz) 6931E5-120

Fig. 2. Frequency spectrum of a SAVE -encoded video signal with no picture content (2a); theoretical pass -band of the pre -emphasis filter
(2b); and the result of the pre -emphasis operation on the original spectrum (2c). It should be noted that the spectra shown are theoretical
and purposely simplified.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS. FEHRL ARV 1990

 SAVE. DECODER 29
SAVE decoder raises frequency compo-
nents around 94 kHz and 188 kHz about
20 dB with respect to the rest of the video
spectrum. The theoretical pass -band VIDEO FRE- SUMMATION
curve of this filter is shown in Fig. 2b, and AMPUFIER NETWORK

its effect on the spectrum of Fig. 2a is ap-

parent from Fig_ 2c. The interference sig-
nal has the highest amplitude in the latter
spectrum.
The control principle adopted for the
SAVE decoder requires the second pass - PHASE LOOP
FILTER
band at 188 kHz. The analogue control COMPARATOR

circuit that is to supply the regenerated

94 kHz signal does not have filters to en-
sure a well-defined phase response, and 4
multiplication of the 94 kHz signal inevit- T
ably produces a 188 kHz component.
E4 kHz
Owing to cross -talk, a part of this compo- SINE -WAVE PHASE
nent ends up in the video signal, where it "Co
produces interference. This is prevented,
however, with the aid of a de -emphasis
filter, of which one section is tuned to
188 kHz.
Since the interference frequency is al-
ways an odd multiple of the interlace fre- A. PLITUDE
CONTROLLER
LO 4 -PASS
FILTER
MULTIPLIER
quency (25 Hz), residual levels of the
94 kHz signal that remain after decoding
are virtually unnoticed owing to the opti-
cal averaging function of the human eye_
After removal of the 94 kHz compo-
nent, the signal amplitude must be re- SCRAMBLING
stored to the level before pre -emphasis. DETECTOR
This is achieved with a de -emphasis filter
whose pass -band curve is accurately
dimensioned to form the inverse of the
pre -emphasis curve.
0 ENCODE:,

VIDEO VIDEO
RP UT OUTPUT

Block diagram ..ITC:: VIDEO

SUFFER
00
The basic operation of the SAVE decoder
is best described along the lines of the
block diagram shown in Fig. 3. 80165-13
The heart of the circuit is formed by an
L -C oscillator, which is controlled by loop Fig. 3. The block diagram of the SAVE decoder is fairly complex. The operation of the
circuits for amplitude and phase. In prin- circuit is based on a 94 kHz L -C VCO surrounded by control loops for amplitude and phase.
ciple, the regenerated 94 kHz sine -wave is
added to the scrambled video signal. The opamp available in the X122208. When the the loop filter is given a pass -band of
amplitude of the regenerated sine -wave is circuit is not locked, the first loop filter is about 15 Hz rather than a few hundred
identical to that of the interference compo- given a bandwidth of a few hundred Hz Hz. This arrangement requires high VCO
nent, but the phase is opposite. This is to enable the PLL to lock on to sufficiently stability, however, since frequency devia-
achieved with the aid of a control circuit strong signals in a frequency band of tions can only be corrected relatively
that is capable of continuously monitor- about 1.5 kHz around 94 kHz. The PLL slowly. Fortunately, the L -C oscillator
ing, and, if necessary, correcting, the does not lock on to signals below a certain used meets this requirement, so that a
phase and the amplitude of the regener- threshold level, so that, for instance, the phase -locked reference signal is obtained.
ated 94 kHz signal. The oscillator used is sixth harmonic of the line frequency can What remains is control of the amplitude,
a voltage -controlled Colpitts type based not switch the circuit to the decoding and a shift of phase by 90'. Both functions
on an L -C tuned circuit with a relatively mode. Without special measures, how- are realized by an operational transcon-
high Q -factor. In combination with a ever, the sixth harmonic of the line fre- ductance amplifier (OTA), a Type
double loop filter that forms part of a PLL, quency is likely to cause problems once LNI13700 from National Semiconductor.
it ensures good phase stability of the re- the PLL has locked on to, say, the SAVE - A useful background on OTAs can be
generated sine -wave when the circuit is encoded BBC -TV Europe signal. In that found in Ref. 3.
locked. condition, the phase comparator supplies The VCO reference signal is passed
The block diagram shows that the un- 475 Hz, the frequency difference between through an amplitude control circuit and
clamped video signal supplied by the sat- the sixth harmonic and the interference an integrator before it is added to the
ellite -TV receiver is amplified before it is signal. Without a correctly dimensioned input signal after pre -emphasis. The re-
passed through the pre -emphasis filter loop filter, this difference frequency gives sult of the addition is phase -shifted by 90'
discussed above. The output signal of the rise to phase modulation of the VCO, and fed to a multiplier that determines the
two -stage L -C filter is compared to that of which, in turn, leads to incomplete com- frequency difference between its input
the 94 kHz oscillator. The phase compara- pensation of the interference. The result is signals. Evidently, the difference is 0 Hz
tor is an analogue multiplier available in an annoying interference on the TV only when the VCO frequency equals the
IC Type XR2208 from Exar. The result of screen. interference frequency. As shown in the
the multiplication operation is a dif- The solution to this problem has been 'Theoretical background' inset, complete
ference frequency that is fed to the first found in automatic bandwidth reduction compensation is achieved when the am-
loop filter. This filter is realized with the of the loop filter. After the PLL has locked, plitude of the 94 kHz VCO signal equals
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
30 RADIO & TELEVISION

the amplitude of the interference signal. width, and the output signal of the de -em- The pre -emphasis L -C filter in the col-
The control loop performs automatic cor- phasis network is fed to the video buffer lector line of Ti supplies a video signal
rections to the amplitude of the VCO sig- with associated damping circuit. The with a 94 kHz component of about 3 Vpp
nal until a stable condition is reached. decoded video signal has an amplitude of when the receiver is tuned to a SAVE -en-
Once aligned, the decoder is, therefore, about 1 Vpp at a load impedance of 75 a coded TV channel. The transistor works as
insensitive to small amplitude variations and is suitable for direct connection to a an inverting amplifier. Capacitor Cr feeds
of the input signal, and other forms of monitor or remodulator. the signal with the 94 kHz component to
instability. the phase comparator in IC3, where it is
The integrator that shifts the phase of multiplied with the VCO signal applied
the VCO signal by 90' gives a frequency -
From theory to practice via Cis.
independent phase shift, and is located The previously discussed functions are Phase control
after the amplitude control circuit. An ad- easily found back in the circuit diagram of The 94 kHz Colpitts VCO built around
ditional benefit of the integrator is its Fig. 4. The unclamped video signal from T- is tuned by means of a direct volt-
ability to suppress harmonics generated the satellite -TV receiver must have an am- age applied to dual variable capacitance
by light distortion. These harmonics are plitude of at least 0.5 Vpp. Components PI, diode D7. The circuit around D. and 1-4 is
suppressed at 6 dB per octave. Ci, R3 and ESi take the non -encoded video an amplitude stabilizer. When the ampli-
The control voltage for the amplitude signal to amplifier T5. From there, it is tude of the oscillator signal exceeds a cer-
controller is used to light a LED that indi- passed through clamping circuit Di -D2 -T. tain level, conducts via D., and draws
cates the decoding of a SAVE signal. before it is applied to output buffer Tr. The current through R44. This causes the drain
When the LED lights, the loop filter is output amplitude is set to 1 Vrr into 751. current of the oscillator FET to drop to a
automatically switched to reduced band- with the aid of preset Pt. level at which the feedback gain in the

Theoretical background

1. Pre- and de -emphasis When pre -emphasis network La -Cs (Z) resonates at 94 kHz. it forms
a very high impedance. R13 alone then determines the impedance of
Current source T uses pre-empnasis impedance Z formed by Z With R13 = 27000:
C= -Cs -Rs to generate a signal voltage at TP1:
U0 = -1.23 Uwde0-- 0.09 Ures
U3 T1 = U
Uanim U Correctly aligned, the pre- and de -emphasis networks yield more than
20 dB suppression of the 94 kHz component, without distorting the
T11 s 4E1'1} = Rs video signal.

UTP1 = Inn) ( Z+ )=-U Z -R7 1 Rs 2. Amplitude control circuit

Since T3 offers high current amplification, Z is hardly loaded. The frequency of the amplitude control voltage. U,eo, is 0 Hz if the
regenerated frequency equals the frequency of the interference volt-
The regenerated 94 kHz sine -wave is added in anti -phase to the video age, U,:
signal. Emitter follower T4 forms a virtually ideal voltage source for
the de -emphasis impedance. Z:
Ureg= Jo sinuo t !I( U,- (keg)sin (co rildt
Ua 74, = U574, = Z R7 / R5 + Up Sin (WI+ 9) Ureg= jo 0.5 ( -Limo)[1 - cos ( 2 co t)id t
where
ca = 2 rz 94000 [ rad/s] The integrator gives virtually complete suppression of the 188 kHz
component, so that:
The decoded video signal across R15 may be written as

Urbs= UD Ureg= Jo 0.5 ( U- Uteg ) d t

U0= R 15 / R 15+ Z UEIT41
This equation can be solved if U= Urog. which corresponds to com-
R ( Z -t -R7
,upsm. (o.) t 9)] plete compensation.
U0
Rls+Z) R
3. 90 phase shifter
The input voltage. U may be written as
Pin 5 of OTA1 supplies a sinusoidal current. I. which is integrated
Ui= Uirideo+ Up sin (o) (p). by C25:

Owing to noise in the input signal. the residual 94 kHz component. = ip COS (0) )

Ures. has to be taken into account:

UC29=1 /Cf d
0
U0=R 15 i( R15-4- Z)1-Uvrtrect R7)/R5+U.-es)
res
/Jag= 1 /Cr' ip. COS ICO Ildt
0
R15( Z- R7 R 15 )
Uo- Wide° R
Z R 15 ) Z+R15 Lic29=
C
mit!) )

where
With R7 = R15:
co = 2 rr 94000 [ rad s]
U0= -R 15 R 5 Uvideo÷ R 15 Z R 15 ) Liras
The phase is shifted 90' independently of frequency.
U0=-1.23 Uvideo+ R isi(Z+ R 15) Ures

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 IIISAVE DECODER

Fig. 4. Circuit diagram of the SAVE decoder.

oscillator is unity. The result is a clean and locked or not, the bandwidth of the loop part, which has the same amplitude but
stable oscillator signal that is coupled out filter is changed by ES2 connecting R27 in the opposite phase.
inductively via Ls. Transistors Till and Tn parallel with Res, and ES1 selecting a dif- The summation signal is taken through
amplify the oscillator signal and convert ferent R -C network at the output of the the de -emphasis network in the emitter
it into a symmetrical current that is fed to opamp in the XR2208. The control voltage line of T4. The first of the two L -C sections
the pair of diodes at each of the parallel - is passed to the varicap via R4I and R-16. removes residual 94 kHz levels, and the
connected OTA inputs (IC4). This closes the phase -locked loop. second ensures sufficient suppression of
The OTA inputs are also connected to Amplitude control the 188 kHz component. The decoded sig-
112 and Ti_ to form a gain -cell. In principle, The amplitude of the regenerated 94 kHz nal is fed to the clamping circuit via ESi.
a gain -cell provides linear conversion of sine -wave is determined with the aid of a The amplitude control circuit receives
an input signal into an output signal. The current sent into pin 1 of OTA:. This cur- its error signal from the summation point,
gain of the cell is determined by a current rent is supplied by OTA2, which works as via Rn.s. Components C33, Rn, Czo and
supplied by an external source. In the a multiplier. The result is that pin 3 of R59 shift the phase of the error signal by
present case, this control current ema- OTAI supplies a sinusoidal current to in- 90' so that it can be used for driving multi-
nates from R32, while the basic gain of the tegrator The mathematical deduction plier OTA2. This supplies a current that is
cell is defined by the ratio Rs2:R5s. in the 'Theoretical background' inset dem- integrated by C3I. The resulting voltage on
The 94 kHz signal is taken asymmetri- onstrates that the phase is shifted 90' in- this capacitor is buffered by the darling -
cally from the collector of TI2 and fed to dependently of frequency. The voltage ton transistor in the OTA, and serves to
the phase comparator via Cis. The dif- developed across C24 is fed back into the supply the control current to the pre-
ference frequency is available as a bal- IC via pin 7, and reappears buffered at viously mentioned gain cell (OTA1) via
anced signal between pins 1 and 2 of the pin 8. The regenerated, amplitude -con- R57. This closes the amplitude -controlled
XR2208. The balanced difference signal is trolled and 90' phase -shifted 94 kHz sig- loop.
passed to the opamp in the XR2208, by nal is fed to T2 via Cs, and from there to
means of networks Res -R3 -C21 and R3s- summation point T2 -R12. This forms the
R37-C22. nucleus of the circuit: the interference dis- The construction and alignment of the decoder
Depending on whether the I'LL is appears against its regenerated counter- will he described in Part 2 of this article.
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 DESIGN IDEAS
The contents of this column are based solely on information supplied by the author
and do not imply practical experience by Elektor Electronics.

WAVEFORM MODULATION OF
THE MAINS VOLTAGE
by A.M. Karailiev

In order to simplify the transmitter and to improve the noise

immunity of the remote control receivers described in his earlier
article*, Mr Karailiev here offers another method of modulating
and demodulating the mains voltage.

A thyristor. rated at not less than 25 A. is former. IF. I,

connected directly across the mains sup- Readers are advised that modulating the
ply. It is controlled by a circuit as in Fig. 1 mains voltage in the United Kingdom is = Um S111127t11 I II T ± 1)
in a manner to make it conductive for a subject to the provisions of British Stan-
time Ar us at the end of every positive half dard BS6839. Further information on the and this is represented graphically in
cycle of the mains voltage. subject may be obtained from BIMSA Fig. 3.
The programming unit is an integrated f BEAM Interactive and Mains Systems If the full -wave rectified voltage
circuit Plessey Type SL120. or SGS Type Association), Leicester House. 8 Leicester (Lj,,= 17 V) is applied to the inverting
LI20. or equivalent. Street, LONDON WC2H 7BN, Telephone input of an operational amplifier acting as
Assume that the thyristor will short-cir- a zero crossing detector. and a direct volt-
01-437 0678.
cuit the mains at the instant this reaches a age of 0.25 V is applied to the non -invert-
value of +24 V - see diagram in Fig. 2. ing input, the output of the detector will
Then. speak of waveform modulation. However, consist of 93.66 us wide pulses at a pulse
as the depth of modulation is defined by rate equal to twice the mains frequency.
=U sin wr = sin(Zit 11T ) the angle 0 during which the short circuit When the positive voltage applied to
or occurs. or by the time duration of the short the non -inverting input is higher then the
24 = 310xsin2rcx50At. circuit. other definitions of the type of voltage caused by the modulation. the
modulation may be applied. pulse spacing (pulse repetition period) de-
Since. for a small angle, sinO = e. creases. When. however, the voltage
caused by the modulation is higher than
= 310x2rtx50AL and Demodulation that applied to the non -inverting input, the
The information on the mains voltage is pulse spacing increases - see Fig. 4.
= (24x106) 310x2x50 = 246 us. extracted from it by means of a circuit as In the absence of modulation. the zero
shown in Fig. 6. The instantaneous volt- crossing detector should be adjusted to
Thus, for a period of 246 }is. the mains age. It, at the secondary of the input trans- make the width of the output pulses as
voltage is practically zero and this mani-
fests itself, at minimal power dissipation.
in a distortion sienal on the mains voltage.
It is interesting to note that since the signal 02 1 O1
*--C9
is caused by a lack of voltage, it will not 1/44001 1144001 220V
he attenuated by the power lines, so that it (Cl 4011
PACGRAMMING
will be detectable over fairly large dis- UNIT
tances. T

10

Type of modulation IC1

03
CI
ID. 3
C2

104
co -
4 a

BC108
RS

The effect of the momentary short circuit

of the mains voltage will be a change of its
TV R2 R3
torp R4
*D4Ren44

sinusoidal waveform, so that we may

__T-11

`Mains Signalling Elektor Electronics.

November 1988. p. 27.
Fig. 1. Basic control circuit for the modulator: the value of R5 depends on the type of thyristor.

ELERTOR ELECTRONICS FLIII-ZL RN- 199(1

 WAVEFORM MOM_ LATION OF THE MAINS VOLTAGE

Fig. 2. Fig. 3.

sl-}4 zas4

Itmmuuttlllll li1ll 111111 111111 111111 1111 11111 111111111

Fig. 5. Pulse diagrams at selected points in the circuit of Fig. 6. The numbers Fig. 4. In diagrams a and b there is no modulation: in diagrams c and d.
at the left correspond with the circled numbers in Fig. 6. modulation is present.

small as possible. For example. if the de- present and no pulses at all in the absence nium type to ensure minimum -v. idth
tector produces pulses 100 ps wide in the of modulation. pulses in the absence of modulation.
absence of modulation, and a modulated Network R3 -R4 -C.; forms a charge/dis-
signal with a depth of modulation of Receiver charge circuit that converts the pulse -
250 ps is applied. the width of the output width modulation into pulse -amplitude
pulses will increase to 300 gs. If the detec- In the circuit of the receiver shown in modulation. The pulse height can be ad-
tor is made more sophisticated. it may pro- Fie. 6. Ti serves as the zero crossing de- justed by R3. so that monostable ICI may
duce pulses only when there is modulation tector. It should preferably be a germa- be triggered only by pulses above a certain
height.
The monostable is retriggerable and
produces a long output pulse at its pin 12
when there is modulation present. Here.
5V 12V the length of the pulses is predetermined at
IC2 1.1 rl 500 ps. Shorter pulses will he suppressed
7805
s Cl' by a noise protection circuit consisting of
CI 220V
T200 T713, Rft-R7-C(i and the two Schmitt triggers
P3 contained in IC3.
mi=
The output pulses of ICI are counted
FS IC3a
2PcExT IBM ICI =74123
by 1C4. When the pulse train ceases. re-
i2
C41[11,752,
IC3=74132 triggerable monostable IC2 emits a pulse
zcExT ICU
CLIP,
that is applied to the clock input of D -type
2C
LP bistable ICs. This causes the contents of
20 A701. 11 l3
F, 2. C, 02 one stage of the counter to be transferred
3
IC4 to IC:. which acts as a latch. Since ICs is a
7493
four -stage counter, it is thus possible to
control four different devices or machines.
IRCEXT Diagrams of the pulses at selected parts
10EXT of the circuit are shown in Fig.. 5.
ICiG
3 FS
The higher noise immunity of the re-
ICLOO

10
IC5
7474 MEI ceiver as compared with that in my earlier
IA
S
article is obtained because:
I' V
I. its input is open to the signal and
closed to noise, since the thyristor short-
circuits all noise:
2. of the noise protection circuit:
3. of the special form of the signal (ab-
sence of voltage).
Fig. 6. Circuit diagram of the proposed receiver.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

34

FEEDBACK KILLER
T. Giffard

This circuit helps to prevent feedback in public address (PA)

systems. Feedback occurs at relatively high volume settings when a
microphone is held too close to a loudspeaker. The effect is
characterized by whistling or howling sounds that are annoying to
the audience, the sound engineer and, of course, the speaker on the
stage.

