20% discount on versatile PC i/o system

ELECTRONICS
WORLD
Denmark DKr. 65.00
Germany DM 15.00
Greece Dra.950
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Italy L. 8000
IR £3.30
Singapore 5512.60
Spain Pts. 750

+ WIRELESS WORLD USA $4.94

A REED BUSINESS PUBLICATION

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December 1995 £2.10

New preamp
concept
Transparent
LPT i/o
Enhanced FM
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Matlab's
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Big screens for
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50Q matching

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PSU, parallel cable & data sheets
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please contact John Marriott at Equinox Technologies. CIRCLE NO. 101 ON REPLY CARD
 CONTENTS
1012 AUDIO PREAMP - 1066 INTERFACING THE
SIMPLE BUT SOUND GPS RECEIVER
Reg Williamson demonstrates how an Nigel Gardner presents a low cost read-
impedance converter helps keep design out interface for Rockwell's
simple and transparent to the audio Microtracker system.
passing through.
1071 ADVANCES IN
1015 ENGINE MANAGEMENT DIGITAL VIDEO
Eric Russel explains how electronic Video developments spotted at the
engine management is evolving from recent broadcast and professional
the race track to the highways. exhibition - Vision '95
Cover - engine management.
1021 A NEW SENSOR 1074 IS MATCHING EASY?
FOR MEDICINE Ian Hickman looks at the pitfalls 20% DISCOUNT
Developed with medical applications in involved when matching source and
mind, this new opto-electronic load impedances. EW readers can obtain 20%
technique could speed up diagnosis. discount on an RS232
1084 DO YOU KNOW controllable i/o subsystem with
1024 DISPLAYS FOR BIG TV FOSTER SEELEY? 8 analogue inputs, 24 digital i/o
Large screen tv is going to need a new Amazed at the widespread lines, power drivers and
display technology. Peter Willis looks misunderstanding of how Foster-
at two of the contenders. Seeley's discriminator works, Richard counting and timing capabilities
Brice sets the record straight. - page 1023.
1026 DEMODULATION -A 1087 ANALYSING AC
NEW APPROACH Owen Bishop explains how circuit
Capable of improving performance in simulators handle various facets of ac
both am and fm systems, Archie analysis.
Pettigrew's new detection technique
involves an amplitude -locked loop.
REGULARS
1034 CLASSIC VALVE POWER
Morgan Jones presents a few of the 1003 COMMENT
classics in valve audio power - Waiting for the mobile data train
including the Williamson and
Mullard 5-20. 1004 NEWS
TVS breakthrough, Pentium
power down, Pocket video.
1040 SIGNAL PROCESSING
IN A TOOLBOX 1008 RESEARCH NOTES
Allen Brown looks at an extension to Hdtv, Commercial micromotors, Micromotors ready for the high
Matlab specifically designed for Chemical weapon, The sun's magnetic street? See page 1034.
solving dsp problems. field, Organics breakthrough.

1050 CIRCUIT IDEAS Special reader

1045 TRANSPARENT I/O Static noise limiter, Fast logic isolator,
VIA LPT Video transmission on vhf,
discount of 30%
Plug a Pico module into
The main disadvantage of using the Solid-staterelay, Pwm generator,
your LPT port and turn your
printer port for analogue and digital i/o Programmed bandpass filter.
pc into a spectrum analyser,
is that you have to unplug the printer.
scope, f -meter, dvm or data
Or do you? 1069 LETTERS
logger. Due to exceptional
PhoneDay fiasco, Field hazards, Is
demand, Pico Technology is
EMC approval needed, Audio power
1058 POWER MODULES FOR allowing us to repeat this
QUASI -RESONANCE offer - page 1023.
1079 NEW PRODUCTS
Relative to monolithics and discretes, Pick of the month - classified
power multi -chip modules represent an for convenience.
excellent compromise for quasi -
resonant switch -mode power.

Next month: Orientation via magnetic sensing, Valve

power, Duncan on CMR and cable modelling.
JANUARY ISSUE - ON SALE 28 DECEMBER

Decemberl 995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1001

 SCAN BAR CODES FOR £29.50
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CIRCLE NO. I06 ON REPLY CARD

1002 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 COMMENT

EDITOR
Martin Eccles
Waiting for the mobile data train
one would question the value of mobile
0181 652 3128
EDITORIAL
N No
communications. The mobile telephone has
quickly become a commercial necessity for many
ASSISTANT business travellers and a vital security tool for the
Rob Allcock more vulnerable in society.
0181 652 8638 It is equally self-evident that the transmission of
CONSULTANTS digital speech over the airwaves is little different from
Jonathan Campbell the transmission of data files. So why are we still
Philip Darrington waiting for the mobile phone operators to get there act
Frank Ogden together and start promoting mobile computing
services?
DESIGN & The somewhat cynical view is that the mobile phone
PRODUCTION operators are reluctant to promote a mobile data which
Alan Kerr makes less efficient use of their networks. UK cellular
EDITORIAL phone operators Cellnet and Vodafone can already
ADMINISTRATION offer 9600bit/s data transmission on their digital GSM
Jackie Lowe networks. But arguably they have no real incentive to
0181-652 3614 heavily promote that capability while they are so
preoccupied with building up their numbers of mobile
E-MAIL ORDERS phone subscribers.
jackie.lowe@rbp.co.uk The view of most mobile phone manufacturers is
ADVERTISEMENT that voice traffic will dominate European networks for
MANAGER a long time yet, and in the view of one European
Richard Napier mobile phone manufacturer, mobile data "is still seen
0181-652 3620 as a Christmas tree decoration by many service
providers."
DISPLAY SALES
One mobile phone supplier has been selling a ...not having a suitable mobile
EXECUTIVE
PCMCIA data modem for its handsets since 1993. But
Malcolm Wells the operators are unimpressed by its £400 price tag - communications network in the
0181-652 3620 to which the supplier responds "The operators are still US, poor old Dr Grove had to
ADVERTISING only talking about voice."
PRODUCTION While equipment makers blame the operators, who come to Europe...
Christina Budd in turn point the finger at the developers of what they
0181-652 8355 call "the necessary applications software"- whoever Part of the problem is the array of different radio
they might be. The growing number of laptop protocols already used for mobile data services. As
PUBLISHER computer users must wait a little longer for a service well as Cellnet and Vodafone the UK has around five
Mick Elliott which will allow them to communicate without wires. radio data networks using at least three different
EDITORIAL FAX One man who is far too astute not to recognise the protocols.
0181-652 8956 absurdity of a world without mobile computing is Dr No longer is the transmission of digital data over
Andy Grove, who sits on top of Intel, the $13bn radio a question of physics, but making it
CLASSIFIED FAX microprocessor giant. But without a suitable mobile commercially attractive for programmers to sit down
0181-652 8956 communications network in the US, poor old Dr and compile the pages of computer code which will
SUBSCRIPTION Grove had to come to Europe and its GSM digital shape the services users want. From questions of
HOTLINE cellular network to demonstrate the type of mobile interoperability between the various protocols to the
01622 721666 data services he would like to see making money for design of graphical user interfaces, the mobile
Quote ref INJ Intel in the market. computing market is hamstrung by issues which were
"I am overjoyed about the existence of the GSM solved in the desktop market ten years ago.
SUBSCRIPTION data technology," said Dr Grove. "It is a very It will take the commercial might of the PC industry
QUERIES significant development and very important for us." to smash the logjam which has so paralysed the
01444 445566 Point made. mobile phone community. Only now are there signs
FAX The point is that the ability to transmit data at that the likes of Intel and Microsoft are looking for
0144 4445447 standard modem rates of 9.6, 14.4 and even 28.8kbit/s action in the mobile computing market.
NEWSTRADE is available today. This isn't rocket science after all.
DISTRIBUTION So what is the problem? Richard Wilson
David G. Sanders
0181 652 8171
Electronics World + Wireless World is published monthly. By post, Overseas advertising agents: France and Belgium: Pierre Mussard, 18-
BACK ISSUES current issue £2.25, back issues (if available) £2.50. Orders, payments 20 Place de la Madeleine, Paris 75008. United States of America: Ray
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December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1003

UPDATE

Will pass transistor logic make cmos obsolete?

C ngineers at Hitachi have inputs are driven by the circuit's technology - PASS Transistor Logic
demonstrated marked savings in primary inputs only. "This results in a (PTL) - is due out next year
power, area and delay characteristics lot of unshared logic making it according to Dr Tsugio Makimoto,
of circuits using its pass transistor difficult to exploit redundancy," said executive managing director of
logic (PTL). The firm sees PTL as an Sasaki. Hitachi's chip business.
alternative to cmos for designing low In Hitachi's MPL approach, gate The first use of PTL in a
power, ULSI ICs. inputs are either driven by the commercial chip will be for the next
According to Yasuhiko Sasaki, at primary inputs or from the outputs of generation of Hitachi's SH series of
Hitachi's Central Research Lab in other pass transistor circuits. This microprocessors - the SH4.
Tokyo, a PTL adder implementation introduces a hierarchy in logic SH4 will show a dramatic five
is twice as fast as an equivalent cmos designs enabling circuitry to be fold performance increase over the
implementation, and yields a 40% shared. Delay is also reduced due to SH3 - an increase in power from
area saving. "However, to date PTL the more parallel circuit operation the 60 MIPS SH3 to a 300 MIPS
has been limited to circuits of several that results. SH4. The SH4's designer,
hundred transistors only. For larger In experiments, Hitachi has used Toshimasa Kihara, said: "PTL is a
circuits it does not work well as it is MPL to synthesise 27 random logic kind of magic. It reduces transistor
difficult to synthesise," said Sasaki, circuits selected from a count, giving us a 20-30%
speaking at this year's IEEE microprocessor. "The effect of multi- improvement in die size, power
symposium on Low Power level optimisation is clearly consumption and speed.'
Electronics in California. confirmed for circuits with a longer PTL is different from cmos in
To exploit PTL for larger designs, delay," said Sasaki. that, with cmos, transistors are
Hitachi has extended its previous On average total power was reduced charged by cmos and discharged by
work and developed its 'multi -level by 23%, the area by 15%, and delay nmos, but in PTL they are both
pass transistor logic' (MPL). Its by 12%. charged and discharged by nmos.
earlier PTL is based on single -level This reduces both the size and the
logic. Here source -drain inputs are The first commercial use of number of transistors required,
connected to each other while gate Hitachi's successor to CMOS considerably saving silicon space.

Data -rate boost for mobile

computing is imminent
of digital mobile phone Qualcomm, developer of the CDMA
Developers
V systems on both sides of the digital radio protocol which will be
Atlantic are proposing new standards used by mobile phone networks in the
which will increase the data rates US and Korea, is planning to increase
available for mobile computing on data throughput to 64kbit/s in 1997.
cellular telephone networks. Like GSM, the CDMA system uses
Nokia Mobile Phones has proposed a 13kbit/s data .rate on the radio
to the European standards group, channel supporting voice and
ETSI, a new data interface 144kbit/s data rates. According to
specification for the GSM mobile Chris Simpson, Qualcomm's vice
phone system which will support a president of international sales, the
28.8kbit/s data rate. This is the same channel codec will support a
equivalent of the V.34 wireline 32kbit/s data rate in the 1.25MHz
modem rate and three times the speed radio channel, which should be
Pocket video... NEC engineers have developed a pocket of the current 9600bit/s GSM data available sometime next year.
sized gadget, called Silicon View as a proof -of -concept for rate. Richard Wilson, Electronics Weekly
storing MPEG-compressed video and audio on solid-state
storage. With a 40MB pc card, Silicon View can play back
four minutes of video on its 312 -by -230 resolution screen
with the audio/video signal compressed 23 -fold to 1.4Mbit/s. Chip set for CDPD
Silicon View employs NEC's MPEG-1 decoder IC and /LSI Technology has introduced its over cellular telephone networks. In
weighs 295g. However, the gadget is unlikely to be V first chipset and software drivers the US it is being deployed as an
commercialised until 1Gbit drams become a reality early in for the cdpd data over cellular overlay to existing AMPS analogue
the next century and will initially be expensive, requiring communications technology currently cellular networks. The development of
five such chips to provide 60 minutes of video playback. gaining favour in the US. digital GSM data services has
Silicon View follows on from a similar gadget called Silicon CDPD (cellular digital packet data) effectively stifled any European
Audio which stored 26 minutes of audio on a flash pc -card. provides 14.4kbit/s data transmission market for CDPD.

1004 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 B. BAMBER ELECTRONICS
Hewlett Packard Power Meter Type 435A, £550
Hewlett Packard Power Meter Type 436A, £650
CAD FA for '/Virrows
Hewlett Packard RMS Voltmeter Type 3400A, £250 ISIS II III8IT ATOR
Hewlett Packard Modulation Analyser Type 8901A, POA hk e et i,..u, re SOP

Hewlett Packard Spectrum Analyser Type 8566A, POA

Farnell Portable Synthesized Signal Generator 10-520MHz _ --
Type PSG520, £475 -1,Zr----
Farnell Synthesized Signal Generator, 0.001Hz to 110KHz, £125 k

Racal Dana Frequency Counter Type 1998, £900 O

R ..,:: . V,
Racal Dana UHF Frequency Counter Type 9916, £175 ..4.3.424.,
. I <

Tektronix Oscilloscope Type D755, £250 rnf.

tn.
Tektronix Oscilloscope Type 475, £495 40- 1011
1+( S

Marconi Signal Generator, 10KHz to 510MHz ,

.......
....
Type TF2008, £400
Marconi AM/FM Signal Generator, 10MHz to 520MHz,
Type TF2015, £200
Marconi RF Millivoltmeter Type TF2603, £75 -
Marconi Spectrum Analyser Type, TF2370, £950 "1,111 II. . POITO1

Wiltron Programmable Sweep Generator Type 6610S, £500

Wiltron Scalar Network Analyser Type 560A, £800 CADPAK is especially suited to educational,
************************************ hobby and small scale schematic and PCB
Storno Starnet Mobile Radio Trunking Control System Type design. CADPAK includes both schematic
RA7728/00. Complete with 21 Storno 9000 Series Fixed Stations, drawing and 32 -bit PCB drafting tools but as
UHFNHF. POA an entry level product, there is no netlist link
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All items subject to availability. Technical
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Yuasa NP 10 6 6v 10ah sealed lead acid battery New £7.95 c/p £4.00
NEC CMV 123ne 12" colour VGA/SVGA 800 x 600 £59.00 Gp £14.00
Sony 9" colour Trinitron KTM 1000ub data for RGB £50.00 dp £12.00
12" Mono VGA (paper white) chassis enclosed 240v £30.00 c/p £15.00
AT&T 16" graphics colour monitor terminal 25 pin D connector with keyboard PROPAK has all of the features in CAPAK plus
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240v to 110v 80W Toroidal transformer auto new £7.00 c/p £3.00 plane generation and a powerful auto -router.
12vdc Fans 90 x 25mm qty discount
Sony video cassette player VP5040 NTSC/PAUSECAM
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PROPAK includes enough schematic capture
Star Serial (RS232) interface IS-8XM new boxed £4.00 c/p £2.00 and PCB design functionality for all but the
Calcomp 2200 digitizer (slight case damage)
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RS H.V Probe 610-281 new boxed
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PROPAK FOR WINDOWS 495
HP 7470a Plotter IEEE including interface cable £95.00 c/p £17.00
HP 3551a Transmission test set
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PROPAK FOR DOS 395
Tektronix 7A18 dual trace amp plug in £75.00 Gp £9.00
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c-DcenL
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Chessel 301 chart recorder £40.00 c/p £15.00
Mannesman Tally 910 laser printer (needs some attention) £110.00

Electronics
Astec SA 30-1306 +5 @2A +15 @1.8A -15 @.3A new boxed £3.50 c/p £2.00
AT&T Starlan 10 network hub model E £150.00 Gp £16.00
Racal Dana 9301a R.F millivoltmeter true R.M.S. £185.00 c/p £15.00
Stag Prom eraser SE100 £110.00 c/p £16.00
Elan E9D copier/programmer EPROM/EePROM editing and interface new boxed £195.00 Gp £18.00
Olivetti 386 IBM compatible s/c, c/w, 1.44 f/d, 40Mb, IDC h/d serial/parallel/mouse/
colour vga ports etc k/board, small case, 4 spare SL015/1Mb Ram upgradable to 8Mb £125.00
53-55 Main St. Grassington, N. Yorks. BD23 5AA
Wandel/Golterman IDC2 measuring set for group delay:attenuation receiver £130.00
Tel: 01756 753440 Fax: 01756 752857
PLEASE ADD 17.5% VAT. TO ORDER: RING FOR C/P PRICES NOT SHOWN:
OFFICIAL ORDERS AND OVERSEAS ENQUIRIES WELCOME
Prices exclude postage (ES for UK) and VAT. All ruanufi4cit tiers' trademarks acknowlecige,d.
TO ALL SMALL BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES. WE WOULD LIKE TO BUY
YOUR SURPLUS OR REDUNDANT COMPUTER HARDWARE/GOOD TEST
EQUIPMENT ETC.
CIRCLE NO. 109 ON REPLY CARD
CIRCLE NO. 108 ON REPLY CARD

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD 1 005

 UPDATE

TVS breakthrough handles low voltages

Anew transient -voltage suppressor the University of California, the leakage current.
know as an enhanced punch - enhanced punch -through diode is The enhanced punch -through diode
through diode is said to offer sharp fabricated using IC technology. It can be considered as a bipolar
knee voltages to well below 1V. comprises a p+n+ zener in series with transistor with light base doping. This
Developed jointly by Semtech and a pin diode to cut capacitance and makes punch -through occur at a
lower voltage than the conventional
avalanche breakdown voltage
between collector and emitter. The
four layer n+p+p-n+ structure is
cy
responsible for the low clamping
voltage, low capacitance and low
leakage. The p+ and p layers are
lightly doped to prevent the reverse -
biased n+p+ junction from
avalanching.
,0 2 a 1$ OS $ The first products to appear will
Standoff Voltage (V) Standoff Voltage (V)
have clamping levels of 4.3, 4.9 and
6.5V at 1A.
Leakage current
and capacitance of
the pnnp
enhanced punch -
British GaAs lags
through diode are UK is not putting enough effort The research's motivation follows hemt approach is limited to 6000
orders of The
into GaAs technology despite an idea of the group's for reducing gates due to yield problems. He
magnitude lower recent work of Middlesex power: "With existing SRAMs, the believes however that this will soon
than typical pn
University's Microelectronic Centre cell's cross -coupled inverters are used be solved. The most natural
zener diodes.
that promises low power, high speed for storing data and driving the bit application area for the work is for
GaAs -based static ram cells. lines. For fast operation, the inverters very high speed cache memory: "We
Dr Ebrahim Bushehri, deputy head need to be large to source and sink the are developing a design methodology
of the centre and leader of the vlsi bit -line's currents," said Dr Bushehri. that will enable very high
design group said: "Europe is putting The centre's adopted design performance circuits."
more emphasis and spending a lot decouples the bit -line's driving Roy Rubenstein, EW
more money than the UK on high inverters from the data storage. This
speed GaAs digital circuits and design enables the inverter size to be
methodologies." reduced, and the resulting standby
Dr Bushehri stresses that GaAs is current, saving on overall power Pentium power
no longer an esoteric technology dissipation.
confined to research labs but a Based on the centre's simulation
down
commercial reality. He cites work the hemt static ram cell has a A 120MHz Pentium microprocessor
Vittesse's 0.6pm mesfet GaAs standby current of 14pA and an aimed at portable computers with
technology capable of a million active current of 0.29mA. This integrated power saving features to
transistor devices as one example. contrasts with the traditional six extend battery life has been released
The centre's SRAM research work transistor direct coupled fet logic by Intel. The company is also set to
also involves collaborative work with (deft) cell currently used for GaAs unveil a new technology that brings
the German Fraunhofer Institute for that requires 570p A and 1.14mA together Internet and video
applied solid state physics, and uses currents. communications.
high electron mobility transistors, hemts. Dr Bushehri said that at present the At least ten major manufacturers of
portable computers plan to make new
ri Personal Navigator models based on the new Pentium
Where are you? chip. The device features Intel's
London -based software voltage reduction technology which
company Softwair unveiled its reduces the inner core of the
Map. Pod Talbot Ididnan urvey 23/8/95I PIE E3 Personal Navigator device - microprocessor to 2.9V while being
..11111.1110 based on global positioning used in a 3.3V environment. This can
114p Seons,,
systems, GPS, from Trimble - at boost power savings by almost one
the Motor Show in October. third.
Playing
04. $ Suitable for use with portable The new microprocessor costs
Fields computers, Navigator's software $680 in 1000 unit quantities. Intel
sch . El4
: wool
1k combines a cd-rom containing will also unveil a technology it calls
map data with GPS position Intercast which combines a cable tv
information to pinpoint the or antenna based video link with an
user's location on the ordnance - Internet connection. Users of pcs will
CoLle:g survey map display. Companies need a regular Internet connection
such as Panasonic, Bosch and and a new PCI digital -analogue
Alpine are looking into conversion card that will translate an
Press ALT to choose commands introducing similar devices incoming analogue signal into digital
INSteril I
I...$1.1(indaris IPestShoe Pl. II ©Personal N within the next two years. video. Intel will sell the card for
about $150.

1006 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

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CIRCLE NO. 110 ON REPLY CARD

(007
RESEARCH NOTES
Jonathan Campbell

Green light for hdtv?

I f the making of high -definition tv popular for hdtv. But systems need ccds are assigned to green light, with
programmes is ever to become the approximately 2 million pixels to other two being used for red and blue
norm rather than the exception there satisfy broadcast standards. as normal. Putting more emphasis on
is a desperate need for a compact Unfortunately, using a large number the resolution of the green signal
high-performance camera that is of pixels means the area of each pixel improves efficiency and makes the
much lower in cost than anything has to be small, narrowing the system compatible with the human
currently available. Now, researchers dynamic range, causing a drop in the eye which has a much greater
at the NHK Science and Technical aperture ratio, degrading highlight sensitivity to luminance signals than
Research Laboratories in Tokyo think characteristics and lowered yield. chroma signals: 70% of hdtv
they may have the answer -a The NHK design uses a 16mm ccd luminance signals come from the
completely new image acquisition camera - smaller than the usual green component.
system that uses four ccds instead of 25mm format - with only 1.3million Colour separation in the four-ccd
the standard red green blue approach. pixels. To compensate for the prism is essentially the same as with
This dramatically reduces the number reduction, the researchers use a fourth an rgb prism, with the addition of a
of pixels required. ccd to boost the sensitivity of the half mirror to separate the green light
It is cheaper, smaller and lighter system in the area where the eye is into two portions. The resulting
than normal hdtv cameras and a most sensitive. system meets resolution requirements
prototype was used successfully for Instead of the normal rgb as two 1.3 million pixel ccds - 2.6
Emphasising the
news gathering following the Hanshin (Yoshihiro Fujita et al, IEEE million sampling points - are
green component earthquake. Transactions on Broadcasting, Vol allocated to the green channel
allows better CCD imaging is increasingly 41, No 2, pp76-82), two of the four containing most of the luminance
resolution to be information, with 1.3 million pixels
obtained from a for each of the red and blue channels
smaller camera. and the chroma information.
The prototype camera is reported to
have fully satisfied hdtv
requirements, demonstrating a
resolution of 1200 tv lines,
G GI
sensitivity F5 at 2000 lux and a
White White
light light
dynamic range of 500%. Signal-to-
noise ratio is 52dB. Size of the
camera is 96mm by 250mm by
293mm, including the 16mm
viewfinder, and it weighs in at 5.7kg.
Yoshihiro Fjuita, NHK Science and
Technical Research Laboratories,
1-10-11 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku,
Tokyo 157, Japan.

Cogs turn for commercial micromotors

Cheap and practical micromotors systems inside the body. It could also processes and silicon materials
may soon be with us. This act as low-cost, high-performance already in use in the microelectronics
follows the news that researchers at gyroscope, having a dramatic impact industry to open up the possibility of
Sandia National Laboratories in the on the design of future automobiles mass production.
US have used conventional and military systems - both motor and "We believe we are the first to
microelectronic fabrication techniques gearing have much less mass than demonstrate a really good silicon
to build a micro device that can drive their macro -world counterparts and so micromotor that can connect up with
external gearing. can survive impact better. a variety of devices," says Jeff
Developing 0.5pW of power So far, several hundred million Sniegowski, the scientist who - with
delivered through a gear 50pm in rotations have been demonstrated by engineer Ernest Garcia and group
diameter, the motor could operate tiny the smaller gears. But the leader Paul McWhorter - has led the
micromedical pumps in drug delivery breakthrough is in using etching effort to build the millimetre -square

1008 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 RESEARCH NOTES

engine and its even tinier gearing. between them. The edges of the
Sandia's construction method shuttle also form combs with teeth
actually extends a technique first that interdigitate with those of the
developed at the University of stationary combs.
California at Berkeley. The basic Applying an on -off voltage to
batch process - which, when energise the stationary combs
perfected, should leave behind alternately, pulls the shuttle by
thousands of fully assembled, electrostatic attraction so that an
operational microengines - begins on attached shaft will turn a drive gear in
a silicon substrate. a quarter of a circle during the shaft's
Researchers deposit a layer of power stroke.
electrically insulating material and Another comb -drive engine, at right
then a film of polycrystalline silicon, angles to the first, is timed to turn the
patterned to form electrically gear on the second quarter of its
conducting lead-ins. rotation. The two drives, alternating
On top of this, a film of sacrificial their force, turn reciprocating motion
silicon dioxide serves as a support into rotary motion to drive the gear
layer as the remainder of the structure completely around. Close up of the output gear of Sandia's microengine.
is built. When it is removed, by Electronic circuits not part of the
several etching processes, openings micromotor chip drive the motor.
through the oxide allow the next Sandia researchers are currently
applied layer of polysilicon to anchor working to place control circuitry next
to the insulating layer on the to the microengine, and to develop a
substrate. This is how the vertical single chip with circuits and machines
axles for gears and elastic supports for fabricated side by side.
the engine are formed. Other Paul McWhorter, Sandia National
layerings and subsequent removals of Laboratories, Albuquerque, New
the oxide free the gears and linkages. Mexico, 87185-0167, USA.
During the process, silicon nitride is Paul I McWhorter%smtplink.mdl.s
added, functioning as a grease to let andia.gov@sass165.sandia.gov
the gears turn more freely.
As a final step, hydrofluoric acid is
added to remove all the sacrificial Sandia has used microelectronic
supporting layers of silicon dioxide. techniques to build a microengine that
The final motor consists of two tiny could be mass-produced. The output
silicon combs with a shuttle placed diameter.

Chemical weapon or just a bad egg?

An easy -to -use transducer and to contaminate the environment and could be extended to quality control
receiver system that establishes expose workers to nerve gas or other applications too, in which defective
the acoustic response characteristics chemical agents. parts have a different acoustic
of a container and its contents is being But, by measuring the acoustic signature than their good counterparts.
used as a non-invasive alternative to vibrations of an object, the Los Paul Lewis, Los Alamos National
normal analysis of chemical Alamos instrument quickly and safely Laboratory, California, USA.
weapons. identifies the fill content of chemical lewis@lanl.gov
The (ars) system, developed at the weapons or other containers holding
Los Alamos National Laboratory in toxic substances. To identify the Video holograms showing some of the
the US, could also prove useful for chemical fill, vibration patterns can be vibrational resonance modes of a 105mm
much more peaceful applications such matched with signatures in a library, munition. Each 'contour' corresponds to
as detecting salmonella in eggs or and the entire procedure takes less 0.5pm.
measuring intraocular pressure. than a minute and the operator is
Acoustic resonance spectroscopy is never exposed to the chemical
a non-invasive system that uses a contents of the container.
sensor head with two transducers Measuring the vibrational modes of
attached magnetically to the container objects is a well -established
being tested. One transducer induces technology. But using acoustic
minute vibrations in the container signatures to identify fill materials
while the other detects the resonance and the software algorithms that
frequencies at which the container implement this identification put the
naturally vibrates. The pattern of the instrument ahead of traditional
vibration frequencies is affected by technologies.
the physical properties of the contents Originally developed with the
and can be used as an acoustic Defense Nuclear Agency as a non-
signature. invasive inspection tool to verify
Traditional methods of verifying the compliance with treaties on chemical
contents of chemical munitions weapons destruction, the detector
require a hole to be drilled into the could prove suitable for any non-
container and a sample of the fill invasive identification of fill materials
extracted for laboratory analysis. It is in sealed containers.
time-consuming and has the potential Los Alamos says the technique

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1009

RESEARCH NOTES

Picturing the sun's magnetic field

Physicists at Nasa have just From its vantage point over the emissions shows that they follow the
released the first instantaneous south pole of the Sun in 1994, expected spiral shape, even including
view of the spiral structure of the Ulysses was able to track the path of the kinks due to variations in solar
solar system's magnetic field. The the bright spot of radio waves excited wind speed.
picture shows how the lines of by moving electrons ejected from the Previous radio observations made
magnetic force originate in the Sun Sun at speeds over 62,100mile/h. by space probes orbiting in or near
and extend outward into the solar Radio emissions - caused by the the plane of the Earth's orbit did not
system. fast electrons moving through with provide a good vantage point for
Nasa's snap -shot, assembled from the slower solar wind - allow the observing the spiral shape of the
observations of radio waves by a US - magnetic lines of force to be traced magnetic field. Observations in space
French radio receiver on the Ulysses out in a way similar to deducing the are required because the radio
spacecraft, shows the spiral magnetic course of a road at night from an frequencies of the solar wind do not
field extending from the Sun past the airplane by tracking the headlights of get through the Earth's ionosphere.
orbit of the planet Venus toward the individual cars. Goddard Space Flight Center,
orbit of Earth. A chart of the received radio Greenbelt, MD, USA.

View from the north ecliptic pole is

based on Ulysses radio measurements
made as it was passing over the Sun's
south pole. The white symbols represent
the actual observations of the location
of outward moving streams of electrons,
81 ejected from the Sun on October 25 and
October 30, 1994. The numbers
indicate the frequency of radio
emission, so that '940' represents
SUN emission at a radio frequency of
9411%nore 940kHz.
Mercury, Venus, and Earth are shown
940
Oct 30 + 4. in their approximate true positions at
the time of observation - the large
orange circles illustrate their orbits
4272' around the Sun. A yellow arrow points
-\\
out the location of the Sun where a solar
flare explosion on October 25, 1994
",Oct 25 +
ejected the electrons tracked by Ulysses
100 on that date. The spiral blue lines
nus
48 illustrate the shape of the magnetic field
as predicted from theory for a constant
girth solar wind speed.

Organics breakthrough into low power devices

Work on thin film organic channel operation in a single device. electrically inactive layer is deposited
Structure of the
heterojunction TFT transistors has produced several For the first time, fabrication of on top of the C60 to protect it.
with alpha -6T and p -channel versions based on one complementary circuits - with all Energy levels of the highest -
C60 active layers combination of materials, and n - their well-known advantages in terms occupied and lowest -occupied
that could open up channel versions based on others. But of power dissipation and device molecular orbitals of the two
production of low researchers at AT&T Bell lifetime - could now be possible with materials is such that when the gate is
power organic Laboratories have now announced organic technology. biased negatively with respect to the
complementary development of an organic transistor First active layer of the device, source, the p -channel material is filled
circuits.
structure with two active materials adjacent to the gate dielectric (A with holes; and when the gate is
that permits both p -channel and n - Dodabalapur et al, 'Organic biased negatively, the n -channel
cc -ST
Heterostructure Field -Effect material is filled with electrons.
Source Drain Transistors', Science, Vol 269, Other experiments have since been
C60
pp.1560-1562) is alpha -6T, a successfully carried out with
thiophene oligomer which has been alternatives to alpha -6T and C60, the
Gate used in p -channel devices. This layer only requirement being that the
dielectric is about 10-20nm thick. Second layer, materials have similar highest -
for n -channel operation, is C60 and is occupied and lowest -occupied
Si substrate (gate)
about 20-40nm thick. A third molecular orbitals.

1010 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

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CIRCLE NO. 111 ON REPLY CARD

AUDIO

Audio preamp
simple but sound
Designed to be as simple as possible, Equalisation and gain control
Reg Williamson's this circuit is transparent and provides Despite its apparent simplicity, the design is
preamplifier is possibly two basic functions - equalisation and wholly innovative in concept. It offers flexibil-
the first to use a gain control. ity of overall gain, modest equalisation of high
A universal interface for almost any pro- and low ends of the audio spectrum around a
generalised impedance gramme source and following power amplifi- central point of 1kHz, and gain control.
converter. This reactive er is also provided. Inclusion of an equaliser The whole system is transparent, with no
was an attempt to disprove that even a prop- phase inversion - the bete noir of the purists.
block helps keep the erly designed equaliser would always subjec- When set to the electrical centres of their
design simple and tively degrade signal quality in some way. respective controls, the reactive elements of
transparent to the audio Distortion plus noise is less than 0.05% at
1kHz and 3.5V rms with the gain controls at
the equalisers are virtually out of circuit. With
these settings, the circuit behaves as a unity
signal passing through. maximum - and these results are from a gain amplifier with 100% negative feedback.
source with an inherent 0.03% thd+noise fig- Even so, reactive elements can be switched
ure. Maximum output swing is 10V rms. out altogether with a single double pole on/off

R6
Record 18k

VR.1
10k lin R7
10k lin
2 R2 15k
072
Rin 18k 3
07
33k St 3 VR3
O
10k lin
0-1AN4-0 :4n7 GIC
Rtt
R4 C2a 600
Clb 9k1 100n R8 R9
Ri 6n8
0-1MA-0 3k6 680 15k Out

R3 Al operated
18k R5 C2b
(B1 other channel)
9k1 22n
S2
Out

Micro- min
Mute circuitry combining D7,2, C5,6, R7 and relays A
relays 12V
and B is provided as the output IC switch -on can be
considerable even with more sophisticated supplies.
Maximum delay of the mute is 4s, but can be less if there
Ji is a quick off -on sequence. The micro -miniature relays I
MPSA14 used have fragile terminals, and care was necessary in
fitting. The mute supply is a fast 24V supply across + and
- to equalise supply loads and give a reliable mute on
switch -off. Mains supply should be rf filtered and
transient suppressed.

