March 1988

Signal divider for satellite TV receivers

eitior JO Computer -controlled slide fader

000 Uniphase loudspeaker system

UK £1.50
IR £2.20
(incl. VAT)
EE
March 1988

BBC Micro Computer System EPSON

PRINTERS
KP915 (156 coil E369 !a)
8BC MASTER SERIES: LX800 £189 le) BROTHER HR20 E349 la)
WORD PROCESSOR ROMs:
AMB15 BBC MASTER 128K £346 (a) VIEW 2.1 £35 Id) VIEW 3.0 .. £48 (c) FX800 E295 (a) STAR N110 1ParaBel !lace) . . E179 lal
.

ADC06 Turbo (65C102) Card £95 (dl Speamaster £49 (dl VIEW INDEX E12 (dl EX 1000 E405 la) STAR NLIO Serial Interface) . E219 (a)
ADC08 512 Processor £185 (b) WORDWISE £24 (dl WORDWISE+ E38 Id) EX800 E395 la) JUKI 6100 (Daisy Wheel) . ... £295 (al
ADF14 Rom Cartridge E13 (d) SPELLCHECK III EX1000 £539 (a) INTEGREX (Colour) E549 lal
ADF10 Econet Card £40 (d) WYSIINIG+ E21 (d) £31 (dl L0850 (80 col) E439 (a) NAT PANASONIC KX P 1081_ E149 la)
ADJ22 Ref. Manual I £14 (c) INTERWORD £46 (di EDWORD II £43 (a) 101050 (136 col) E529 (al NAT PANASONIC KX P 3131. £249 la)
ADJ23 Ref. Manual Part II _ E14 (c) TAXAN KP815 (80 cob £269 fa)
ADJ24 Adv Ref Manual E18 (c) LANGUAGE ROMS: We hailin stock a large variety of printer attachments, interfaces anj con su m abzes.
Micro Prolog E62 (c) Microtext £52 (c) Pease write or phone for details.
BBC ARCHIMEDES ISO PASCAL £51 lc) LOGOTRON £55 (c)
Please enquire about availability and LOGO £46 (c) MACROM £33 (dl
detais of the s stem. LISP E39 (dl COMAL £43 (dl ACCESSORIES
UPGRADE KITS: Oxford Pascal £36 (c) BUFFALO 32K Buffer for Epson printers E75 (dl: FX80 plus sheet feeder £129 lb).
1.2 OS F1O1.)
EPSON Serial Interface: 8143 E30 IS); 8148 with 2K buffer E65
E15 (d) COMMUNICATIONS ROMS:
ONFS ROM . £19 (dl TERMULATOR EPSON Paper Roll Holder £17 lb); FX80.80- ,85 Tractor Attach £37 (0); RXTX80
£25 (dl Dust Cover E4.50 (dl; LXBO Tractor Unit E20 (c); 10800 Tractor Feed E47 lb).
BASIC II ROM (BBC B) .. £22.50 (d) ).(ASTER TERMULATOR E34.75 (dl
ADFS ROM E26 COMMSTAR II (28 (d) EPSON Ribbons: MX/FIX,FX80 E5; MX,FIXTX100 E10 (dl: LX80 £4.50 Id%
1770 DFS Kit E43.50 MODEM MASTER Ell (d)
Econet Kit (B&B+) E55 JUKI: Serial Interface E65 Id): Tractor Attach. £149 (a); Sheet Feeder E219 (a);
Id) COMMAND E34 Id/ Ribbon £2.50 (a): Spare Daisy Wheel £14 (dl.
ACORN ADD-ON PRODUCTS:
UTILITY ROMs: BROTHER HR20: Sheet Feed E229; Ribbons - Carbon or Won £3; Tractor Feed
Torch ZEP 100 £229 (a) DOTPRINT PLUS for FX RX compatiht.,q
512 2nd Processor £116 (a): 2000 Sheets Fanfold with extra foie par. 9.5- - E13.50; 15" £17.50 lb).
£195 Ib) DOTPRINT DUAL for MX range BBC Parallel Lead £6; Serial Lead E6 (dl: IBM Parallel Lead l2m) E12
IEEE Interface £265 IS) Acorn Graphics Extension Rom E28
Teletext Adapter £95 )b)
Acorn 65CO2 Turbo E99 )b)
Merlin with 57 disc unity commands MONITORS
100 page manual E37.50 (cl MICROVITEC 14" RGB TAXAN K12SV620 12" £269 lal
Ask for full detaas on our fua range of software 1431 Standard Resolution E179 (al TAXAN K125V625 12" . £319 la)
1451 Medium Resolution E225 (a) 12" MONOCHROME MONITORS:
1441 Hi Res £365 (a) TAXAN:
MULTIFORM Z80 2nd Processor for the BBC MICROVITEC 14" RGB:PAL & Audio Taxan KX 117 12' Green P31 E 85 la)
This unique Z80 2nd Processor running OS 1.1 will allow use of almost any standard CP.M soft 1431 AP Standard Resolution E199 (a) Taxan KX 118 12" Green P39 E 95
ware on the BBC micro. It is supplied with a number of different CPifil formats and includes a 1451 AP Medan Resolution £259 (a) Taxan KX 119 12" Amber E 95 la)
utility to configure it to read other formats. This is pariicularty useful in environments where corn - PHILIPS:
MICROVITEC 20" RGEIPAL,Audo 7502 Green Screen E 69 tai
autos with different CP/M formats are used and the data cannot be easily exchanged between 2030 CS std Res £380 (a)
them. Mains powered (includes Pocket Wordstar & MSDOS (LW unity) E249 Ib) 7522 Amber Screen E 75 la)
2040 CS Hi Res E675 (a) 7542 White Screen E 79 (a)
MS DOS Read Write Utility £49 Ic)
Mitsubishi 14" RGB Med Res IBBCIBM) AB Phelps Monitors scarified with swivel
META Version 3 ASSEMBLER E219 (a) stand
Assembles 17 of the popular processors. Over 70K long program on two roms and a disc and
provides complete Editing and Assembly facilities. It uses appropriate mnemonics for different BOOKS
processors. Fully nestable macros, nestable conditional assembly (IFIELSEENDIF). modular
source code, true focal arid global labels, 32 bit labels arid arithmetic. 30 ways to send ohi;ett No VAT on books; Carriage (c)
code and 50 directives. View 3.0 User Guide £9.00
A powerful editor with many features. Send for detailed leaflet. LANGUAGES: Viewstore £9.00
£145 (6) 6502 Assy Lang Prog £19.95 Vrewstieet £9.00
BBC DISC DRIVES 8086 Book E23.95 Wordwise Plus E9.95
5.25" Single Drive: Acorn BCPL User Guide £15.00
Acorn FORTH £7.50 SOUND & GRAPHICS:
1 400K 40.80T DS: TS400 E90 Ibl PS400 vrtth peal £104 lb) Mastering P4usic
5.25" Dual Drive: Acorn LISP E7.50 E6.95
2 x 400K 40.80T DS: TD800 ....E170 (a) P0800 with psu Acorn ISO Pascal Ref Manual £10.00
E190 la) Intro to COMAL £10.00 DISC DRIVE SYSTEMS:
2 a 400K 40.801 OS with psu and built in monitor stand P08009 £209 lal Advanced Disc User Guide (14.95
3.5- Drives: Intro to LOGO E7.50
Micro Prolog Ref Manual E10.00 Disc Book E3.50
400K 80T DS TS35 1 E67 (b) PS35 1 with psu E85 lb) Disc Programming Techniques £7.95
, 400X SOT DS with psu TD35 2 E126 lb( P035 2 with psu Introduction to Turbo Pascal. E14.95
1 E149 it)) Prog the Micro with Pascal . E8.50 Disc Systems E6.95
The UNIX Book 07.50 File Handing on the BBC E6.95
3M FLOPPY DISCS Unix User Guide E19.95 APPLICATIONS:
Industry standard floppy discs with a life time guarantee. Discs in packs of 10: Understanding Unix E18.45 Interfacing PrOj for BBC E6.95
5% DISCS 3% DISCS BBC MICRO GUIDE BOOKS 88C and Small Business £5.75
40T SS DD £8.20 Id) 40T DS DD £10.00 (dl SOT SS DD £15.00 (dl BBC User Guide Acorn £15.00 PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE
BBC Plus User Guide E15.00 Wordstar made easy £16.95
80T SS DDE12.25 (d) 80T DS DD. E13.00 Id) 80T DS DO £19.50 (d) Drawing your Own BBC ProgramsE6.95 Introduction to Wordstar £17.95
Inside Information C8.95 Wordstar Handbook E11.95
DISC ACCESSORIES Math Prog vt BBC Basic E7.95
Toolbox 2 £10.95 dBase-II for the first time user
Understanding dBase-111 £22.95
E 16.95
Single Disc Cable E6 (d) Dual Disc Cable E8.50 (d) VIA 6522 Book 450 Multiplan
10 Disc Library Case £1.80 Ic) 30 Disc Storage Box E6 (Cl Made Easy £18.95
40 Disc Lockable Box E8.50 (c) 100 Disc Lockable Box E13 (c) PROGRAMMINGATIILITY &summate Complete Grade £16.95
Eloppielene Drivehead Cleaning Kit with 20 disposable cleaning kits 5F." f 14 50 (dl; E16 Idi Advanced Sideways Ram User ABC of LOTUS 123 £17.45
Guide £9.95 1-2-3 for Business £16.95
Adv Tech in dBase 11111 E22.95
BT APPROVED MODEMS Advanced User Guide (BBC)
Applied Ass./Lang on the BBC E9.95 Mastering CPA(
.

£17.95
CPM Wale E16.50
MIRACLE TECHNOLOGY WS Range BBC Micro Sideways ROM's RAM'sE9.95
Guide to the BBC ROM £9.95 Introducing CPIM on BBC & ZEO E9.95
Beginners Guide to W.P £7.95 MS PC DOS Prompt __ £10.95
WS4000 V21123. WS2000 V21A/23
.

Mayes Compatible. Inter -vent. Auto Dial' Manual Modern £92 (b)
Auto Answer) E135 lb) WS 2000 Auto Dial Card E27 PROGRAMMED RO MS FOR ELEKTOR
WS3000 V21123 Professional WS 2000 Auto Answer £27 Ml PROJ ECTS
As WS4000 and with BELL standards arid WS 2000 SKI Kit £5 Id) 503-N kir_ Computer Monitor 516 TaScing Dice 2716 E 7.317
battery back up for memory £244 (b) %VS 2000 User Port Lead £5 Idl 521 CharGen & Video Routine for DOS
W53000 V22 Professional
. .
2708 E 4.80
504 Disco fights 2708 E 4.80 Jumor 2732 + 2716 £16.40
As WS3000 V21/23 but with 1200 baud full 505 Chess Intelekt . 2 x 2716 E14.60 522 CharGen & video; Routine for ex-
duplex £409 fal tended junior 2732 2 x 2716 E24.00
WS3000 V22 his Professional (Offer Ernited to current stodul 506 J C Tape Monitor . 2716E 7.30
507-N J C Printer Mon & PME 523 Char. Generator .. 2732E 9.00
As V22 and 2400 baud full duplex E537 (al 2716 E 7.30 524 Otrantisiz' er 2732 E 9.00
INS3000118C Data Lead E7 (dl 525 Universal Term 2732 E 9.00
508 J C Bus Control 82S23 E 4.80
510 150 MHz Freq Meter 2 x 82523 526 Wind Dir Ind 2716 E 7.30
527 Babyrinth 2716 E 7.30
SPECIAL OFFER PROJECTS: E 9.60
514 Dank Room Camp:A.21 2716 E 7.30 530 Daisywheel Ifatie 2 2716 E11.00
EPROMs/RAMS Junior Computer Kit £86 lb)
2764-25 £2.80 Id)
Housekeeper kit £58 (b) ALL PRICES TECHNOLINE
Elekterminal Kit (1980) £50 (b) VIEWDATA SYSTEM
27256
27512
£5.00 Id)
£9.90 (dl
ASCII Keyboard kit £75 Ib) EXCLUDE VAT. Tel. 01-450 9764
J C Books 1, 2, 3. & 4E6.90 lc) ea Please add carnage 50p unless Using 'Neste type protocols.
6264LP-15 £2.60 Universal Terminal (65021 Kit £75 lb) indicated as follows: For information and orders
27128-25 (12.5 Vpp) £3.40 (dl
Elekterminal Kit (19831 £70 lb) available 24 hours. 7 days
27128-25 (21.0 Vpp) £4.80 Id1 falf8 0)1'2.50 (c/£1.501 (d/£1.00 a week.

SEE OUR PAGE 5 ADVERTISEMENT FOR COMPONENT PRICES

PLEASE ADD CARRIAGE AS PER CODE & 15% VAT
TECHNOMATIC LTD
MAIL ORDERS TO: 17 BURNLEY ROAD. LONDON NW10 1ED
(Export. no VAT. p&p at Costl
Orders from Government Depts. Er Colleges etc. welcome.
Minimum telephone order E5
SHOPS AT: 17 BURNLEY ROAD, LONDON NW10 Detailed Price list on request.
(Tel: 01 208 1177, Telex 922800) Prices subject to change without notice 14k1
305 EDGWARE ROAD, LONDON W2. Tel: 01 723 0233
 13 Editorial In next month's
issue:
The main theme will
Components be Electrophonics and
a number of articles
14 Sensors & actuators will deal with this
20 The reason for miniature transducers popular subject,
by Mike Coope among them:
22 Infra -red detector for alarm systems Guitar fuzz unit
Computer con-
Computers trolled music gen-
Sensors & actuators
p. 14
erator
24 PROJECT: A 256 -colour adapter for the MIDI code gen-
EGA erator
by Peter Balch Further,
28 Towards the Supernode computer Active loudspeaker
by Dr Chris Jesshope system
Digital optical
transmitter
General Interest Radio communi-
30 PROJECT: Computer -controlled slide fader cations of the
(1) future

Audio & Hi-fi

36 PROJECT: Uniphase loudspeaker system
40 The value of silence
by Dr Dylan Jones and Dr Chris Miles

Radio & Television

43 PROJECT: Signal divider for satellite TV
receivers see pages 74 and 75
by R. van Terborgh for our special
46 PROJECT: Low -noise preamplifier for FM offer of three Crotech
receivers oscilloscopes
49 Radio & TV news
52 PROJECT: Slave indication unit for intel-
ligent time standard
Uniphase loudspeaker system
p. 36
Design Abstracts
60 Electronic compass

Test & Measurement

62 Dual trace oscilloscopes: a review -
Part 4
by Julian Nolan
68 A word in the hand makes the measure-
ment firm
by David Simpson

Information
19 Events; 21-27-49-66 News; 57 New Front cover
Computer -controlled slide fader In line with our
p. 30 literature; 58 People; 59-73 New products;
70 Readers services; 72 Terms of business theme of the month,
our front cover this
month shows a
Guide lines selection of ther-
76 Buyers guide 77 Switchboard 78 Classified mocouple tempera-
ads 78 Index of advertisers ture sensors.
4 EE
March 1988

NEW THIS MONTH 1988 CATALOGUE

'JIMMY' OUT NOW - 88 pages of bargains from AUDIOKITS PRECISION COMPONENTS
Exciting electronic football game resistors to disco mixers. Price in -
originally sold for £19.95, but this eludes latest bargain list, discount
price included plastic grandstand. vouchers, order form. Don't be with.
stickers etc. We can supply the out your copy - send £1.00 now!!

. fto"i e : IF ir
420. 93mm neatly cased electronics .t. 8 ri, a a
comprising keypad either end. 14 x va
1,-;

r.
5mm red LED's l'players'), TMS1000 . taxiing:al,. 4.1.
chip programmed to make odd noises - .. % a at avail& aa_
whilst playing and a tune when a goal ... -,...asigailionapt * 31 is :2
is scored. also 2 x 7seg LED's to keep
score. Cardboard 'pitch' . instruc-
tions supplied. £5.00 2810 KEYBOARD Really smart alpha
numeric standard qwerty keyboard
WINTER SALE LIST with separate numeric keypad. from
A 16 page supplement combining ICL's 'One Per Desk'. Nicely laid out
Bargain Lists 33-35 + the 50% off keys with good tactile feel. Not en.
supplement, with prices further re- coded - matrix output from PCB taken
duced to 66% off!! It's FREE - send to 20 way ribbon cable. Made by Alps.
large SAE for your copy now! Size 333. 106mm. 73 keys . £8.95 .

COMPASSES SPEAKERS
Precision spring bow 8Bmm long_ Max Z578 Sub -min speaker 30 . 30 x 3mrn THE 30+30 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
dia 70mm. Replaceable pencil lead & thick by Fuji. 16R 0.4W. 60p ea: 10 * DESIGNED FOR OUTSTAND;NG SOUND QUALITY
steel tip. E 1.00 £3.70 25 £7; 100 E22: 1000 £180. * VERY HIGH QUALITY COMPONENTS SUPPLIED
Z575 70 x 45mm 45R 0.5W 55p ea: * LOW TEMPERATURE GENERATED DISTORTION
VC1400 VIDEO COMPUTER 10 E3.30 25 £6 100 £20 * ULTRA LOW NOISE MC STAGE
Z816 Games machine that used car- SOLDER * STAR EARTHING - MAPPED ON PCB TRACKS
tridges 'none available). Main console 500g reels resin cored. 1Bg .. £5.95 * CLEAN SOUND RIGHT UP TO FULL OUTPUT
contains UHF modulator + various 500g reels resin cored 22g £7.95 . . * 7 SEPARATELY RECTIFIED POWER SUPPLIES GIVES OUTSTANDING STEREO
chips. PSU has mains input, 15V LOGIC PROBE IMAGERY
0.16A and 8V 1.22A output. 2 hand For TTL. CMOS etc. LED and sound in - * LATEST KITS HAVE IMPROVED HEAT SINKS AND LOWER RESIDUAL NOISE
held controllers each with joystick and dication. Pulse enlargement capability
14 button keypad. All in original box. allows pulse direction down to IMPROVED VERSION ALSO FEATURES
Note: These are returns, and may be 25nsec. Max f = 20 MHz 4-16V. VP * BULK FOIL RESISTOR IT Coefficient Sporn 'CI IN CRITICAL PLACES
faulty £12.50 Z:1?.1 £9.99 * HOLCO RESISTORS FOR OUTPUT TRANSISTOR EMITTER RESISTORS
FUSED UPPRESSOR * POLYPROPYLENE AND POLYSTYRENE CAPACITORS
Z003 PSotted unit 60.45 .30 has SOLDER SPECIAL! I.
* LONG LIFE ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS
* KINtBER CABLE FOR INTERVAL WIRING
screw term tip for mains, 2Orrim
fuseholder & o/p tags for appliance * 15W 240V ac soldering iron * GOLD PLATED PHONO SOCKETS
* EXTRA OUTPUT TRANSISTORS FOR 40 WATT OUTPUT
99P * High power desolder pump
VIEWDATA LTU * Large tube solder PRICES Standard 30+-30 kit £172 - £6 p&p = £178
Z697 Interface Panel 166x 150 with Standard with extra ofp transistors £185 - £6 p&p = E191
3>: Lf.1324, LM339. LM393, 4066, 11 ALL FOR Improved kit £380 - £6 p&p = £386
transistors, 3 reed relays etc. 3m lead
with BT plug attached. Supplied with
comprehensive data and ccts. £2.90
£ 7 . 95 Export version to order with II0V or 220V primary transformers. P&P charges by quo-
Z620 68000 Panel. PCB 190,:45 be - tation. Delivery 14 to 21 days. but can be longer as lead times for manufacture of case
REED SWITCHES or supply of some top quality parts used in improved version is much greater.
K569 A selection of about 15 types lieved to be from ICL's 'One per Desk'
from 12 to 50mm long, mostly form A, computer containing MC68008P8 ETI VIRTUOSO PREAMP KITS. PCB'S AND ALL PARTS AVAILABLE.
few form C. Pack of 30 £2.75 I8MHz 16/8 bit microprocessor, + 4
2797 Min 15.3mm long. ROM's, all in skts; TMP5220CNL, oeta,.1s of Audio Kits cornponents and kits. pease send SAE '4-1 ioverseas 3 1RCs1 to:
20.11.50: 100/16: 250/112 74HCT245, 138, LSO8, 38 etc. £5.00
2798 Large 50.8mm long. Z625 32k Memory Board. PCB AUDIOKITS, 6 Mid Close, Bonowash, Derby DE7 3GU. Tel: 0332 674929
1011.50: 25/13: 100/(10 170 x 170 with 16 2k x 8 6116 static
Z799 Changeover 40mm long. RAM's. Also 3.6 V 100 mA
511.50; 251E6: 1001E20 memopack nicad, 13 other HC/LS
TOOLS devices. 96w edge plug. 8 way DIL
Scoop purchase of high quality surgical switch, R's. C's etc. E4.80
instruments ideal for electronics use. SOLAR CELLS
Z308 5- lightweight long nose pliers Giant size. 90mm dia giving 0.45V,
1.1A output. E4 each, 10+ £3.50.
Mega size - 300 . 300mm. These in.
Z309 5'/-'a - as above but with ratchet.
This enabes pliers to be locked
together - for holding small compo-
nents, or as heat shunt etc. . £1.20
Other types on Bargain List 36
_
corporate a glass screen and backing
panel, with wires attached. 121./
200mA output. Ideal for charging
nicads_ £24.00
Happy Memories
Z662 COIN ACCEPTOR MECHANISM
ENTERPRISE PANELS Made by Coin Controls, this will accept Part type 1 off 25-99
2658 PCB 325 a 158 with 64k of RAM various size coins by simple adjust - 100 up
18 .4864). 2130A microprocessor, + ment of 4 screws. Incorporates various 4116 (Pulls) 1 00 0.90 0.85
21 other chips, UHF modulator, security features - magnet, bent coin 4164 150ns Not Texas 1.30 1.15 1.05
speaker etc. ROM and Nick andior rejector etc. Microswitch rated 5A
Dave chips missing supplied with cct 240V. Front panel 115 x 64. depth 41256 150ns 2.90 2.75 2.60
and data £8.00 130mm. Cost £10.85 Our price£4.00 41256 120ns 3.20 3.05 2.90
41256 10Ons 3 75 3.55 3.40
41464 120ns 3 45 3.20 2.99
2114 200ns Low Power 1.75 1.60 1.55
6116 15Ons Low Power 2.75 2.55 2.40
6264 150ns Low Power 3.25 2.95 2.80
62256 12Ons Low Power 10.95 10.25 9.65
2716 45Ons 5 volt 3.20 3.05 2.95
2532 450ns 5 40 4.85 4.50
2732 450ns 3 20 3.05 2.95
2732A 250ns 3.95 3.70 3.50
2764 250ns Suit BBC 2.85 2.65 2.50
if? 27128 250ns Suit BBC 4.55 4.25 3.95
27256 250ns 4.55 4.25 3.95
27512 250ns 8.45 7.95 7.65
2004 Skeleton Joystick, switch type. 14 18 20 24 28 40
Good quality, made by AB. Brass Low profile IC sockets: Pins 8 16
spindle has 44mm long black plastic Z811. Cumana Touch Pad for the BBC Pence 5 9 10 11 12 15 17 24
handle attached. Body has 4 mounting computer_ This remarkable add-on
holes. These really are a fantastic enables you to draw on the screen Please ask for quote on higher quantities or items not shown.
bargain!! ONLY £1.00 using a stylus with the touch sensitive Data free on memories purchased. Enquire cost for other.
pad. Supplied with 2 stylli. power/data
SWITCHED MODE PSU connecting lead & demo tape with 4 Write or 'phone for list of other items including our 74LS series
Astec type AA7271. PCB 50 x 50mm progs. Contains state of the art elec-
has 6 transistor cct providing current tronics. Originally being sold at
and a DISCOUNT ORDER FORM.
overload protection, thermal cut-out £79.95, later reduced to £49.95 - Please add 50p post & packing to orders under £15 and VAT to
and excellent filtering. Input 8-24V but we can offer a limited quantity of
DC. Output 5V 2A. Regulation 0.2%. these brand new and boxed for just total. Access orders by 'phone or mail welcome.
£5.00 £19.95 Non -Military Government & Educational orders welcome

MEW
A pr:es Y-',,,lA vAT; just aid E1 .Et) P&P. for minimum invoice value of £15 net.
%Sn Access erda E10 M rn n. CWOL Official

GREENWELD ..,
ords from schools etc. v.-4-
_ mat en.-cci,x charge E10.
Our shoo has enormous stork, of components ads opus: Happy Memories (EL), FREEPOST, Kington,
9-5.30 1,'^r, -Sat. Came and see usw
ELECTRONIC
COMPONENTS
Send SAE for latest Ba::..,B.-r, Lit Herefordshire HR5 3BR. Tel: (054 422) 618
443E Millbrook Road Southampton (No stamp required)
501 OHX Tel (0703) 772501/783740
 EE
March 1988

Sensors and medicine

A Wolters Kluwer Company
Managing Editor: Len Seymour Mention the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's laboratory at
Personal Assistant: L Vousden Harwell to most people and they immediately think of nuclear engineering
Technical Editor. J Buiting
Advertisement executive: and power stations. It would, no doubt, surprise them to hear that nuclear
Pauline O'Rourke engineering is now but a relatively small part of the UKAEA's activities. Dur-
Editorial offices: ing the past decade, the laboratory has, in fact, become a research insti-
1 Harlequin Avenue tute for the whole of British industry, and is now one of the largest contract
BRENTFORD TW8 SEW
England research organizations in Europe
Telephone: 01-847 2618 (National)
or +44 1847 2618 (International) One of the research programmes is devoted to discovering new devices
Advertising: 01-847 2619
Telex: 917490 (elektr g) and materials for use in biosensors. These combine micro -electronics and
Fax: 01-847 2610 biochemistry to give novel types of detector. The surface of such a sensor
European offices: has to react with a specific substance to give a change that can be
Postbus 75 detected and converted into an electrical signal.
6190 AB BEEK IL)
The Netherlands
Telephone: +31 4490 89444 One promising method is to mimic the human body's information trans-
Telex: 56617 Ielekt nil mission system, that is, to make an artificial nerve. The success of such a
Fax: +31 4490 70161 device hinges on substances called ion gates. Normally, cells are sur-
Overseas editions: rounded by insulating membranes that exclude all unwanted molecules.
Pubiitron Publicacoes Tecnicas Ltda
Av Ipiranga 1100, 9° ander Ion gates can upset this by opening up channels in the membrane
CEP 01040 Sao Paulo - Brazil through which ions can pass. This is the crucial information transduction
Editor: Juliano Barsali event. Not only does the opening of a channel produce an electrical cur-
Elektor sari rent (moving ions), but amplification as well. One gate can let millions of
Route Nationale; Le Seau; B.P. 53
59270 Bailleul - France ions through at a time.
Editors: D R S Meyer;
G C P Raedersdorl The most exciting artificial nerve sensor consists of an artificial membrane
Elektor Verlag GmbH only two molecules thick (3 to 5 nm). These form self -assembly, highly
Siisterfeld-Strafle 25 ordered systems that are very good electrical insulators. Specific detector
5100 Aachen - West Germany
Editor: E J A Krempeisauer molecules, such as antibiotics, are incorporated into the membrane, and
Elektor EPE when the substances to be detected are bound to these, it is observed as
Karaiskaki 14 a change in the gating characteristics.
16673 Voula - Athens - Greece
Editor: E Xanthoulis
One of the first uses of the Harwell device may be to detect human
Elektor Electronics PVT Ltd.
Chhotani Building
pregnancy hormones; it will be possible to tell whether a woman is preg-
52 C, Proctor Road, Grant Road (El nant much sooner than at present.
Bombay 400 007 - India
Editor: Surendra hirer
There is even greater potential for the device in other fields. As the original
Elektuur B.V.
Peter Treckpoelstraat 2-4
idea for the sensor came from mimicking the human nerve, it seems a
6191 VK Beek - the Netherlands simple progression to create an artificial brain cell. Neuro-physiologists now
Editor: P E L Kersemakers believe that learning and memory occur when the ionic transmission
Ferreira & Bento Lda. characteristics of the membrane separating brain cells is semi -permanently
R.D. Estefania, 32-1° altered. Chemicals released by the body are responsible for this change,
1000 Lisboa - Portugal
Editor: Jorge Goncalves which occurs over a period of time.
Ingeiek S.A.
Plaza Republica Ecuador This is similar to the way the new biosensor works and the way in which
2-28016 Madrid - Spain future parallel computers may operate. if the devices are to work as
Editor: A M Ferrer
memory or switching elements, the binding of a messenger molecule to a
Electronic Press AB
Box 63
receptor molecule in the cell membrane must be made more reversible.
182 11 Danderyd - Sweden This is made possible by the use of artificial proteins.
Editor: Bill Cedrum
International co-ordinating The possible extension of the technology to computer and logic circuits
& technical manager: lies outside the scope of the biosensor project, but Harwell is using its ex-
K S M Walraven
International editorial secretariat: pertise in computing to improve the current parallel computer processing
G W P v Linden; M Pardo algorithms and is evaluating new applications in control and instrumen-
Distribution: tation.
SEYMOUR
334 Brixton Road
LONDON SW9 7AG.
Typeset & composed in the
Netherlands by GBS, Beek (L).
Printed in the Netherlands by
NOB, Zoeterwoude.
Copyright 1988 Elektuur B.V.

ABC
V.D.rert Ateer
E -.SAU Caa.A.A7ONS
 14 EE
March 1988

SENSORS & ACTUATO

Radiant, mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and chemical effects in
our environment are nowadays normally detected and measured
by electronic means. The conversion of these (analogue) effects
into (digital) electrical signals is invariably effected by sensors.
These transducers have become so important that without them
life on earth would almost literally come to a standstill.

Sensors come in a wide variety: it is stance, fluoroptic thermometers use tem-

estimated that there are close to 20,000 A sensor, the popular name for perature dependent fluorescence of
different types produced by thousands transducer, is a device that converts a materials at the end of a fibre optic
of manufacturers all over the world. The non -electrical parameter into an elec- probe. Many sensors for high tempera-
most important types are used in the trical signal or vice versa. The variations ture measurements rely upon blackbody
detection or measurement of tempera- in the electrical signal parameter are a radiation for ranges from 300 to 2000
ture, pressure, gases, radiation, hu- function of the input parameter. degrees Celsius. However, the vast ma-
midity, magnetism, acceleration, direc- Most transducers provide a linear, jority of applications use their own ex-
tion, angle, flow, level, presence, pos- analogue output, but some provide a ternal light sources in the form of an
ition, displacement, and many more. digital output in the form of discrete LED or a laser, primarily because of the
The operation of most sensors depends values. Ivlost transducers are linear specific need to accurately control the
on optics (lasers, optical fibre, infra -red devices, i.e., they provide an output that emitter wavelengths, power outputs, and
emitters and detectors), semiconduc- is a linear function of the input. modulation frequencies.
tivity (photo transistors, photo diodes), Like many networks, transducers may be Fibre optic sensors have been helped
thermoelectricity (thermocouples), or considered as quadripole devices, but significantly by developments in LEDs,
piezoelectricity. one pair of terminals is not necessarily super luminescent diodes (SLDs), and
The demands made on most sensors are electrical. lasers used in the fibre optic communi-
high: they must be sensitive, corrosion- Most transducers require external elec- cations and optical disc industry. Semi-
resistant, inexpensive, precise, stable, trical excitation for their operation; ex- conductor LEDs can emit from either
easily integrated into a microelectronic ceptions are piezo-electric, photovoltaic, their surfaces or their edges, depending
circuit, and preferably have a linear in- and electro-magnetic sensors. upon their design. Surface emitting
put/output characteristic. LEDs (SLEDs) have a wide solid angle
An actuator is a device that converts an on the output beam, and the beam inten-
electrical signal into another form of sity is Lambertian. Edge emitting LEDs
Optic sensors energy, normally mechanical. It is thus a (ELEDs), on the other hand, have a
special type of transducer. Typical waveguide mechanism inherent in their
Fibre optic sensors can be regarded as examples are loudspeakers, electronic structure (as do lasers) and thus have a
comprising three parts: the optical switches, and many measuring instru- narrower Gaussian intensity beam.
transmitter, the optical modulator, and ments. An SLD lies midway between an LED
the optical receiver. Each of the three and a laser. It possesses only a single
parts has one major "active" compo- pass gain. As the current density is in-
nent. The transmitter has an emitter sors can be classified as broadband (in- creased, even though an SLD shows a
(such as the LED or a laser); the modu- candescent), narrowband (LED), coher- greater (super) luminescence than an
lator has the stimulus sensor mechanism ent (lasers), or blackbody radiators LED, it still does not reach the threshold
(such as a diaphragm or a specific op- (emitting from inside or outside the for multiple pass gain. However, because
tical property material); and the receiver fibre). The choice of which one to select light is designed to undergo a single pass
has a photodetector. depends solely upon the modulator in the active area of the SLD, its spec-
The emitters employed in fibre optic sen- mechanism being employed. For in- trum is narrower than the LED's.
TABLE 1.