Feedback is a constant source to mean that it makes feedback

of worry to mixing desk oper- impossible: only the point at
ators in the backstage line. which the effect starts is shifted
since the now shrill then to a much higher level.
howling sounds always seem 4
The risk of feedback occur-
to occur unexpectedly, and ring is reduced by creating a
tend to irritate both the per- small frequency difference of
formers on the stage and the 1 Hz to 30 Hz between the am-
audience, who respond with plifier input- and output -signal.
boos, catcalls and plugging of This operation causes the fre-
ears. No good this equipment! quency of a (potential) feedback
At a certain frequency, or signal to be raised a little so that
frequencies, the phase shift in the condition for oscillation is
the closed loop formed by the no longer satisfied.
microphone, the amplifier,
the loudspeaker and the lis-
tening room is 0 degrees, 360 Block diagram
degrees or a multiple thereof. A number of modulation tech-
If, in this situation, the ampli- niques may be applied to obtain
fier gain is greater than the a fixed frequency shift between
room attenuation, the feed- an amplifier input- and output -
back signal rises to a level at signal. In practice, virtually all
which it tops all other sound. these techniques make use of
This is the well-known high -pitch whistle: Sound technicians know a lot about amplifiers, filters and mixers.
the I'A system oscillates. microphone placement and often spend The block diagram of the feedback kil-
Figure 1 illustrates what happens. The hours on small adjustments of the monitor ler is shown in Fig. 2. The principle of
sound produced by the loudspeakers is loudspeakers. However, many artists are operation is fairly simple. The input sig-
reflected by the room or by objects or per- inclined to take the microphone from its nal is passed through two all -pass filters
sons in the room, and is subsequently stand the moment they are on stage. This whose output signals have a phase dif-
picked up by the microphone. The phase requires great attention on part of the ference of 90°. These signals are multi-
shift and attenuation depend on the sound technician, since there remains a plied with two clock signals that are also
acoustic parameters of the listening room large risk of feedback occurring. 90' out of phase. The resulting signals are
(note that the audience forms a moving The circuit described here raises the added. As shown by equation (A) in
part of the room and must be taken into sound level at which the feedback starts Fig. 2, the multiplication and addition
account as regards the loudspeaker posi- by a few decibels. This should not be taken operations produce a new signal of a fre-
tions).
Evidently, the best way to prevent
feedback is to place the microphones in
positions where they are unlikely to pick (;) a^ ___..01=0.s sr,n(c3:-- C,

up reflections from the loudspeakers a e- nrelt - E - ucrt

o.,9TE S = Engnal. :name,

E z5a,,, - 2. - 6;t - 0.5 c. -to -bst

in.:.:4-2 -1:

Fig. 1. Sound reflections. Fig. 2. Block diagram of the feedback killer, and its mathematical background.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 FEEDBACK KILLER

ES t
as

/taxa
C

MIM MIN

Fxx

ES]

Li
OM.

C22
Cap6
RI

IC'

40E0 ay
97 S
40.53
A1 -_A/
A5_,55
AS_Al2
=ICI = 21024
= IC2 T1074
= IC3 =71071
sr. 22a
A13__A15 =1CA r -7L071
ES1--ES4 =ICS =10E6
ESS_ESS =106 =1:E5
FF1. FF2 =ICE .1013
FF3. FF 4 =1010=1013

SY

CAI
IC1
:7:,
.,..... 102 9114 ,e3 `II ,,, (-C---.
ics C22OM
E-----.
" ma ,7
0
Ca.0
0
(3 CSa

T
CI. T i(
cly C2
C: C3I Cr) LT14

'V
I TUB
ir--""j
C24 -CASs 22,,Xst
LI:CIS .7. ----7 ---7 .--7 .____T
SICCC2 -13
SY

Fig. 3. Circuit diagram of the feedback killer.

quency equal to the sum of the frequency The output signal of the mixer is taken sine -wave products and a series of cosine -
of the input signal and the frequency of through an active low-pass filter. This wave products. The harmonics are
the carrier with which it is mixed. The operation is required because the input removed in the previously mentioned
upshot is that the input signal is shifted signal is multiplied by 90° -shifted rectan- low-pass filter, so that only the wanted
over a small range in the frequency spec- gular waves, rather than a sine -wave and mixer product remains.
trum. Although the equation shows that a cosine -wave which would have given There are two ways of shifting the
the sum signal is a single frequency com- rise to a considerably more complex cir- input signal over a small range (1 Hz -
ponent only, it should be noted that this is cuit. From Fourier analysis, a rectangular 30 Hz )in the frequency spectrum: 1) use a
only valid if the input signal is shifted wave is composed of a fundamental fre- low -frequency modulation signal or 2)
exactly 90'. Unfortunately, this is only quency and an infinite number of odd - mix the signal a second time with a signal
possible in theory. Any practical circuit numbered sine -wave harmonics as of which the frequency is almost the same
produces spurious signals that cause am- as that of the first rectangular wave. Next,
plitude -modulation (AM) of the mixer 4irc(cos(cot)-1/3cos(36in /5cos(5o)t) remove the undesirable sidebands with
output signal. The all -pass filter used in the aid of a filter.
the feedback killer ensures a phase shift of The amplitude of the harmonics decreases The second principle is adopted in the
very nearly 90° over a frequency range of with frequency. The use of two 90' -shifted feedback killer. Two carriers of a relative-
50 Hz to 7 kHz: rectangular waves results in a series of ly high, but slightly different, frequency
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
36 AUDIO AND HI -F1

are used. CD4060's from one and the same manu-

The sum signal, A, obtained from the facturer and, if possible, from a single
first mixer is filtered before it is mixed batch (look at the production date indica-
with a carrier, sin(ck+8)t, where 8 is the tion, the type and batch number).
required shift in radians. The resulting The circuit is a combination of anal-
signal, B, may be expressed as shown in ogue and digital electronics and has,
Fig. 2. In the equation, -cos(o).:+26),+8)t is therefore, relatively many decoupling ca-
an unwanted sideband, and cos(o.),8)t the
modulated input signal shifted by an
rrp pry
pacitors to keep cross -talk and inter-

rvpr
ference to a minimum. Fortunately, there
amount 8 in the frequency spectrum. If the
carrier frequency is relatively high (ap-
prox. 125 kHz), suppressing the un-
.444A4
r p
is virtually no tolerance or quality re-
quirement for the decoupling capacitors,
so that inexpensive types may be used
wanted sideband is relatively easy with
the aid of a band filter, which doubles as 44.0.A4 with impunity.
a filter for the sidebands that are gener-
ated by the use of rectangular waves in the Construction and
second clock generator. adjustment
Circuit diagram The circuit is preferably constructed on
the single -sided PCB shown in Fig. 5. The
Figure 3 shows the circuit diagram of the construction is entirely straightforward
feedback killer. The essential blocks in the and best started with fitting the wire links.
circuit are an all -pass filter around 1C:: - Fig. 4. Principle of frequency multiplica- Note that a fair number of resistors is
IC:, an output filter around A1s and Ate, tion with the aid of electronic switches. mounted upright.
and two clock generators around IC7-ICio. The adjustment of the circuit is simple.
The audio signal is buffered by Ai before ference between the two clock signals As already discussed, the frequency shift
it is applied to the all -pass filter which determines the effective frequency shift of of the audio signal is determined by the
introduces a phase shift of 90±0.5' for sig- the input signal. The output signal of the frequency difference between the two
nals between 50 Hz and 7 kHz. The filter second mixer is taken through a second - crystal oscillators. This frequency dif-
components have a tolerance of l';;: to en- order high-pass filter, Ain, and a second - ference is set with the respective trim-
sure that the deviation from 90' remains order low-pass filter, A15, to remove all mers, C21 and C.
as small as possible (remember that the unwanted harmonics. The AF output is a The function of the circuit is relatively
number of unwanted sidebands rises with virtual copy of the input signal: the only easy to check. Set both trimmers to about
the deviation from 901. The frequency difference is that it covers a slightly differ- one-third of their travel. Connect a two -
range of the all -pass filter restricts the ent range in the frequency spectrum. channel oscilloscope to the input and the
practical use of the circuit to speech. The The clock generators around IC4 and output of the feedback killer. Apply a
feedback killer, must, therefore, not be IC- are identical with a Type CD4060 os- sine -wave to the input and synchronize
used with singers or musicians, since the cillator/divider and an 8 MHz quartz the top channel of the scope. The circuit
absolute frequency shift upsets harmonic crystal as the frequency determining ele- worksif adjustment of one of the two trim-
relations and so causes the performers to ment. The Q3 -output of each CD4060 sup- mers causes the (output-) signal on the
play or sing out of tune. plies the oscillator frequency divided by lower channel to start moving horizon-
The all -pass filter is followed by a buff- 16, i.e., 500 kHz. The two bistables (FFI- tally across the scope screen.
er, A1, -A.1, which introduces a phase shift FF2 and FE-FF-; secure the required phase The frequency shift required for opti-
of 180' required for the first multiplica- shift of 90' between the two clock signals. mum suppression of feedback depends
tion with the rectangular signal supplied In this operation, the clock frequency is largely on the equipment used, the power
by the first clock generator. The multipli- divided by four, so that the carriers have ratings and anticipated sound levels, and,
cation proper is effected by electronic a frequency of 125 kHz. The trimmer ca- of course, the acoustic characteristics of
switches ES:-ES4 as illustrated in Fig. 4. pacitors in the crystal oscillators allow the the listening room. Finally, it will be clear
The non -inverted and the inverted sine - frequency shift applied to the AF input that the effect of the circuit is less noticed
wave is passed during the positive and signal to be adjusted to requirement. at relatively small frequency shifts.
negative half -cycle of the clock signal re- The circuit draws less than 50 mA from
spectively. a regulated ±5 V to -±8 V power supply.
Opamp A: adds the two mixed signals, Components
and supplies, in principle, the compo- The capacitors in the all -pass filter are
nents of which the rectangular wave con- preferably 1`7, -tolerance polystyrene ('sty-
sists. The frequencies of the components rollex') or silver -mica types, although the
are, however, raised by the frequency of board allows MKT (plastic encapsulated
the input signal. Opamp An suppresses multi -layer polytherephtelate) types to be
all unwanted higher harmonics generated fitted also. These capacitors from Siemens
by the use of rectangular -wave clock (car- generally have a tolerance of 5c'e. Note
rier) signals. As a result, the sum signal that when MKT capacitors are used, there
contains only the mixing product of the is little point in using 1% resistors. The use
input signal and the fundamental fre- of 54 -tolerance components in the all -
quency of the clock signal. The 'digital pass filter increases the amplitude modu-
mixer' approach uses fewer components lation of the output signal.
than an equivalent all -analogue (sine- Two types of PTFE foil trimmer,
wave/cosine-wave) circuit, and has the 10x5 mm raster and 5x7.5 mm raster, may
additional benefits of lower cost and the be used in positions C21 and CB. Do not
absence of adjustments. use ceramic types: they are not partly
The filtered signal is available in in- transparent as PTFE foil types and do not
verted form after opamp A13, and is therefore allow the set capacitance to be
mixed a second time with a clock signal. deduced from the position of the rotor
Like the first mixer, the second one uses relative to the stator blades.
electronic switches. The frequency dif- Be sure to use quartz crystals and
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 FEEDBACK KILLER

AG- o -o -n -o 0 so o
R400-
n2, _c) A
R1
-06IN 1 AO- 0- 01
._,,-.,
33 33
-0[:.
33

A-1-
o
"-yrJR3s-' , 2n0---0
M
20 ru 9 9 e
_c, R10
It

n 2,
NI
13:1 00
0
A)R17 R16
MEC° 6 -0 w;L) -
R11
L) -0 e-0-0 Cr
(5 -0 -0
0E:3
IC12Oi [0 na>1 I-0 \IP3 6
00-1E0 li 0(R3B10
C500-1 FO 66 II
0 -19D9)119D? c 4
0 ,0 Co R24 -3:1

Cl
AN
`-1442(606,1:425
-0 LI C°

cJW gicl n q-
M
O
00 0 "go -01=126
-3-3 001[0 L3n3i.3.11:11C0,0,..
2:7-c.i
O
A
(.1
.v.,9 9 nA 93J4 0-0 _E) _oR32 s"/R27
0-

n A
C-15 131 al
AA

q C9c,..0,1.0 66
A 0-1E0 0--0 RIFOR
1:1

NN
00 co
1-02 91.9.9999 GI
(Ti
ti
A -a 0 CB 0
n n
01111111C
33* 0 4 4 4 4 gu A n icio /A
00
L.,

,., 0 A
60 0+
:

LI -t) t 21; 0-0e41

Pr 0-- D _e i'l -eRso n
2?. 2Trti 0 01
AP -I I -6r: W (31- R4 B A Mwu -g-E.7L23

Ell Oi FO (>0-1[0 -OR 52 -' w

-' MIMIC00000
00
O C19 C16
0-0
C26
Pss X1_9_)
=
O
0-0 01k)
C47
C37
O/ 0000
A
O Z.9 P155 X
0-0 0-0 0 01
C4B

Fig. 5. Track layout and component mounting plan of the printed -circuit board for the feedback killer.

Parts list Raf_% = 19k6 1% Cis = 680p

8! = 931k0 C16;C17= 18n
R. = 24k3 1% Cis = 220p
Resistors: R35 = 1M5 CI9 = 100p
= 10k R4o:R41:1142= 100k 1% C20:C22= 47p
R2 = 8k2 1148:1149;R52:Rs3;Rs4 = 47k = 100p trimmer
83;843;844;845 = 1k0 R53;Rst = 12k C24 -C45= 100n
R4:R5:R3;R9:R tz:R13:R 16:R i7:Rat:Rat Rss:Rse = 470k C45:C47 22p
Rzs;R2s:Rza:R32:R33;R37;Ras;R33; C4s = 8p2
R46;R47 = 10k 1% Capacitors:
Rs = 91t31 1% CI = 680n Semiconductors:
87 = 619k 1% C2 =,1n0 1% IC; - iC4 = 11074
Rio = 17k4 1% C3 = 4n7 1% ICs;ICs= 4066
Rn = 909k 1% C4 = 22n 1% IC7:1C9 = 4060
R14 =18k7 1% C5 = 100n 1% = 4013
RI5= 750k 1% = 2n2 1%
Fbe = 22k1 1% C7= 10n 1% Miscellaneous:
Rts=866k1% Cs = 47n 1% = quartz crystal 8 MHz.
Rz2 = 15k4 1% Ca = 3,30n 1% PCB Type 900002 (not available ready-
R23 = 1MB Cio;Cti = 820p made through the Readers Services).
R26 = 16k2 1% C12:C13 =1n
Ro=2M2 C;4 = 1n8

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 38

2AD[10
This FM radio, designed by ELV GmbH, consists of an insertion card
for IBM PC -XTs, ATs and compatibles and is available as a kit or a
ready -built and aligned unit. The radio has an on -board AF power
amplifier for driving a loudspeaker or a headphone set, and is
powered by the computer. A menu -driven program is supplied to
control the radio settings.