1012 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 AUDIO

Does component price make a difference?

Listening tests were carried out involving 31 people with a high quality
programme source of varied music material. Some of these were music
enthusiasts from the Recorded Music Society, but a few were 'professional
listeners'.
The idea was to make two identical preamplifiers. One was built using off-the-
peg components and the other had highly expensive alternative components
such as super -capacitors and resistors, and even gold plated sockets.
A comparative switching system was also provided to allow the listener to
switch randomly between the original programme source and either of the two
preamplifier outputs. High quality electrostatic headphones provided the audio
output.
In all cases, individual gains were matched at 1 kHz within 0.2dB and any
equalisation controls set to a measured linear position. The listener did not know
which output was which. Response of the preamplifier subjected to a 5kHz
The tests demonstrated what we expected - that hardly anyone could tell any squarewave at 6V pk-pk amplitude. Output loading
difference between all three sources. Of the 341 steps in the test, there were 248 was the quasi -standard of 501(11
opportunities to detect the inclusion of the preamplifier in the audio chain. Only
24 of these were noticed, and even then, the differences were described as
'slight' or 'doubtful'. A tribute to Peter
Besides confirming the amplifier's transparency, these tests also indicate that
exotic components - whether passive and active - are a waste of money.
Baxandall
This article is offered in tribute to the
late Peter Baxandall, my friend and
switch. In either the midband nominally linear inputs, it is increased. While using a linear technical mentor for almost 40 years.
setting or the switched -out position, overall control, the action is sensibly logarithmic and His observations and evaluation of
gain of the pre -amplifier is as originally select- unlike some other versions, has a genuine zero my design ideas I appreciated highly.
ed by the constructor and is totally flat. gain position fully anticlockwise. It con- This design was the last valuable
Reactive elements for the low end include for tributes a maximum gain of 20dB and has a service he did for me. With modest
the first time, a generalised impedance con- very low output impedance of 600Q. deference, I thought my equaliser an
verter, which simulates an inductor in series It could be argued that a balance control is ideal replacement for his own 43 year
with a resistor. redundant these days, but one can be fitted. old brain -child that rightly bears his
The whole is flexible in design, allowing for However, it is easier to fit a concentric gain name worldwide. It was with charac-
variation. However in this instance, circuit control which is, fortunately, still available. teristic generosity that he gave my
parameters selected result in the controls hav- To complete the flexible interface require- alternative his warm and unstinting
ing a shelving action, limiting equalisation to ments, the input is a unity gain buffer stage approval - accompanied by three A4
6dB. Because the same reactive elements are without phase inversion and 100% negative pages of detailed analysis.
used for both attenuate and accentuate func- feedback. Input signals of differing mean lev- Peter never failed to find some use-
tions, there is absolute symmetry of the two els can be accommodated by a passive L pad ful facet of the design procedure that
respective curves. at the input. Distortion and noise are negligible I had overlooked. For virtually half a
and maximum peak -to -peak voltage swing is century, his unique abilities con-
Negative feedback gain control far in excess of normal requirements. tributed to the art and science of
Gain control adopted is also unusual, being a audio engineering.
negative feedback type. For high gain settings, Further reading He will be greatly missed.
and low signal level inputs, feedback is Watling, Alan, 'Golden Ears?', Hi-Fi News,
reduced - for low gain and high level signal May 1994.

Gain (dB) Phase (°)

7.000
6.000 300
5.000
4.000 - 200
3.000
2.000 100
1.000
0
-1.000
-2.000 -100
-3.000 Simulation of boost and cut
-4.000 -200 curves with the preamplifier's
tone controls set flat and at
-5.000 maximum and minimum.
a -300 Centre curves show phase
-6.000
shift. Measured results tally.
-7.000
100 1K 10K

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1013

 1:&
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Tek. 2215. DC-60MHz Portable Dual Trace Scope with delay. £425 Racal. 9081. Synethesized AM/FM Signal Generator. 5MHz-520MHz. £550
Tek. 7504. DC-90MHz Four Slot (Main Frame). 180
Ferrograph. RTS-2. Recorder Test Set. Combines; Oscillator, Millivoltmeter, Wow
Tek. 7704. DC-150MHz Four Slot (Main Frame), with Read Out. £200 and Flutter and Distortion. £85
Tek. 5A15N. Single Trace Amp Plug In. DC-2MHz. £35
Fluke. 760A. Meter Calibrator:
Tek. 5A21N. Differential Amp Plug In. DC-1MHz. £35 AC and DC Voltmeters, Ammeters, Ohms, Multimeters etc; 0.001V -1000V. 100pV
Tek. 5B1ON. Single Sweep Time Base Plug In. 160ne.-58/div. £35 Resolution. DC. 1M-10 Amp. 0.001V -1000V. 60Hz and 400Hz. 100pV Resolution.
Tek. 5B12N. Dual Time Base Plug In. 100ns-5sidiv £35 AC.
Tek. 7Al2. DC-105MHz. Dual Trace Amplifier Plug In, with Offset. £130 1µA-10 Amp. 60 Hz and 400Hz. 1µA Resolution AC Amp. 0-10M0. 10 Resolution.
Tek. 7A18. DC-75MHz. Dual Trace Amp Plug In Ohms.
Tek. 7A26. DC-200MHz. Dual Trace Amp Plug In. £187 Gould. K100D. Logic Analyzer. 16 Channels 100MHz with Pods. £350
Tek. 7B53A. Dual Time Base. 5ns-5s/div. Trig to 100MHz. £149 H.P. 8447C. Amplifier, 30-300MHz, 30dB Gain 500. £250
Tek. 7B53AN. Plug In. As above but without CRT read out. £145 Huntron. 1000. Tracker. (H'TR100513-1S). £165
Tek. 7B71. Delaying Time Base. Plug In. £128 Keithley. 706. 100 Channel Scanner. 7 Digit Display Complete; with 7: 7066 Relay
Tek. 7D10. Digital Events Delay. One to 10.7 events. £81 Switch Cards 10 Channels per card. £1695
Tek. 7S11. Sampling Unit. 2mV/div to 200mV/div. £450 Racal. 9009. Modulation Meter. 8MHz-1.5GHz AM/FM. £250
Tek. S-2. Sampling Head. DC -4. 6GHz. £250 ROTEK. 3980A. Precision AC/DC Calibrator; AC/DC Voltage and Resistance,
Tek. S -3A. Sampling Head. DC-1GHz. £180 Currents to 50Amps; High Accuracy: 0.005% DC and 0.05% AC, IEEE Interface.
Telequipment. D1016. DC-15MHz Portable Dual Trace Scope. £95 Complete with ROTEK 350A. High Current Amplifier Adator; AC/DC Currents
AVO. 8. Universal Avometer. (needs batteries). £55 1-10 Amps and AC current to 50 Amps; Both units in current Calibration "Aug 95
AVO. 8. MK II. Universal Avometer. (needs batteries). £60 expires Aug 96" £4875
AVO. 8. MK III. Universal Avometer. (needs batteries). £65 Stag. PP41. Gang Programmer. 2Mb RAM, RS232 Interface. Complete with;
Hatfield. 2145. Attenuator. (NEW in BOX) 0-25.5dB in Steps of; 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 41M101A. Gang Module. 1 Master and 8 Slaves, 24, 28, 32 Pin FP. £475
1.6, 3.2, 6.4, 12.8dB. 0.5 Watt BNC 750. £65 Tek. TM501. One Slot Mainframe Power Supply. £164
Midwest Microwave. 294-9. Minipad Attenuator. 9dB. DC-2GHz SMA. £25 Tek. TM504. Four Slot Mainframe Power Supply. £197
Fluke. 1963A. Counter Timer. DC-520MHz, 9 Digit Display; Frequency, Frequency
Ratio, Period, Time Interval; With Opt: "C" 50-520MHz and Opt: 15 IEEE 488 Thurlby. CM200. Digital Capacitance Meter. 41/2 Digit LCD display; 1pF-2500µF.
Interface. £475 Battery or mains adaptor (NOT SUPPLIED). £45
H.P.5328A. Universal Counter. DC-100MHz, 8 Digit Display; with Opt: 021 High Trend. 1-9-1. Data Transmission Portable Ten Set £286
Performance DVM. £495 W&G SPM-30. Selective Level Meter. 200Hz-1.62MHz -100dB to +20dB. £1850
Wayne Kerr. B605. Automatic L.C.R. Component Bridge £175

SEND LARGE S.A.E. FOR LISTS OF EQUIPMENT AND MANUALS

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Bognor Regis, West Sussex, P022 OEB
U.K.

CIRCLE NO. 112 ON REPLY CARD

1014 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Engine
management
developments
Eric Russel looks at how electronic engine
management systems developed for the race track
are affecting performance in the latest cars intended
for the nation's highways.

Computerised engine management sys- Idle quality is also enhanced because tick -
tems for cars are becoming more and over is more tightly controlled. The Lucas
more popular, and as the number on the Epic engine management system, for example,
road rises so do the horror stories. There is no has a special software routine called adaptive
doubt that such systems are effective, but cylinder balancing which compensates for
when problems arise, the support leaves a lot mechanical tolerance variations and wear to
to be desired. Stories are already emerging of ensure smooth running.
out -of -warranty charges of £600 for a replace-
ment control unit which, in one case, left the Three dimensional profiling
car with its original problem. Computerisation has added an extra dimension
Components are comparatively inexpensive to engine control. Whereas mechanical link-
and there could be an opportunity for elec- ages can be regarded as two dimensional, with
tronics entrepreneurs to look at repairs while a direct relationship between throttle position
garages remain mechanically orientated and and fuel demand, electronic systems have a
equipment manufacturers do not want to three dimensional mapping ability which gives
repair units. a greater range of options. Instead of follow-
ing points on a flat graph, engine control fol-
Increased engine efficiency lows a contoured 3D profile, illustrations of
Although the principal driving force behind which shown are on page 1019.
the increased popularity of EMS is pollution Because the 3D map is more detailed it has
legislation, there are other reasons for its use. to be created individually to suit driver, engine
While noxious emissions can be cut by 10% and the driving environment. This takes sev-
and fuel consumption improved, driveability is eral hours while engine settings are noted, on
also improved by minimising engine speed a rolling road, for example, for a set number
oscillations during acceleration, for example. of engine speeds. These points are stored in

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1015

 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Engine Design & Development

- Component Engineering
- Design Feasibility

494

Chassis & Engine Harnessing

Intelligent Dashboard linked to

Engine Management System

Capacitor DISCharg0911fikon Systems

Single Chan net
Distribute

Custom Designed
In.Cylinder Head Ignition Coils

Sequential Fuell ng and Ignition,

Hall Effect and VR Sensors
Engine Management Control System
Data Acquisition Equipment Logging
Chassis and Engine performance
Sentinel Tyre Temperature Monitoring

Active Suspension Control

As this racing car cutout from Zytek shows, above, there are many electronic links between engine memory and accessed during a journey, with
and the rest of the car. This is also the trend in road cars, which will soon have more electronics than modifications to the engine controls from sen-
mechanical systems. Ride, road holding and performance are now all coming under electronic
sors around the engine.
control and it is the current breed of low cost processors which makes this possible. Microprocessor
speeds far exceed mechanical response times so it is easy to control suspension, braking and engine
With the Bosch Motronic EMS, engine load
in less time than it takes a wheel partially to rotate or for an engine to complete one revolution. determines how the electronic control unit,
ECU, reacts and is computed from air mass
flow and throttle position. Air flow sensors are
fitted in the air inlet and consist of a flap
attached to a potentiometer. As air flow
increases the flap rotates and the changing
resistance in the potentiometer is measured by
the ECU. An air temperature sensor is also
connected to the ECU which can then calcu-
late the volume of air entering the engine.
Hot wire or hot film meters can be used to
provide an index for mass air flow. A heated
element in the air stream is cooled by the air
and the heating current needed to return the
element temperature to a pre-set value, as
measured by an integral sensor, provides the
data. The system automatically compensates
for variations in air density, a factor that deter-
mines the amount of warmth the air absorbs
from the heated element.
A 'knock' sensor can also be fitted to an
engine to cut pre-ignition problems. Knocking
occurs when fresh mixture in the cylinder

Aided by comprehensive and interactive

electronic systems, this 4.21 V8 engine - the TVR
AIP 8 - can develop 350bhp at 6500 rev/min.

11116 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

ignites spontaneously before the controlled

flame front arrives from the spark plug. This
creates a flame velocity some seventy times
faster than normal and -the resulting high pres-
sure shock wave is picked up by a knock sen-
sor which again feeds back to the ECU.
Pre-ignition causes thermal stresses which can
result in mechanical damage.
In the exhaust system a lambda oxygen sen-
sor monitors excess air in the exhaust and
feeds back to the ECU which then controls the
air to fuel ratio. To complete the monitoring,
battery voltage has to be sensed as it affects
the operating times of devices such as elec-
tromagnetic fuel injectors.

Integrating injection
After a century or so of mechanically operat-
ed carburettors, electronically controlled fuel
injection seems set to take over as part of a
complete concept - computerised engine man-
agement. The accent is on software. The
engine department is comprehensively moni-
tored and the computerised control of air, fuel
flow and ignition timing means optimum com-
bustion.
Optimisation provides the best combination
of power, fuel consumption and exhaust emis-
sion for any given driving situation. It also
means the smoothest idling and maximum Weber's engine -management system takes into account a wide variety of engine parameters from
engine efficiency during cold running. fuel flow to water temperature. The result is faster engine response, more efficient combustion
Systems respond to varying driving and atmo- and fewer noxious emissions.
spheric conditions as a journey progresses in
contrast to mechanical adjustments which are
fixed beforehand. Zytek's EMS3 has a 32bit Motorola processor allowing dynamic modifications to engine maps.
Engine management is the latest develop- Watertight housing is critical to successful microprocessor operation. Damp, dirt, dust,
ment in a trend which began with transis- condensation and extremes of temperature are all enemies of electronics but are the standard
torised ignition in the early 1970s and has environment for car computers. Vibration can also affect in time, pcb mountings, connectors and
been helped by the lower costs of fuel injec- soldered joints. But car manufacturers demand lightweight control units - an additional problem
tion due to volume sales. Motor sport's con- for designers.

Charcoal canister "P. .I Pressure actuator Secondary air pump

r 1-,
L2

Regeneration Intake manifold

Fuel
pressure
regulator
I
Ignition coil

1
N
0
11. valve pressure sensor Phase sensor
Air filter Shut off valve
1'1

Air
Throttle valve (2, temperature
potentiometer Obi sensor

Idle speed
actuator
1I Lambda
sensor
Exhaust as
recirculation valve

ZYTEK Speed sensor

Electronic
control unit
II I

Differential
pressure sensor
r Lambda sensor

Diagnostics interface
4 Electric fuel pump Body acceleration sensor

Diagnostics lamp
ZYTEK Automotive Limited

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1017

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

tinual quest to shave fractions of a second off sure sensor, water temperature sensor, lambda accelerator immediately to the ECU which
lap times has helped drive development and sensor, electronic control unit with integrated controls engine devices through robust power
that harsh environment has ensured robust ignition amplifier and option of static or transistors. These buffer the pcb components
products. The result has been a radical rethink capacitive ignition system, cold start extra air from such problems as transient spikes on the
of engine control, which is now spinning -off valve, fuel pressure regulator, high pressure vehicle electrics.
into volume cars. fuel pump, throttle bodies, wiring harness,
inertia safety switch, ignition coil, fuel filter Memory for more torque
Yet higher integration and connector unions, fuel hoses, manifolds, The microprocessor board also holds a mem-
One of the leading companies in the field, inlet air trunking, air filter mounting flanges ory chip which contains the calibration set-
Weber Concessionaires, has taken EMS a step and adjustable throttle linkage. tings. These are the optimum settings for a
further with a system that has even greater It can monitor external air temperature, range of driving conditions - up to 256 dif-
flexibility and versatility - Alpha Plus. It is a turbo -boosted or barometric air pressure, water ferent combinations of engine speed and throt-
development of the Alpha Engine temperature, throttle angle, engine speed, tle position in the case of Alpha Plus. The
Management System that is specified, camshaft timing, gear selection, idle setting result is a wider power curve, which provides
amongst others, by Opel Racing on all their and battery voltage. The on -board computer in more torque at low and high revs, and an
Class 2 touring cars, including the Vauxhall the ECU processes all these inputs and can increase in mid -range performance.
Dealer Sport team, Aston Martin and control injector opening, spark position, Alpha senses engine load from the throttle
Caterham for their JE special. John Clelland camshaft timing and variable inlet track position sensor rather than monitoring air
has just won the British Touring Car champi- length. The result is faster engine response, flow. This means an immediate response to
onship for Vauxhall using an Alpha system. more efficient combustion and less noxious changed throttle settings because there is no
He clinched the title with two races in hand emissions. delay while air pressure changes. It is also felt
which indicates how far ahead the Vauxhall To convey engine speed, the trigger disc is that sensors in the air flow create turbulence
was. bolted to either flywheel or pulley. It is a flat and affect volumetric efficiency of the engine,
A complete Alpha Plus kit can include - ring with teeth on the outside, one per cylinder reducing the benefits of EMS.
fuel injectors, engine speed sensor and trigger and one to indicate top dead centre, and has to There is no one combination of settings to
disc, high -resolution throttle position sensor, be fitted with a concentricity of ±0.1mm. This suit all drivers so an ECU has to be trained for
inlet air temperature sensor, barometric pres- accuracy, combined with the ring's low mass the vehicle it works with. First, in a calibration
in comparison to crankshaft mass, means that session that takes several hours, an engineer
no re -balancing is required. The speed sensor feeds into a portable computer up to 256 set-
is a proximity type and generates a pulse tings of ignition, air and fuel against a range of
every time a tooth passes. A similar sensor is throttle positions and engine speeds.
John Clelland's Vauxhall Dealer Sport team required on the camshaft to identify cylinder For calibration, either the engine is mounted
car - featuring Alpha Plus engine status. on a test bed or the car is run on a rolling road
management - wins the British Touring Car A potentiometer fixed to the end of the where wheel speed, torque, bhp and exhaust
Championship 1995. throttle spindle conveys driver action on the emissions are monitored. The application

1018 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Injector
opening
time
(output)

Engine
speed
Throttle (input)
position
(input)
ADVANCE
DEMAND
Three-dimensional mapping
In Lucas's Epic system, above map, the
electronic control unit converts signals from the
various vehicle, engine and pump sensors to digital form.
They are then used as inputs to a number of maps stored in
memory. The control unit then sends signals to the pump actuators
to implement the desired control strategy. Multi -dimensional mapping
and accurate transient control of the electronic system that give Epic its FUEL DEMAND
prime edge over electro-mechanical systems. Right is another typical ENGINE SPEED (RPM)
three-dimensional map created by Weber Concessionaire's Alpha system -
discussed in the main text.

engineer runs the engine at a series of set dition and to transmit engine data over a measures all four wheelspeeds, lateral G
speeds and tunes ignition timing and fuel telemetry link. Carbon fibre also has a place, forces and can also accept footbrake and hand-
injection using Weber Concessionaires' own in a lightweight housing for the ECU. The brake positions. Twelve levels of traction con-
software to store settings in a portable com- company also supplies Aston Martin and Rolls trol can be selected from ice through gravel to
puter. These settings are logged against throt- Royce. tarmac. A serial link connects it to the ECU
tle positions and engine speeds. MBE Systems designs, develops and manu- which then controls engine power output. It
Once the overall engine performance meets factures engine management systems. Its 941 differs from many traction control systems by
the customer's requirements, the settings are ECU is a fuel injection and distributorless finely adjusting engine characteristics rather
transferred to a memory chip, generally engine management system for use at serious than simply cutting ignition or fuel.
erasable -prom. This is then plugged into the club and works level motor sport on engines Cars manufactured by TVR use EMS from
EMS computer on the car. The electronic con- with up to 12 cylinders. Here reliability can MBE Systems. The current range includes
trol unit now knows the precise settings for win championships as well as speed because Cerbera, Griffith 500 and Chimaera. All can
every expected driving situation and can accu- regularly collected points can beat irregular reach 60mile/h in a fraction over four seconds
rately calculate and adjust fuel, air and ignition first places. For this reason MBE Systems with engines between 4 and 5 litres develop-
timing according to the driver's demands and EMS allows users to retain the manufacturer's ing some 340 bhp and providing a top speed
outside conditions. original parts for reliability and this also helps about 160mile/h. TVR Engineering has just
Computerised engine management has to with availability of spares. developed its own engine, the AJP 8. This is
monitor and control in real time. This means The main ignition and fuel injection maps an all aluminium 4.2 litre V8 which develops
that the microprocessor has to act immediate- on the 941 system are arranged with map 350bhp at 6500rev/min.
ly on any input. Generally, computers store points every 250rev/min with up to 16 pro- Rover Group has developed its own EMS
instructions while the central processor is grammable throttle points. There are also but sells it with an engine. This combination
busy, which then implements them after a maps with up to 16 programmable pressure powers Morgans, the Lotus Elite and Reliant
short delay. While this may not be noticed in points. Cold start and warm up maps are avail- Scimitar.
an office application, for example, it could be able and alterable by the user. The system can A smooth ride has low priority in racing cars
critical in open -loop engine management, compensate for inlet air temperature varia- but this is not the case for luxury cars. In the
where the computer uses information from tions. latest Jaguar models, the automatic transmis-
combustion in one cylinder to amend within a Fuel is cut off during overrun and a gearshift sion can control ignition through the engine
few milliseconds the calibration of the next light acts as a driver prompt. Weight of the management system. Ignition timing is retard-
cylinder. unit has been trimmed to 750g. MBE has ed during gear shifts to give seamless gear
Further features the new system include developed all its software and hardware in- changes and to increase transmission life by
monitoring and self learning of exhaust gas house and the management systems need a PC smoothing the load on the gearbox compo-
mixture. This helps catalytic converters per- installed with the company's Easimap soft- nents.
form more efficiently and maximises life ware, which runs under Windows, and a map- Vehicle security is also enhanced because
expectancy. ping console. MBE says that using a proven fuel, ignition and cranking are inhibited when
system such as theirs enables vehicles to be the ignition key is removed and computers
Alternative management systems certified for road use first time. cannot be hot wired. A coded transponder in
Zytek also supplies sports car engine man- the ignition key has over 1000 billion combi-
agement systems and its EMS3 system is now 16 -bit control nations to ensure a robust system.
32bit, using the Motorola 68332 processor. A 16 -bit microcontroller controls all ECU Exhaust emissions are continuously moni-
Different set-ups can be stored on disk to suit functions including communication with the tored by sensors in the exhaust system. These
individual drivers or racetracks. There are company's 933 Traction Control System. This communicate with the management system
facilities to switch from one to two injectors was developed in conjunction with Vauxhall and the mixture to the engine is automatically
per cylinder at a pre -determined engine con- Dealer Sport for the Astra F2 Rally Car. It adjusted to compensate.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1019

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

Another problem for the ECU to solve in a breeding advanced mechanical devices. resistor is rotated as the accelerator is
Jaguar is the extra load from air conditioning Siemens Automotive has just announced one depressed to give a much finer control than
compressors. When these switch on during of the fastest acting injection valves and a with mechanical linkage.
idling, for example, engine speed has to lambda probe which fits into an exhaust to Mercedes' system prevents skidding by
increase to compensate for the extra load. monitor emissions. The injector valve has applying brakes to individual wheels to main-
been developed because engine management tain the car's balance. Control signals to the
Wiring it up systems demand faster response from the brakes derive from a computer which com-
Interconnection between ECU, sensors and engine to make most use of the available pares steering wheel position with the car's
engine devices increasingly uses serial trans- increased efficiency. direction of travel. When under- or over -steer
mission. Although the principle is the same as Siemens has achieved a response time of is detected, the appropriate brakes are momen-
the long established RS232 standard, signals 0.1ms compared with 0.6ms of electrome- tarily applied and engine torque is reduced.
have to be much more robust to withstand the chanically operated counterparts. A multilay- This brings the car back on line.
harsh electrical environment in cars. er stack of piezoelectric material expands to Key to the system is a solid-state gyro which
Controller Area Network, CAN, is the accept- provide mechanical motion from an applied acts as a yaw detector. Housed under the rear
ed standard in the automotive industry. voltage. The amount of movement is mea- seat of a car it gives an output signal propor-
With 8km of cable harness in some cars at sured in micrometres. tional to the rate of rotation about a vertical
the moment, replacement by twisted pair will axis. A database holds all the parameters for
mean a great weight saving. Power is wired And the future? optimum handling stability.
separately to the command wiring but because Once engine control systems are fully estab- Engine management could also work in con-
it runs as a ring main to all devices there is lished, interest will turn to vehicle handling junction with anti -collision radar to reduce
further weight saving over conventional har- and the ECU will process inputs from addi- engine speed when a vehicle is too close to
nesses. The communications protocol is com- tional sensors. The most advanced system yet one in front. It already interacts with intelli-
plex to eliminate the problem of collisions of proposed comes from Mercedes. gent cruise -control systems.
data on the network and the system can dis- This company's ECU is linked to engine, Whether it is through direct involvement or
tinguish between permanent hardware failure automatic transmission, brakes, accelerator, through general interest there is more and
and occasional soft errors. Defective nodes are steering and a yaw sensor through a CANbus. more in today's cars to attract the electronics
automatically switched off the bus, imple- The accelerator is electronically linked to the enthusiast.
menting a fail-safe procedure. engine management system, bringing the
Electronic management systems are in turn Mercedes close to drive -by -wire. A variable

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Tuned to your specified frequency in the range 20-250MHz. Up/down converter. I/p & o/p frequencies 20MHz to 2GHz. B/W up to 50MHz. NF 0.7dB.
10mW input, 1 watt output £302 Gain 60dB variable. 0/p up to 10mW, +10dBm. AGC £150
500mW input, 10 watts output £385
3 watts input, 30 watts output £545
NARROW AND BROADBAND GASFET LNA's 5MHz-2GHz
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1-2GHz. NF 0.7dB. Gain 20dB. 50 ohms £350
500mW input, 5 watts output £385
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WIDEBAND LINEAR POWER AMPLIFIERS

PHASE LOCK SIGNAL SOURCES
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1 watt output. 10MHz-1GHz. 15dB gain £360 Freq. as spec. in the range 1-2GHz. 10mW £420
4 watts output. 100KHz-300MHz. 17dB gain £420 FM up to ±75KHz max. Freq. as spec. in the range 30-2000MHz.
4 watts output. 1-50MHz. 13dB gain £260 0/p 10mW £465
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10 watts output. 1-50MHz. 13dB gain £385 10 mW. 50 ohms £175
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20 watts output. 1-50MHz. 17dB gain £650 50 ohms £175
20 watts output. 20-200MHz. 10dB gain £650 Gasfet. 10MHz-2GHz. NF 2.5dB at 1GHz. Gain 10dB. Output 18dBm,
40 watts output. 1-50MHz. 16dB gain £950 65mW. 50 ohms £115
40 watts output. 20-200MHz. 10dB gain £950 Gasfet. 10MHz-2GHz. NF 3.8dB at 1GHz. Gain 20dB. Output 20dBm,
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RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Unit 1, Aerodrome Industrial Complex, Aerodrome Road, Hawkinge, Folkestone, Kent CT18 7AG, UK
Tel: +44 01303 893631 Fax: +44 01303 893838
( IL NO. 113 ON REM} ( SKI)

1020 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 SENSORS

A new sensor for

medicine
Currently, there is a need for simple and practical and psychological advantages over
Developed with rapid techniques to detect antigens of
medical and veterinary importance. The
traditional techniques.

medical applications immune system reacts to attack by producing An optoelectronic solution

specific antibodies which will only react with Optoelectronics is taking a leading role in the
in mind, Chris Lavers' one intruding antigen. They will not react with field of optical sensors, where changes in opti-
structurally related compounds, in the same cal intensity - due to variations in sample
new opto-electronic way that only a single key amongst many will environment such as refractive index or
fit a given lock. This is the central process of absorption - offer the opportunity of on-line
technique could make antibody immunoassay. sensors for clinical and industrial applications.
In the past, immunoassay has involved the Semiconductor technology has allowed the
diagnosis quicker, use of radionuclides or sensitive detection of fabrication of monolithic integrated chips to
fluorescently labelled molecules. However, be combined with total internal reflection
equipment cheaper these methods are now considered within glass waveguides.
unfavourable. They are also slow. As a result, Total internal reflection sensors utilise the
and sensors smaller. the use of non -labelled molecules has both existence of the so-called evanescent wave. At

Fig. 1. Variations in refractive 1.5

25mM TBACI
index near the waveguide surface -0.4V0- .1V
modify output beam intensity. 1.4 "-----`, -0.4V1- -0.95V
Applying voltage between the
positive counter electrode and Output 1.3 -0.4V4-0.80V
negative silver film electrode power
(arb. units) 1.2
enables positive tetra -butyl
ammonium - TBA+ - ions to
1.1
migrate towards the negative
silver film. Ion migration results
in changes of refractive index and 1.0
I I

hence output power. 25mM is 25 0 5 10

millimolars.
Reference electrode
Fluid filled
glass vessel Counter electrode (+V)

Ions absorbed
onto silver film Silver film
electrode (-V)
Optical
Optical Output
Input Waveguide

Substrate (Bulk Glass)

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD I 02 I

 SENSORS

.,_
4
nance - an electromagnetic wave travelling
along a metal/dielectric surface.
2.5 - -t-t+ -I-t-t Optical excitation of a surface plasmon res-
e-I-P1-1 Anti-gt at raised in rabbit
-FE.-
onance is achieved when radiation undergoes
I LI L1.-'-i- total internal reflection at the interface
-'4-' I---+-

TM - -+-F
++1-t-i- Anti-ra bbit raised in goat between the glass waveguide and a thin metal
film deposited on top.
2.5 44.4-,1, H I -Fri r.. '4+4-
In the case of a planar waveguide, resonant
Transmitted coupling depends critically on the refractive
Signal 2 ..,1_111-?"-' index of the fluid adjacent to the metal. This
--1.1'141-444-1- Anti -go at raised in rabbit

1.5
- ..,,,,,+4,1
,
-.4,1...H.+ -p -H-4,4- . .
_+.4-1-4-4--VI-r"'"
4-4-114' technique can monitor small changes in index
caused by either deposition of charged ions in
Anti -human rais ed in goat an electric field, Fig. 1 or by antibody -antigen
-
till* binding near the surface of a waveguide, Fig.
1.-fy--,-,,,t
-ei-t-1-1-t-H-144-1-1-+ 2. The deposition technique was reported at
...
I j
OFS9 in Florence 1993 while the binding
method is more recent.
'"- I I J
. I I

.5
-20 0 20 40 60
Time (minutes) Summary
Several advantages can be gained from using
Fig. 2. Transmitted output power of the waveguide (TM/TE) is recorded as a function of time for the sensitive surface plasmon resonance optical
following sequence of antibodies bound to the waveguide - a) anti -human raised in goat, b) anti -goat sensors. These are small size, optical fibre
raised in rabbit, c) anti -rabbit raised in goat and d) anti -goat raised in rabbit. As each subsequent
compatibility, cheap production costs, and dis-
layer binds to the preceding layer the transmitted output power is observed to rise in each case.
posability.
Use of such multifunctional integrated opti-
the boundary between two dielectric media, field decays exponentially with distance from cal sensors for rapid medical sensing - with
light incident from a denser medium may be the reflecting boundary. It then probes above monitoring of real-time antibodybinding and
reflected from a rarer medium if the incident the glass surface to about a wavelength's detection in minutes - is thus a realistic expec-
light approaches at an angle greater than the depth into the surrounding medium. This tation before the end of this millennium.
critical angle. This angle is 0c, where sinOc is medium may be, for example, a sample of However, psychological aspects of rapid diag-
n2/nt. Values n1 and n2 are refractive indices of body fluid. nosis of HIV, pregnancy and indeed any other
the denser and rarer medium respectively. Intensity of the surface wave may be ampli- immune response has not yet been considered
In an evanescent wave, the electromagnetic fied significantly via surface plasmon reso- fully.

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CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

For current domestic tv sets, cathode-ray tubes still have no competitors. But
crt technology will have to be replaced when large -screen tv comes on line.
Peter Willis looks at a few of the options.

Technology
for big
High-definition television needs large screens to display it - an independent source of light. The plasma switch takes the form
larger than is practical or feasible with cathode ray tubes. of a channel across the screen, equivalent to a single scanning line,
Flat panel displays using liquid -crystal displays have been and inputs image signals for that line instantaneously into the
in development for years, but have so far not been produced in liquid crystal.
sizes much above 20in, i.e. 50cm. The system, called PALC, - plasma addressed liquid crystal -
Now though, a variety of approaches appears capable of was developed by Sony in conjunction with Tektronix. According
producing large flat panels - the commonly agreed target diagonal to Sony it has the advantage of relative simplicity and relatively
is 50in or 127cm - in the very near future. Several prototypes were low-cost production. Sony was showing three 30in prototypes in
on show at the Berlin IFA during August and September. Berlin, and aims to have the first Plasmatron sets in production
Some use plasma discharge, the result of passing high voltage next year. However, the eventual size of these displays is not yet
through gas. Thomson showed a plasma screen deploying this defined and the name not confirmed.
phenomenon in the traditional way, as a light source, exciting
further light from phosphors. Several Japanese companies are Each pixel is a rotating mirror
working on similar technologies. An entirely different technique developed by Texas Instruments
Sony's Plasmatron however, uses plasma discharge as an has been adopted by Nokia who demonstrated it in Berlin. It uses
electronic switch similar to a transistor, to control lcds in front of an array of tiny movable mirrors, one for each pixel, which when

Imaginary electrode (drain) drain

Cathode N Anode In the plasma -addressed liquid
crystal, each plasma switch is
(gate) gate the equivalent of a transistor.
(source) source When the plasma switch is on,
OV the whole channel is
conductive. When the switch is
300V
off, the channel forms a good
Plasma drive pulse insulator.

One pixel

Transparent electrodeN, When a line of

Colour filter plasma switch is
on, video signal is
Liquid crystal written to the
Insulator Disci
Plasma liquid crystal layer
switch through the
transparent column
electrode and
anode electrode.