Comparison of Surface LEDs (SLEDs), Edge LEDs (ELEDs). SLDs, and Lasers

Characteristics SLED ELED SLD Laser

Spectral width (nm) 80-100 75-80 10-20 0.8-2.5
Typical optical power output
(mW) at 100 mA (except lasers) 0.5-0.75 0.4-0.5 0.6-0.8 5-10
Coupling efficiency of optical
power into fibers Mediocre, needs lensing Small Better Best
Response time Ins) 10-50 5-15 5-15 1-2.5
Stability to ambient temperature Least changes Sensitive Sensitive Least sensitive
Lifetime expectancy in years 1000 1000 100 100
Package options
- Lenses Yes No No Special cases
- Fibre connectors Yes Yes Yes Yes
- Fibre pigtail Yes' Yes Yes Yes
- Thermoelectric coolers &
stabilization modules No Seldom needed Special cases For all critical
applications
 EE
March 1988
The amount of power an emitter needs Among the measurement said to be alloy thermocouple, and even higher
to generate for a fibre optic sensor appli- possible with the system are impurities in temperatures may be measured with an
cation is a function of several design fac- water, organic or inorganic liquids, gas irridium/irridium-rhodium alloy ther-
tors. The power from an emitter must bubbles in liquids, crystals in saturated mocouple.
first be transferred into an optical fibre. solutions, and flocculants in pipes and
In many cases, it must be tailored ap- other apparatus.
propriately (e.g., through a polarizer, as Japan's Sofia University has developed Piezoelectric sensors
in the case of a fibre gyroscope) prior to an optic sensor that controls on -off When certain materials are subjected to
such introduction. switching for use in optical computers. mechanical stress, an electrical polariz-
LEDs, SLDs, and lasers are not only The optical switch needs no electric cir- ation is set up in the crystal and the faces
made of the same semiconductor cuits, since the optical signals are con- of the crystal become electrically
materials but also have the same basic trolled by light beams. Remote control charged. The polarity of the charges
device structure. In principle, these semi- and information exchange are possible. reverses if the compression is changed to
conductor devices have a p -n junction, The development is expected to ac- tension. Conversely, an electric field ap-
which upon being forward biased leads celerate the development of optical in- plied across the material causes it to con-
to a recombination of holes and elec- formation processing technology, which tract or expand according to the sign of
trons with the simultaneous emission of forms the basis of optical computers and the electric field.
photon energy. The wavelength of this optical communications. Piezoelectric sensors are important since
emitted light is in turn governed by the they couple electrical and mechanical
composition of the semiconductor ma- energy and, therefore, are used as
terial. Thus, the amount of aluminium Semiconductor sensors gramophone pick-ups, loudspeakers,
determines the center wavelength of the microphones, to name but a few.
emitted light. Semiconductor sensors have two import-
LEDs, SLDs, and lasers are in an as- ant advantages over other types: they are
cending order of sophistication (see invariably produced from silicon, which Practical applications
Table 1). An SLD can be regardedlas an is a plentiful and well -researched
material, and they can easily be inte- Temperature sensors. As already men-
emitter that is half -way between an LED tioned, many temperature sensors are
and a laser. An LED produces spon- grated with amplifier and logic circuits
taneous emission in its "active" region onto a single wafer. based on the Seebeck effect that occurs
and thus has a wide spectrum about a These sensors are normally encountered in a thermocouple. They are normally
in the form of photo transistors or photo produced in the shape of a probe: a wide
central wavelength. A laser has a built-in variety of such probes is shown in Fig. 1.
mechanism in its structure so that light diodes. A photo transistor is a detector
produced in its active region is made to that consists of a bipolar junction tran-
oscillate between its specially designed sistor operated with the base region
front and back facets, thus leading to a floating. The potential of the base
primary wavelength or mode of oper- region is determined by the number of
ation. charge carriers stored in it. The elec-
An important application of the optic tromagnetic radiation to be detected is
sensor is in robotics, since it makes poss- applied to the base of the transistor and
ible artificial vision, without which
robots can not reach their full potential.
Another application of the optic sensor
produces the base current. The transistor
is operated essentially in a common -
emitter configuration.
A photo diode produces a current when
\
is in seam tracking and process control
in arc welding. The sensor is inherently it is illuminated. There are two main
insensitive to the arc light. classes of photo diode: depletion -layer
and avalanche. Depletion -layer diodes
An interesting application is the oxygen consist commonly of a reverse -biased p-
sensor that measures oxygen saturation itjunction operated below the break-
in the human blood so as to control the down voltage. The p-i-n and Schottky
rate of a pacemaker. The sensor is inte- photodiodes are versions of the de-
grated in the stimulation catheter and pletionlayer type. Avalanche photo
located in the right ventricle of the heart. diodes are reverse -biased p -n junction
A new line of intelligent sensors prom- diodes that are operated at voltages
ises to rid cars, buildings, aircraft, and above the breakdown voltage.
factories of most of the increasingly Sensors for the detection of gases are Fig. 1. A selection of thermocouple tempera-
complex wiring. One of these sensors ture probes. (Photograph courtesy Omega
normally manufactured from other International Inc.)
uses a multiplexable optical encoder chip semiconductors materials, such as tin
produced for Honeywell by its Optoelec- oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, and
tronic Division in Richardson, Texas. others. Another well-known type of temperature
This chip combines sensors and ana- sensor is the thermistor. This is basically
logue and digital circuits on a single a resistor, made from semiconductor
wafer. The on -chip sensors can deter- material, that has a negative temperature
mine direction or rotation, rotational Thermocouple sensors coefficient. This means that when the
velocity, and angular position. Thermocouple sensors depend on the ambient temperature rises, the element
A new technique to measure physical phenomenon that when two dissimilar becomes more conductive (its resistance
correlations in multi -use fluid transpor- metals are joined at each end and the decreases) and the consequent change in
tation systems has been developed by the two resulting junctions are maintained at voltage across it is a measure of the tem-
Berg Akademie Freiberg in Federal different temperatures a voltage is devel- perature rise. It should be noted that
Germany. In this, fibre optic probes are oped between them. Copper-constantan there are also thermistors with a positive
used to accurately measure particle con- or iron-constantan thermocouples can temperature coefficient, whose resist-
centration, fluctuation, speed, size, and be used up to 500 °C. Temperatures up ance, therefore, increases when the tem-
cross-sectional distribution - all critical to about 1500 °C may be measured with perature rises.
in process control and regulation. the aid of a platium/platinum-rodium Temperature may also be measured by
 16 EE
March 1988
measuring infra -red (heat) radiation, for crystal and four resistive tracks have
which an infra -red sensor as shown in been etched with the aid of ion implan-
Fie. 2 is used. This technique, called tation. When pressure distorts the
crystal, the resistance value of one or
more of the legs of the resistance bridge
changes. This type of sensor is versatile:
it can be used for measuring absolute or
relative pressure, overpressure, and
pressure difference. It is suitable for
pressures up to 40 MPa.
This type of sensor is, of course, widely
used in all sorts of weighing machine.
Other areas of use are hydraulics, water
works, refineries, filter plants, pressure
chambers, and loudspeakers.
Pressure sensors are also used in ac- Fig. 5. A selection of typical pressure sensors.
celerometers, but there they operate (Photograph courtesy Bruel + Kjaer).
somewhat differently. Such a sensor for
measuring mechanical vibrations or im- i.e., instruments for measuring the
pact contains a freely moving seismic humidity of air. In the past, these sen-
mass and a piezoelectric element (nor- sors used a human hair, or a strand of
Fig. 2. Typical infra -red sensor. mally quartz)-see Fig. 6. When the silk, but nowadays they use a capacitor,
seismic mass is accelerated in the direc- a dew point mirror, or optical means.
thermal imaging or thermography, is The dew point mirror sensor depends on
based on the property that each body or the effect that when a smooth surface is
object radiates heat. The technique, for cooled it mists up. The moment this
which a camera with a suitable lens misting up starts is determined optically.
system may be used, does not require Since it is accurately known at which
any external source of illumination. It is pressure and temperature gases con-
used, for instance, in production tests to dense, this technique yields very accurate
determine whether any component heats results.
up too quickly (and is, therefore, almost Another type of dew point sensor con-
certainly faulty). It is also used in sists of a very small wafer of resistive
medicine for diagnostic purposes to material which has been coated with a
determine whether any areas of the body hygroscopic chemical. The wafer is fitted
have an unusual temperature distri- with two electrical terminals. When mist
bution. forms on the coating the resistance of
the wafer increases. This type of sensor
Pressure/force sensors. Although there is quite vulnerable, but because of its
are various methods of measuring very small dimensions, it is used in
pressure and force, the most common Sony's 8 mm Camcorder.
metal base at enclosure
one makes use of the piezoelectric effect
1

2 Au-Sn solder joint Optical humidity sensors make use of

as discussed earlier in this article. The 3 silicon substrate the property that gas molecules absorb
metal plate
most widely used material for the 5 silicon substrate energy at certain frequencies: water
manufacture of pressure/force sensors is 6 silicon epitaxial layer vapour does so in the infra -red region. It
(pressure -sensitive membrane)
quartz. This material has some import- 7 implanted resistor is thus possible with the aid of an infra-
ant advantages over others: (1) it is 8 silicon oxide
9 silican nitride
red sensor to determine how much
strong; (2) it is cheap; (3) it is a good 10 metal block energy is absorbed. The higher the
electrical insulator so that the electric 11 CVO nitride
12 aluminium banding wires
humidity, the more energy is absorbed.
charge caused by the pressure collapses 13 cavity; force compensation to This technique has the disadvantage that
rear side of enclosure
only slowly. the infra -red sensor soils up easily and
then becomes unusable.
Nowadays, the most important and best -
Fig. 4. Construction of a typical piezo- value -for -money type of humidity sensor
electric pressure sensor. (Courtesy Siemens
AG).

Lion of its axis, it exerts a force onto the

quartz element that is proportional to
the acceleration. The element is then dis-
torted and the consequent piezoelectric
voltage is used to charge a capacitor.
This charge can be measured, but this
has to be done quickly as otherwise
some of the charge leaks away. At fre-
quencies below the resonant frequency
Fig. 3. Constituent parts of a piezo-elcctric of the sensor, the seismic mass follows
pressure sensor. (Photograph courtesy
Telefunken AG). the vibrations faithfully. This type of
sensor usually contains an integrated
The parts making up a typical piezoelec- preamplifier. Fig. 6. Construction of accelerometer sensor.
tric sensor are shown in Fig. 3. It con- M=seismic mass; P= piezo-electric element;
sists of a wafer of silicon only 1 mm in Humidity sensors. Humidity sensors are B=underside; R=initial tension. (Courtesy
diameter, onto which a tiny piezoelectric used almost exclusively in hygrometers, Bruel + Kjaer).
 EE 111
March 1988
is based on a capacitor. This is, of
course, a special capacitor which as a
dielectric that is sensitive to humidity. In
the Valvo sensor-see Fig. 10-the
dielectric is in the form of a foil that has
been coated at both sides with gold,
which forms the electrodes. Humidity
changes the dielectric constant of the
foil and thus the capacitance of the ca-
pacitor. Since this capacitor forms one
of the legs of a capacitive bridge, the
change in capacitance can be readily
converted into an electrical voltage. Fig. 11. Some typical gas sensors. (Photo-
graph courtesy Dragenverk AG).
Fig. 7. These twin axis gyros belong to a
range of inertial sensors that includes rapid Gas sensors. As -stated before, gas sen- Cartsci elect-rdE
start coasting displacement gyros, rate gyros, sors are normally based on a variety of
Dynamically Tuned Gyros, and linear ac- semiconductor materials. Such materials
celerometers. (Photograph courtesy British have the property that their resistance
Aerospace). decreases when certain gases are present
in the surrounding air. This effect is
caused by adsorption of gas molecules
on the surface of the semiconductor
material. The consequent layer of gas Ilmnnul
molecules influences the conductivity,
and thus the resistance of the element.
These sensors are very sensitive: concen-
high-grade steel membrane
trations of only 1 ppm of the relevant
high-grade steel enclosure
gas in air are readily detected.
oil A variant of this type of sensor is
silicon bridge circuil Telefunken's ISFET-see Fig. 12.
sealing robber Basically, this is a modified MOSFET in
which the usual metal eate has been re-
666023 -6
placed by a layer that reacts to the ions
of certain gases. ISFETs are un-
breakable, small, have a low -impedance
output, have a large linear range of oper-
ation, are temperature compensated, Fig. 12. The ISFET is a modified MOSFET
and provide an output signal that is used as a gas sensor. (Courtesy Telefunken
Fig. 8. Construction of a combined pressure suitable for driving a microprocessor. AG).
and temperature sensor. (Courtesy Sen- Many gas sensors still depend (and will
sortechnik Widemann). continue to do so) on a chemical reac-
tion to generate an electrical voltage,
current, or resistance change. Yet other
sensors use the heat generated by the
combustion reaction when a gas hits the
surface of the sensor. This heat is ap-
plied to a platinum wire whose resistance
then changes.
There are also optical gas sensors and
these are used particularly for the detec-
tion of fire or smoke. They normally use
a photo diode or photo transistor to
monitor the light absorption behaviour
Fig. 9. Selection of EPI Series pressure pro-
of the surrounding air. When smoke
bes. (Photograph courtesy Entran Ltd). darkens the air, the photo transistor
switches off and this operates an appro-
priate actuator.

Light sensors. Popularly probably the

best known type of sensor is the light
sensor. This can be based on a photo di-
ode, photo transistor (see Fig. 13), p-i-n
diode, photo varistor, or solar cell. All Fig. 13. Some typical photo transistors with
of these are made from the same in the centre an infra -red photo diode.
material, silicon, and function in similar
fashion at wavelengths from about For wavelengths below 400 nm (ultra-
400 nm to around 1000 nm. violet light), photomultipliers are used.
Photons enter the silicon and cause a These are normally constructed as a
number of electrons to jump to a,differ- valve and have the usual advantages of
Fig. 10. Some tiny semiconductor humidity ent energy level. This in turn causes a electron tubes: good bandwidth, low
sensors. (Photograph courtesy Volvo photo current which can be used to noise factor, high amplification.
Philips). operate an actuator. Primary electrons, emitted from the
 18 EE
March 1988
cathode as a result of photon bombard- Biological sensors. During the past few
ment, are accelerated by the field be- years, a new type of sensor has entered
tween anode and cathode and arrive at the fields of biology and medicine.
the anode with great energy, causing a These so-called biosensors consist of
current in the anode circuit. The anode biological molecules, such as enzymes
current is much greater than the original and antibodies. When such sensors react
cathode current, whence the name to other substances, a small electric
photomultiplier. signal is generated that can be detected
Photo detectors as described were also with the aid of a suitable electrode
used as light sensors in camera tubes, (probe).
but nowadays they are largely super-
seded by CCD (charge -coupled device) Remote sensing. Another interesting new
sensors, particularly in video cameras, field where sensors are indispensable is
medical cameras, and robotics. CCDs that of remote sensing. This exciting new
are small: typically, one the size of a 28 - technique has been made possible by the Fig. 15. The DART (Dual Axis Rate Trans-
terminal IC has a resolution of 60,000 routine availability of satellite infor- ducer) is a miniature gyro particularly suited
mation for the entire surface of the for stabilization of laser, infra -red, and radar
earth. Remote sensors on board satellites seeker systems. The sensor, which is only
provide digital data in seven wavebands 40.6 mm long and has a diameter of 18 mm.
of visible light, reflected infra -red radi- uses a rotating piezo-electric crystal to sense
ation, and thermal infra -red radiation. the applied rate. (Photograph courtesy
Different surfaces reflect different British Aerospace).
amounts of radiation, which is why they
appear in different colours and light in- 10 m and covering 50 km x 50 km can
tensities to us. In the same way that we be obtained for less than £1,000.
distinguish objects by their appearance Much pioneering work on remote sens-
(but in a more sophisticated manner), ing has been carried out in Britain by
these remotely sensed images can be Salford University.
used to identify the land -cover types
which exist in an area. Since they record A final thought. Although the science
in the infra -red region, many things we and technology of sensors and actuators
cannot normally see are shown. Crop has made vast strides in the past few
condition and the thermal properties of decades, the most complex, reliable, and
buildings or water can be 'seen' and versatile sensor system remains man.
displayed, for instance. Coupled with his intelligent data pro-
Remote sensing enables scientists to cessing unit which almost certainly will
study the earth's surface on a scale not be emulated during the life of
which was until recently only dreamed anyone alive today, he forms a for-
of. For a very small part of the time it midable system of intelligence. A pity we
Fig. 14. Photo diode used as a gas sensor. would take to survey a large area by con- do not always appreciate it.
(Photograph courtesy Plessey Semiconduc- ventional methods, digital information
tor). can now be used to identify and measure
the extent of crop types, major land
elements. Each of these elements con- uses, soils, properties of water bodies, We acknowledge with thanks the co-
sists of a photo diode with a light- geological structures, and vegetation operation and help received from the fol-
sensitive area of only a few micrometres. conditions. In sparsely populated areas, lowing organizations in the preparation
Each photo diode is accompanied by a the existence of certain surface features of this article: British Aerospace; Bruel
MOS capacitor that stores the generated is being established for the first time, Kjaer; Drdeerwerk AG; Entran Ltd;
photo electrons. The charge on the and over all areas of the world, what Hawker-Siddeley; IGI Consulting Inc.;
capacitors is read at regular intervals by were previously partial surveys can now Omega International Corporation;
a shift register. Suitable circuits inte- be completed. A great attraction of Plessey Semiconductor; Salford Univer-
grated on the device process the infor- remote sensing is the relatively low cost sity; Sensortechnik Wiedemann;
mation to a suitable level for driving a of large-scale surveys. For instance, im- Siemens AG; STC Mercator; Telefunken;
microprocessor. ages with ground resolution down to Valvo Philips.

Anglo-Japanese agreement
A formal trade agreement was signed re-
cently between Fujisoku Electric of
Japan and Arrow Hart (Europe) Ltd, the
Plymouth -based manufacturer of
special-purpose electrical components.
Under the agreement, Fujisoku, a
leading Japanese switch manufacturer,
will purchase rocker switches from
Arrow Hart and sell them on their home
markets.
 EE 19
March 1988

EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS EVENTS

IEE meetings this month Internepcon Further details from BEAMA 8
1 Recent developments in digital NDT At the National Exhibition Centre, Leicester Street LONDON WC2H
equipment design. Birmingham from 22 to 24 March. Full 7BN Telephone 01-437 0678.
2 Home automation. details from Cahners Exhibitions Ltd
8 Control problems of spacecraft - Chatsworth House 59 London Road
past, present, and future. TWICKENHAM TW1 3SZ Tele- ICS courses this month
8-10 Digital communications*. phone 01-891 5051. Fibre optic communications 8-11 Paris
11 Mobile radio networks. and 15-18 London Integrated voice/data
16 Advances in sensors in biotech- communications and ISDN 15-18 Paris.
nology. CADCAM Details from ICS Publishing Company
18 Solid-state and smart sensors. At the National Exhibition Centre, Ltd Telephone 0800 282 353 (UK
21-24 Video, audio, and data recording. Birmingham from 22 to 24 March. Full only) or +44 372 379211 (outside UK);
28 Expert systems in process control. details from EMAP International Exhi- France: Integrated Computer Systems
Full details from The Institution of Elec- bitions Ltd Abbot's Court 34 Far- Telephone (I) 48 39 88 00.
trical Engineers Savoy Place LON- ingdon Lane LONDON EC1R 3AU
DON WC2R OBL Telephone 01-240 Telephone 01-608 1161.
1871, except: Frost & Sullivan events this
* Secretariat IZS 88 Hasler AG
TDS1 Belpstrasse 23 CH -3000 month (all in London)
Bern 14 Switzerland. European & National 7-9 Artificial Intelligence
Standards 14-16 Voice Processing
The third of a series of seminars organ- 21-23 An Introduction to Data Com-
ized by BEAMA on the theme European munications
Electro-optics and Laser Show and National Developments in Quality Frost & Sullivan Ltd Sullivan House
At the national Exhibition Centre, Birm- and Standards - Opportunity or Threat? 4 Grosvenor Gardens LONDON
ingham from 22 to 24 March. Further will be held at the Selfridge Hotel, Or- SW1W ODH Telephone 01-730 3438.
details from Cahners Exhibitions Ltd chard Street, LONDON WI on 22
Chatsworth House 59 London Road March. It will be addressed by the
TWICKENHAM TW1 3SZ Tele- Minister of Trade and Industry, the Rt
phone 01-891 5051. Hon Kenneth Clarke, QC, MP.

TO BE PUBLISHED
THIS SPRING
RDP
Transducer
Two new books from ELEKTOR ELECTRONICS
Indicators
DATA SHEET BOOK 2
ISBN 0 905705 27 0
DATA SHEET Price £8.25
BOOK 2 This book contains data on ICs as well
as on discrete transistors and diodes.
Moreover, it gives an introduction to
fast (HCMOS) devices and a review of
symbolic logic as proposed in
BS3939:Section 21.

turn any transducer into

a measuring system
MICROPROCESSOR * Direct digital readout in engineering
DATA BOOK units
* Analogue and BCD outputs
* High and low-level trips
MICROPROCESSOR DATA BOOK * Bench or panel mounting
ISBN 0 905705 28 9
Price £8.95 * Many options
This reference book gives a general
description, hardware block schematic.
software structure. DC characteristics,
RDP Electronics Ltd.
GROVE STREET, HEATH TOWN, WOLVERHAMPTON
and instruction sets for over 70 micro- UNITED KINGDOM. Tel: (0902) 57512.
processors.
Telex: 335430 RDP-G.
20 EE

THE REASONS FOR MTVATURE

TRANSDUCERS
by Mike Coope-

A statement made by a senior engineer shop floor where accidents will unfortu- dard foil strain gauges typically have a
in the aircraft industry recently summed nately happen. gauge factor of 2.0, whereas that for a
up some of the reasons why many in- These particular features of low mass semiconductor strain gauge can be
dustries have turned towards the use of and high overrange of the EGAX ac- typically 150. This means that when
miniature transducers. "Years ago our celerometers have proved beneficial to a semiconductor types are used, we can ex-
aircraft engine control electronics were particular area of research in the medical pect improvements of outputs in the
the size of a small suitcase but today the field. Various departments of Medical region of approximately 75 times. En-
total package size has been dramatically Establishments have the need to study tran takes full advantage of these
reduced. This obviously means that the features of muscular tremours and properties of their strain gauges in their
when we are testing these components, diseases such as Parkinson's disease. extensive range of miniature transducers.
particularly for important vibration With patient involvement, the need is for In the accelerometer (Fig. 1) strain
tests, that the additional weight that we an unobtrusive and small vibration gauges are bonded in pairs to the top
add by employing transducers on to the measuring device to monitor the and bottom surfaces of a single degree
unit can, if the size, and hence weight, movements of the patient's limbs that of freedom cantilever beam. A mass is
are not minimal, completely change the has the capability of withstanding attached to the end of this beam and the
test performance. We must therefore several thousand 'g' should the acceler- resulting deflection of the beam when
look for transducers, in this particular ometer be inadvertently dropped to the experiencing a 'g' force results in a linear
case accelerometers, with the smallest floor. This specification exactly fits the signal output when the strain gauges are
possible mass". Entran EGAX Series of accelerometer, wired into a Wheatstone bridge and an
The simple but important rule that ap- which has been used for many years by excitation voltage is applied (Fig. 2).
plies here is that F=m x a. Hence the several Medical Establishments.
additional force that is applied to the Entran designs and manufactures a var-
item under vibration test is dependent on iety of semiconductor strain gauges, of
the mass and the distribution of mass in which the smallest is active over 0.020 in.
the overall dimensions of the transducer. (1.50 mm) length by 0.006 in.
For instance, suppose that a conven- (0.150 mm) width. The distinct advan-
tional sized accelerometer is used for the tage of these resistive sensing elements is
vibration test. If it weighs 100 grams and (a) their micro -miniature size and (b)
is being used for 100 g acceleration, by their extremely high gauge factors. The
calculation in the F=m x a formula, a term gauge factor (GF) is a measure of
further 10 kg is added to the weight of the incremental change in the resistance
the component under test. This will con- of the strain gauge for a given incremen-
siderably distort the results of the vi- tal change in the active length of the
bration tests. gauge, i.e. GF = AR/AI The advantages of strain gauge proper-
Entran designs and manufactures piezo- Hence, gauge factor is a measure of the ties are also used in miniature pressure
resistive semiconductor strain gage ac- sensitivity or output performance of the transducers (Fig. 3) where the parameter
celerometers which have the capability strain gauge. To give a comparison, stan- is sensed by monitoring the deflection of
of measuring both steady-state dc and a metal diaphragm. To achieve the
high response dynamic vibration inputs. highest possible dynamic response, the
The EGA range offers models with diaphragm must be small and its de-
measuring ranges from 0-5 g up to 0- signed full scale deflection minimal.
5000 g within a housing as small as With their inherent high sensitivity and
0.140 x 0.140 x 0.270 in. (3.4 mm x ultra -miniature size, semiconductor
3.5 mm x 6.75 mm) and weighing as strain gauges can be used on a stiff, low
little as 0.5 grams. The EGA Series has deflection diaphragm to achieve this
the desirable feature of fluid damping to criterion. A further advantage of the
protect against resonant excitation. The miniature diaphragm is its low deflec-
EGAX model the additional feature of tion, resulting in low stress levels within
internal overrange stops which give the :EGA the diaphragm material, and hence
accelerometer the capability of accepting , I
almost infinite fatigue life. Thus Entran
an overload of ±10,000 g in either the pressure transducers offer measurement
normal sensitive acceleration measuring of both static and high frequency
axis, or in all directions. This feature is dynamic inputs.
available even on the lowest measuring The smallness of pressure has an import-
range of ±5 g. Not only will this over - ant bearing on their performance. Size
range feature make the accelerometer can also be important on the overall ef-
suitable for many impact and guidance fects of the test. For instance, in the
applications, but it will also protect a testing of the aerodynamics of scale
valuable measuring transducer from models of new military and civil aircraft,
day-to-day mishandling on the work - automobiles, aircraft components such
 EE 1/1
March 1988
as helicopter blades, missiles, and gener- Within this framework of adaptation to
ally all transport where the efficiency of market requirements, Entran offer a
movement is important, the transducer range of accelerometers and pressure
must be as unobtrusive as possible so as transducers which are the outcome of
not to alter the original shape of the test long experience of transducer design.
piece. Entran have ultra -miniature trans- The new range of devices offers robust
ducers of low profile designs (EPL) with styling, both internally and externally, as
a thickness of 0.040 in. (1.02 mm), well as the optional addition of internal
which are used in a recessed mourning to miniature electronic circuits to give (a)
give original aerodynamic flow lines of amplified output up to 10 V FS; (b)
the test model. Alternatively, all Entran supply regulation; (c) custom filtering.
EPI pressure transducers are available This short article emphasizes a few of
with diameters from 0.080 in. (2.03 mm) the aspects that miniature transducers
down to 0.050 in. (1.27 mm) and are can play in the latest fields of industrial,
used in many wind tunnel tests because research, medical, aerospace, chemical,
they can be easily accommodated within automotive and many other industries.
the rivet head of an aircraft structure Further information on ENTRAN sen-
without affecting the structure and pat- sors may be obtained from ENTRAN
tern of the normal air flow. Ltd Sales & Technical Centre
Entran's specialization is in the design 5 Albert Road CROWTHORNE
and manufacture of miniature trans- transducer requirements fall outside the RGI1 7LT Telephone (0344) 778848
ducers for the measurement of acceler- normal specification and, for these situ- Telex 847422 Fax (0344) 777991.
ation, pressure, load and strain, but ations, Entran has special engineering
many other models have been developed facilities to provide the low-cost OEM
with the requirements of Entran's cus- style transducer or the ultra -sophisti-
tomers in mind. Although standard cated, latest -technology, quality -assured * Mike Coope is Technical Sales Director
models exist, it is accepted that many transducer. of Entran Ltd.