Take a look around many modern offices Stations are pre-programmed as fol-
and you will notice PC users or terminal lows. First, tune to the desired station,
operators wearing headphones while sit- then hold the SHIFT key depressed before
ting in front of their screens. In most cases, pressing the function key to define the
a portable radio or cassette recorder is I Ulu tut tit
station number in the list. Next, type the
placed on the desk or near the PC to 1 1 :1* 1411
station name on the keyboard and press
lighten the work with a little music with- ENTER.
out annoying colleagues. The PCRADIO control program is left
This PC radio with integrated power on pressing ESC (escape). Next, the user is
amplifier is constructed on an insertion asked whether or not the previously made
card that can be plugged into any free bus *mu changes to the settings and the station list
extension slot on the motherboard of an are to be saved or cancelled. After going
IBM PC -XT, PC -AT or compatible com- through this menu, the user is returned to
puter running under MSDOS control. _Art1.1111 the DOS prompt. The radio remains on,
The PCRADIO menu screen (control pro- however, using the current settings, al-
gram version 1.2). though the control program is removed
Control program and from the computer's memory. The com-
cursor keys puter is ready to load and run other soft-
about 2 MHz per second if the or -4 ware at this stage.
The control software for the radio is sup- keys are depressed longer than necessary
plied on a 51/4 -inch MSDOS formatted dis- for a single keystroke. The fast tuning fea-
kette with 360 KByte capacity. After the ture allows the full VHF FM broadcast For advanced PC users
computer is switched on, this disk is in- band to be covered in about 10 seconds. The following information is aimed at ad-
serted into one of the disk drives. Use the Manual tuning is accomplished by typ- vanced PC users, allowing them to use a
DOS to select the relevant disk drive and ing the required frequency on the number number of special features of the PC radio.
type PCRADIO to load and run the control keys. Automatic station scan is selected on The PC radio kit is supplied with a
program, which is automatically con- pressing the I or L key. In this mode, the diskette that, apart from the previously
figured for the graphics adapter card used <- and =, keys select between scanning up described user software, cointains a do-
in the computer. The cursor keys are used or down from the current frequency. The cumentation file, READ.ME, and an installa-
to select the menu areas shown on the scanner stops when a station is received. tion program, INSTALLEXE. Hard copy of
introductory photograph. The adjust- If the band is empty (hardly likely these the (ASCII-) READ.ME file is obtained in the
ments that can be made include bass, days) or if the stations are too weak, the usual way by typing CONTROL -P followed
treble, volume, manual or automatic tun- radio automatically reduces its detection by TYPE READ.ME and a carriage return.
ing and a signal -level- dependent muting. threshold and starts a new scan. The high Turn off the printer again by typing CON-
The volume area is selected as a default sensitivity mode may also be entered by TROL -P.
when the program is started. The left and pressing the scan cursor keys twice within The PCRADIO program may be made
right keys on the cursor keypad allow the one second at the start of the station scan. memory -resident by calling it up with a
volume to be reduced or increased respec- The relative field strength of the re- switch: PCRADIO <CR>. The program may
tively, while a coloured horizontal bar on ceived station is indicated in the lower be called up while another program is
the screen indicates the relative setting. A left-hand corner of the screen. The 'mute' running by pressing the two SHIFT keys
further volume indication is provided by function allows the level to be defined simultaneously. This key combination
a large two -digit number to the right of below which the AF amplifier of the radio may be changed to requirement as de-
the bar. The volume setting can take is automatically muted. This function tailed further on. The radio settings in use
values between 0 and 63. eliminates noise between stations as the may be changed as described earlier, but
The up and down cursor keys select the scan mode is in operation. It is selected via they can not be saved to disk in the resi-
menu areas. Pressing 1, for instance, the I and I keys, while the <- and -, keys dent mode of the control program. The
moves the PC radio setting from the vol- allow the mute level - displayed in a PCRADIO program is left by pressing the
ume to the treble area, which uses a col- different colour - to be adjusted to indi- ESC key. It may be cleared from the resi-
oured bar and a two -digit indication like vidual requirement. Reception of very dent program memory by typing PCRADIO
the volume setting. Pressing 1. again se- weak signals is made possible by moving /R from the DOS prompt.
lects the bass setting. Here, again, the %- the mute bar to the extreme left of the The installation program allows a
and keys may be used to change the screen. number of hardware and software par-
setting. The menu area in the lower right cor- ameters to be pre -defined. Its menu starts
The next area reached by pressing ner of the screen is reserved for the station with the I/O address, which has been set
from the bass area is the tuning control. name, provided this is among the ones to default 300n on the PCB as well as in the
Press the -) and <- keys to tune up and listed to the left of the screen. Any station control program. Changes may be made
down respectively. The frequency step can be pre-programmed. When it is listed, as required. Next, the system checks if the
size in the VHF FM band is 10 kHz. The it may be selected rapidly by pressing the PC radio card can be addressed in the
tuning rate is increased automatically to associated function key Fl through F10. selected I/O area.
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 PC RADIO

The next menu step allows the user to

define the key combination for calling up
the memory -resident program. The de-
fault is the left and right sHIFT keys on the preamplifier
keyboard_ Depending on whether other FM tuner with
memory -resident programs use the same tone control
combination, this may be changed via a
A A
submenu.
tuning VO[L11110
treble
Block diagram field strength bass
With reference to the block diagram in
Fig. I, a special feature of the VHF tuner
block that receives the signal from the ex-
ternal aerial is that it contains an IF (inter-
mediate frequency) stage as well as an
audio preamplifier. This allows the out- A A
put of the tuner to be connected direct to V
a tone control section, which has direct
voltage inputs for the bass, treble and vol-
ume settings. The output signal provided
by the tone control stage is applied to an
on -board AF power amplifier capable of address decoder and data buffer
driving a 4 S2 loudspeaker.
The control voltages for the tuner and 9:G501.11

the preamplifier/tone control section are

provided by digital -to -analogue conver- Fig. 1. Block diagram of the PC radio card.
ters (DACs) which translate the binary
values obtained as digital combinations amplitude of about SO mV at pin 14. Digital section
from the PC bus via a databuffer into The description of the digital section of
corresponding voltage levels_ A 12 -bit Tone control the PC radio card is best started at the
DAC supplies the tuning voltage for the The Type TDA1524A preamplifier/tone address decoder. This consists of an 8 -bit
variable capacitance diodes (varicaps) in control chip receives its input signal via comparator, IC4, for the base address, and
the FM tuner. The field strength voltage is C42. The second input of the chip, pin 4, is two 1-01-4 decoders in IC3 for the ad-
sent to the computer via an A -D converter. decoupled by C43 because the stereo mode dresses within the selected block. Address
The DACs for volume-, bass and treble is not used in this application. Direct volt- lines A2 through A9 are applied to the
control are 6 -bit types which offer ample ages applied to pins 1, 9 and 10 enable the comparator to achieve block decoding_
resolution for the purpose. tone and volume parameters to be set with The base address is set with jumpers Bn
the aid of the internal electronic poten- through Brs. Omitting jumpers Br and
tiometers. Capacitors C44 and C45 and re- Bi-2, for instance, selects base address
Circuit description sistor R77 are used for the bass control, 300H, the default setting of the card (con-
The circuit diagram of the PC radio is while treble control is effected with C46. sult Table I for the address assignment).
given in Fig. 2. The operation of the four Resistor R.3 is optional, and selects be- When the CPU in the PC addresses I/O
main circuit sections that make up the PC tween linear and contour operation of the location 300H (A8 and A9 are high), output
radio is discussed under separate head- preamplifier. If chip output pin 17 sup- P=Q of IC; goes low. Assuming that the
ings. plies a current between 1.5 mA and I/O access is a write operation (i.e., pin 4
10 mA, the preamplifier works linearly. If of IC2 is low), pin 15 of IC3 goes low also.
VHF FM tuner the current is smaller than about 0.5 mA, Depending on the bit combinations on ad-
The aerial signal is applied to the mixer the loudness/contour correction is actu- dress lines AO and Al, one of four outputs
inputs of the TDA7021, pins 12 and 13, via ated. 1'0 through 1'3 changes to low. If, for in-
bandfilter Li -C27-C25-C:.-. The bandfilter The bass response of the TDA1524A stance, address 302ii is selected, pin 11 of
suppresses signals outside the VHF FM also depends on external components. IC3b goes low and provides a latch pulse
broadcast band. In the configuration used, may be omitted, and C45 or C44 may be for IC7. The 8 -bit word on the databus is
the Type TDA7021T single -chip FM re- replaced by a wire link to limit the low latched into D -type register 10-, which
ceiver achieves a sensitivity of about 4 gV. frequency range. holds the bass setting.
The local oscillator frequency is deter- The chip receives its supply voltage via The four 6 -bit D -A converters are dis-
mined by external components L2 -Cm -C32 pin 3. The chip supply voltage is cleaned crete types set up around four 8 -bit latch-
and varicap K.Di. The LO is tuned by ap- and buffered by C4` and C47 respectively. ing registers, IC. through IC9, and
plying a direct voltage between 0 V and associated R -2R ladder networks. The
10 V to R71. The IF amplifier on board the AF power amplifier voltage at the output of each ladder is
TDA7021T operates at 76 kHz, and uses The AF output signal at pin 11 of the programmable between 170 mV and 3.2 V
only three external capacitors, C33, C34 and TDA1524A is coupled out with C49 and in 64 steps.
C35. The field strength (f -s) output of the taken to input pin 1 of an integrated AF Circuit IC9, an 8 -bit latch, is used for
chip, pin 9, supplies a current of about power amplifier, ICI., a Type TDA2030. driving the 12 -bit D -A converter, !Chi, as
20 gA when a strong station is received, This chip provides a voltage amplification well as for field strength measurement.
and about 150 gA when no station is re- of about 8 as well as the necessary current The 12 -bit DAC receives an 8 -bit word
ceived. This current is passed through R74 amplification in its power output stage. from IC9, and 2 -bit words from IC- and
on which it causes a proportional voltage. Since the chip output is at about half IC,. The DAC reads these words from ad-
Capacitor C41 eliminates short variations the supply voltage, a coupling capacitor, dress BASE+1. The reference voltage for the
of the field strength voltage. C53, is required to connect the loud- DAC is provided by voltage divider Rb2-
The amplified IF signal is internally speaker. Components R33 and Cm sup- Ro3 at pin 19. Opamp ICi is supplies a volt-
demodulated, and the resultant AF signal press any tendency of the AF amplifier to age between 0 V and -1 V in 4,096 (10")
is applied to an on -board Al' amplifier. oscillate. steps. This voltage is amplified and in-
The AF output voltage of the chip has an verted by a further opamp,Kiib. Resistors
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
40 RADIO AND TELEVISION

575
47 +S.A.
1,77

Ma ME Mi MI C.311531 1-1:1=E' i:A. C:ii Us!

En EN =I 1=1' mi. m
I

do wila
min
, C34 Irt5 loc. iocn la, 1C.
'Si
I22'
2 3,
I
Jim
5,
1E1
Cb
132-
7 S

72-eX 12

AS
IC14
13
S TOR7t2tT
225rw-1. 355

1130:1
Its 1

aci
AZ
'C.3472
11
1.2

!
LIM-1 C32
Min
---* 771- :-+-1

.1111
5CF,

As An MI INE
1: SS
As AS AS

-.--
T. :!cares
011:1= 15131A

TC
- TC17-C:K

:BH

csel,

72201

31/ t2

Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of the RF and AF sections of the PC radio.

R71 and R71 feed the tuning voltage to the short-circuits the voltage at pin 1 of the and it can be set, i.e., pin 6 can be made
varicap in the FM tuner. The gain of the TDA1524A to ground to reset the internal low, by a read operation to address BASE -t-2
second opamp is adjustable over a rela- electronic volume potentiometer. After via Depending on the position of
tively wide range to allow the tuning 100 ms, pin 4 of ICs reverts to logic high, jumper JP!, the radio may also be switched
range required to cover the FM band to be
set with preset 1242.
The field strength voltage provided by Off -set address read operation write operation
the TDA7021T is applied to pin 10 of
opamp ICiic. A field strength indication of 0 (basel 05 - DO = 6 -bit DAC for volume control DO = comparator
0 on the screen corresponds to about output for field -strength
1.35 V, and one of 63 to about 245 mV. The measurement
opamp raises the field strength voltage to DO = not used D1 = control bit 1
a level at which pin 12 of comparator ICI Id D7 = control bit 1 D2 = control bit 2
is held at a voltage of between 0 V and 4 V. D3 = control bit 3
The DAC built around IC' and the R -2R
network allow the comparator threshold 05 - DO = 6 -bit DAC for bass control latch data into 12 -bit DAC
at pin 13 of IC114 to be changed. The out-
put state of the comparator can be re- DT; D6 = D9; D8 for 12 -bit tuning DAC
quested at I/O address BASE -I via buffer D7 = control bit 2
1C12.i. Since the output voltage of the
opamp can take values between -5 V and D5 - DO = 6 -bit DAC for treble control turn on AF
+12 V, R04, R70, D4 and Do are required to D7; D6 = D11;1310 of 12 -bit tuning DAC
limit the voltage to 0 V and 5 V. D7 = control bit 3
The remaining three drivers in IC12 are
used to check the addressing of DACs IC.,
IC:- and ICs. 05 - DO = 6 -bit DAC for field -strength turn off AF
The circuit is reset at power -on by a - DO = D7 - DO for 12 -bit tuning DAC
100 -ms long low pulse at pins 1 and 2 of
ICs.. This causes bistable IC5,1C5a to be
Table 1. Input output address assignment on the PC radio card.
reset via gates IC23 and IC5b. Transistor Ti
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 PC RADIO 41
to mute when the PC is reset. Another taken from the PC expansion bus. Note, Construction
possibility to control the mute function however, that the 5 V supply for the anal-
exists in a read operation to address ogue circuits is provided by voltage regu- The complete circuit is built on a double -
BASE_? ( IC33 pin 7). lator ICi 3 - sided through -plated printed circuit
All supply voltages for the circuit are board supplied with the kit. The size of the

w:w
--_=-e- .-77-0-17,:i:: -,--,E;----,
-p. L ?-
.-=---=-14
it - F ..z
1

1 ti
.--g

:7 F:

>

f-A11-

i
.711- -I,
--1
_
I I-

i sc f 1 i

. ,-.
-c
.:
0
-= -I
0--. _
-

+C. -____. 0= 0 .
c. -0
--O_ 0-
*- -- ---0 0-
Q- Q+

"
= 0-

-
-7-

Fig. 3. Circuit diagram of the digital section and the PC -interface of the Ff.1 radio card.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FERRI-ARV 19911

 42 RADIO AND TELEVISION

Parts list Cis;Css = 220n

t2, ,If CI - C4:Ce;C41;G49 = 1p0; 16 V
t"-",
Resistors: C42;C43 = 2p2: 16 V
Ras. = 1120 C12 - C24;C40 = 10p.; 16 V
R75 = 470 Cs2;Css = 47g; 16 V
Rat = 1000 = 10011: 16 V
R62 = 2200 Cso:Csa = 2200p; 16 V
Reg = 6800 Cs = 40p trimmer
9CFix11.14 R63 = 8200
Rte= 1k0 Semiconductors:
Ras = 1k8 IClo = AD7545
R69 = 2k2 ICis = TDA1524
Fig. 4. Cutting and drilling details of the
aluminium support bracket. Fiss:Res;Raa:R94 = 4k7 ICia = TDA2030
R2 - /39;R49:R61 ;1364;R7CER76 - R83 = 10k 1C14 = TDA7021T (SMD)
R17 - R21:R30 - R34;R53 - R47;1355 - R6,3 = ICs = 74LS00
board is 230x106 nun. 12k IC2 = 74LS32
Start with fitting the low -profile com- Ras = 15k IC12 = 74LS125
ponents as per the indications on the com- Rii - R16 ;R22;1:124 -Ft*";R35;R37 - IC3 = 74LS139
ponent overlay (Fig. 5) and the parts list. R42;R4e:Rso- R55 = 24k ICi = 74LS245
Proceed with the taller components. Since R67 = 33k les -1Ca = 74LS374
the board is through -plated, soldering at R71;R73 = 47k 1C4 = 74LS688
the component side is not required. Leave R66 = 68k ICit =1-1084
Ri;1110:1123;Ra6;R72 = 100k 1C13 = 7805
the wire terminals of Cs() and C53 longer
R68 = 4M7 Ti = BC548
than usual to enable these capacitors to be
= 50k preset V KOs = BB809
bent towards the board as shown in the
photograph. The TDA2030 and its heat - Do;137= 1N4001
sink are also mounted horizontally and Capacitors: Di - D5 = 1N4148
C32 =18p
secured on to the board with an M3 bolt. Ca = 33p Miscellaneous:
The TDA7021T FM receiver chip is an C28;C67 = 56p Bus = loudspeaker socket.
SMA (surface -mount assembly) type C27 = 68p Qty 1: SKI 3 heat -sink
which requires great care and precision in Cao;Cal =180p Qty 1: coax socket.
handling as well as soldering. First place C29 = 220p Qty 1: 3 -way pin header.
the IC on to the board. Next, position it Cm = 270p Qty 1: jumper.
accurately with the aid of a pair of twee- C34 = 620p Qty 1: aluminium bracket.
zers so that the terminals align with the C35 = 1n5 Qty 1: tin-plate for screening
solder areas. Use a low -power solder iron C39 = 3n3 Qty 3: screw M3x6.
with a fine tip and a power rating of not Cm = 4n7 Qty 1: screw M3x8.
more than 16 W to solder one of the corner C2s:C36;Cei = 10n Qty 4: nut M3.
pins of TDA7021T to the associated track. C46 = 15n Qty 1: metal cover.
Next, use a sharp device to align the other Ca4;C65.-.C65:C6s:Cea = 22n ceramic Solder pins.
IC pins with the tracks below. Heat the 06;C 7:C10 ;C ti :C25 ;C51 = 47n 90 mm insulated wire, min. OA mm2.
pins briefly in rapid succession while ap- C44;C4s = 56n 140 mm silver-plated wire.
plying very little solder. Cas;Cai:C62 = 100n 3 m coaxial cable.
Interconnect the points marked A and
those marked B on the PCB with an insu-
lated wire of 0.4 mm' cross-sectional area in Fig. 4. Secure this bracket and the aerial board. This hole serves to access Cs with a
or larger. input socket to the screen on the PCB. trimming tool. Solder the covers to the
The position of the tin-plate screen Solder the socket to screen, and secure the two screens.
around the FM tuner section on the PCB is support bracket to it with two M3x6 mm Install the PC radio card into the com-
shown in the top view of the completed bolts and nuts. Connect a short piece of puter, and screw the support bracket to
printed -circuit board in Fig. 5. Bend the insulated wire between the signal pin of the back panel. Do not forget to check that
screen in the form of a rectangle and join the socket and point sT1 on the PCB. Note this panel is connected to ground of the
its ends by soldering. Place the screen so the position of CS on the PCB and drill a PC - this is essential for the FM tuner on
made vertically on to the component side hole in the metal cover to be mounted on the PC radio card. Finally, connect an FM
of the PCB, and align it with the PCB to the screen at the component side of the aerial via 75 S2 coaxial cable.
edges. This is necessary for the PCB sup-
port bracket which is secured to the screen
later. Solder the screen to the PCB, ap- A complete kit of parts for the PC Adjustment
plying a generous amount of solder tin radio is available from the designers' Start the PC radio program from floppy -
from the inside, but taking care not to exclusive worldwide distributors (re- or hard disk. Use the menu to set the fre-
damage components by overheating. Be grettably not in the USA and Canada): quency to that of a station in the lower
sure to cover the entire length of the range of the FM band, e.g., to 88.5 MHz.
screen, i.e., do not solder it to the PCB in ELV France Align Cs with an insulated trimming tool
just a few locations. Next, bend and fit a B.P. -10 until this station is received (use a second
similarly shaped, but lower, screen on to F-57480 Sierck-les-Bains radio as a reference). Next, set a receive
the component side of the PCB, opposite FRANCE frequency near the top of the band, e.g,
the screen just mounted. Drill a hole in the Telephone: +33 82837213 104 MHz, and adjust R92 until a pre-
taller screen for the aerial input socket Fax: +33 82838180 viously selected station is received. If the
(9.4 mm dia.). adjustment of Cs is correct, the frequency
Use an M3x6 mm bolt, a washer and a Also see ELV France's advertisement shown on the menu screen corresponds to
nut to secure a small aluminium bracket elsewhere in this issue. the transmit frequency of the station.
to the lower side of the PCB. Next, prepare
a standard PCB support bracket as shown
E1.EKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
m

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 AC -De CURRENT SON
Current may be measured without introducing losses in its path
with the aid of the well-known series current transformers with
clip -on probes or reed sensorsin which a contact is closed by the
presence of a magnetic field. These devices suffer from a serious
drawback, however: they can not measure direct currents. The
sensors described here depend on the Hall effect and are suitable
for measuring both alternating and direct currents.