Horizontal line scan

1024 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS

range of uses, including cinema projection, means that the volume

and yield of production can be quickly increased, and costs brought
Colour filter down. Eventually consumer products costing under £1000 are
Back light
thought to be feasible.
Transparent electrode
Nokia is the first consumer manufacturer to publicly adopt the
system, and plans to launch a big -screen set in early 1997. Other
partners of Texas Instruments so far announced include cinema,
home cinema and business equipment firms but, interestingly Sony
is also included. The system is particularly kind to large-scale vdu
screens and ohp's. Talks are understood to be in progress with a
number of other companies.
In the contest to produce the definitive flat -panel large -screen
display - or even a reliable, affordable one - digital light processing
may prove to have one clinching advantage over plasma -based
systems. It does not rely on high -voltage pulses which could
contravene regulations on electromagnetic interference.

Polarizer 2

Front plate
Liquid crystal
Polarizer 1 Insulator
Barrier rib
Back plate

Greatly enlarged structure of a plasma -addressed liquid

crystal switch element.

tilted, reflect light onto a back -projection screen. The mirrors,

numbering around 500,000 and making up a panel measuring only
1.5 by lcm, are part of a semiconductor device. They are created by
an etching process, and although seemingly microscopic - 900 fit Conventional projector, left, and a projection system incorporating the
under a grain of salt - they are large in semiconductor terms with a digital micromirror device, right. In the DMD system, light from the source
16pm cell size. Each mirror is square, and mounted on a pair of passes through a colour wheel and is reflected to both the projection lens
torsion hinges at diagonally opposite corners. Output of the chip, and to the light absorber on the right. Picture courtesy Texas Instruments.
instead of going to pins, is taken to electrodes beneath the array,
which electrostatically attract individual micromirrors.
For each frame of the television picture, the image is built up by
tilting the required mirrors to reflect high -intensity light source onto
the screen. Brightness of each pixel is controlled by an 8bit
command which can instruct the mirror to be on for the whole or

/
part - down to 11256th - of the operation. Three such operations
make up each frame, one each for red, green and blue, with the
results passed through a synchronised colour filter wheel.
Despite the small size of the picture source, there is no observable Landing tip
line structure on the screen. Developed by Texas Instruments under Hinge
the titles digital light processing and digital micromirror device, the Address electrode
Mirror
system can provide a picture of over 50in or 127cm diagonal in a ort ost
cabinet only 15in or 38cm deep and weighing a relatively modest
35kg. The normal array of 440,000 pixels equates to standard
definition television, and produces such a startling improvement in
image quality as to call into question the need for high definition -1s1;,r,
television. If it were required, a two million micromirror chip could
be supplied.
Digital light processing also provides a number of other
advantages, including uniform picture geometry, high resolution
across the screen area, high contrast over a wide dynamic
brightness range and an almost complete freedom from flicker. It
also offers the possibility of end -to -end digital video with the
ability to address each pixel individually and freedom from noise.

Is mechanical breakdown a problem?s

The reliance on what are in effect a great number of mechanical
components might give some concern. One stuck mirror could create Bias/reset
bus Address
a dark, or more obtrusively, a bright spot on the screen. But Tode
according to Texas Instruments digital light processing manager,
Adam Kunzman, the torsion hinge on which the micromirror's Details of the digital micromirror device. 500,000 mirrors - each hinged
operation depends has been extensively tested and has "never and capable of rotating independently under digital control - make up a
failed". Nor is it expensive. Applicability of the system to a wide display measuring just 1.5 by 1cm. Pictures courtesy TI.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD & WIRELESS WORLD 1025

RF DESIGN

e odu ation
a new approach
unintelligible when another fm signal arrives loop. Figure 1 shows a diagram of the ampli-
Archie Pettigrew's new at the antenna at the same time as the wanted tude -locked loop7.
demodulator concept signal which is equal in amplitude and of a Carrier from the intermediate frequency
similar frequency. stage of the radio enters the ALL at the first
uses amplitude -locked Both these breakdown processes are caused port of the linear multiplier. The second port
loop techniques to by interference in the form of multi -path' of the multiplier is set to a nominal value of
Doppler or quasi-synchronous2 reception. All unity. The modulated carrier passes through
produce significant these forms become worse as frequency of the the multiplier to the modulus detector which
improvements in the carrier is increased i.e. as wavelength is short- accurately detects the modulus of the carrier
down to white noise levels.
ened and/or as transmission becomes mobile3.
quality of fm and am By using an amplitude -locked loop and asso- A dc reference voltage compares and sub-
ciated circuitry, many of these interruptions tracts the incoming modulus voltage and a dif-
reception. can be avoided, and more reliable communi- ference or error voltage is generated, e(t). This
cations achieved. voltage is integrated and reversed in sign.
This article describes in detail the operation Output of the integrator is added to the
The amplitude -locked loop was developed of two demodulators, one for am and the other restoration voltage which sets up the operating
to overcome a number of fundamental for fm, using the amplitude -locked loop. conditions - or bias conditions - of the loop.
difficulties which have existed since the When no carrier amplitude is present, the
inception of both amplitude and frequency Amplitude -locked loop loop is out of lock. The integrator drifts to its
modulation - am and fm. The amplitude -locked loop, ALL, is the dual maximum voltage and the multiplier is at
With the radio spectrum becoming more of the phase -locked loop, PLL. It works in the maximum gain awaiting an input. When the
crowded each year, and carrier frequencies magnitude domain rather than the phase or carrier appears, an initial transient occurs as
moving inexorably higher, two basic problems frequency domain. It consists of a linear mul- the loop pulls into lock. Servo feedback caus-
with am and fm transmission become more tiplier contained inside a high gain, high band- es the carrier amplitude at the output of the
obvious. Amplitude modulation becomes width servo loop .4,5,6 multiplier to be fixed or locked to an ampli-
highly distorted when the carrier fades - or in A phased -lock loop is similar in that it con- tude defined by the loop reference voltage.
certain cases, vanishes altogether. Frequency sists of a voltage controlled oscillator con- Let a simple amplitude modulated carrier
modulation becomes highly distorted and tained in a high gain, high bandwidth servo vi(t) be described as,

Loop Reference (1.00)

Voltage
Loop
Linear Multiplier Modulus Detector Integrator
time
v 1 (t) [ 1 + m (t) I sin an e (t)

Fig. 1. Amplitude -locked

loop consists of a linear
multiplier, modulus detector time
and a high gain integrator. Restoration
When the loop is closed, Inverse Modulus
Voltage
envelope variations of the Stabilised Carrier a
carrier are reduced to time (1.00) -m(t)
insignificant proportions due 1111111111111 v 3 (t) =
to servo action and an error 1111111111111 1 + m(t)
v2 (t)= f me
signal called the inverse
modulus is produced. 1 + m(t) v u (0= [1 + e(t) ] sin wt

1 026 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 RF DESIGN

vi(t)=[1-Fm(t)]sinax Squaring
circuit
where m(t) represents the modulating function
of time and sinwt is the normalised carrier Output
ALL bandwidth
amplitude of w radians per second.

13 1
After some mathematical analyses, a num-

/r
ber of amplitude -locked loop identities
become evident. Assuming that open -loop Filter
hip
gain is sufficiently high that servo theory is
valid, ie the value of K in the integrator is
greater than 100 at the maximum frequency of
IF
Stages = 1,kliz Multiply
5
interest, the stabilised carrier, vsc(t), becomes,

l'sc(t)=[1+e(t)]sinCOt

where e(t) is the loop error voltage which

becomes insignificant due to the high open
loop gain. That is, vse(t)=[10]sincot
utifmin
4 1 e4044 AGC bandwidth = 1Hz Divide-by-two

Voltage v.(t) represents a stabilised carrier PLL bandwidth = 0.1Hz or 500 Hz

with no envelope variations. Voltage at the
second input to the multiplier must therefore Fig. 2. ALL-PLL amplitude demodulator. The amplitude -locked loop alternates between in -lock and
be the reciprocal of the input modulation. As a out -of -lock for strong and weak carrier signals. The PLL captures the carrier phase quickly but
result, v2(t) is 1/[1+m(t)] and v3(t) is releases it slowly. A highly stable carrier is generated.
-m(t)/[1+m(t)] by subtracting unity.
Three signals have been obtained - the
unmodulated carrier, the inverse of the mod- 1.0
ulus and the inverse modulus with the dc term Modulus Detector
removed. Unfortunately, there is no require- DSSC-AM from IF
ment to recover the unmodulated carrier in
amplitude modulation. The demodulated sig-
nal is the reciprocal of the modulation which
m(t) sin wt
1. n w t+
is a highly distorted version of the original sig- zero
nal. The signal at the integrator output is sim- Amplitude-Locked Loop
u crossing
ply the reciprocal of the modulation but with errors 1.0
an average value of zero. At first sight, noth- PLL
ing seems to have been achieved by this cir- Linear
cuit so why investigate further? sin 2 0) t Phase Detetect
Filter
Much the same arguments were used for the BPF
PLL when it was first suggested. For example,
(5113:0
sin 2wt +zero Low-Q 0.1 1-1z.
the PLL could easily have been replaced by a crossing errors
piece of wire and at a much lower cost etc.
Perhaps for the above reasons the concept of sin wt
Divide
the ALL has never been investigated, even in -by-two Square wave
vCO 1-.01-
the valve or tube era of electronics. If the ALL
at 2w
is not directly suitable for demodulation of V m(t) sin wt
am, can it be used to replace the limiter -filter sin wt 2u) t
in the demodulation process? Indeed it can as m(t) Phase-Locked Loop
will be explained. LPF
Baseband Output
Application to fm demodulation
When two fm carriers of equal amplitude are Fig. 3. Amplitude demodulator for double side -band suppressed carrier. The amplitude -locked loop
added, their envelope increases to twice the generates a constant envelope from the input carrier. As the carrier approaches zero the amplitude -
individual size and reduces to zero at the locked loop loses lock and the gain changes by 80dB. Phase -locked loop bandwidth is reduced by
instantaneous difference frequency. This enve- the same amount and synchronous demodulation is now feasible even in conditions of high noise.
lope variation will be eliminated by the servo
action of the ALL. This is similar to the action is updated at twice the carrier frequency or 20kHz without significant error. This was
of a hard limiter and a filter and fulfils the first 910kHz. found to be more than adequate for all nar-
requirement in fm demodulation - that am In a closed -loop feedback system, instabili- rowband fm speech channels. The lock -in
variations must be removed before demodu- ty starts to occur at about one tenth of this fre- transient is very short since the ALL is more
lation. quency or 91kHz. So the ALL unity gain linear than a PLL. Typically it was measured
A second signal is also available which is bandwidth was set to 91kHz giving an open at about 4ps, i.e. the time required to reach
the inverse of the modulus of the two carriers. loop gain at say 1kHz of 91 or 39dB. This was 95% of the steady state value of stabilised
Could this second error signal be used con- improved later by using a double integrator. amplitude.
structively to improve fm demodulation? The dynamic range of the ALL was deter- Using a simulation package called
mined by the offsets and the characteristics of MATRIXx, optimum circuit operation was
Operating limits the linear multiplier, the Exar 2208. This was established before any hardware was con-
Before continuing, it would be sensible to found to be to +20dB (10) to -6dB (0.5) or a structed. A much improved loop was designed
define the limits of operation of the first ALL linear lock range of 26 dB. using a double integrator with suitable phase
unit. Starting with an intermediate frequency In practice, the ALL will track 26dB of advance for stability. This is described further
of 455kHz, amplitude and phase information amplitude variation up to a frequency of about in reference 8.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1027

 RF DESIGN

+6v
-6V
acdp2 +6V

C231 C24
Gndf2uTOOnF U 3 PLL
+ C3 C4 tortiF
22u C21 1 1 C22

T22uTIOOnF 22u
100nF
0 3
C5
-6V
I.5nF
1nF c R1 R9 RIO
1.2
1.2K R12
Ul ALL Surface 4.7K
1.2
C20 VC1
mount thick film Ci R3
5 - 50pF
RI NE565 180p
hybrid 100n 680K -6V
470
C19 6V -6v
C6 6 1nF
470R 18
R6 +6V 33nF VR2
100 Cl2 C15 l Qt11 470uF
S/ -(A) R13 1K
VR I
S/ -(B) 100(1;1 /;2u 1IR
10K -6V lOrtE S 1.2
-6V
Si- (C) +6V
S/+ (A) -6V

S/+(B) R23 C314. R2I

0/C +6V +6V
(C)
d.n. Restore
D.C. Restore -420 1-MWrc
1
2u F
Ic25 kC26 2K
Signal In R24
I6K 22uF U5 Multiplier 100r F
-v U4
Divide b two
1 / ( lam (0 )

C Ext.
m
1
7 100nF
B 3 V 14
4 13
5
R5 C28 R16
VCO R22

Set Point
1,2
lOt1tF /)7 C3
100K
1C33 68pF
Mult. (A) LS7474 10pF
17

18
R28
5.6K m 0
Gnd. C29
+6V
4.7K 4.7K
Demodulated Signal Output
Signal input -6V
1COnF 8.18
DSSC orA 1.2K
from IF stag Fig. 4. Amplitude demodulator for a double side -band
/ 455kHz suppressed carrier using an amplitude -locked loop.
DSSC Range 20mV - 600mV This is available as complete self-contained unit as
shown in Ul. ICs U2-5 comprise a standard
synchronous demodulator.

Applying the amplitude -locked loop

The first application of the ALL is to improve
the amplitude modulated double side -band
suppressed carrier. This represents the ultimate 20
in carrier - or Rayleigh - fading since the
carrier vanishes at every silence of the speech
waveform, by definition.
10
The core of this problem is the recovery of
Output Carrier -to -Noise
a stable carrier. There is no carrier present dur- ratio Limits r-Filt
ing the silence between speech. The worst
case occurs at the lowest modulating frequen- decibels 0
cy and lowest amplitude of the signal.
Doppler effects may cause the carrier to be
shifted by say 100Hz so that high -Q filters are Range of improvement using
not permitted due to their rapid phase changes 10 the ALL
ALL
at resonance. Should the system lose lock,
then reliable re -lock must occur within say Fig. 5. Comparison
one cycle of the lowest operating frequency, between a limiter - -20
say 300Hz, or in about 3ms. filter and an
The carrier recovery circuit must also be amplitude -locked
able to track frequency variations up to 100Hz loop demodulator
to an absolute phase accuracy of less than say showing that the
-30
45° error between the modulated carrier and amplitude -locked -20 -15 10 15 20
loop is capable of -10 °dec,bAs
reference carrier. Assuming that a PLL is
extracting a phase Input Carrier -to -Noise ratio
available to regenerate the carrier at 455kHz, coherent carrier well
then two conflicting conditions need to be met Peak carrier to rms noise at 300 Hz modulating frequency
down into noise
simultaneously. levels.
Since amplitude of the DSSC signal is con-
tinuously varying, the envelope must first be

1028 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 RF DESIGN

6 ms 4ms

made constant. The PLL must have a wide Fig. 6. Oscilloscope

capture and track range for fast lock -in and measurement of
frequency tracking, yet it must have an demodulated
extremely narrow noise bandwidth for stabil- output showing a
300mV
ity during every speech silence. 300Hz signal gated
The solution to these seemingly conflicting on and off at 6 and
4ms intervals at a
requirements is shown in Figs 2 and 3 in carrier -to -noise
200mV
block diagram form and in circuit form in Fig. ratio of OdB. Note a.
4. This could be could be done by limiting and stability of the 0 100mV
filtering which would be successful at high noise during the 0
instantaneous amplitudes. A major problem period of zero level OmV
occurs at low amplitude and low frequencies carrier. This is due
with noise. Noise captures the limiter, the volt- to the amplitude - O-100mV
age controlled oscillator becomes unstable and locked loop and
the phased -locked loop loses lock. System the phase -locked -200mV
loop both shutting
failure ensues. If the limiter is replaced by an
down and awaiting
ALL, a different process takes place. the resumption of -300mV
At high instantaneous amplitudes, the large the signaL
negative feedback of the loop flattens the
amplitude variations giving a constant enve- 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
lope at the output of the linear multiplier. At Time (ms)
low instantaneous amplitudes, the ALL drops
out of lock since its track range has been
exceeded.
Gain of the 'loop' drops to the gain of the
Fig. 7. The FM201 demodulator. Unsaturated
multiplier alone and not the combined gains of
output from the IF stage is stabilised in a slow
the multiplier, modulus detector and the inte- acting automatic gain control, block 1. Block 2
grator. At 300Hz, this represents a change removes the instantaneous envelope variations
from 80dB to 20dB. The noise level is not and generates the inverse modulus signaL Block
amplified, and in effect, the system closes 3 is the phased -locked loop and block 4 detects
itself down. and subtracts the pulses.
White noise is not permitted to overtake the
signal, as would happen in a limiter. This is
the advantage of the in -out action of servo
feedback.

Carrier generation
A pure squaring device follows the analogue -
locked loop to generate a coherent carrier at
2w. When the ALL is out of lock, the PLL is
being driven by a zero level carrier. Since the
bandwidth of any linear PLL is a direct func-
tion of the input amplitude, its closed loop Input from unsaturated
IF stages
bandwidth drops to zero.
The voltage controlled oscillator free wheels
on the long open -loop time con-
stant of the PLL since there is no
Loop Reference 1.0
significant noise energy to cause
perturbations. After a divide -by -
two circuit, normal demodulation
takes place.
Amplitude-Locked Loop Integrator
M time
Thus the PLL has effectively
11111114db
4111'111111
CI) ALL output
two bandwidths. The first is with v2 (t)
signal present and the ALL in time Modulus etector
Analogue Signal Processor (ASP)
lock. With values suggested in carrier
Fig. 3 this bandwidth measures Impulse-Alone

0
plus inter- Multiplier Subtraction
about 500Hz. When no carrier is Adjust
ference
present, i.e. with the ALL out of from AGC Amplitude Restore
lock, there is no signal present at Loop eference
the input to the PLL. Phase-Locked Loop 0.0 Integrator
+ Ampsys
The effective open loop gain of K Output
va (t)
the PLL is reduced to zero assum-
ing a linear phase detector. '40 S
PLL output
VCO Phase Detector
v3(t)
Fig. 8. Complete FM201 demodulator using an
amplitude -locked loop, a phase -locked loop and an
analogue signal processor. Inverse modulus from the
amplitude -locked signal is multiplied by the phase - A

locked oop output to produce the impulse alone Frequency Restore

signal which is scaled and subtracted from the original
phase -locked loop signaL

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1029

 RF DESIGN

variations must be removed by hard limiting

and filtering of the carrier on reception. If not,
two forms of degradation will occur at the
demodulator output. The first is due to enve-
v (t) (a) Normal FM demo-
dulation with lope variation and the second to phase varia-
Normal Outpt_t tion.
additive carrier
interference. In reality, the fin carrier is degraded not only
by naturally occurring phase noise but also by
amplitude noise. This is converted to phase
(b) The inverse modulus
noise in the limiting process. These two pro-
v2 ( t ) cesses combine as the input carrier -to -noise
from the ALL with
no d.c. content ratio approaches a low value of typically
12dB.
ALL The catastrophic fm threshold effect begins
v3(t) V V
A L J 1, A (c)Product of (a) and (b),
the "Impulse alone"
and rapid deterioration of the output signal-to-
noise ratio then follows.
signal. This same effect causes fm reception to be
rendered unintelligible if two fin transmissions
PLL x ALL arrive at the antenna at equal or near equal
strength to each other - assuming co -channel
frequencies.
V4(t) (d) Waveform (a) minus The corrupting carrier may be another trans-
waveform (c). mission - co -channel - or a delayed version of
Ampsys Output The Ampsys Output signal. the wanted carrier - multipath. It could even
be a version of the same broadcast from an
equidistant transmitter - simulcast or quasi -
sync reception. Harsh acoustic spikes are
Time demodulated which are inband and cannot be
Fig. 9. Waveforms in the FM201 demodulator. The inverse modulus v2(t) is multiplied by vi(t) and filtered.
subtracted from the phase -locked loop output to give v4(t). Fig. 9a).Normal FM demodulation with
additive carrier interference - phase -locked loop output. Fig. 9b) inverse modulus from the Capture effect
amplitude -locked loop with zero average ie no dc content. Fig. 9c) shows the 'impulse alone' signal - In the past, much has been made of the 'cap-
product of the signals 9a) and 9b). Fig. 9d) final demodulated output where all harsh impulses or ture effect' in fm. Generally, this means that if
spikes have been removed. one carrier is say 10% stronger than the other,
say I dB, then capture takes place and the
Stability of the voltage controlled oscillator is nal-to-noise ratio tracks the input carrier -to - weaker station is completely suppressed. This
then determined solely by the time constant of noise ratio in a linear manner. was the argument put forward by Edwin
the filter following the phase detector. This Results obtained from the above demodula- Armstrong the inventor of fin. It is true - but it
can be made large ie of the order of one sec- tor exceeded the performance of the normal is not the whole story.
ond. synchronous demodulator in that carrier recov- The unwanted carrier is suppressed but not
Carrier stability is thus maintained due to ery could be achieved down to and below into silence, which would be ideal. On the
this very long time constant. By use of the unity carrier -to -noise ratios. Figure 6 shows contrary, the co -channel interference is
ALL, phase -capture transients are very short an oscilloscope trace of a 300Hz sine wave demodulated into strident noise, or large
when signal is present and phase loss tran- signal which is being gated on and off at 6 and impulses which are intolerable to the ear and
sients are long when the signal is absent. By 4ms intervals. Carrier -to -noise ratio with sig- destructive of all intelligible communication.
this technique, the coherent carrier can be nal present was OdB. Noise and carrier ampli- So destructive is this interference that all fm
recovered reliably even during periods of poor tudes were equal. transmissions start to break down in the region
carrier -to -noise ratio. The circuit diagram of Due to carrier stability, system white noise where either carrier is within 6dB of the other.
this system is shown in Fig. 4. is demodulated in a coherent manner. The This is sometimes called the 'distortion zone'
The ALL is contained in the hybrid block PLL has an effective phase capture bandwidth - when its existence is admitted. The 'capture
U1. The circuits which follow the ALL repre- of 500Hz and a phase release bandwidth of effect' is not an advantage but is in fact a
sent the normal synchronous AM demodula- 0.1Hz. This phase capture -release phe- major disadvantage of fm in a crowded radio
tion technique, namely, a pure squaring device nomenon is a direct consequence of utilising spectrum.
(U2) followed by a narrow track range PLL the two in -lock and out -of -lock characteristics Frequency modulation works well when;
(U3), a divide -by -two, (U4) and finally a syn- of the ALL and PLL simultaneously to make a
chronous multiplier (U5). near perfect am demodulator. This represents carrier strength is high,
Results obtained for this demodulator are a major improvement in the state of the art on there is only one single carrier,
presented in Fig 5. Figure 5 shows the com- am demodulation. there is no co -channel interference,
parison between a demodulator using a limiter This demodulator operates reliably and there is only one direct signal path,
and filter in place of the ALL. Whereas the completely independently of the presence or modulation depth is virtually unlimited
limiter -filter ceased to operate effectively at absence of carrier. It is therefore ideal for the transmission power is virtually unlimited.
about 3dB carrier -to -noise ratio, the ALL cir- reception of am during multipath or quasi -
cuit still maintained synchronism until well sync. conditions. These conditions prevailed some fifty years
into noise. Cycle slipping occurs in both ago, but unfortunately not in today's over-
demodulators at about the same relative posi- FM demodulation crowded spectrum.
tion but does not result in complete loss of Frequency modulation is transmitted at con- Ideal requirements of the modem demodu-
intelligibility. stant amplitude. Any amplitude variation at lator would be a circuit technique which
It is interesting to note that there is no the point of reception must be due to interfer- would make fm demodulation linear at low
threshold effect present as would be the case ence or noise acquired en route. carrier -to -interference ratios but still have the
in fm or angle demodulation. The output sig- According to perceived wisdom, amplitude co -channel rejection properties at high carrier -

1030 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 RF DESIGN

to -interference ratios. Quasi -sync and multi - to-noise ratio rises to about 14 dB unweighted.
, Normal Demodulation
path reception would then be improved by the This is acceptable in a communication channel ..

addition of the intelligence in the carriers and and represents 100% intelligibility.
co -channel reception would be equivalent to The link has been preserved, so avoiding the
crossed lines in telephones.

The Ampsys FM201 demodulator

call being dropped. In normal demodulation
when Gaussian white noise is added or when
both carriers become weaker, distortion and
. . . I f--- -

... ..
Using an amplitude -locked loop for the first noise effects become even more severe and 4\-,..
time, an fm demodulator has been designed generally intelligibility is lost just after the fm
and tested which demonstrates the above threshold point. This means that there can be a
requirements. It is designated the Ampsys `distortion zone' or failure gap as wide as
FM201. Its block diagram is illustrated in Fig. 12dB. In simple terms this means that if one
7 and a system diagram in Fig. 8. carrier is more than one quarter the size of the
In the FM 201 demodulator there are four
..... 1...._:. .. ..... ... -"..--1
other at the antenna, failure ensues rapidly.
separate processes or stages. The first process, With the FM201 demodulator however, the
after the normal intermediate frequency fil- spikes are removed, as are the `Rician' spikes
ai.......... ............ ...
1 1

due to Gaussian white noise. The net result is

tering, is to stabilise the wanted carrier and the
interfering carrier to a fixed average value a much improved communication channel
a 1 ... Ht.
'
Ampsys Demodulation
. i
using a slow automatic gain control circuit. with almost 100% intelligibility well below
This process is necessary in order to present threshold. Further testing has given the fol- Fig. 10. These spikes could not be removed by
the ALL with a fixed average signal level. lowing observations. any form of baseband filtering. At the
The fm was originally transmitted as a fixed interference -to -carrier ratio of unity the spike
size is reduced by a factor of 20 fold, 26dB.
amplitude and the automatic gain control When the interfering frequency is offset
Normally all intelligibility is lost. With Ampsys,
restores this long term average. Saturating lim- from the centre of the passband, similar sub- demodulation is 100% intelligibility.
iting is always avoided. The automatic gain traction can be achieved by inserting an offset
control block has a bandwidth of 10Hz. voltage at the input to the fmal multiplier. The
In the second stage, block 2, the ALL interfering frequency however must be fixed. above for fm demodulation in today's over-
removes all short term variations leaving the crowded radio spectrum.
carrier similar to the output of a hard limiter When quasi -synchronous reception occurs, Two demodulators using the ALL have been
and filter. This stabilised carrier is then baseband signals combine and an improve- built and tested and are available for evalua-
applied to the input of the PLL, block 3, which ment in the signal-to-noise ratio of approxi- tion purposes, from Ampsys, one for am
is regarded as normal demodulation. mately 26dB is measured at the equal ampli- demodulation and the other for fm.
A second output from the ALL, the modulus tude reception point. Multipath distortion
reciprocal less the dc term, is applied to a mul- causes a small reduction in signal-to-noise Acknowledgments
tiplier in the analogue signal processing stage, ratio. I would like to thank Dr T. J. Moir of the
block 4, Fig. 7. Output of the PLL is applied Department of Electrical and Electronic
to the second port of this multiplier. A product When two modulated carriers are present, Engineering at the University of Paisley for
is formed at the output of this circuit - the the result is similar to that of a crossed line in his help in the preparation of this paper and to
`impulse alone' signal. 'Impulse' refers to a telephone. Although this is not ideal, it is the Governors of the University of Paisley for
spikes superimposed onto the baseband signal preferable to complete loss of intelligence. their support in the development.
by the demodulation process.
This new baseband signal is scaled in size With a very weak carrier, harsh spikes are References
and subtracted from the original PLL output. removed and noise subjectively more accept- 1. Corrington M. S., 'FM Distortion Caused by
Care must be taken to ensure that any phase able. White noise can never be removed since Multipath Transmission' Proc of the IRE Dec
delays through the ALL and the PLL are equal there is never enough unique information. 1945.
otherwise subtraction will not be possible. 2. Gray G. D., 'The Simulcasting Technique: An
A demodulated signal is created which is When the carrier -to -interference ratio is Approach to Total -Area Radio Coverage' IEEE
free of harsh spikes and is now perfectly intel- high, the 'impulse -alone' product diminishes Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Vol VT -
ligible even when the carrier and interference rapidly since there are no envelope variations. 28, No 2, May 1979.
are identical in magnitude. A simplified ver- The weaker transmission is suppressed as in 3. French R. C., 'The Effect of Fading and
sion of the relevant waveforms is shown in normal demodulation and all beneficial char- Shadowing on Channel Reuse in Mobile Radio.'
Fig. 9a -d. Voltages vi(t) to v4(t) correspond to acteristics of fm are retained, for example, qui- IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology Vol
those marked on Fig. 8. eting and co -channel suppression. VT -28, No 3, Aug 1979.
4. Pettigrew A.M. and Moir T. J., 'Reduction of
Worst -case fm reception To summarise FM threshold effect by in -band noise cancelling',
Figure 10 is an oscillograph of the demodu- A new circuit concept has been proposed Electronics Letters, 1991, 27 (12) pp 1082-84.
lator output when the interfering carrier is called the amplitude -locked loop which can be 5. Moir T. J. and Pettigrew A. M., In -band noise
located at the centre of the the intermediate used in conjunction with a phase -locked loop cancelling in FM systems: The white noise case.',
frequency passband and is of equal amplitude to improve the quality of fm demodulation. Electronics Letters, Vol 28, No 9, Apr 1992, pp
to the wanted carrier. This represents one of By using the fundamental property that fm is 814-815.
the worst case conditions in fm reception. It transmitted at fixed amplitude, and that a 6. Pettigrew A. M. and Moir T. J., 'Coherent
would result in the carrier vanishing and dou- unique relationship exists between the recip- Demodulation DSSC without Pilot Tone Using
bling alternately at the instantaneous differ- rocal of the modulus and the fin phase pertur- the Amplitude -Locked Loop.' Journal Audio Eng
ence frequency. It is equivalent to a fade of bations, a new signal has been derived called Soc Vol 41 No 12 1993 Dec.
infinite depth. the 'impulse -alone' signal. 7. Amplitude -Locked Loop Circuits: British
The normal output signal-to-noise figure is By a simple subtraction process this new Patent Application No. PCT 91/00101, Ampsys
much less than zero and is unmeasurable by signal can be used to eliminate spikes gener- Ltd.
normal instrumentation. Acoustically, all intel- ated in fm demodulation. A fundamentally 8. Moir T. J. 'Simulation of an Amplitude -Locked
ligence is lost and the channel would be improved method of fin demodulation has Loop using MATRIXx', Electronic Engineering,
muted. With the FM201 demodulator, signal- been proposed which meets the criteria set out July 1995, pp 27-32.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1031

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1032 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

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CIRCLE NO. 120 ON REPLY CARD

ion
AUDIO

Classic
valve
power Williamson's valve power amplifier was
published in Wireless Word in 1947,
In this extract from second potentiometer for 18.75V across the 1500
resistor; the amplifier should then be allowed to
and set a standard of performance that his new book warm up and stabilise. The amplifier should then be
was years ahead of its time. switched off, and the true - hot - value of the 1500
The input stage is the standard common cath-
'Valve Amplifiers', resistor measured. From this, a corrected voltage for
ode triode with 20dB of global negative feedback Morgan Jones 125mA could be calculated and set.
applied from the loudspeaker output to the cath- Linearity and drive capability of each stage is good
ode. The phase splitter is a concertina circuit, looks at some of due to the careful choice of operating points. Because
direct coupled from the input stage. It feeds a dif- the classics in valve this amplifier has four stages enclosed by the feed-
ferential pair using both halves of a 6SN7, Fig. 1. back loop, stability needs to be taken very seriously.
power amplifier The input stage initially has an output resistance of
Operating in Class -A design - including 7.51a but this is raised by feedback to around 47k.Q.
The output stage is a push-pull pair of KT66 In combination with 12pF of input capacitance from
beam tetrodes operated as triodes. These provide the Williamson. the concertina, this gives a high frequency cut-off of
1 5W output in Class AB1, operating mostly in about 280kHz.
Class A. In Fig. 1, the left hand potentiometer However, this has been modified by adding step
adjusts the dc balance of the output valves in compensation components - an R and C in series - to
order to minimise distortion due to the trans- the left-hand anode circuit of the dual triode. This cir-
former core. The second potentiometer sets qui- cuit puts a step in the amplitude response which
escent current to 125mA for the entire stage. begins to fall at approximately 130kHz, but phase
Rather than breaking a wire to insert an amme- response remains virtually unchanged until 280kHz.
ter, quiescent current can be set by adjusting the Output resistance of the concertina is approxi-

1034 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 AUDIO

30H, 2OmA 10H, 150mA CZ34

450V

331,12 I 8µF, 600V EL

81.1F 8µF
W n22 k.(1, I W
/TM 600V Mn 600V
KT66
8µF NIL 8µF, 600V
C734
600V 47 kn n 6SN7(1\ 220 nF 20%
I kg -2
Late,
630V
1W LI 22 47nF 2096 5\ 2.,1
200 µFE.E. IW 630V
630V 100k52 I
47 kr/
10052, IW
6SN7 2W 1500
1000
2W I 5W Into 452
000
a47 IQ 2W
1000, 1W
2W C0
220nF loos/ KT66
47nF 20%
IMQ
630V I kSI
22 LSI 20%
47052 wu 630V I 00

0E
2.4k.2

Fig. 1. Williamson's amplifier set a standard of performance that was years ahead of its time.