Roxburgh Electronics become The switches have been successfully tried

COMPONENT NEWS Alps distributor and tested to over three million oper-
ations at 24 VDC/5 mA.
Following an agreement with Armon The DMC DT prototyping membrane
Electronics LTD-official UK agents for keypad kit is available ex -stock from
Alps Electrical Company, Japan's
largest independent components Highland Electronics Ltd. Albert
manufacturer -Roxburgh Electronics Drive BURGESS HILL RH15 9TN.
Thirty million TDA4600s have been appointed nationwide Telephone: (04446) 45021.
Seven years ago, Siemens found a way of distributors for the comprehensive range
integrating the control circuit for switch - of Alps products. Liquid level sensors
mode power supplies used in TV sets on Further information from Roxburgh Gentech International have extended
a single 7 mm' chip. Since then, sales Electronics Ltd 22 Winchelsea Road their proven range of versatile liquid
figures have reached 30 million for the RYE East Sussex TN31 TEL level sensors with a new externally fitted
bipolar TDA4600 and 10 million for the Telephone (0797) 223777. version which is simply and economi-
TDA4601 version (with extended voltage cally mounted using a compression
range: 80-270 V). grommet.
Its ability to produce the required
voltages at varying input voltages and
loads in an economical way has made Prototyping kit for membrane
the TDA4600/4601 the unrivalled top keyboards
product on the market, favoured by New from Highland Electronics is the
more than 200 customers throughout the DMC DT series of 'do-it-yourself'
world. An enhanced version, the prototype keypad kits which contain all
TDA4605, using "Sipmos" transistors the parts necessary to build a customised
has now reached the production stage. membrane switch/keyboard panel.
As early as 1972, engineers at the Appli- Available in 4, 12, 16, 40, 80 and 102
cations Research Laboratories of QWERTY key configurations, the kit in-
Siemens had conceived the idea of using cludes the basic switch unit, graphics
a flyback converter as a power supply for overlay, colour pad, connector, bezel,
TV sets. Until then, the standard prac- and face plate. Options include dry
tice had been to provide a rigid, and transfer lettering to add numbers, letters,
cost -intensive, coupling with the line fre- of function keys, depending on the Externally assembled, with no awkward
quency circuit. The introduction of the user's applications. threading of cables through tanks, and
flyback converter drastically reduced the The DT series of kits. is offered in a fitted through a simple hole without a
circuitry and components. The inte- choice of key colour and lettering styles. threaded flange or boss, this gives
gration of the entire control circuit on Switch technology used in the keyboards significant potential for cost savings,
the TDA4600 further simplified the combines low cost with high reliability particularly when mounting into low
power supply section in the TV set. The and tactile feedback is provided by a cost plastic tanks with poor internal ac-
improved reliability of power supplies stainless steel dome under each key pos- cess.
equipped with the TDA4600 is reflected ition. Seven types of standard, switch Gentech International Ltd
in the significant reduction in TV set layouts can be cut into different con- Grangestone Industrial Estate Girvan
failures over the past several years. figurations without disabling the re- Ayrshire SCOTLAND KA26 9PS.
maining keys. Telephone: (0465) 3581.
111

INFRA -RED DETECTOR FOR

ALARM. SYSTEMS
As a follow-up to the design abstract on the Type PID-11 published last year ('), this article describes a
versatile infra -red sensor which will find many applications in security and alarm systems.

component in heat emanating from a

mammal, the voltage on pins 5 and 7 of
A2 drops abruptly to practically nought.
The voltage on C5 is no longer main-
tained by Di, and the capacitor
discharges. At the end of the discharge
period, the monostable reverts to its in-
itial state. Opamp A2 supplies a digital
(TTL compatible) switch pulse at output
DIG. . The function of relay driver T2
and alarm indicator 11 is self-evident.
The maximum on -time of the relay that
can be set with P2 is about 1 minute
after detection of any single alarm pulse
from the detector.
mono time of the MMV, i.e., the hold
time of the circuit. Incident daylight on
Construction, adjustment and
phototransistor Ti effectively raises the
trigger threshold for the MMV, and applications
hence ensures automatic disabling of the The printed circuit board shown in Fig.
alarm by reducing its sensitivity. Pins 5 2 holds all the components in the circuit
The Type PID-11 infra -red sensor from and 6 of the monostable are logic high in diagram, and so enables ready construc-
Siemens introduced in reference 1" is a the non -activated state of the alarm. tion of the compact detector unit. The
versatile component that lends itself to When the PID-I 1 senses the infra -red completed board is shown in Fig. 3.
building a simple, yet effective and sensi-
tive, transducer that detects heat
1
emanating from mammals. To be able to SV

understand the basic operation of the

circuit shown in Fig. 1, it is rec-
ommended to read the sections Appli-
cation tips and Some suggested circuits
in reference (".
The infra -red sensor, ICz, is powered by
a regulated 5 V supply. The reference
voltage available on pin 4 (2.2 V) is ap-
plied to opamp Ai for comparison with
the voltage at pin 3. The voltage on pin
2 of the comparator is held slightly
below the reference with the aid of
potential divider Ri-R2. In the non -
activated state of the circuit, the output El
At, A2 .1C1 = TLZ72C
01.1:12. IN41411
of Ai is, therefore, high. When the
sensor detects infra -red radiation, how-
ever, the comparator supplies a short,
low, pulse. Opamp A2 functions as a
monostable multivibrator (MMV) and a
buffer whose gain depends on the am-
bient light intensity measured by
phototransistor Ti. The trigger
threshold of Ai can be adjusted with
preset PI. The preset in network C5 -R5 -
P2 at pin 6 of A2 enables adjusting the Fig. 1 Circuit diagram of the PID-11 based infra -red detector for alarm systems.
 EE 1/1
March 1988
Note that the top of the phototransistor,
Ti, and that of the alarm indicator, D3,
is level with the top of the PID-11. Relay
driver T2 and regulator IC3 do not need
heat -sinks. The completed board can be
fitted in a water resistant, strong ABS
enclosure, with suitable grommets, strain
reliefs and sockets for the connection of
the wires for the relay, the mains, and the
digital output, if used.
When the circuit is used as an automatic
porch light controller, it is recommended
to fit it in a sheltered position over the
front door, paying due attention to safe
and sound insulation. In many cases, it
may be safer (and cheaper) to use a
separate 8 V AC adaptor plugged into a
mains outlet in the home, rather than the
PCB mounted mains transformer, Tn.
The adjustment of the circuit, i.e., the
sensitivity and the relay on -time, is
governed by the application in question.
Initially, it is recommended to test the
completed circuit by adjusting Pi such
that the circuit is just off in the absence
of an infra -red source. For this adjust-
ment, it is necessary to temporarily cover
the phototransistor against incident
light. The value of tantalum capacitor
Cs may be increased when the maxi-
mum relay on -time of 30 to 60 seconds
is too short for the given application. It Fig. 2 Track layout and component mounting plan of the PCB for buildin.. the IR detecwr.
should be noted that the PID-11 signals
detection of an infra -red source by an Parts list Semiconductors:
output pulse of about 1.5 s rather than Bi=840C400 or B40:01000
by a continous logic level. The pulse, Resistors (±5%):
DI;D2=1N4148
which can be measured on the output of 03= red LEO
RI =2K2 D4= 1N4001
Ai and A2, is positive or negative, in- R2= 33K Ti =19103-3
dicating a cold -to -warm or a warm -to - Ra;R4=10K T2=BD140
cold transition, respectively. R5= 100K 'Cr =11.272C or TLC272
When fitting the IR detection unit, it is Rs= 1K5 IC2=PID-11 (Siemens)
important to ensure that it can not detect R7 =680R IC3= 7805
heat from external sources (sunlight, Rs = 390R
heating systems, etc.). Also note that the Rs=1MO
sensitivity of the IR detector depends on 131;132=4701( or 500K preset for horizontal Miscellaneous:
mounting
the ambient temperature. Strong mag- Fr = 50 mA delayed action fuse with PCB
netic fields may cause interference in the mount holder.
sensor and hence spurious operation of TRt = PCB mount transformer: 8 V; 150 mA.
Capacitors: net = PCB mount SPDT relay; 5 V; e.g.
the alarm. Finally, be sure to avoid Cr =470p; 25 V Siemens V23127 -8001-A101.
overloading the relay contacts by C2=10p; 16 V 2 -way PCB mount screw terminal.
switching too heavy loads. St C3= 220n 3 -way PCB mount screw terminal.
C4 -100n PCB Type 87067 (available through the Readers
Cs = 15p; 16 V bead tantalum Services).
Reference:

(" Design abstracts: Passive infra -red

detector 73pe PID-11. Elektor Elec-
tronics, March 1987, p. 24 ff.

Siemens distributor in the UK is ElectroValue

limited 28 St Judes Road Englefield
Green Egham Surrey TW20 OHB. Tele-
phone: (0784) 33603. Telex: 264475.
Northern branch: 680 Bumage Lane
Manchester M19 1NA. Telephone: (061 432)
4945.
Fig. 3 The completed circuit board ready for fitting in the ABS enclosure.
 24
M 88
EE

A 756 -COLOUR ADAPTER FOR

THE EGA
by Peter Balch

The IBM-PC enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) can display a

maximum of 16 colours at a time. For many applications, such as
the creation of realistically shaded three-dimensional images, this
is simply not enough.

The 256 -colour board described in this card. The proposed colour extension mation appear at the outputs of IC2 for
article is offered as a design idea to ad- uses 11 of these signals-see the pin every two cycles of the 14 MHz clock.
vanced users of the IBM-PC XT assignment in Fig. I. Clocking of IC: and IC2 takes place on
equipped with an EGA. The extension the rising and falling edges of a 7 MHz
board plugs into the EGA feature con- GND and +5 V provide power to the signal, obtained by IC4 dividing the
nector. It produces analogue RGB 256 -colour board. 14 MHz signal by 2.
signals, and TTL-level Hsync and Vsync. R, G, B and I are the EGA pixel
It is important that IC: stores the odd -
Many popular colour monitors accept colour signals. R, G and B are the
either TTL signals from the EGA, or primary red, green and blue signals, numbered pixels, and IC2 the even -
RGB signals from the 256 -colour board, while I is used for either the secondary numbered ones, not vice versa. IC: is
and can, therefore, be used both for the green, or the intensity signal. cleared by the low level on ARTS/L
normal EGA modes and the new 256 - MI 14 MHz is a clock running at one every 8 pixels to maintain the correct
colour modes. cycle per EGA pixel. The EGA pixel phase relationship.
By default, the colour extension board is colour signals change on the falling edge
inactive, and the EGA works as normal: of each clock cycle. Timing
installing the board does not, therefore, ATRS/L is the attribute shift load The timing of the clock signals applied
affect the execution of existing pro- signal. This is a short, active low, to IC: and IC2 is critical. The clock
grams. pulse that indicates the loading of each pulses must arrive when the RGBI
byte into the EGA's pixel shift registers. signals are stable. Delaying and inverting
HIN and YIN are the active high the 14 MHz signal in a 7404 gate ensures
EGA modes horizontal and vertical synchroniz- the right timing and polarity. Similarly,
ation signals (note: signals going into the the CLEAR signal for IC. is obtained
A complete description of all the display by delaying the ATRS/L signal in two
modes offered by the EGA is, unfortu- 256 -colour board are labelled 'IN')
INTERNAL enables and disables the 7404 gates. Do not use a 74LSO4 in this
nately, beyond the scope of this article. application: its propagation delay is too
In mode 14, the card produces 640 by 256 -colour board. The signal is high
when the EGA has disabled its internal short. The way in which the correct
200 pixels, each of which can be assigned delays are obtained may be frowned
1 of 16 colours. In mode 16, it produces video drivers.
upon for good reasons, but it is the only
640 by 350 16 -colour pixels. The 256 - reasonable way of getting the timing
colour board combines pairs of these to right, given the signals available on the
give 320 x 200 or 320 x 350 pixels, each of EGA's feature connector. The timing
which can be assigned I of 256 colours. diagram of the circuit is given in Fig. 3.
This is similar to the performance of the
VGA card used in the new PS/2 range of D -A converters
IBM PCs. In 256 -colour mode, a VGA An 8 -bit pixel appears at the outputs of
can display only 320 x 200 pixels. IC2 every 143 ns. These digital signals
In modes 14 and 16, the EGA outputs must be converted to analogue RGB
each pixel as four TTL signals called R, levels that drive the monitor. The most
G, B and I. The 256 -colour board com- Fig. I. The Feature connector on the IBM
Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA). advanced way of obtaining analogue
bines pairs of pixels to give single 8 -bit RGB signals would be to use a chip that
pixels. These eight TTL signals are con- combines the functions of colour palette
verted to red, green and blue analogue Circuit description and multiple D -A converter. There are
signals by three D -A (digital to analogue) The circuit diagram of the 256 -colour several such chips available, for instance
converters. board is shown in Fig. 2. The RGBI bits the Type TMS34070 from Texas Instru-
of the odd -numbered pixels of the EGA ments (reference ")), or the Type
are latched into IC:. When the RGBI INISG170 from Inmos, which can dis-
Feature connector bits of the even pixels arrive, they are play any 256 out of 262,144 colours at a
The EGA card contains a 32 -pin socket latched into IC2 along with the odd - clock rate of up to to 50 MHz. 'A palette
called the Feature connector. This allows numbered pixel bits now stored in IC:. chip would require an interface to the
access to several signals on the EGA This means that 8 bits of pixel infor- PC bus, address decoding circuitry, and
 EE
March 1988

Sync signals
2 A colour monitor typically requires
horizontal and vertical synchronization
EGA
FezIva G0,,,r_tv
140=Ant
signals. The horizontal sync tells the
HSyrIC
-o
monitor when to end each horizontal
0
scan line, and when to start the next.
PI Similarly, the vertical sync signal in-
'jk
dicates the end of the vertical scan of the
02 screen, and the start of the next. Some
IC1
74LS374 52
monitors require the horizontal and ver-
22 1 .3 12
tical sync to be combined to give com-
- R
o-'%5
2

5
15

17
15
posite sync.
0 IS G
'4 The horizontal sync signal produced by
MI
14 5
13 5V P2
1C2 the EGA is an active high TTL pulse.
74L 5374 10k The polarity of the vertical sync signal is
-0k
not fixed, however, and depends on the
PS monitor and video mode used. In the 16 -
EOM
7
55
colour 640 x 200 mode, the vertical sync
CA
CEO is an active high TTL pulse, while in the
intuna 5
5V P4 640 x 350 mode it is active low.
03 O IAN 15t. The Taxan Type KS12R monitor can
13 work in three modes. In mode 1 (IBM-
0
RIS0t
1
PC mode), it displays 16 colours using
11.511ii
C Cr, EMI active high TTL horizontal and vertical
1C4
741_573
0 sync signals. It can also be switched to
3
K RI
mode 2 (Apple -II mode), which displays
analogue signals and uses active low
9 AUSSA: 11 5V TTL horizontal and vertical syncs. There
tt* O me is a separate connector on the monitor
10k
for each of these modes. The two sets of
N ._N6 .1G3 =7404
sync signals may not be applied simul-
taneously.
The HIN and VIN signals from the EGA
Ct CiC5 are inverted by N1 -N2, and buffered by
IC1 IC2 ICI. When ICI is disabled, the Hsync
1
and Vsync outputs are switched to high
Noon'? impedance, and no longer drive the
2903714 monitor. When ICI is enabled, the EGA
sets its own horizontal and vertical
retrace output signals to high im-
pedance. The control of ICI is reverted
Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of the low-cost 256 -colour extension for the EGA. to below.
Be sure to check the specification of the
so on. The actual design of a palette in- facilitate establishing the right values. monitor used in respect of the polarity
terface is quite straightforward, requir- Presets PI, P3 and P5 control the overall of the sync signals. If it needs positive
ing the data sheets of the palette chip, gains of the D -A converters, while P2, going svncs in both modes, the inverters
the technical reference manual of the P4 and P. define the brightness of each on the HIN and VIN lines must be re-
IBM prototype card, and that for the colour when the pixels are set to zero. moved. Alternatively, set the sync signal
PC -XT (part numbers are 1525015 and
6938833, respectively).
In fact, for realistic images, a variable
palette is often less useful than a fixed
one, because it is always difficult to
decide what colours to put into it. This
made the author decide to do without a
palette and use three D -A converters in- 1C.:

stead.
Of the eight pixel bits, three determine \
the red intensity, another three the green,
ATRS
\
and the remaining two the blue (the R,G,B,i
human eye is less sensitive to blue light). K

With so few bits for each analogue

signal, it is easy to build a D -A converter
from resistors. In Fig. 2, RI . Rs incl.
ICI 01_04
VIM
and Pi ...Ps incl. form the three D -A IC2 Q1-08
converters, which are dimensioned for -J
internal
driving a Taxan Type KSI2R RGB moni-
tor (V,..--1.5 Vpp in 600 Q). Different re-
sistor values may be required for other
types of monitor, and it is, therefore, rec- 880071-3

ommended to plug the resistors in a 16 -

way IC socket with turned pins to Fig. 3. Tithing of the main signals on the colour extension board.
 26 EE
March 1988
polarities under software control by
writing to the Miscellaneous Output
Register of the EGA. Table 1
procedure graph lode;
Enabling the board var Regs: record
The 256 -colour board can be switched case boolean of
on and off under software control. Bit 4 true: (ax,bx,cx,dx,bp,si,di,ds,es,flags: integer);
of the EGA's Miscellaneous Output false: (al,ah,bl,bh,cl,ch,dl,dh: byte);
Register controls the video and sync
end;*
drivers of the EGA. A logic 1 disables
the output drivers on the EGA, and begin

causes INTERNAL on the Feature con- with reps do

nector to go logic high. On the 256 - begin
colour board, this high level is inverted ax:=14:
by N3 and used for enabling the sync intr(S10,rsgs);
and pixel outputs on latches ICI and end;
IC,. By default, INTERNAL is logic port[$3C2]:=$23+$10:
low, so that 'the 256 -colour board is inac-
end;
tive at power -on, and the EGA works as
normal.

bolted to the EGA 9 -pin D -type video bright white when the pixels are all set to
Construction and setting up connector. 255 (FFF1).
The construction of the colour extension The outputs from the 256 -colour board
card will present no difficulties to should be taken to a separate connector.
anyone who has completed any prolious It is suggested to use a 15 -pin D -type so Software
hardware project. The physical layout of as not to confuse it with any of the other
the board is not critical. sockets on the rear panel of the com- A complete description of the EGA
The prototype was constructed on puter. Remove the cover for the slot next hardware and software is available from
Veroboard, and plugs into the Feature to the EGA to give access to the 256 - IBM. The comprehensive document is
connector of the EGA as a daughter - colour board. called Update Number I for the IBM
board. Figure 4 shows a suggested ar- The even -numbered presets are adjusted Technical Reference Options and
rangement. The board is suppported by so that each colour is just off when the Adapters. The IBM reference part
an indirect connector which plugs into pixels are all zero. Then adjust the odd - number is 6138280.
the Feature connector, and by a bracket numbered presets so that the screen is a To get started with the colour extension
board, use the BIOS calls to control the
EGA, and write to the Miscellaneous
Output Register. Setting bit 4 in this
register disables the video and sync
drivers on the EGA and enables the
drivers on the 256 -colour board.
Table 1 shows a Turbo Pascal procedure
which puts the EGA into 640x200 16 -
colour mode, and enables the colour ex-
tension. The procedure uses BIOS inter-
rupt S10, function SOO, to set the display
to video mode 14. It then writes S33 to
the EGA Miscellaneous Output Register.
For mode 14, the BIOS normally sets
this register to $23, but bit 4 must also be
activated here to enable the 256 -colour
board (for video mode 16, the BIOS nor-
mally sets the Miscellaneous Output
Register to SA7).
Table 2 shows a Turbo Pascal procedure
which draws a single pixel in one of 256
colours. It uses integer variables r, g and
b to calculate the value of the two
"pixel" bytes to be written, then calls
BIOS interrupt SIO, function SOC, to
write the lower and upper halves of the
256 -colour value to the even and odd -
numbered pixels of the EGA. Using the
BIOS to set the display mode always
disables the colour extension board,
making it easy to return to the standard
16 -colour graphics.
880071-4 It should be noted that the BIOS is ex-
tremely slow to write pixels. Eventually,
users of the colour extension board will
Fig. 4. Suggested mounting of the 256 -colour board. 1: Feature connector. 2: EGA board. 3: want to write software that gives direct
Bracket. 4: 256 -colour board. access to the EGA hardware. For this,
 EE
March 1988
the above mentioned IBM manual on
the EGA is indispensable. Table 2
procedure drav_point ( x,y ,r, gib: integer);
var pixel_Aspixel_B: integer;

Reference: Regs: record

case boolean of
Digital colour palette. Elektor Elec- true: (ax,bx,cx,dx,bp,si,di,ds,es,flags: integer);
tronics, April 1986, p. 68 ff. - false: (al,ah,bl,bh,cl,ch,dl,dh: byte);
end;
begin
pixel_A:=(g and 7)+(b and 3)18+(r and 7)232;
pixel_8:=pixel_A and 15;
pixel_A:=pixel_A div 16;

with regs do
begin
ah:=E0C;
al:=pixel_13;
bh:=0;
CX:=X+X+1;
dX:=Y;
intr($10,regs);
end;

' Peter Balch is with Analogue Information With regs do

Systems Limited.
begin
ah:=SOC;

IBM, EGA, VGA, PC XT and PS/2 are al:=pixel_A;

registered trademarks of International bh:=0;

Business Machines Corporation. CX:=X-11;
Turbo Pascal is a trademark of Borland dx:=y;
intr($10,regs);
Taxan is a trademark of Kaga Elec- end;
tronics Company Limited. end;
Veroboard is a trademark of BICC-
VERO Elelectronics Limited.

New computer system for tain, within four hours, crime reports and in addition separate cursor keys
Metropolitan Police from the previous four years held in ar- (assisting numeric inputs to spread-
chives. sheets), ten function keys, and a reset
Systems Designers Scientific has been Nearly 2,000 computer workstations will button.
selected by the Metropolitan to act as be placed in all Metropolitan Police A 360 K disk drive is built into the right-
prime contractor in a £17 million project Divisions, Sub -Divisions, Areas, En- hand side of the machine and an exter-
to provide the Met's computerized quiry Centres, and in various HQ nal drive can be connected at the rear.
Crime Report Information System- branches to access databases held on a Communications are available with two
CRIS. The new system will replace the network of 233 EC MicroVAX com- serial RS232 ports, 25 -pin and 9 -pin re-
Met's current paper -based crime report puters at the divisions and a central VAX spectively. This facility allows the use of
system with a force -wide integrated com- cluster based around eight VAX8700 various modems without a converter
puter network. mainframe machines. lead. The display card is CGA (640 x
The present crime report system has be- 200), while an EGA card will be
come unwieldy and costly in valuable Further information from Systems
Designers Centrum House 101-103 available soon as an optional extra.
police manpower. CRIS will cut down The PC SPORT PLUS is priced at £499
time spent by officers supervising paper- Fleet Road Fleet Hampshire GU13
8PD. plus VAT. With DOS 3.2, 640 K RAM,
work, allow complex searches through and a monochrome monitor added, the
databases, and provide each division price goes up to £703 plus VAT.
with instant access to crime reports from Applied
Further details from
throughout the Metropolitan Police
area. High-performance portable Microsystems Technology Ltd 249-
251 Cricklewood Broadway LON-
CRIS will be available to around 30,000 AMT's portable IBM compatible, the
police officers and civil staff, 24 hours a PC SPORT PLUS, has a conventional DON NW2 6NX.
day, seven days a week, for the im- memory of 256 K that can be increased
mediate creation, updating, and inter- to 640 K, while a further 512 K memory
rogation of crime reports. Police person- can be added on a separate memory
nel will be able to access instantly crime bank. The computer runs at 8 MHz.
reports from the past two years and ob- The keyboard provides a standard layout
 28 EE
March 1988

'IOWA S THE SUPERNODE

COMPUTER
by Dr. Chris Jesshope, CEng, FBCS, MIEE
Department of Electronics and Computer Science,
Southampton University

Esprit is a research programme sup- plan is divided into work packages architecture.
ported by the Commission of the which involve the close cooperation of The remaining collaborators are working
European Communities. It is currently small groups of collaborators. on applications of the supercomputer,
funding a collaborative project to de- The prototype designing is being led by including image and signal processing,
velop and exploit a low cost, high per- Southampton with collaboration from image generation by ray tracing, com-
formance supercomputer, in which the RSRE and the two industrial part- puter aided design (CAD) for very large
Southampton University") is playing a ners, Thorn EMI(4) and Telmat of scale integration (VLSI), computer
major role. France. These two will manufacture aided manufacture (CAM), and appli-
Unlike conventional supercomputers, seven small and four large machines for cations in science and engineering.
such as the Cray 1 and Cray 2, which the work, with commercial exploitation
tend to use expensive ultra -fast circuits, to follow. Provision for real time input
the prototype being designed at and output to the supercomputer is be- Transputer development
Southampton University makes use of ing developed by collaboration between The T800 transputer is the major com-
the latest microprocessor technology. RSRE and Thorn EMI. ponent in the Supernode. It is a
The Supernode supercomputer is based The major component of the Supernode derivative of the T414 transputer an-
on the revolutionary transputer, which is supercomputer-also known as the nounced by INMOS some two years ago.
a modern microprocessor designed by Reconfigurable Transputer Processor- The major difference between these two
INMOS (2) as a component of parallel is the newly announced T800 transputer, chips is that the T800 contains an ad-
processing systems. which was developed within a work ditional processing unit for handling
Parallel processing uses many processors package under this collaboration by IN- floating point numbers. Floating point
to obtain increased system performance. MOS. or real numbers May have fractional
For example, the Supernode supercom- IMAG at Grenoble University, in France, parts and have a very wide range of
puter may eventually contain several is working on the system software for the values; most microprocessors handle
thousand transputers, all of which could
Supernode machine in collaboration only integers (whole numbers), with op-
be brought to bear on a single appli- with Southampton. They are also study- erations for real numbers being provided
cations problem. The research pro- ing the implementation of high level by software, or alternatively by an ad-
gramme, as well as developing several languages such as Prolog on this novel ditional special chip.
prototype supercomputers, will in-
vestigate programming and applications
techniques for this novel computer archi-
tecture.
The exploitation of such large scale
:; !in: IT z z Wit TTIN =Mt* to
roe. Nee toe
parallelism is by no means well estab- Lit r IF 1'
lished and the United Kingdom, like the 11

7
I

rest of Europe, has an active research

programme to ensure its information i --r
technology industry remains competitive
during this period of major change. In
fact Southampton University was in-
itially funded by Britain's Alvey pro-
gramme to investigate the feasibility of
using the transputer as a basis for a ; 0411,:
supercomputer. Other partners in the 11
Esprit collaboration also had prior war Y
funding for transputer research.

Prototype production r
The collaborators in this project come 11

from Britain and France, and include

universities, small and large companies. L
and a government research establish- `tom" 77 77 I7 7 711117 77 77 la
.211/Y111111111r-lilol.5:111111111.1IM 3MMIIIIMINC113,J1
.
. 21

ment. The role of prime contractor with

overall project management is filled by
the Royal Signals and Radar Establish-
ment (RSRE)(3). The remainder of the The INNIOS T800 iranptrier
 EE
29
March 1988
Southampton University identified the Powerful workstation of a super-supernode. One transputer
limitation of software floating point at acts as a supervisor, setting the switches
an early stage in its feasibility study, The problems faced in designing the on request. It talks to all other trans-
based on its applications in science and supercomputer all relate to communi- puters within the node by means of a
engineering. This was basically a speed cation, for this is the key to all successful control bus which is used to synchronise
limitation, for it should be noted that all parallel processor designs. Transputers many transputers to a common event, so
supercomputers provide support for can only have direct connections to four that the switches may be reset.
rapid floating point computation and, other devices although the sorting office
inevitably, a software implementation analogy could provide a solution to the
difficulty of providing other channels. The prospects
will not provide a comparable perform- A single Supernode can contain 32
ance. The problem is that the more transputers
The T800 chip is about 1 cm2 and con- are included in the system the slower worker transputers, each containing
tains about 250,000 transistors. Unlike communication between distant trans- storage for 256,000 characters, a con-
puters becomes. In programming the troller, a memory server with storage for
more conventional microprocessors, it supercomputer, what is ideally required 16 million characters, and a disk server
can be used entirely on its own as it con-
tains a simple but efficient 32 -bit integer is the ability to realize the direct connec- with capacity limited only by disk drive
processor, the floating point processor tions between transputers specified by technology. Such a node could perform
which handles numbers stored using up the program. up to 50 million floating point oper-
to 64 bits of information, some very fast One of the key features of the Supernode ations per second, the rate usually ob-
random access memory (it can store supercomputer is the ability to realize tained from machines such as the Cray 1,
4096 characters), and four high speed in- this aim. This is provided by switching a multi -million pound supercomputer
put and output channels. circuits on the links. Each transputer has dating from 1976.
It is the latter communication channels its links connected into a switch through A Supernode supercomputer could be
that provide the key to the transputer's which they may be connected to any manufactured for tens or perhaps hun-
other transputer in the system. To pro- dreds of thousands of pounds, and a col-
success as a parallel processing compo- lection of 32 supernodes in a single
nent. In any parallel processing system, vide an alternative analogy, this is
the processors must be able to com- similar to telephones when each user supercomputer could produce a propor-
municate with each other, to share data (transputer) is connected to an exchange tionally higher performance, in excess of
and to synchronise their activity. The from which he can make a call for a 1000 million floating point operations
communication channels on the trans- given duration to any other free user per second. This is in the same league as
puter provide both of these facilities. connected to the exchange. today's supercomputers which sell for
A single channel can transmit about two In practice, it is expected that the com- about £12.5 million. The Supernode
puter will be used with all of the connec- supercomputer could be marketed for a
million characters per second in each fraction of this cost.
direction over the three -wire circuit used tions established at a given time, pro-
to connect transputers together. The viding a pattern of communication or
four links provide the ability for any network that reflects the flow of data in References:
transputer to talk to four others directly. the applications program.
This means that transputers could be One of the disadvantages of using these 1. Southampton University, Department
connected in a regular two-dimensional switching circuits is the cost of the of Electronics and Computer Science,
lattice. switch, which grows as the square of the Southampton, United Kingdom, S09
The limitations of such networks are number of inputs to the exchange. This 5NH.
that communications between trans- cost function is avoided to some extent 2. INMOS Ltd, 1000 Aztec West,
puters that are not neighbours will have by deSigning the computer in modules, Almondsbury, Bristol, United
to be provided by software, with in- each with their own local exchange and Kingdom, BS12 4SQ.
termediate transputers acting as sorting of course with lines to other main ex- 3. Royal Signals and Radar Establish-
offices which forward data in con- changes. A unit of about 30 transputers ment, St Andrews Road, Malvern,
veniently sized packets to a transputer can be constructed economically in this Hereford and Worcester, United
they can talk to but which is closer to the way. Kingdom, WR14 3PS.
data's destination. Being provided by This supertransputer, the Supernode, 4. Thorn EMI Research Laboratory Ltd,
software, this mechanism is considerably can stand alone as a powerful work- Dawley Road, Hayes, Middlesex,
slower than a direct connection. station, or can itself be used as the basis United Kingdom, UB3 1HH.

Microbeeb on target Cheaper transputer systems

COMPUTER NEWS Microbeeb, the function -packed BBC The cost of the Kuma K -Max Transputer
Basic control computer from Cambridge Development System for the Atari ST
Dataquest expects PC sales Microprocessor Systems, is finding its Series has been reduced from £995 to
to exceed $200 billion way into more and more applications £695, excl. VAT. The standard K -Max is
supplied with an Inmos T4I4, 256 K
The personal computer market will total where
power
the user requires computational
with a complete range of I/O RAM, and an Assembler. It can be
more than S200 billion over the next five functions. These may include full colour upgraded by adding a further T414 and
years, according to Dataquest. That is graphics, digital and analogue I/O, step- 256 K RAM and is supported by two Oc-
almost double the industry's Sill billion per motor control, multiple serial chan- cam products from Kuma: Occam-ST
income from its inception in 1975 to the nels, and many others - all fully pro- (£59.95 incl. VAT) and Cascade -XP
end of 1986. The expected increase will grammable in BBC Basic and CMS (£199.50 incl. VAT).
be fuelled by two major factors: replace- Multibasic, the multi -tasking version of
ment of older units and a growing Further information from
number of new computer users. BBC Basic. KUMA Computers Ltd 12 Horseshoe
Further information from Park PANGBOURNE RG8 UM
Further information from Cambridge Microprocessor Systems Ltd
Cochrane Communications Ltd CCL Brookfield Business Centre Twentypence
House 59 Fleet Street LONDON EC4Y Road Cottenham CAN1BRIF/GE CB4
4PS.
 3

COMPUTER-CONTROLLED SLIDE
FADER (1)
Revenge yourself on giggling friends and relatives joined to watch and criticize your clumsy slide
presentation.
This project gives the creativity you put in your colour slides an extra dimension in the true sense of
the word. A chance for all mindful photographers and slide makers to stun their audience with a
dazzling show of fading and dissolving images, sudden or gradual colour changes, the repeating of
"theme" slides, and many more special effects, achieved by intelligent control of four slide projectors.