The Hall effect The drift velocity is related to the cur - where d is the thickness of the wafer. Note
rem density, j, by that the Hall voltage is inversely propor-
The Hall effect is observed in thin strips of
metal and in some semiconductors. When tional to the thickness of the material.
a strip carrying current is placed in a mag- j= nev
netic field that is perpendicular to the
strip's plane. a voltage appears between where n is the number of charge carrier,
opposite edges of the strip that. although it per unit volume. Thus. the electric field
is weak, will force a current through an related to the vector product of the mag-
external circuit. netic flux density and the current density
by:
The force due to the magnetic flux den-
sity. B. on a charge carrier of charge e and
E = -R11(.lB)
drift velocity. v. is equal to evB. This force
displaces the carriers and sets up a non-
where RH is the Hall coefficient that is
uniform charge distribution that gives rise
to an electric field, E. At equilibrium. the equal to line. The electric field results in
force on the charge carriers, eE. due to this a potential difference. UH. the Hall volt-
field just balances that due to the flux den- age. across the material.
sity: In some materials, the direction of the
eE+ evil =0. field is reversed, which means that these
materials have a positive Hall coefficient.
This indicates that in these materials the
current is carried by positively charged
carriers, that is. by holes.
ElectrOns in an electric field move in
straight lines as shown in Fig. la. whereas
in an homegeneous electro-magnetic field Fig. 2. The Hall voltage. 4. is generated across
they follow cycloidal paths (Fig. I b). In the longitudinal sides of a Hall generator.
degenerate semiconductor materials, they
can not follow such paths owing to fre- Hall generators have come more into
quent collisions with atoms of the semi- vogue with the arrival of semiconductor
conductor material. Because of these colli- materials such as indium antimonide
sions. the electrons lose velocity and this (InSb) and indium arsenide (InAs), which
results in a waning of the magnetic field. have a high electron mobility. resulting in
since the strength of that field is directly a large Hall coefficient. and a low specific
proportional to the velocity of the charge resistance. Table I iliveS a comparison of
carriers. The electrons are consequently the electron mobility (average drift veloc-
attracted more strongly by the electric ity per unit electric field). v. in copper and
field as shown in Fig. lc. a number of semiconductor materials.
When a wafer of semiconductor mate-
rial is connected as shown in Fig. 2 and
placed in a magnetic field, an e.m.f.. the
Hall voltage. UH, is generated across the anent paying
corAxIct
longer sides of the wafer. Because of this. Fatiettect
cere,atOe
the wafer is called a Hall generator. The 17- tn yoke
level of the e.m.f. is directly proportional wated field
to the strength of the magnetic field. If the
direction of the field is reversed. the direc-
tion of the voltage also changes by 18(1-.
Within certain limits. the e.m.f. is Fig. 3. With the Hall generator in the air gap of
Fig. 1. Movement of electrons in: (a) an electric the iron yoke of a current sensor, the Hall volt-
field: (b) a homogeneous electro-magnetic field UH= Rain 1 d age is directly proportional to the current flow-
in a vacuum: and (c) in a degenerate semicon- ing in a conductor that is at right angles to the
ductor material. cross-sectional plane of the yoke.

ELEKTOR EI.ECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 AC -DC CL RRENT SENSORS 45
Material Type Drift velocity Parameter Direct -reading Compensating
(cm2 s I)
copper metal 27-43 Current rating 150-3000 A 100-250 A
silicon group 4 semiconductor 1350 Nominal output 10V 100 mA
germanium group 5 semiconductor 3900 Nominal output
InAs By semiconductor 23 000 impedance 10 kt-2 50
InSb By semiconductor 65 000 Supply current 15 mA 8 mA
Table 1. Electron mobility in copper and a number of semi - Supply voltage ±15 V ±15 V
conductor materials. Ambient temperature 0-80 C -25 to +70° C
Measuring accuracy
Linearity

Drift with temperature .250 ppm = C _-50 ppm = C

Max frequency 10 kHz 75-300 kHz
Response time ±-30 ±1 us
Output signal:
Offset 5_20 mV <1 mA
Drift 20-50 mV 0.05-0.1 mA
Hysteresis 5_25 mV <0.2 mA
Drift with temperature mV = C c12 C
Fig. 4. Basic circuit of a direct -reading current sensor.
Drift with supply voltage 5_0.1-10 mV V S0.01-0.03 mA V

Table 2. Comparison of parameters of direct -reading and compensating sensors.

Note that in spite of the high used in very small air gaps necessitated by
value of v in indium antimonide weak magnetic fields. This may be seen in
this material is not used much be- the schematic representation of a sensor in
cause of the fairly large change in Fig. 3, in which the Hall voltage is directly
r with temperature: over the tem- proportional to the current flowing
perature range 20-120° C. for ex- through a conductor that is perpendicular
ample. the value of v changes by to the cross-sectional plane of the yoke of
a factor 5. the sensor.
There are two types of Hall -effect cur-
Practical sensors rent sensor: direct -reading and compensat-
ing-see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.
Fig. 5. In a compensating current sensor. the Hall element In practice. the wafer thickness is The main advantage of the direct -read-
generates a current in a secondary winding. of the order of I-5 pm. which not ing type lies in the minimal losses it
only gives a larger Hall voltage. causes. which is, of course, particularly
but also enables the wafer to be important when large currents are mea-
sured. The amplified output voltage. u,, is
directly proportional to current
The compensating type is particularly
Ta ['CI useful at higher frequencies-see Table 2.
tooldary die to
broaxlar y due to setRieothg of The current to be measured is coupled
sedheatng internal dean:rice
of i-ternal magnetically to a secondary winding on
perrrizeoble mnce
the yoke. The Hall element serves as a de-
of load :resistor F tector for the magnetic '0' which is in-
duced with the aid of an auxiliaQ, (com-
re engirded Tend
pensating) current fed into the secondary
t.re to electrical
behavicto
winding. This compensating current is a
very precise measure of the primary cur-
ilelf (A)
rent. This type of sensor is eminently suit-
E.: Fla tni able for measuring square -wave currents.
Equivalent parameters of the compen-
sating sensor may be determined from a
2Cka
celedthe &tit
four -quadrant diagram as in Fig. 6. If, for
detvr-kted by sup*
vellas-e at 1,18= 15V
example. the r.m.s. value of the current to
a'd 3,-5rrt terrperat..te
Ta = EA7C
be measured is 100 A. its peak value is
150 A, and the maximum ambient temper-
£9.7'.Z)S2 It ature is 70° C. Drawing lines at right an-
gles to the three corresponding axes gives
a load resistance of 40-50 O.
Fig. 6. The operating parameters may be determined from a four -quadrant diagram.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

46
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DATA ACQUISITION and

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generators, digital measuring equipment or The Benchmark Book Company, 18 Re-

NEW BOOKS an oscilliscope with a good specification. gency Close, UCKFIELD TN22 1DS.
But how do you set about using such
More advanced test equipment equipment? This book goes some way to
construction
by R.A. Penfold
give you the necessary know-how. NEW CATALOGUES
Bernard Babani (publishing) Ltd, The
ISBN 0 85934 194 1 Grampians, Shepherds Bush Road, A free copy of their new 54 -page catalog
104 pages - 178x110 mm LONDON W6 7NF. on relays, modules and controllers is avail-
Price £3.50 (paperback) able from Grayhill Inc, 561 Hillgrove
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Construction and describes some more ad- Designing with linear ICs lionois 60525, USA,
vanced projects for readers who have a by G.C. Loveday
certain amount of experience of project ISBN 1 87104702 I Pkb The 624 -page 1990 Data Book covering
construction. Full circuit diagrams plus 184 pages - 213x138 mm Silicon Systems' communication ICs is
notes on construction are nevertheless pro- Price £6.95 (paperback) now available from Silicon Systems,
vided. Detailed notes on any necessary This third book in the series 'The Design 14351 Myford Road, Tustin, CA 92680,
setting up are also given, together with in- of Electronic Hardware' covers the design USA.
formation on how to use the projects to techniques for analogue integrated circuit
good effect. devices. The latest instrumentation catalogue from
The first chapter introduces the reader STC Services contains almost 350 pages
How to use oscilloscopes and other test to important design techniques, test strate- of technical and pricing information on the
equipment gies, layout and protection, and also in- widest range of instruments and allied
by R.A. Penfold cludes a section on the use of a CAD tool. products. STC Instrument Services,
ISBN 0 85934 212 3 Other chapters include detailed designs Dewar House, Central Road, Harlow
104 pages - 178x110 mm with the aid of timers, opamps, compara- CM20 2TA.
Price £3.50 (paperback) tors and other linear ICs.
Continuing advances in electronics are The final chapter brings all the previ- Electrovalue's new 134 -page catalogue has
bringing advanced test equipment within ous work together in a number of com- "something for everybody, no matter how
the scope of many electronics hobbyists. plete design exercises that are comple- far you are into electronics" and, what's
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ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 YD
PART 2: MODULATION BOARD
A. Rigby & G. Dam

Last month's introductory article described the general setup of the

video mixer, and discussed the operation and construction of the
video switching board. This month we turn our attention to the
modulation board which supplies two sets of modulation waveforms
that together put many attractive picture mixing, wipe, fade-in and
fade-out effects at your disposal.

As already discussed in Part 1 of this ar-

ticle, the video mixer consists of three
blocks: a video switching board, a modu-
lation board and a keyboard. These blocks
form the basic configuration of the mixer
as shown in Fig. 1 in last month's instal- 00
ment. The modulation board and the key-
board receive a number of 0° HORIZONTAL
KEYING
synchronization signals and the supply [111:t7;:j--
voltage from the video switching board.
The keyboard circuit supplies all the HSYNC
SELECT
necessary control signals to the video 0° 1 OF 4
CCMPARATC P.

switching board and the modulation

board.
LINEAR
SIGNAL

Effects waveforms 00-P MC5

All picture mixing effects provided by the

video mixer, and all combinations thereof
HORIZONTAL
FADER
SELECT
I OF 2
-4-
selected by the user, are based on three HOR
elementary waveforms: the triangle, the MOD

ramp (linearly rising sawtooth) and the 0 SELECT

parabola. All three are available in the AGO SUFFER

horizontal (line -synchronous) as well as MOD IN

the vertical (raster -synchronous) picture
plane. 0o I.IODULATIC
INPUT

All picture mixing and combination ef- VERT

fects rely on the switching between two MOD INVERTER
video sources. A left -to -right wipe (cur- 0 SELECT
tain) effect, for instance, requires a circuit
that switches between two video sources
at accurately defined instants in the pic- VERTICAL SELECT
FACER
ture line. The HSW signal is used for this IN ItEt
1 OF 2

purpose. Similarly, the VSW signal is used

if the wipe effect is required vertically 0 Li
(top -to -bottom). Both HSW and VSW are
rectangular signals whose duty factor i,
controlled to obtain the wipe effect. The
required duty factor variation is secured 0o SELECT
COMPARATOR
with the aid of a comparator that com- 1 OF 4

pares a ramp voltage to a reference volt-

age set with the wipe control (a slide VS11

potentiometer on the front panel of the 0o VERTICAL

video mixer). The other picture mixing KEYING

and effects are obtained by combining dif-

ferent patterns, horizontally as well a!, 00
a- VSla

vertically.

Block diagram
The waveform generators for the mixing Fig. 6. Block diagram of the modulation board.
effects are shown to the left in the block
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 48 RADIO AND TELEVISION

diagram in Fig. 6. Since the same wave-

forms are in principle required horizon-
tally and vertically (only the frequency is
different), almost identical generators are
used. In both cases, the waveforms are
synchronized with the video signal. The
parabola- and triangle waveforms are
derived from the ramp voltage. All three
waveforms are applied to comparators via
electronic switches. Depending on their
function, the comparators supply either a
horizontal (HSW) or a vertical (VSW)
switching signal.
A separate modulation input allows
additional control over the selected effect.
The modulation signal applied to this
input may be synchronous or non -
synchronous in relation to the picture. De-
pending on the available video material
and the applied waveform, remarkable
and sometimes quite unpredictable effects
may be obtained in addition to the ones
normally provided by the video mixer.
The horizontal and vertical keying in-
puts, finally, enable 'home-made' pat-
terns to be added to the picture.
A buffer and an inverter feed the se-
lected vertical waveform to the horizontal
comparator, which compares it to the pares the instantaneous amplitude of the these switches are controlled in com-
waveforms generated in synchronism ramp to the reference voltage at the wiper plementary fashion by bistable IC33b. The
with the horizontal line pulses. The inver- of preset P. The rectangular signal so ob- other bistable in the 7-ifiCT7.1 package,
ter may be switched on and off by a con- tained is applied to integrator IC23, which IC333, functions as a monostable multivi-
trol on the keyboard. Depending on the charges or discharges C as the output of brator. It is clocked with VSYNC and sup-
levels applied to the comparator, an HSW IC27 goes high or low. The result of this plies short pulses at its Q output. These
signal is supplied that switches between second integration is a triangle voltage at pulses clock IC3.3b and time the instant it
two video sources at a particular instant the output of the opamp. latches the logic level of control line MC5
in the picture line. This combination of The horizontal synchronization pulse, connected to its D (data) input_ The
latched level is subsequently transferred
fairly complex mixing effects to be real- to be completely discharged via N5i at to the Q and Q outputs.
ized. the start of each picture line. Preset IN The direct voltage supplied by the
The vertical waveforms are available determines the switching level of the com- horizontal FADING control, PT', may be ap-
in non -inverted as well as inverted form. parator and with it the symmetry of the plied to the input of IC -;4a by switching on
The selection is made by the user with the triangle voltage, while preset P7 sets the The toggling of the FISIV signal sup-
aid of a keyboard control, and allows two amplitude. plied by inverter N., determines the bor-
video signals to be transposed on the Transistor TO converts the triangle volt- der between the mixed pictures - in other
screen. Taking the previously mentioned age applied to its base via preset Ps into a words, the location (or instant) in the pic-
vertical wipe effect as an example, the in- parabolic voltage, which is subsequently ture line at which the switching between
vert control allows the 'top' and the 'bot- amplified by IC2.5b. The amplitude and the the two video sources takes place. Presets
tom' pictures to change places in the off -set voltage of the parabolic waveform P14 and Pit serve to give potentiometer Pis
mixed image. are adjusted with presets Ps and P' respec- its maximum usable range, i.e., the width
tively. of the picture. Capacitor C allows an
Circuit description The vertical waveforms are obtained in alternating voltage to be superimposed on
a manner similar to the horizontal ones. to the direct voltage at the wiper of Pi..
The circuit diagram of the modulation However, the frequency is 50 Hz instead This alternating voltage is taken from the
board is given in Fig. 7_ The three -stage of 15,625 Hz, and VSYNC is used to en- external effects input and first buffered by
horizontal waveform generator is shown sure vertical synchronization to the mixed IC37. If the external input is not used, the
in the top left hand corner. The almost picture. negative terminal of Cs4 is taken to ground
identical vertical waveform generator is Demultiplexers IC29. and IC24s by switch This is done to prevent
found in the lower left-hand corner. The together determine the waveform selec- noise being picked up, which would cause
following description of the operation of tion for the mixing effects. This selection interference in the mixed picture.
these circuits refers to the horizontal is accomplished in conjunction with elec- The modulation signal supplied by
waveform generator, IC20-1C27-1C2s-IC2ya, tronic switches N,:-\ and De- IC37 is also applied to comparator IC14b,
To and IC40. pending on the logic levels on control which adds it to the direct voltage sup-
The HSYNC signal is applied to the lines \1C1-MC2 (IC:-, ) and MC3-NIC-1 plied by vertical FADING control P2o. The
waveform generator to ensure that this is (IC29b), either the ramp-, triangle-, parabo- selected vertical waveform is applied to
synchronized with each picture line. Dur- la- or KEY- signal is used. The selected the positive input of the comparator. The
ing the HSYNC pulse, capacitor C, : is dis- signal is applied to opamp IC -q.; for com- output signal is VSW or VSW which indi-
charged via \4-, so that integrator IC2. can paring to the voltage at the inverting input cates the vertical (raster -synchronous)
start from zero at the end of the pulse. The which takes either a steady voltage or one switching instant.
result of the integration is a line - of the vertical waveforms. Series -connected opamps ICF,a-1C33b-
synchronous ramp voltage at the output The signal at the non -inverting input of IC3, form a precision inverter or buffer for
of 1C20. To produce a triangle voltage, the IC343 is selected by electronic switches Nei the vertical effects waveform selected by
ramp is first converted into a rectangular or No3. To ensure that the effects selection the user via N., - N;-. Presets Pi:, Pia and
wave by comparator IC27, which corn - remains in synchronism with the raster, P22 are adjusted to cancel off -set voltages
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 VIDEO MIXER PART 2: MODULATION BOARD 49

---7=EEZT=ZZq
0 la

---

4.3
2
//
_A.
Q; 0
\.s

2222
5cooca

.1 1. 4
(.1
1 41

1 >`'0 1

Fig. 7. Circuit diagram of the second unit in the video mixer, the modulation board.

ELEKTOR ELECI RON1CS FEBRUARY 1990

 50 RADIO AND TELEVISION

C75
0 0-0 C63
PS 065
2. 2.