mately 1k52 from the cathode and 221d1 from fact alone can induce motorboating. when loaded by the output stage, Av is 54 for
the anode. As a result, there is an imbalance of Remember that in 1947, circuits were the ECC83, but overall gain is half this at 27.
high -frequency cutoffs in driving the 60pF designed using long multiplication, log tables, The anode load resistors have not been mod-
input capacitance of the driver stage. This is and even slide rules. Computer aided ac anal- ified to give perfect balance. With the 470k0
because the anode cut-off is around 120kHz, ysis was not an option. Most amplifiers were grid leak resistors of the output stage in par-
while the cathode cut-off is 2.6MHz. designed as carefully as possible, and then allel with the 180k51 anode loads, the effective
In practice, since the driver stage is a dif- adjusted on test for best response. anode load is 130k1I. This means that the
ferential pair, as opposed to a cathode -coupled right-hand triode should have an ac anode load
phase splitter, its gain will only fall by 6dB Mullard's 5-20 power amplifier 3% higher, and RL would then be 187ka
from 120kHz to 2.6MHz. At this point, it will This is a 20W 'ultra -linear' design from Mullard did actually state this, but probably
fall at the normal 6dB/octave. The net result is Mullard in 1955. It was introduced to sell the assumed that most constructors would not
very similar to the step compensation in the company's EL34 pentode. There is a great have access to sufficiently high precision
input stage. In this amplifier, adding a build - deal of similarity between this design, the resistors to use the information.
out resistor to the cathode will probably cause Mullard 5-10 (10W EL84) and some Leak A better solution is to use the 180k0 value
oscillation, and is not recommended. amplifiers, Fig. 2. of anode load with the unloaded gain of 71.
The driver stage has an output resistance of The input stage is an EF86 pentode. This This then results in a value of 185.61(12, which
=8.7k52; with 55pF of input capacitance from device is responsible for the high sensitivity, still leaves the output resistances out of bal-
the output stage, cut-off is =330kHz, and the but poor noise performance, of these ampli- ance. Output resistance of left-hand triode is
output transformer is specified to have a cut- fiers. Most of the cathode bias resistor is approximately 52.191c51, while the right-hand
off of 60kHz. bypassed, since it would otherwise reduce one is approximately 52.66k0, requiring a
gain from around 120 to 33. This would be a 4705I build -out resistor.
Step networks waste of open loop gain that could be used to The output stage has an input capacitance of
The number of hf cut-offs within the feedback correct distortion from the output stage. about 30pF, combined with 53k..Q output resis-
loop have not been minimised, and the domi- Unadorned, the pentode has an output resis- tance of the driver stage. This gives a poor
nant hf cut-off is too close to the next most tance of 100kII, and drives around 50pF of cut-off at 100kHz.
dominant. The only remaining way to achieve input capacitance from the phase splitter. This
stability at hf is to adjust the phase response would give a cut off of 32kHz but it is modi- Differential pair
independently of amplitude response by fied by the usual compensation components Looking at the stage as a driver, investigate
means of step networks. across its anode load. whether it is capable of driving the output
At low frequencies it is more useful to con- A slightly unusual feature is that the g2 stage. A total of 85V will be wasted across the
sider time constants rather than -3dB points. decoupling capacitor is connected between g2 821d2 tail resistor, but with 410V of supply
Since the input stage is direct coupled to the and cathode, rather than g2 and ground. In rail, this still leaves you with 325V.
concertina this can be ignored. The concertina most circuits, the cathode is at ac ground. As a With component values given, this puts the
feeds the driver stage with a CR of around result, there is no reason why the g2 decou- operating point at 240V on the 180k52 dc load
22ms, as does the driver to output stage. pling capacitor should not go to ground. In line. Drawing the ac 1301M load line through
The output transformer is set to 48ms. In this circuit there is appreciable negative feed- this point shows that the stage would generate
view of this, it is not surprising that low -fre- back to the cathode. Therefore g2 has to be about 4% second harmonic distortion at full
quency stability is questionable - as was con- connected to the cathode in order to hold g2-k drive. This would result in an output of 18V
ceded in the original Wireless World article. A (ac) volts at zero, otherwise there would be rms, if it were not operated as a differential
little of this may also be due to the fact that positive feedback to g2. pair. Mullard claimed 0.4% distortion for the
the input stage is not operated from the same The cathode coupled phase splitter is com- entire driver circuitry.
ht as the concertina; in my experience, this bined with the driver circuit using an ECC83; Although distortion appears satisfactory, the

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1035

 AUDIO

160V 27002 410V 15 kg2 440V 465V

8µF 8µF 433V 8µF 10H Z 8µF

1450v 45OVI 500V
47 pF 180mA 1500V
390k0 GZ34
4.7k0 325V 4.7k0 5V
GZ34
0.5µF 470 heaters
ECC86 ECC83 450V a 47001 32V
4700
4.71,0
3W I. 50µF
50V
211W 40
5V
heaters
0.5µI 4700 50 F
350V 3W 50
I OOkI2 U 470k0 O
2.2V 32V

220.V9 1 NIQ 2.2k0 50µFO

12V
85V IMO
323V
4.7k52
=
470

0 5µI
8202 0.25 µ1
350V 450 \
1000 EL34
T E
3.902

-III
470 pF

Fig. 2. Mullard's 5-20 was an ultra -linear design with high sensitivity but poor noise performance due to the input being pentode, rather than triode,
based. Circuit courtesy Philips Components Ltd.

driver stage has only 10dB of overload capa- biasing is firmly set by the potentiometers, Because of this, the cathode bias resistors are
bility. When output stage gain begins to fall - there is no self -regulation of bias current. As usually bypassed by capacitors, resulting in
due to cathode feedback or input capacitance the valves age, balance will need to be reset. several problems.
of the EL34 loading the driver - global feed- In short, providing this adjustment ensures The capacitor is a short circuit to ac and so
back will try to correct this by supplying that it has to be used regularly. By contrast, prevents feedback. But, as in the simple com-
greater drive to the output stage. This margin the Mullard 5-20 has separate cathode bias mon cathode triode amplifier, at very low fre-
will quickly be eroded. resistors and relies on automatic bias to hold quencies it will no longer be a short circuit,
Driver circuitry was designed to produce an the anode currents at their correct, and there- and will allow feedback.
amplifier of high sensitivity - even after 30dB fore equal, levels. Because the output stage is load matched,
of feedback had been applied. This has forced In practice, this works quite well, although it feedback causes an immediate rise in distor-
other factors to be compromised. Whereas the does not quite achieve the low transformer tion and reduction of output power due to the
adjustable The obvious solution to this is to fit
the Mullard 5-20 achieves stability at the system. a large enough capacitor to ensure that the low
expense of linearity. frequency cut-off for this combination is
System drawbacks below all frequencies of interest, say 1Hz.
Ultra -linear output A disadvantage of this system is that the indi- Remembering that the resistance that the
The output stage is a pair of EL34 in 'ultra -lin- vidual cathode bias resistors applies series capacitor sees is Rk in parallel with rk, you can
ear' configuration, with 43% taps for mini- negative feedback to the output valves, raising calculate the value required. For a pentode, rk
mum distortion. Unlike the Williamson, there their output impedance. is 1/gm; a typical output pentode has a g, of
is no provision for adjusting or balancing bias, The output transformer could be redesigned 10mAV-1 at its working point, so rk of around
and this might seem to be a backward step. to maintain the match to the load, but this is 10052. This is in parallel with a bias resistor of
Bias adjustment implies connecting the cath- undesirable as it would require a higher pri- 3000, giving a total resistance of 75g. For
odes together and using a proportion of grid mary -to -secondary turns ratio. This makes a 1Hz, a capacitance of 2000pF is needed.
bias to provide balance adjustment. Because high quality design more difficult to achieve. Capacitors rated at 2000pF, 50V were sim-
ply not available at the time, and were not fit-
ted. They are readily available now, but there
+ I 5V
are two reasons why you might wish to use a
smaller value.

A 2000pF capacitor will have considerable

inductance, allowing feedback at high fre-
40mV quencies. By using low inductance electrolyt-
4V ics designed for use in switch -mode power
071
47002 1 00 pF supplies, and/or by bypassing with smaller
T 1
values, this problem can be overcome.

If the output stage is driven into Class B by

OV overload, each cathode then tries to move
3k0
more positively than negatively. It cannot turn
mom 470r --
100Z off any further, but it can certainly turn on
-0.6V
harder. The capacitor smooths these changes
-I 1 V IOW
4.7 kg/
-I 5V
into a gently rising dc bias voltage, which
biases the valve further into Class B, and the
Fig. 3. Principles of the output bias servo. Although this circuit was designed to provide -11V bias, it problem continues.
can easily be changed by returning the transistor's collector load to a more negative supply, as The effect of this is that a momentary over-
necessary. load can cause distortion of the following sig-

1036 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 AUDIO

nals - even though they would normally have the mean dc level to 4V, with ac peaks rising this summation reduces third harmonic dis-
been within the capabilities of the amplifier. to 8V. Any peak above 8V is clipped by the tortion by a further 8dB over that due to the
As the cathode bias capacitor becomes larger, diode/transistor clamp; the other half -cycle negative feedback.
this recovery time from overload lengthens. will already have been clipped by the valve. The effect of this feedback on output resis-
Theoretically, one never overloads amplifiers, The clipped signal is integrated by the tance is the opposite to what might be expect-
and this would not be a problem, but occa- 2.21v10 resistor in combination with the 470nF ed (Williamson and Walker, 1954). If a cath-
sional overload is inevitable, and should be capacitor, giving T=6.5s. The 071 compares ode resistor is left unbypassed it will generate
considered. this smoothed dc with a reference derived series feedback which increases ra, whereas
from the potential divider chain, and uses this the transformer coupled feedback reduces ra.
The ideal way to deal with all of these prob- to control the bias transistor. Reference and This can easily be explained by assuming a
lems is to reduce the cathode bias resistor to clamp voltages are made adjustable by the short circuit as a load.
an ohm or less such that it no longer causes 21d2 variable resistor in order to allow for fine Clearly, the output stage will be unable to
noticeable feedback, and measure the current adjustment of anode current. drive any voltage into this load, but converse-
through it using an op -amp. This signal then Although this circuit was designed to pro- ly, there will be no feedback signal applied to
feeds an asymmetrical clipper. When the valve vide -11V bias, this can easily be changed by the cathodes. The grids are then driven by the
strays into Class B and clips one half -cycle, returning the bias transistor's collector load to full input signal, rather than the input signal
the clipper removes an equal amount from the a more negative supply as necessary; no other minus the feedback. Therefore the output
other half -cycle before feeding the processed changes are required. stage is driven harder as it attempts to main-
signal to an integrator. The integrator can have tain its output into a short circuit. This action
an RC time constant of almost any value - lOs Quad II power amplifier is directly equivalent to reducing output resis-
is not unusual. The Quad II is an unusual design, which at tance. The new value of output resistance can
Output of the integrator is a smoothed dc first sight does not look too promising, but be found using the normal feedback equation.
voltage proportional to anode current. This can works because the design is synergetic. In this Transformer primaries are equivalent to 3kS2
then be compared to a fixed reference. The design, the phase splitter has been combined anode to anode. With tetrodes, this low value
difference between the two levels drives an with both the driver stage and input stage. of anode load results in a reduction of third
amplifier whose output feeds negative grid In order to achieve the necessary gain, pen- harmonic distortion, and an increase in second
bias to the output valve. todes have been used. Output impedance is harmonic. This is then cancelled by the output
If anode current of one valve is set as a ref- therefore high, as is input noise. To make mat- transformer.
erence, then other valves can share this refer- ters worse, a variation of the see -saw phase There is no provision for balancing anode
ence, forcing the anode currents into balance. splitter has been used. The output stage has current, and the automatic bias is shared. As a
Increased complexity of this scheme is partly local feedback, which increases the voltage result, you can expect an increase in distortion
offset by its improved performance and reduc- swing required to drive it, Fig. 4. at low frequencies due to saturation of the
tion in ht voltage required, since the cathode transformer core. Curiously, the cathode resis-
bias scheme wastes ht, Fig. 3. Driving the loudspeakers tor was only rated at 3W, yet it dissipates
A pair of KT66 beam tetrodes with anode and 3.8W. If your Quad II is distorting, a burnt out
Sensing anode current cathode loads split in the ratio 9.375:1 com- cathode bias resistor may well be the cause.
Figure 3 was designed to sense a 40mA anode prise the output stage. The cathode therefore Even with pentodes, there is not a great deal
current by developing 40mV across the 152 provides little drive to the loudspeaker. This of gain from the driver circuitry, and input
resistor. As this circuit is based on the 40mV may be considered to be series feedback from sensitivity is low, at 1.4V for full output. This
signal, the sense resistor should be changed to the output transformer. Cathode current in the is an excellent choice of input sensitivity for a
suit if a different current is to be sensed. output transformer however is the sum of the power amplifier. It not only guarantees impec-
The 5534 has a gain of 100, and amplifies anode and g2 currents. It has been found that cable noise performance - even from a pen -

30H 60mA V5 GZ34

330V
310Vrms

I 1 5V OV

10Vrms
C2
1 00 nr 14 mA 130 inA
I I IV
5V
n R2 R5 R7
0
SKI UN1.0 2.2\. EF86 180k0 .1680k0 V3 T 63V
To control t
6.3V
R4
KT66
S. 12W
R into Heaters
unit. 6
68051 70 SKI pins 5,6
mim 1R8
26V
CI 2.7k0
2
4 \k 1
100nF
V4
EF86 KT66
R3 22V R6 1R9
I Mu 180k0 680kil
P JIFF
110V RI2
RI C3 C1
1 .5 mu 100nF 2 C5
25µF
115V
= C4 3 \,V

RIO
1000

RIO 4700

Fig. 4. The Quad It is different. Not only is the phase splitter combined with the driver, but it is also combined with the input stage. Circuit courtesy
Quad Electroacoustics.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1037

AUDIO

tode - but it also means that the input is far is therefore not a problem. Each output valve Connecting g2 of each valve together at ac
less susceptible to hum and noise from input requires a swing of around 80V pk-pk. This is helps maintain balance in the same way as
cables or heater circuitry. easily provided, because pentodes can commoning the cathodes.
The Quad II was only beaten in signal-to- approach OV more closely than triodes. Also,
noise performance by the Williamson, which LC filtering is used on the ht line, rather than Although substituting one stage that com-
was quieter because it had a triode input stage. RC filtering, which would reduce available ht. bines the functions of input, phase splitter and
This LC filtered supply also feeds g2 of the driver does not achieve the linearity of pur-
Balanced output output valves. This has the valuable advantage pose designed stages, it achieves better lin-
Although the phase splitter is a variation of the of reducing hum, since the anode current of a earity than the Mullard circuit. This is because
see -saw phase splitter, it does not rely on feed- tetrode or pentode is dependent on g2 voltage less gain is demanded from it.
back for balance, and its operation is quite ele- rather than anode voltage. With only a simple driver circuit and output
gant. Output valves must each have a grid leak In the input stage, pentodes need to have g2 stage within the feedback loop, the Quad II
resistor, so instead of applying additional load- decoupled to ground. Instead of each valve has no stability problems.
ing to the driver valves, a tapping is taken having a capacitor to ground, one capacitor is
from one of these to provide the input for V2. connected between each g2. This has three
In theory, if this tapping had an attenuation advantages:
equal to the gain of V2, then the output of the
phase splitter would be balanced. Because of If you had two individual capacitors, they
component variation, this will not always be would effectively be in series with a centre tap
true, and so the cathodes of the two valves are to ground. Since each valve is supplying an
tied together to improve balance. equal but opposite output, the centre tap would Further reading
This has been further modified by applying be at ground potential even if it were to be camas, M, 'High performance loudspeakers',
global feedback to the other end of this poten- disconnected from ground. Disconnecting the 3rd edn. Pentech Press, London, pp. 188-206,
tial divider, which is why the gain of V2 is not centre tap from ground results in two capaci- 1985.
equal to 680k0/2.7ka tors in series. These can be replaced by a sin- Futterman, J, 'A practical commercial output
gle capacitor whose value is equal to half that transformerless amplifier', Journal of the Audio
Pentode over triode of one of them. Engineering Society October 1956.
Pentode stages have output resistance approx- Hedge, L B, 'Cascade AF amplifier', Wireless
imately equal to RL. Since RL for the Quad is Since this one capacitor is connected World, 283-87, June 1956.
180ki2, this would appear to be very poor at between two points of equal potential, it need Mullard, 'Tube Circuits for Audio Amplifiers',
driving the 30pF input capacitance of the out- not necessarily have the full voltage rating to reprinted by Audio Amateur Press, Peterborough,
put stage, resulting in a cut-off of around ground. However, it is as well to consider the New Hampshire, 1993.
30kHz. effect of fault conditions when determining Williamson, D T N and Walker, P J, 'Amplifiers
Apart from the output transformer, this is the the voltage rating. as a result, this is not a great and superlatives', Journal of the Audio
only high -frequency cut-off in the circuit, and advantage. Engineering Society, 2(2), 75-80, 1954.

ValveAmplifiers BOOKS
Valve amplifiers
Classic power amplifiers is just one of the subjects covered in a
new book entitled Valve amplifiers, from which the above
article is extracted. With over 370 pages, Valve amplifiers is
written by Morgan Jones and covers,
Circuit analysis
Basic building blocks
Components
Power supplies
Power and preamplifiers
Construction
Safety
Valve amplifiers is priced at £25. Please add postage at £2.50
UK, £5 Europe or £7.50 worldwide. Send your request with a
cheque or postal order made payable to Reed Business
Publishing Group Ltd, to Jackie Lowe, Room L333, Quadrant
House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5AS. If ordering by
credit card, please quote card type, number and expiry date
together with card -holder address. Post your order, fax on
0181 652 8956 or e-mail it to jackie.lowe©rbp.co.uk.

1038 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 More than
15.000
Users

ULTlboard, one of the leading PC based design

systems, is supplied worldwide via a network of
ULTImate Technology offices & distributors.
ULTlboard's success with professional designers
is primarily due to its superior interactive
functionality.
REAL TIME Placement Help, REAL TIME Design
Rule Check, Reroute -While -Move and Trace
shoving, are all features wich will dramatically
reduce your design time.
Integration with ULTIcap guarantees smooth data
flow between Schematic and PCB editing .The
inclusion of third party netlist interfaces ensures
ULTlboard will fit into any design environment.

Another of ULTImate Technology's strengths is

our flexible growth path. Users may start with a
low cost ULTIboard Challenger and grow, step by
step, to a 32 -bit Advanced Design system
including Ripup and Retry Autorouting.

ULTImate Technology also looks after existing

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upgraded to a new system based on their original
investment. For instance, a 1987 ULTlboard-DOS
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ULTImate Technology not only adds value to your Your move

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CO YOU want the lati In addition to dynamic rats nests, force vectors and density histograms,
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UK: £ 795 pins or violate trace clearances. It always respects your design rules.

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TV7 I _ The Netherlands Aldermaston Berkshire RG7 4QW
TECHNOLOGY
CIRCLE NO. 121 ON REPLY CARD
o39
PC ENGINEERING

Sign processing
in a toolbox
Allen Brown pC software package Matlab - reviewed in box. This comprises a library of prewritten signal pro-
EW+WW , March 1995 - is a product designed, cessing functions that can be evoked from the command
reviews an amongst other things, for the modelling and simu- line within the Matlab environment.
lation of physical processes. Whether solving electrical, The toolbox has over one hundred functions whose
extension to biological, mechanical or economical problems, Matlab operations cover the spectrum of commonly used pro-
the maths is a versatile tool for tackling a whole range of modelling cesses. Groups of processes include filter analysis, linear
requirements. systems transformations, digital filter design, transforms,
modelling To support the package, its makers, Math Works, pro- statistical processing, windowing and parametric mod-
package vide a range of 'Toolboxes' designed for specific appli- elling. In fact, the range is as extensive as you are likely
cations. A number of these - one of which is the signal to find in any pc signal processing software.
Matlab, processing toolbox - are likely to be of interest to elec-
which is tronics engineers . Analysing filters
Over the past ten years, signal processing has aroused a There is a number of interesting tools in the filter analy-
intended for considerable amount of interest, due in part to the avail- sis group for analysing systems. It should be emphasised
designers of ability of high-performance digital signal processors, both that the toolbox is not constrained to digital operations
fixed and floating point. Also, the pc is playing a signif- only - it is also possible to model system behaviour in the
dsp circuitry. icant role in realising signal processing operations. The analogue Laplace S domain. For example, determining
wealth of high speed data acquisition expansion cards and frequency response of the following transfer function,
the availability of high quality software is contributing to
0.2s2 + 0.3s + 1
the continuing interest in signal processing. H(s)=
Normal engineering practice involves the modelling of s2 + 0.4s + 1
electronic circuitry before it is constructed and it is cus- The command line code for this task is,
tomary to use such software packages as PSpice or
Electronics Workbench for this purpose. For signal pro- b=[0.2 0.3 1];a=[1 0.4 1];
cessing modelling the designer, who is familiar with w=logspace(-1, 1);
Matlab, has the option of using the signal processing tool - freqs(b, a, w)

10'
4
. ....... ..... ............ ; .
t t
mAi
t tt.
4,- :
do

4.4.
........
-14444
100
to'
Frequency trsciens)

Fig. 1. Using the signal processing toolbox, a transfer Fig. 2. Transfer function generated graphically in the
function in the Laplace S domain can be easily realised digital z domain.
in a plot.

1040 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 PC ENGINEERING

The graphical result, Fig. 1, shows the magnitude of the Fig. 3. When subjected
response and the phase in degrees. Coefficients of the to a single impulse, the
transfer function are defined in the first line and log spac- impz function allows
ing for the plot in the second line. The freqs function in the the response of the
third line performs plotting in the frequency domain. system to be visualised
with ease.
Plotting the response of a digital filter is just as easy,
consider a sixth -order lowpass elliptical filter with a cut-off
frequency of 300Hz and a 3dB ripple sampling at 500Hz.
The command line code would be,

[b, a]=ellip(6, 3, 50, 300/500);

freqz(b, a, 512, 1000)

The first line defines the specifications of the filter, and

freqz in the second line performs transfer and plotting in
the z domain. The graphical result is shown in Fig. 2. You
will also notice that a pleasing feature of the phase plots of
the signal processing toolbox is the absence of fly -backs at
Fig. 4. Determining the
the 360° boundary. positions of the poles
Fly -backs are customary on almost all signal processing and zeros in the z -
software and confuse the information in the phase plot. It plane unit circle gives
is good to see that this product eliminates this problem. information on possible
The user may be interested to see the impulse response of problems that may
the filter. This can be accomplished via the impz function. occur for poles lying
For example, close to the perimeter.
If through quantisation
effects they should
[b,a] = ellip(10, .05, 80, .4);
stray outside the unit
impz(b, a, 50) circle the system
becomes unstable.
The command line code defines a tenth -order elliptical fil-
ter with a 0.05 ripple in the pass band, a 80dB attenuation
in the stop band with a normalised cut off frequency of 0.4.
A normalised frequency of 0.5 is equivalent to half the
sampling frequency. The graphical result of the above
instructions is shown in Fig. 3. Including the instruction
zplane(a, b) produces the pole/zero plot of Fig. 4. Fig. 5. Graphical results
Alternatively within the linear systems transformations from the design of a
group of instructions there are some powerful operations digital filter using the
for changing one system representation into another. These instructions in Table 1.
can be evoked with relative ease. For example, state -space This example shows
to transfer function, ss2tf, or zero -pole to state -space, that Elliptical filters are
zp2ss. All in all some useful features for analysing system unsuitable for systems
responses in both analogue and digital domains. which require linear
100 200 300 400
phase response.
Frequemy (tier)
Designing digital filters 1000
Functions for designing finite impulse response and infi-
nite impulse response digital filters are included in the sig- I 500

nal -processing toolbox. Infinite impulse response filters 0

comprise the well known Bessel, Butterworth, Chebychev, § -500

elliptical and the not so well known Yule -Walker. There -1000o
100 200 300 400
are also instructions for determining the order of the filters. Frequency 04ert1
This example illustrates how the instructions are used.
Consider designing a bandpass Chebychev II filter (ripple
in the stop band), transmission from 100-200Hz with 3dB Table 1. Instructions required to design a bandpass Chebychev infinite
ripple and a stop band attenuation of 100dB. Given a sam- impulse response digital filter.
pling frequency of 1000Hz, the instructions are shown
with comments in Table 1 and graphical output for the fil- % Specify the passband and the stopband corner frequency ranges,
Wp=[100 200]/500;Ws=[50 250]/500
ter in Fig. 5. % Specify the attenuations in decibels
Once the user has learned the command line syntax, it is Rp=3;Rs=100;
a relatively straight forward task to design filters. % Calculate the filter order n and the actual corner frequencies
However, there does not appear to be any function for [n, Wn]=cheby2ord(Wp, Ws, Rp, Rs);
quantising coefficients - usually to 16bit - and converting % Perform the design and calculate the raw coefficients
them for use with a fixed point format for digital signal [b,a]=cheby2(n, Rs, Wn);
processing. It is sometimes necessary to model the per- % Calculate the coefficients in terms of poles and zeros
formance of the filter once the coefficients have been [z, p, k]=cheby2(n, Rs, Wn);
quantised - there appears to be no function in the signal % Convert the pole zero values into second order coefficients
sos=zp2sos(z, p, k);
processing toolbox for performing this operation directly. Plot the frequency characteristics of the filter
The option of designing finite impulse response filters freqz(b, a, 512, 1000)
using the Parks -McClellan method, based on the Remez
Exchange Algorithm, is not as clean as it could be. There

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1041

PC ENGINEERING

spectrogram for analysing speech signals. It displays fre-

File Edit Windows Help
quency and magnitude information versus time. Figure 6
is an example of the spoken word matlab. Magnitude is
colour coded - red for the largest magnitude and blue for
the smallest. For noise contaminated signals, the user can
first perform auto -correlation, xcorr, on the data before
subjecting to the Fourier transform. In many instances
this improves performance of the spectral analysis.
Generally the toolbox has a reasonable array of spectral
analysis tools, however one deficiency is the waterfall
function. This function would partition a signal into sev-
eral segments, perform a FFT on each segment and dis-
play a three dimensional plot - magnitude versus fre-
quency versus time. There is however a feature for
partitioning a signal into segments only and displaying
them as a strip plot, strips. An example of its output is
shown in Fig. 7.
The signal processing toolbox possesses a number of
alternative tools for deriving spectral information. These
are categorised as parametric modelling and are useful for
analysing non -stationary signals - for example speech.

User manual
The manual accompanying Toolbox is well written,
beginning with a tutorial section covering each group of
Fig. 6. Spectrogram of is now a well established method of specifying the the signal processing toolbox's functions. In the reference
the word matlab. The required filter characteristics. However the two functions section of the manual there are the all important examples
function specgram can remez and remzord in the toolbox have to be set up in a which can save an enormous amount of time when trying
be used with great manner which departs from conventional wisdom thus to master their use. The manual is quite indispensable
effect to analyse rendering them less amiable than they could be. when using this package.
speech signals.

Analysis of spectra Conclusion

Fig. 7. A frequent The toolbox has a number of useful functions for inves- Most functions in the signal processing toolbox can be
requirement for tigating the spectral content of signals, both periodic and accessed with relative ease and incorporated into a user's
analysing rapidly signals contaminated by noise. In addition to the usual Matlab model. They are not as comprehensive as I would
changing signals is
FFT, DFT there is a choice of the Chirp z -transform and like and there are some noticeable omissions such as
dissecting a signal into
several equal segments.
a reasonable array of window functions to pre-process the adaptive filters.
This is achieved using a data before performing spectral analysis. There could also be more functions for implementing
strip plot. An interesting function also included is spec gram ie lattice filters. However, in general this package will prove
a very useful tool for the electronics engineers involved in
digital signal processing and systems design.
M111111111111111111111111M11111111

Availability
Toolbox is available from Rapid Data,
Crescent House, Crescent Road,
Worthing, West Sussex BN11 5RW.
Tel. 01903-202819, fax. 01903-
820762. Price of Matlab package is
currently £1376 and Signal Processing
Toolbox is f325, both excluding VAT.
These prices include documentation
and technical support. Add f25 for
delivery of Matlab with the signal
processing Toolbox or £15 for the
Toolbox alone.
0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25

1042 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

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100n 250V radial 10mm
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100n 600V Sprague axial 10/01 100/£6 (EH
36M75625 361076875 36M78125 36M79375 36M80625 36M81875 THERMAL FUSES 220°C/121°C 240V 15A 5/E1
2µ2 160V rad 22mm, 2p2 100V rad 15mm 100/£10
361083125 361084375 38M900 49M504 54M19166 54M7416 TRANSISTOR MOUNTING PADS TO -5/10-18 C3/1000
10/01
10n/33n./47n 250V AC x rated 15mm 10/£1
57M75833 6010000 6910545 69M550 BN 26M995 RD27M045 TO -3 TRANSISTOR COVERS
PCB PINS FIT 0.1" VERO 200/£1 lll 600V MIXED DIELECTRIC 50p *a
0R27k4095 YW27M145 GN27M195 8L27M245 3A4225 £1 ea 1p0 100V rad 15mm, 1p0 22mm rad 100/E6
TO -220 micas + bushes 10/50p 100/£2
TO -3 micas + bushes 15/£1 0.22p 250V AC X2 RATING 4/£1
TRANSISTORS Large heat shrink sleeving pack £2 0.22p 900V 4/t1
MPSA92 10/£1 IEC chassis plug filter 10A £3
2N2907A 10/£1 POTS SHORT SPINDLES 2K5 10K 25K 1M 2M5 4/£1 RF BITS
BC477, BC488 10/£1 40k U/S TRANSDUCERS EX-EQPT NO DATA E1/pc SAW FILTERS SW662/SW661 PLESSEY SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY
BC107 BCY70 PREFORMED LEADS LM335Z IOMV/degree C El 379.5 MHZ £1.50 as
full spec £1 04/100 £30/1000 LM234Z CONST. CURRENT I.0 £1
FX3286 FERRITE RING ID 5mm OD 10mm 10 for £1
BC557, BC238C, BC308B £1/30 £3.50/100 BNC TO 4MM BINDING POST SIM RS 455-961 £1
ASTEC UMI 233 UHF VIDEO MODULATORS (NO SOUND) 1250
2N3819 FETS short leads 4/£1 MIN PCB POWER RELAYS 10.5v COIL 6A CONTACTS 1 pole c/o
STOCK £1.50
2N2907 PLASTIC CROPPED £1 /15 £4/100 £1
MARCONI MICROWAVE DIODES TYPES DC2929, DC2962,
BANDOLIERED COMPONENTS ASSORTED Rs, Cs, ZENERS
DC4229F1/F2 . Cl EA
POWER TRANSISTORS 05/1000
XTAL FILTERS 21M4 55100 12 ea
0C29 £2 ea LCD MODULE 16 CHAR. X I UNE (SIMILAR TO HITACHI LM10) £5
OPI1264A 10kV OPTO ISOLATOR 01.35 ea 100+ El ea ALL TRIMMERS 3 for 50p
P POWER FET IRF9531 8A 60V 3/01
VIOLET 5-105pF
N POWER FET1RF531 8A 60V 2/01 'LOVE STORY' CLOCKWORK MUSICAL BOX MECHANISM
MADE BY SANKYO ea RED 10-110pF GREY 5-25pF SMALL MULLARD
2SC1520 sim BF259 3/E1 100/E22 2 to 22pF 3 FOR 50p 010/100
Telephone cable dips with hardened pins 500/E2
TIP141/2 £1 ea TIP 112/42B 2/£1 TRANSISTORS 2N4427, 2N3866 80p ea
10,000uF 16V PCB TYPE 30mm DIAx31mm 2/E1
SE9301 100V IDA DARL SIM TIP121 2/£1
CERAMIC FILTERS 4M5/6M/9h4/10M7 60p ea
EC CHASSIS FUSED PLUG B -LEE L2728 3/£1
PLASTIC 3055 OR 2955 equiv 50p 100/035 FEED THRV CERAMIC CAPS 1000pF 10/El
2A CERAMIC FUSE 1.25" QB 10/E1
BUZ31 POWER FET TO -220200V 12.5A 2/E1
46 WAY IOC RIBBON CABLE 100 FOOT REEL E5+ CARR SL610 E5
20mm PCB FUSEHOLDER 6 VOLT TELEDYNE RELAYS 2 POLE CHANGEOVER £2
TEXTOOL ZIF SOCKETS IEC CHASSIS FUSED PLUG B -LEE L2728 3/E1 (BEY51 TRANSISTOR CAN SIZE)
28 PIN USED £3 40 PIN NEW £10 ASTEC MODULATOR VIDEO + SOUND UM1287 £2.25 2N2222 METAL 5/E1
SINGLE IN LINE 32 WAY CAN BE GANGED FOR USE WITH ANY BARGRAPH DISPLAY 8 RED LEDS £1.50 P2N2222A PLASTIC 10/C1
DUAL IN LINE DEVICES .. COUPUNG SUPPLIED 2/01.50 NE567 PHASE LOCKED LOOP 2/E1 2N2369A 5/£1
NE564
MISCELLANEOUS P8749H USED WIPED £2
MONOLITHIC CERAMIC CAPACITORS
XENON STROBE TUBE £1.60 TL084 N£1
IR2432 SHARP 12 LED VU BAR GRAPH DRIVER E125 10n 50V 2.5mm 100/04.50
2 VOLT 920 Nhr LEAD ACID CELLS, UNUSED, UNFILLED 18" HIGH 100n 50V 2.5mm or 5mm 100/E6
12" x 7", WEIGHT 48Kg each, RUBBERISED CASE, GAULTLETED 100n ax short leads 100/£3
TUBULAR PLATE CONSTRUCTION, FOR DEEP CYCLE, HIGH DIODES AND RECTIFIERS 100n ax long leads 100/£5
CURRENT USE, MADE FOR BRITISH NAVY, 800 CELLS A115M 3A 600V FAST RECOVERY DIODE 4/E1
100/£8
100n 50V dil package 0.3" rad
AVAILABLE, PHONE FOR PRICING ALSO AVAILABLE FILLED & 1N5407 3A 1000V 8/C1
CHARGED 1N4148 100/£1.50
Narrow angle infra red emitter LED55C 2/E1 I N4004 SD4 IA 300V 100/E3 QUARTZ HALOGEN LAMPS
UM6116M-2L surface mount 1000 available £1 1N5401 3A 100V 10/E1 12V 50watl LAMP TYPE M312 Cl es HOLDERS 60p ea
2808 PIO 7000 available £1 each, qty. price 30/5Op IN5819RL 20K Ex stock 1000+10p **NEW 6V 50watt El

KEYTRONICS SEND £1 STAMPS FOR CURRENT IC + SEMI STOCK LIST -ALSO AVAILABLE ON
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CIRCLE NO. 122 ON REPLY CARD