The main difficulty in making a slide

presentation is to capture the attention
of the audience. Television, the motion
picture, and modern advertisement tech-
niques prove beyond doubt that the
degree of attention depends strongly on
the rate at which the human mind ap-
pears to perceive changing images.
While appreciating the difference in
character and objective between a well -
prepared slide presentation and, say, a
video clip, the former is often needlessly
static. It is, of course, true that this is
often useful for educational purposes,
where it is required that an image be
shown as long as necessary to allow for
explanatory comments, but the show
soon becomes dreary when pictures are
abruptly changed with the operator oc-
casionally forced to go through all the
previous ones before he can pick out the
slide that requires repeating for ad-
ditional comment.
The computer controlled slide fader de - Fig. 1. Functional blocks in the computer -controlled slide fader system.
 EE
March 1988
scribed here is sure to add motion and Circuit description of the reference to the upper channel, A, 6 bits,
liveliness to your next slide presentation. A0... A5 incl., are used for controlling
The effects that can be obtained with it lamp dimmer the lamp intensity at a resolution of 64
Slide images can be faded in and out,
are in the hands of the operator: in its (26) steps. The 2 remaining bits, A6 and
basic version, the fader enables com- just like sound, if the intensity of the A7, control the relays for reverse and
puter control of the lamp intensity in 64 projector lamp can be controlled in forward motion of the slide carrier on
steps, and the reverse/forward motion of small steps. Figure 2 shows the circuit the projector.
the slide caner in any one of up to four diagram of 1 of 4 identical dimmers. At Digital to analogue converter (DAC) ICI
slide projectors-see Fig. 1. The hard- the heart of the circuit is the Type accepts the 6 -bit binary information
ware required for this is relatively simple, TCA280 dimmer chip, whose basic oper- from the computer, and translates this
and can be extended or simplified to per- ation is discussed in reference "1. The into a corresponding direct voltage be-
sonal needs. The whole slide show can intensity of the lamp driven by the triac tween 0 and +2.5 V on the output, pin
be designed, directed and prepared by is an inverse, but non-linear, function of 4. The maximum value is derived from a
programming a computer in BASIC. the direct control voltage applied to pin reference voltage source set up around
Each slide projector requires its own 8 - 5 of the chip. The minimum value of the R17 and 4 series -connected silicon
bit output port. Not many computers input voltage, +2.5 V, gives maximum diodes D9. . . D12 incl. The forward drop
have 4 such outlets, however, and require intensity, while the lamp is quenched at on each of these is approximately
equipping with extension circuits pub- +5 V. Circuitry on board the TCA280A 0.62 V. When the computer port sends
lished, or to be published, in Elektor arranges for the perceived lamp intensity control value 00H, 40H, or 80H to the
Electronics: to vary gradually in accordance with the DAC, all 6 inputs DB0... DB5 incl. on
change in the applied input voltage. the DAC are pulled low, so that the con-
The dimmer is powered from the avail- verted analogue output voltage is 0 V.
MSX systems: able 24 VAC connections on the lamp The maximum value of the output volt-
age, Lire( (+2.5 V), is available when all
32 -bit I/O and timer cartridge: Elektor transformer in the projector. The triac is
Electronics January 1987, p. 53 ff. Con- fitted as an external component to avoid DAC inputs are programmed logic high,
trols up to 4 projectors. high currents being carried on the PCB. i.e., when the computer sends 3FH, 7FH,
6502, 6800 and Z80 based systems: The Types TIC236 and TIC246 are used or BFH (it makes no sense to activate
for lamps of up to 150 W or 250 W, re- bits 6 and 7 simultaneously).
Universal I/O bus: Elektor Electronics, spectively. Opamp IC2 is set up as an inverting
May 1985, p. 35 ff. 8 -bit 1/0 bus: amplifier connected to the output of the
Elektor Electronics, December 1985, DAC. Its function is to invert and shift
p. 20 ff. Controls 1 projector. the analogue output voltage span of 0 to
IBM PC XT and compatibles: to be Circuit description of the +2.5 V into the corresponding dimmer
described in a forthcoming issue of control interface input span from +5 V down to +2.5 V.
Elektor Electronics. Controls 4 projec- The circuit diagram of Fig. 3 shows 4 The amplification of the opamp is,
tors. identical control channels: one for each therefore, -1.. With preset Pi set to the
Centronics port: to be described in a projector used. The control information centre of its travel, the voltage at the
forthcoming issue of Elektor Elec- for each channel is obtained from an 8 - non -inverting (+) input is +2.5 V. This
tronics. Controls up to 4 projectors. bit output port (A, B, C, or D). With is the lowest output voltage of the
opamp, resulting in maximum illumi-
nation of the lamp. The use of the in-
2 verting and span shifting opamp
facilitates the programming on the com-
puter, since the lowest and highest values
sent to the DAC correspond to minimum
dirrmer PCB
Lai
and maximum illumination of the pro-
r- jector lamp. A preset is used rather than
a fixed potential divider to enable opti-
RI C
0
R2 IC R7
0 prcez:tcr Lamp mum matching of the dimmer to the
0 0 lamp in the associated projector.
TrI 0.5W
R8 Bits 6 and 7 in the byte sent to each
1N4001
82k
Tr i I
channel arrange the forward or reverse
131 11 9 15
motion of the slide carrier via relays Rei
a2
and Reg. The contacts of these form an
SPDT switch connected to pins 3 and 5
on the relevant 5 -way DIN socket at the
IC 1
0 T
TCA280A 10
89 output of the controller board. The
1930 intensity control signals for the 4 dim-
O
mer boards, and the system ground, are
8 al j j 9
also carried via the DIN sockets.
12 7 14 2 6
a2
R6 R3 The pin -out on 1{3 is in accordance with
TIC236
270k 22k 1-9 that on the previously mentioned 32 -bit
(TIC246)
R5 C3 C2 C11 I/O and timer cartridge, so that this con-
sim
nects direct to the 4 -way slide controller
75 72 !4709
16V
board. For non-MSX computers, the
connection of the slide controller is, un-
J
fortunately, a matter of finding the right
87259-2
bits and connections at both ends of the
cable.
The 5 V supply for the circuitry on the
controller board is obtained from the
Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of the TCA280 based lamp dimmer. computer via pins 21 and 22 on K5.
 EE
March 1988

3 Al

5V

2
R2
11
A7
46
A5 035 u
tti
081
A3 DB3
7
A2 DB2C1 I

Al DB1
REF
AO 1380

2506

K1

87
Bs

5V
0
36 Re 3 Rea

0 D3 04
B7
0 C)
85
B5
B 0 7
81 2
D95
D84
u
at 4 z Ak
83
8.3 DE13 IC 4
82
0_21_ 82 13 082 IC 3 7

81 12
81 081
E3
is BD It DBO
REF

T3 4
5V 88

° 7 P2 R7 2

+sv O 2
R17 2504 11.
El 51 I BC5478 8 C5478
K2

4x forward cam -non

C5
1N4148 CS
1=1
011 mim IC 1, IC 3, IC 5, IC 7 = ZN4368 intensity 2 reverse
05 1005
165 IC 2, IC 4, IC 6. IC 8 = CA3130
012
21
ground
C7
C6

5V
O
R10 Re5 Ree
24 11 2
C7 05
C6 0
C5
0 eo
0
C5 er
Cl U 4 2 7
CI 2
084
C3 32 C3 I
63 IC 6
C2 34 C2 13 12 6 7 12
082 IC 5
Cl
CO
0_71:7 CI 12
CO 11
081
0130
REF
-r
T T6
P3 to
2504

BC5478
K3

07

5V

314 Re 72 Re8
07 1 2
D7
E) 0
RI3
035 7
DI 0134 Uvi
D3 DB3 IC 8
092 IC 7 120 7
02
DI 081
REF 5
DO 053
INV 77
R15
4 in
nr:1 T)
2504

8C54711
K4

07259-3

Fig. 3. Circuit diagram of the 4 -way computer interface.

 EE .111
March 1988

Parts list Miscellaneous: Parts list

Ki ... K4 incl.= 5 -way angled DIN socket

MAIN BOARD (CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: Fig. 3). DIMMER PCBs (CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: Fig. 2).
(1809 for PCB mounting.
Ka= 50 -way angled header; 2 rows of 25 pins.
Resistors I ± 5%):
Resistors (±5%): for PCB edge mounting.
Ret ...Res incl.= SPDT relay for PCB mount- RI =470R: 0.5 W
fit;112;Rs;Re;Rs;Rto;Ri3;R 14 = 120K
ing, e.g. Siemens V23101 -A0003 -B101. R2:R7= 100K
R3;R4;R7;118;RII:R12;R15;R 1 6 = 6k8
PCB Type 87259 (see Readers Services page). R3= 22K
Ftt7=2K7
R4= 330K
...P4 incl.=250K or 220K preset H
Rs=150K
Re= 270K
Capacitors: fle=82K
Ci C4 incl. = 1n0 Rs=150R
Cs:C6=100p; 16 V Capacitors:
Cr =470p; 16 V
Semiconductors: C2= 1p2 (see text)
Di ...D12 1N4148 Ca=ln5
T .Ts incl. =BC547B Semiconductors:
ICI:IC3lCs;IC7=ZN436E (Ferranti)
Di =1N4001
IC2;1C4:1C6;1C8 = CA3130
ICt =TCA28OA
Trit =T1C236 or T1C246 (see text)

Fig. 4. This l'CB is used for building the interface and 4 dimmers.
 34 EE
March 1988
Construction: 5 boards in 1
The ready-made printed circuit board of 18 SCRIENO : CLS TEST PROGRAM FOR SLIDE FADER
Fig. 4 is cut in 5 pieces to obtain 1 inter- 29 DEW A -Z
face board, and 4 dimmer boards. 38 DIN D(15),C(15),I(15)
Commence the construction by popu- 48 FOR 1=8 TO 3 ' ADDRESS INITIALIZATION
lating the dimmer boards according to 58 A=I'16
the component overlay and the parts list. 68 D(8+124)=4+A : D(14Is4)=54 : D(2+I14)=8+A : D(3+II4)=9+A
Mount a 1pF and a 220nF capacitor in 70 C(0 -014)=6+A : C(1+114)=7+A : C(2+I14)=18+A : C(3+Ig4)=11+A
parallel if the 1.2pF type in position C2 88 NEXT
is difficult to obain. Electrolytic capaci- 98 ON STOP GOSUB 590 STOP ON
tor CI and triac Trill are fitted as exter- :

START CONDITIONS
100 FOR X=0 TO 15
nal components. This enables the triac '

110 OUT C(X),255 : OUT C(X),8 : OUT C(X),7 : OUT C(X),3

to be cooled effectively, while avoiding
OUT D(X),8
tracks carrying lamp currents of several 128

amperes. The dimmer board and the 130 I(X)=8

triac should be mounted in a suitable 148 NEXT

loaction inside the slide projector. A 158 P=0 : X=1

metal surface near the fan is, of course, 168 ON KEY GOSUB 260,300,340,370,400,430,460,498,520,550
ideal for mounting the triac because it 170 FOR I=1 TO 18
forms a heat -sink (do not forget to insu- 1m KEY (I) ON
late the triac with the aid of a mica 190 NEXT
washer). Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the 208 KEY1,"OFF" : KEY2,"ON° : KEY3,"c" : KEY4,")" : KEYS," -"
mounting of the triac and the dimmer 210 KEY6,"PREVIOUS":KEY7,"NEXT":KEY8,"STEP-":KEY9,"STEP+":KEY18,"RESET"
board in a slide projector Type Diamator 228 KEY ON
1500 AF. 230 LOCATE 18,6 : PRINT"PROJECTOR:";P+1;" " : LOCATE 10,8 :

In some cases, the existing DIN socket PRINT"LEVEL:";I(P);" "

on the slide projector may have to be re- 248 LOCATE 10,18 : PRINT"STEP SIZE";X;" ° LOCATE 10,12 :

wired in accordance with the pin -out on PRINT"CHANGE:";X$;" "

the socket fitted on the controller board. 250 GOTO 220
If this is impossible, or less desirable, it 260 ' KEY 1 INTENSITY -
is a relatively simple matter to mount an 278 I(P)=1(P) -X : IF I(P)'0 THEN I(P)=0
additional DIN socket for ready connec- 2:.; OUT D(P),I(P) : X$="-°
tion to the interface. Whatever solution
290 RETURN
is adopted, be sure to know exactly how KEY 2 INTENSITY +
300
the slide carrier control system is ac- '

310 I(P)=I(P)+X : IF I(P))63 THEN I(P)=63

tuated externally. In case of doubt, it is
328 OUT D(P),I(P) : X$="-"
recommended to consult the user
manual supplied with the projector. 330 RETURN
KEY 3 CHANGE REVERSE
Universal 5 -way DIN cords as used for 340 '

audio equipment are perfectly adequate 350 OUT D(P),64 : X$="<" : I(P)=0

for connecting the slide controller to the 360 RETURN

projectors. 370 ' KEY 4 CHANGE FORWARD
388 OUT D(P),128 : X$=")" : I(P)=0
The completion of the 4 -way controller
398 RETURN
board is straightforward. Note the use of
PCB mounted DIN sockets, which make 400 ' KEY 5 CHANGE OFF

for a compact board, obviating the need 418 OUT D(P),0 : XA="-" : I(P)=8
for extensive wiring. The unit can be fit- 420 RETURN
ted in a suitable ABS enclosure, observ- 438 ' KEY 6 PREVIOUS PROJECTOR
ing that the intensity span presets, 448 P=P -1 : IF PO THEN P=15
PI. .. P. incl., are easily accessible for 458 RETURN
adjustment purposes. Figure 7 shows a 468 ' KEY 7 NEXT PROJECTOR
suggestion for the front panel lay -out. 470 P=P+1 : IF P)15 TUN P4
488 RETURN
490 ' KEY 8 REDUCE STEP SIZE
Over to you: software 580 X=X-1 : IF Xcl THEN X=1
518 RETURN
In principle, all effects in a slide presen-
KEY 9 INCREASE STEP SIZE
tation are based on 3 operations, namely 528 '

visual mixing of slides, arranging the 538 X=X+1 : IF X)63 THEN X63
order of the slides, and lamp intensity 548 RETURN

control. As already stated, the number 550 ' KEY 18 ENT

of possible effects depends solely on the 568 P=0 : X=1 : X$="-"
creativity put into the computer pro- 578 FOR I=0 TO 15: OUT D(I),8 : 1(1)=8 : NEXT
gram. It is, for example, possible to 588 RETURN
revert to an early slide in the show by re- 598 STOP ROUTINE
verse shifting of the slide carrier in pro- 608 FOR 1=0 TO 15: OUT D(I),0: NEXT
jector number 3, whose lamp is turned 618 DEFUSR=6H3E : A=USR(8)
off, while projectors numbers 1, 2 and 4 620 CLS : END
are used for the current images. This
calls for a software slide counter on each
channel to keep track of the slide num-
bers, and hence the forward/reverse mo- Table 1. MS BASIC test program for the slide fader.
 EE
March 1988

Fig. 5. The dimmer board fitted next to the fan motor in a slide projector. Ci is mounted at Fig. 6. An ideal location for the hot triac.
the track side of the PCB. Some filing is required to fit the the heat -sink
between the sides of the fan enclosure.
tion of the carrier. A library of routines The subject of software for the slide
can be written for fade-in and fade-out fader will be reverted to in part 2 of this References:
effects timed by the CT'C (counter/timer article. We will then discuss an advanced
controller) on the MSX I/O & timer effects program for no fewer than 16 t' Halogen lamp dimmer. Elektor Elec-
board. projectors. tronics July/August 1987, Supplement
Programmers should have little diffi- p. 55.
culty spotting and adapting the slide (23 Articles on MSX extensions in
controller routines in the test program of Elektor Electronics:
Table I. This program runs on MSX I/O bus, digitizer and 8 -bit I/O bus:
computers fitted with at least one I/O & January 1986, p. 66 ff.
timer cartridge. Part 2 of this article will Cartridge board. February 1986, p. 32
detail the use of 4 cartridges, so that the ff.;
same program tests and controls a maxi- Add-on bus board. March 1986, p. 55
mum of 16 projector channels. ff.;
Non-MSX users will find lines 260 up to Bus direction add-on for MSX exten-
and including 580 useful for analysing sions. July/August 1987, Supplement
the ways in which the test program con- p. 52.
trols the interface. The instructions in
lines 220, 230, 240 and 250 are executed Please refer to Past Articles on the
in a loop. The ON KEY GOSUB state- Readers Services page in this issue.
ment does not form pan of this because
the function keys on an MSX computer
can be programmed to call the relevant
subroutine after generating an interrupt
(see line 160).
Key the program into the computer, and
familiarize yourself with the functions
assigned to the function keys. Select a
projector, and quench the lamp by
holding down the INTENSITY - key.
Then adjust the relevant preset on the
controller board such that the lamp just
about lights. This setting guarantees fast
response to software -controlled intensity
variations while lengthening the useful
life of the lamp.
Some projectors have single -key slide
carrier control. This can be simulated by
the interface board if the software en-
sures the correct duration of the forward
and reverse pulses. Although it would be
possible to omit 1 relay on the board,
this is not recommended because it
makes the controller less versatile. A bet-
ter solution in this case is the connection
of pins 2 and 3 on the socket internal to
the projector in question. Fig. 7. Suggested Front panel la -out.
 EE
%larc- 198°

UNIPHASE UDSPEAKER
SYSTEM
A loudspeaker system that is based on Audax drive units and
uses a 12 dB Linkwitz filter. The closed box design enables the
drive units to be located in a straight acoustical line.

The use of a Linkwitz filter (Ref. 1) in a contains more than one drive unit and a
loudspeaker system makes sense only if cross -over filter will have a phase behav-
the drive units are positioned in straight iour that causes impulse distortion. Even
acoustical line. in a wideband system without filter, it is
The three-way system presents nothing very difficult to attain optimum impulse
new, but the drive units have some behaviour.
special characteristics as will be seen
later. Total costs for two loudspeakers
(drive units, wood, filter components, Is phase shift audible?
etc.) is of the order of £250. Listening During the past few years, there have
tests in which the uniphase system was been a number of investigations into the
compared with commercially available question whether phase errors are aud-
products show that the quality is roughly ible or not. These investigations have
the same as that of a commercial system failed to agree. It is probable that the
costing twice as much. sensitivity to phase errors varies from
The most noteworthy aspect of the box one person to another. And what about
is the staggered front, which is essential the test methods? Our own experience
to get the drive units in a straight shows that serious phase deviations can
acoustical line. This means that the drive definitely be detected in the reproduced
units are positioned in a manner which sound. Particularly the pronounced
ensures that the acoustical output of phase jumps around the cross -over point
each of the three drivers reaches the of the filter seem to be the culprits.
listener at exactly the same time. These jumps also cause the loudspeakers
It might be thought that to achieve this to produce a different sound pattern at
it is sufficient to measure the depth of different positions around the room.
each cone to be able to calculate by how This is because the acoustic radiation
much each drivers must be displaced pattern around the cross -over points
with reference to one another. It's a shows large variations along its axis.
good start, but unfortunately not suf- We have the impression-shared with a
ficient.This is because the phase number of researchers-that most
behaviour of each drive unit is far from listeners are not not so much sensitive to
ideal-see Fig. 1 for a typical phase absolute phase deviations, but rather to
characteristic of a bass driver in a closed Fig. 1. Prototype of the uniphase loud - sudden phase differences.
box. Although W. Marshall Leach pub- speaker system.
lished a very interesting article on the
phase behaviour of drive units in the In an ideal loudspeaker system deVdm A matter of less than an inch
Journal of the AES as long ago as 1980, must be a constant to obtain optimum Above resonance, the loudspeaker
it appears that in the practical systems of pulse behaviour. With reference to the behaves capacitively at first and then, at
most manufacturers no notice has been curve of Fig. 1, it is seen that this is vir- higher frequencies, inductively. This
taken of the findings of Mr. Leach. tually impossible to attain. Any box that behaviour is caused by the voice coil.
2 DV,. V.2....1 1 RANGE Wilit0.4G SPEED I= tI I F.I.KR SPEED
cm.".1)
Cl in AG{
va:25101).,
i..110
LI? I 1713-1 6,na.a07 asv
I= CI I=1
69 c.) 302 500 It 2it 5k._ .
at* 20l
.
f

_ 416±'
--I i

phase
i-- _ response
1
-

-180"
- - .....

- 1006. -

f.
Sop,
IX 205 st sit
PI vEAS TIME 16 I I I I
r- Type rail
/e

Fig. 2. Phase characteristic of a tpical bass drive unit.

 EE
March 1988
The phase behaviour of each driver can
be measured with a good standard 3
microphone. On the basis of the results,
the drivers are then displaced with refer-
ence to one another until their phase woofer
characteristics meet smoothly at the Al
cross -over points. This cannot be squawker
achieved with 100% accuracy, but the
resulting over curve approaches the
theoretical one very closely. Fig. 2 shows
I A2
tweeter

the overall phase behaviour of the

uniphase system after these corrections
had been introduced. In practice, the
drive units were positioned such that the distance between loudspeakers
points of origin of their cones lay in a
343 phase difference
straight line. This implies that only the (Al or A2 ) - 360
(fc1 or 1c2) x
specified Audax drivers should be used,
since otherwise the distances between
the drivers would be incorrect. In other
words, if drivers other than the Audax
units are used, the phase behaviour must Fig. 3. Displacing the drive units with respect to one another makes the phase characteristics
meet more evenly.
be measured again, and the design of the
enclosure adapted accordingly.
4
Lsl
Three-way: an acceptable Components list
compromise C:1(
Mitil 24P
370.5/4 Resistors:
A loudspeaker system in which account
is paid to the phase behaviour and the (all 5 W)
RI;f14=10
separation of the drive units cannot very R2=1
well be realized with fewer than three Rs;Rs= 8Q2
drivers. Also, the cross -over points Rs =242
should be chosen at other than the stan-
dard frequencies. In the present system, Cl
Capacitors:
they lie at 370 Hz and 3,200 Hz. The lat- 31$ 5, Ls3
CI;C3=33 p; 50 V bipolar
ter frequency was chosen deliberately C2=15 p; 50 V bipolar
because a middle frequency driver, even 1:1(
I37W ICA
C4 =15 p MKT or MKC
if it is small, gives more and more prob- 725 FF Cs = 5p6 (4117111p) MKT or MKC
lems with its phase behaviour above that 87365-4 Cs =10 p; 50 V bipolar
C7=3119 MKT or MKC
frequency. Moreover, a 25 mm tweeter
performs very well at that frequency, Fig. 4. Circuit diagram of the Linkwitz filter.
Inductors:
particularly if it is remembered that the
L,=6 mH (wind on 20 mm pot core from
cross -over points here lie at -6 dB. It 0.9 mm dia. enamelled copper w
should be noted that the distances be- L2=0.5 mH (air -cored: 10 mm dia.; ...ind ircm
tween the drive units were determined 1 mm dia. enamelled copper wirel
for these frequencies: other values must, L3 = 2 mH (wind as Lil
therefore, not be used. L4 = 0.6 mH (wind as La)

Miscellaneous:
The drive units Bass drive unit: Audax Type MHD24P37RSM
Middle frequency driver: Audax Type
The bass unit is a 24 cm type on a cast TX11 .25RSN
aluminium chassis. The magnet, Tweeter: Audax Type DTW100T25FFF
although of reasonable size, is not par- Synthetic cotton wool wadding (see text)
ticularly large. Since the enclosure is a Universal filter PCB Visaton Type UP70i3
closed box (which has better impulse Fixing bolts, nuts, and crinkle washers for drive
behaviour than a bass reflex), the mag- units
net should be not too large to avoid the Loudspeaker terminals (4)
frequency response characteristic falling
off too early. The loudspeakers and filter PCB for this project
The middle frequency driver is a splen- are available from CSI Electronics
Fig. 5. The Visaton Type UP70/3 PCB and lsee page 78).
did unit. To all outward appearances, it population plan.
looks like a conventional model, but its
magnet is the same size as that of the The tweeter is a modernized version of a
bass unit, and its cone is made of TPX. well -established unit, which has formed
The filter
An aluminium cone in the centre ensures part of Audax's range for many years. It The present system uses a 12 dB
a better spread of the high tones. Its cost is, without doubt, still one of the best Linkwitz filter-see Fig. 4, which is one
is similar to that of the bass unit. It tweeters available. This version has fer- of the best passive filters. Next month we
should, however, be borne in mind that rofluid cooling and damping of the voice intend to publish an active version of the
this unit takes care of the most import- coil. It reproduces the very high fre- loudspeaker system that will make use of
ant part of the audio range. In our quencies with just a little better defi- the active network published last year
prototype, it performed beautifully. nition than the original model. (Ref. 2). However, for those who are not
38 EE
March 1988

scale 1: 7.5

50 45

4
4

* loam rubber

Fig. 6. Construction plan of the enclosure. Required MDF board or chipboard, thickne-
18 mm.

prepared to spend the extra money for an work components will find that those of
active system with six output amplifiers, C3 and L3 do not correspond with the
the passive system is an excellent choice theoretical values. The cause for this
that offers very good sound quality. discrepancy is that the impedance of the
The design of the filter follows the middle frequency unit rises sharply in
earlier article (Ref. 1) fairly faithfully. the vicinity of the cross -over point, in
The increasing impedance presented by spite of the 8.2 ohm shunt resistor:
the bass unit at higher frequencies is consequently, during the design it was
compensated by R, and C2. A similar found that the practical values deviate
network is provided for the middle fre- sharply from the computed ones.
quency drive unit, otherwise the filter
would not behave as predicted by theory.
Furthermore, the middle frequency The enclosure
driver and the tweeter have been given a The enclosure is an upright, narrow box
small attenuation network to match of such a height that the middle and
them more closely to the woofer. high frequency drivers are roughly at ear
The resistances in parallel with the drive height. The narrow front keeps the
units effectively flatten the resonance number of reflections to a minimum. As
peak of the impedance characteristic of already mentioned, the front surface is
the middle and high frequency drivers, staggered to make it possible for the
since these peaks are close to the respect- drive units to be placed at the correct
ive cross -over points. distances from one another. Fig. 7. Some stages in the construction of the
Readers who check the values of the net- Otherwise, the construction is fairly con- prototype.
 EE
39
March 1988
8

narLAY SCA).* Rama (:) i..,L e.,EI .0e-ll vatnottGSPEED 1=1 E1 OMR SPEED = 1=1 Z:=1 SsOss sa
pEr ,2, in
uid
M. Pro ....0 a., 0 SisisS4
CO irn psevil
1=1 = =
NE 1...178:4PC

2 S 13112S

03 03 V _ -
_100
_- 200 SOO Is os
--
20s

II 01 s
- __

.
-
1144p " Uniphase:
- frequency
- response

- -
.
.
_
_
- -
_ -
_
. . .

WA 200
-Bailiff's 's EMIL' I

It lw
Il_III 20k
Fawns. TIME I I
1 I
is - ]
T,r-2, 3331

b a -El CI CI .E1
O=
EsSisf SCALE I RANGE
Seel
..111 I WRITING SPEED 1=I 1=1 I ASPER SPEED 14.1..rra1lt /MG
...eacri ear v.=,1 pv.V1
01`ZSIS011OsI 1 So t CP
55 __ - Ka 201

Idssicsieg Clopct

/
- -
- Uniphase:
impedance

sn
is '5. 203
r I ma esi-lial-laz
ism .

55 10S
k /7 /
/,
S
SETE511 TIME 5,0
1
1

TO'S 3351 "r

Fig. 8. Frequency characteristic (a) and impedance curve (b) of the uniphase loudspeaker system.
ventional. The volume of the woofer (metallized polytherephtalate) types the top compartment and 3 bags for the
compartment is about 60 1, which is suf- (MKC-metallized polycarbonate- woofer section.
ficient to obtain a Qrc of 0.7. The types are suitable alternatives). When all that is done, the box is closed,
-3 dB point of the combination lies at The construction plan for the box is again using good quantities of wood
around 45 Hz. The section for the shown in Fig. 6. The panels are intercon- glue to ensure an airtight closure. Fi-
middle frequency unit has a volume of nected with the aid of suitable dowels nally, the enclosure is finished to in-
some 15 1. Again, that is necessary to and wood glue: bear in mind that the dividual taste (cloth, veneer, varnish,
obtain a QTC for this section of 0.7. finished box must be airtight. Apart etc.).
Furthermore, it ensures good impulse from the panel separating the woofer
behaviour over the middle frequency from the other speakers and the panel
range. halfway up the bass unit compartment, Finally
The box is made of MDF (medium den- no struts are required.
sity fibre board), a material that re- The enclosures may be positioned
The drive units are mounted with the aid against a wall, but preferable not in a
sembles chipboard but has a much of nuts, bolts, and crinkle washers. Sub-
greater density. If this material cannot corner.
sequently, the cables between the drivers
be obtained, chipboard of the best qual- and the filter are put in. Take care that
ity may be used. the hole in the slanting separating panel
through which the cables from the References:
Construction middle and high frequency units to the 1. Linkwitz filters; Elektor Electronics
filter are fed is made airtight after fitting April 1987 p. 36.
The filter is constructed on Visaton's the cables. 2. Active phase -linear cross -over net-
Type UP70/3 universal filter PCB as The rear of the box is provided with a work; Elektor Electronics September
shown in Fig. 5. Some additional holes good quality terminal board. 1987, p. 61.
will have to be drilled in this board. The filter is mounted on the inside rear 3. Designing a closed loudspeaker box;
Inductors Li and L3 should be made panel of the woofer compartment: take Elektor Electronics February 1986, p.
with a pot .core, otherwise they become care that all cables are connected cor- 68.
too large for PCB mounting. All other rectly! 4. Loudspeaker impedance correction;
inductors are air -cored. Capacitors Cl, Next, the box is filled with wadding, for Elektor Electronics May 1986, p. 30.
C2, C3, and C6 are bipolar electrolytic instance, synthetic cotton wool which is 5. Loudspeaker efficiency; Elektor Elec-
types; all other capacitors are MKT sold in bags. About 1 bag is needed for tronics June 1986, p. 52.
 EE
40 March 1988

THE VALUE OF SILENCE

by Dr Dylan Jones and Dr Chris Miles, Department of Applied Psychology, University of Wales
Institute of Science and Technology, Cardiff

Most people would agree that their concentration on reading

and attempts to memorise information are made more difficult
when someone nearby is speaking. One reason stems from the
part that hearing has played as a warning system in the course
of human evolution. Recent laboratory studies have produced
data showing the disruptive effect that speech can have in open
plan offices, control towers and even on the flight decks of
aircraft, causing serious losses of efficiency. Research is also
helping psychologists to chart the flow of information in the brain.