0
C76 05 a
00
_i [00) 011-00
C73
oii=0-0.e2 0-4>F0 00
0- r=1-3-0 04ne7}-0
01fa[)2 0110 C61 Q 9n
ces 00
C79
01EGo 899Rat 011-0-0
C101
0-880 0{R 8B 0-11-00
00
00
00
00
_(8)24 0--0 00
00
00
J P10 P11 C 10 0 P7 Cs Oil -0-006s
0 0 C117 CI 0-1 Foo o

P 12 0 2.1
k).o o-o foo C>110
CBS
/ HSYNCO
1 0
xil
0 w01 /0-0 r] (0 ° 00 VSYNCO
0
VSWO
P13
co-r=i-020 OPOC70
C99 -°1,... 43-45'j
u-$ Res I-0
P9
0 0 VKEY0
C) 00.-pLi101 -0 0-{890 }-0 0 HKEY0
C 5 Et 0 0
01100 0- 0 .1.0

0 0-00

O
P22 P18 / C10 2
011-0-0
8117
c81-00
0105r)
C2 0--0co
0-0-1[0 0-0 01100 2,
n°4)410
F-0 0

1
(20-01F0 0
0 041-00 C111
71
co-pe.}-0 1 0-0=2119 1-0
w Iktr- n
0-4P.121}-0 0 e 01 [0-0 C 8
n .1 C B el °C 114 o 0.4R120}.0 Cofp
o -o -I 1-0
,.-L.- 0

}-0
~0 6
cV§E.-)'
6 0 1[0

0 011-0
C10 7

Fig. 8. Component mounting plan of the PCB for the modulation board.

in the three stages. The fairly extensive should not present problems to the experi- in their sockets or, if sockets are not used,
compensation is required to ensure that enced electronics constructor at whom solder them direct on to the board. The
the output of IC36 supplies the exact in- this project is aimed. slide potentiometers are mounted on to
verse of the signal applied to the external Start the construction of the board with the keyboard PCB to be discussed in Part 3
effects input. Control line MC6 is used to fitting all the wire links. Next, mount the of this article. Set all presets on the modu-
select between the inverted and non -in- solder pins, connectors and IC sockets, if lation board to the centre of their travel.
verted version of the vertical effects volt- used. Check your work so far and proceed
age. with the passive parts and the single To he continued next month
diode. Be sure to observe the polarity of
Construction the electrolytic capacitors and the diode.
Next, mount the voltage regulators and Part 1 this article appeared in the January 1990
The single -sided printed -circuit board for bolt them straight on to the board - heat - issue 0: EieCITOniC5.
the circuit is shown in Fig. S. Construction sinks are not required. Lastly, plug the 1Cs
ELERTI)R ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 VIDEO MIXER PART 2: MODULATION BOARD

Parts list Pe;P13 = 500k preset H 1C25 = 7805

Pi4;P1s = 5k preset H 1C26:1Cao;IC26:1C37 = TL081
Pis;Pcso = 10k linear slide potentiometer IC27;1C31 = CA3130
Resistors: (not on PCB) lC2s;IC22;1C3.5 = TL082
R7a = 220k Pia;P21 = 2k5 preset H IC29 = 74HC239
Rao:Ra4;Ra2;R:R97 = 4700 P24 = 50k preset H IC33 = 74HCT74
Flai;R52;Ras;RacR1o5:R1o7;R1.c.: IC34 = LM319N
Riii =10k Capacitors: lCss - IC4.3 = 4066
1383 = 6800 C61= 390p lC44 = 7905
R50;R85;R9cnIct;n120 = 1k0 Ce2:Caa:C:C67:Ca9:C73;C74;C77;C7a; T6 = BC516
Rae = 47k C7a;Ca2;Ca3;Cas - C85:C91;C52; T7 = BC557B
Rai = 82k C97 - C11:6;C107;C111 - C119 =100n
Rea = 470k Cse;Cas = 27n Miscellaneous:
Raa;R 1o3:Rio4;Rii2 - 131 Is:R117 - R119; Caa;Cao = 15p KMC1 = 20 -way PCB header.
R123 = 220k C70 = 1 nO PCB Type 87304-2 (see Readers Services
Rao;Riot = 100 C71 12p page).
R91 = 390k C72 = 68n
Rs5;R122 = 5k6 C75;C76 = 4p7;16 V radial
Ras = 120k C81 = 82n
Rioo = 150k Csa:Cg3;Cs4:Ca5 = 10p; 16 V radial
R102 = 470k Cas;Cao = 100p
Rica = 22k Ces;Cioa = 330n
R110 =33k elm) = 27p
R116 = 180k Owe = 1n9
R121 = 560k
P5;P7= 10k preset H Semiconductors:
P6;P1O;P17 = 50k preset H De = 1 N4148
Pa;1312:1311;Pia:Pa;P23 = 100k preset H 1C24 = 74HCT04

IEE MEETINGS tion of Electrical Engineers, London. on

5 Feb - Evaluating student performance:
key issues and strategies. EVENTS 29-31 October this year, and for the
Conference on Television Mea-
6 Feb - Integrating control system design surements. which will he held in Mon-
with the analysis of flexible structures. organized by the UKCMG in association treux. Switzerland, on 20-22 June 1991.
7 Feb - The role of venture capital in the with Blenheim Online will be held on 7-8 Details from IEE, Savoy Place, LON-
UK electronics industry. February at the Metropole Hotel. Brighton DON WC2R OBL, Telephone 01-240
8 Feb - Broadcast TV recording. The conference is designed to assist in 1871.
8 Feb - Technical visit and discussion making sense of the critical developments
meeting at Colchester Technology in the IT industry today. Application de-
Park. velopers need to understand the issues in- A number of courses are conducted by
12 Feb - The radio data system. herent in the move towards high produc- Learning Tree International between
13 Feb - Safety critical software in vehi- tivity development environments, the de- now and May in London. Stockholm.
cle and traffic control. sire for open systems and application Paris. Los Angeles, Washington. Toronto
13 Feb - Data storage technology. portability and the continuing trend to- and Ottawa. There are courses for "Man-
14 Feb - Stereo sound for television: im- wards more flexible and adaptable agers in technical environments", on
plementation. database management systems. Further de- -Networks, Datacom and Telecom". and
15 Feb - Interactive computing: a revolu- tails from Blenheim Online, Blenheim on "Software Development and Sys-
tionary medium for teaching and de- House, Ash Hill Drive, PINNER HAS tems". For further information phone
sign. 2AE, Telephone 01-868 4466. 0800 282 353 or 01-748 6667 in London
20 Feb - Definition of traceability. (fax 01-748 5005) or 08-18 99 00 in
21 Feb - The interaction of radiowaves Stockholm (fax 08-18 99 07).
with the sea surface. Frost & Sullivan have organized a number
28 Feb - Safety regulations and codes for of seminars for this month on Informa-
power and lighting in public areas. tion Technology; Telecommunications & Saudicom 90, Riyadh's third electronics,
28 Feb - Nucleonic instrumentation. Data Communications; and Electronic communications and computer show takes
Engineering. Details from Frost & Sulli- place from 28 January to 1 February. All
Information on these, and many other. van, Sullivan House, 4 Grosvenor Gar- the giants of the industry such A T & T,
events may be obtained from the IEE, dens, LONDON SW1W ODIL Tele- Siemens, Ericson, British Telecom, Telet-
Savoy Place, LONDON WC2R OBL, phone 01-730 3438. tra, Plessey. France Telecom. Aerospatial.
Telephone 01-240 1871. Alcatel. Telecom Australia International,
and others, will be there. Further informa-
CALL FOR PAPERS tion from Overseas Exhibition Services
The UKCMG conference entitled "New Papers are invited for the Second Interna- Ltd, 11 Manchester Square, LONDON
dimensions in application development" tional Conference on Rural Communi- W1M 5AB, Telephone 01-486 1951.
cations. which will be held at the Institu-
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
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ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 19911

 THE DIGITAL MODEL TRAIN
PART 11 - THE MONITOR UNIT

by T. Wigmore

The monitor unit enables the system to read signals from, for in-
stance, the rails. This makes it possible to determine the position
of any train at any one instant. Monitor units are indispensable
where track sections are protected via a host computer or if the
running schedule is controlled by the computer.

The monitor units have eight digital inputs the serial reading of the monitor units can trailing edge of this pulse. After the data
and 62 of them may be used, so that a total only take place when the host computer have been loaded, the system reads them
of 496 inputs can currently be provided in has issued a status request instruction via serially from the shift register. If more than
the system, but this number may be dou- the RS232 bus. one monitor unit is used, the shift registers
bled in the future. The bistables in the monitor units also are cascaded so that they may be read as
Note that the monitor units are not ex- ensure that even very short input signals one large shift register.
changeable with decoder Type s88 from to the system are acted upon. The number of data bits that the system
Goppinger. Those decoders have 16 inputs Resistors RI-Rs form some protection has to read does, of course, depend on the
and are interconnected via a 6 -way instead for the inputs and also, in conjunction with number of monitor units in use. To prevent
of a 5 -way connector. CI-Cs, suppress noise pulses. time being wasted in reading data of non -
The circuit of the monitor unit is fairly connected monitors units, the system car-
simple as may be seen in Fig. 70. It is based ries out a self -diagnosis at power -up and
on an 8 -bit shift register Type 4014 (ICI) Self diagnosis reset, when the number of connected mon-
that reads the parallel data at the eight in- When requesting the status of the monitor itor units is determined automatically. All
puts serially. The inputs are not connected units, the system loads the position of the bistables are then reset and read immedi-
direct to the parallel load pins of the regis- eight bistables in IC2 and 1C3 into the shift ately.
ter but via eight R -S bistables (IC2 and register, la via a pulse at pin I of Kt. The The serial input of the last shift register
IC3). This is done in this manner because bistables are reset automatically by the is shorted to the positive supply line via
Ris, which causes the system to read eight
times '1' immediately after the data of the
K2
last monitor unit have been received. In

t®7
DIN S this way, the system knows that the last
5V
unit has been read.
+ 3 1
55 ilto Ril RI 513 RI 515 515, 5171 52;. At each subsequent status request, the
g.
0 ' o 0 n
518 9 system takes account of the number of ac-
tually connected units. This self -diagnosis
130
RI e R1
0 9
causes a small limitation: on power -up, it
Si
52 12
is not permissible for all eight inputs of a
10 EMI " 53 1C2
02 monitor unit to be active simultaneously,
53 4 Ro 4044 13
because that would indicate that the unit
20 EMI 3 SO 11
was the last in the row.
14 0 SEA

30
54
o _1 If the status of a non -connected unit is
ECM 1

150
requested, the error LED lights. The num-
16 51 a' " F OF
ber of monitor units may also be deter-
'3 7. ICI CG 12
5V
0 4014
CH 3
mined via a separate RS232 instruction
15 5 8
S C
(see Table 8 in last month's instalment).
55 e RP 5 '0t 7
40 WO 7 51
...1...' 'LI
R6 i2
50 E311 "
R2
52 1C3
02
10
8 9 10
Construction
6d
57 1 4 Po
SG
4044
Oo
3
The construction of the monitor units is
Rli 14 simple and is best carried out on the PCB
70 03 ' shown in Fig. 71.
t553

I CI C2 CI ciiiCCI C7 Ca
C3
MIN MIN MIN NM
7707070470nTIOTICto
CR
MIN MS MN NMI

Tie
Before the board is fitted in the enclo-
sure specified in the components list, two
corners (indicated on the board) should be
cut away as shown in Fig. 73.
The monitor units are interconnected
87591-515- 11
x vv
-1,/,
DI? 5
via fairly inexpensive 5 -way DIN connec-
tors_ If they are going to be used in fixed
locations, soldered connections, with or
without the use of soldering pins, are, of
course, perfectly all right.
Fig. 70. Circuit diagram of the monitor unit. Connexions to the inputs may also be
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 54 GENERAL INTEREST

soldered, but if the board is fitted in an en- section should be at least as long as
closure, preference should be given to the the largest wheel base of locomotives
use of 2.5 mm plugs and sockets. and coaches used: this results in one
long signal instead of a series of
Connecting up and shorter ones. Cut the rail at an angle
rather than straight across: in that
actuating the inputs way trains will have a smoother ride
Monitor units are interconnected via Kt over the section.
and K2. The arrow shown near these con- Where a standard rail system is
nectors in Fig. 70 must always point to the used, the detection methods shown in
mother board. If this is not observed, the Fig. 74 or Fig. 75 should be used.
system will not work, although nothing The isolated section of rail in
more disastrous will happen. Fig. 74 is powered via two anti -paral-
All connector pins must be connected lel -connected diodes. It does not mat-
to the same numbered pin on the connec- ter whether the diodes are connected
tors in other units, preferably by the use of to the brown or the red terminal.
ready-made non -twisted, 5 -core DIN cable. Rails sections from which no signal is
The total length of cable between the units required may be connected direct to
is of no importance to the correct operation the booster unit.
of the system. A disadvantage of the method in
In principle, a monitor unit is actuated Fig. 74 is that only powered rolling
when the brown wire or rail of the system stock can be detected. If a train loses
is connected to earth. For this purpose, two one or more coaches, these will be 'in-
earthing points are provided on the PCB. It visible' to the system Therefore, the
is also possible to actuate it by connecting circuit in Fig. 75 may be preferred.
an input to the red wire of the system, but The output of the comparator in that
not if the system is in the STOP mode. circuit is actuated when a relatively Fig. 71. Printed circuit board for the monitor unit.
high resistance exists between the
Electronic train detection two rails. By providing coaches with a
10 k resistor as shown in Fig. 76, they can COMPONENTS LIST
Signalling to and from locomotives and also be detected by monitor units.
Resistors:
coaches is often performed with the aid of R1-RB=10k
reed relays. Both from a technical and an R9 -F117 =100 k
aesthetic point of view, this is not a good Status requests 1418.47k
way of doing it: electronic means are invis- The status of monitor units can be re - Capacitors:
ible and seldom fail (which can not be said gusted only via the RS232 interface. After =
of reed relays). power -up or a reset, one or more groups of =

If Marklin rails are used, M -sections are two bytes from two successive monitor
available in which one rail is isolated from units (that is, groups of 16 inputs) are sent Semiconductors:
ICI = 4
the 'metal gravel' base. This isolated sec- in response to each status request instruc- IC2: iC3 =
tion is simply connected to one of the in- tion. This is done in this way to ensure full
puts of a monitor unit. compatibility with the NIarklin Digital Sys- Miscellaneous:
Where K -rails (which are isolated from tem. However, as explained in Part 10, if Kt: K2 = 5.way DIU connect)! for PCS imourm-ng
En.osurei OKV/ Type A4407111
each other) are used, a section of one rail desired, the monitor units may be made to 10 pairs of 2_5 mm plugs and sockets (see text)
may be isolated from that rail by two saw react individually. PCB Type 87291-8
cuts as shown in Fig. 72. The length of this

Fig. 72. How to connect an isolated section of the track to a monitor unit (black arrow points to input Fig. 73. The finished board fitted in the specified
on monitor unit). In the illustration. use is made of Marklin rails. enclosure; note the cut -away corners.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY .1990

 THE DIGITAL. MODEL 'TRAIN - PART II: TIIE MONITOR t.-Nrr

Fig. 76. Providing non -powered rolling stock with a 10 ki2 resistor enables
it to be detected with the aid of the circuit in Fig. 75.
Fig. 74. This circuit for electronic train detection can locate only powered
rolling stock (locomotives and coaches with lighting).
Request instruction <192+n> in = 1-311

1St AN BYTE 2odANSWER BYTE

D7 06 S Dd D3 02 01 D0 D7 06 OS 06 D3 D2 01 00
rt, n n n n n 1-1 n n 1-1 n n rl 4 4
7 -0 r

5V
(2n - 1) unit 2n unit

2nd answer byte only with NIiirklin emulation

(default at power -up and reset)
101 ""
C1

WIPE
1-30n

CiPt77 Fig. 77. Composition of bytes sent by the system in response to a status
R2 - metaTeR request via the RS232 interface.
Mala

I
EEDTS
booster 01 02 03

1 6
B ATS5

A I = 113 IC 1 = i4 LM339 ( 1/2 LM393) 17201 - - 14

LM339

LM393

2--
.,ax
01377.
MR, $

Fig.
Fig. 75. Circuit of a sensitive detector system that is actuated by a rela- Fig. 78. Additional circuit for obtaining proper overload protection when
tively high resistance between the two rails. more than one booster is used.

System miscellany with the ULN2001 hut not entirely to spec- Parts published so far.
ification.
Locomotive decoders (Part 2). Part 1. Marklin system (description).
It appears that loc decoders can be affected Using more than one booster (Part 6). Part 2. Loc decoder (description).
by switching instructions intended for If the size of the track makes it necessary Part 3. Loc decoder (construction).
points and signals. This can be prevented for several booster units to be used (when Part 4. Universal signal and switching
by increasing the value of RI from 12 kS2 to each booster powers a section of the track), decoder.
33 kfl or even 39 ka a small addition is necessary to provide ['art 5. Description of Elektor Electronics
adquate overload protection. The circuit system.
Switching decoders (Part 4). for this is shown in Fig. 78. It is basically a Part 6. Booster unit.
An error has occurred in the circuit dia- composite OR gate that detects overloads ['art 7. Mother board (description).
gram and components list. Circuits ICs in up to five booster units. If any one Part 8. Mother board (construction).
and IC6 should be Type ULN2003 and not booster unit becomes overloaded, the en- Part 9. Keyboards.
ULN2001 as stated. The decoder will work tire system is placed in the STOP mode. Part 10. RS232 Interface.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

56

Our New Store will be Stacking

COMPUTER AND Hundreds of New and Second User
Computers, Terminals, Monitors,
AMPLIFIERS FROM E LECTRONE
Peripherals, Electronic Test
S UPPLIS Equipment, integrated Circuits, Etc.

:11iUmrgg ASTEC 5 t.t.1'

INPUT SWiTC15
'

The UK Distributor for the OUTPUTS.