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD 1043

Surplus always
wanted for cash!
THE ORIGINAL SURPLUS WONDERLAND! Surplus always
wanted for cash!
THIS MONTH'S SELECTION FROM OUR VAST EVER CHANGING STOCKS
LOW COST PC's - ALL EXPANDABLE - ALL PC COMPATIBLE 19" RACK CABINETS
Superb quality 6 foot 40U
SPECIAL BUY PC SCOOP Virtually New, Ultra Smart
COMPLETE v
wiei4;
AT 286 Less than Half Price!
COLOUR SYSTEM Top quality 19' rack cabinets made in UK by
Optima Enclosures Ltd. Units feature
40Mb HD + 3Mb Ram ONLY £79.00 designer, smoked acrylic lockable front door,
LIMITED QUANTITY only of these 12Mhz HI GRADE 286 systems full height lockable half louvered back door
A massive bulk purchase enables us to bring you a COMPLETE and louvered removable side panels. Fully
Made in the USA to an industrial specification, the system was ready to run colour PC system at an unheard of price! adjustable internal fixing struts, ready punched
designed for total reliability. The compact case houses the mother- The Display Electronics PC99 system comprises of fully com-
board, PSU and EGA video card with single 5Y." 1.2 Mb floppy disk for any configuration of equipment mounting
patible and expandable XT PC with 256k of RAM, 51/4" 360k flop- plus ready mounted integral 12 way 13 amp
drive & Integral 40Mb hard disk drive to the front. Real time clock py disk drive, 12" CGA colour monitor, standard 84 key key-
with battery backup is provided as standard. Supplied in good used socket switched mains distribution strip make
board, MS DOS and all connecting cables - Just plug in and go these racks some of the moat versatile we
condition complete with enhanced keyboard, 640k + 2Mb RAM, I! Ideal students, schools or anybody wishing to learn the world of have ever sold. Racks may be stacked side by side and therefore
DOS 4.01 and 90 DAY Full Guarantee. Ready to Run !
Order as HIGRADE 286 ONLY
CALL FORff42,00 LE)
OTY ul.COUN
Optional Fitted extras: VGA graphics card
S
£29.00
PC's on an ultra low budget. Don't miss this opportunity.
Good used condition - Fully guaranteed for 90 Days.
Order as PC99COL
Optional Fitted extras: 640k RAM
' ARP (E)
£29.00
require -only two side panels to stand singly or in multiple bays.
Overall dimensions are: 771/2" H x 321/2" ID x 22' W. Order as:
OPT Rack 1 Complete with removable side panels. £335.00 (G)
OPT Rack 2 Rack, Less side panels £225.00 (G)
1.4Mb 31/2" floppy disk drive (instead of 1.2 Mb) £24.95 2nd floppy drive, specify 51/4" 360k or 31/2" 720k £29.95
NE2000 Ethernet (thick, thin or twisted) network card £49.00 Above prices for PC99 offer ONLY.
32U - High Quality - All steel RakCab
FLOPPY DISK DRIVES 31/2"- 8" VIDEO MONITOR SPECIALS Made by Eurocratt Enclosures Ltd to the highest possible spec,
rack features all steel construction with removable
51/4" from £22.95 - 31/2" from £24.95 One of the highest specification side, front and back doors. Front and back doors are
hinged for easy access and all are lockable with
Massive purchases of standard 51/2" and 31/2" drives enables us to
present prime product at industry beating low prices! All units (unless
4 monitors you will ever see - five secure 5 lever barrel locks. The front door
stated) are BRAND NEW or removed from often brand new equip- ff% At this price - Don't miss it!! is constructed of double walled steel with a
'designer style' smoked acrylic front panel to
ment and are fully tested, aligned and shipped to you with a 90 day Mitsubishi FA3415ETKL 14" SVGA Multisync monitor with fine
guarantee and operate from standard voltages and are of standard 0.28 dot pitch tube and guaranteed resolution of 1024 x 768. A enable status indicators to be seen through the
panel, yet remain unobtrusive. Internally the rack
size. All are IBM-PC compatible (if 31/2" supported on your PC). variety of inputs allows connection to a host of features full slotted reinforced vertical fixing mem-
31/2" Panasonic JU363/4 720K or equivalent £24.95 B I! computers including IBM PC's in CGA, EGA, VGA &
314" Mitsubishi MF355C-L. 1.4 Meg. Laptops only" £36.95 B SVGA modes, BBC, COMMODORE (including bers to take the heaviest of 19" rack equip-
ment. The two movable vertical fixing struts
31/2" Mitsubishi MF355C-D. 1.4 Meg. Non laptop £29.95 B) Amiga 1200), ARCHIMEDES and APPLE. Many (extras available) are pre punched for standard
51/4' Teac FD-55GFR 1.2 Meg £29.95(6) features: Etched faceplate, text switching and LOW cage nuts'. A mains distribution panel internal-
514° BRAND NEW Mitsubishi MF501B 360K £22.95(B) RADIATION MPR specification. Full 90 day warranty.
Supplied in EXCELLENT little used condition..
ly mounted to the bottom rear, provides 8 x IEC 3
*Data cable included in price. pin Euro sockets and 1 x 13 amp 3 pin switched
Shugart 800/801 8" SS refurbished & tested £195.00(E) Order as MRS -SVGA Only £139(E) utility socket. Overall ventilation is provided by
Shugart 851 8" double sided refurbished & tested £250.00(E) Tilt & Swivel Base £8.00 Leads for IBM PC £8.95 (A)
External Cables for other computers £ CALL fully louvered back door and double skinned top section
Mitsubishi M2894-63 8" double sided NEW £275.00 E) with top and side louvres. The top panel may be removed for fitting
Mitsubishi M2896-63-020 8" DS slimline NEW £285.00 E) PHILIPS HCS35 (same style as CM8833) attractively styled 14" of integral fans to the sub plate etc. Other features include: fitted
Dual 8" drives with 2 mbyte capacity housed in a smart case with colour monitor with both RGB and standard composite 15.625 castors and floor levelers, prepunched utility panel at lower rear for
built in power supply. Ideal as exterior drives! £499.00(F) Khz video inputs via SCART socket and separate phono jacks. cable / connector access etc. Supplied in excellent, slightly used
Integral audio power amp and speaker for all audio visual uses. condition with keys. Colour Royal blue. External dimensions
HARD DISK DRIVES Will connect direct to Amiga and Atari BBC computers. Ideal for mm=1625H x 635D x 603 W. ( 64" H x 25" D x 23W' W )
End of line purchase scoop! Brand new NEC D2246 8" 85 Mbyte
all monitoring / security applications with direct connection to Sold at LESS than a third of makers price I!
of hard disk storage! Full Industry standard SMD interface. Ultra
most colour cameras. High quality with many features such as
hi speed data transfer and access time, replaces Fujitsu equivalent
model. complete with manual. Only £299.00(E)
front concealed flap controls, VCR correction button etc. Good
used condition - fully tested with a 90 day guarantee
Dimensions: W14" x H1214" x 151/2" D.
A superb buy at only £195.00 (G)
31/2' FUJI FK-309-26 20mb MFM I/F RFE £59.95(C Only £99 (E) Over 1000 racks in all sizes 19" 22" & 24"
3W CONNER CP3024 20 mb IDE I/F (or equiv )RFE
31/2' CONNER CP3044 40mb IDE I/F (or equiv.)RFE
£69.95(C
£89.00 C Special Offer save £16.95 - Order TELEBOX ST & 3 to 44 U. Available from stock !!
31/2" RODIME R03057S 45mb SCSI I/F (Mac & Acorn) £99.00 HCS35 together - giving you a quality colour TV & AV Call with your requirements.
51/4" MINISCRIBE 3425 20mb MFM I/F (or equiv.) RFE £49.95 system for Only £122.50 (E)
51/2" SEAGATE ST -238R 30 mb RLL I/F Refurb £69.95
51/4" CDC 94205-51 40mb HH MFM I/F RFE tested £69.95 KME 10" high definition colour monitors. Nice tight 0.28" dot pitch
TOUCH SCREEN SYSTEM
13" FUJITSU M2322K 160Mb SMD I/F RFE tested £195.00 E) for superb clarity and modern styling. Operates from The ultimate in 'Touch Screen Technology' made by the experts -
Hard disc controllers for MFM , IDE, SCSI, RLL etc. from £16.95 MicroTouch- but sold at a price below cost It System consists of
analog and composite sync such as Atari, a flat translucent glass laminated panel measuring 29.5 x 23.5 cm
THE AMAZING TELEBOX Commodore Amiga, Acorn Archimedes & BBC. connected to an electronic controller PCB. The controller produces
Converts your colour monitor into a QUALITY COLOUR TV!! Measures only 13W x 12" x 11'. Only £125 (E) a standard serial RS232 or TTL output which continuously gives
Good used condition. 90 day guarantee. simple serial data containing positional X & Y co-ordinates as to
KME 10" as above for PC EGA standard £145.00 (E) where a finger is touching the panel - as the finger moves, the data
TV SOUND
PHILIPS HCS31 Ultra compact 9" colour video monitor with stan- instantly changes. The X & Y information is given at an incredible
& VIDEO dard composite 15.625 Khz video input via SCART socket. Ideal matrix resolution of 1024 x 1024 positions over the entire screen
TUNER! for all monitoring / security applications. High quality, ex -equipment size !! A host of available translation software enables direct con-
fully tested with a 90 day guarantee (possible minor screen burns). nection to a PC for a myriad of applications including: control pan-
In attractive square black plastic case measuring W10" x H10' x els, pointing devices, POS systems, controllers for the disabled or
The TELEBOX consists of an attractive fully cased mains powered 131/2" D. Mains powered Limited Quantity - Only £79.00 (D) computer un-trained etc etc. Imagine using your finger with
unit, containing all electronics ready to plug into a host of video moni- 'Windows', instead of a mouse II (a driver is indeed available I) The
tors made by makers such as MICROVITEC, ATARI, SANYO, 20" 22" and 26" AV SPECIALS applications for this amazing product are only limited by your
SONY, COMMODORE, PHILIPS, TATUNG, AMSTRAD etc. The Superbly made UK manufacture. PIL all solid state colour monitors, imagination!! Complete system including Controller, Power Supply
composite video output will also plug directly into most video complete with composite video & optional sound inputs. Attractive and Data supplied at an incredible price of only:
recorders, allowing reception of TV channels not normally receivable teak style case. Perfect for Schools, Shops, Disco, Clubs, etc.ln Full MICROTOUCH Software Support Pack £145.00 (B)
on most television receivers' (TELEBOX MB). Push button controls and Manuals for IBM compatible PC's £29.95 RFE - Tasted
EXCELLENT little used condition with full 90 day guarantee.
on the front panel allow reception of 8 fully tuneable 'off air' UHF
colour television channels. TELEBOX MB covers virtually all televi- 20"....£135 22"....£155 26''..".£185 (F) LOW COST RAM & CPU'S
sion frequencies VHF and UHF including the HYPERBAND as INTEL 'ABOVE' Memory Expansion Board. Full length PC -XT
used by most cable TV operators. A composite video output is
located on the rear panel for direct connection to most makes of DC POWER SUPPLIES and PC -AT compatible card with 2 Mbytes of memory on board.
Card is fully selectable for Expanded or Extended (286 processor
monitor or desktop computer video systems. For complete compati- Virtually every type of power and above) memory. Full data and driver disks supplied. RFE.
bility - even for monitors without sound - an integral 4 watt audio supply you can imagine.Over Fully tested and guaranteed. Windows compatible. ,
amplifier and low level Hi Fi audio output are provided as standard. 10,000 Power Supplies Ex Stock Order as: ABOVE CARD 7...0V-VO(A1)
TELEBOX ST for composite video input type monitors
TELEBOX STL as ST but with integral speaker
£34.95
£37.50
Call for info / list. Half length 8 bit memory upgrade cards for PC AT XT expands
memory either 256k or 512k in 64k steps. May also be used to fill
TELEBOX MB Multiband VHF/UHF/Cable/Hyperband tuner £69.95
For overseas PAL versions state 5.5 or 6 mhz sound specification.
SPECIAL INTEREST in RAM above 640k DOS limit Complete with data.
Order as: XT RAM UG. 256k. £32.95 or 512k £38.95 (A1)
'For cable / hyperband reception Telebox MB should be connected FA3445ETKL 14" Industrial spec SVGA monitors £245
to a cable type service. Shipping code on all Teleboxes is (B) Computer MCA1613APC 16mm auto iris lenses 'C' mount £125 S.1MM SPECIALS
Seaward PAT 2000 dual voltage computerised PAT tester £585
1 MB x 9 SIMM 9 chip 120ns Only £19.50 (A1)
1 MB x 9 SIMM 3 chip 80 ns £23.50 or 7Ons £26.00 (A1)
FANS & BLOWERS INTEL SBC 486/133SE Multibus 486 system. 8Mb Ram
Zeta 3220-05 AO 4 pen HPGL RS232 fast drum plotter
£1200
£1950
1 MB x 9 SIMM 9 chip 80 ns £22.50 or 7Ons £28.00 (A1)
MITSUBISHI MMF-D6D12DL 60x60x25 mm 12v DC £4.95 10 / £42 MOTOROLA VME Bus Boards & Components SAE / CALL £POA 4 MB 70 ns 72 pin SIMM with parity Only £1 05.00 (A1)
MITSUBISHI MMF-09B12DH 92x92x25 mm 12v DC £5.9510 / £53 Trio 0-18 vdc linear, metered 30 amp bench PSU.. New £470
SPECIAL OFFER- INTEL 486-DX33 CPU £79.99 (A1)
PANCAKE 12-3.5 92x92x18 mm 12v DC £7.95 10 / £69 Fujitsu M3041 600 LPM band printer £1950
EX -EQUIP 120 x 38mm AC fans - tested specify 110 or 240 v £6.95 VG Electronics 1035 TELETEXT Decoding Margin Meter £3750 PHILIPS - LOW COST PRINTERS
EX -EQUIP 80 x 38mm AC fans - tested specify 110 or 240 v £5.95 Andrews LARGE 3.1 m Satellite Dish + mount (For Voyager) £950
VERO rack mount 1U x 19' fan tray specify 110 or 240v £45.95 (B) A masterpiece of engineering, the PHILIPS model NMS 1436 fully
KNS EMC / Line interference tester NEW £1200 featured MULTIMODE matrix printer packs a host of features into a
IMHOF B26 1900 rack mnt 3U x 19' Blower 110/240v NEW £79.95 Thurlby LA 160B logic analyser £375
Shipping on all fans (A). Blowers (B). 50,000 Fans Ex Stock CALL unit weighing just over 4Kg and measuring only 40 x 12 x 28 Cm!
GEC 1.5kw 115v 60hz power source £950 Fully Epson compatible with adjustable paper tractor which
Brush 2Kw 400 Hz 3 phase frequency converter £850 accepts upto 9.5" sprocket fed paper and adjusts down to handle
IC's -TRANSISTORS - DIODES Anton Pillar 75 kW 400 Hz 3 phase frequency converter £POA the smallest labels. The 9 needle head produces Near Letter Quality
OBSOLETE - SHORT SUPPLY - BULK Newton Derby 70 KW 400 Hz 3 phase frequency converter £POA in a host of fonts and type sizes and in draft mode 'whizzes' along
COMPONEDEX T1000 Portable TELEX tester NEW £250 at 120 characters per second! Many other features include most
5,000,000 items EX STOCK Sekonic SD 150H 18 channel digital Hybrid chart recorder £1995 European character sets, IBM, EPSON, MSX & Prestel emulations.
For MAJOR SAVINGS - Send SAE or CALL FOR LATEST LIST Good used condition, IBM Cable £6.95 Only £49.95 03)
Densei MUD 0185AH 1 KVa UPS system with baits NEW £575

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v44; 25 YEARS Standard Conditions of Sale and unless stated guaranteed for 90 days. All guarantees on a return to has,. basis. All rights reserved to dianw prices / specifications without prior
notice. Orders subject to stock. Discounts for volume. Top CASH prices pad for surplus goods. All trademarks etc acknowledged. ©Display Electronics 1995. E & 0 E. 6/5

o44 CIRCLE NO.1230N REPLY CARD

 PC INTERFACING

Transpa rent i/o

The main disadvantage of using
the printer port for analogue
and digital i/o is that you have
to unplug the printer. Or do
via LPT
you? Alan Bradley explains.

The usual way of expanding a pc is via an internal card. a 25 -way D connector, shown on the circuit diagram.
This has the disadvantage of requiring an accurately The pc parallel port is specified as having open collector
made double -sided pcb with gold-plated edge connec- outputs, but the pc/at version uses standard is-ttl devices. The
tors, and the designer needs to understand the pc's 8/16bit three sets of addresses that can be assigned to parallel ports
expansion bus signals. LPT1, LPT2 and LPT3 are,
An easier way is to use the Centronics parallel printer port. Groups of pc i/o addresses reserved for LPT use.
This port is standard, whereas internal expansion buses vary Port Data Status Control
from ISA, PCI, MCA, to none at all. Extra Centronics print- LPT(n) 37816 37916 37A16
er cards are very cheap - between £9 and £18, and a pc can LPT(n) 27816 27916 27A16
support up to three such ports if required. LPT(n) 3BC16 3BE16
3BD16
In this design, a printer pass through facility is included,
allowing a printer to share the same port. This obviates the Note that register addresses assigned to each parallel port
need to open the pc to insert an extra LPT expansion card, vary depending on the pc type.
and prevents the possibility of address clashes. Information on parallel port addresses and the number of
The printer port has eight data output lines. Since most pcs ports fitted can be found in the Bios data area,
don't have bidirectional data lines, the printer port's status Bios addresses containing information on pc parallel port
lines are used as input lines instead. For example, 8bit data address locations.
can be read as four bits at a time using four of the port's five Address Description
input status lines. 0:40816 Base address of parallel port 1 (LPT1), low byte
The LPT port also has four control output lines. These can 0:40916 High byte for above
be used as digital output lines and for selecting either the 0:40A16 Base address of parallel port 2 (LPT2)
upper or lower input nibble. 0:40B16 High byte for above
0:40C16 Base address of parallel port 3 (LPT3)
The pc's LPT port 0:40016 High byte for above
Each LPT parallel printer port has three 8bit registers - the 0:41016 Hardware info., bits 15-14 = No of LPT ports
data latch, the status register and the control register. 0:41116 High byte for above
Writing to the data register, dm, causes the byte sent, to be
latched and to appear on the parallel port's 25way D con- Useful ICs
nector, pins 2-9. In this design, this data is then sent to either While designing the interface, I have found the following 74
the d -to -a converter or digital output port. series ICs useful. Each is available in a variety of forms,
Normally, reading this register returns the contents of the including LS, ALS and HCT. The type chosen Pin -out of the 25way female
latch. The status register, b7_0, is a read-only register holding will depend on a number of criteria, including D connector used on the pc
the state of BUSY, /ACK, PE, SLCT and /ERROR input lines from budget, speed and power consumption. for LPT
the printer. These are on lines b7_3 respectively. Input BUSY is The '139 is a 2-4 line decoder useful for
inverted between the D -connector, pin 11, and the register. selecting between four interface i/o ports while Pin(s) Bit Status
Bits bm, are unused. the '138 decodes three lines to eight and is use- 1 STROBE output
The control register is an output latch holding the four ful for applications with eight ports. Selection 2-9 dO-d7 output
printer control signals - /SLCT-INP, /INIT, /AUTOFEED and between the upper and lower nibbles of the input 10 ACK input
/STROBE. These are bits b3..0 respectively. Interrupt bit b4 byte can be carried out by a '157 quad 2 -1 -line 11 BUSY input
determines whether an interrupt is generated by a falling /ACK multiplexer. Alternatively, a '241 dual or '244 12 PE input
input -0 represents interrupt disabled. I always disable this quad tristate buffer can select the upper or 13 SLCT input
bit as it is rarely used by printer software. This leaves IRQ lower nibble. 14 AUTOFEED output
A '573 or '373 octal transparent latch can 15 ERROR input
channels 5 and 7 available for other expansion cards.
form an 8bit digital output port. With its enable 16 INIT output
Bits 0, 1 and 3, ie /STROBE, /AUTOFEED and /SLCT-INP, are
17 SLCTINP output
inverted between register and the D -connector output pins. pin high, the outputs follow the inputs; when it
18-25 GND
This inversion is corrected again when the control register is is low outputs are held latched. For 8bit digital
read. Parallel port signals are at ttl levels and are presented on input, a '245 octal transceiver can be used. A

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1045

PC INTERFACING

'541 or '244 buffer can also be used here, depending on which pro- 12V DC info
duces the most convenient pcb layout.
When reading data through the status port, the BUSY bit must be
inverted, for example by exclusive-or-ing it with 10000002. On fast vcc
vcc
machines, the interface -controlling program may need software R42 R13A
delays to allow the parallel port control lines to settle after a change. /STROBE II -

DO El-\ IC4
Design details D1 E---\
This design provides a fast 8bit a -to -d converter with integral sam- D2

ple and hold, a fast 8bit d -to -a converter and a pair of 8bit digital i/o D3 El--\
ports. The a -to -d and d -to -a converter are both capable of audio sam- D4 El--\ 4 F140 R43
pling and playback. D5 \ /OE
1
In my prototype, the lower D -type plug shown in the drawing was D6 El--\ R14 R18
pcb mounted. This plug connects to the pc printer port. The upper D - D7 El-Th
type, also pcb-mounted, connects to the printer, providing the 'pass
through' facility.
/ACK Ej
Note that /C6 -a 74LS157 quad 2 to 1 line multiplexer - must be BUSY El
PE
a ttl type as its inputs are left floating when neither the a -to -d con- 12

verter nor digital input port are selected. In addition, 1C1_4, and /C9 SLCT 13

should be Is-ttl types, as cmos ICs would require input static pro- /AUTOFEED 14

tection circuits. /ERROR E

The remaining pcb-mounted D -type socket brings out both 8bit
digital ports, the digital ground rail and +5V into the real world.
/INIT
/SLCTINP
a vc, C7

iH
17
IC
Analog Devices AD7569JN, IC 10, is an 8bit a -to -d converter with 18
RSLCTINP
integral sample and hold facilities and configured for mode 2 oper-
ation and for an input range of 0-2.5V. Bringing the read line low 20
when chip select is active low selects the a -to -d converter, starting
the conversion. The converter's busy line is not used so a software zz
delay is needed to determine when the conversion will be complete.
23
Conversion time should be less than 2.6p s.
Eight -bit a -to -d converter /CH, a ZN558, has an integral trans-
parent latch and a range of 0-2.5V. Single supply op -amp /C12, an
,7777 R51
LM358, buffers the d -to -a converter output and its 2.5V reference.
Resistors R25,26 help prevent the op -amp from oscillating due to
cable capacitance and also protect it from short circuits. A dc path to /STROBE EF
vcc
ground to prevent cross -over distortion is provided by R24. DO 1=--/
A further LM358, /C13, is configured as a unity gain buffer to pro- vcc vcc
D1

tect the AD7569 voltage input. The 7569's input pin sources approx- D2 El-/ 8 IC2
imately 10p A and R27 helps the op -amp sink this near OV. D3 1=--/
A ready built IA, 12V regulated power supply is ideal. Diode D1 D4 =1.---/
provides reverse polarity protection. A 7805, /C14, produces a +5V os
rail. An analogue 11.3V power rail was provided with a separate D6
ground rail, which is also used for all the interface's analogue ICs.
D7 E---/
/ACK M
BUSY 11

PE l= vcc
SLCT 13
Within the pc, these control and status bits manage data transfer to R9
/AUTOFEED 14
and from the LPT analogue and digital i/o circuitry.
Bit Control Description /ERROR El
7 unused /INIT 16 vcc
VCC
6 unused /SLCTINP 17
5 unused
4 IRQ DISABLE 0 disables when a & d i/o is selected 3
IC
3 SLCTINP 0 selects a& d i/o,
1 selects printing :p
2 INIT 0 selects lower nibble
1 selects upper nibble
[1]
1 AUTOFEED 0 0 1di.g 1

0 STROBE
0 d -to -a
1
a -to -d
0
o/p dig /p
i 23

Bit Status Description Zs

7 BUSY bit 3 from LS157 mpx
6 ACK bit 2 from LS157 mpx
5 PE bit 1 from LS157 mpx
4 SLCT bit 0 from LS157 mpx
3 ERROR not used by i/o card Analogue input and output combined with eight
2 unused digital inputs and outputs - all controlled via the
1 unused pc's LPT port. Unlike most interfaces relying on
0 unused LPT i/o, this design allows the printer port to be
used for printing without physically changing
connections.

1046 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 PC INTERFACING

Vcc
D1
. 1C14
.+L
T
7805
D2 C4 C5 11VOut
C 1 C3
0

7A

CC
Vcc
012

t-1 IC,2
CC DGND
R2
Dl 0 - 2.5V
DAC Out
/ D2 VouT R24
6k2
D, f f> A
7- 04
AGED

.1" 023
R26
/ D, VREF IN
2.5V
VREF Out
/ D6 VREF OUT

7 IR22
E
VCC
C11

VCC

VDD DGND IC,3

IR21 /CS iCIO

/RD R28
VIN
100R
ADC
DO AGNDADC
R27 Input
/- Dt AGNOIDAc C; R23 R29
v
- CC --
VCC
D2 Vs, I
6k2 10M

D, CLK
19
134
RANGE
1-6-a7
sc
IVE GND C8
Sb /RESET
/- D5 68p
A0a VCC
V,

Ala 2b
D6
/WRY
D7 /INT /BUSY V067 Vcc
3b
IC5 Not used
R39
A0b

Al b VCC
/E
R32
/OE OE

Vcc vc Do

D
R30 R31

D2 D2

> INTERFACE
CCT SEL
PRTR
SEL
D3

04

D, OUT
D,
D,
D4

IC6
C19
C22
Vcc 15 Dl
IN
I 16
C D2

17 03

/E Vcc GND DoENA LE 18

IC7 2A -1\ /-D1 01 19

4Y
IC6
D2 Cl2 a Do N
D,
3Y D3 ICs 03 21 Dl
OUT
2Y

1Y 2B -L).\
7- D4
D,

/- Do
04

05
06
El
22 D2

D3 /
3B-12

4B 17,,
/A/B GND

1-4
C20
VCC

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1047

 PC INTERFACING

I/O interface key components

IC1.4 74(A)LS244
105 74(A)LS139 Interface board register usage select one of the four i/o ICs - a -to -d, d -to -a, digital
1C8 74(A)LS157 Data lines dal are used for the d -to -a converter and input or digital output - using the '139 decoder.
1C7 74(A)LSO4 digital output port. The four status input lines, BUSY, When printer pass -through is selected, the '139's
1C8 74(A)LS373 ACK, PE and SLOT, 1707_4, are used to read the upper or enable pin is pulled inactive high and all four i/o ICs
1C9 74(A)LS244 lower nibble of the input byte. The four control output are deselected. The d -to -a converter and digital output
For easier pcb layout, broadside lines are used to select either the upper or lower input port retain their last value during printing. To prevent
ICs could be used - for example nibble. They also control printer pass through, ana- spurious intermediate values due to one of the AUT-
IC2 74LS541, IC3 74LS245, logue input or output and digital input or output. OFEED/STROBE pair changing state before the other, it
1C8 74LS573, IC9 74LS245. In the control register, bits 0, 1, and 3 are inverted is best if only one is changed at a time.
between the control register and corresponding D -con- The a -to -d converter starts conversion when it is
IC10 AD7569JN a -to -d nector output pins. The SLCTINP line is normally used selected, ie the read line is pulled low. During con-
IC11 ZN558 d -to -a to select or deselect the printer, a low level signifying version the a -to -d converter places data from the pre-
IC12,13 LM358 selection. It has therefore been used to switch between vious conversion on its data pins. An attempt to start
IC14 7805, lA version the analogue and digital i/o circuitry and the printer a new conversion while the a -to -d converter is in the
pass -through facility, selected when SLCT-INP is low as middle of a conversion results in an incorrect result.
1N4001 normal. Analogue and digital i/o circuitry is selected If a switch is made directly from one output port to
02 led 5mm green when SLCTINP is high, and the printer is deselected. the other, the old port's value may briefly appear on
D3 led 5mm red Consequently, when b3 of the control register is the new port's outputs. To prevent this happening, an
C1,3,4 100pF high, the corresponding pin 17 on the D connector is input port must be selected and the new port's output
C2,5,8-15 0.1 pF cer. low and /C3,4 are selected. At the same time, the four byte sent to the data register before the new port is
C17,19-22 0.1 pF cer. status line buffers of /CI, b7_4, are tri-stated and /C5's selected.
C16 22pF 25V enable pin is held high.
68pF polystyrene 2% The pc parallel port is now connected via buffers to Applying the design
C23 4.71.1F tant. the printer thus allowing normal use of the printer. The LM358 input and output buffers have a slew rate
Resistors R40_31 in series with the output buffers driv- of 0.5V/ps so limiting the analogue input and output
R1-8, R10_13, R13A-18/ R32-39, 4k7 ing the printer need to be 330. frequencies to approximately 501(1-1z. Maximum fre-
SIL8 Alternatively, when line b3 of the control register is quency is given by,
R9, R19, R20, R2, 4k7 low, the corresponding pin 17 of the D connector is
R22 390R high and /C3,4 are tri-stated, isolating the printer. slew rate
R23,24 6k2 Resistor Rim pulls the STROBE line high when /C3,4 fria. =
2ir x sinewave amplitude
R25,26,28 100R are tri-stated. The four status buffers of /CI are select-
R27 330R ed and R9 pulls the error status pin high. This pin is
R29 10M not used by the analogue and digital i/o sections. In where slew rate is in volts/s.
R30,31 led resistor 2k2 addition, /C5 is enabled. The AD7569JN a -to -d converter is configured for
RSLCTINP 220R Resistor RSLCTINP pulls the printer SLCTINP pin low, mode 2 operation. Bringing read low while chip -select
R40-51 3352 resistors required by ie printer selected. Leds D2,3 indicate whether printer is low selects the device and starts conversion.
printer pass through circuit when pass -through or analogue and digital i/o is selected. Since the converter's busy line is not used a
printer is switched off. Line b2 of the control register, the iNirr control line software delay is needed to determine when the
selects between upper and lower nibbles of the input conversion will be complete. Conversion time should
Fuses shown are 100mA a/s. byte from the a -to -d converter or digital input port. be less than 2.6ps.
Control lines STROBE and AUTOFEED are used to

Control software example d = INP(PDATA) 'correct BUSY inversions

'wait for ctrl lines to settle `ie invert bits 7 and 3
This Qbasic program demonstrates how the
PRINT "ADC input byte is, advalue
analogue and digital i/o circuit can be controlled. DO OUT PCONTROL, &H1
It reads the a -to -d converter, prints the value on 'dis IRQ,O,lower nibble, OUT PDATA, advalue
the screen then sends it to the d -to -a converter. 'sel ADC(&startconv),0000 0001 `set up dac value
`wait for cony to finish d = INP(PDATA)
DEFINT A -Z FOR dloop = 1 TO 10 'wait for lines to settle
`string ch$ `do nothing
'int uppernibble, advalue, dloop NEXT OUT PCONTROL, &H4
'int d is used in dummy INP loads 'dis IRQ,O,upper nibble,sel DAC,0000
'int PDATA, PSTATUS, PCONTROL hold advalue = INP(PSTATUS) AND &HFO 0100
' LPT1 reg addresses ' get lower nibble of ADC byte REM latch into DAC
advalue = advalue / 16
DEF SEG = 0 `shift lower nibble to correct posn PRINT "Press Q key to quit. Any other to
`FIND ADDRESSES OF 1ptl PRINT "ADC lower nibble is ", advalue continue'
PDATA = (PEEK(&H409) 256) + PEEK(&H408) ch$ = INPUTS (1)
DEF SEG OUT PCONTROL, &H5 LOOP UNTIL ch$ ("Q') OR ch$ = ("9')
`dis IRQ,sel iface brd,upper nibble,
PSTATUS = PDATA + 1 `sel ADC,0000 0101 'SEL PRINTER PASS THROUGH
`PRINTER PORT d = INP(PDATA) `(if pass -through implemented) :-
PCONTROL = PDATA + 2 'wait for ctrl lines to settle OUT PCONTROL, &HC
`REGISTERS `die IRQ,SLCTINP HIGH,0,00, 0000 1000
PRINT HEX$(PDATA) uppernibble = INP(PSTATUS) AND &HFO 'sets SLCTINPUT line low, ie printer
'get ADC uppernible&setlower4bitstozero selected
OUT PCONTROL, &H3 PRINT "ADC upper nibble is ", uppernibble
'disIRQ 0, SLCTINP 0,lower nibble, 'ENDPROGRAM
`sel dig i/p port. 0000 0011 advalue = advalue OR uppernibble
` ie printer deselected `combine up & low nibs to give byte
advalue = advalue XOR &H88

1048 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 When Performance is more important than size: -
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fe(4;4

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up to 100 program lines up to 600 program lines
2,000 lines/sec 10,000 lines/sec
Comms to 2400 baud Comms to 9600 baud
£29 single price £49 single price
Programming package £66

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December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD 1049

CIRCUIT IDEAS
Do you have an original circuit idea for publication? We are giving £100 cash for the month's
top design. Additional authors will receive £25 cash for each circuit idea published. We are
looking for ingenuity in the use of modern components.