"Under all speech that is good for takes place. Second, what are those Disrupting memory
anything there lies a silence that is features of speech which make it so diffi-
better. Silence is deep as Eternity; cult to ignore, and why are our strenuous From a series of experiments in various
speech is as shallow as Time." attempts to suppress it usually of no laboratories, a fairly clear picture is be-
Critical and Miscellaneous Essays, avail? ginning to emerge of the way in which ir-
vol. Iv, Sir Walter Scott,
by Thomas Carlyle. 15

Silence is a precious commodity, the

more so when we are trying to think
clearly or read. Religious orders insist on 4. .........
it for periods of devotion and con- ,-%
templation. Librarians demand it, too, 13
but are often frustrated by people who
insist on whispering. .13
,
At our place of work we may find that
our ability to understand the written \ \ ...
word, or the clarity of our thought pro-
cesses, is muddied by ringing telephones 11
.. ,01'
and the babble of voices in the back- _
..
ground. Of all the sounds that impinge
upon us, the human voice is especially
intrusive; from what is known of the
psychology of hearing there are good 9
reasons to suppose that speech is treated
in a slightly different way to other
sounds.
Abundant anecdotal evidence suggests
that the human voice, even when whis-
pered, makes reading difficult; this is 7
true even when the person tries to ignore
the sound, so it is clear that speech can
intrude without invitation upon our con-
sciousness. Although interference be- .. Reversed speech
tween the written and spoken word is ob- Normal speech
vious and natural to the layman, it poses
a range of significant questions for the White noise
psychologist interested in how the brain Quiet
processes information. First, we must
ask why it is that information delivered
to two separate sensory organs, the eye
3
and the ear, somehow get mixed in the 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
brain. For interference to occur, the
streams of information coining from the POSITION WITHIN THE SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION
two sense organs must share some com-
mon pathway in the brain. Part of the Effects of different types of sound on memory. Speech, even when reversed, is seen to have
psychologist's interest is in locating the a more disruptive effect than white noise, which has a similar effect to quiet. This shows that
precise point at which the interference disruption is not simply due to acoustic stimulation.
 EE
41
March 1988
relevant speech interferes with reading.
Studies have proved fruitful for the Normal speech r--1 Reversed speech
academic psychologist interested in the 90 - 85
workings of the brain and for all those per cent
interested in the abatement of noise. Two
distinct strands of research on irrelevant 72
70
per cent 68
speech are discernible: the first examines per cent per cent
an effect, now well established in the
literature, of irrelevant speech on short-
term memory; the second focuses on the 60
more recently discovered effects on the
reading process.
Typically, short-term memory is tested
by asking a person to recall a list of items
such as letters, short words or digits.
Each list comprises up to nine items,
presented visually at a rate of about one
per second. At the end of the list, or
soon thereafter, the person is asked to
write down the items in the order in
which they were presented. The presence
of irrelevant speech during the presen-
tation of the items appears to reduce the One line Five lines One line Eve lines
number recalled by about 20 per cent. By TYPE OF DISPLAY
any standards this is a significant degree
of impairment. The failure to remember The influence that the number of lines in a visual presentation to a reader has on the effects
is roughly the same over the whole list; of irrelevant speech. There is a reduced advantage in viewing the text five lines at a time when
it is apparent only when ordered recall is normal speech is interfering, but the reader can gain a 15 per cent advantage if the speech
required, but not when the items can be is meaningless.
recalled in any order.
Over the last ten years several features of closely the incoming signal approx- with the particularly difficult task of
this disruption have become more clearly imates to speech. The more similar the remembering a list of words or letters in
understood. First, the loss of efficiency sound and speech are to one another, the the correct order, we make this type of
does not depend upon the meaning of greater the disruption. However, this analysis. Intrusion of a similar signal via
the interfering speech; the degree of im- mechanism fails to discriminate on the the ear will lead to confusion; the more
pairment is similar if the speech is in a basis of meaning, for the disruption oc- similar the codes used in the two streams
language that the person does not under- curs whether the passage heard is mean- are, the greater is the confusion when
stand. Furthermore, reversed speech pro- ingful or not. More recent experiments they are stored in memory.
duced by running a tape backwards have shown that it is the similarity be-
through a tape recorder is as disruptive tween the irrelevant speech and the
as proper speech. Second, it has been sound of the material being remembered
shown that while the intelligibility of that is crucial. Words which are read are Susceptibility of reading
speech does not matter, sounds that are converted into a code which has a Another line of our work has focused on
not speech do not interfere. For example, sound -like basis, as if the person was the effects that irrelevant speech has on
white noise (which is a random mix of producing 'inner speech'. For example, if reading. At the outset we suspected that
hissing sounds like those heard from a the list of words has the sounds of run, the effects of speech on reading would
radio or television set that is not tuned to nets; tree, sore, in common with irrel- be different from those on memory. To
a transmitting station), is not disruptive. evant speech such as one, two, three, investigate this possibility we used the
Perhaps this is because white noise and four, then the disruption will be severe. technique of playing speech of different
speech are composed of different kinds This points to the possibility that the sorts while the person was proof-reading
of acoustic signals. But there is at least two streams of information, one a text for spelling and grammatical er-
one exception to this general finding, originally visual and the other auditory, rors. Typically, a volunteer would spend
which arises from a study we made of are converging at a point where they are 15 minutes or so looking for errors
the disruptive effect of singing. We have both held in a so-called phonological which we had deliberately and carefully
shown that the effect of sung words is form. introduced into the text. We measured
similar to that of spoken words. But if The need for this conversion process how many of these errors they could
the tune is hummed rather than sung the becomes evident if we reflect for a mo- detect under various conditions of am-
effect is less marked, which suggests that ment on the way that we read. One way bient sound.
the sound has to be word -like rather than of understanding reading is to think of it There are three main features to the out-
more broadly speech -like. Finally, the as a conversion process from letters and come of these experiments. First, mean-
intensity of the speech is unimportant: words into sounds, into what we have ing of the speech in this instance is im-
speech as loud as a shout or as low as a already referred to as inner speech. portant. This has been shown by
whisper disrupts memory to the same When learning to read, the child has to manipulating the speech in a variety of
degree. appreciate the appropriate set of rules ways. For example, reversed speech pro-
for converting shapes on the page into duces a roughly similar effect to silence.
this inner speech. Some of the sounds We were able to confirm this by
associated with words, and therefore in- demonstrating that people bilingual in
Phonological form ner speech, may already be known to the Welsh and English were disrupted by ir-
What does this pattern of results tell us child through hearing the language. So relevant speech in either Welsh or
about the processes responsible? The hearing and reading share a common English when they read English text. But
findings indicate that the brain mechan- level of analysis within the brain. In the reading of those English speaking
ism discriminates on the basis of how adult life, whenever we are confronted readers unable to understand Welsh was
 42 EE
March 1988
not disrupted by irrelevant Welsh. Sec- wake a sleeping person and, unlike the Control rooms
ond, intensity of speech is not import- eyes, the ears are omnidirectional. The
ant; just as in the results to do with In any complex system where an
way we use our eyes is far more pur-
memory, a whisper has as much effect as poseful and directed; the ear, in com- operator is exposed to material which
a shout. Third, the effect does not de- parison, is a passive and automatic re- has to be read and interpreted, the in-
pend on other physical features of the cipient of information. We know, too, trusive effects of speech may be at work.
speech, such as the number of voices, or that nerves from the ears connect with More important is that in control rooms,
whether its source is stationary or mov- those parts of the brain to do with alert- where streams of speech and text are
ing. The main point seems to be that ness. Signals passed on by the ear are far mixed haphazardly, there is a chance
meaning is important. more likely to be significant to a person's that irrelevant speech will impair the
survival. All of these features suggest a memory of instrument readings and se-
system tuned to act as a vigilant guard- quences of events. In air traffic control
ian but one through which, nevertheless, towers and in the control rooms of
Discrete effects a great deal of intelligent information is power stations the intake of visual infor-
The conclusions from these findings are transmitted. So speech may take advan- mation is at risk. In these settings, only
that it is the meaning of the speech that tage. of the ear's guardianship of our some of the speech heard will be relevant
affects proof-reading. In contrast, short- consciousness because it can gain to the task at hand, so there is good
term memory is affected by speech -like privileged access to our thoughts. reason to recommend that some kind of
properties of the acoustic signal. So The next stages of our research will focus
control be exercised over incoming
there seem to be two discrete effects, one on what it is in the nature of the speech spoken messages. In person -to -person
on reading and the other on memory. signal that determines the degree of communication it could be done by
We were able to check this by developing disruption. To begin with, this will mean channelling speech via microphones and
a variant of the proof-reading task. \Ve looking at two features of the speech headphones, so that there is some degree
used a computer -based system, in which signal, both of which have the potential of control over reception.
two forms of the task were developed. In to interfere. The first is the possibility In control systems using advanced tech-
one, a single line of text was displayed. that speech has a certain combination of nology, machine -generated speech will
The reader could examine each line and sounds, spaced at particular intervals, be used more and more to pass messages
use an electronic pointer to mark errors. that characterise speech only. It is likely from the machine to the user. Inter-
When each new line was written -up on that the nervous system is tuned to re- ference from such sources can be kept
the screen the old line was erased, ceive such features while rejecting down by queuing messages within a
preventing the reader from looking back. others. The second is that the so-called computer system so that the operator
The other form displayed the two lines prosodic features, those increases and can listen to them at a convenient time
preceding and the two lines following the decreases in intensity of speech that give
when the workload is low enough.
line under correction. The reader was it a rhythm of its own, might be respon-
free to check backwards and forwards. sible. These changes of intensity, which
The two versions were used to examine are peculiar to speech, might also be Most profound
whether reading was being disrupted subject to tuning by the nervous system. It is during the development of reading
through reliance of reading on memory. skills that the effect of irrelevant speech
Offering the reader five lines of text may have its most profound effects. In
necessarily reduces the immediate bur- Practical outcome primary schools the trend has been
den on working memory; the reader may toward classrooms of the open-plan
check whether the grammar is correct by What are the practical implications of type. Though data are not yet available,
glancing back or forward to the entire our findings? Wherever people are
engaged in activities like those we have there is every possibility that in such set-
sentence under scrutiny. In contrast, by tings fluent reading is being disrupted
providing one line of text only, the already described, it seems likely that and the faltering steps of learners are be-
reader is forced to remember parts of the they run the risk of being distracted by ing impaired.
sentence while examining it for errors. irrelevant speech. Workers in open-plan
offices, where there is little or no Of all our experimental findings, the
If reading is disrupted through the effect single most important is that the disrupt-
that speech has on memory, it would be acoustic isolation, are likely to have their ing effect of speech is independent of
thought that the effect would be more efficiency impaired. Activities such as intensity. This means that the traditional
pronounced where the burden on reading, composing text and performing
mental arithmetic are all likely to suffer idea of abating it ought to be supplanted
memory is greater. The results of our ex- by eliminating it. Reducing the level of
periments show just the opposite. The to some extent.
Most recommendations for the office noise by modest degrees is relatively
five -line version proved to be more cheap; getting rid of ambient noise
susceptible to disruption. We think that environment take scant regard of what
has already been found out by psychol- altogether is an extremely difficult and
the fluency of reading is important: the ogists. It is usually assumed that the expensive enterprise. Yet there may be
more fluent the reading, as with five degree of interference by speech is settings such as the flight deck of an air-
lines of text, the more likely it is to be similar to that induced by white noise. craft where the potential costs of
disrupted by speech. disrupting work might be so high that
That is, it is taken for granted that the
interference can be predicted by knowing such a course should be seriously con-
the ratio of the intensities of signal and sidered.
Evolution noise. But we know that the effect of
\Ve are now left with the question of pre- speech does not depend on its intensity `And silence, like a poultice, comes To
cisely why speech -like sound intrudes and is therefore largely independent of heal the blows of sound." The Music
into our thoughts. Part of the answer its distinguishability from background Grinders, by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
comes from an understanding of the role noise. This probably explains the dis-
that hearing has played in human evol- crepancy that has often been found be-
ution. It has the characteristics of an tween objective acoustic measurements
early warning system and has been de- in offices and complaints by the people
scribed as the sentinel of the senses. It working there.
can receive information through the
auditory channel in darkness; it can
 43

SIGNAL DIVIDER FO
SATELLITE TV RECEIVERS
by R. van Terborgh

Our first application of a monolithic microwave integrated ampli-

fier (MMIC) from Avantek is a wideband amplifier and splitter that
makes it possible to connect two satellite TV receivers to a single
outdoor unit. In other words: this is your chance to share the cost
of a dish plus LNB with your next-door neighbour!

As stated in the introductory article on the 50 Q input of the amplifier (K1;

MivIICs (reference ffi), these new devices MMIC), is of no practical consequence
are eminently suited to building high (reference
performance wideband amplifiers with The amplified wideband signal is ap-
only a handful of components. In the plied to a resistive splitter, 112-R2, for
present application, a single MMIC is feeding to the indoor units. Given the
used for amplifying the IF output signal amplification of the MM IC, and the loss
of a commercially available low noise in the splitter, the net gain on each chan-
block down converter (LNB or LNC). nel is still about 4 dB (do not forget that
The standardized IF bandwidth of LNBs the MM1C has a 50 Q output, and that
is 950-1750 MHz, but should be
it K2 and Ki are terminated in 75 Q).
noted that these are not absolute band More gain is not desirable here because
edges. Most LNBs have a relatively high it would lead to overdriving of the input
conversion gain (55 dB typ.), but this is stage in the IDU.
often found to decrease with frequency. Output IC2 on the amplifier/splitter ac-
Similarly, the attenuation of the cepts the LNB supply voltage carried on
downlead coax cable increases with fre- the downlead coax cable to the IDU.
quency, so that the highest down - This supply voltage is also used for
converted transponder signals are almost powering the MMIC via RI -L2, and ap-
invariably of lower absolute amplitude pears on Ki after passing through
than those further down in the IF band, chokes L3 and Li. Indoor unit 1 (IDU 1)
while C/N figures are still roughly the connected to K2 powers the LNB and
same because reduced gain results in less the signal divider. The supply voltage on
noise (compare the S -meter reading of the coax cable should not disappear
Super Channel to that of, say, Teleclub when IDU 1 is switched off, because this
Switzerland). the indoor units. Still, do not be tempted would make make reception on IDU 2
The foregoing observations have conse- into using, say, 30 m RG-58, or ubi- impossible. The Elektor Electronics in-
quences for the design of a cable ampli- quitious "TV coax": the massive at- door unit (reference ffi) causes no prob-
fier/signal divider for use in satellite TV tenuation such a cable introduces is im- lems in this respect: the LNB supply
receiving systems: possible to overcome by the best cable voltage is present on the RF input as
amplifier or IDU input stage. Stick to long as the unit is connected to the
1. The amplifier should have a relatively good quality COAX12, COAX6, or H43 mains, i.e., irrespective of the position of
high drive margin to prevent it being cable (all 75 Q), terminated in BNC, N the ON/ OFF switch.
"blocked" by the high output levels sup- or F connectors. Green or yellow coax Capacitors C2, C3, Co and C. ensure ad-
plied by the LNB. cable occasionally seen in TV and radio equate supply decoupling, while CI,
2. The frequency response of the ampli- distribution networks is also suitable, and C5 are DC blocking capacitors with
fier should be as flat as possible but appropriate plugs may be difficult to a low reactance and stray inductance at
across the entire IF band. obtain. the frequencies involved.
Both requirements are met by the pro-
posed amplifier/splitter based on the Circuit description Series resistor RI should be dimen-
Type MSA0404 MMIC, which ensures The circuit diagram of Fig. 1 shows the sioned in accordance with the LNB
an output power of +12 dBm at I dB single -chip amplifier and 2 -way signal operating voltage supplied by the IDU
compression, and a third -order intercept divider. The LNB is connected to BNC, on the downlead coax cable. The MMIC
point of +26 dBm (0 dBm=t--1 mW in N or F socket ICI; the 2 indoor units draws about 50 mA at the recommended
50 Q). (IDUs) to IC2 and K3. Amplifier ICI is a supply voltage of 5.5 V, so that
The 2 -way signal divider described here Type MSA0404, whose technical
provides a modest, but often welcome, characteristics can be found in Fig. 5 in RI .(1/LN-B - 5.5)/0.05 [2].
insertion gain of about 4 dB on both ". Gain of the MMIC is 8 dB; input
outputs, and allows relatively inexpens- and output impedance are 50 Q. The The value of 220 Q shown in the circuit
ive coax cable to be used for connecting mismatch between the 75 Q cable and diagram ensures safe operation of the
 EE
March 1988

Fig. I. Circuit diagram of the wideband amplifier and splitter for satellite TV receivers.

amplifier when connected to the Elek tor quired, until the operating voltage is be-
Electronics IDUNa=15 V). tween +5 V and +6 V. Be sure to use an
Warning: some indoor units supply an ordinary '/2 W carbon film resistor: its
LNB voltage as high as 18 V or' even inductance is essential in this appli-
24 V. Always measure Visa on the cation.
centre tip of the RF input connector of
your IDU with the LNB connected to the
downlead coax cable. Then calculate RI Construction
as shown above. Prepare the small Eddystone enclosure
The dimensioning of RI is not critical: shown in the photographs prior to start-
calculate the theoretical resistance, select ing any soldering work. Study the lo-
the next higher value from the E12 cations of Ki, K2 and K3 on the PCB Fig. 3. Side view of a prototype of the signal
series, measure the voltage on the before drilling the holes for these flange - divider, showing the PCB and the RF con-
RF OUT/BIAS terminal of the MMIC, type BNC sockets, which are fitted onto nectors secured onto the lid of a diecast
and decrease the resistor value if re- the lid as shown in Fig. 3. You may have enclosure.

Fig. 2. The small, double sided, printed circuit board for the signal divider is available ready-made through Elektor Electronics' Readers
Services.

Parts list Capacitors: Inductors:

Note : SMD = surface mount device. CI:Cs:Cs= 68p SMD 1.1;L2;1.3= home made -see text.
C2;C3;Cs=1n0 SMD
C7 =10p; 25 V tantalum bead Miscellaneous:
Resistors I 5%): Semiconductor: 10:1(2;K3= BNC socket (flange type).
PCB Type 880067 (see Readers Services page).
RI =220R: 0.5 W carbon film (see text). ICI =MSA0404 (Avantek; distributors are listed Diecast enclosure (Eddystone; dimensions
R2;R3=22R SMD in reference ill). approx. 112 r 64 x 30 mm).
 EE
45
March 1988
to provide new mounting holes on the outside of the lid, and the PCB is pushed
PCB if you intend to use Type N or F onto the centre pins that protrude at the
sockets instead of BNC. Mount a inside. Press the PCB firmly against the
suitable clamp to the box to enable at- lid, and push the twelve M2.6 screws
taching this near, or onto, the dish aerial through the holes in the PCB. Carefully
stand, if this is the most favourable lo- tighten the screws, and solder the centre
cation for the splitter considering the pins of the RF sockets onto the copper
lengths of the downlead cables. Provide islands at the track side of the board.
lettering on the lid to rule out any Finally, be sure to terminate output
likelihood of erroneous connections. IDU 2 in 75 Q at all times. In most
Now proceed with the completion of the cases, the attenuation of the downlead
printed circuit board shown in Fig. 2. cable is high enough to ensure proper
Less experienced constructors should termination of the amplifier if IDU 2 is
note that all parts, with the exception of disconnected in the home. If, for some
the 3 sockets, are fitted direct onto the reason, the downlead cable to IDU 2 is
track side of the board. The leads of temporarily disconnected from the
C-, RI and the 3 inductors should be amplifier output, this must be ter-
kept as short as possible. minated in a 75 Q dummy load (a 75 Q
The tvIMIC is seated in a 04 mm hole, resistor fitted in the RF plug). In
and its 4 leads are soldered straight onto general, the signal divider should be fit-
the relevant copper areas. All capacitors, ted as close as possible to the LNB.RGK
with the exception of tantalum bead type
C-7, are surface mount devices, secured References:
in place by fast soldering with a low -
power iron. The same goes for divider ") MMICs revolutionize wideband RF
resistors R2 and R3. amplifier design. Elektor Electronics,
January 1988, p. 38 ff.
The 3 home-made inductors in the Loss encountered when interconnec-
amplifier are identical. The winding data ting cables having the incorrect im-
are as follows: pedance. By Dr P. Brumm. VHF Com-
Li; 1_2; L3 = 12 turns 00.5 mm Fig. 4. All parts, with the exception of the RF
connectors, are fitted at the track side of the munications, 3/1974.
(SWG25) enamelled copper wire; close - PCB. The small, greyish, rectangular, blocks ") Indoor unit for satellite TV recep-
wound; internal diameter: 2.5 mm. are surface -mount resistors and capacitors tion, parts 1, 2 and 3. Elektor Elec-
Use a sharp knife to remove the protec- (prototype). tronics, October 1986, November 1986,
tive PTFE collar around the centre pin January 1987.
where this protrudes from the BNC RF module for IDU. Elektor Electronics
socket. The 3 sockets are held against the July/August 1987, Supplement p. 10.

ELECTRONICS NEWS ELECTRONICS NE

n

S
Videodisc market in Europe
A report from Frost & Sullivan. The
Videodisc Market in Europe (#E870)
5.5
does not deal with the consumer market,
which failed to materialize in the early
5.0
1980s-in fact, one of the blazing Revenue
mistakes made by videodisc makers then
was to chase the general public. 4.5 111 Instated Value
Videodiscs aimed at the film -viewing 4.0
public experience virtually non-existent
take-up because of the rapid penetration
S 3.5
of videocassette recorders (VCRs). r.1
Instead, the study sees the emerging 3.0
videodisc arena as one primarily aimed
at the professional audio-visual market
2.5
for industrial, institutional, and com-
mercial organizations. The most 0
2.0
favoured and developed applications are n

for training and point -of -sale advertising 1.5

and information. The study predicts that
growth rates will average close to 25% a 1.0
year through 1991, with more than 5350
million worth of machines installed in 0.5
Europe by then.
Frost & Sullivan Ltd Sullivan House 00
4 Grosvenor Gardens LONDON U.K. W. Germany nce Scandinavia Other
SW1W ODH Telephone 01-730 3438.
 46_Eja,

LOW-NOISE PREAMPLIFIER FOR

FM RECEIVERS
First in a short series of articles on simple to build RF preamplifiers
is a tuneable aerial booster for the FM band.

The RF preamplifier described here is in- downlead coax minus 12 V. Example: if enamelled copper wire. Study the com-
tended for fitting as close as possible to the downlead coax carries +18 V, the ponent overlay on the PCB (see Fig. 3)
the FM band aerial. It is a tuneable, tuning voltage at junction Di -D2 is to find the 2 pins on the base that con-
rather than a wideband, amplifier, which +6 V with respect to ground. The lowest nect to Lib. Close -wind Li. as 4 turns,
is fed and tuned via the downlead coax downlead voltage is about 15 V to ensure 00.6 mm enamelled copper wire onto
cable. The amplification and the noise the minimum voltage drop across regu- Lib, starting at the base of the plastic
figure of the FM aerial booster are lator ICI. Choke L3 forms a high im- former. The tap is made after 2 wind-
25 dB and about 1 dB, respectively. All pedance for the amplified RF signals ings. Stretch the turns, and carefully
preamplifiers described in this series are superimposed on the tuning/supply scratch off a small area of the enamel
powered and tuned by a common voltage. coating approximately half -way the in-
supply/tuning unit installed at an appro- ductor. Solder a short wire to this point,
priate location in the home. and point it down towards the base.
Construction Press the inductor together again. Con-
nect the end wires and the tap wire to the
Circuit description Commence the construction of the pre- base pins, and verify continuity and
amplifier with winding the inductors. orientation of the completed inductor.
The circuit diagram of Fig. 1 shows that Input inductor LI is wound on the Drain inductor L2 is wound as 4 turns
the preamplifier is a conventional design former in the Type 10V1 inductor as- 00.3 mm enamelled copper wire
based on a VHF MOSFET tetrode Type sembly from Neosid-see Fig. 2. First, through a small 'ferrite bead. The centre
BF981. The preamplifier input can be close -wind Lit, as 11 turns, 00.6 mm tap is made after two turns by twisting
connected to unbalanced (60...75 2) as
well as balanced (240...300 Q) aerials
or feeder systems. The balanced input
allows the preamplifier to be connected
direct to the dipole element. In this case,
BF981
the preamplifier can take the place of the
balun removed from the ABS, water-
resistant, enclosure that houses the
0
dipole terminals. This solution ensures
the lowest possible input loss, and ob- 03

viates the need for a separate preampli-

fier enclosure on the mast. 12V

The balanced or unbalanced aerial G1n

II
GI

signal is applied to winding a of tuneable o

Oi
inductor Li. Varactors DI -D2 form the GI
4-(0C)
adjustable capacitance across winding b, s. II
5110p
°O P5
so that the tuning range of Li is about
86...109 MHz. Gate 2 of DG MOSFET R3
Ti is held at about +4 V by potential
LI = 10V I DTI
divider R2 -1b. The bias voltage is effec-
tively decoupled by surface mount ca-
BF981
pacitor Ci. Blocking capacitor CO takes -1
the amplified RF signal from a half- DI

impedance tap on drain inductor L2.

The MOSFET is fed with a constant
*see text
operating voltage of 12 V, supplied by on= 54

regulator ICI. The direct voltage on the D2t4 35V

downlead coax can be varied between 2x
15 V and about 26 V by means of the 88405 650C42 - I
supply/tuning unit near the receiver.
Zenerdiode D3 in the preamplifier en-
sures that the tuning voltage for varac-
tors DI -D2 is the voltage on the Fig. 1. Circuit diagram of the tuneable VHF preamplifier.
 Cl
L1 --E)
q3
Q-
R2

e EPS
8130042

Fig. 2. The Type 10V1 inductor assembly Fig. 3. The PCB for building the VHF preamplifier.
from Neosid.
3 cm or so of the wire before making the Parts list Da= zenercriode 12 V; 400 mW
third and fourth turn. The twisted wire is ICI =78L12
then cut to length, the enamel coating is FM BAND PREAMPLIFIER. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: TI=BF981
scratched off, and the connection is FIG. 1.
carefully pre -tinned.
Choke L3 is the simplest to make: it is Resistors ± 5%): Inductors:
wound as 6 turns 00.2 mm enamelled
copper wire through a small ferrite bead. RI:113= 100K Winding data ae given in the text.
R2 = 56K
The three home-made inductors in the R.4= 10K
preamplifier are shown in the photo- Li = inductor assembly Type 10V1. Neosid part
graph of Fig. 4. number: 15955100. (Neosid Eduard House
Capacitors:
Brownfields Welwyn Garden City
Herts AL7 1 AN. Telephone: (0707) 325011.
The PCB for this project is a double - CI =1n0 (surface mount assembly) Telex: 25423).
sided, but not through -plated, pre - C2=1n0 ceramic (pitch: 5 mm) 2 off small, single -hole. ferrite beads (length:
tinned type. The four resistors are C3 = 1p0; 16 V; axial
approx. 3 mm).
mounted upright. Ascertain the pinning Co= tp0; 40 V; axial
Cs=47p; 35 V; axial
of MOSFET Ti before fitting it on the
Ce=560p ceramic (pitch: 5 mm)
printed circuit board: depending on the Miscellaneous:
make of the device, it may be necessary
to mount it with the type indication fac- Semiconductors: Suitable waterproof enclosure.
ing the PCB. PCB Type 880042 (see Readers Services page).
D1;02=80405 5 off soldering pins.
The ground terminal of R2, R4, ICI, C:,
C3, C4, C5, the source terminal of Ti,
the anode of 132, input pin 2, the 2 should not present problems: grounded copper wire through a small ferrite bead
solder tabs on the shielding can of Li, component leads or terminals are (length: approx. 3 mm).
and the output ground terminal, are soldered at both sides of the PCB. Fit The tuning control, Pi, is conveniently
soldered at both sides of the PCB. The ICI with a TO220-style heat -sink, but fitted onto the 3 soldering pins to go
only component at the track side of the make sure that this is insulated from the round a 3 -wire connection. The as-
board is SMD capacitor CI. This is ground area. sembled board, the 24 VAC power trans-
soldered direct across the GATE 2 and former, mains switch and fuse are hous-
SOURCE connections of the MOSFET. Fit The winding data for the 3 chokes on the ed in a small enclosure with a sloping
a 15 mm high brass or tin metal screen board are as follows: front panel. Omit DI...D4 incl., and
with a small clearance for the MOSFET = 6 turns 00.2 mm enamelled CI -C2, when a 24 VDC source, such as a
as shown on the component overlay.

Supply/tuning unit
The circuit diagram of the simple,
regulated and adjustable, power supply
for the downlead-powered preamplifiers
is shown in Fig. 6. The output voltage of
integrated regulator ICI is adjusted be-
tween 15 V and 26 V with tuning control
Pi. The tuning and supply voltage for
each preamplifier is applied to the centre
core of the respective downlead coax
cable by a choke -resistor combination.
The tuning/supply unit is built on the
double -sided, pre -tinned printed circuit
board shown in Fig. 7. Construction Fig. 4. A close look at the home-made inductors.
 48 EE
March 1988

Fig. 5. Prototype of the completed low -noise Fig. 6. Circuit diagram of the tuningisuppl) unit.
preamplifier.

mains adapter, is already available- Testing power, and verify the presence of the ad-
connect this to the points marked + and justable direct voltage on the three
0. The tuning control can be fitted with Connect the AC input of the completed DC/RF terminals. Check whether Pi
a vernier and a scale for the frequency tuning/supply unit to the secondary of the voltage between +15 V and
sets
ranee of each preamplifier. the 24 VAC mains transformer, apply +26 V.

es
00

e EPS 0E10041

Parts list

TUNINGiSUPPLY UNIT. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: Inductors:

FIG. 6.
U3i 1.1;t2;1_3= home made on 3 mm ferrite
Resistors (±5%): beads-see text.

RS =220R
0 R2=1K8 Semiconductors:

t
n
Ra;114:115=47R
Pt =2K5 or 2K2 linear potentiometer Di...04 incl.=1N4001
ICI =LM317 (T0220 enclosure)
0 0
Capacitors:
Miscellaneous:
CI;C2=47n
C3 C3= 1000p; 40 V T0220 -style Heat -sink for ICI.
C4= 1p; 40 V 11 off soldering pins.
O
0 + Cs;C6;C7 = 220p PCB Type 880041 (see Readers Services page).
Ca= 10p; 40 V

Fig. 7. The printed circuit board for the tuning/suppl) unit.

 EE 49
March 1988
Tune the FM receiver to a relatively weak voltage between 22 V and 26 V to check the resonance frequency with the tuning
transmission at about 108 MHz, and that this tunes the preamplifier. voltage applied to the varactors, the core
make a note of the signal strength. Con- in Li should be turned to about half-
nect the input of the completed pre- way the aerial winding. This completes
amplifier to the aerial, not a cable net- Set the supply to +15 V, and tune the re- the initial adjustment of the FM band
work outlet. The preamplifier output is ceiver to a signal at the lower band edge, preamplifier, which is ready for fitting
connected to the appropriate soldering i.e., approximately 88 MHz. Check that into a waterproof enclosure.
terminal on the tuning/supply board via Li is still adjusted for optimum recep-
a short length of coax cable. Similarly, tion by carefully adjusting the core. Tune The next instalment in this series will
connect the unbalanced (75 Q) input of to a number of stations at regular fre- deal with preamplifiers for the short-
the FM receiver to the RF (RX) output quency intervals in the FM band, op- wave, VHF and UHF TV bands.
on the tuning/supply board. Set Pi to timize reception by adjusting Pi in the
+26 V on the cable to the preamplifier. tuning/supply unit, and make notes of
Verify the presence there of +12 V on the downlead voltage. If necessary, redo
C3, and +14 V on C5. Use a plastic trim the adjustment of Li to ensure that the
tool to adjust the screw core in Li for span of the tuning voltage covers the en-
optimum reception. Vary the supply tire FM band. For optimum tracking of

and potential of satellite transmissions launched by Ariane rocket last

RADIO & TV NEWS to a moving vehicle. The equipment September from Kourou in French
on the van consists of a small, roof - Guiana and has now been placed in its
Distance learning mounted, omni-directional antenna, a
Professor Bill Spence, head of Ulster final geostationary orbital position at
car -radio sized receiver, and a printer. 10° East.
University's Communications Depart- The van's route is taking it through The spacecraft will complement
ment, recently demonstrated how new southern England, Federal Germany, EUTELSAT I F-1 (ECS-1) and EUTEL-
technology is presenting opportunities Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzer- SAT I F-2 (ECS-2), also manufactured
for distance learning and teleconferenc- land.
ing by giving an hour-long lecture to the
by British Aerospace as prime contrac-
tor, which provide a range of telecom-
International Technology Conference in munications services to Europe, includ-
Perth, western Australia, from his office In -orbit delivery of British
in Northern Ireland. ing telephony, business services, and TV
Professor Spence has been sponsored by
satellite distribution. '
the British Council to carry out research The European Telecommunications Sat- EUTELSAT I F-4 is the 11th communi-
into distance learning. This has resulted ellite Organization, EUTELSAT, has cations satellite to be launched in the
in visits to Laval University, Quebec, and taken formal delivery in orbit of series of 18 which have been developed
Rutgers University, New Jersey. EUTELSAT I F-4 after a series of rigor- from the Orbital Test Satellite. It will
has a similar problem to Ulster Univer- ous acceptance tests. operate at 14/11,GHz and 14/12 GHz,
sity in that it consists of four campuses, EUTELSAT I F-4, originally called and its transponders will be used mainly
each about 96 km apart, and is trying to ECS-4, was built by a European consor- for TV distribution.
improve communications with the latest tium led by British Aerospace. It was
technological aids, such as advanced
telephone conferencing, closed circuit
television, electronic mail, and docu-
ment publishing.
As a result of Professor Spence's visit,
the communications department at
Ulster University now has access to the
North American computer network
known as Bitnet through arrangements
made by the Office of Television and
Radio at Rutgers University as a con-
tribution towards the further collabor-
ation of both universities in the field of
distance learning.