12VolL 1.5k
12Voq. 0.4A.
75A5'.o3.

F.tted EurosWce1t.tat-rs vc.th Sprattr.er Ltne Filet,Mairts Oct Off Sw.tcn

complete ILP Audio Range 5.,ze 175. 135 a 65 17-7'. Only £10 each + £2.50p.p. Otarrtiry prls On recp.;est
WEIR H SS 100 2 COUTANT ML15007
INPUT -.15 240Nci:s INPUT 167 -2E -lot
OUTPUTS. OUTPUTS. 2 - 7 Vohs 20k Variable
5Vet_ 12k 12VcIt. 5k 12Vc4 2A 12Volts.8A. 12Volts. I A
Fu 4 cased.Brand New. Sae 214 x 117 Size.295 x 131 x 68 mm. Fully case:
68 mm. Few only ava.tatYe at less man Brand new. Few crq avaPaMe at Is==
:rade pr ce Man trade p -
Only £25.00 + £3.50p.p Only £48.00 + £3.50p.p.
Many more available to personal callers.

BIPOLAR AND MOSFET MODULES 120 x 120 x 38mm Now available in 12V.dc. 115V. ac. 230V.ac.
The unique range of encapsulated amplifier modules £7.00 - £2.00 p.p.
with integral heatsink.
HY.33 S £11.50 HY248 12UN BLo-1, am= (Bohm £25.20
HY60 "110 6,p.ois, amp £11.50 HY364 180W r 1. 4.ottrn £39.25
HY6050 30iY Stereo Elipcia, amp £24.45 HY368 I EON , - Bohm £39.25
HY124 60W Bipolar amp 14ohrh! £19.00 1.105128 6(74 1.-o £40.70
HY128 60W BiP7iar amp (Bohm', £19.00 1505248 120ei - .-3 £46.35 CASED £20.00 - £4.50 p.p.
H',234120,; £25.20 180., £75.75

PLATE AMPLIFIERS
Bipolar and Mosfet modules with the same
electronics as above amplifiers housed in a Vie have ust received a batch of Assorted Mcdu!es ALL AT PRICE
different extrusion without heatsink.
HY6060P 3044' Stereo 9 ioc'er amp. £20.10 HY3/344, 1601. 0 _... = = = 4 - V..5.91 6)1
HYf24P 60W Bipolar o-ro (4 ohml £14.65 t83265P 180W 6 ;,. .- a - , = ,-- E-25.99
HY128P EON Bipolar rm.° 18 ohm) £14.46 Y051221 670i V.V.. E-7. 9.10.50
HY244P 120W Broolar ampl4ollm! £220.10 0524.61,120W M: -.1,s.. =_= r.-39.93" MANY AVAILABLE AT BELOW TRADE PRICE
1:1,6 (5 9-2-0.10 v.:9192P I .9-?..., V.:1,.. _ .. . . £95.96

Note: These modules require additional heatsinks

POWER SUPPLIES FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS. OJanily aya:iaose from . £10
Comprising toroidal transformer and DC board to
power the ILP amplifier modules.
P5U2.0 Pre.am.; 7 e- £10.50 i'5..5. --I2 kiY24E £27.40
PSU2I2 I or 2 HY30 £19.25 P50552 0.0524,7. £29.60
PSU412 HY6060.F11124.1or2 iiY60 £21.45 51.1712 HY24.1 £31.75 1365K.IBM1 Half Height. £35.00 £3.50 p.p.
PSU472 HY128 £23.70 .50722 HY246 .2. £32.60
P50432 M06128 £24.75 050732 i4Y354 £32.60
P.S.U512 HY244. 11V128 121 £26.35 F50737 HY39.5 £34.95
PSU522 H. 12412( £26.35 .50752 M09-304 ''05249 .12 £33.95
P5U532 005128 (2! £27.40
LARGE SELECTION OF PC COMPUTER BOARDS IN STOCK
PRE -AMP and MIXER MODULES M:::ta Edards from £100 each
These encapsulated modules are supplied with 386 Mother Boards ........._....from £250 each
in -line connectors but require potentiometers,
switches etc.
HY6 Mono pfeamp with bass anal ueb!e £9.30
Tektronics. Micro Computer Integration Unit 13.031967
HY66 Stereo are -amp with bass and treVe £15.50 Nokia. Data Modern 4800Mk.1
HY83 Guitar pre -amp with so-mial effects . £18.65 Hewlet Packard. Interlace Probe HP10269A
86 No.cyJntina board for HY6 . £1.15
866 Mo.ntiro board for HY66 or ii`e83 £1.75 Hewlet Packard. Selective Level Meter HP3586
Tektronics. Control Probe 68000A
POWER SLAVES Milleniurn. Emulator In -Circuit pod Z80A
Floppy Disc Exer ciser.
These cased amplifiers are supplied assembled and Tektronix. Control Probe 80186
tested in 60 and 120 watt Bipolar or Mosfet versions. Tektronix. Control Probe Z80
0612 80 wan 13,Wai 14v' n £77.50 0532 60 au Mosfet £105.95 Tekelec. Cameleon Communications Analyser
0672 120 Watt Bipolar Kohm £85.95 0542 120 watt !Arafat £115.95
and Simulator
Gould. Analyser
Pripet ,ncl.ds VAT and car; 570 Hewlet Packard. Logic Analyser HP1630D
Hewlet Packard. Digital Programabie Mullimeter HP3556
Quantity prices available on request Tel equipment Twin Beam parable Oscilloscopes.
Write or phone for free Data Pack Few tett from £200.00
All prices subject to 15% VAT.
Offical orders vis!come from Schools. Govenment and Local Authorities.
Jaytee Electronic Services VISA
T,a--.teRetait ire:
Open to Public 141 Bath Road,
143 Reculver Road, Beltinge, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 6PL Mon - Thurs 10am - 5pm Hounslow,
265 Acton Lane. Middx. TW3 36T
Telephone: (0227)375254 Fax: 0227 365104 London W4 5DG Tel: 01-572 9737
Tel: 01-994 3733 Fax: 01-569 4029

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 INTERMEDIATE PROJECT
A series of projects for the not -so -experienced constructor. Although each article
will describe in detail the operation, use, construction and, where relevant, the
underlying theory of the project, constructors will, none the less, require an
elementary knowledge of electronic engineering. Each project in the series will be
based on inexpensive and commonly available parts.

8. Reflex MW AM receiver
J. Bareford

Radio techniques even at the most fun- parison with the selectivity of the
damental level will continue to fascinate superhet, it is none the less interesting to
electronics enthusiasts because a handful build as a first ever electronics project.
of components work the miracle of wire- Again making the comparison with the
less reception. This month we save a once superheterodyne receiver, the direct con-
popular circuit from oblivion. The radio version type is inexpensive, uncritical,
fascination catches on with this reflex AM and free of interference effects. What is
receiver, sporting one tuned circuit for more, it provides quite acceptable sound
medium -wave reception. quality.
The so-called direct conversion receiver
forms the basis of all radio receivers. In its
most rudimentary form, it provides an Flashback or start
aerial input, a tuned circuit to select the The circuit diagram of the simplest of re-
wanted RF signal from many others trans- ceivers, the direct conversion type with-
mitting in the same band, and a detector out RF or AF amplification, is shown in
to extract the modulation signal (i.e., the Fig. I. The combination of an inductor in
information) from the carrier. In a more parallel with a variable capacitor forms a
elaborate design, an RF- and an AF- am- tuned circuit that resonates at the transmit
plifier may be used before and after the frequency of the station to be received.
detector respectively. The direct conver- One side if the tuned circuit is connected
sion receiver differs from the super -he- to ground, the other side to a small capa-
terodyne receiver in that it does not use citor that takes the RF signals from a long- Fig. 1. The one advantage of the diode re-
frequency conversion of the received RF wire aerial. The detector, a semiconductor ceiver is that it does not need a power sup-
signal at any stage. Although the direct diode, is connected to a tap on the induc- ply. The circuit is. however. useless without
conversion receiver can not stand corn - tor. This is done to reduce the loading a large aerial and an earth connection.
(damping) effect on the tuned circuit,
which would degrade the selectivity. The
RF component, i.e., the carrier, is shorted
to ground by a capacitor at the anode of
the diode. The resulting AF component
can be heard in the high -impedance ear-
piece connected across the capacitor. The
one advantage of the circuit in Fig. I is
that it does not require a supply voltage.
The disadvantages, however, are more
important: sensitivity is poor, and the AF
output signal is too small in many cases.
The addition of a FET (field-effect tran-
sistor) and a resistor as shown in Fig. 2
results in a better receiver. The FET pro-
vides considerable AF amplification and
at the same time, by virtue of its high
input impedance, allows the detector to be
connected to the 'top' of the tuned circuit.
This makes this type of receiver fairly sen-
sitive.
It is definitely worth while to build the Fig. 2. The amplifier in this modified diode
circuit of Fig. 2. A few hints: use a wire receiver raises the sensitivity of the basic
aerial of at least 5 metres, and connect design considerably.
ground of the circuit to the water supply
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1490
58 INTERMEDIATE PROJECT

plified RF signal is 'forced' towards the

detector because it is blocked by the
choke. After detection, it is applied to the
input of the amplifier. Since the choke
does not present a high reactance to AF
frequencies, the amplifier raises the de-
modulated signal to a level suitable for
driving earphones. In other words: RF
and AF amplification are provided by a
single amplifier. This forms the principle
of the reflex receiver.

Enter two MOSFETs

Transistors are available today that im-
prove the performance of the good old
reflex receiver considerably. Figure 4
shows the circuit diagram of a receiver
based on the reflex principle and de-
veloped as a result of many experiments.
Dual -gate NIOSFETs Type BF981 are used.
One functions as an AF amplifier that ob-
viates passive components, and the other
as an AF/RF amplifier with very high
input impedance. circuit is higher than at a tap towards the
The heart of the receiver is formed by earthy side. The RF signal amplified by Ti
Ti. Resistors R3 and R5 provide the gate -2 is blocked by L2 and consequently arrives
bias voltage, which is decoupled by Ci. at detector Di -D2 -C3 -R2 via coupling capa-
Capacitor C5 similarly decouples the citor C3. The detector also functions as a
drain voltage. The tuned circuit of the re- voltage doubler circuit. Resistor Ri feeds
ceiver is formed by Li-Ci. The inductor is the rectified signal back to gate -1 of the
wound on a small ferrite rod which forms MOSFET, which functions as an AF ampli-
the aerial. The RF signal at the 'top' of the fier. The amplified AF signal passes
tuned circuit is fed to gate -1 of the MOS- through L2 and is coupled out via C7 to the
FET via Ci. The extremely high gate im- volume control, Pi. TransistorT2 raises the
pedance of the transistor eliminates all AF signal to a level suitable for driving
likelihood of damping, and obviates a tap lightweight headphones.
connection or a coupled winding. All this
simplifies the construction of the inductor
and increases the sensitivity of the re- Compact
Fig. 3. Extending the direct -conversion
receiver with an amplifier for RF signals only ceiver because at the same (high) load re- The low number of components and the
(3a) and one that provides gain for RF as well sistance, the voltage at the top of the tuned use of a small ferrite rod enables the reflex
as AF signals (3b).

or the central heating system. The induc-

tor is made by winding 85 turns of 0.2 mm
diameter (SWG36) enamelled copper wire
on a 10 -cm long ferrite rod. The receiver
draws about 4 mA from the 9 V battery.

RF amplification
It will be clear that an RF amplifier as
drawn in Fig. 3 is required if the receiver
in Fig. 2 is to work with a much smaller
(shorter) aerial, and without the connec-
tion to earth via the water supply or the
domestic CH system. Also note that the
germanium diode has a threshold voltage
of about 200 my, which makes reception
of signals below this level impossible -
weaker signals are simply not detected. If
the RF amplification is high enough, the
tuned circuit may double as an aerial, ob-
viating the long wire. A second tuned cir-
cuit, identical to the one already used,
may be added to improve the selectivity.
A further improvement that requires no
extra components is shown in Fig. 3b. A
choke is connected to the output of the RF
amplifier, and the detector is not con-
nected to the headphones, but fed back to Fig. 4. Circuit diagram of the reflex receiver based on dual -gate MOSFETs. The L -C tuned
the 'cold' side of the tuned circuit. The circuit at the input doubles as a compact aerial for medium -wave reception.
result of this configuration is that the am-
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 REFLEX AM MW RECEIVER 59
receiver and the 9 V battery to be built into
a miniature enclosure of the size of, say, Parts list
two match boxes.
If you consider size less important and
at the same time want to go round con- Resistors:
structional problems, build the circuit on 1:11;1:12 = MAO

Universal Prototyping Board Size -1 as Rs = 47k

esa-vis R4 = 470c.1
shown in Fig. 5. Pay attention to the orien-
Rs = 56k
tation of the NIOSFETs: when in doubt
RS= ik0
look at the pinning given in the circuit Pi = 100k logarithmic potentiometer
diagram (transistor viewed from the top). 9v
Choke L2 is a ready-made type. The aerial Capacitors:
is made from 70 turns of 0.2 mm diameter
(36S%VG) enamelled copper wire wound aoPI
ll,1Ecm, .1 Lsi
Ci = 500p mica foil tuning capacitor -
C2= 47p
on a 4 -cm long, 10 -mm diameter ferrite PI
0-1Fo C3 = 100p
P1
rod. The rod is secured on to the PCB with C7 T2 C4 = 100n
921.' d
the aid of plastic ties as shown in the 91 *qr. Cs= 4n7
photograph. The two diodes may be re- C4 Ce = 470p
placed by almost any other small -signal C? = 47n
germanium type such as the 0A90 or
0A95. Do not use silicon types: their thre- Semiconductors:
shold voltage is too high for this applica- Di:D2 = AA119
tion. Tt ;T2 = BF981
The receiver is connected to a pair of cue(
*
d
headphones with a minimum impedance L2 Inductors:
of 64 O. This perhaps less usual value is LZ =wound on ferrite rod - (see text)
simple to achieve by connecting the two C
L2= 4mH7 choke. e.g.. Toko 181LY-472 -
32 SI earpieces of the headphones in
series. Li Miscellaneous:

UM! St = miniature orVoff switch.

Headphones; impedance 6452 (2x320)
PCB Type UPBS-1 (see Readers Services
page).

Suggested supplier: Cirkit, Park Lane,

BROXBOURNE EN10 7N0. Telephone
Fig. 5. Suggested construction of the re
(0992) 441306. Fax (0992) 464457.
ceiver on ready-made PCB Type UPBS-1.

Hard disk monitor one at the instant of switch -on, and one as
the exit door is opened for departure be-
December 1989, p. 54
The parts list is not in agreement with the
CORRECTIONS fore the end of the 15-s switch -on delay.'
In the circuit diagram, Fig. 2, the diode
circuit diagram, and should be modified across Bzi should be numbered Die, not
to read: R23, not D12. Capacitor C2 is missing: it is an 10 uF
electrolytic type connected between the
RI -R7;Rii;R13-1116;R2o = 100k +12 V and ground rail. Finally, the inset
= 22n I/O extension for text 'D1...D8 = 1N4148' should read Dl,
Archimedes D2,173,D5,D6,D7,D8,D10,D12= I N3148.
Simple transmission line November 1989, p. 14-15
The parts list should be modified to read: 31/2 -digit SMD voltmeter
experiments IC3 = 6522-2
The circuit diagram in Fig. 2 contains an November 1989, p. 37-41
September 1989, p. 38 error: R4 should be connected between The obsolete half -digit LED display Type
The value of R2 in the experiment should ground and the +input of ICi. The printed - HD1108 from Siemens may be replaced by
be 225 52, not 43 O. circuit board is all right and requires no Telefunken's Type D29xPK, where 'x' in-
modification. dicates the colour: 0 for red, I for amber,
Logic analyser with Atari ST 2 for green and 3 for yellow. These dis-
plays are also available under new type
October 1989, p. 30 Intruder alarm indications as TDSR3120, TDS03120,
Please add to the parts list: November 1989, p. 45-47 TDSG3120 and TDSY3120 respectively.
R3:114;Rs - R12 =100k Telefunken also manufactures equival-
The references to Cs in lines 6 and 7 of the
Cs = 100n ents for the HD1105: the type numbers are
last full paragraph on page 45 should read
The control program (ESS111) is suitable Ci . TDSR3150, TDS03150, TDSG3150 and
for monochrome systems only. The reference to Rs in the third para- TDSY3150.
graph under Alarm sensing should read Distributor information on Telefunken
LF/HF signal tracer R9. components from AEG (UK) Ltd. 217
December 1989, p. 22 The first full sentence in the centre col- Bath Road SLOUGH SL1 4AW. Tele-
The resistor next to preset P3 on the umn on page 47 should read phone: (0753) 872101. Fax: (0753) 872176.
printed -circuit board should be labelled 'Two assurance bleeps are generated:

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 An enhancement that I would person- a paper copy of a PCB pattern to addresses
READERS' FORUM ally like to see is the inclusion of active. outside Europe. This is rather unfair on
symmetrical balanced inputs and outputs - readers like me. I like to keep records of
I have for some time been toying with a PCBs for future use and have tried to do
LETTERS theoretical design based on a circuit ele- so from issue 1 of Elektor Electronic -s.
Dear Sir - With reference to the Decem- ment called a 'superbal'. 1988 was a bad year for PCB patterns.
ber 1989 issue of Elektor Electronics, I I can lay no claim to originating this Many articles did not have a PCB pattern.
would like to comment on two of the pro- circuit (in fact, it came from Messrs Stan - only a component layout diagram. If I
jects. coil, the manufacturers of Alice mixers, have to pay out £2.00 for every PCB pat-
1. "Solid-state preamplifier. This project who are no longer in business), but I have tern. I may have to dish out 1:40-£60!
is very good as far as it goes. The virtual several circuits roughed out that incorpo- Even copies of articles are £2.50 per
earth CMOS switches have been used for rate this element. article, not per page. Why can't a similar
some years on audio mixing consoles to I enclose the following sketch of the el- standard be used for PCBs'? Most PCBs
great effect. ement together with the proposed CNIOS don't even fill half a page!
switch circuit. Again, what you are doing is unfair and
2. "IC tester for the IBM PC". I have re- painful - please be more reasonable.
cently constructed this project with no K.G. Verais, Likas. Malaysia.
problems at all. A few hardware enhance-
ments were incorporated as follov. : First. it appears as if you think that the
( i) the address selection links w ere re- basic prices charged to customers outside
placed by a four -pole DIP switch to facili- Europe are different from those to cus-
tate later changing of the base address: tomers in the UK or Europe: this is not so
the ZIF socket and LED were built
i - the differences in prices are caused hr
into a small plastic box alone with another the different postage rates for these areas.
25 -pin D -connector to tidy up the test The processing of a PCB layout on
PCB: paper costs about £1.20 (internal han-
(iii) the ribbon cable from the main dling of order. placing order on central
board to the test PCB was discarded in computer store, packing, and so on). Sur-
favour of a standard 25 -way D -connector face mail postage is the same the world
computer cable. over and amounts (on average) to £0.35:
While the hardware cannot he faulted. airmail charges outside Europe amount
the software supplied is not quite so bug (on average) to (0.75.
free. The processing ofa PCB layout on film
As far as I can tell, there are no prob- costs about OM (making of the film is
CMOS switches lems with the interpreter, but the library around £4.00. the rest is as for the paper
files contain several errors. I have since layout. although the packing is slightly
had two further copies of the software: al- more evensive). Postage rates are as for
though these correct some omissions, the paper layouts.
other errors still exist. We have no desire of making a profit
Perhaps you might consider an occa- on this service to our readers and other
sional article on listings for test routines customers.
for ICs other than those contained in my The reason that in general we do not
list attached. publish the PCB track layout in the maga-
A.G. Crane. Kings Lynn. :ine is that it serves no purpose to the
and their functional equivalent constructor who is only interested in the
Your sketches are reproduced here, since I component layout. It is impossible to pro-
feel that these will of interest to a number duce a PCB from the track layout pub-
AOL/T(Ti/C) of other readers (they certainly were to lished in the maga:ine (because of the
Bri(coci) AOtillPV0) me). Also, all your comments have been printing on the reverse page).
Bounti/C) forwarded to the designer of the "All - I do sympathke with your feelings. hut
solid -state preamplifier". Any continents unfortunately we all live in a harsh com-
BOUT(WO)
from him will be published in a future merical world: we wish we could supply
CTL
9,-71.1111 issue. these track layouts free of charge, but it's
As regards the software bugs. your list just not feasible without increasing the
has been forwarded to WI the de- cost of the inaga:ine. None the less. in
signers of the IC tester. As soon as .come special cases, such as schools and
we have their comments. we will colleges. I may be able to make special
publish your list and their re- arrangements-. ]Ed]
sponse. if any. [Ed]

Dear Sir - Regarding "DC -DC power

Dear Sir - I have just received the converter" (November 1989. p. 54). don't
October 1989 issue of Elektor you think it is irresponsible to publish a
CMOS powered from :=6 V: opamp powered from -20 V. Electronics and am surprised to power supply circuit that is not short-cir-
This gives several lOs of dB headroom! note that you are charging £2.00 for cuit protected. A car battery will easily

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 READERS' FORUM

provide a hundred or more amps, quite "As explained in the article. the pulse Phone (08444) 3953 for details.
sufficient to destroy this circuit and most repetition rate is a junction of the current
of anythine that had the misfortune to be demand of the load and has a 171aXin111111 WANTED. Circuit diagram for Telequipment Senri-
connected to it. value of 30-50 kik. The reason that the scope. H.L. Eamshaw, 58 Prices Lane, REIGATE
The author claims that power rises ex- skin effect is significant is that the charge RH2 8AY, Telephone (0737) 221480.
ponentially with current. When I went to pulses have a fixed duration of 100 p5 or
WANTED. Elektor Electronics AP Frequency meter.
school, power was directly proportional to so. which means that they give rise to a
Capacitance meter and Inductance meter. Phone
the square of the current. I do not believe large number of harmonics. These har-
01-594 7754 after 6 p.m.
this has changed. monics moist be passed by the inductor
Is skin effect really significant at the wire without attenuation to maintain the WANTED. Eno ,sn manual for NEC PC6001 series:
audio frequencies which the author sug- pulse rise and fall times. Fourier analysis also exchange software for IBM PS 2 on disks.
gests are used? At 20 kHz, the skin depth is required to establish the actual skin Hamidreza Madjdabadi. No 30 Western 194 St.,
might of the order of 0.5 mm. If this is sig- depth. but this would be a superfluous lux- Tehranpars, TEHRAN 16538. Iran.
nificant. the author should justify his ury in this kind of article. The recommen-
claim. dation to use a number of thin parallel - FOR SALE. Components owing to giving up hobby.
B.A. Jones, Cheltenham. connected wires rather than one thick one Too numerous to list so ring for details. Offers in-
ensues from a series of practical experi- vitedtotWievihotelot. Gordon Brown. 72 Bury
jEdJ Hill. WOODBRIDGE IP12 1JD. Telephone (0394)
Air Jones has further pointed out that the ments on my prototypes".
385652.
point °l ids constructive criticism was that
many of those attempting to construct pro-
FOR SALE. Tektronix 575 curve tracer. Hartley
jects published in Elektor Electronics are scope 13 A. Creed 444 silent cover (free 444). Best
beginners who need everything explained
in detail, a sentiment with which 1 agree SWITCHBOARD offers. 13A snare manuals £2.50 inc! R.A. Lord,
22 Elizabeth Crescent. EAST GRINSTEAD
wholeheartedly. and which will certainly RH19 3JA.
he borne in mind in future. Switchboard allows all PRIVATE READERS of
Elektor Electronics one FREE advertisement of
The author comments: "The article up to 108 characters. including spaces. com- DESIGN SERVICE. _ow -cost PCB CAD arc manu-
states clearly that the converter is not pro- mas. numerals, etc. per month. facture. s or :F:o. to your design.
tected against short-circuits and that a Write the advertisement. which must re- Small or large quantit,c-.s Phone Dave at (0463)
16 A fuse must he inserted between it and late to electronics. in the coupon on this page: 790006.
the battery. On reading Mr Jones' com- it MUST INCLUDE a private telephone num-
ments, it might perhaps have been better ber or name and address: post office boxes are WANTED. Manua! c
not acceptable. oscilloscope Type 317. Phone Howard at (0272)
to have shown this fuse in the circuit dia- Elektor Electronics 'Publishing) can not ac-
gram but. as a rule. parts that are not on 658191.
cept responsibility for any correspondence or
the PCB are not shown (to maintain the transaction as a result of a free advertisement
PEN FRIENDS. lam interested in pe'
proper relation between parts list. boom' or of any inaccuracy in the text of such an ad-
vertisement_ all over West Germany. Mohammed Etminan. Shi-
and circuit). Moreover. the provision of raz University, School of Engineering. SHIRAZ,
short-circuit protection would have Advertisements will be placed in the ord,,r
in which they are received. Iran.
increased the cost and complexity of the. Elektor Electronics i Publishing) reserve
converter". the right to refuse advertisements without giv-
"It is true that a car battery can supply ing reasons or without returning them.
very high currents. but long before these
have risen to unacceptable levels. the 16 A PEN FRIENDS. I am an electronics engineer and
fuse. and possibly resistors R2 and R3. am interested in pen friends on electronics. comput-
choke LI and diode 1)1. would have given Send this coupon to: Elektor Electronics
ers and other allied subjects. Mohammed Granter,
up the ghost. Moreover. 'anything which (Publishing), Down House, Bronmhill
Damavand Ave, 15 Metri 4th, 8 Metri 6th, No. 10 Road, LONDON SIV18 -1.1(2.
had the misfortune to be connected to it Post code 17318 Tehran, Iran.
(the converter)' will not be damaged by a Block capitals please -one character to each box
short-circuit at the output terminals of the WANTED. Sweep function generator up to 150 kHz
converter. since its input voltage is then to include triangle to ramp wave output. Phone
=em".
1

(0267) 275437.
"What you have learned at school
about the relationship between current FOR SALE. New 12 inch black and white video
and power and what 1 sag about it are not monitor with sound input; takes 1 V composite; £50.
Phone (0704) 214594.
in disagreement. I feel you may have con-
fused the adjectival and noun uses of the
FOR SALE. Tektronix 545 oscilloscope plug-in unit
word 'exponential'. An parameter that style in good working order. £90. Phone (0732)
varies in accordance with the power of a 350691 any time.
quantity does so 'elponentiallv'. whether
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1530
that potter is 2. 5 or e (=2.72). Only when FOR SALE. Elektor Electronics nos 24. 43. 45, 49.
the power is 1 do we speak of direct (lin- June '81 -Dec '83 (except April '82): 31 copies £20 ,..--E- -7-_-:::::iss MUST ce ,-. ,

ear) proportionality". (Note: I agree with plus post. J. Brown, 74 Humber Ave, South Ock-
Mr Jones (in a follow up letter) that the endon, Essex, RM15 5JN.
words 'exponent' and 'exponentially' are
well defined in mathematics and should FOR SALE. Computers IBM XT £490 ono up to
not be changed 'at the drop of a hat'. Ed). AT386 £1290 ono. Many accessories also available.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

 62

DAkK-200AT CLOCK

A. Rigby

Timing is an essential factor in any dark -room. Keeping a constant

eye on the clock while the photograph is being developed, however,
is a nuisance, and makes it impossible to attend to other activities.
The low-cost timer described here can be programmed to give
accurately timed audible signals as a reminder to flip the
development tank, add the fixative, remove PE paper, and so on.

The quality of photographic reproduc-

tions can be kept constant only if the de-
velopment tanks are flipped, and baths
are changed or stirred in good time. A
timing error of a couple of seconds can be
tolerated in some cases, but longer delays,
caused by other activities in the dark- buzzer
room, may result in an unusable print.
The present clock offers a number of
selectable alarm functions and a maxi- binary
mum time lapse of 30 minutes, which is counter EPROM 1:1
ample for most dark -room activities. The LI LI 101 LI
clock is a compact unit to prevent it taking
up too much space in the dark -room.
every after
The block schematic diagram in Fig. 1 2i-iz
3C5 0
shows the general structure of the dark- S --.as

room clock. The 2 Hz clock generator af- buzzer

fords simple selection of a number of

differently timed alarm sounds. The 2 Hz clock multiplex
1 of 4 decoder
clock signal is applied to a binary counter generator
whose (non -used) least -significant output 1
bit counts half -seconds. The 11 other out- '694027 11
put lines of the counter are connected to
the address inputs of an EPROM that con-
verts the 11 -bit counter value into control
signals for a 4 -digit multiplexed LED dis- Fig. 1. Block diagram of the dark -room clock.
play. This function requires 7 of the 8
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 GENERAL INTEREST
63
EPROM data outputs. The remaining bit
is used for the control of an alarm
sounder. Bit D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 DO

segment HEX
EPROM as a decoder g f e d C a
The EPROM used in the dark -room clock read-out
is essentially a programmable logic device
(PLD), whose combined functions allow none 0 0 0 0 0 DO
the remainder of the circuit to be kept
relatively simple. The 8 output lines of the 1 i 1 1 1 1 3F
EPROM are used for display segment con-
trol and sounder control. Each address 0 00 1 1 0 06
location in the EPROM is programmed to 2 0 0
i 1 1 1 1 1 5B
supply a bit pattern that determines 1 -

whether a display segment is lit or not, 3 1 0 1 1 1 4F

and whether the sounder is actuated or
4
not. Table 1 lists the bit patterns for num- i 1 1 0 1 f 1 0 66
bers 0 through 9. The sounder is actuated 5 1 1 1 0 6D
by adding 80H (bit 7 goes high) to the 1 1

values shown. Table 2 shows how these 6 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 E 7D

bit patterns are stored in the EPROM, and
illustrates the functions of its address in- 0 0 o i o 1 i 1 1 07
puts, which, given the application, may 11 1

also be considered decoder inputs. 1 1 1 1 1 7F

The most -significant (MS) address
input, A13, divides the EPROM address
I !oil 1 1
1 1 6F

space into two blocks. One of these en- 07 = buzzer on. D7 = ''0": buzzer off
sures that the sounder is actuated every
30 seconds, which is useful during the de- Table 1. The databits loaded into the EPROM control the display segments and the
velopment of films. The other block is pro- time-lapse buzzer.

5V

R2
ALARM
4
0
4
90s

3 fl5
reset
DI
6 6
7
St
3 2
112T
Ds
5V
-A iJP 2
'Os 13

15
Rt9
C
2Ot 271
5V 7.476 LD1 LD2 LD3
APP PD4 14
26 413 Re TDZ 14
II
on 2 412 DO II O1
OM 23 411 DI 12
t2 MIR
13 21 D2
to 3 IC5 am 13
09 410
12 03
C3min oa
13 2S
AS
IC4 134 15
14
uur 12
ici 07 4 De 17 5 2004 - 11
1100n OS 15 06 0
2 te 7
67
rA 4 A5 EPROM De 17
4040
04 3
6
5 45 "
27128 D7 - Rte
03
7
02 6 "3 5V
7
01 #2
9 B
eon OLXOD
B 10 1? bsael
RI
22 141 20 oe/off = 74HCT139
RIB if LD1...1.04 = 7751 (Common Anode)
Di_D7 = 1N4148
D JPI
71...T4 = 8C5578
C better off Rai

3 14 6
013 07 06 18 5V
1C2 0
4060

12 11
R3

C2
2TOrt ll-412200
T 32:7614210
-r MML 894027.12

Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of the dark -room clock. The heart of the circuit is formed by EPROM IC4.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

64 DARK -ROOM CLOCK

grammed to supply a single alarm after

90 seconds, which is useful for the devel-
opment of PE (poly -ethylene) paper. The
development time of PE paper is normally
stated as about 60 seconds, but 90 seconds
is often found to give better darkening
buzzer lapsed time digit address data and quality of reproduction.
(hex) (hex) The time in seconds is applied as an
11 -hit binary number to EPROM inputs
seconds (units) 0000 BF A2 through Al2. This arrangement results
0 minutes. 0 seconds seconds (tens) 0001 BF in four bytes that hold the segment pat-
minutes (units) 0002 BF terns for the LED displays to be selected
minutes (tens) 0003 80
every second. Address lines AO and Al
seconds (units) 0004 06 are driven by two signals that control the
0 minutes, 1 second seconds (tens) 0005 3F multiplexing of the 4 displays. Summariz-
minutes (units) 0006 3F ing the above, the EPROM functions as a
minutes (tens) 0007 00 circuit that decodes binary time informa-
tion into a multiplexed 7 -segment control
signal.
seconds (units) 1068 BF
17 minutes, 30 seconds seconds (tens)
minutes (units)
1069
106A
CF The circuit
87
every 30 s minutes (tens) 1065 86 The circuit diagram of Fig. 2 shows that
the clock generator is formed by IC2, a
Type 4060 14 -bit counter with on -board
seconds (units)
oscillator. The oscillator signal is divided
1C18 7F
seconds (tens) 1C19 6D
by 2', so that output Q13 supplies a 2 Hz
29 minutes, 58 seconds signal. Outputs Q6 and Q7 supply the
minutes (units) 1CiA 6F
minutes (tens) 1C1B 55 multiplex signals that cause each display
to be turned on and off at a rate of 128
seconds (units) 1C1C 6F times per second.
29 minutes. 59 seconds seconds (tens) 1C1D 6D The 2 Hz signal is fed to the clock input
minutes (units) 1C1E 6F of binary counter ICI. This 12 -bit
minutes (tens) 1C1F
counter/divider counts the seconds
1C20 FF lapsed since the circuit was started. The
use of binary counting in combination
248 bytes. not pro- with an EPROM allows such a simple sec-
grammed onds counter to be used - the perhaps
more conventional alternative would
IFFF
have required at least 8 standard ICs, or
two or three specialized ones. The
seconds (units) 2000 F EPROM used in this circuit is available
0 minutes, 0 seconds seconds (tens) 2001 ,-
- ready -programmed.
minutes (units) 2003 PP
,..: The reset circuit of ICI has 3 inputs
minutes (tens) 2004 :.:0 with an OR function provided by DI -D2 -
D3. The counter is cleared (reset to zero)
either when RESET key S2 is actuated (Di),
seconds (units) 2168 BF
or when the circuit is switched to the
seconds (tens) 2169 CF stand-by mode by Si (D2), or when
1 minute. 30 seconds 1800 seconds have lapsed since the last
minutes (units) 216A 86
minutes (tens) 2165 80 reset (DA. The last function is realized
atter 90 s with the aid of D4 -D7 that reset the
counter within a few nanoseconds after it
reaches state 1800 (111000010002).
seconds (units) 3C1C 6F
seconds (lens) 3C1D 6D
The lapsed time is passed to EPROM
29 minutes, 59 seconds 1C4, whose function has been detailed ear-
minutes (units) 3C1E SF
minutes (tens) 3C1F 55 lier. The decoded and multiplexed 7 -seg-
ment signals on datalines D0 -D6 are
3C10 FF buffered by Darlington array ICs before
being applied to the cathodes of the LED
248 bytes, not pro- displays.
grammed The signal on EPROM dataline D7 con-
trols sounder Bzi via driver T5. The sound
3FFF FF of the piezoelectric buzzer is made a little
less disagreeable by interrupting it with
A13 i Al2 A2 Al. AD the aid of 1-6. A wire link, WI, is fitted to
provide 3 sounder options:

position 'C' for two pips of a quarter of a

second each;
position 'D' for a single pip of half a
second;
Table 1. EPROM organization. no wire link for a single pip of one sec-
ond.
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
 GENERAL INTEREST

Parts list

Resistors:
R.= 100k
Pa= 10k P S BB4027
= 10M
R4 - R7:R ti5;RI7= 1k0
'1 P5 T2 P5 ra T.a
0
Re - R15 = 470 O 0 xy
Rla;Ris.= 4700 Lc13 L..
Capacitors:
CI;C2 = 220p
C3 - C5 = 100n 0
C7 = I GOA: 25 V
o^1 CV .r)

Semiconductors: O 00 000
Di - D7= 1N4148 O
N:Ds = LED; red; 3 mm 0
0
- LD4 = 7751 (common anode)
- T4 = BC5575 0 00
0
MTh= BC547B O
0
IC, = 4040
IC2 = 4060 0 0 0000
1C3 = 74HCT139
1C4 = EPROM 27128. Available ready -pro-
grammed under order number ESS 58-3 00' 0 0000
(see Readers Services page)
ICs = ULN2004 0
ICs = 7805 0
0
Miscellaneous: O 0
S1 = locking SPOT switch with black key
O
cap. 111,V Type 61-2010400,-. 0
0 0
S2 = SPOT switch with red key cap. ITW
Type 61-1010000-.
S3:S4 = locking SPOT switch with integral
LED and black key cap. ITV/ Type 61-
2030401,.
X1 = quartz crystal 32.768 kHz. 0
PCB Type 894027 (see Readers Services
page).
Enclosure: Heddic Type 222'.