Static noise limiter

Noise limiters usually rely on original signal, bottom right. switching, but in many circuits is
either low-pass filtering or In the circuit shown, the input op - less troublesome than noise.
companding methods. Both of these amp buffers the signal, which is I Macaulay
methods have disadvantages in applied to the bases of the peak - Chichester, Noise superimposed on
either cost or performance. detecting transistors through C1. Sussex. the sine wave is averaged
This alternative uses a peak Bias is provided by VR1 and R2. On to leave the signal.
detector. The signal diagrams on a positive signal, C2 charges via R3
Sine wave + noise
the right show an ideal principle, in and C2 holds positive peaks; when
which the noise superimposed on signal goes negative, negative -
the sine wave is averaged to leave going peaks are held on C2, which
just the signal - shown by the now charges through R4. An output
heavy line. buffer completes the circuit.
Since I have not found a way to The amount of limiting is set by
do this, the alternative adopted is to VR1 and the dead zone is adjustable
detect the noise -plus -signal peaks by VR2 over a wide range. Some
to produce an approximation of the distortion is caused by the transistor
o +15V
Peak detected noise +signal

RI Tr,
Input 100k BC337

R3

Noise limiter uses

neither filtering
1OR

R4 i -0 OV
0
Output

nor companding;
TT!
the circuit detects
Tr2
peaks of noise plus
R2 BC327
signal and follows 47k
this voltage.
0 15V

YOU COULD BE USING A

1GHz SPECTRUM ANALYSER ADAPTOR!
Got a good idea? Then this Thurlby-Thandar
Instruments TSA1000 spectrum analyser adaptor
could be yours.
Covering the frequency range 400kHz to over 1GHz
with a logarithmic display range of 70dB ±1.5dB, it turns
a basic oscilloscope into a precision spectrum analyser
with digital readout calibration.
Recognising the importance of good design, TTI will
be giving away one of these excellent instruments
every six months to the best circuit idea published in
the preceding period until further notice. This incentive
will be in addition to our £100 monthly star author's
fee, together with £25 for all other ideas published.
Our judging criteria are ingenuity and originality in the
use of modern components - with simplicity particularly
valued.
TT 71,111,1V 11,,pkt ,M14,1111.0,11

I 50 December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD

SMALL SELECTION ONLY LISTED - EXPORT TRADE AND QUANTITY DISCOUNTS - RING US FOR YOUR REQUIREMENTS WHICH MAY BE IN STOCK
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HP141T+ 8552B IF + 8556A RF- 20Hz-300KHz - £700. Gould J3B test oscillator + manual -£150.
Special Offer just in from MOD Qty 40 HP8555A RF Units 10Mc/s - 18GHzS. Tektronix Mainframes - 7603 - 7623A -7613 -7704A -7844-7904- TM501 -TM503 - TM506 -
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HP3779A Primary Multiplex Analyser. HP 19808 Oscilloscope measurement system - £600.
HP3779C Primary Multiplex Analyser. HP 3455A Digital voltmeter - £500.
HP8150A Optical Signal Source. HP 3437A System voltmeter - £300.
HP1630G Logic Analyser. HP 3581C Selective voltmeter - £250.
HP5316A Universal Counter A+B. HP 5370A Universal time interval counter - £450.
HP5335A Universal Counter A+B+C. HP 5335A Universal counter -200Mc./s- £500.
HP59501B Isolated Power Supply Programmer. HP 5328A Universal counter - 500Mds - £250.
HP8901A Modulation Meter AM - FM - also 890113. HP 6034A System power supply- 0 - 60V -0 -10 amps- £500.
HP5370A Universal Time Interval Counter. HP 5150A Thermal printer -£250.
Marconi TF2370 -30Hz-110Mds 750HM Output (2 BNC Sockets+ Resistor for 500HM MOD with HP 1645A Data error analyser -£150.
Marconi MOD Sheet supplied -£650. HP 4437A Attenuator -£150.
Marconi TF2370 30Hz-110Mc/s 50 ohm Output - £750. HP 3717A 70Mds modulator - £400.
Marconi TF2370 as above but late type -£850. HP 3710A - 3715A - 3716A - 370213 - 3703B - 3705A - 3711A - 3791B - 3712A - 37939
Marconi TF2370 as above but late type Brown Case - £1000. microwave link analyser - P.O.R.
Marconi TF2374 Zero Loss Probe - £200. HP 3730A+ B RF down converter- P.O.R.
Marconi TF2440 Microwave Counter -20GHz -£1500. HP 3552A Transmission test set - £400.
Marconi TF2442 Microwave Counter - 26.5GHz - £2k.. HP 3763A Error detector - £500.
Marconi TF2305 Modulation Meter - £2.3k. HP 3764A Digital transmission analyser - £600.
HP 3770A Amp delay distortion analyser - £400.
Racal/Dana 2101 Microwave Counter - 10Hz-20GHz - £2k. HP 3780A Pattern generator detector - £400.
Racal/Dana 1250-1261 Universal Switch Controller + 200Mc/s PI Cards. HP 3781A Pattern generator - £400.
Racal/Dana 9303 True RMS Levelmeter+Head - £450. IFFE - £500. HP 3781B Pattern generator (bell) - £300.
TEKA6902A also A69026 Isolator - 000-£400. HP 3782A Error detector - £400.
TEK 1240 Logic Analyser - £400. HP 37828 Error detector (bell) -£300.
TEK FG5010 Programmable Function Generator 20Mc/s- £600. HP 3785A Jitter generator + receiver -£750-£1k.
TEK2465A 350Mds Oscilloscope - £2.5k + probes -£150 each. HP 8006A Word generator -El 00-£150.
TEK CT -5 High Current Transformer Probe - £250. HP 8016A Word generator- £250.
TEK J16 Digital Photometer + J6523-2 Luminance Probe - 000. HP 8170A Logic pattern generator- £500.
TEK J16 Digital Photometer + J6503 Luminance Probe - £250. HP 59401A Bus system analyser - £350.
ROTEK 320 Calibrator + 350 High Current Adaptor AC -DC - HP 59500A Multiprogrammer HP- IF3 -E300.
FLUKE 51028 AC -DC Calibrator -£4k. Philips PM5390 RF syn - 0.1 -1GHz - AM + FM -f1000.
FLUKE 1120A IEEE -488 Translator - £250. S.A. Spectral Dynamics SD345 spectrascope 111 - LF ANZ- £1500.
Tinsley Standard Cell Battery 564413-£500. Tektronix R7912 Transient waveform digitizer - programmable -6400.
Tinsley Transportable Voltage Reference - £500. Tektronix TR503 + TM503 tracking generator 0.1 - 1.8GHz - £1 k - or TR502.
FLUKE Y5020 Current Shunt -£150. Tektronix 576 Curve tracer + adaptors -£900.
HP745A+746A AC Calibrator - 000. Tektronix 577 Curve tracer + adaptors -000
HP8080A MF + 8091A 1GHz Rate Generator + 8092A Delay Generator + Two 8093A 1GHz Amps Tektronix 1502/1503 TDR cable test set - £1000.
+ 15400A- £800. Tektronix AM503 Current probe + TM501 mfframe- £1000.
HP54200A Digitizing Oscilloscope. Tektronix SC501 - SC502 - SC503 - SC504 oscilloscopes - 05-050.
HP117295 Carrier Noise Test Set .01-18GHz -LEF- £2000. Tektronix 465 -4658-475 -2213A - 2215 - 2225 2235 2245 2246 050-£1000.
HP3311A Function Generator - E300. Kikusui 100Mc/s Oscilloscope COS6100M -£350.
Marconi TF2008 - AM -FM signal generator - also sweeper - 10Kds - 510Mc/s - from £250 - Nicolet 3091 LF oscilloscope -£400.
tested to £400 as new with manual - probe kit in wooden carrying box. Racal 1991-1992 -1988 - 1300Mc/s counters - £500-000.
HP Frequency comb generator type 8406-6400. Fluke 80K-40 High voltage probe in case- BN -£100.
HP Vector Voltmeter type 8405A - £400 new colour. Racal Recorders - Store 4 - 4D -7 -14 channels in stock - £250 -000.
HP Sweep Oscillators type 8690 A & B + plug -ins from 10Mc/s to 18GHz also 18-40GHz. P.O.R.. Racal Store Horse Recorder & control - £400-050 Tested.
HP Network Analyzer type 8407A + 8412A + 8501A - 100Kc/s -110Mc/s -£500- f1000. EIP 545 microwave18GHz counter -E1200.
HP Amplifier type 8447A -1-400Mc/s £200 - HP8447A Dual - £300. Fluke 510A AC ref standard -400Hz - £200.
HP Frequency Counter type 5340A - 18GHz f1000 - rear output £800. Fluke 355A DC voltage standard -E300.
HP 8410 -A -B -C Network Analyzer 110Mds to 12GHz or 18GHz - plus most other units and Wiltron 610D Sweep Generator + 6124C PI -4 - 8GHz - £400.
displays used in this set-up -8411a -8412 - 8413 -8414- 8418 - 8740 - 8741 -8742-8743- Wiltron 610D Sweep Generator + 610840 PI - 1Mc/s- 1500Mc/s- £500.
8746 - 8650. From £1000. Time Electronics 9814 Voltage calibrator - 050.
Racal/Dana 9301A- 9302 RF Millivoltmeter - 1.5-2GHz - 050-V00. Time Electronics 9811 Programmable resistance- £600.
Racal/Dana Modulation Meter type 9009 - 8Mc/s - 1.5GHz - £250. Time Electronics 2004 D.C. voltage standard -£10130.
Marconi RCL Bridge type TF2700 -£150. HP 86998 Sweep PI YIG oscillator .01 -4GHz - £300. 8690B MF -E250. Both £500.
Marconi/Saunders Signal Sources type - 605813 - 6070A - 6055A - 6059A - 6057A - 6056 - Schlumberger 1250 Frequency response ANZ- £1500.
£250-£350. 400Mc/s to 18GHz. Dummy Loads & power att up to 2.5 kilowatts FX up to 18GHz - microwave parts new and ex
Marconi TF1245 Circuit Magnification meter + 1246 & 1247 Oscillators -£100-f300. equipt - relays - attenuators - switches - waveguides - Yigs - SMA -APC7 plugs - adaptors.
Marconi microwave 6600A sweep osc., mainframe with 6650 PI - 18-26.5GHz or 6651 PI - 26.5- B&K Items in stock - ask for list.
40GHz - £1000 or PI only £600. MF only £250. W&G Items in stock- ask for list.
Marconi distortion meter type TF2331 -£150. TF2331A -£200. Power Supplies Heavy duty + bench in stock - Farnell - HP -Weir-Thurlby-Racal etc. Ask for list.

ITEMS BOUGHT FROM HM GOVERNMENT BEING SURPLUS. PRICE IS EX WORKS. SAE FOR ENQUIRIES. PHONE FOR APPOINTMENT OR FOR DEMONSTRATION OF ANY ITEMS, AVAILABILITY ORPRICE CHANGE. VAT AND CARRIAGE EXTRA

ITEMS MARKED TESTED HAVE 30 DAY WARRANTY. WANTED: TEST EQUIPMENT -VALVES -PLUGS AND SOCKETS-SYNCROS-TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING EQUIPMENT ETC.

Johns Radio, Whitehall Works, 84 Whitehall Road East, Birkenshaw, Bradford B011 2ER, Tel, No: 012141684001. Fax: 651160

CHM LE V0.129 ON REPLY CARD

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD+ WIRELESS WORLD 1051

CIRCUIT IDEAS

Fast -logic isolator avoids ground problems

Two circuits, working at clock used here having low capacitive state periods by means of jumper
frequencies up to 100MHz, iso- inter -winding coupling with good settings.
late the ground currents between inductive coupling at the frequen- 10KH ecl devices, rather than
two instruments to prevent the cies of interest. Since the trans- comparators, provide either ecl or
transmission of noise currents. Both former cannot couple signals of less ttl output because both cost and
circuits use twisted -pair lines. Ecl- than 100kHz, with pulse widths of space occupied is less.
ttl and ecl-ecl logic types are both more than a few microseconds, a Richard Payne
catered for. pre -biasing circuit is needed to Wimbledon
Opto-isolators do, of course, per- define the output during steady- London
form this function, but not at this
Input waveform Jumper setting Note:
frequency; their bandwidth is limit-
Period:pulse width limit
ed to around 40kHz. Therefore, a 100:35
transformer is needed, the type i.e. for every 100ns period (1MHz)
I. *I the maximum pulse width is 350ns
ECL differential input
H2 CH4
CH1CH3 nc
le .1 Period:pulse width limit
: :::: 100:40
OV
nc
i.e. for every 100ns period (1MHz)
the maximum pulse width is 400ns
Isolation barrier

Tolerance of duty cycle ratio

CH2 1--I CH3 of the squarewave waveform
pre -bias pre -bias
jumper jumper is ±30%
10H125

CH1 CH4
pre -bias pre -bias
jumper jumper
This jumper function diagram applies to both the ttl and ecl-output isolators.
nc CH1 CH\ 2 C/H3CH4 ECL Gnd loop isolator

VEE (-5.2V)
I I

oc OV OV

TTL output
0.1µ
MiniCircuits
0.111 T6 -1T
50m cable
TTL
o/p
iii
DCOM (VME)
Circuits to isolate or
390 390
0.111
0.1µ break the path between
instruments and host
-Vaa(-13V)
-5.2V VE DCOM
computer to avoid
ground currents
DOOM VEE (-5.2V)
interfering with
analogue equipment.

ECL Gnd loop isolator

DCOM VEE (-5.2V)

0.1p.

MiniCircuits
0.1µ T6 -1T
50m cable

iii
I
0.1µ 22
DCOM (VME)
390 S 390
0.1µ
-- 0.1µ
-VaB(-1.3V)
-5.2V VEE DCOM
VEE (-5.2V)
DOOM VEE (-5.2V)

1052 December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD

 HART AUDIO KITS - YOUR VALUE FOR
MONEY ROUTE TO ULTIMATE HI-FI
£22.95'
Hart Audio Kits and factory assembled units use the unique combine -
don of circuit designs by the renowned John Linsley Hood, the very "Andante" SERIES 20VA (4th Edn.) 0-9624-191-7-6
ELECTROSTATIC LOUDSPEAKER DESIGN AND CONSTRUC-
£18.95
best audiophile components, and our own engineering expertise, to TION Ronald Wagner BKT6
give you unbeatable performance and unbelievable value for money.
We have always led the field for easy home construction to profes-
AUDIOPHILE POWER "AN INTRODUCTION TO LOUDSPEAKERS & ENCLOSURE
DESIGN" V Capel. BP256 . £2.95
... £3.95
sional standards, even in the sixties we were using easily assembled
printed circuits when Heathkit in America were still using tagboards!.
SUPPLIES "LOUDSPEAKERS FOR MUSICIANS" BP297
"THE HART PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD CONSTRUCTION
Specially designed for exacting audio use requiring absolute mini- GUIDE." £2 50
Many years of experience and innovation, going back to the early
mum noise, low hum field and total freedom from mechanical noise
Dinsdale and Bailey classics gives us incomparable design back-
ground in the needs of the home constructor. This simply means that
this unit is a logical development from our highly successful 1550
series.
VALVE & EARLY
building a Hart kit is a real pleasure, resulting in a piece of equipment
Utilising linear technology throughout for smoothness and musicality
that not only saves you money but you will be proud to own.
makes it the perfect partner for any module requiring fully stabilised CLASSIC BOOKS
Why not buy the reprints and construction manual for the kit you are
*15v supplies.
interested in to see how easy it is to build your own equipment the THE VTL BOOK David Manley BKVT1 £17.95
Two versions are available. K3550 has 2 x15v supplies and a single
HART way. The FULL cost can be credited against your subsequent LOUDSPEAKERS; THE WHY AND HOW OF GOOD REPRODUC-
15v for relays etc. and can be used with our K1400 preamp and our
kit purchase. K1450 RIAA pickup preamp, as well as other useful modules soon to TION. G.Briggs. 1949 0-9624-1913-3. £8.95
be introduced. The K3565 is identical in appearance but only has the MULLARD TUBE CIRCUITS FOR AUDIO AMPLIFIERS BKAA27
K1100 AUDIO DESIGN 80 WATT ±15v lighter current supply for use with the K1450 RIAA pickup pre
"THE WILLIAMSON AMPLIFIER." 0-9624-1918-4. £8.95
£13.95
amplifier or "Chiara" headphone amplifier.
POWER AMPLIFIER. K3550 Full Supply with all outputs £93.75 AN APPROACH TO AUDIO FREQUENCY AMPLIFIER DESIGN.
GEC 1957, 1-882580-05-2....£18.95
K3565 Power Supply for K1450 8 K2100. £85.42
AUDIO ANTHOLOGIES, articles from Audio Engineering. Six voumes
covering the days when audio wasyoung and valves were king!.
ALPS "Blue Velvet" BKAA3/1 to 6. All £13.95 each.
"A SIMPLE CLASS A AMPLIFIER" J.L.Linsley Hood M.I.E.E. 1969.
PRECISION AUDIO RLH12 £2.50
Postage on all books, unless starred, is only 01.50 per book, maxi-
mum 04.50 for any number, any size!. Starred items are heavy books
CONTROLS. costing £2.50 to send.
No waitingl. All listed books are normally In stock!
SPECIAL OFFER. All book orders over £15 will receive a FREE John
Linsley Hood monograph entitled "Digital versus Analogue, Black
Disks or Silver?"

SPECIAL OFFER
PRECISION Triple Purpose
This fantastic John Linsley Hood designed amplifier is the flagship of
our range, and the ideal powerhouse for your ultimate hifi system. TEST CASSETTE TC1D.
This kit is your way to get OK performance at bargain basement
prices. Unique design features such as fully FET stabilised power Are you sure your tape recorder is set up to give its best? Our latest
supplies give this amplifier World Class performance with startling triple purpose test cassette checks thethree most important tape
clarity and transparency of sound, allied to the famous HART quality parameters without test equipment. Ideal when fitting new heads.
of components and ease of construction. A professional quality, digitally mastered test tape at a price anyone
Useful options are a stereo LED power meter and a versatile passive can afford. Test Cassette TC1D. Our price only £9.99.
front end giving switched inputs, with ALPS precision Blue Velvet
Now you can throw out those noisy ill -matched carbon pots and
low -noise volume and balance controls. Construction is very simple
replace with the famous Hart exclusive ALPS 'Blue Velvet' range
and enjoyable with all the difficult work done for you, even the wiring
components only used selectively in the very top flight of World class
is preterminated, ready for instant use!. All versions are available with
amplifiers. The improvement in track accuracy and matching really is
Standard components or specially selected Super Audiophile com-
incredible giving better tonal balance between channels and rock
ponents at £29.60 extra per channel, plus 42.40 if you want to include
solid image stability. Motorised versions have 5v DC motor.
Gold Plated speaker terminals.
£395.21 MANUAL POTENTIOMETERS
K1100B Complete STANDARD Amplifier Kit, £15.67
£499.21
2 -Gang 100K Lin
A1100B Factory Assembled. £16.40
£333.62 2 -Gang 10K, 50K or 100K Log
K1100SC Complete SLAVE Amplifier Kit,
2 -Gang 10K Special Balance, zero crosstalk and zero
A1100SC Factory Assembled £422.62
centre loss £17.48
K1100M Complete MONOBLOC Amplifier Kit, .£261.20
MOTORISED POTENTIOMETERS
A1100M Factory Assembled £329.20
2 -Gang 20K Log Volume Control £26.20
RLH11 Reprints of latest Amplifier articles £1.80
2 -Gang 10K RD Special Balance, zero crosstalk and less than 10%
K1100CM Construction Manual with full parts lists £5.50
loss in centre position. £26.98

"CHIARA" SINGLE ENDED TECHNICAL BOOKSHELF

CLASS "A" HEADPHONE NEW! Another Classic by John Linsley Hood. "AUDIO ELECTRON-
ICS" Following the enormous ongoing success of his "Art of Linear
HC80 Replacement Stereo
AMPLIFIER. Electronics" the latest offering the all -new edition of "Audio
is
Electronics", now entirely re -written by the master himself.
Cassette Head.
Underlying audio techniques and equipment is a world of electronics The excellent performance of modern cassette recorders depends
that determines the quality of sound. For anyone involved in design- totally on the quality of the R/P head.Even the slightest amount of
ing. adapting or using digital or analogue audio equipment under- wear can impair the frequency response and distortion levels. Our
standing electronics leads to far greater control over the reproduced HC80 is atop quality head from one of the foremost manufacturers in
sound. The subjects covered include tape recording, tuners, power Japan, easily fitted to most standard stereo recorders (except Sony)
output stages, digital audio, test instruments and loudspeaker and will transform the performance over a worn head. Only the fact
crossover systems. John's lifetime of experience and personal inno- that we buy these in vast quantities enables us to offer them at the
vation in this field allow him to apply his gift of being so familiar with amazing price of only £11.70 each or 2 for £17.80.
his subject that he can write clearly about it and make it both We also stock a range of other heads, including'" reel-to-reel stereo
interesting and comprehensible to the reader. Containing 240 pages
heads.
and over 250 line illustrations this new book represents great value for
money at only 218.99
SOLDERING
"THE ART OF LINEAR The size of modern components makes the right soldering equipment
ELECTRONICS." essential for good results. Everything we offer we actually use in our
own workshops!. See our Lists for the full range. 845-820 X5240
The definitive linear electronics and audio book by John Linsley
ANTEX 240v 25w Soldering Iron. This is the ideal Multi -purpose iron
This unit provides a high quality headphone output for 'stand alone' Hood. This 300. page book will give you an unparalleled insight into
the workings of all types of audio circuits. Learn how to read circuit as the bit is designed to totally surround the element giving the best
use or to supplement those many power amplifiers that do not have heat transfer. This excellent design also means that although it is
a headphone facility. Easily installed with special link -through feature diagrams and understand amplifiers and how they are designed to
small and handy enough for modern components its heating capaci-
the unit draws its power from our new Andante Ultra High Quality lin- give the best sound. The virtues and vices of passive and active
components are examined and there are separate sections covering ty is better than !urger irons of conventional construction. Excellent
ear toroidal supply. Housed in the neat, black finished, Hart minibox £&93
power supplies and the sources of noise and hum. As one would Value
it features the wide frequency response, low -distortion and 'musical- 845-080 ST4 Lightweight Soldering Iron Stand. This has provision for
ity' that one associates with designs from the renowned John Linsley expect from this writer the history and derivation of audio amplifier
the classic damp sponge for bit wiping . £3.95
Hood. Pre -terminated interconnecting leads and PCB mounted sock- circuitry have an entire chapter, as does test and measurement equip-
ets prevent supply polarity reversal and on -board diagnostics provide ment. Copiously illustrated this book is incredible value for the
visual indication of supply line integrity. Volume and balance controls amount of information it contains on the much neglected field of lin- HART SUPER AUDIOGRADE
are Alps "Blue Velvet" components. Very easily built, even by begin- ear, as opposed to digital, electronics. Indeed it must be destined to
ners, since all components fit directly on the single printed circuit become the standard reference for all who work, or are interested in, SILVER SOLDER.
board. The kit has very detailed instructions, and even comes with a this field. Latest reprinted edition with extended index. 1994 344
complementary roll of Hart audiograde silver solder. It can also be Pages. 247 x 190. 1Kg. 0-7506-0868-4. £18 95' Han Super Audiograde Silver Solder has been specially formulated for
supplied factory assembled and tested. Selling for less than the total the serious audiophile. Not only does it give beautiful easy -to -make
cost of all the components, if they were bought separately, this unit "DIGITAL AUDIO AND COMPACT DISC TECHNOLOGY" joints but it is designed to melt at normal soldering temperatures
represents incredible value for money and makes an 0-7506-0614-2 . £17.95* avoiding the possibility of thermal damage to components or the need
attractive and harmonious addition to any hifi system. INTRODUCING DIGITAL AUDIO CD, DAT AND SAMPLING. ISBN for special high temperature irons. A very low residue flux makes per-
K2100 Complete Kit £109.50 1870775 22 8 £7.95 fect joints easy but eliminates the need for board cleaning after
K2100SA Series Audiophile version with selected audiophile "THE ART OF SOLDERING" 0-85935-324-3. 0 £3.95 assembly.
components.. £112.48 "TOWERS' INTERNATIONAL TRANSISTOR SELECTOR"
A2100SA Series Audiophile version, factory Assembled. . £149.48
.

0-572-01062-1. £19.95* 845-007 3mtrs 22SWG in Hart Mini Tube £3.90

K3565 "Andante" Power Supply Kit to suit "Chiara"... ....£85.42 "AUDIO" F.A.Wilson. BP111 £3 95 845-008 100g. Reel Special Valve Grade, 20swg £12.90
A3565 Power Supply, Factory Assembled £128.42 845-009 100g. Precision PCB Grade, 22swg £14.75
"HOW TO USE OSCILLOSCOPES & OTHER TEST EQUIPMENT"
CM2100 Construction Manual. £2.50
R.A.Penfold. BP267 £350 845-110 1009 Reel Superfine 24swg for ultra precise control and
SPECIAL OFFER. Both units together, Kit Form... .....£184.92 £21.45
Factory Assembled and Tested. £267.88 "THE LOUDSPEAKER DESIGN COOKBOOK" Vance Dickason. easy working

QUALITY 24 hr. SALES LINE ALL PRICES

INCLUDE
AUDIO KITS (01691) 652894 UK/EC VAT
OD.
66c to
PT
;rriti.RE
os* 10S3
 CIRCUIT IDEAS

+Vcc
(6V) Antenna

Video transmission on vhf Tr1

,On

nly two transistors are needed wound on a 1cm air -cored former. 10p

to transmit audio and video to Coil L3 is a ready-made and readily Video

a tv capable of receiving channel 4 available SW1 oscillator coil. Five R2 C3 BF494 C4 In

on vhf. turns of 36SWG, wound around L3, R3680

Transistor Tr1 is a channel 4 form L2. Capacitor and resistor 10n

C10 101
oscillator and mixer. The second leads should be kept as short as 10p
1k (preset)
transistor is simply a 5.5MHz oscil- possible.
lator. To calibrate the transmitter, first L1 8 turns of 24 SWG Cu.
The coils are critical. Inductor L1 set L1 by stretching or compressing wire wound on 1cm
is eight turns of 24SWG copper its coils until it is tuned to channel air cored former.
4. The screen will blank when tun- L2 5 turns of 36 SWG Cu
Antenna wire wound on SW1
ing is correct. Next set the 5.5MHz
oscillator using either a frequency osc. coil.
meter or a short-wave radio. Using L3 Ready made SW1
a short-wave radio tuned to osc. coil
5.5MHz, rotate variable -capacitor
C11 and, if necessary the core of L3,
gently until you hear a hiss on the
radio. The circuit is now ready to
operate. Finally, with video and
audio sources connected and with a
tv tuned to channel 4, adjust R3 for
best results.
Only two transistors are needed to Raj K Gorkhali
transmit both audio and video on m
Kathmandu Using a short-wave coil for the 5.5MHz oscillator greatly
vhf channel 4. Nepal simplifies the transmitter's design.

Capacitorless solid-state relay

n this solid-state relay, there are the corresponding part of bridge
I no capacitors, hence no time Dm. Current is limited by R3.
dependencies. This, and the fact In the case of an inductive load,
that the circuit can be made small, voltage at the anode of the triac is Having no capacitors, this LINE 220v
make the design suitable for displaced by 90°. Because of this, zero -crossing solid-state relay
implementing as a monolithic or the supply for the opto-isolator is does not suffer from phase -shift
hybrid IC. taken from the anode and not from problems and can be readily Load
Bridge D14 with the zener diode the line, to ensure correct phase of implemented in IC form.
clamp the voltage, providing the the firing pulses.
J_
opto-isolator with a supply lower T. Manov R1
1ok
than its breakdown voltage. (address not supplied) 4W ThOnF
The isolator and its associated
transistor act as a load for diode I I

Ra
bridge D5_8. They 220
change the equivalent D2 01 05 07
ac resistance across the
input of the bridge.
-I 1-
Because of this, the 8F1ITRON

firing pulses always 121

have the same polarity TTL (NA

10k

as the anode voltage *-1 H.

and they appear every 10k

half wave to ensure a

symmetrical output waveform. In
this way, any load specified for ac D8 06 yR I AC

will not be damaged by rectified

mains voltage. 03 134 yn
Zero -crossing circuitry,
comprising two discrete transistors, 02177 .BC10711 R5
470
reduces interference, increases
reliability and provides soft
starting. When the zener diode NEUTRRL
turns off, the transistors shut down All diodes 1N4148 unless otherwise specified

1054 December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD

 M & B RADIO (LEEDS)
THE NORTH'S LEADING USED TEST EQUIPMENT DEALER
L650 HP426 1 A LCA meter . L350
OSCILLOSCOPES GIGAGR1101A 12GHz- I 8GHz pulse generator (as new)
POLARAD 1106ET 1.8GH.-4.6GHz with modulator [300
TEKTRONIX 2465 300MHz 4 channel ......- L2000 [250
MARCONI TF2008 I OKHz-510MHz signal generator/sweep HP3403C true RMS voltmeter dig L 195
MARCONI TF2016 KHz-I20 MHz signal generator ...................... LI95
HP3406A 1051-10 1200MHz RF sampling voltmeter with probes ............ [200
TEKTRONIX 4658 100MHz 2 channel ..... L435 MARCONI TF20 1 6A I OKHz- I 20MHz with rev power tip .................... L245 L 125
TEKTRONIX 434 25MHz 2 channel storage .. [400
TEKTRONIX SC504/TM504/DM501 80MHz oscilloscopernukimeter
... L450
TEKTRONIX 7000 series oscilloscopes in stock Phone for prices & details EXACT 502LC 1Hz-5MHz function generator . .. [195
TEKTRONIX 5113 dual beam storage mainframe (new) L275 HP5004A signature analyser
HP5005A signature multimeter . L300
TEKTRONIX T922R 15MHz rack mount oscilloscope ..... L ISO
HP355D DC-100011Hz VHF attenuator 50ohm-I -120db . [150
LINSTEAD G 1000 10Hz- 1011Hz synthesized oscillator .......................... 1200
HP1600A/1607A 32 bit logic analyser [100
THANDAR TG503 0.005Hz-5MHz pulse/function generator ................ [225 BIRD 43 RF wattmeters . L100
BIRD 8321 30db attenuator SOw L ISS
TEST EQUIPMENT
ANRITSU MS6SA 2GHz error detector. £1500
TEKTRONIX 1141/SPGI I/TSG I pal video generator
1
[1500
PHILIPS 3055 SOMHz dual trace L400 TEKTRONIX 1451al gen lock test signal generator ............................. [1500 SYSTRON ONNER MI07 precision DC voltage source .................... L450
PHILIPS 3217 SOMHz due trace L375 TEKTRONIX 521 FLUKE
FLUKE 3308 prog constant current/voltage calibrator ............................. L450
TEKTRONIX A6902A Isolator [450 BALLANTINE506125C grog tirneJamplitude test set ... . ......... [400
IWATSU SS5710 60MHz 4 channel L400 TEKTRONIX TM501/DM501 bench multimeter [125 HALYCON universal test system .. . . [150
LEADER L.110524L 40MHz dual trace delayed di . L300 TEKTRONIX P6015 high voltage scope probe 595 BRADLEY 192 oscilloscope calibrator .. L500
GOULD 4035 20MHz digital storage IEEE .... L550 SYSTEMS VIDEO 2360 component video generator [1500 . ALI-ECM S33X- I calibrator
I (1 HP3S5c/ I HP355D ATI) . L295
GOULD 08400 I OMHz digital storage L195 KENO DP I I Hz I OOKHz phase meter (new) ..............................-[1 75
SYSTEMS VIDEO 1132/1155 compact 19. waveform mookor/vectorscope ... 175
GOULD 052508 15MHz dual tram .. ............ - L 120 [600 WAYNE KERB CT496 LCR meter battery portable ....
SPECTRUM ANALYSERS PHILIPS PM5567 pal vectorscopes . .. [500
PHILIPS PM8252A A dual pen recorder .. AVO 8 Mk5 tesoneters with cam/probes . [75
SCHLUMBERGER 7702 diVtal transmission analyser [750 1495
50 FARNELL R81030/35 electronic load
HP8569A 0.01-22GH1 spectrum analyser OPT 001 . 14500 SCHLUMBERGER FARNELL TM8 10KHz-1000MHz true RMS sampling voltmeter .......... 1350
.

SCHLUMBERGER AF4OS 3 tone generator/mor ........................ [150

HPI40T/855211/855313 1KHz- 1 10MHz spectrum analyser L450
HP141T/855213/85548 100KHz-1250MHz + (8553B) .................. L1000 1350
HP141T/1355211/8555A 10MHz- I 8GH1 + (85530) ................................ L I 700 SIEMENS W2I08 200 KHz 30MHz level oscillator ..........., ...-..............
BRANDENBURG 0.30KVolt power supply [200 NARDA 3001 450MHz-950MHz directional coupler 10/20/3846........... [100
WANDEL & GOLTERMAN P55191evelgenerator ..............-............ L650 NARDA 3041-20 500MHz-1000MHz directional coupler 20db .... L125
MARCONI TF2370 30Hz-110MHz spectrum analyser . . 1950 L ISO
MARCONI 6950/6910 10 MHz-20GHz RF power meter.........._........... [850 NARDA 3044B-20 3.7GHz-8.3GHz 20db directional coupler ..
MARCONI 6593A VSWR indicator . NARDA 3004.104 GHz-lOGHz 10db directional coupler . L I 75
MARCONI 6440/6421 10MHz-12.4GHz RF power meter . 1250 NARDA 60132 solid state amplifier 8 GHz-12GH1 .... [150
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HP8672A 2GFCr- I 8GH. synthesized signal generator . . 16000 MARCONI TF2304 modulation meter .. L3S0 1WATSU SC7I04 10Hz I 000MHz frequency counter . [275
MARCONI TK2374 zero loss probe .. 1200 ROHDE & SCHWARZ MKS RF power meter * . 1600
HP8683D 2.3GHz-13GHz OPT 001/003 solid state generator (as new) L600
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HP8620C sweeper mainframes (as new) IEEE 1250 El P 371 I 8GHz source locking microwave counter ...........__ .._ [950
RACAL 9063 two cone oscillator .
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HP33I 4A 0.001 Hz -I9.9 MHz function/waveform generator . L29S0 . [1200 RACAL 9008 1.5MHz-2000MHz automatic modulation meter ............... [300
HP4351118481A/8484A/11708A 10MHz-I8GHz (new/HP case/manuals) RACAL DANA 9904M 50MHz universal counter timer ............................ 195
HP8640A 500KHz-512MHz signal generator OPT 002.. £500 . 11100 RACAL DANA 9914 10Hz-200MHz frequency counter ...................... L100
HP8640A SOOKHz- I 024 MHz signal generator OPT 802 . [750 HP435B/5481A 10MHz-113GH:RF power meter. L800 RACAL DANA 9915 10Hz.560MHz frequency counter ......................... L100
HP8654A I OMHs-520MHz signal generator L350 HP435A/8482AH 100KHz-4.2GHz RF power meter . [550
HP8406A comb generator _ L250 [225 RACAL DANA 991910Hz-1100MHz frequency counter ...................... [295
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HP00071110Hz-100MHz pul. generator . L250 HP436A digital RF power meters (sensors available POA) L650 RACAL DANA 9921 10Hz 3000MHz frequency counter ....................... [400
HP8616A 1.80-1z-4.5GHz generator . L 1 95 HP3S8 IC 15H. 50KHz selective voltmeter.... [600 RACAL DANA 1991 10Hz-160MHz universal counter timer digit
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PARNELL SSG2000 101(Hz-2000MHz syntheiszed generator (anew) HP3780A pattern generator/error detector [350 BRUEL & KJAER 2203 precision sound level meter/W1301312 filter
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BECKMAN DM110 digital multimeter with case/probes LSO
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E185
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HP436A RF power meter OPT 022 HP-IB
HP5328A universal frequency counter 2 x 100 MHz + DVM
HP5334A universal frequency counter 2 x 100 MHz
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CIR(IL \O. ; ON RENY CARD

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD +WI RELESS WORLD 1055

 CIRCUIT IDEAS

Prom and logic array in harmony

Due to an editorial error the last line in this piece
should have read " of the prom on the address line
A 14". Our apologies if this was misleading.