Land mobile services through

INMARSAT
At last October's INMARSAT Assembly
in London, the INMARSAT Council
were requested to examine the commer-
cial, technical, and operational feasi-
bility of providing land mobile satellite
services. The organization is already in- Produced to a demanding Interspace of France requirement for vibration testing of a space
troducing telephone, telex, facsimile, satellite, the Environmental Engineering Department of British Aerospace Army Weapons
and data services for aircraft operations Division have designed a dual head vibration fixture to a Ling Dynamic Systems specification.
and passengers later this year.
As part of the feasibility study, a With a diameter of 2.111I the satellite vibration test fixture couples a three tonne specimen to
specially equipped van is touring Europe two electromagnetic vibrators. A maximum weight, minimum static stiffness and a minimum
lowest resonant frequency were specified for the fixture. The major problem was to devise a
to demonstrate to truck and bus manu- fixture that would transmit the motion of the vibrators to the lest piece faithfully, without dis-
facturers, and the media, the reliability torting the motion as a result of the fixture's own physical characteristics.
50 EE
March 1988

RADIO & TV NEWS

PiOUPS

Multi -standard MAC decoder PLESSEY SCJACOnDUCTCPS

announced o,.
:
--
Nordic VLSI of Norway, in co-operation
with the Norwegian Telecommuni- EPJER

cations Administration, have succeeded

in producing the first working C/D/D2
MAC (multi -MAC) compatible chip for VISO I
1.1svi CrSaf irry:fit;

reception of TV services via satellite. owb CHAN

1110.

The first prototypes of the VLSI chip 141V1710 f,W1740

/1-T Crrie
were combined with MAC satellite re- MAC
VIDEO TEAT

ceiving equipment produced by Tand-

berg Telecom. The prototype chip, which Tara7,
had 230,000 transistors on board, LUCA%

worked first time without any need for

redesign or modification. Following this
success, Nordic teamed up with Plessey
Semiconductors and Philips to develop a 4 PACKETS AM COW Ptli.
complete Multi -MAC transcoder con-
cept with provisions for decrypting and PC-DUS

conditional access decoding. In this 4

two WaREs_ AD ABORESSES
=Eel:
joint venture, Plessey Semiconductors i.KROCCoe;',,7E: v
will manufacture three of tim full - 113WO +
erz,
+ Leda
PCf380Z51
COIXOPUiAL
custom VLSI CMOS ASICs at the heart VITERFACE ACCESS

of the decoder and also supply a Teletext CINTRCE

full -custom VLSI CMOS ASIC. To

complete the decoder, Philips will de-
Block diagram of the multi -standard MAC decoder incorporaing 887044
ICs from Philips and Plessey Semiconductors.
velop the operating software (including
decryption) and supply ICs from their
extensive bipolar and MOS ranges to All packet addresses in the selected clock recovery and video clamping, a
perform the analogue signal processing, data bursts are Golay decoded microcomputer comprising a micropro-
computer control and data conversion MI The configuration data can be cessor (e.g. the 16 -bit 68070) plus RAM
functions. changed without disrupting the ser- and ROM, and a conditional access con-
This unique cooperation has led to the vice trol module incorporating a PCB80C51
availability of the first -ever chip -set for II Can handle Teletext in accordance 8 -bit microcontroller. Standard Philips
constructing an advanced multi -stan- with the EBU specification during ICs are also used for D to A and A to D
dard MAC decoder which can enor- the frame interval or in the packet conversion of the video signal (3 x
mously increase the market applicability multiplex TDA8702 and TDA8703 or Plessey
of TV sets through its most innovative A second vision signal aspect ratio SP94308 respectively), D to A conver-
feature - multi -standard operation that and decompression ratio will allow sion of the stereo sound signal (dual
meets all the requirements of today's future high -definition TV (aspect DAC TDA1541A), and for filtering the
European satellite TV market. ratio 16:9) to be accommodated sound signal (SAA7220).
whilst retaining compatibility with The conditional access control module
Unique features of a decoder built with present standards (aspect 4:3) handles both over -air and/or local ad-
the chip -set: Linear or companded sound signals dressing for decryption. It can either be
Implements the full CMAC/DMAC/ can be decoded detachable or can form a permanent
D2MAC packet standard II Processing of 1st and 2nd level error part of the TV set. In either case, it's
Can handle the standard MAC for- protection of the sound signal, in- connected to the microcomputer via the
mat for picture plus up to eight mono cluding error concealment EBU interface.
or four stereo sound channels Digital mixing allows simultaneous
Is compatible with any TV set archi- processing of stereo sound and com- The user interface, in its minimum form,
tecture mentary channels consists of pushbuttons and LEDs. A
A conditional access control feature Sound quality comparable with com- more advanced version would incor-
allows descrambling and decryption pact disc porate a keyboard for controlling menus
of sound and vision signals (Pay TV) The decoder is software controlled. and service identification data displayed
and of Teletext. This feature can on the screen of the TV set.
handle several broadcasts simul- Main functions of the multi -standard
taneously and meets the requirements MAC decoder Nordic VLSI, together with Tandberg
of the new Part 6 of the EBU specifi- The main part of the decoder comprises Telecom and Elektrisk Bureau, has also
cation. Entitlements can be ad- four full -custom VLSI CMOS ASICs formed the Crypto-MAC consortium,
dressed over -air, via a smart -card or from Plessey Semiconductors; MAC which will produce encoders and com-
via a keyboard control circuit MV1720, MAC video cir- plete receivers using Nordic VLSI chips.
Single- and double -cut conditional MVI710, MAC sound circuit
cuit The consortium has already signed
access descrambling of the vision MV1730 and MAC Teletext circuit major contracts for delivery of such
signal as specified by the EBU MV1740. These are complemented by equipment.
I Very flexible packet multiplexing several Philips ICs; a MAC ANalogue
allows full -field sound/data transfer (MACAN) circuit TDA8734 which per- Philips expect to commence production
of up to 50 high quality sound chan- forms analogue signal processing and in- of the multi -MAC decoder in June of
nels at a rate of nearly 20 Mbit/s cludes functions such as data slicing, this year.
 EE 111
March 1988
CCIR is 60 years old 1920s that preliminary studies and coor- throughout its 60 years of history are
dination of the work undertaken in each still in force to date.
Sixty years ago, the ITU Plenipoten- Member country in telecommunications CCIR's Recommendations cover nearly
tiaries of 80 states meeting in research and development would be re- every domain of the use of radio tech-
Washington D.C. (USA) from 4 October quired by international conferences to nology, including radio relay systems in
to 25 November 1927, turned a page of enable them to reach agreements within telecommunications networks, satellite
the Union's history by creating the Inter- reasonable periods of time. systems for communications, radio and
national Radio Consultative Committee It is against this background that the de- television broadcasting, and mobile ser-
(CCIR). cision was made to establish in 1927 a vices such as maritime, aeronautical and
Taking advantage of the presence of permanent body within the ITU land vehicle mobile communications.
several CCIR delegates gathered in Secretariat to deal with these questions. Some basic aspects of radiocommunic-
Geneva for interim study groups The role of the CCIR today is to study ation are also studied, as radio waves
meetings, the CCIR held a celebration and issue Recommendations on techni- propagation and technical means that
today to commemorate the event. cal and operating questions relating to would lead to a better and more econ-
In the years following the setting up of radiocommunications. The First Plenary omical use of the frequency spectrum.
the Union, international agreements in Assembly - the policy -making body The CCIR is headed by a Director
the field of radiocommunications could made of representatives of Member ad- elected at Plenipotentiary conferences
be made by international conferences ministrations - was held in The Hague and is assisted by a specialized
without much difficulty. However, as a in 1929 and the first post-war Assembly, secretariat. The present Director of the
result of the rapid development of the which reorganized the work of the CCIR is Mr. Richard Kirby from the
techniques used and their increasing CCIR, was held in Stockholm in 1948. United States.
complex nature, it became clear in the Over 300 Recommendations adopted
The International Telecommunication Union (111.) was founded in 1865 and as such is the oldest specialized agency of the United Nations. It now has a
membership of 163 countries. It is the international organization responsible for the planning of telecommunications worldwide, for the establishment of
equipment operating standards, for the coordination of data required for the planning and operation of telecommunications services and, within the
United Nations system, for the development of telecommunications..

et -7i
Cultural television channel are water resistant. "I used the sort of
expands in Europe rugged radio -control apparatus used in
aeroplanes" explained Mr Fearis, "so it
Britain's Satellite Television Arts Chan- should survive being dropped".
nel, which broadcasts cultural program- The transmitter sends a signal within the
mes to cabled homes in western Europe, standard Citizen's Band frequency but
has added West Germany and Austria to this does not create any interference with
its 'footprint' as from January this
1
CB radio, sines the Buzzbox signal is
year. From that date, it will also be digitally encoded. The signal is then re-
available in many more households in ceived and decoded by the child's re-
Belgium, Denmark, the Republic of ceiver, triggering the vibrator in the
Ireland, Luxembourg, Finland, Norway, bracelet. The system will work up to a
the Netherlands, Sweden, and distance of 1.6 km in an open area, or
Switzerland, as well as in Britain. 0.4 km in a heavily built-up area.
The expansion follows the conclusion of The parent can send a signal on two dif-
an agreement between the two-year old ferent channels, each of which will light
channel and Skychannel, which up a different light -emitting diode
pioneered satellite transmissions of fam- (LED) on the child's receiver, one red
ily entertainment within Europe and and the other green. The parent and
provides for Arts Channel programmes child agree as to the meaning of the two
to be transmitted via Sky's Eutelsat Fl different signals. The LED and vibrator
satellite transponder. The three hours of will automatically switch off after 16
cultural programmes are scheduled for seconds if a child does not switch them
transmission at 2330 UTC, although off first. The 16 second period can be
trailer highlights will be shown during Buzzbox attracts the deaf changed by changing the resistance and
the day so that viewers who do not want The problem of how to attract the atten- capacitance of the trigger circuit.
to stay up can set their video recorders. tion of a deaf child has been solved by a The vibrator itself consists of a small
Arts Channel makes about one fifth of UK engineering product designer. He DC motor driving an off-centre weight,
its own programmes and 95% of the has produced a vibrating bracelet that is so that the velocity of the motor controls
total output is of European origin. The worn by the child and radio controlled the frequency of vibration felt by the
range includes ballet, opera, drama, by the parent. child. (200 Hz is thought to be the fre-
music, and visual arts. The channel is Mr Paul Fearis developed the Buzzbox quency to which humans are most
currently filming a major four-part during his final year at South Bank touch -sensitive.)
documentary, William and Mary, mark- Polytechnic, London, in response to a Blind people could also use the system,
ing the 300th anniversary later this year problem raised by the UK Royal says Mr Fearis, if the red/green LEDs
of the accession to the British throne of National Institute for the Deaf. It con- were replaced by two different types of
Dutch Prince William of Orange and his sists of two units -a transmitter worn vibratory signal. The child could receive
English wife Princess Mary. This Anglo- by the parent, and a receiver worn by the a pulsed vibration, for instance, by send-
Dutch programme will describe the child, both running off rechargeable bat- ing a square -wave radio signal.
architecture, painting, and music of the teries. The Buzzbox is to be manufactured by
period.
The vibrating bracelet is connected to Mentmore Industries, workshop for the
The Arts Channel P.O. Box 7 Ebbw the receiver by a wire. Both units are disabled in Hackney, London, and will
sale Gwent Wales United Kingdom. about the size and weight of a small retail for about £47.
calculator, are moulded in plastic and
 rch,98.

SLAVE INDICATION UNIT F

INTELLIGENT TIME STANDARD

sr 7t41E STANDARD
ELEKTOR

The serial data output of the Intelligent Time Standard described

last month is geared to driving a number of auxiliary time and
date indication units installed at some distance from the master
clock.
Applications of the indication unit described here can be found
in and around the home, in studios, offices, laboratories, schools,
workshops, or any other building in which accurate, central,
timekeeping is a must.
The slave indication unit described here Hence, software is used in this appli- The brightness of the displays is con-
is an optional extension to the Intelligent cation to make for a remarkably low trolled automatically as a function of
Time Standard (DCF77 clock) described chip count in a circuit whose operation ambient light intensity. This function is
in "'. The unit has large time and date is, none the less, relatively complex. realized by phototransistor Tit in con-
displays with automatic brightness regu- With reference to the circuit diagram of junction with voltage regulator IC3 (ref-
lation, and is connected to the Time Fig. 1, serial data at TTL level trans- erence 01). The common -anode voltage
Standard via a 2 -wire cable. mitted by he Intelligent Time Standard for the displays, Ud, is directly related
enters the circuit of the slave indication to the ambient light intensity measured
unit via buffer/inverter T,, which drives by Tu. The minimum brightness of the
the INT (interrupt) input of the displays can be set to individual require-
Circuit description microcontroller, ICI. Figure 2 shows the ment by increasing the value of R.i to
At the heart of the present circuit is a circuit diagram of the display unit, 220 Q, and reducing R4 to 560 Q.
pre-programmed microcontroller Type which consists of two multiplexed rows The regulated 5 V power supply for the
87481-1 from "invisible"
Intel. The of 7 -segment LED displays, and 7 slave indication unit is of conventional
program that controls the operation of discrete LEDs. Port PI of the 8748H design, and merits no further comment.
the indication unit has been designed controls the segments of the upper 6 dis- The alternating input voltage
and loaded into the EPROM on board plays (time), and the 7 LEDs (day of the (9...10 VAC) is obtained from a mains
the 8748H by Elektor Electronics. The week), while port P2 controls the lower adapter, or a suitable power transformer.
internal machine code enables the 8 displays (date). IC; and ICs contain
microcontroller to combine the func- power buffers inserted between the port
tions of: outputs of the microcontroller and the
1. serial data receiver; cathodes of the display segments and the Construction: two boards
2. ASCII to 7 -segment decoder; discrete LEDs. The display 'unit is The slave indication unit is built on two
3. intelligent display multiplexer and multiplexed by databits DB0... DB7 and equally sized printed circuit boards that
refresh timer. darlington transistors T2...T9 incl. can be fitted in a sandwich construction
 EE
March 1988
1 to allow the use of a relatively flat
5V
v
enclosure (see the introductory photo-
(5
7. of7 0111
graph). For ease of wiring and access,
7
the boards are mounted with facing
M°. track sides. It is also possible to use the
7. 270 0. 251
roVCC YCO control board for driving other display
'Cl "P 16-2 DS I
units, such as the Jumbo Displays (refer-
52 P
21 P1.2 2 ence 0)), provided the necessary altera-
211.11

zDm
as 71.5
as
16.2 C.53
tions are made to this circuit.
16.7
CS.
If the sandwich construction is used, the
755
boards are best interconnected with
S
P2.2
Pil CM
short lengths of strong, solid wire. For
P2.2
it P1..1 DS7
other mounting arrangements, it is rec-
ULN
3dP2-2 ommended to use a 5 cm long connec-
2000
31 tion made in flatcable.
a 727 IC I u 22 130 The two sets of pull-up resistors,
1000)01-1 (C31) (222) t0221 (CM) (CAS) (C.2.5) tun tem'
5V 0 8745/4 5V
72-T5= S. 1317675 R12...R1S incl. and R19...R25 incl., are
0 7.
0
322
SS preferably mounted as 9 -pin, single -in -
SV Of = aan 3676.6.6 line, resistor networks, but it is also
PIT
1:7 = aP ren snot ets.6
possible to use 16 miniature (0.125 \V)
x=212 resistors, mounted vertically and com-
EME
CC
PCs t9 moned by a horizontally running wire to
PISEN
BC -517
6.00 A
the positive supply line (see Fig. 3).
Up The component mounting plan for the
1.2 n -- (3V -.5-5V) control board is shown in Fig. 4. There
272.1 -
0 are 6 fixed, and 2 variable, wire links,
whose function is shown in the circuit
:Li c
diagram. Fit links A -C (century: 19xx)
=A* and E -F (no zero suppression).
-T 1. All segment control outputs are made in
6D676
5I0
soldering terminals. Common -anode
driver transistors T2...T9 incl. are fitted
222
f=1 in a neat row on the PCB, and can do
without a heat -sink. Be sure to check the
mounting position of these transistors
against the pin -out shown in the circuit
ct
05
diagram, Fig. 1. Voltage regulators IC2
11-1711
SSA
and IC3 need heat -sinks of the style and
size indicated on the component overlay.
It is not necessary to insulate the metal
/2 222 ((at
tabs of the regulator chips from the heat -
sinks. These can be bolted direct onto
17125_1 the PCB, provided that they are -and
remain -well insulated from one
another, as well as from any other part
Fig. 1. Circuit diagram of the remote indication unit for the Elekior Electronics Intelligen on the board (remember that the heat-
Time Standard. sink for IC2 is connected to ground, and
that for IC3 to junction R41 -R43).
2 The phototransistor, Tit, is fitted in a
position that allows the detection of am-
LD 1 LD LDS 1D 5 12011D&T bient light only, i.e., the device must not
I_I =kJ 1-1
Pa
"see" the light emitted by the LED dis-
Li
TUESDAY

I -I LI plays. Preset Pt makes it possible to set

WEDNESDA
the display brightness to personal
CM rC6
preference, and as required for the am-
1152152.21 bient light condition.
12? I 127 7,5 1.011 10121 LD

0IIIII
FRIDAY
The display board is simple to build.
Kt!
tt]
1,11
I2,1
ri I-1
0 0I I SATURDAY Commence the construction with fitting
the 8 wire links on it. LEDs Ds. -Du
r up
SLIMLY
may be omitted, or fitted purely for
Dal
66)

1.681"
3 .5V
16S, 000

LD11022 .77S 7751

DI -DO. LSD

vac 2
.74 -

Fig. 3. Eight miniature resistors may be used

Fig. 2. Circuit diagram of the display unit. instead of a 9 -pin SIL resistor network.
 54 EE
March 1988
decorative purposes. The contrast, and pins 26 and 40 of the socket for the Fit the ICs, and test the completed cir-
hence the legibility, of the read-out can microcontroller, ICI. Evidently, the cir- cuit by applying power. In the absence of
be enhanced by means of a red, semi- cuit works only when the microcon- time and date information from the In-
transparent, display bezel. troller Type 8748H contains the correct telligent Time Standard, the displays
Check the operation of the on -board control program. Ready -programmed should read 00 00 00 (time) and
power supply before fitting the ICs in 8748Hs for this project are available 01 01 1900 (date). If this checks out, the
their sockets. Set Pi to the centre of its from Elektor Electronics or its agents boards are ready for fitting into a
travel. Verify the presence of +5 V on under order number ESS 559. suitable enclosure.

4
203000000© ii0000008 61000"6:9
rl'OTIft
R32 -NW--------D JINJ
a NM effaintl
-11111M
{DD CJOD
0
00-0
:11 rri
D
1!4//= Ck
1.0x Ot-
0=11-00
0 0
0-1R2 -0 0.1 010,_,, 0-1.4.1-0 02
04
o 1>1 o
(c)
03
n +
o444-0
"a
0
0
0 ®ice r}r
999
D
A A A r
L.) N
666 0

0 II "I° 'EnTmeD Q
Ilma
6
a
V CI 4)

Fig. 4. The printed circuit hoard for the control board in the slate indication unit.

Parts list

CONTROL BOARD. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: FIG. 1. Capacitors: Tit = general-purpose phototransistor, e.g.
BP103 or TIL81
Resistors Ci=3n3 ICI = programmed 8748H. Elektor Electronics
C2;Cio=1y0; 10V order no. ESS 559 (see Readers Services
RI =10K Ca;C4=33p page).
R2=4K7 Cs= 2200y; 25 V IC2=7805
R3= 5K6 C6= 22011 ICa=LM317T (T0220 style)
incl.=2K2 C7;C9;C11=100n IC4;IC5 = ULN2003
812 . . .R18 incl.;R19...R25 incl.= 3K3 8 -way Co= 10p; 10V
SIL resistor network
826...R39 incl.=27R Miscellaneous:
R40 = IKO Semiconductors:
841=100R Xi = 10 MHz quartz crystal (enclosure:
R42 = NOR. Di =1N4148 HC25IU).
R43 = 22OR Dz ...Ds incl.= 1N4001 Heat -sink for 1C2.
Pi =25K or 22K preset H Ti =BC547 Heat -sink for !Ca.
Tz ... Ts incl.=BD676 PCB Type 87104-1 (see Readers Services
See text. Tto=BC516 page).
 EE
March 1988

Parts list

DISPLAY UNIT. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: FIG. 2.

Resistors (± 5%):

Rt...R4 incl.= 33R

Semiconductors:

DI ...Ott incl.= LED, 03 mm, red

LD1...LD14 incl.= 7750 or 7751 (common
anode LED display)

Miscellaneous:

PCB Type 87104-2 (see Readers Services

Pagel -

It is recommended to drill a number of mains transformer plus fuse is preferably

ventilation holes in the top and bottom Connection to the
fitted in a separate box. Figure 7 shows
panel of the enclosure, to keep the tem- a suggestion for making an attractive Time Standard
perature of the voltage regulators on the looking front panel for the slave indi- Diodes 132 and D., if present, are re-
heat -sinks within reasonable limits. The cation unit. moved from the PCB in the intelligent

Fig. 5. The printed circuit board for the display unit.

 EE
56
March 1988
displays are controlled by the following
data blocks:
Block 1: LED DI... D7, day of the
week;
Block 2: LD7-LDs, day of the month
(1-31);
Block 3: LD9-LDio, month (1-12);
Block 4: LD13-L114, year (00-99);
Block 5: Lth-LD2, hours (0-24);
Block 6: LD3-LD4, minutes (0-59);
Block 7: LDs-LDo, seconds (0-59).
The order in which the data blocks are
sent, and their assignment to the dis-
plays, is fixed, since the slave indication
unit can not change the format of the re-
ceived data.
The data speed on the serial link be-
tween the time standard and the remote
indication unit is 4,800 bits/s. The struc-
ture of the serial data is:
8 databits, no parity, 1 stop bit.
Time Standard, while CI is replaced spaces. The data blocks are displayed
with a wire link. The DCF77 clock sends strictly in the order in which they are re-
its data to the remote indication unit(s) ceived. The carriage return and line feed Software
via two wires. Output Tx]) (transinitted sequence (CR-LF; ODit-OAn) is used for Although the operation of the software
data) on the Intelligent Time Standard is marking the end of the complete data loaded in the microcontroller is, nor-
connected to RXD (received data) on the block, and for resetting the internal mally, invisible to the user, it is none the
slave indication unit. The other wire is pointers to prepare for reception of the less useful to read the following descrip-
connected to ground on both units. It next data string. tion of its main functions.
was found that an unshielded 2 -wire With reference to Fig. 6, the LEDs and Broadly speaking, the control program
connection can have a length of about
15 m even when it crosses relatively 6 DAY IMOKDAY=1)
strong electromagnetical fields, caused
DAY OF MONTH
by, for instance, luminescent tubes or
electronic equipment. For distances PLINTH

greater than 15 m, reliable data transfer 'EAR

is made possible by the use of screened HOUR

microphone wire. If interference persists MINUTE

in a system with multiple indication SICOND
units and relatively long connections, it
is recommended to insert line buffers at
appropriate locations. In some cases it TXD - -2- -13- - -3- 88- [g 52 - 45 - CR/LF>
may also be necessary to ensure some
protection against spurious pulses in- = space = 213ng
duced on the 2 -wire cable: fit a 5V1 or ASCII: 20 20 32 20 20 31 33 20 20 20 33 20 20 38 38
5V6 zenerdiode across R6 in the In- 20 20 20 38 20 20 35 32 20 20 34 35 20 OD OA
telligent Time Standard (anode to
ground). r

LZ1 LD 2 LOS LOS

Time signals
It is possible to drive the slave indication I -I n05E:AY

unit from clock systems other than the I I

Intelligent Time Standard, but only if
the format of the serial time and date in- I

formation is brought in accordance with LDS to 11 LD t) to

that discussed in (". /NI
The numerical data structure shown in . 1 I1 I1 I I- I mft

the example of Fig. 6 is selected when IN- 1 :I CI CI

PUT on the Time Standard is activated,
and configuration diode DI3 has been
fitted. It should be noted that the slave
indication unit recognizes ASCII input
data only. Data is organized as two hexa-
decimal figures, with two spaces (20n) 114
1.01_117 I r ITUE Tlit
EIL-Dt4= LEO
to separate complete numbers. ASCII
character 3011 (0) is treated as 20H C. 87104.6
(space) by the slave indication unit, 1=

while the Intelligent Time Standard can

be set up to replace leading zeroes by Fig. 6. Data structure and resultin9, time and date indication on the disola) unit.
 EE
March 1988
in the microcontroller 8748H is geared to This option has been included in the ting the anode of a LED to CA8, and the
perform two functions: design to allow the indication unit to be cathode to line b2. Th
1. conversion to parallel of the serial used in applications other than clock
datastream received from the Intelligent systems (studio timers, score -displays, References:
Time Standard; etc.). With jumper E-F fitted, leading
2. driving, multiplexing and refreshing zeroes are displayed, irrespective of '" Intelligent time standard. Elektor
the display unit. whether these are caused by input Electronics January 1988, p. 22 ff.
The microcontroller used here does not character 20H (space) or 30H (0).
have an ACIA function (Asynchronous The software in the .slave indication '' Jumbo displays. Elektor Electronics
July/August 1985, p. 7-88 ff.
Communications Interface Adapter), so recognizes and processes the SYNC/NO (3) Display intensity control. Elektor
that serial -to -parallel conversion (shift- SYNC code transmitted by the In- Electronics July/August 1987, Supple-
ing in) of received data can only be ef- telligent Time Standard after the two ment p. 9.
fected with the aid of timing routines in seconds bytes and subsequent spaces in
an interrupt structure. The start bit in the time string (Mode: EXTRA INFO
each new dataword causes the first inter- ON. SYNC = 42H; NO SYNC = 45H,
rupt, which is received while the main see Fig. 6 in 9. This code may be used
program works on multiplexing and for controlling a LED that indicates Note:
refreshing the read-out. Display refresh whether or not the time standard is syn- The control program in the 8748H (ESS 559) is not
is automatically corrected as a function chronized to DCF77. Such an indicator public domain software: the copyright rests with
of interrupt handling time. Thanks to has not been provided on the slave indi- Bator Electronics. Source listings and/or hex -
this part of the control software, the cation unit, but is readily added by fit - dumps of the program are, therefore, not available.
read-out is stable and equally bright
under all conditions, while correct pro- 7
cessing of input data is ensured at the
same time. The display routine in the SLAVE UNIT
control program is interrupted for 54 ps
at 208 ps intervals (208 ps is the bit
period for 4,800 baud). There are 10 in-
terrupts per received byte. 0 0
The displays are multiplexed in pairs 0 0
(LII-LD7; LD2-LDs; LD3-LD9; and so
on) at a frequency of about 125 Hz, and
an on -time of about 1 ms. In the absence
of the automatic refresh correction,
reception of 10 consecutive databits 0 StTu ... ..
would cause an unacceptable delay of
540 ps, and hence would give rise to an-
noying display flicker. Day of the week
indicators Di... D7 incl. are controlled nI
together with LDI3, and only 1 of the 7 ELEKTOR 4C-77:> TIME STANDARD
ELECTRONICS
LEDs can light at a time.
The automatic leading zero suppression
for the tens indication of the day, month 87104-7
and hour read-out can be disabled by fit-
ting jumper E-F instead of D -E. Fig. 7. Suggested front panel Ian -out.

The book further deals with semicon- The second edition of this popular book
NEW LITERATURE ductor memories, I/O devices, the RS- was reviewed in the July 1986 issue of
232C interface, the IEEE -488 general Elektor Electronics. This revised edition
purpose instrument bus, and the IEEE - has been updated and enlarged to cover
Practical Digital Electronics 1000 microprocessor bus. new instruments that have been in-
Handbook A very useful part of the book is an ap- troduced since then. Among the new in-
by Mike Tooley pendix dealing with the necessary tools struments are the Tektronix 2225 and the
ISBN 1-870775-00-7 and test equipment required for fault- 11000 Series, the Beckman 9020, the
197 pages - 215 x 136 mm finding, complete with details of a Meguro MO -1255, the Philips M03050,
Price £6.95 (soft cover) number of test gear projects. the Crotech 3133, the Nicolet 4094, the
Altogether a very useful book for Gould 4072, and the Hewlett-Packard
As the title of the book suggests, the em-
anyone involved in the design, manufac- HP54110D.
phasis of the work is on the practical ture, or servicing of digital circuits. The book remains well illustrated with
aspects of electronic circuits. Conse-
quently, there is hardly any theory to be PC Publishing diagrams and photographs and will con-
found in its pages. Quite correctly, Mr. 22 Clifton Road tinue to appeal to everyone who wants to
Tooley is saying that the designer of elec- LONDON N3 2AR know about oscilloscopes, from the stu-
tronic circuits need not know the inter- dent to the graduate, from the hobbyist
nal function of ICs, for instance. to the technician.
In a similar manner, logic networks are William Heinemann Ltd
approached from a practical angle - no Oscilloscopes 10 Upper Grosvenor Street
Boolean algebra here. Revised second edition LONDON W1X 9PA
The treatment of microprocessors deals by Ian Hickman
to some extent with the internal architec- ISBN 0-434-90738-3
ture, but with these devices that is virtu- 133 pages - 215x135 mm
ally unavoidable. Price £5.95 (soft cover)
 EE
58
March 1988
Audio Amplifier Fault-finding Measuring 640x450 mm, the chart The ASIC Data Book should be of in-
Chart should prove of interest to anyone in- terest to anyone involved with Appli-
by Chas. E. Miller volved in the repair or servicing of audio cation Specific ICs. It is available from
ISBN 0-85934-095-3 circuits. MIETEC UK Easthampstead Road
Price 95 p Bernard Babani (publishing) Ltd BRACKNELL RG12 1NF Tele-
This chart has been designed to help the The Grampians phone (0344) 53974.
reader approach fault rectification and Shepherds Bush Road
repair of audio amplifiers in a systematic LONDON W6 7NF
and logical way.
The author has developed the chart by
drawing on many years' experience in CATALOGUES
repairing audio and hi-fi systems. Used The 1988 Babani Books list is available
correctly, the chart should enable the DATABOOKS free of charge. Just send a 220 x110 mm
user to trace many common faults Soft ,Vagnetic Ferrites is a bi-lingual stamped, addressed envelope to Bernard
reasonably quickly. (Serbo-Croat and English) book that Babani (publishing) Ltd The Gram-
All the user has to do is to select one of should be of interest to anyone involved pians Shepherds Bush Road LON-
the faults shown at the top of the chart, in the design of inductors. The 186 -page DON W6 7NF.
and follow the arrows while carrying out publication is available from ISKRA Ltd
the suggested checks in sequence until Redlands COULSDON CR3 2HT
the fault is cleared. Telephone 01-668 7141.

The Hawker Siddeley Group has made

PEOPLE the following appointments. Mr. R.P.
Hampson becomes chairman of Brush
Electrical Machines Ltd.; Mr. B.G.
Shoosmith becomes chairman and man-
aging director of Crompton Parkinson
Ltd.; Mr. W.M.M. Petrie becomes man-
aging director of Brush Electrical Ma-
chines Ltd.

Alpha Electronics Ltd have appointed

Chris Cutting (above) has recently been Keith Richens (above) as Technical Di-
appointed marketing manager of Cirkit rector.
Distribution, the well-known Brox-
bourne-based electronic product sup-
pliers.

Printronix have appointed Roy Venables

(above) UK Sales Manager in succession
to Martin Phillips, who now manages
the company's sales in Scandinavia and
the Benelux.