ITV/ Switches Division of ITV/ Limited

Norway Road Hilsea PORTSMOUTH
P03 5HT. Telephone: (0705) 694971.

Emtek Electronic Products Limited Unit

19a Industrial Estate Stanton BURY ST.
Fig. 3. Printed -circuit board for the dark- EDMUNDS 1P31 2AR. Telephone: (0359) Fig. 4. Showing the locations of the holes
room clock. The board is double -sided. but 511155. that must be through -plated before any com-
not through -plated. ponents can be fitted.

For reasons of safety, and to keep its over- inserting a short piece of wire, and solde- tion for pin 28 is made at the component
all cost down, the dark -room clock is ring it at both the component side and the side of the board with the aid of a piece of
powered by a mains adapter with a direct, track side of the board. This arrangement thin wire that connects the holes. Before
unregulated output voltage of 8-12 V. obviates having to solder the ICs direct on fitting this wire, remove the white overlay
Regulator ICb reduces this voltage to 5 V. to the board, although this is perfectly printed on the hole for IC pin 28. Insert the
A real on /off switch is not provided. permissible in this case. Note that the tip of a sharp pencil in the hole to ensure
Rather, the circuit is switched to stand-by white overlay print must be removed at that it remains open when the wire is sol-
with Si. The counter is reset to zero, the the component side before the spots can dered to the spot.
displays and LEDs are turned off, and the be soldered properly. Make the connection between RI5 and
EPROM is switched to its low -power The 3 exclamation marks shown in LD2 with a short length of insulated wire
standby mode. The clock is not re -actu- Fig. 4 indicate PCB design errors that are, fitted at the track (EPS) side of the board.
ated until Si is switched on again. fortunately, simple to correct. The holes A track is provided at the component side,
near pins 22 and 28, towards the `IC4' but this makes fitting LD2 rather difficult
mark on the overlay, must be connected to if the centre pin in the right-hand row of
Construction the associated holes that receive the IC the display is to function as a through
The dark -room clock is built on the pins (or IC socket pins) at both sides of the contact.
double -sided, not through -plated, PCB. In the case of pin 22, the missing The fitting of the remainder of the com-
printed -circuit board shown in Fig. 3. This connection is at the track (EPS) side of the ponents should not present problems.
board is available ready-made. board: a little extra solder tin applied dur- If the Heddic Type 222 enclosure stated
Figure 4 shows the locations of the ing the mounting of IC4 will bridge the in the Parts List is used, the switches must
holes that must be through -contacted by gap between the spots. The extra connec- be raised by mounting them on IC sockets
ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990
66 DARK -ROOM CLOCK

(cut off the non -used pins of 14 -way low -

profile types). Also note that the LEDs in
the key caps are best removed and re-
placed by types with long terminals that
program clock: can be soldered direct to the PCB. Use a
vat drill or a small file to modify the IC socket
count
j,
k, 1
: word;
integer:
if a part of it is in the way of the LED
terminals.
:

g file of byte:
:

displayandsound array(0..9] of byte:

:
The switches are 'Digitast'-like SPDT
const (single -pole, double -throw) models with
(The display array contains ,iatabyte for each display value) an integral LED. With the exception of S2,
display array(0.. 9] ci
: sif,506,55b,54f,566,56d,57d,5/,571,56f):
hexff byte =5ff:
: ::r a blank position in the eprom) they remain locked in both positions. If
hex80 byte =580: t:r a blank display segment with sound output]
hex0 byte =10;
:
:

i:r a blank display segment without sound output) difficult to obtain locally, the switches
may, of course, be replaced by suitable
begin
assign (g,'clock .dat'); (Open the desired filename) equivalents with the same electrical func-
rewrite (g):
for i:=0 to 9 do displayandsound(i):.-display[i]+580:
tion, mounted on to the front panel of the
(Include sound bit)
enclosure, and connected to the circuit by
count:=0:
(Calculate a readout in minutes and seconds) short wires.
(Reset the displaycount)
for i:=0 to 2 do (Maximum count is 29 minutes and 59 seconds)
for j:=0 to 9 do
for k:=0 to 5 do
for 1:=0 to 9 do
if count mod 30 = 0 (Check if count is a multiple of 30)
then
begin (Calculate the four d_isrlay bytes including the sound bit)
write (g,displayandsound:i
write (g,displaya:.i2i=d:.:
write (g,displayandizuni:::
(Leading -zero blanking]
if displayandsound:::<>dilayandsound(01
then write (g,'-'7''Ya-'""ndli3)
else write (g,r.KE,0):
count:=count+1:
end
else
begin (Calculate the four displaybytes)
write (g,display(I]):
write (g,displaylk1):
write (g,display(j]):
(Leading -zero suppression)
if displayfi.>display(0] then write (g,display(il)
else write (g,hex0):
count:=count+1:
end:
(Fill the remaining part with 5FF)
for ii=1800-.4 to Sliff do
begin
write (g,herff):
end:
(Calculate a readout in seconds)
count:=0: (Reset the display count)
for i:=0 to 1 do {Maximum count is 1999 seconds)
for j:=0 to 9 do
for k:=0 to 9 do
for 1:=0 to 9 do
(Check if count is a multiple of 90 and smeller than 91I
if (count =md 90 = 0) and (count<=90)
then
begin (Calculate the four display bytes including the sound bit)
write (g,disolavandscund:::`:
if count < 10 then write ,-,hex80) (Lead --_-zero blanking)

if count < 100 then :7.::: -.g -zero blanking)

else wr17.-_: g,d1szlayand5r.d:1):
if count < 1000 the- g,hex80) (Leading -zero blanking)
else ,r::e ,g,displayandsound(i]):
count:=count+1:
end
else
begin (Calculate the four display bytes)
write (g,display[l]):
if count < 10 then write (e,hex0) (Leading -zero blanking)
else write (g,display[k]):
if count < 100 then write (g,hex0) (Leading -zero blanking)
else write (g,displaytj1):
if count < 1000 then write (g,hex0) (Leading -zero blanking)
else write (g,display[i]):
count:=count+1:
end;
(Fill the remaining part with 5FF)
for i:=52000+200.0.4 to $3fff do
heoin
write (g,hexff):
end;
_se (g); (Close the file',

Fig. 5. Listing of the Turbo -Pascal program used to compile the content of the EPROM. The
IF COUUT statements allow you to change the timing intervals to individual requirement. Like
the EPROM content, the program is divided in two parts: the first provides the data for the
minutes and seconds read-out, and the second the data for the seconds read-out (0-1800 s).
These blocks may be interchanged. EPROM data is written to file =mom'.

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

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SA 240V. Front panel 115 x 64. depth 130mm
Cost 010 55
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KEYBOARDS
Sa=e 1". V223 DC-70MHz. dual Channel. single time. AG2603AD A combined audio frequency sig- ASTEC Modal AM7531
base delayed sweep. DC offset, alternate mag- nal generator and frequency counter. A six VP. 115130V ac 5060Hz 0.1E- V1 - 5V 5A.
nifier. 6in screen. 5mV/div vent- sensitivity character LED display allows direct reading of V2 - 12V 0.15A Size: 160 x 104 45mm
1 0.21slcliv.43.2_Vdiv sweep time. Complete with internally generated signal or signals from an Partially enclosed panel with fixing holes in
2 probes. manual, mains lead_ _______ E475 external source. The frequency generator has steel case on 120 x 125mm centres. Inputs
e
ir-
--ertir, Other models from (339 - full details in a range of 10Hz to 1MHz with either square or
catalogue. Ask far colour brochure. sine waveforms and adjustable output level.
and Outputs are on colour coded leads; there
is also an EEC socket on a flying lead. E6-95
The frequency counter has a range of 10Hz to
28852 Keyboard: Superb brand new METEX METERS 150MHz. Frequency range controlled by a 5 -
keyboard 392 x 181 with LCD displaying 1 line step selector and fine control. Adjustable
of 10 characters and a further line with venous 8 different models in our cataloguer ouput level with 012040dB anenuator.
symbols 100 keys. inc. separate numeric * 41/2 digit 12mm LCD AUDIO GENERATOR
keypad. Chips on board are 2 x 74HC05. display Frequency ran ge _______ 10Hz to 151Hz 2660 Astac switched
80C48 LCD - driver chips are easily remov- * 30 ranges inc! Outputimpedance _ 600flunbalanced mode PSU
able from board £15.00 20A ea:do Output cannot_ 0.20-40dB andfineadjuster Type AA7271.
28857 High quality Alphanumeric keyboard * Frequency Output control:
on alum:nium frame 314 150mm_ Contact. counter Sine._.__ ..__..___._..av rms max This small PCB.
.:,sless good for 20 million operations. * Capacitance test square __10V p -p max wet 50 50mm will
Origma sold at over 0100 each, they were FREQUENCY COUNTER accept 8.24V input and
with zero adjust give a stable 5V DC at up to 2A output The
use:. - a Printcom' portable terminal. Fully Frequency range _ 1011z to 1505114z
aced output Power supply - 5V and * Data hold switch
ASC
-12v
data
.Hrn/a_ Suppled with comprehensive * Diode test
014.95
tett
. -

kfillth116
:rputvottage
impedance:
- Less th a n 50mV
' ox input voltage......_._-.-..... 3V
6 transistor circuit provides current overload
protection, thermal cut-out and excellent filter
ing. Offered at the remarkably low price of
28856 Cherry comp :e: Ver, a' m
fi Transistor test 0if enCy ES 00

model 340 x 130 cy only 14mm deep, in- a Continuity test Me.650
Power_
F-
50f1
(b) CONVENTIONAL
cluding keys. Matrix output 67 keys in pale/ * Test leads with 4mm plugs E94.00 240Vac50Hz
dark brown 715 .. 150 x 200mm 24215 Siliconix mains input. 4.5V DC 150mA
Et 00 * Rugged yellow case
E175.00 output to 3.5mm jack plug on 2m lead. Built-in
28863 Keyboard. High quality unit made by * Carrying case continental 2 -pin plug Size 62 x 46
Micro Switch. 69 pale grey and blue keys. 6 red 35mm £1.50
5mm LED's. 15 various LS chips and socketed Battery and instruction manual included. ill COUNTER 24170 Plug in power supply. Built in 13A plug.
08048 by Intel. Output via 7 way plug and AC volts 0-200m-2-20-200-750Vac =0.5at Similar in appearance to above with same Output 6V DC 300mA on 2m long lead termin-
there Ls a 4 way edge connector too. Keyboard DC volts 0-200m-2-20-2001000vdc frequency counter. Spec: ated in a 3mm power plug. British made to
frame rs 317 . 128mm_ PCB on which it's AC current 0.2m.200m-20Aac c 1.0% Frequency range 100kHz to 150MHz 135415._ £1.50
mounted is 285 x 1711mm. F Output ___.____100mV rms lup to 3551Hz) 24208 Ode Power Supply. Moulded oleo,:
DC current 0-207µ-2m.200m-20Adc -0 5 - Output central 0/20cIB and fine adj
Price Excellent value at E12.00 Resist 13200.2k -204-2004-2M-2011411 c
Modulation_ case with built in 13A plug Output 9Vdc a'
Internal lkHz. 600rnA delivered to 2m lead with 2_5m--
Capacitance 0-209200n.20_,F -2.0r external 50kHz20kHz
TELEPHONE ANSWERING Frequency 0-204-200kHz =2 at less than IV rms nowerplug E3 50
Transistor hFE 0.1000 NE1. zr.,
MACHINE Dims 176 92
P E179.00
FLASH GUN RETURNS
(Lots more on latest Bargain List)
FREQUENCY COUNTER SIGNAL TRACER/INJECTOR Hanirnex electronic flash arts that have be
returned by the cons.: -a- me place where
purchased These arc :":e: zomplete & in
good condition (man.; ,- 7 ai boxes) but
have not been tested ty .1: are offered
without any guarantee 4 tr.:, available. as

Z4259 Type x140. Hot shoe attachment Sze

75 60 25mm offfon switch & test tuna,'
28874 Superb piece of German equipment_ Takes 2 x HP7. Originally sold at E7-.510 £300
This uncased model looks complete & rs Z4260 Type X215. Similar to above. E3.20
believed to be working. Size overall 305 x 163 Y133 For fault finding en Audio & RF Equip. Z4261 Type CX330 Another with same
x 57mm. On the PCB is a mains transformer VII meter and speaker. Level controls. 0613d0 features. - auta,manual switch, Size 70 65
12201/1. relays & associated components. atten switch_ VP. OfP. ext spkr, and injector 35mm 63.50
FC5250 7 digit frequency counter for fren,..-:-
There are 2 mini -cassette decks, 6 position cies between 10Hz and 1505114z_ Power or. r.." sits on Front panel Sae 200.140.96mm.
switch. Mic - amp circuit to record outgoing .1/ .10 gate time and VHFiHF switches. In UsasPP3 £5500 BREADBOARDS
message am mains lead with 2 pin plug. - a via BNC sockets. Supplied complete with
6 core lead for connection to Telecom socket_ FREE, if requested. with every breadboaM
struction manual and test lead Requires =- sold this month! K574 wire link pact with
Excellentquality & value.. E12.50 external 9Vdc nom 200rnA power supply. about 250 lints for use with breadboard o
PC -B'S!
DISPLAYS PROTOBLOC 1
24243 Display panel 152 x 112mm with NEC 0708 Protobloc 1 has a total of 400 tie points
8 digit display (217311; 8279.5, MC146818, 3 consisting of two sets of 30 rows of 5 iraercon-
uPABOC, & a couple of LS chips crystal, etc. METE netted sockets plus 4 rows of interconnected
E2.90 sockets running alongside. suitable for use as
power supply rails. All contact positions are
21731 NEC Vacuum Fluorescent Display cfewly defined on an alphanumeric grid. ABS
EIP8BIL B digit multiplexed output 10mm high. polymer board mounted on an adhesive foam
Heater voltage 2V. grid:anode voltage 24V. base. Will accommodate up to three 16 pin
E2.00 devices. An ideal introduction to solderless
LCR
24115 8 digit 12.7mm high LCD and holder. Y134C A fully transistorises AC bridge which circuit development systems. Size 80 6Gm rn
These are 14 segment devices allowing alpha. CM3300 High accuracy AUTORANGING allows accurate measurement of resistances, f2 50
numenc display. Normally costing over 015.03 3 digit capacitance meter. High resolution capacitances. inductances and transformer PROTOBLOC 2
we are offering these forjust E4_50 measurement in the range 0 1pF to 99900uF turns ratios. G711 Protobloc 2 =as a total of 843 te z:
with 10 auto ranges. Range hold switch for 0.1 to 1 1 Vail = lae WitiaCCOMMC.1.2! _p to seven 16 pin de. :e5
24148 LCD as 24115 but 6 digit. 50 pins. Like batch testing capacitors. Range zero control. Resistance range
RS 588-601. Their price 10.86. £300 Inputs via spring terminals or test leads (sup, Inductancerange. _ tali to 111H ±7i.. Sire 172 r. 64rr E3 55
Caoacitance range 10pE to 1110aF c 1.: PROTOBLOC 2A
Z1732 Epson LCD 4 digit Eirnm high__ 82.00 plied). Complete with leads and instruction Power 9Vdc IPP3 ba tte I G712 As abo.e mounted onto a rigo
manual. Dims. 2C0 135 90mm base plate coins=, with three 4mm terminas
21637 LCD Display - Direct drive 31ri digit Price £65.00 Price E115.00 for power car arts. A mounting bracket
similar to RS 588.572. 12.7mm high digits_ Op which clips into r re base is also provided to
voltage 4-12 RMS r2 3214z typ. Supplied with FS -am ;,E.,-,i accept a var:ety of components including
data .E200; 10-1 ho C Ora alto* Orans from : 5 switches and potentiometers. etc
E1.75; 25-1E1.50; 100-161.00 r. £13EL Sroo
col -Nair -is antis ca: -hem 9-51: "r - ri Pnce
PROJECT BOARD G124
6695
21560 7 seg display, 20mm high_ Common
anode..... Only 70p125 /50p; 100-142p GEtEENVVELD s-4 sea vii
HOW TO CONTACT GREEYWELD: Cr Fr,. _ za tte G724 2 of type G711 rr.c_, at onto a rig it
ono, By Phan: altai / - 14:t.t, 7 7' naseplate with 3 coloured t n315, for power
1311416 Alphanumeric 4 character intelligent fitarsi Br Far By Mir
display 0.16- _ £7.00
013416 4 digit intelligent alphanumeric dis-
VAC16'.17e BY Teter 3t:61r::
Price__...._....
connections. Overall size 225

PROJECT BOARD GL36

ISOrnm_
£13.95
Perne-vsaccar.ted III V -e:-! :-:1.1
play with builtin drive and memory. ASCII farean C,ITVLy -,IE 0736 3 of type G711 and an additional strip of
ROM and multiplexing circuitry. TTL corn' tat.* 4.,...e51r,SSCC,,,V4 103 be points mounted onto a rigid base plate
patible inputs. -5V. Supplied with data. with 4 coloured terminals. Overall size 242
Listonce 041 50 £8.00 195mm.
''3E MILLBROOK ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON, SO1 OHX. Price. E19.95

ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS FEBRUARY 1990

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