Simpler, but linear, pwm generator

C ince the width of an exponential accurate sawtooth generator in its fast comparator will provide steep
J rise and fall varies linearly with simplest form consists of an edges on the output.
voltage, it can be used to replace a integrator and comparator in a D K Hamilton
linear sawtooth in some feedback loop. Department of Engineering
applications. Here, it replaces the At frequencies of less than a few Science
sawtooth in a pulse -width kilohertz, an LF353 dual op -amp is University of Oxford
modulator, shown in the smaller adequate, giving an economical
diagram, where the sawtooth is design. For higher frequencies, a
taken to one input of a comparator high slew -rate op -amp such as the 'VV\i
and a direct voltage to the other. LM53 I is needed and an LM3I 1 Th
Mark:space ratio of the resulting
constant -frequency square wave
varies linearly with the direct
Control voltage
voltage level.
In the second diagram, the
Replacing an integrator
exponential waveform across the
PWM output and comparator
capacitor of a standard op -amp sawtooth generator with
relaxation oscillator is used for the a simple relaxation
same purpose; linearity with oscillator still provides a
control voltage over the full range Control voltage linear relationship
10k
of zero to unity is within 0.5%. In between control and
this way, the circuit is cheaper than output square -wave
the sawtooth variety, since an width in this cheaper
pulse -width modulator.

Programmed bandpass filter

Clock frequency applied to a output of IC3 by the device's op - filters. Frequency of the centre -
switched -capacitor filter amp, the resulting output having point depends solely on the clock
determines the -3dB frequency, the characteristics described above. frequency. Peak frequency of this
which means that such filters are The table shows what happens; Yongping Xia switched -capacitor
programmable. It also means that, the curve is steeper above the Torrance bandpass filter is
if two filters have slightly differing centre point than below, due to the California determined only by the
clock frequencies, a bandpass filter behaviour of the eighth -order USA clock frequency.
can be made.
If the output of one filter is made Output
to be 180° out of phase with the
other, by inverting in an op -amp, Clock 14
CLK 00 -2--3 21 CLK IN
8
Input
13 7
and the two outputs added, circuit ENA V -t-

output is low at low frequencies 5 To- 3 OP OUT GND 6

RST Frequency (Hz) gain
4 OP IN- OUT 5
because the two outputs cancel. At
16
R5 20 0.06
high frequencies, output is again VCC 127k MAX293 C4 30 0.10
09 IT
low because the filters have a low- R3 200k 47p.
40 0.15
GND
pass configuration; and in the band co 12
50 0.19
5V 60 0.27
between the two corner frequencies 74HC4017 70 0.33
output is high since they do not R4
80 0.42
200k
cancel, one being too low in C5 90 0.58
amplitude. 47u. 100 0.81
14 1 vLK 103
Here, the MAX292 eighth -order, CLK 003 IN 1.00
3
ENA
2v IC4 v+ 7 +5V 110 0.74
low-pass Bessel filter, which
contains an uncommitted op -amp, 15
IC2 7
+T 3 OP OUT GND 6 120 0.22
RST
IT 4 OP IN- OUT 5 130 0.03
exhibits a corner frequency of C ,
6 IT Clock = 100kHz, input = 0.85V
feik/100, two 4017 counters ICI and
IC2 dividing the clock input by 9
and 10 respectively.
VCC

GND
09
CO 12
-
IT
Tr
Ri
100k
MAX293 TO.1

R2
C2 100k
Input goes to both filters, the 74HC4017
0.1µ
output of IC4 being inverted by the
internal op -amp and added to the

1056 December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD

 Programming Solutions
Universal Programmer
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Pin driver expansion can drive up to 256 pins.
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CIRCLE NO. 133 ON REPLY CARD

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD 1057

COMPONENTS

Power modules
for quasi -resonance
This article describes a new power multi - cessful. This is because traditional 'hard -
Relative to both chip module - pmcm - which has switched' pulse -width modulated, pwm,
monolithic and discrete evolved from consumer electronics power stages do not lend themselves to inte-
applications and has considerable potential in grated packaging. The main reason for this is
technologies, power general switch -mode power -supply designs. the high -frequency harmonic content of the
multi -chip modules Design of the module involves a complete characteristic current and voltage waveforms
systems discipline which has until now not found in pwm circuits.
provide an excellent been addressed by power device manufactur- One principal reason that monolithic power
ers. A single -ended, quasi -resonant flyback integrated -circuit design is so difficult is that
compromise for quasi - approach is described, along with an applica- parasitic effects are omni-present, and must be
resonant switch -mode tion -specific pmcm solution. considered at all stages of the design process.
Successful power multi -chip module design Fortunately, several conventional power
power conversion. Paul is a 'holistic' procedure involving power -cir- topologies can be modified to reduce har-
Greenland, M. Ueki and cuit, thermal and mechanical design. Until monic content without compromise on effi-
recently, non -monolithic approaches to power - ciency and component count. Furthermore, in
M. J. Lee explain. circuit integration have been relatively unsuc- most cases, savings elsewhere in the system

Fig. 1. Within the power multi -chip module packaging a common copper heat sink carries the
power switch and an alumina substrate with the control circuitry.

EPDXY OVERMOLD
Cu LEADFRAME and HEATSINK

POWER MOSFET or BIPOLAR

FLIP -CHIP DISCRETE

CERAMIC SUBSTRAT,,
WIRE BOND (Al)

FLIP -CHIP CONTROL !C

MULTI -LAYER CERAMIC CAPACITOR

* Paul Greenland, Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.

M.Ueki and M.J.Lee, Sanken Electric Co.

1058 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 COMPONENTS

Vd

Fig. 3. Characteristic
discontinuous flyback
converter waveforms.
VCE

Fig. 2. Flyback
power stage
showing major Ic
parasitic
elements.

yin Inhibit

R
UVLO Ove -volt. Fault Proportional Drive
protect latch
S a 1k Drive

Ref Sink
0.70
Base
Osc
TSD Collector

Common

0 75V
0 Over -current
protection

i
1.4V

FDBK -1V
3300p

Fig. 4. Block schematic of

the Allegro Microsystems
5.1V
STR-S6700 quasi -resonant
off-line flyback convertor.

may be significant - particularly when power - sitics are also eliminated. A drawback of flip - ondary turns, and Vd is the forward drop of the
supply ripple rejection of the load system is chip interconnect is that the active surface of secondary rectifier.
questionable. the control IC is capacitively coupled to the The leakage inductance is a result of imper-
collector or drain on the back side of the fect coupling between the primary and sec-
Power module packaging power device, which is subject to high dV/dt ondary windings. It may be as high as 5% of
Originally developed for consumer electronics in conventional single -ended pwm topologies. the value of Lm in a typical off-line power
applications and used in areas such as tv sets, This effect can be reduced significantly by supply with a primary/secondary isolation of
the 3GR series package incorporates the con- including an if 'catcher' plate in the substrate. 3750V rms and a 4mm winding margin. The
trol and power switching elements of a single - This will lower control -node impedances and main effect of leakage inductance is to delay
ended quasi -resonant flyback convertor. The includes blanking or switched attenuator cir- transfer of energy stored in the primary induc-
package, Fig. 1, includes an internal plated cuits that reduce node sensitivity during the tance during the 'on' time to the secondary
copper heatsink carrying the switching power commutation interval. during the 'off time. During this delay, there
device -a bipolar transistor, mosfet or igbt. These solutions, however, raise costs and is a voltage overshoot at either the collector or
The power device exhibits a thermal resis- reduce reliability. A better way is to introduce drain of the power switch, and the energy res-
tance to the mounting surface equivalent to quasi -resonant techniques which make the onates between L1 and Cp with a frequency
what it would show in an over -moulded switching transitions resonant, cut high -fre- given by the equation,
TO -247 package - typically no greater than quency harmonic content and reduce switch- 1

2°C/W. The copper heatsink also carries the ing losses - applicable if fixed -frequency - 27(44cp
control circuit on an alumina substrate with operation can be sacrificed. Moreover, these
laser -trimmed thick -film resistors, discrete techniques make positive use of parasitic ele- After the energy stored in the leakage induc-
small -signal and driver devices, and local ments which can never be totally eliminated. tance is exceeded, the voltage on the switch
decoupling and timing capacitors. All active settles to the referred value Vf b, given by the
devices on the substrate - including the mono- Parasitic elements equation,
lithic control IC - use 'flip -chip' interconnec- Figure 2 shows a flyback power stage with its
tions. major parasitic elements - leakage inductance = v, + [0/0 + yo-NNP,
Flip -chip interconnection reduces bond -wire Li and primary capacitance Cp. In this circuit,
count, and allows the monolithic control IC Lm is the primary magnetising inductance, Np The peak overshoot voltage is given by the
designer to optimise layout. Bond -wire para- and Ns are the numbers of primary and sec - sum of Vthb and Vfing,

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1059

COMPONENTS

Vp k = Vib

L,
= Vib + I VCE : 200 v/div
C VCE
IC :1.0 A/div
Once the energy has been transferred to the IB : 0.5 A/div
secondary and the secondary rectifier ceases to t : 5.0 µsec/div
conduct, residual energy resonates between L,
and Cp with a frequency 12, settling to 1/1 GND ,..,)
before the next conduction time, (Vce.lc
1

fz = la
21r.\IL,Cp
The primary capacitance is the sum of the GND ...--...----
(le)
Fig. 6. Proportional
capacitance of the power switch, the trans- - ( drive waveforms
former's intra-winding capacitance and any together with
stray capacitance. It is discharged at the begin-
ning of power -switch conduction, and dissi-
pates energy at turn -on.
1111 111 collector voltage and
current.

Each parasitic element poses a problem in

conventional pwm flyback converters - leak- mary capacitor at turn-off is beneficial.
age inductance causes overvoltage, and pri- In order to achieve these ends, independent
mary capacitance causes overcurrent. control of `on' and `off' time is essential. In
VC3 the pmcm, Fig. 4, `on' time is controlled to a
Making use of parasitics preset maximum by the voltage feedback loop.
0 Quasi -resonance makes use of these undesir- `Off' time is controlled to a preset maximum
able parasitic elements. The primary voltage by detecting the point at which the core has
and current waveforms are shown in Fig. 3. unloaded energy. This is achieved by moni-
The point of lowest potential on Cp occurs one toring the auxiliary winding referred to the pri-
V5pin half -cycle after the core has unloaded its ener- mary, and then applying a half -cycle delay.
0 --- gy and the secondary rectifier has ceased to Using this technique, all benefits of quasi -res-
conduct. If conduction time commences at this onance can be realised in a manner which is
IB point, turn -on loss will be at a minimum. predictable in high -volume manufacture.
Similarly, as turn-off loss occurs during the
0
overlap of voltage and current at the end of Power module realisation
1B2 conduction time, reducing the dVldt with a pri- Figure 4 is the block diagram for the STR-
S6700 power modules. These use the physical
construction of Fig. I. In this device the con-
trol circuit is subject to an undervoltage lock-
Primary out, with hysteresis, which allows low -power
winding startup from energy stored in the auxiliary
............. -4 capacitor fed by a high -value start-up resistor.
Start-up current is not greater than 200p A.
9 pin
Comprehensive protection is ensured by
temperature -compensated cycle -by -cycle cur-
rent limiting, latching overvoltage shutdown
and thermal shutdown - which acts to protect
the controller and the power switch. Latching
functions are subject to a predetermined delay
to prevent nuisance tripping. The oscillator has
predetermined maximum on and off times.
Inclusion of a triple -diffused npn switching
transistor rather than a mosfet may seem a ret-
rograde step. This is not the case however, as
the use of a proportional drive technique
ensures the device is well matched to the
application, and a Vce(sat) of 400mV gives low
conduction loss.
Casual inspection of the primary current
waveform reveals that it starts from zero -
neglecting the leading -edge spike caused by
discharging Cp. Fast switching at this point is
undesirable, as this leads to excessive auxil-
iary current and high electro-magnetic inter-
ference. Furthermore, it is useful to have some
proportionality between base and collector
current for the leading portion of the primary
Fig. 5. 5. Proportional drive circuit with characteristic waveforms. Using conduction time to cater for a wide load range.
proportional drive helps the power supply cater for a wide load range. In the Turn-off should be rapid to minimise switch-
upper waveform diagram, 1131(peak)=Mpin3YRD ing loss, and a reverse bias should be applied

1060 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 COMPONENTS

to the base during turn-off voltage overshoot Primary

for reliable operation.

r
winding
VB
Figure 5 shows the proportional drive cir-
cuit and its associated waveforms. At switch -
on, capacitor C3 charges up, ramping the base
0-
current to a maximum set by RD. At the end of Ig
T
the primary conduction time, current ceases to +01
flow through pin 5, and the transistor drawing r
current from pin 4 switches on. This reverses
polarity on the drive capacitor Cd, which has
charged to a level set by D5 in anti -parallel AAAn
with the base/emitter junction of Tr3.
Figure 6 shows the proportional drive wave-
forms, together with the collector voltage and
current. Switching characteristics and low con-
duction loss of the bipolar switching device
are matched to its application.
One of the main reasons that bipolar tran-
sistors have gained a poor record for reliabil-
ity in switch -mode power -supply applications
0)
is the drive technique for the ringing -choke
convertor used in early pcs. This can be seen Fig. 7. Conventional ringing -choke convertor drive circuit with
from the drive waveforms in Fig. 7, which waveforms.
exhibit a large current at switch -on, creating a
large switch -on current pulse as Cp is dis- VIN (AC)>
charged.
During primary conduction, there is no pro-
portional element, resulting in overdrive at
light loads and excessive storage time. The
turn-off is slow, resulting in large switching
loss, and the reverse bias during the voltage
overshoot on the collector is small. It is there-
fore hardly surprising that the major cause of Osc //
failure in many ringing -choke converters is the d2

bipolar power transistor.

INH 1
04
Making energy transfer complete
Detection of demagnetisation, known as 'com- RINH-1
d4
plete energy transfer', is a crucial element in
establishing quasi -resonance.
CI RINH-2
In Fig. 8, the auxiliary winding has a sam- H

pling network connected ahead of the auxil-

iary rectifier. The sampling network applies a
voltage to the inhibit pin, pin 8, during the
auxiliary/secondary conduction time. Once Fig. 8. Establishing quasi -resonance by
this voltage exceeds VTID the drive to the detecting complete energy transfer.
power switch is suspended, and as it exceeds
VTH2 the 'off' time is pre -terminated.
Once the core has unloaded its energy, the
voltage at the inhibit pin, VINH, drops, delayed
by Cusill. As VINH falls below V2, the 'off' leaving - to reduce ac losses.
time capacitor and the proportional drive Primary magnetising inductance is modified
capacitor are re -initialised. Once VIND falls from the conventional value calculated in the
below VTFD, the drive to the power switch is classic ringing -choke converter transformer
VCE
enabled and primary conduction commences. design procedure, as shown by the equation,
Figure 9 shows the complete timing sequence. (ViD)2
This technique allows quasi -resonance to be Lp = 0
established, with the consequent benefits of
lower switching loss, lower electromagnetic
4.i. +Vmoxi- D .r p
TOFF

interference than with conventional ringing -

choke converters Fig. 10, and utilisation of where LP is primary inductance adjusted for Fig. 9. Timing
hitherto undesirable parasitics. quasi -resonance, Pow is the output and auxil- sequence
The negative aspects of quasi -resonance are iary power in watts, fo is the minimum switch- required for a
a slight increase in conduction loss, a higher ing frequency, rl is efficiency, D is the duty quasi -resonant
switching
fundamental frequency component in the con- cycle at minimum ac line potential and Vin is
power supply.
ducted harmonics, and a small increase in the minimum dc input voltage.
high -frequency ac loss in the transformer. The Isolated voltage feedback and regulation are
latter can be virtually eliminated by use of achieved by augmenting the current charging VINH
high -frequency transformer winding tech- Cron with opto-coupler current proportional to 0
niques - Litz, multifilar bundling and inter - the error signal generated at the secondary.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1061

 COMPONENTS

dE3µV by-product of the oscillator design and the

Mkr 23.979633MHz 40.2d8uV quasi -resonant timing technique employed -
100 refer to Fig. 11.
In standby mode, current normally drawn
90 through R11 and D9 is diverted into the base of
Tr3, turning it on. As current flows through
80 R12 and D10 and Tr2 is switched on, output
and auxiliary voltages fall, and stabilise when
70 S1' reaches V where Vs=VR11+VD1O+VBEQ3.
At this time, standby power is supplied by C11
60 charging from the collector of Tr2. As voltage
STR-S6307
on the auxiliary windings d1 and d2 tracks the
50 secondaries, auxiliary power is supplied from
the linear regulator transistor Tr1 on d2. In
40 addition, as VI/sal drops below VTEI during the
off time, the oscillator defaults to its maxi-
30 mum off time of typically 50p s.
In standby mode, the power supply operates
20

10

0
0.5 1
STR-S6707 z 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20
with pulse ratio control, in which the 'on'
time varies and the off time is held constant.
This keeps the incremental power consumed
by the power supply to an absolute minimum.
This principle can be applied to save energy
30 in printers or copiers which switch to standby
MHz mode if the system is inactive for a period.
A variant of the device without the standby
Fig. 10. Comparison of conducted EMI -ringing choke versus quasi -resonant techniques. mode is shown in Fig. 12. The STR-S5700
Series is intended for indirect feedback appli-
Thus, as the secondary load decreases or the compensation and primary high -frequency cations using a primary referred sense wind-
applied line voltage increases, the slope of the bypass may be employed. ing, and component count is reduced at the
voltage ramp on Cron increases, reducing pri- A useful feature of the STR-S6700 series is expense of regulation.
mary conduction time. In most cases, simple standby operation. Originally intended for tv
integrator compensation around the secondary applications, the standby feature minimises the Conclusion
error amplifier will suffice. However, if more incremental power drawn by the convertor This article has shown that integration of the
control -loop agility is required, pole/zero during light load operation. This feature is a primary power switch and control elements of

0
D6
VIN (AC) >+B
DI

PC
Rs D2
R12 // Main error amp
(High voltage)
RI0
= C7 D3
1 a'clo Tr2
AD6
R

D1

RINH2 Reg > Micom

Tr3
J8 v IN C11

INN
DRIVE

STR-S6700 Stand-by
Sub -error amp
SINK ° (ON -OFF)
(low voltage)

CD

F/B D5

OCP

Fig. 11. Quasi -resonant switching power converter

based on the STR-S6700. In the application, standby
ROCP
mode helps save power.

1062 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 COMPONENTS

yin Inhibit

R
UVLO Ove -volt. Fault Proportional Drive
protect la ch
S 1k Drive
Q

Ref 7 0 Sink

Base
Sense
Osc
TSD 0 Collector

0 Common
0.75V
off
n
0 Over -current
protection

1.4V

-1V
1 3300p

5.1V

an off-line switching power supply is viable quency harmonics, offsets many disadvan- Fig. 12. Block schematic of Allegro
once a true systems approach is adopted. tages of variable -frequency operation. Microsystems STR-S5700 converter.
Quasi -resonance can also be employed in off- The quasi -resonant technique can also be
line flyback converters to good effect. adapted to current -mode control through a
Furthermore, this technique brings the 'lowly' dual-purpose current limit which reduces pin
flyback convertor to the forefront of off-line count and is competitive with implementations
power -conversion applications below 200W. using conventional controllers plus discrete
It can be shown that reduction in high -fre- components.

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INTERFACING

Building on August's article describing a GPS receiver,

Nigel Gardner presents a low-cost read-out interface
for Rockwell's MicroTracker system.

Inter acing
the GPS receiver
Ichose the PIC microcontroller as the basis
of this MicroTracker interface because of Tips for enhancing
its ease of use and low development cost. It
will handle all serial comms, sorting out and the software
formatting of information, and display driving The current version of sottware
functions, needing a minimal number of does not look for a fix before
external components to function. starting to display information on
The MicroTracker LP has two data output the display. A modification could
modes - binary and NMEA. This design is be made to examine data from
based on the NMEA format at 4800bit/s and the MicroTracker, looking for the
interfaced to a PIC16C74. If data manipulation
is required on the GPS information, then the
valid signal character before
binary format is the better option as there is a passing it to the sign on message
software overhead converting to and from the stage. Information received from
NMEA ASCII format. However, if the the MicroTracker could be
interface is only used to display and store data, examined for a '.' symbol in
the NMEA format is easier to work with. addition to the ',' to truncate data
This application is intended purely to displayed at the decimal thus
display information, with no calculation done reducing information presented
on information received. to the end user.
Additional messages could be
Hardware design
The heart of the design is the PIC16C74 enabled and stored in alternative
microcontroller running at 4MHz, Fig. 1. An locations for extracting
RS -232 link interfaces to the GPS serial information not found in a
interface module featured in the August 1995 specific message.
issue and uses a MAX232A driver chip to level
shift to the PIC.
Other items needed for the PIC are a 78L05
regulator, a 4MHz resonator and a few passive and components.
components for decoupling and reset. Power is A reset switch is added to the PIC to assist
drawn from the GPS serial interface board via in software development, but it could be
a connection to the active antenna supply and eliminated..If the GPS serial interface module
is in the region of 15mA at 12V. This breaks is used in conjunction with this design, then
down into 12mA for the MAX232A, 2mA for set the dip switches on the board to 1-5 on, 6-
the lcd display, and lmA for the PIC16C74. If 8 off. This sets NMEA mode at 4800bit/s on
the RS -232 interface is removed to give ttl power up.
connections between the MicroTracker and The lcd module is the Hitachi. LM041L or
the PIC, a saving can be made on both current LM044L. These have four lines of 16 or 20

1066 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 INTERFACING

I 7 4 3 2
Fig. 1. Display
controller for the
Micro Tracker is
based on a PIC 7BLOS
MAN232A
microcontroller and [N 33K P
'In Gut" 102
-2-- 21'1m .-
incorporates a liquid - Gnd
C2 BNF
CC C1
a
crystal display cr. C1+ 1
In"'ONO

module. T10UF T C3 02*

5 C2
U.2

"'MI T164 .
C1
Battery Monitor option "T2I T2OZ
RESET 1MONF tRia
7
5-R20 R211- 6

4
PIC16C74 3
LC01 ICI 2-

LMB44L -
i41;2:11
MCLR
BB/INT 23 BR
1---2;22 RI
B2
34 B1
82,-
B3 36 B3
NN rm 37 B4
3B
; ;r.
B.19`112;2:Z
---2/CSAIN7 40 B7

12--00/SPO CO/TOO/T1I
2101_,.2Z;2 C1/TOOSI 17
C2/CCP1
C3/SCK/SCL
25-7.13/SP3
tt--104/SP4 C4/SOI/SOA 22 To EEPROM it required
1,1--03/SP5 C3/600 24
C6/TK/CK
2. ZFPI C7/RK/OT 26
RI
A.L._11_11_06C1 uOG CB
2
1,117,23 SC2

4MHz
A

fig 1

7 a 4 3 2

characters respectively and are interfaced in own requirements. latitude, latitude direction, longitude, longitude
the 8 -bit mode with full handshaking. This Following initalisation of the ports and other direction, speed, heading, date, magnetic
method of interfacing provides the fastest registers, the display is cleared and a sign on variation, magnetic direction, checksum
display update times but uses eleven i/o lines. message sent. For this application, the default <CR><LF>. Each field is comma delimited
If this design is transported to a 28 -pin 16C73 of gga' and `vtg' are turned and will typically look like:
then the 4bit write only approach can be taken off and `rmc' turned on. The `rmc' message
with the display using only six i/o lines. format includes latitude, longitude, time, date, $GPRMC,234215.24,A,3339.686,N,11751.66
speed, heading, magnetic variation and 7,W,0.620,293.8,180595,14.0,E*79
Software requirements magnetic heading. Other message formats can
The flowchart for this program, Fig. 2, shows be enabled easily and relevant information Other message formats include information on
the basic operation. Source code is available extracted from the data string. altitude, number of satellites in use, track
from the TDC bulletin board for those wishing The `rmc' message contains the following made good and ground speed. It can also be
to evaluate the program and modify to their data - start field, 'utc' time, data valid, enabled and set to broadcast at increments of a

PIC object software for the GPS receiver display module.

:08000000E328820020342034C3 :0800B0002C3456342C340D34BD :08016000782009147820091031 :080210008C1E08291A080D3AA2
:0800080042346C347534653498 :0800B 8000A34003403140C307B :08016800080082308F2008001E :08021800031912291A088000E5
:08001000623469347234643477 :0800C00023020318FF282308A6 :0801700080308F200800003030 :08022000840A08297220303025
:08001800203447345034533406 : 08000800820700001D291B 291D :080178008F20080090308F2059 :08022800840000082C3A031DBC
:080020002034203400344C347C :0800D00028291B2933291B29F3 :080180000800D0308F200800B 8 :080230001B29A30A5E28840AC1
:0800280061347434203400340B :0800D8003E2947291B291B29C1 :08018800A40024080120A500D9 :080238001529B 8202130C42073
:080030004C346F346E342034AF :0800E0001B29FF2889010130F2 :08019000003A031900342508B0 :08024000840A00082C3A03199E
:0800380000346E342034DF3483 :0800E8008600B0209A200800F8 :080198009420A40AC528A4006C :08024800192900089420202967
:080040000034543469346D34BE :0800F0000530A000A00B7A28E6 :0801A00024080120A500003A2B :08025000BB201330C420840A16
:08004800653420340034243437 :0800F800080089013830860080 :0801A8000319E02880309800E3 :0802580000082C3A03191929D2
:08005000503452345734493496 :08010000B0209A2008008901DB :0801B000250899008316981C34 :08026000000894202B29BE20A8
:080058004C344F3447342C34C2 :080108000C308600B0209A20A3 : 0801B 800DB288312A40AD02801 :080268001830C420840A0008CC
:0800600052344D3443342C34BA :08011000080089010630860099 :0801C000903098000034860124 : 080270002C3A031919290008B A
:0800680041342C3431340D3415 :08011800B0209A2008008901C3 :0801C8008901831602309F003B :0802780094203629C120840AFC
:080070000A340034243450343A :080120008600B0209A200800BF :0801D0008030870089018601DF :0802800000082C3A03191929AA
:080078005234573449344C3472 :08012800890109158600B020D1 :0801D8000C3099002030980062 :08028800000894203F291D30FD
:080080004F3447342C3447349F :080130009A2008008316FF303D :0801E000831290309800AB205F :08029000C420840A00082C3A86
:08008800473441342C34563496 :080138008600831209118914ED :0801E8007220B8200230C4208F :08029800031919290008942044
:080090002C340D340A34003455 :080140000914782006080910DB :0801F0002730CF203A30CF2068 :0202A0004929EA
:08009800243450345234573473 :08014800A100A11B9A288316F7 :0801F8004C30CF201A088C1EC8 :00000001FF
:0800A00049344C344F3447345D :080150008601831208007220F1 :08020000FF281A08243A031D2F
:0800A8002C3456345434473463 :080158007D20832089200800AE :08020800FF28A301303084003F

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1067

INTERFACING

second. See the designer's guide on the of message character - ie carriage return, 0D16 2C16 is identified - field delimiter, the
MicroTracker LP for full specification and - the software branches into display mode. message type is then determined from a
programming information. Information from the MicroTracker arrives at lookup table and sent to the liquid -crystal
Character input from the RS -232 port is a minimum of is intervals providing enough display. Additional text messages are sent
examined to look for the 24 hour '$' symbol, time for the display to be updated. prior to the received information to clarify to
signifying the start of the message string. On The display section of the program looks at the user what is being displayed.
receipt of the '$' symbol, the characters are the characters in memory and when a comma, At the end of the information processing, the
stored in the PIC's ram. On receipt of an end program jumps back to look for the next `$'
symbol.
Bit rate calculation for the PIC serial comms
port is straightforward. After transposing the
INITIALISE Fig. 2. The PIC controller
formula in the data sheet, for low rates it is,
takes RS232 information
from the MicroTracker {clock frequency 1-1
CLEAR
and translates it into useful Divide ratio =
visual information baud x 64 I
DISPLAY
displayed on a liquid
crystal module. This works out for 4800bit/s and a 4MHz
clock at 12. This value is loaded into the
SIGN ON
MESSAGE
SPBRG register and is common for both
transmit and receive.

Designing a board
SET GPS
MODE
The prototype was built using a standard
PIC 16C64174 development board - Farnell
order code 630-639 - with the display bolted
on. This enables full access to all PIC pins and
reduces development time and cost.
NO
Laying out a board for the circuit in Fig. 1
should not present problems, but care should
be taken in placing the resonator and 100nF
capacitor as close to the PIC as possible.

Where next?
LOAD
If an external electrically erasable prom is
INCREMENT DATA>RAM
added to the PIC and connected via the inbuilt
POINTER
PC interface, data could be logged in the
eeprom upon closure of a switch providing a
NO positional logging and ident system. Using an
external eeprom, the MicroTracker LP can be
updated on power up with the last positional
OUTPUT information - speeding up the time to first fix.
MESSAGE
RESET As the 16C74 has eight analogue inputs, one
MESSAGE could be used for monitoring battery voltage via
POINTER a potential divider. This will alert the user to the
time remaining before total loss of supply.
OUTPUT If cost is an issue, the MicroTracker LP can
CHARACTER be connected directly to the PIC, bypassing the
INCREMENT
NO `logic to RS -232 to logic' conversion circuitry
POINTER and interface board. This brings component cost
down to the MicroTracker LP, antenna, PIC, dis-
YES play and power supply.

Technical support
LOOKUP Rockwell MicroTracker LP Designer's Guide,
FUNCTION contact Telecom Design Communications
NO
BBS. Phone 01256 332800 for connection
INCREMENT detai Is.
POINTER
Beginners Guide to the Microchip PIC, Rev 2,
YES END NO ring 01628 777960 for details.
OF Microchip Databook 1994, Farnell/RS/Maplin.
TABLE
The author runs Bluebird Electronics, 01380
725110 providing PIC training and support.
This article is based on his forthcoming book
'PIC Cookbook - Vol 1'.