Mr. David Dey has joined the UK Com-

munications Division of British Telecom
as Deputy Managing Director. Mr. Dey
was until recently Managing Director of
Plessey Telecommunications.
Gary Clark (above) has recently been ap-
pointed Business Manager of the Tele-
Marconi Radar Systems of Chelmsford communications Products Group at
Mr. Ron Bull, BSc, CEng, (above) he has appointed John Winstanley director, Base Ten Systems.
immediate past president of The Ma- airspace business, with particular
chine Tool Trades Association, is the responsibillity for all the activities of the
newly elected President of CECIMO, the company's airspace control diviion. At
European Committee for co-operation the same time, the company has ap-
of the Machine Tool Industries. pointed Steve Menzies financial director.
 EE
March 1988

NEW PRODUCTS NEW PRODUCTS NEW

Accelerometers for severe The detectors use Lithium-Tantalate as New low-cost card turns a PC
environments the IR-sensing material so that the into a fax machine
BRUEL & KJAER (UK) LTD. have re- responsivity of the device is independent
of the temperature within its operating PC users can now use their micros to
cently released two new accelerometers send and receive fax messages-thanks
for use in severe environments. temperature range of -40 to +70 °C.
The standard window material is silicon, to a new, low-cost card available ex stock
They are Types 8315 and 8317 and both from Dram Electronics.
are constructed on the now well-known coated for an optical bandwidth of 7 to
14 pm. A range of different filters is also The IC -01B fax card costs £546 and slots
Delta Shear principle. into the back of any IBM PC or clone.
The 8315 is suitable for use at 250 °C, available including silicon with wide -
band AR -coating, quartz, Irtran 2, It enables the PC to send text to any
has a frequency range from 0.1 to Group II or Group III fax machine over
8100 Hz and weighs 102 grams. Calcium Fluoride and narrow band win-
dows. telephone lines under CCITT V29 and
Frequency response of the detectors is V27 standards.
+6 dB/octave from 0 to 0.3 Hz, flat The card meets T4 and T30 compati-
from 0.3 to 0.5 Hz, and -6 dB/octave bility. Data rates are as follows; V29:
beyond 1 Hz. Supply voltage is 3- 9600/7200/4800 bps; V27 ter: 4800/
15 VDC and output impedance is 10 kg2 2400 bps; V21: channel 2 at 300 bps.
maximum. Data format is synchronous. Power con-
sumption is 3.6 W.
Quantelec Limited 46 Market Square Built-in software converts data from
WITNEY OX8 6AL. Telephone: ASCII to fax format for transmission.
(0993) 76488. Telex: 837851 SELECT G. The card generates tones up to 4800 Hz
and detects tones of 462 Hz, 1100 Hz
The 8317 is certified as intrinsically safe and 2100 Hz. Dialling is by tone, pulse
for explosive areas (Class EEx 11C or voice frequency energy detect.
T6/T5/T4), has a built in line drive Dram Electronics Ltd. Unit 12
amplifier, a frequency range from 0.2 to High-performance filter Kingston Mill Chestergate
7500 Hz and weighs 112 grams. modules STOCKPORT SK3 OAL. Telephone:
Both can be supplied with integral cable (061 429) 0626.
Kemo has developed a new range of
if required. high-performance filter modules which
Bruel & Kjaer (UK) Ltd 92 Uxbridge are available with a wide selection of
Road HARROW HA3 6BZ. Tele- characteristics and in different con-
phone: (01 954) 2366. figurations.
The standard 1100 Series modules are
supplied in a compact, common-pinout
2 -inch square package, but filter
New dual -element pyro assemblies are also available in the form
infrared detectors of IBM PC or compatible cards, VME
Quantelec has announced a new range of boards or 32 -channel rack/bench
pyro infrared detectors which are mounting carrier systems.
specially designed for applications such The filtering functions available in the
as burglar alarm systems, positioning 1100 Series cover elliptic, Bessel and But-
units, automatic light switches and door terworth types, with an emphasis on the
openers. preparation of signals for digital signal
Manufactured by Sentel in West processing. Both seventh and ninth -
Germany, the new detectors feature a order elliptic functions are included,
dual element design with parallel op- with a wide choice of shape factor.
posed elements which produces a high The frequency range of the filter cutoff
level of common mode rejection. This frequency is from 10 Hz to typically
makes the devices ideal for the above ap- 250 kHz, and all filters in the range
plications. share a basic common specification with
only small changes between different
response and frequency options. Hence
designers can specify many different Wide range of enclosures in
filters in a complex system without com- stock at ESS
patibility problems. Available off the shelf from ESS is a
Other features of the Kemo 1100 Series wide range of West Hyde enclosures.
include a deep attenuation floor down to Included in the stock at ESS is the
0-*
44>
-90 dB, low noise and distortion with a
wide dynamic range, and close phase
match within batch deliveries.
Kemo Limited 9-12 Goodwood
popular range of Bopla enclosures. In
the range is the modular electrical/elec-
tronics enclosure system Combi-card.
ESS Ltd Harrison House Harrison
*'vN1W4r4 Parade Elmers End BECKEN-
HAM BR3 3QZ. Telephone: (01 658)
3838.
Road Swaythling SOUTHAMP-
TON SO2 3TL. Telephone: (0703)
671166. Telex: 477379 WINSER G. Fax
(0703) 331769.
 DESIGN ABSTRACTS
The contents of this column are based on information obtained from
manufacturers in the electronics industry, or their representatives,
and do not imply practical experience by Elektor Electronics
or its consultants.

ELECT OMC COMPASS

Two magneto -resistive sensors and a relatively simple measuring
and control circuit form the basis for the design of an all -
electronic direction finder.

Magneto -resistive sensors: .a with measured magnetic field strength, sured by an inductor winding secured
brief recap and two elements with exactly the inverse direct onto the sensor enclosure, or by
property. The bridge is balanced in the fitting the sensor inside a small coil
The basic structure of the four magneto - quiescent condition because sensor former.
resistive elements in the Wheatstone elements of identical property are Figure 3b shows that the offset voltage
bridge Type KMZ10A is shown in Fig. 1. located diagonally on the carrier chip- remains constant during the periodic
The sensor elements are essentially see Fig. 2. magnetization by the positive and
meander -shaped, permalloy, tracks with negative pulses. It is seen that the signals
gold stripes. This structure is referred to of interest are rectangular pulses, which
as a barber's pole for obvious reasons. Designing an electronic
are relatively simple to separate from the
Inside the plastic encapsulation of the compass offset voltage. This obviates the need for
Type KMZ10A magneto -resistive sensor The earth's magnetic field is relatively an auxiliary field, which would degrade
from Valvo (Philips/Mullard) is a silicon weak, so that the final accuracy of an sensitivity. The full sensitivity of about
substrate that carries four of such electronic compass based on magneto - 14 (mV/V)(kA/m) stated for the Type
elements connected as the arms of a resistive sensors is limited mainly by KNIZIOA is, therefore, available, while
Wheatstone bridge. drift incurred in the sensor, and offset measurements of field strengths, of
The KMZ10A makes use of the Gauss- voltages in the instrumentation ampli- up to 0.25 kA/m can be carried out
effect, i.e., the property of current - fier. Offset voltages and signals caused without running into sensor instabili-
carrying material to change its resistivity by magnetic fields can, however, be ty.iThe proposed principle of alternating
in the presence of an external magnetic discriminated by making use of a prop- fields for each plane of maximum sensi-
field. This change is brought about by erty typical of the the barber's pole tivity is well suited to direction
rotation of the magnetization relative to structure, namely that the two directions measurements in the earth's magnetic
the current direction. The degree of of magnetization result in two directions field. The construction of an electronic
bridge imbalance is used for indicating of maximum sensitivity. This compass for navigation in or on vessels
the magnetic field strength, or, more pre- phenomenon can be exploited in a prac- and vehicles can be based on two
cisely, the variation in magnetic field in tical circuit that arranges for the sensor magneto -resistive sensors positioned at
the plane of the permalloy carriers rela- to be fed with a series of positive and right angles, and fitted in the former of
tive to the direction of current. negative magnetic pulses in the x direc- an inductor that supplies the reversing
tion. For the KMZ10A, the continously field. Temperature compensation for the
The Wheatstone bridge is composed of reversing field applied should have a sensor is not required in most cases,
two elements whose resistance increases strength of 3 kA/m. This value is en - because the relative, rather than absol-
1
t t
-

\df\ \A, \.,\ \"\\\\9\\A

Fig. 1. Barber's pole structure of gold stripes wound on the meander -shaped, permalloy track Fig. 2. Magneto -resistive elements form the
that forms the magnetization -controlled resistance. four arms of a Wheatstone bridge.
 EE
61
March 1988

current pulses N.
inductor

19.

Sensor

a) b1

current magnetization

offset voltage

Fig. 4. Two magnetic field sensors Type

c) KMZ10A positioned at right angles, and fit-
ted in a coil former Type 4322 021 30270
Fig. 3. An external inductor supplies a pulsating and reversing auxiliary magnetic field to the (normally part of pot core set P18/11). The
four sensors in the Wheatstone bridge (a). Elimination of the offset current (b). and pulse inductor is wound as 100 turns 00.35 mm
diagram (c). enamelled copper wire (SWG29). R=0.8 4;
L=87 pH; 11'.=8.3 (kA/m)/A.
ute, amplitudes of the sensor signals are tained by Cs being charged and and U. at an equal magnetic field
processed and fed to a display unit. discharged. strength in both sensors (e.g., by rotating
Both sensors can be switched by a single The output signals of the Wheatstone the head 90° in the earth's magnetic
inductor. It was found that a second in- elements are passed through coupling field).
ductor is required for measuring fields capacitors (C5 -C6) to remove the offset
perpendicular to the x -y plane. Three- component, and then raised in low -noise Source:
sensor arrangements were tested with a operational amplifiers Type NE5535. Valvo, Techn ische In form a rioncn
single inductor for the three directions, The circuit is adjusted as follows: 861105.
but gave unsatisfactory results because 1. Set presets Pi and P2 for minimum
the angles between the magnetic field amplitude of the alternating voltage Reference:
and the x plane were greater than 45°. component in U. and /./). Magnetic -field sensors. Elektor Elec-
Details on the construction of a suitable 2. Set P3 to achieve equal voltages U. tronics May 1986, p. 52.
inductor for a 2 -sensor head are given in
0 92
Fig. 4. The inductor should ensure a .463
8463
661 SE1.6
minimum field strength of about 1=2 3E1
;: 3
3 kA/m, without causing oscillation or tr1 1-, ICI
Cl
ID Tl
or 339
Cs
1,1p5
overshoot on the pulse edges. Without a 11170.11.0
;C2
C.
suitable damping resistor, this effect 1.211

would lead to changes in the direction of

s TLC 01 13 O.
IC3
12

12 us
ground
C2
oY 363I up
the generated magnetic field. The opti- 12 4765

mum pulse length depends on the value C2

ICI AL
tin
of this resistor in combination with the 72 6.6

inductance of the coil. The magneto - CS

RI "ss
resistive sensors used are relatively un- 1.7FF
Ht lltt
2
Mallard Limited Mallard House
13 Fri Torrington Place London WC1E
critical in respect of the pulse length, as
Nr 7HD. Telephone: (01 580) 6633.
S L366

long as this is greater than 1 ps. Distributors in the UK are listed on In-
Measuring errors caused by demagnetiz- 2
SI 1C4
loCard 509 (EE May 1987).
90* turned tct 065535
ation during the pulse time can safely be
disregarded if the pulsating current has a 61 ILL
L666
low duty factor. The circuit of Fig. 5 p, -SO 11

supplies 50 ps pulses at an output fre- 771.11

quency of about 140 Hz (duty factor: 3330
53
0.007). The 140 Hz oscillator shown in 2r11
LOSS

the top left-hand corner clocks a bistable Ill KS

Type 4013, which is required to enable Ct 53 5..11
1036

simple AC -coupled measurement of the 67,,5 1193

SI 'CS
amplified sensor signals, which are 6 1466

available on terminals /A and Lly. The 'I ICS

70 Hz signal is first buffered in four 3
ICS PessN lL66
90' turned
parallel connected CMOS gates, before 1j 12
:

it is applied to two switching transistors, 121CS

that form the inductor driver. Fig. 5. Suggested circuit of the sensor head and instrumentation circuitry that can form
TI -T2,
the
Current pulses of about 50 is are ob- basis for designing an electronic compass.
TEST & MEASURING EQUIPMENT
The penultimate part of Julian Nolan's review of dual trace
oscilloscopes deals with the Kikusui COS-5042TM and the Grundig
M022.

Part 1: dual -trace oscilloscopes (D)

Kikusui COS-5042TM between them without any compen-

Kikusui are a well -established company
sation adjustments. A 1 kHz 0.5 p -p
probe compensation waveform is pro-
producing a range of test equipment that vided. The wide variety of operating
includes signal generators, power sup- modes provided include the display of
plies, FFT analysers, and a variety of CHI, CH2 or CH3 singly or in any com-
oscilloscopes. Their COS-5000TM range bination. Only CHI and CH2, however,
of oscilloscopes extends from a 'basic' can be added. When in add mode, both
20 MHz model, the COS-5020TM, to the input waveforms can be seen, as well
the 100 MHz COS-5100TM. The COS- as the resultant which I found to be
5042TM, the top model in Kikusui's genuinely useful. The price paid for this
40 MHz range, costs £715, excluding versatility is in the ease of operation.
VAT. The cheapest single timebase Fig. 19. The Kikusui COS -5042T111 oscillo- Push buttons are used in place of the
40 MHz scope from Kikusui comes in at scope. more usual slider type switches for most
£565, excluding VAT. Accessories of the triggering and mode selection
available include viewing hoods, trolleys, tainly acceptable, at 25 pF, although in- functions. The trigger functions of the
protective front covers, and a suitable put capacitances of 20 pF are becoming 5042 are fairly comprehensive and in-
camera mount. The two probes supplied increasingly popular on scopes at and clude auto peak -to -peak triggering, trig-
with the 5042 are very similar to those above this bandwidth. The bandwidth of ger holdoff ant) an alternate mode. The
provided with other Japanese scopes. both amplifiers is good, extending up to auto triggering facility worked well in
The 5042's small dimensions (288 mm approximately 45 MHz (-3 dB) in the most cases, although it did suffer from a
(W) x 150 mm (H) x 370 mm (D)) 5 mV/div to 5 V/div ranges and an ex- distinct lack of sensitivity over the whole
make its use in conjunction with other cellent 23 MHz (-3 dB) when the x5 bandwidth. Typical sensitivity was two
instruments in a confined space particu- magnifier is brought into operation. The divisions, which in dual, or triple trace
larly easy. It is a pity, though, that the x 5 magnifier permits operation in the 2- applications can prove to be inadequate.
5042 is not provided with a swivel stand, 4-10 sequence against the more usual 1- In this case, it is necessary to switch into
something that with an instrument in 2-5 sequence, as well as permitting a manual trigger control where the sensi-
this class is normally taken for granted. maximum sensitivity of 1 mV/div. In the tivity is typically 1.2-1.5 div at 40 MHz,
The one -position stand fitted may be x 5 mode, the maximum error is in- or about div at 10 MHz. The trigger
useful if the instrument is to be stacked. creased from 3% to 5%, in common holdoff was successful in stably display-
The 5042 weighs 7.5 kg. with most other scopes of this class. As ing a wide range of waveforms and in
The 5042 is supplied with a standard is increasingly the case for scopes of this some ways made up for the lack of sensi-
IEC style terminated mains lead and can complexity, only one channel is invert - tivity. External sensitivity is good at
operate from line voltages ranging from able (CH2) so that in some situations 40 mV (10 MHz) or 150 mV (40 MHz)
100 to 240 VAC. Facilities provided on swapping of probes may be necessary. A and its usefulness is extended by a ÷5
the instrument include a trigger holdoff minimal amount of drift is exhibited by control, allowing triggering of, for
and 3 input channels, the third channel both amplifiers at switch on, enabling example, only the wanted signal if a large
being usable as a trigger view or marker accurate measurements to be carried out amount of noise is present. The effective
channel. As usual, both the Z - during the warm-up period without 'lock on' time of the auto trigger circuit
modulation and CHI output sockets having to resort to adjustments of the Y was good with the minimum of delay
(BNC) are mounted on the rear panel trace positions after a short period of present in most cases. Triggering sources
along with, surprisingly, the CH3 pos- time. include the useful alternate triggering fa-
ition control. The third channel is of the same band- cility, as well as line and, of course, CH1,
The two main input channels, CHI and width as channels 1 & 2, but its ranges CH2 or CH3 (Ext). Automatic switching
CH2, both have input sensitivities which are restricted to 0.1 V/div and 0.5 V/div. between frame and line synchronization
range from 5 mV/div to 5 V/div, extend- These are, however, useful in that by the is provided in the TV mode which is sur-
able by a x5 switch to 1 mV/div. A vari- addition of a x10 probe they can be prisingly useful, enabling generally
able control extends the maximum at- used for digital measurements, or as a faster and more efficient operation when
tenuation to approximately 10 V/div. No marker channel. In addition, the chan- the scope is operated in this mode.
uncalibrated indicators are provided for nel can also be coupled internally, Because of its nature, it did not appear
the Y -amps which could initially lead to facilitating its use as a trigger view chan- to affect the scope's versatility in any
user reading errors, but these should be nel capable of displaying the triggering way. An effective HF reject facility is
kept to a minimum thanks to the very waveform of either CHI or C142. All provided, although a corresponding LF
clear markings of the variable controls. three channels are accurately matched so facility is not. Triggering facilities for the
Input capacitance is reasonable, and cer- probes should be fully interchangeable second (B) timebase, are rather limited,
 EE
63
March 1988

TABLE 13 20 MHz bandwidth, ± 5% = total error on 0.05 s/div to 0.2 s/div range)
Input coupling: AC, DC or Gnd. Holdoff; variable up to 10:1
Input impedance: 1 MQ/25 pF; max input Delay modes: trigger delay (Trig);
ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS voltage 300 (DC + peak AC) continuous delay
line voltage: - 100,120,220,240 VAC Signal Delay time: approx. 20 ns on CRT Delay jitter: 1/10000
± 10%, externally adjustable. Power screen.
consumption: 35 Watts TRIGGERING
Line frequency: 50-60 Hz CH3 only specifications Trigger modes: Auto (bright line). Normal,
Sensitivity: 0.5 V/div or 0.1 V/div ±3%. level lock (auto p -p). single -reset.
MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION Input Impedance: 1 MQ/25 pF. Trigger coupling: AC, DC, HF reject, TV
Dimensions: -W 288 mm, H 150 mm. Frequency response: 40 MHz. frame and line (auto).
D 370 mm Risetime 8.8 ns. Trigger sources: CH1, CH2, Line, Ext. or
Housing steel sheet Max input: 100 V (DC + AC peak) CH3, Vertical (alternate)
Weight: approx. 7.5 kg Triggering sensitivity: Internal < 1.5 div
X -Y MODE at 40 MHz, External < 0.15 V p -p at
Y AMPLIFIER ETC. CH1 and 2 Y-axis, and CH3 X-axis in dual 40 MHz, Normal mode
Operating modes: - channel mode: single channel CH1 =X,
CH1 alone, CH2 alone, or CH3 alone. CH2=Y MISCELLANEOUS
Inversion capability on CH2 only. Bandwidth: DC to 2 MHz 1-3 dB). CRT make: Kikusui, measuring area
Any combination of CH1, CH2 or CH3 X -Y phase shift <3° at 100 kHz 80 mm x 100 mm; accelerating voltage
(alternate or chopped (250 kHz)) 12 kV, domed -mesh type.
CH1 + CH2 SWEEP Compensation signal for divider probe,
Frequency response 0...40 MHz Type: - A; A sweep: Alt; A sweep amplitude aprox. 0.5 V pp (± 3%); fre-
( -3 dB): 20 MHz x 5 Mag. (intensified for duration of B sweep): B; quency 1 kHz.
Risetime < 8.8 nsec, (n-5 nsec x 5 Delayed sweep: X -Y.
Mag.) Z modulation sensitivity: 3 V (detectable
A sweep time 0.05 s/div to 0.5 s/div, intensity modulation)
Deflection factor 10 steps: ±3% in 22 ranges, 1-2-5 sequence. Vertical CH1 output: approx 100 mVidiv
5 mV/div...5 V/div ± 3%, vernier can- Vernier control slows sweep down by up into 50. Frequency response: 100 Hz to
trol adjusts min. sensitivity on 5 V/div to 3:1 40 MHz except on x 5 (100 Hz to
range to approx. 10 V/div (fully anti-cw)- B sweep 0.05 s/div to 50 ms/div, ± 3% 20 MHz).
CH1 and 2 only. in 19 ranges, 1-2-5 sequence. Covered by 1 year warranty.
x 5 magnifier extends range to 1 mV/div, Sweep magnification: x 10 ±.5% I ±8%

although perfectly adequate for most bient lighting conditions. A front panel large number of wire links, not all of
purposes. control is provided for B trace intensity, which are grouped together. This could
The main timebase A, speeds range from which I found to be useful, especially in in some cases hinder servicing of the in-
50 ns/div to the usual 0.5 s/div, while cases where the delayed sweep facility strument, although I am satisfied that it
the maximum deflection speed can be was used at its higher magnification will not effect reliability. All boards are
increased 10 times to 5 ns/div. The sec- ratios. A photographic bezel is also fit- removable, their connections being made
ond timebase, B, speeds range from ted, along with a viewing filter. by a number of plugs/sockets. The 5042
50 ms/div to the same 50 ns/div. An un- The 58 -page manual starts by giving a is based on a steel frame, which gives it
calibrated indicator is provided for the A general description of the instrument, the robustness to operate successfully in
variable sweep control, but not continu- and goes on to cover operating pro- a wide variety of environments. In con-
ously variable control is provided on the cedures, application and the specifi- trast to many other scopes none of the
B timebase. The display/trigger modes cation in some detail. Although a block controls extends more than a relatively
A,Alt,B,B trig should as mentioned diagram is provided, no circuit diagram short distance from the instrument and
above cover most requirements although is given, but is available in the service this should further aid robustness.
they are by no means comprehensive. manual. The COS5042TM offers a very good
The 5042 offers an 8 trace capability, Internal construction is centred around a performance combined with a rugged
which consists of CHI, CH2, CH3 and number of fibre glass PCBs, the ma- construction, and small size. It does
CHI ± CH2 on both timebases. To a jority of which have their print side have one or two minor drawbacks, such
certain extent, I found this useful, es- facing outwards for easier servicing. as its lack of triggering sensitivity and B
pecially for detailed logic comparisons There are, maybe not surprisingly, a timebase facilities, but overall these do
when 3 inputs were being used (6 traces);
however, when this was increased to 8
traces, vertical measurements of any ac-
curacy were not possible, as the screen Table 14
became extremely cramped (1 trace per
cm). The timebase accuracy was good
across most of the ranges, but at the CATEGORY Unsatis- Satis- Very
factory factory Good Good Excellent
faster timebase speeds it was noticeable
that there was a discrepancy between the TRIGGER FACILITIES *
two speeds which approached the ±5% TRIGGER PERFORMANCE *
specified error (10 magnifier was in oper- DEL'D SWEEP FACILITIES *
ation). A channel 1 out BNC socket is DELT SWEEP PERFORMANCE *
provided on the rear panel giving ap-
CRT BRIGHTNESS *
proximately 50 mV/div into 50.
CRT FOCUSSING *
The 12 kV domed -mesh CRT provides a
Y -AMP ATTENUATION RANGE *
INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION *
sharply defined and bright trace across EXTERNAL CONSTRUCTION *
the vast majority of deflection speeds. OVERALL SPECIFICATION *
The brightness of the tube does, how- OVERALL PERFORMANCE *
ever, limit the maximum magnification EASE OF USE *
ratio of the delayed sweep facility to ap- MANUAL *
proximately 1000 times in fairly low am-
 EE
64
March 1988
not significantly affect the performance COS 5021TM-same as 5020 ÷ delayed sweep
of the scope. It is likely to appeal to (2 ps to 5 ms)-£490+VAT
those users who require real portability
coupled with the performance and COS 5040TM-12 kV CRT; 1 mV maximum
sensitivity; DC -40 MHz bandwidth; alternate
features it offers. When compared with channel triegerine ÷ level lock; single
other scopes in its class, the 5042 comes timebase (max sweep 20 ns/div)-£565+VAT
out particularly well on Y -amp perform-
ance and power consumption, which will COS 5041TM-same as 5040+ delayed sweep
obviously be of more importance to (2 ps to 5 ms) -1625
some users than others.
COS5042TM-covered in review -f715
The review model of the Kikusui
COS5042TM was available for a very COS 5060TM-same as 5042, but 60 MHz
bandwidth (a large number of these have
short time only, and it was, therefore, Fig. 20. Some other oscilloscopes in the been bought by British Telecom.)-£820÷VAT
not possible to carry out the review in Kikusui range.
depth in respect of the more minor Other scopes available under £1500 in the COS 5100TM-Same as 5042 except for
points. Kikusui ranee. 100 MHz bandwidth; 18 kV CRT, max sweep
2 ns/div-f1145 -VAT
The Kikusui COS5042TM was supplied COS 5020TM-2.2 kV CRT; 1 mV maximum
by Telonic Instruments Ltd, Boyn Valley sensitivity; DC -20 MHz bandwidth; alternate COS 6100A -similar to COS 1500TM, but dif-
Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 4EG. channel triggering ÷ level lock; single ferent design ÷ 12 trace capability; 20 kV
timebase (max sweep 20 ns/div); f.360÷VAT CRT. -11450
Tel: (0268) 73933

using the soft tuning facility for manual

Grundig M022 selection of the A timebase sweep speed.
Grundig's M022 oscilloscope is based When the A timebase was placed in
on the M020 (reviewed in our January automatic mode, a maximum reliable
1988 issue), but it has, for instance, a trigger frequency of 35 MHz was ob-
second timebase and fully automatic tained, this being for the triggering of
control of the main timebase. Because of both the automatic facility and the
this, the triggering facilities and Y timebase itself. A trigger holdoff facility
amplifiers will be discussed in detail is also provided, which is very effective
again, as they are virtually identical to in providing accurate triggering on a
those found in the M020. The M022 wide variety of waveforms. Its perform-
retails at £499, excluding VAT. ance was partiCularly good on pulse and
The M022 is, like the M022, fitted with digital waveforms, providing a stable
a non -removable mains lead which is ter- Fig. 21. The Grundig M022 oscilloscope. trace under almost any alteration of the
minated in a standard 2 pin IEC type frequency of the waveform and over a
plug. Layout is similar to the M020, very wide range of timebase speeds (in-
although, as can be seen from the photo- cluding automatic). External triggering
graph, the whole of the top half of the is also good with a typical sensitivity of
scope is taken up by the timebase and 400 mV and a maximum bandwidth ap-
triggering controls, which include auto- proaching 40 MHz, allowing the exter-
matic timebase selection. The Y ampli- nal synchronization of most events.
fier controls are mounted on the lower Probably the main asset of the M022 is
half. All controls are very easy to operate its fully automatic main timebase, which
and clearly marked. Both the B timebase enables very fast and easy operation of
and Y amplifier range selection switches the scope when waveforms of a fairly
have no endstops, which can be inconve- constant amplitude, but not frequency,
nient if the scope needs to be switched need to be measured. Timebase speeds
quickly to one of its end ranges. range from 220 ms/div to 500 ns/div, or
Automatic triggering is provided on the 50 ns/div if the x 10 magnifier is
M022, along with high and low fre- brought into operation, this being
quency coupling. The B timebase is also covered in 18 steps, either by automatic
triggerable, although the triggering Fig. 22. Interntil NiVls ut ihr M022. or manual soft tuning via a continuously
threshold is set by the single trigger level variable control. Timebase range indi-
control, meaning that both timebase are cation is by 11 green LEDs. This takes
triggered on the same threshold. In the into account the 9 'range' indicators,
vast majority of situations this should which are calibrated in the standard 1-2-
not be a significant limitation, and pays 5 sequence, as well as two scaling LEDs,
dividends since it ensures both traces are which indicate whether the ranee in-
stable. The B trigger modes are con- dicators are calibrated in micro or milli
tinuous delay and triggered delay, in seconds. Auto mode is indicated by a
which mode the second timebase can single red LED, timebase speed still
either be triggered on the rising or falling being given by the remaining indicators.
slope of a waveform. When in soft tune mode, the continu-
Triggering of the second timebase is ef- ously variable control !lives a linear
fective across the whole bandwidth and response: it is very easy to set the desired
extends to approximately 70 MHz in timebase speed. A large amount of
both automatic (p -p) and normal trig- hysterisis is provided between the range
gering modes. This is, however, when Fig. 23. Detail of the M022 front panel. switching thresholds, preventing any
 EE
65
March 1988

Table 16
Table 15

Unsatis- ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Satis- Very
CATEGORY Line voltage: 100,220,240 VAC ±-10%; in-
factory factory Good Good Excellent
ternally adjustable.
TRIGGER FACILITIES * Line frequency: 45-65 Hz
TRIGGER PERFORMANCE * Power consumption 35 Watts
DEL'D SWEEP FACILITIES * .

DEL'D SWEEP PERFORMANCE * MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION

CRT BRIGHTNESS * Dimensions: W 375 mm, H 160 mm,
CRT FOCUSING * D 430 mm
Y -AMP ATTENUATION RANGE * Housing: steel sheet
INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION * Weight: approx. 8.5 kg
EXTERNAL CONSTRUCTION *
OVERALL SPECIFICATION . * Y AMPLIFIER ETC.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE * Operating modes:
EASE OF USE * CH1 alone, CH2 alone
MANUAL * Inversion capability on CH1 or CH2
Dual CH1, CH2 (alternate or chopped
Note: Delayed sweep performance and facilities compared to other scopes (250 kHz))
with 'coarse' delayed sweep. Also CRT brightness and focusing compared to CH1 + CH2
other 20 kV tubes. Frequency response: 0...20 MHz (-3 dB).
Risetime: = 17.5 ns, (23.4 ns x 5 Mag.)
Deflection factor: 12 steps:
5 mV/div...20 V/div ±3%, vernier control
unstable timebase speeds over the con- Overall,. I also found the automatic adjusts max. sensitivity on 5 mV/div range to
trol's full range. Overall, I found that timebase an extremely useful facility 2 mV/div (fully ccw)
this enables a very accurate, easy and with few failings, although as a very Input coupling: AC, DC or Gnd.
convenient way of selecting the sweep minor point it might have been helpful Input impedance: 1 M4/25 pF
speed, combining the speed of a conven- to have an automatic x10 deflection Max input voltage 400 (DC +peak AC)
tional switched timebase speed control speed facility to increase the maximum
with the ease of use of a two-way 'up- speed under automatic control to X -Y MODE
down' rocker switch, which can be found CH1 X-axis and CH2 Y-axis. Less than 3°
50 ns/div in place of the 500 ns/div for phase shift at 50 kHz
in some other scopes with this facility. higher frequencies. Bandwidth DC to 1 MHz (-3 dB).
The LED display also gave a clearer, and The second timebase/delayed sweep is of
in my view easier, to read display than the 'coarse' type, in that in most cir- SWEEP
the conventional switched system, cumstances it is not possible to carry out Operating Modesi; A; timebase A only: A
although it is perhaps not as easy to read accurate timing measurements in situ- intens. B; A brightened in range B, remainder
as would be a numeric 7 segment display,
ations where a calibrated delay time blanked: B; timebase B only
examples of which can be found on multiplier would normally be required. A Sweep Time: 0.5 ps/div to 0.2 s/div, ± 3%
other digital timebase scopes. The auto- Waveform expansions can, however, be in 18 ranges, 1-2-5 sequence. Vernier control
matic timebase facility itself is selected slows sweep down by up to 2.5:1;
carried out accurately by the second B sweep: 0.5 ps/div to 20 ms/div. ± 3% in
by placing the soft tuning control in a timebase. For unstable, or changing, fre- 12 ranges, 1-2-5 sequence.
fully anticlockwise position. Operation quencies, it is obviously advisable to use Range Selection: A -automatic or manual
of this was very effective, locking effec- the soft tuning option of the main (potentiometer): B -switched
tively onto a wide range of frequencies timebase, although where this is not the Sweep magnification: x 10 ±5% total error
and producing a very stable display. The case, the autorange option can be used Holdoff: variable up to 10:1
effective frequency range (4 cycles div- with good results. The analogue second Delay modes: Trigger Delay (slope
ision) is 4 Hz to 800 kHz, although ob- timebase sweep speeds range from switcheable); Continuous delay
viously the actual frequency range is 2 ms/div to 0.5 µs/div, and can be used Delay jitter: 1/10000
what can be expected from a normal in one of two modes, either intensifying TRIGGERING
analogue timebase. Timebase switching the trace to be magnified, or as the Trigger modes: Auto (p -p), Normal
occurs at between two and six cycles/ magnified sweep. It is worth noting that Trigger coupling: AC,DC,HF reject, LF reject.
10 divisions, depending on the range, in common with most other 'coarse' TV frame and line(auto).
and whether the timebase is being scaled delayed sweep systems only one timebase Trigger sources: CH1, CH2, Line, Ext.
up or down. Switching between the can be displayed at a time, i.e.. either A Triggering sensitivity: Internal 1 div at
ranges is very fast on most sweep speeds, or B, and not both, thus giving a maxi- 20 MHz, External '0.5 V p -p at 20 MHz,
but it was noticeable that there was a mum of two traces on the screen at any Normal mode
small time delay when changing down in one time. Jitter is one part in 10,000, and
sweep speed. This is not, however, MISCELLANEOUS
as such is just visible on high magnifi- CRT -make: Valvo, measuring area 80 mm x
clearly noticeable until changing down cation ratios, although it can be kept to
from, for example, 200 ps/div to 100 mm, accelerating voltage 2 kV
a minimum in some situations by using Compensation signal for divider probe; ampli-
2 ms/div, when a delay of approximately the triggered delay facility. The delay tude approx. 1 Vpp (±3%), frequency 1 kHz.
1 second is present. This increases to time is variable by a uncalibrated control Z modulation Sensitivity: 3 V (complete
about 3 seconds when switching to over 10 horizontal divisions, and as men- blanking)
200 ms/div, the slowest sweep range. tioned above can either be continuous or Covered by 1 year warranty.
These are 'worst cases' and typically triggered.
may be considerably faster, depending CRT performance is obviously compar- this, approximately 100:1. For a 2 kV
largely on the waveform and previous able to the M020, since the same CRT tube these figures are certainly above
speed setting. Performance of the and drive circuitry are used. Typical average, especially as the traces at these
autoranging system was good, locking magnification ratios in normal (artificial speeds were fairly well defined. Z
onto a large range of waveforms, from a lighting) conditions were 1000:1 without modulation is provided as standard on
sinewave to a complex pulse train. the x10 magnifier in operation, or, with the M022 and exhibited a very good sen-
 66 EE
March 1988
sitivity of +2 V for total blanking of a ence being a very brief explanation of horizontal and vertical modes. To sum
trace at maximum brightness. Negative delayed sweep operation up the Grundig M022 is unique in its
voltages have no effect however, so the price range in having in fully automatic
trace cannot be intensified by an external CONCLUSION timebase. The advantage of this over a
voltage. The Grundig M022 represents a con- conventional analogue system obviously
Internal construction, like that of the siderable advance in terms of timebase depends on the application, but from my
M020, is based on two PCBs; the lower technology for an oscilloscope in its own experiences I have found it well
one, housing the Y -amplifiers, power price range. I found the automatic worth while. This, coupled with the sec-
supply, etc., is almost identical to that timebase facility genuinely useful, ond timebase, should make the scope a
used in the M020. The upper board is making the measurement of a wide good choice where ease of use and ver-
entirely different, however, and houses range of waveforms significantly easier satility are among the main re-
all the components for both timebases, and faster. The second timebase provides quirements, such as in a servicing or
as well as the trigger circuitry. Both a good range of sweep speeds and thus educational environment.
PCBs are of fibre glass construction and expansion ratios, although its use in
screened with both component identifi- delayed sweep applications is limited in The Grundig M022 was supplied by
cation numbers, and, where appropriate, some situations by the 'lack of a cali- Electronic Brokers Ltd., 140-146
their functions. The PCBs are held in brated sweep delay and delay line for Camden Street, London, NW1 3YP. Tel:
place by a steel chassis which should be triggered operation, and, of course, the 01-267 7070
extremely rugged under a very wide 2 kV CRT. These featues, however, can-
range of operating and environmental not really be expected in this price range, Other scopes available under £1500 in the
conditions. The outer casing is also steel; especially when the high grade of con- Grundig range.
the absence of ventilation slots makes struction and additional features are M053
the M022 externally resilient to a range taken into consideration. This, along Dual trace 50 MHz bandwidth. Full
of conditions compatible with those out- with the automatic timebase, should autoranging timebase with digital readout;
lined above. make the scope ideal for service work, trigger holdoff; TV line and field (1 or 2)
The manual is very similar to that sup- particularly in the TV area as the TV triggering: 11 kV CRT; calibrated delayed
plied with the M020, the main differ- triggering was very effective in both sweep facility.

1300 nm detector with fibre

NEWS pigtail
New photoelectric switches A long wavelength optical detector, the
13PD100-F, which has a 50/125
scan up to 8 metres multimode fibre pigtail, and is produced
Featuring a unique design that offers the by Telcom, is now available from Hero
maximum possible component inte- Electronics.
gration, the Sensick P reflex and prox- The 13PD100-F is a p-i-n photodiode
imity photoelectric switches from STC with a photosensitive area of nearly
Mercator have an operational range of 8,000 um2. It has a responsivity of not
up to 8 m (reflex) and 0.3 m (proximity). less than 0.7 A/W at 1300 nm, rise and
Insensitive to ambient light, the WL fall times of not more than 1 ns, and a
(reflex) and WT (proximity) series offer dark current of not more than 10 nA. rent rises linearly from 0.25 pA to
variable user -adjustable time delays, The device is suitable for use as a fast 25 mA (typical values) between 0.05 lx
operate with both AC and DC, and have response detector in fibre optic systems, and 5000 Lx. The output signals are,
a new plug-in system for easy instal- in data links, in optical sensing equip- therefore, directly proportional to the il-
lation and servicing. ment, and in communications networks. luminance. This simplifies the electronic
Further information from Hero Elec- evaluation circuitry for controlling, for
tronics Ltd Dunstable Street AMPT- example, the aperture and exposure of a
HILL MK45 2JS. camera.
Further information from Siemens Ltd
Siemens House Windmill Road
SUNBURY-ON-THAMES TW16 8HS.
Long -life photosensor
The light-sensitive TFA 1001 W
photosensor incorporates an integrated
photodiode and amplifier in a trans- New photo sensors from
parent miniature case with 6 leads. This Orion-Eurosem
component, intended for many appli- Orion-Eurosem has available a wide
cations (ranging from TV cameras to range of photo sensitive devices, includ-
medical test strip analysis) operates at a ing infra -red LEDs, photo detectors, in-
constant sensitivity (5 pA/lx) over a terrupters, reflective sensors, and fibre
wide range of light intensity. For the optic devices.
transparent case compund, Siemens is Manufactured by Toshiba Semiconduc-
Sealed to either IP65 or IP67, the using a new material with improved op- tors, the devices are suitable for use in all
devices have a voltage range of 10 to tical and thermal resistance. The tem- applications requiring photo sensitive
240 V AC or DC, and offer reverse po- perature range now extends to 85 °C (the control, including end -of -tape detection,
larity protection, interference pulse sup- previous limit was 70 °C) and the lower fire alarms, smoke detection, TV remote
pression, and short-circuit protected limit has been improved from 0 to controls, photoelectric switches, and so
outputs. -20 °C. The TFA 1001 W is thus also forth.
Further details from STC Mercator suitable for equipment with a 'particu- Further information from Orion-Eurosem
South Denes GREAT YARMOUTH larly long life such as cameras. Ltd Sunley House Oxford Road
NR30 3PX. With the TFA 1001 W, the output cur- AYLESBURY HP19 3EQ.
 EE
67
March 1988
New Maplin store in Bristol Micro miniature pressure
Maplin Electronics, the well-known probes
retail distributor of electronic products, Entran's EP1-050 and EP1-060 pressure
has opened a new shop at 302 Gloucester transducers measure static and dynamic
Road, close to Bristol City Centre. pressure where very small size is of prime
Established 15 years ago, Maplin has be- importance and access is difficult. Ap-
come the UK's largest retail distributor plications include wind tunnel and flight
of electronic products, employing a staff testing, engine test stand work, model
of nearly two hundred. studies, and bio-engineering research.
The company's mail order activitities oc- Three standard mounting configurations
cupy a custom -designed 40,000 ft2 com- and probes, each using a 50 mil
plex in Southend-on-Sea. Supporting (1.27 mm) external diameter diffused
this operation are six retail stores located diaphragm, are available for measuring
in Birmingham, Bristol, London, Man- pressures from 0 to 2 p.s.i. (0 to 0.13 bar)
chester, Southampton, and Westcliff-on- dynamic properties. They offer a
to 0 to 300 p.s.i. (0 to 20 bar) with out-
Sea. puts up to 125 mV and resonant fre- number of advantages over 4 -phase
In addition to a wide range of electronic types, such as improved equidistance of
products, from aerials to semiconduc- the stepping angle and high stiffness of
tors and tools and test gear, Maplin also magnetic snap -in positions. These in
supplies a range of training kits which turn guarantee high positioning accuracy
have become very popular within both during load movement.
the industry and educational establish- The controller provides fine resolution
ments. control - 1,000 steps/rev - and is ideal
Since its introduction in 1985, M.P.S. for use with 3 -axis positioners. Stepping
(Maplin Professional Supplies), a service frequency capability extends from 30 Hz
specially designed to meet the needs of to 15 kHz.
professional, trade, industry, and edu- IEEE -488 and RS232 interfaces, and
cation customers, has grown substan- suitable MS-DOS software, are op-
tially. Apart from the Bristol shop, tionally available to allow complete con-
Maplin addresses are: trol over the system from a computer
Mail Order: P.O. Box 3, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 SLR. keyboard.
Telephone: Sales (0702) 554161: Enquiries (702) Further information from Lambda
552911. Photometric.s Ltd Lambda House Bat -
Sutton New Road, Erdington, Birmingham. Tele- ford Mill HARPENDEN AL5 5BZ.
phone: 021-384 8411.
159-161 King Street, Hammersmith, London, W6. quencies to 1.7 MHz.
Telephone: 01-748 0926. Additionally,
8 Oxford Road, Manchester. Telephone: 061-236 barrel -shaped and
0281. threaded probes with or without protec- Micro lable thermometer strip
46-48 Bevois Valley Road, Southampton. Tele- tive screens and with custom diameter/ Thermographics' Micro Lable is an ir-
phone: 0703 225831. length options are available.
282-284 London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. reversible four -level thermometer strip
Telephone: 0702-554000. Further information from Entran Ltd 5 that can be applied to any surface whose
Albert Road CROWTHORNE RG11 temperature requires to be measured.
7LT.
Changing from silver white to black on
reaching a set temperature, the strip can
be used with products requiring war-
New sensor systems develop- Interconnect plug for ranty protection from abuse.
ment facility proximity sensor system II 1 111111111111
----- w
ERA Technology has formed a special INIO's Microchange, developed jointly Ca --
g

group - the Sensor Systems Programme by IMO/OMRON and the Brad Har-
Office - in response to industry's need rison Corporation, provides users with
plug-in rather than hard -wired detection
rse
+ s.
-*HI*

r-
\
for the development of short range
devices. This means that upon failure or !I II
" ISIELL
remote sensing systems suitable for a %OW
wide range of applications. replacement of either the cable or the 01.:
The new group has a design capability detector only one element needs to be ---
covering a variety of sensors including disposed of rather than both. Since iTi.= St
-

electromagnetic, acoustic, optical and nearly 50% of maintenance problems

experience by proximity switch users : 41110 -
infra -red.
emanate from the cable rather than from
tie -NOW - OHM
Projects are currently being undertaken =41- ii Isa
in such areas as offshore drilling, civil the device itself, this could lead to con-
siderable cost savings. Each 10 x 3 mm strip can indicate four
engineering, process measurement, non- levels of temperature, and the strips are
destructive testing and inspection, Further information from IMO Ltd available in nine groups with tempera-
1000 North Circular Road Staples Corner
defence and robotics. Systems based on LONDON \W2 7JP. tures ranging from 40 °C to 224 °C.
short-range radar have been developed Response is not greater than 1 second.
and much of the design work involves Micro Lable is of particular interest in
the use of radio frequency techniques. electrical and electronics fields, but can
Acoustic, magnetic and infra -red devices Modular positioning system obviously be used anywhere to monitor
are also under consideration for multi - A new modular positioning system from heat generation.
sensor systems used for surveillance and Lambda uses 5 -phase stepper motors Further information from Thermo -
navigation. that can be controlled manually, exter- graphics Measurements Ltd Bank House
Further information from ERA Tech- nally, or by computer. The 5 -phase step- Neston Road Burton SOUTH WIR-
nology Ltd Cleeve Road LEATHER - per motors provide a high basic resol- RAL L64 5TA.
HEAD KT22 7SA. ution, smooth operation, and excellent
 68 EE
March 1088

A WORD ill's THE AND MAKES

THE ME URENifENT
By David Simpson, National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, London

Though electronic sensors are now widely used for laboratory measurements, many
instruments, especially the more accurate ones, still have to be read by someone. A
hand-held computer terminal developed at the National Physical Laboratory helps
observers to record readings from instruments faster and more reliably. When numbers are
keyed into it, a speech synthesizer dictates them back to confirm that data have been
entered as intended. It also warns against improbable readings.
Each year the National Physical
Laboratory calibrates several thousand
scientific instruments for customers who
use them industrially to measure a wide
range of parameters. Although there is a
growing tendency to incorporate ana-
logue or digital electrical outputs that
enable readings to be recorded automati-
cally by a computer, few of the instru-
IEEE488 or RS232C interface
ments have such a facility. Vernier -scale
barometers, dial -gauge proving -rings
(for measuring force) and mercury -in -
glass thermometers are good examples. 16 -character
Moreover, the interfaces of those sent in display
for checking which are electricical in
nature are often not immediately com- Keyboard
patible with the calibration laboratory's
computer. So it is still quite normal for Base station including
many observations to be made by eye speech synthesiser
and written down.
Most metrologists believe that obser-
vations made by eye are, as a rule,
recorded more easily by jotting them
down on paper than by using a keyboard Loudspeaker
that calls for extra concentration to
avoid mistakes. They generally prefer to
write their observations and transfer Interconnections of the NPL *stem.
them to a computer later, when the data
input can be carefully compared with range", "measurement error", "prob- eration. While this would have been
their observation book. lem with reading six" and so on. The easier for users, it was thought impracti-
The speaking computer terminal seemed terminal should be small enough to be cal for two reasons. Firstly, neither radio
a logical device to develop because a held in the hand, so that the user can nor infra -red communication could eas-
portable numeric keyboard that would take it many metres from one instrument ily provide the degree of integrity re-
audibly confirm what key had been to another during a calibration; it should quired; some measurements need to be
punched would enable direct input of have a clear and bright display capable taken near sources of electrical inter-
visual observations into a computer of displaying alpha -numeric prompts ference or in Faraday cages, and line -of -
without calling for special concentration which may be easily read under a variety sight communication between the ter-
to detect keying errors. If you think of lighting conditions; a simple keyboard minal and its 'base -station' (linked to the
"three" when you key and the terminal employing high -quality switches; be laboratory computer) could not always
says "four" it is very unlikely the capable of transmitting non -numeric be guaranteed. Secondly, the power re-
mistake will get past. `special function' (or `soft -key) character quired to provide a bright display ruled
codes to the laboratory computer for out the use of batteries. It was therefore
control purposes (typically to mean decided to accept a thin cable linking the
"yes", "no", "abort", or "repeat last terminal with its base -station.
General design criteria reading"), and communication with the We settled on a hand unit that has a
To optimize the terminal's usefulness to laboratory computer should be via an bright 16 -character display, a loud-
metrologists, who use a range of tech- IEEE 488-1978 interface. The hand unit speaker, and a high -quality keyboard. In
niques in widely differing environments, should be cordless to avoid problems addition to the digit keys there are
a number of design features were con- with trailing cables. decimal and minus signs and four
sidered: the synthesizer should be crisp, The terminal was built in collaboration editing keys, two special function keys
clear, have a local accent and, apart with Peter Rush, of Triangle Digital Ser- and a "send" introduction. A key -shift
from speaking numbers from zero to vices, Walthamstow, London. Its final of the numeric keys gives ten other
nine, should be able to say things rel- form complied with all but the last special function keys.
evant to metrology such as "out of design consideration, that is cordless op- The terminal's cable, which may be up to
 EE
69
March 1988
30 metres long, links the unit to the base - ultaneously speaking it if required), en-
station containing the speech syn-
abling just the last digits of the number
thesizer, a power supply and both IEEE to be added to the right-hand side.
488-1978 and RS232C interfaces for
communication with the laboratory
computer. The synthesizer has a Quick and reliable
vocabulary of 70 discrete words selected
specifically for metrological purposes. It The first NPL speaking computer ter-
may be actuated by the terminal's minal was built over three years ago and
keyboard, to speak digits, or by the eight are now in service. They provide a
laboratory computer to speak any words quick and reliable means of recording
from its vocabulary. data from instruments that do not give
an automated read-out. They are helping
us in many ways, from precision
Optimum characteristics weighing to the calibration of mercury
The essence of the device is its ability to barometers, vacuum gauges, line stan-
dards and radiation dosimeters.
speak the value of numeric input data, Most users prefer the terminal in its
and we had to experiment to find opti- speaking -digit mode but some choose to
mum synthesizer operating character- enter numbers silently and have the full
istics. Firstly it was programmed to
speak only after a complete number had number dictated back after it has been
been entered. That is, typing "123 Using the terminal in the laboratory. entered. But both ways have been found
to cut the concentration needed and
<send>" evoked "one two three". Sec- make the process of entering numbers
ondly, "123 <send>" called up "One less tiring. Other benefits of the ter-
hundredand twenty-three". Though
minal have become apparent. On -the-
somewhat novel, this format was not Reading No. Bridge Reading
spot prompting during calibration work
found to be very helpful when taking 0.588438
not only helps the experienced metrol-
2 39
readings. A third mode is the one we 3 40 ogist but assists with the training of new
adopted, in which digits are spoken im- 4 43 staff: recording numbers directly into the
mediately numeric keys are touched. To 41 laboratory computer with audible con-
enable the synthesizer to keep up with a firmation is quicker than writing them
rapid sequence of key operations, it down and then typing them into a
speaks digits quickly and, under very When an instrument with, say, a six figure keyboard, later cross-checking a com-
fast operation, truncates them to avoid a resolution has to be read repeatedly with puter print-out with the observation
delay between pressing the key and start- changes in only the less significant digits, the
book; results, comments or instructions
ing to speak. For example, very rapid en- laboratory instrument can send a prompt
may be dictated to the operator while he
try of, say "678" would cause "Sisev- that allows just the last part of the number to
be added. This is the electronic equivalent of is concentrating, for example, on making
eight" to be spoken, but that is quite in- observations through a microscope
telligible. entering readings in a laboratory observation
When the unit is in typical use, a pro- book. eyepiece; spoken warnings attract more
gram running on a laboratory computer attention than visual ones and provide
two different ways: the first, most usual much better diagnostics than a bleep.
sends a visual prompt to the terminal, way, simply allows the prompt to disap- For example, if the user's concentration
reminding the metrologist standing near pear from the display as soon as numeric fails and a gross mistake comes up such
the instruments he is calibrating what keys are pressed;the second allows as typing in 1000 mbar instead of 20°C,
measurement to take next. He keys in his numbers to be added' to the end of a a spoken "Really?" requesting the data
observation, which is audibly confirmed prompt and is used when many similar again points out the mistake much faster
as he does so. If it is correct, he sends it observations have to be made. For than a display can do. Cross-checking
to the laboratory computer which pro- example, an instrument with six -figure lists of data is easier when one list is
cesses the information and usually re- resolution may have to be read repeat- spoken.
sponds with the next prompt. The com- edly with changes only in the last few
puter can trigger a short verbal opinion digits. After receiving the first reading in
if it recognises the number to be an the normal way, the laboratory com-
unreasonable one. The NPL speaking computer terminal is now
puter can send a partially numeric visual available from Triangle Digital Services,
The terminal handles visual prompts in prompt such as "Bridge? 0.5884", (sim- Walthamstow, London.

New decade capacitance at all settings. The capacitors are iso-

box lated from the case and an RFI screen is
The new CB610 has 6 decades of joined to a separate terminal that is
capacitance from 10 pF to 11.11111 pi: linked to the adjacent capacitor terminal
with an accuracy of ±1% ±2 pF. Drift during calibration.
is < ±0.3% ±1 pF in 1 year below Level! Electronics Limited Moxon
50 nF and < ±1% above 50 nF. The dis- Street BARNET EN5 5SD. Tele-
sipation factor is <0.002 at 1 MHz from phone: (01 449) 5028.
30 pF to 1 nF, <0.001 at 1 kHz on 1 nF
to 50 nF and <0.01 on 50 nF to 11 #F.
Maximum input is 250 Vdc, 160 Vac and
1 A at HE These compact boxes have di-
the switches have silver plated self -
mensions of 190 x 110 x 90 mm and wiping contacts with low losses up to
weigh 550 g. 1 MHz. The minimum control setting of
The decade capacitors are selected from 10 pF includes the residual capacitance
components with stable dielectrics and so the controls indicate total capacitance
70 EE
March 1988

READERS SERVICES READERS SERVICES

PARTS & BOOKS BOOKS No. Price VAT ADVERTISEMENTS
All orders must be sent BY POST to 1E1 lE1
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we can not deal with PERSONAL available: these may be ordered - MAY 1987 before publication date for both colour and
CALLERS, as no stock is carried at the from certain electronics retailers Capacitance meter 86042 5.15 0.56 monotone
editorial offices. The postal address is or bookshops. or direct from our Metal detector 86069 4.25 0.64 The Publishers will not be liable for arty
given at the back of the form. Brentford office. M101 signal distribution 87012 7.40 1.11 loss occasioned try the failure of any
All prices shown are net and customers Spot sine wave advertisement to appear from arty cause
generator 87036-1 net avaistie whatever; nor do they accept (lability for
in the UK should add VAT where printers' errors. although every care is
shown. ALL customers must add 301 Circuits £6.25 JUNE 1987
302 Circuits E6.25 Intercom for motor taken to avoid mistakes_ Advertisers' prop.
postage and packing charges for orders 303 Circuits erty. artwork. etc, is held at owners' risk.
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Spot site wave and should be insured by them against fire
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No. Price VAT Digit : -= a ..rent the Publishers against any contravention of
Software is also available from 1E1 1£1 =kW, 87468 6.50 0.98 any Trade Act in force in the country or
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Tire TV reception 86082-F 3.50 0.53 Halogen lamp [anent!" 87452 rot avalahte cancel any advertisement or series of
In Sweden, printed -circuit boards Top -of -the -range 86111-F1 5.60 0.84 7 -digit code lock 87463 rut avatatte advertisements_ In all cases. the
should be ordered from preamplifier 86111-F2 4.45 0.67 SEPTEMBER 1987 Publs!-.e7s' Stz,oard Terms of Business
ELECTRONIC PRESS Intelligent time Surface.mount stereo at Parts & Books Order
Box 63 standard 86124-F 15.70 3.71 FM receiver 87023 3.20 0.48 7,t.. placing of space reser-
S-182 11 Danderyd Digital sine -wave 16 Kbyte CMOS RAM vations by .".'.,,fS or their agents is
Telephone: 08-753 03 05 generator 87001-F 5.45 0.82 for C64 87082 4.10 0.62 deemed by the :-ors to imply accept-
Autoranging DNIM 87099-F 2.80 0.42 Active phase -linear ance of, and s,..,,,ir"vnt to be bound by.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Frequency meter 87286-F 10.75 1.61 filter 87109 15.00 225 these conditions_
EPROM emulator 87136 17.50 2.63
Subscriptions car, ce pia:toed
anywhere in the world: they may be SOFTWARE OCTOBER 1987
IEEE interface 87054 Not available Advertisement sizes
ordered on the appropriate form op- Software in IEIPROMs No. Price VAT S58 adapter 87145 Not available Trim size 297mm x 210mm
posite. (Cl 1E1 14 -bit 0-A converter 87160 9.00 1.35 Full page : 265mm r 185mm
ATP -controlled frequency RecorcingIplaybacl.. page 130mm x 185mm Manz)
meter 1 x 2732 531 9.00 1.35 amplifier 87486 riot available 265mm x 90mm (vertl
LETTERS X -Y plotter Low -noise microphone !I page : 63mm x 185mm Ihoriz)
Letters of a general nature, or express- 1 2732 532 9.00 1.35 =Wier 87058 3.45 0.52 1313trun x 96rrirra Wert)
programmable timer page : 63mm a 90rnm
ing an opinion, or concerning a matter - 2732 535 9.00 1.35 NOVEMBER 1987
1
5513 Receiver for 80 m Classified & semi -display column width:
of common interest in the field of elec- GHz pre -scaler 6Ornm
tronics, should be addressed to The x 2732 536N 9.00 1.35 and 20 m 87051 14.75 2.21
1
BASIC computer 97192 20.25 3.04 Full page bleed size: 303mm a 215mm
Editor. Their publico: n in Elektor Elec- automate your
model railway Dimmer for inductive
tronics is at the Ms :,: :in of the Editor. loads 87181 6.00 0.90
1 2716 537 7.30 1.10 Production details
marine computer IR Transceiver 87179 Not available
PAST ARTICLES Printing : offset
1 x 2716 538 7.30 1.10 DECEMBER 1987
Screen 8iW 40icrn (100 -inch)
A limited number of past issues can be Jumbo clock Digital motor drives for colour 60!cm 1150 inch)
supplied at the current cover price plus 2 x 2716 539 14.60 2.20 RC models 87098 4.50 0.68 Required material litho artwork or
Graphics card Frequency meter 87286-A 12.50 1.88 same size wrong.
postage & packing as detailed above If 2 = 825123 543 9.60 1.44 LCD VU meter 87505 6.75 1.01
past issues are no longer available. printer buffer 87520 6.75 1.01 reading rctatives
(mono)
photo copies of the relevant article can 1 x 2716 545 7.30 1.10 JANUARY 1988 colour separated
always be provided at a price of £1.00 MSX EPROMmer DCF77 Receiver and film positives and
per article plus postage and packing as 1 a 27128 552UK 7.30 1.10 Frequency Standard 86124-A 8.70 1.31 progressives
Intelligent time standard 87105 Nor avalsbre (colour)
detailed above x 2764 553 10.00 1.50
1 Stereo limiter 87168 7.25 1.09 Agency commission: 10%
EPROM emulator Light -powered
TECHNICAL QUERIES 1 x 8748H 558-A15.00 2.25 thermometer 87188 6.75 1.01
Slave indication unit Switch -made P50 880001 5.00 0.75
Althougii we are always prepared to for I.T.S. 559 15.00 2.25 Advertisement rates
assist readers in solving difficulties they FEBRUARY 1988 Full page E440.00
Intelligent time Half page E245.00
may experience with projects that have PRINTED CIRCUITS standard 86124.2 7.15 1.07
appeared in Elektor Electronics during Quartet page E145.00
Infra -red headphones 87640 6.10 0.92 Eighth page E95.00
the PAST THREE YEARS ONLY, we Readers who wish to make their own Preece-ler for frequency
PCBs (for private end personal use only) Special position
regret that these can not in any cir- meter '980005 9.25 1.39 or facing matter 15%
cumstances be dealt with by telephone may in many. but not e9, cases receive
the relevant drawings free of charge by MARCH 1988 Cover position 25%
ordering these on the order form opposite Infra -red detector for Bleed 105.
COMPONENTS and enclosing a stamped addressed =arm systems 87067 4.55 0.69 Additional colour - £200.00
envelope (preferably 9.6 In or 5?... 87104-1 10.50 1.58 Classified ads 45 p per word
Components for projects appearing in 230r 150 mm). 87104-2 10.50 1_58 frnin 12 words)
Elektor Electronics are usually available Semi display ads £10.00 per single
from appropriate advertisers. If difficult- Price VAT
87259 16.00 2.40 column cm (min 2.5 cm)
ies in supply of components are en- 'Lev 880041 6.50 0.98 Series discounts are available on appli-
1E1 ILI 880042 5.00 0.75 cation.
visaged, a source will normally be APRIL 1987 All prices are subject to VAT at the stan-
advised in the article. valve preampifier-2 87006-2 12.52 1.85 880067 5.00 0.75 dard rate.

EDITORIAL CALENDAR
Publication Copy deadline
Issue Main theme
date Advertisements' Articles
January 1988 17 Dec. 1987 9 Nov. 1987 26 Oct. 1987 HF & VHF Techniques
February ;988 14 Jan_ 1988 4 Dec. 1987 20 Nov. 1987 Telecommunications
March 1906 18 Feb. 1988 15 Jan_ 1988 28 Dec. 1987 Sensors
April 1988 17 Mar. 1988 12 Feb. 1988 29 Jan. 1988 Electrophonics
May 1988 14 Apr. 1988 11 Mar. 1988 26 Feb. 1988 Artificial Intelligence
June 1988 12 May 1988 8 Apr. 1988 25 Mar. 1988 Electronics & Art
JulyiAugust 1988 16 June 1988 13 May 1988 29 Apr. 1988 Amateur Radio & TV
September 1988 18 Aug. 1988 15 Juty 1988 1 July 1988 Computers & Microprocessors
October 1988 15 Sep. 1988 12 Aug. 1988 29 July 1988 Power suppF.es
November 1988 20 Oct. 1988 16 Sep. 1988 2 Sep. 1988 Optoelectronics
December 1988
r
17 Nov. 1988 14 Oct. 1988 30 Sep. 1988 Computer.aided test & measurement
January 1989 15 Dec. 1988 11 Nov. 1988 28 Oct. 1988 Audio & Hi4i
February 1989 19 Jan. 1989 5 Dec. 1988 21 Nov. 1988 TV & video
March 1989 16 Feb. 1989 13 Jan. 1989 30 Dec. 1988 Knowledge -based systems
April 1989 16 Mar. 1989 10 Feb. 1989 27 Jan. 1989 Telecommunications
May 1989 20 Apr_ 1989 17 Mar. 1989 3 Mar. 1989 Robotics
One meek later for camera-ready copy.
 EE
March 1988

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Send your orders loBI PAN DEPT 15 PO BOX 331104'5701 HER TS

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BOIEB MULTIMETERSOWSTANDING VALUE FOR MONEY!
BUY NOW, THE TIME IS RIGHT!
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cos E2O Comprehensive

With tranistor,
diode and
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LED tester.
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Professional Versatile . Hobby

Has oft the ranges!
Wide Range Measures temperature Ideal for beginners.
Pocket
With battery tester. Rugged general PurPose-
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MTh /1495" 1445" "nude VAT.
£27.95 '6714 £6.95
£11.95 £5.45 Please odd
£24.95 50p towards
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Precision Practical 412 Digit -- Push Button
High sensitivity Includes Comprehensive
SuPed)
Auto Ranging Feature Packed Hobby Low Cost
on AC temperature rnuiti-fealured range of
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current & mvifimeter. features.
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resistance.
dtgild
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meter.
1178E WS" 444.
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PO ORDER NOW AND GET A FREE CARRYING CASE WITH YOUR METER (WORTH UP TO £3.95) I
ate I LI ELECTRONICS Kck up a cow of our 1988 catalogue
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