1068 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

LETTERS
Letters to "Electronics World" Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 SAS

PhoneDay fiasco statistically significant can be absorbed. For many items, that use The truth is that the Sallen and
At last, the dawn of realisation has measured consistently. very little power and so could never Key filter has much to commend it,
broken over Oftel. As suspected, the Whatever your correspondents possibly radiate too much, such a including low component count and
new telephone number scheme may say there is very little evidence calculation could avoid costly tests unity gain - precise unity gain; for
introduced in April is what most of that we have reached this stage. If which would otherwise be ever. These features are regardless
us who have to phone the USA have they know otherwise perhaps they necessary. of component values or temperature.
suspected -a great big waste of will refer your readers to the One might argue that the radiation This is especially valuable in
money. evidence. field could be shaped in such a way multistage measuring equipment
I do not know how many Meanwhile, as an active, but that a tightly focused beam is accurate to a hundredth of a decibel,
telephones there are in the UK, but independently minded, member of emitted, so that the field in one but it is also useful in maintaining
in the USA, with a population five the IEE let me assure Messrs direction might be very much higher accurate gain and channel balance in
times the size of ours, they have a Coghill and Jones that whenever real than a theoretical average. To argue multistage audio equipment without
simple and therefore easy to significant evidence is available to thus seems to me perverse, given trimming.
remember, three -digit area code, support the hypothesis that low-level that the equipment is not designed to The second -harmonic distortion
three -digit exchange code and four - electric or magnetic power - generate focused beams and the problem he has discovered is not a
digit number system. frequency fields have a significant difficulty of generating a focused direct function of resistance values,
There are far more phones per effect upon our health then I - along beam. Also, if the equipment but is caused by a varying common
head of population there than here, with many of our members - will involved is small while the mode capacitance which shunts his
and they even have the luxury of an work to ensure that the IEE gives it measurement distance is relatively 470pF input capacitor. This causes
exchange code for film and tv the widest possible publicity. Until large - 10m is the European signal -dependent modulation of its
programme makers (555) to stop the then it will be in the public interest standard - then you might argue that value which probably originates in
nuts dialling the number on the tv. to stick to known facts rather than the field would be relatively uniform reverse biased substrate -isolation or
Can any one explain why we creating unnecessary concern. at this distance from the object. protection diodes in the op -amps.
couldn't have adopted such a simple Colin W. Davidson Similarly, the physical size of the These behave as varicaps.
scheme for our Edinburgh equipment would have an effect - The effect can be puzzling
telephone numbering system? I don't equipment that is small compared because it only occurs near the
want to appear too cynical by with the wavelength could not cutoff frequency. At this point, the
suggesting "not invented here". Is EMC approval possibly generate a focused beam. capacitors are working hardest. The
Nic Houslip European standards make no effect arises mostly as a result of
Birmingham
necessary? allowance for such a theoretical amplitude -dependant modulation of
The recent EEC directive on emc calculation. I would be interested to the filter phase shift.
requires all electrical equipment to know if such a calculation would be Mr Ryder's choice of a high Q
Field hazards? be tested for radiation levels. reasonable so that one can argue for emphasises the problem in two
There are solid theoretical grounds a change in the standard or an ways: by requiring a large
Proof please for declaring that all equipment automatic exemption - thus saving capacitance ratio, and hence a low
Your correspondent Roger Coghill - below a certain power automatically companies a lot of money. value input capacitor, and by
May 1995 - has suggested that the meets the requirements. This is I am not enough of an rf engineer generating a large phase shift. His
IEE Working Party's conclusion that because the radiated power cannot to make the relevant calculations. choice of values is far from optimal.
there is no proven harmful effect due exceed the total power absorbed. However from my university text Changing the 110ki2 resistors to
to low-level, low -frequency The standard does not make such an book on electromagnetic theory, it 3.3kS2, with a corresponding
electromagnetic fields is the result of exemption. If an exemption were seems that if the equipment were a increase in capacitor values, will
power -utility bias in its membership. made, and the power levels turned perfect dipole radiator then anything swamp the effect and produce very
As IEE Chief Executive, Dr. out to be reasonable ones, then the under 2W could not possibly exceed acceptable figures without loading
Williams, has pointed out - savings for electronics companies the emc limits. As a result, it would the op -amp output too much.
EW+WW August 1995 - that could be huge. not need testing. In most applications, where a
accusation is demonstrably untrue. A piece of equipment only uses so It would be interesting for capacitor ratio of three or four to one
What is true is that Mr. Coghill's own much power. If all that power were someone with some expertise on this is more common, the TL072 works
business has been concerned with converted into radiated field to make the calculations. well. For critical applications, the
advertising devices to 'reduce' the electromagnetism, you could Chris Bore NE5532 performs much better in
effects of power frequency magnetic calculate from theory the maximum Bores signal processing this respect, at the cost of higher
fields. It might be thought to be in his possible field strength according to power consumption.
commercial interest if any biological distance from the device. So, for Peter 1 Skirrow
effect could be demonstrated. It is example, a device that absorbs only Sallen & Key Lindos Developments
perhaps disingenuous of him not to 2W could only ever radiate 2W of Suffolk
mention this. power as a maximum. In fact, it is distorted
Bernard Jones - Oct 1995 - is hard to make a transmitter with 50% Mr Ryder's conclusion that the
"confident that magnetic fields efficiency so it is reasonable to Sallen and Key filter configuration Re -inventing
produce brain cancer etc." although assume that only half the total power is`not generally usable for
he gives no evidence to support his could possibly be radiated as hi-fi' would be worrying if it were
the wheel
view. I hope that Mr. Jones electromagnetic radiation. Often, true - especially in view of the fact After reading the article 'maximising
understands that in science it is heat dissipation of the equipment is that I used this circuit repeatedly in power in class -C' I must conclude
impossible to prove that something known and so you can subtract the the LA100 Audio Analyser. This that each generation of radio
does not exist - there may always be heat power from the possible unit probably features more than any engineers is intent on re -inventing
some statistically insignificant effect radiated power. other, worldwide, in the automated the wheel.
that is masked by other sources. It is This would permit the radiation checking of distortion and quality on I was surprised to find that there
possible to show that an effect does limit to be calculated purely from the broadcast and studio equipment was no reference to W.L. Everitt's
exist when an effect that is theory, based on the total power that originates his 'hi-fi'. book 'Communication Engineering'

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1069

LETTERS

the second edition of which was In this instance a high degree of in These intermodulation products are vocal tract were of lower Q and thus
published in 1937. In it he gives a band intermodulation is produced not unrelated to the frequencies correlating the frequencies to
complete mathematical treatment for and it is in the intermodulation present in the original modulation produce additional intelligibility in
maximum power output from class - products that the additional and the brain interprets them as poor signal to noise conditions.
B and class -C amplifiers. I cannot transmitted power is contained. though the resonant cavities of the John West.
say if the same analysis appeared in
the first edition of 1931.
SF Brown
Oswestry Audio power - is current feedback the solution?
Shropshire John Watkinson's letter in the October issue highlights receivers, where the vertical deflection coils are driven
the trend of designing ever -more complex audio with a 50 or 100Hz waveform. Any linearity or
amplifiers while the loudspeaker system remains the amplitude errors are easily visible on the screen.
Modulating largest source of distortion. Early designs used a conventional voltage amplifier -
Admittedly some amplifiers can handle the complex often very similar to the audio amplifier - however the
misguidedly? and variable impedances of various speaker systems current amplitude and thus picture size usually varied
I have just read 'Modulating better than others, but none seems to overcome the as heating of the deflection coil caused its resistance to
linearly' by Ian Hickman in your basic problems caused by the conventional moving coil change. Thermistors were often added to try to
July 1995 edition. While presenting speaker. Several manufacturers have attempted to compensate for temperature effects. However, the
an interesting method of reducing improve speaker performance by using motional modern solution is to use current feedback which
the intermodulation products at the feedback or an active cross -over with separate overcomes the problem of any change in load
modulator, I believe that the effort is amplifiers. However, this requires careful matching of impedance: refer to circuit diagram.
misplaced. It is out of band products both electronics and hardware. Using current feedback should, in theory, null the
from ssb transmissions that are The main purpose of an audio amplifier is to push effects of resistance changes caused by voice coil
offensive and cause adjacent current through the voice coil in order to move the cone. heating or by using different lengths or sizes of speaker
channel interference. Traditional amplifiers use voltage feedback to ensure leads. An additional advantage should be good short
Most ssb transmitters employing that the voltage applied to the speaker is controlled circuit protection without the clipping or distortion of a
dsb suppressed carrier modulators accurately while hoping that its impedance remains conventional protection system.
pass the signal through an ssb filter. reasonably constant. Obviously any variation of The current sensing resistor will cause some power
This removes the unwanted impedance, either with frequency or cone excursion will loss, but in an 80W 80 system this would amount to
sideband, frequencies outside the cause some non -linearity in the current thus causing less than 1W with a 0.10 resistor.
required modulating bandwidth, and distortion. A look at the impedance curve of any good It would be interesting to hear if anyone has tried this
incidentally out of band quality speaker will show surprising variations. approach and if it produced any improvement in the
intermodulation products generated One possible solution that does not appear to have overall performance.
by the modulator. The offending out been considered is the use of current feedback rather J.R Allison
of band intermodulation products than the more common voltage feedback. Bradford
are usually generated at the power A similar problem arose in the design of television Yorkshire
amplifier final stage where trade-
offs between linearity efficiency
cost and distortion are made.
Square -law rules - OK
Surprising though it may seem, Ian Hegglun is to be congratulated - not only for the maximum of 36dB need be applied to the preceding
in -band intermodulation products content and design performance achieved but also, for voltage/impedance transformation stage. The level of
may be of advantage in voice ssb actually quoting power output stage open loop 36db is also the maximum theoretical global feedback
transmission improving modulation performance measurements supported by waveform that will maintain a critically damped response in a
efficiency and transmitted power. traces. single dominant pole design.
By way of expiation of my Prior to reading 'Square -law rules' in the September Thus for a cost effective solution I consider the
statement it is speech processing issue, the existence of an ongoing controversy and the answer to lie more in matching circuit to device and in
incorporated in many ssb absence of any reasonably comprehensive or explicit designing the system to meet the needs of the
transmitters that proves this point. open -loop performance data had lead me to the application. This includes matching speaker ratings to
The peak to average form factor of conclusion that, as currently used, neither bjts or amplifier ratings and speaker system to auditorium.
the voice waveform is high which mosfets were the ideal audio power output stage device E I Chadderton,
leads to low average transmitted and that I would have to design my own avoiding Brokenhurst,
power. Voiced sounds consist of current design conventions. Hampshire.
harmonics of the vocal chord My own approach to a linear power output stage - ie
vibrations amplified and frequency not worse than 1% thd - was to investigate a fully
shaped by resonant cavities in the differential solution using a self balancing active bridge Considering a valve design?
vocal tract, head and chest. This configuration. An experimental prototype output For readers considering a valve design, I would
results in a multi -tone spectrum of module using power Darlington bjts has been tried. mention that an ultralinear connection enables a pair of
which a few tones are dominant in Provisional results with this output stage configuration EL34s to deliver up to 30W with less than 1% thd
the mid -audio band of similar have shown that nearly constant open -loop unity gain, rather than 4% thd without feedback. This also
frequency to those used by Hickman ie V01/V,n>0.99, is achievable. This is subject to compares with 14W max from triode connected EL34s
in his article i.e. IkHz and 1.2kHz. If gain/symmetry trimming, for a voltage swing of ±18V at less than 1% thd.
one applied these tones of equal into a 150 resistive load. A suitable push-pull output transformer for this
level after ssb filtering to an ssb Open loop frequency response is flat to at least connection, Gardners Type AS 7034, might still be
transmitter with auto level control so 200kHz, output resistance was 0.50, and input obtainable from Gardners Radio, Christchurch. This
that peak to peak amplitude were the impedance around 600-8000. Quiescent power had both 20% and 43% screen grid tappings.
same as for a single tone, transmitter consumption was low, at 6 to 8W, from a single 25V dc I had also used the ultralinear connection to very
average power would be 50% that of supply. This reflects an optimum stable bias setting. good effect, many years ago, in a two valve 3.5W
a single tone. Normal Class B/AB or A preconceptions do not apply EF86/EL84 single -ended Class A design for mono but
Speech processing is often to this circuit. regrettably replaced this with a pair of lOW
accomplished by clipping the ssb Listening tests confirmed measured expectations. Toby/Dinsdale when stereo was introduced.
signal in the intermediate frequency These were effected by terminating one channel of my EIC
after a stage of ssb filtering and existing stereo amplifier (thd 0.2% at 1kHz and 10W)
removing the out of band products using the module as a relay amplifier to drive the right- Hot audio power
Jeff Macaulay's article 'Hot audio power' in the October
in a second stage of ssb filtering. hand speaker. This was a vintage 150 Goodmans
issue contained two errors in the components list. Grid
Were the tones applied to a circuit of Maxim. resistors R6,9 should be 560k0, not 60k0 and R11 is
this type with 20dB of clipping then Performance of this module is such that only a 6800, not 6k8. Apologies.
the transmitted power would be relatively modest amount of global feedback at a
about 80% of that of a single tone.

1070 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 BROADCAST

Advances
in digital video
Reg Miles discusses developments highlighted at the
broadcast and professional exhibition - Vision '95.

The first camcorder to use hard disks instead of tape is Digital editor with pc interface
here. Developed by Avid and lkegami for news Hi Tech Systems' Altus Digital Disk Recorder is a rack
gathering, its advantage lies in its facility to mount/desk system, designed to be a cost effective
randomly access any part of the disk. This enables alternative to the video tape recorder. As with CamCutter
recorded clips to be viewed, modified and edited into there is random access to the recorded material so that
sequences in the field for transmission by microwave or frames and clips are instantly available, allowing a variety
satellite link to the studio - as well as providing all normal of playback functions. In addition, there are all usual
functions. functions. Configuration and set-up is simply achieved Material from
Called CamCutter, the recorder itself has no moving using 'soft' keys - including adjustment of the CamCutter can
parts. These are confined to a removable, sealed and compression ratio. be broadcast
shock -proof pack containing two 1.2Gbyte disks. These Connecting the recorder to a pc provides further controls immediately,
provide up to 20 minutes of storage. over monitoring, playback and recording, using a suite of brought back to
the studio for
Video is recorded in component form, compressed at Windows programs. There is a choice of 2.1, 4.3 or editing, or stored
7:1. Four 48kHz 16bit audio channels are available - 9.1Gbyte disks, recording approximately 10, 20 or 40 on a central
although fewer can be used to increase recording time. An minutes depending on file size and image complexity. An media server for
optional unit accepts up to three disk packs for editing and SCSI bus connector is provided to connect an external enterprise -wide
broadcasting in the studio. RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disk drives) system. access.

ft:Mit

Avid Media
Avid New§Calter Sy§leftt ItttoitloSytl@rti

4.8446 X

Pm
Avid Ait Sy§wffi

. 0 . 4.11, 4 *

odiAbot

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1071

BROADCAST

LL'
03:34:5412 n°
Altus Al IN

nthab bit
A2IN A3 IN MIN =

brit) b*

PC HOST INTERFACE CONTROL INTERFACE DIGITAL VIDEO/AUDIO COMPRESSION

Video in
REM14 I# RS232 #1 Control panel Audio level Video out
EXTERNAL
Audio in 4 INPUTS
REM24 I# RS232 #2 TC in AND
Ref in
REM34 I# RS422 or 485
SCSI I/F OUTPUTS
REM44 I# GPI (General Purpose Interface) SCSI I/F

,ISA BUS INTERFACE ISA BUS INTERFACE \--LISA BUS INTERFACE

ISA BUS

AV DISK DRIVE

SCSI I/F
Altus provides comprehensive control facilities and inputs and outputs. It
also offers potential for expansion via a pc interface or SCSI.
VIDEO PLAYBACK

Frame n Frame n
DIRECTORY OF
STORED CLIPS

Frame 4D 1
Frame 48
Frame n /
Frame 3D Frame 3B
Frame 2D Frame 2B
Frame 1D Frame 1B
PLAY LIST 1 PLAY LIST 2
Frame 4A
Frame 3A
Frame 2A
Frame 1A Frame 3A Frame 3C
Frame 2A Frame 2C
Frame 1A Frame 1C
Frame n

Frame 4B Frame 3B Frame 2B

Frame 36
Frame 28
Frame 1B

Recordings are
First digital video tape for domestic use
stored as clips in The first digital tape format for the consumer market is
Frame n / Digital Video Cassette, created by a consortium of
a directory and
can be played in manufacturers. It is intended to be all -encompassing, with
any sequence of four variations. The Standard Definition version records
frames according analogue tv broadcasts and camcorder uses, including
Frame 4C
to play lists. professional acquisition. The High Definition version covers
Frame 3C
Frame 2C
applications of the standard, plus industrial and medical
Frame 1C
applications. The two remaining versions are for directly
recording compressed digital broadcasts from the American
ATV high definition system and the European DVB system.
With this breadth of usage in mainly cost conscious
Frame n /
markets, tape was the obvious choice due to its high
storage capacity and low cost.
Specifications for ATV and DVB have yet to be
Frame 4D finalised. Those for the SD version include a newly
Frame 3D developed double layer metal evaporated tape, 6.35mm
Frame 2D wide, in small and large cassettes giving up to 1 and 4.5
Frame 1D hours; component recording with 5:1 compression; a 2 -
head drum rotating at 9000rev/min recording 12 tracks per
frame in PAL (10 in NTSC), with a track pitch of lOpm;
16 and 12 bit PCM audio modes; and a Copy Management
System.

1072 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 BROADCAST

RECORDING PATTERN
Sub Code sector
signal is recorded)
Recording
arrangement of
Video sector the standard
(Video signal is recorded)
definition Digital
The basic recording mechanism for Tape direction E> Video Cassette
digital VCR is the same as that for format, showing
analogue VCR. The digital signal is Audio sector
recorded using a helical scanning
system. However, the recording
pattern for digital VCR is different.
00000 (Audio signal is recorded)
T sectpr
(Tracking signal, etc. are recorded)
how the tracks
are laid down in
sectors by the
two -head drum.
To record 10 (NTSC) or 12 (PAL) tracks One frame: 10 tracks for NTSC
on one frame, the digital VCR drum 12 tracks for PAL
rotates at 9000rpm (for both NTSC and
PAL). This is five times faster than
analogue VCR drum rotation.

Heads
RECORDING MECHANISM

Drum
Tape direction c> Tape direction E>

FE head is not needed

Top view Side view

DVCPRO differs in using more robust metal particle linear hybrids, capable of editing with video recorders and
tape, which is run at double speed to increase track pitch to hard disk.
18pm, and the addition of a control track and cue channel. Non-linear editors are available as either plug-in boards
The HD version uses metal -evaporated ME tape run at and software or a complete computer system. A new trend
double speed to record twenty 10p m tracks per frame. is systems packaged for specific uses. One of the main
Horizontal resolution is about 500 lines for SD - 25% focuses is on news, with systems from Avid, Lightworks
greater than Hi8/S-VHS - and 600 lines for HD, with and Quantel.
double the vertical resolution. Sony's new system is intended for live broadcasts: two
channels of hard disk storage provide quick replay and
Developments in video editing editing of highlight scenes while the live video continues
Tape based video editing is a laborious process requiring to be recorded. An endless recording capability enables
scenes to be copied from player(s) to a recorder in real- recording until the disk is full and then re-recording from
time. Each scene has to be found by winding the tapes. the beginning. It can store up to one hour of video with
This is linear editing. Recently non-linear editing has been 160kB per frame, 6:1 JPEG compression. The JPEG file
developed to exploit the random access facility of hard size are selectable from 60:1-6:1. Additional drives can be
disks. installed to expand capacity to five hours.
In non-linear editing, the video and audio is digitised, JPEG is a popular method of compression, but it does
usually compressed, and transferred to disk. Each scene is rely on large, fast hard disks to function at speed. Eidos'
represented on -screen by a still, and these scenes can be new system takes a different approach, employing
instantly accessed in any order, rearranged, trimmed, the removable 1.3Gbyte magneto -optical discs, as well as hard
audio edited, and effects and captions added. If it is not disks. This change is made possible by Eidos' proprietary
right it can be returned to a previous 'undo' level - instead compression engine, Optimizer, which is more efficient
of starting again as with tape. And systems can be than JPEG and thus compensates for the lower
networked for several editors to work at once. performance of MO discs. This can be swapped as easily
The completed programme can then be output to tape, as tape cassettes.
disk or to air. Alternatively, the computer can generate an Non-linear editing began in the broadcast field and is
edit decision list which tape machines can use for working its way down through professional applications to
automatic linear editing. Some systems are linear/non- consumers - with their lower quality requirement.

1.16.4t (.4.4.....Avv,
Nwyvluv Ntwlitrit ID§
i.wo.mumbrn
1.:04#1i ot.4.4
I 11 Ntto5Sox 165
co
rffil
Typical use of
non-linear editing
laurwklA0 arvw systems for news
productions, with
sto. tolWaif
04.4 LUVW
AI° Quantel
Newsbox edit
<1011VITC1 Jrm.,WArk suites networked
with a clipbox
server to all other
facilities.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1073

DESIGN BRIEF

Is
matching
easy? Maching a load to a source or vice With this, the design minimum value of the
On the surface, matching 1 ersa ensures that the maximum pos- load is about 30 or more times the internal
a circuit's output to the sible power will be transferred, as resistance - overload protection devices would
stated by the well known Maximum Power trip long before the matched load condition
next one's input appears Theorem. were met.
straightforward, but as In electronic signal processing, the matched
condition is usually preferred, but this is not Matching standards
Ian Hickman shows, this necessarily so in other applications. For In the design phase of electronic modules
important technique can instance, internal resistance - 'source resis- where matching is important, such as tv cam-
tance' - of a new 1.5V cell is around the 152 era signal processing chains, telephony cable
be a source of loads of level, whereas the resistance of a 1.5V 300mA repeaters, radio receivers and a variety of
problems. lens -end flashlight bulb is 50 when lit. This transmitters, extensive use is made of test
ensures that five sixths of energy supplied by equipment such as signal generators, spectrum
the cell finishes up where it is wanted, pro- analysers etc.
ducing light. In the matched case, a 1S2 bulb Sources are designed to produce an accu-
might produce more light, but 50% of the rately known output level, such as -10dBm,
energy would be wasted simply warming up into a matched load. A -10dBm level is a level
the battery. If you want extra light, it makes of -10dB relative to a power of 1mW delivered
more sense to use more cells in series and a to a matched load, or 100pW. In telephony,
higher bulb voltage, which still only draws where a 60052 impedance system is common,
300mA. 1mW corresponds to 0.775Vrms.
In other cases, a source is, by design, simply Telephone engineers often define OdBm as
incapable of supplying a matched load, a good meaning 1mW in 60052. But the more com-
example being a 660MW turbo -alternator. mon usage is to define it as 1mW in whatever
the system design impedance is. This corre-
sponds to 225mV in a 5052 system, common
Binomial theorem in if equipment, 273mV in 750, common in
If RI_ in Fig. la) increases by 1% to 1.0152, then total circuit resistance - Rs tv baseband signal working, or 387mV in
being 1 S2 - increases by 0.5%. Thus current decreases by 0.5%. Power P 1500, in twisted pairs in underground cables.
dissipated in RL is given by P=i2RL. If i decreases by 0.5%, then i2 decreases In radio -frequency testing, a module's input
by 1%. But RL has increased by 1%, so the product is - virtually to a first port is commonly driven by a signal generator
order - unchanged. This is a result of the Binomial Theorem, but can equally with a purely resistive output impedance of
be verified by working out i2RL=(2/(1+1.01))2x1.01 on a pocket calculator. 500, and its output port is terminated in the
500 resistive input impedance of a spectrum
Some results from the Binomial theorem: analyser. In the case of the module's input,
(1+8)2=1+28 (1-8)2=1-28 power delivered to it will be very close to that
(1+8)-1=1-8 (14-1=1 +8 delivered to a 5052 resistor. This occurs even if
(1+8)n=1+n8 (1-8)11=1-n8 the module's input impedance departs fairly
(1 +8) -n=1 -n8 (1-8)-"=1 + n8 markedly from 500 resistive.
This is illustrated in Fig. 1 a) and b), where
Note that these results only apply if 8<<1 and n is smallish, so that second things have been normalised to unity, i.e. a
order and higher terms are insignificant. generator with a 1f2 source delivering 1W to a

1074 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 DESIGN BRIEF

nominal 10 load. For reasons explained in thesame sign - positive for inductances and neg- RL varies with the value of RL for a series of
panel, provided Rs=151, the power in the load ative for reactances. different values of Rs from 0.25-2g. Source
is close to IW even if RL varies. If RL is one emf behind Rs is 2V as in Fig. la) - call this
third of an ohm, or 352, power in the load is Conjugate matching Case I.
750mW, or only -1.25dB for a voltage stand- Using Fig. lc), assume that reactance of induc- When Rs is 152, maximum power naturally
ing wave ratio of 3:1. However, although tive component Ls of the source equals that of results in a matched 10 load. This curve is the
power in the load is not very sensitive to vari- the capacitive component CL of the load at the same as in Fig. lb). In accordance with the
ations in RL, power dissipated internally in the frequency of the sinewave source ESOURCE. In maximum power theorem, when Rs equals
source, and hence total power supplied by the this case the two cancel each other out, power 0.250 - top curve - maximum power of 4W
2V ideal generator, varies markedly. Figure 1 in the load being determined purely by the occurs in the load when its value is also
b) shows that total power supplied by the 2V values of Rs and RL. This is known as the con- 0.25g. To a nominal 10 load, an Rs of 0.250
generator varies from 4W for a short circuited jugate matched condition and can only occur delivers 2.56W or +4.1dB. Significantly, the
load, down to zero when RL equals infinity. at the one frequency - conjugate matching is power changes rapidly for small deviations of
Figures la) and b) show the situation at 0Hz, inherently narrow band. For this reason, signal RL from unity. Likewise, when Rs is 252, max-
or dc, where the effect of any incidental reac- generators are designed such that is as 4 imum power of 0.5W occurs in a 2L load,
tive terms in Rs and RL can be ignored. The nearly as possible purely resistive, any Ls or while when RL is 152, output is -3.5dBW.
maximum power theorem applies equally at Cs being ideally zero. A similar comment Case I applies where source emf is what it
ac, but with the added complication that in applies to the input impedance of measuring should be - twice the voltage across a
general we are dealing with impedances rather instruments, such as power meters and rf spec- matched load - but source resistance Rs is
than pure resistances. This is shown in Fig. trum analysers. incorrect. This corresponds to the case of a
1c), where inductive and capacitive compo- If 4
in Fig lc) is purely resistive and equal signal generator where the output impedance
nents are shown in Rs and RL respectively. to the system design impedance, power in the defining resistor is damaged. The instrument is
However, it could equally well be the other load is relatively independent of its exact otherwise unchanged from new, perhaps a
way round, or both reactances could be of the value. But what if the dotted line in Fig. lc) rather unusual case, or perhaps due to the
had been drawn horizontally? This makes inadvertent application of rf power to the sig-
V=2 AL 4
what is now the load (exactly a say) and nal generator's output.
Rs + RL variable ZL is now the source resistance.
1= E Considering the dc case, power in a fixed
Rs + RL load of 10 as Rs varies from zero to infmity is Where output impedance is poor
Rs now given by the vertical distance between the A different set of circumstances arises in Case
curve and the sloping line of Fig. lb). If Rs II. A module with a poor output impedance
varies, power in the load varies wildly, even if has been set up to deliver its rated output to a
the load is a pure resistance equal to the sys- resistive load equal to the system design
Load tem design impedance. Is this important? The impedance, for example 5052. In this case,
RL following cautionary tale shows that it is. internal emf ESOURCE will have been effec-
tively adjusted - in terms of the normalised
Is matching input to output enough? circuit of Fig. 1 - to something other than 2V,
Some years ago, the company I worked for so as to deliver 1W into a 10 load. Thus if Rs
ov was developing modules for an advanced all - is lower than 10, ESOURCE will have been set
Fig. la). Normalised source and load, illustrating band surveillance receiver. One engineer to less than 2V, and to more than 2V if higher.
the maximum power theorem. designed the front-end half -octave filter mod- Power delivered to the load RL, as a function
ule, another the rf amplifier and first mixer of the value of RL for various values of Rs, is
module, another the first IF and so on through shown in Fig. 3.
the second and third mixers an IFs. Since ESOURCE has been adjusted to deliver
The design aim was that during servicing, 1W into 152, whatever the value of Rs happens
73
replacing any or all of the modules should to be, all curves pass through 1W when RL is
a leave the overall performance within specifi- 10. But only in the case where Rs equals 10
2 cation. To this end, a voltage standing wave is the curve horizontal for RL of 152. This
a ratio tolerance was placed on the input and gives the relative independence of load power
a
0
output impedance of each module. versus RL that obtains when the value of Rs is
As development progressed, insertion loss or correctly set at the nominal system impedance.
RL (ohms) gain of each module was checked using a sig- Nevertheless, the variations of power deliv-
0.5 1.5 2 V (volts) nal generator and spectrum analyser, or a net- ered with variation of both Rs and RL are
work analyser, as available. The analyser was much less in this case than Case I, permitting
Fig. lb). Power in the load resistor R1 as a
also used to check port impedances. Thus the results for Case II to be plotted in Fig. 3
function of its value, when RS equals the design
system impedance of 1S2 (curve) and total
module inputs were driven from a respectable with a vertical scale twice that of Fig. 2.
power supplied by the generator (sloping line). 5052 source, and their output checked with a
faultless 5052 load. Nevertheless, complete Matching in filter designs
zs receivers exhibited a range of performance Correct matching is particularly important
which was outside the specification limits. where filters are concerned, as the following
Unlike the situation on test where each mod- illustrates. Some time in the '80s, my then
ule port is connected to a 5051 interface - at boss had a crisis with the company's new hf
ZL
the interface between modules in use - both receiver - which was already over budget and
port impedances could be different from 500. overdue. The 20-30MHz sub -octave filter was
Graphs documenting this effect have far too narrow, and excessively lossy to boot.
appeared in an issue of the Marconi house "It's got to be fixed, but don't spend more than
magazine but I have failed to unearth it. So I a week on it, even if the conclusion is that we
Fig. 1c). In the ac case, source and load worked it out again for the simplified case have to relax the specs."
reactance must be taken into account. Source to where both Rs and RL vary, but both are resis- Having spent the rest of the morning getting
the left of the dotted line, load to the right. tive. Figure 2 shows how power in the load the necessary test equipment together, I was

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1075

 DESIGN BRIEF

5 2.5
Rs = 0.25
0.5
0.75
4

-ID 2.0

riin_
1.0 1.5
1.25 1.75
3 1.5
to CD 1.75 2.0

um=
2 1.0 11011111166***--

e,b..
MI 0.5

0
----.-
Rs = 0.25 0.5
0.75 1.0
1 25 1.5

05 10 20 RL 0 0.5 10 20 00 RL
00 20 10 05 0 1 /11L 2.0 10 05 0 1/FIL
Fig. 2. Power in load resistor Ri as a function of its value, showing Fig. 3. Power in the load resistor R1 as a function of its value, showing
curves for several different values of R5. Source emf EsouRcE is as in curves for several different values of Rs. Source emf EsouRcE adjusted to
Fig. la). give 1W into a 1S1 load resistor RI, for each value of 14.

able to report half way through the afternoon presented a good low voltage -standing -wave ed at all, the circuit strays equalling the design
that the filter was now working fine. So it ratio input. But before getting there, output of value of the filter's final shunt capacitor. But
should, for it was a seven pole elliptic design the 20-30MHz filter, when selected, had to in the end I settled for 1.8pF, to avoid Coo on
straight out of the reference. pass through a number of band -select relays the circuit diagram being shown as OpF.
Checking the values on the circuit diagram and board tracking - which looked distinctly The final capacitor in the 15-20MHz was
confirmed that the engineer who had designed capacitive. As far as the filter was concerned, also reduced in value somewhat, the lower fre- I
it had done his denonnalising sums right. this capacitance was part of the load, which quency filters being in spec. due to the much
Capacitors on the board were also all correct, should have been purely resistive but wasn't. larger values of their final capacitors.
and the coils all capable of being tuned by Reducing the value of the final shunt capac-
means of their slugs to the correct inductance. itor in the filter effected an improvement, and Reference
Output of the filter module was normally further reduction made it better still. In the Geffe, P R., 'Simplified Modern Filter Design'
connected to the rf/first mixer module, which end, it turned out that no capacitor was need- Iliffe Books Ltd, London 1964.

JOHN MORRISON
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Part Price Part Price Part Price Part Price Part Price Part Price Part Price Part Price Part Price Part Price
AAY32 9P BD265 45p BFY90 45p MJ2501 100p 2N2102 50p 7815 25p TIC236D 85p AN315 210p 8A6209 85p LA4110 120p
AC107 40p BD267 45p BLY48 85p MJ2955 55p 2N2218A 24p 7818 25p 12A/400V AN316 350p BA6304 120p LA4120 270p
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80536 38p BU208AT 200p
BC171
BC172
1Gp
10p BD537 40p BU208D 130p
R2008B
R2010B
100p
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2N3772
2N3773 9"
100p
LEDs 17088
17089
200p
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AN5521
AN5612
100p
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CA3189E
CA3193E
230p
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LA5112
LA5523
200p
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BC177 14p BD538 40p BU209 90p S2000A3 175p 2N3799 18p 3mm 17127 200p AN5613 200p CA3260E 170p LA5527 150p
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40p
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12p
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"
Op
COMPUTER ICs AN5722
AN5730
140p
160p
CX141
X145
CX1508
725p
325p
LA7224
LA7505
150p
250p
280ACPU 100p AN5732 120p CX175 325p LA7507 250p
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BC212L 7p BD680 40p BU408 60p TIP30 25p 2N5241
.,,92.,P RECTANGULAR Z8OACTC 140p AN5763 450p X804A 775p LA7620 500p
BC2I 3 7p 80681 45p BU408D 75p TIP30C 25p 2N5245 '"'''
45p LEDs
280AS10-1 210p AN5790 240p CX867 575p LA7800 90p
BC213L 7p BD682 45p BU409 85p TIP31A 22p 2N5294 30p 5mm x 2.5mm 280AS10-2 210p AN5791 225p CX868 525p LA7801 100p
BC2I 4 7p BD705 50p BU426A 70p TIP31C 27p 2N5296 30p RED 5p 75107 65p AN5836 450p CX877 300p LA7802 300p
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350p
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BC303 20p BD897 50p BU508A 70p TIP35C ..6°_,P RECTIFIER
"''.' DIODES 4N38 68p 75195 185p AN6332 320p HA1388 320p LC7132 400p
BC304 25p 80899 50p BU508AF 95p TIP36C 65p 2114 150p AN6341 200p HA1389 210p LC7137 450p
BC327 7p BD977 50p BU508D 75p TIP41A 20p 8Y127 2532 200p AN6344 440p HA1392 120p LF347 110P
7p BU5080F .13! BRIDGE
BC328
BC337 7p
BDX33
BDX65
60p
80p BU508V
115p
110p
TIP41C
TIP42A
22p
20p
BY133
BV164
'''
40p RECTIFIERS 2716
2732
100p
200p
AN6350
AN6359
610p
500p
HA1394
HA1397
170p
200p
LF353
LF355
48p
60p
BC338 7p BDW24 55p BU508VF 100p TIP42C 22p BY179 35p W005 16p 2732A 220p AN6360 320p HA1398 240p LF357 70p
BC441 28p BDW93 50p BU526 75p TIP47 40p BY184 32p 1A/50V 2764 150p AN6362 400p HA11219 280p LF398 300p
BC446 Bp BDW94 50p BU536 100p TIP48 40p BY206 11p WO1 18p 27C64 200p AN6371 350p HA11221 180p LM301 26p
BC477 18p BDY92 100p BU546 125p TIP50 60p BY207 9p 1A/100V 27128 150p AN6387 480p HAI 1225 130p LM311 35p
BC516 22p BF137 35p BU608 120p TIP51 80p BY227 19p W02 19p 27256-25 150p AN6884 200p HA11235 120p LM319 165p
BC537 25p BF167 30p BU626 120p TIP52 80p BY228 28p 1A/200V 27512 300p AN7105 170p HAI 1251 190p LM324 30p
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BC547 BF183 20p BU706DF 175p TIP105 65p BY299 18p 1A/400V 4164-15 80p AN7114 120p HA11724 650p LM339 35p
BC548 8p BF195 7p BU706F 150p TIP106 65p BY448 20p WO6 23p 4164-12 90p AN7115 110p HA12002 220p LM348 50p
BC549 Op BF199 Op BU801 70p TIP107 65p BYX10 15p 1A/600V 41256-15 80p AN7116 90p HA12003 250p LM358 45p
BC550 8p 80200 16p BU806 70p TIP110 40p BYX55/600 25p WO8 28p 41256-12 100p AN7120 100p HA12005 180p LM380 80p
BC556 Op BF225 30p BU807 60p TIP111 40p BYX70/500 1A/800V 41256-10 110p AN7130 75p HA12017 100p LM381 150p
BC557 7p BF240 16p BU902 110p TIP112 35p 0A47 10p 00810 33p 41464-12 150p AN7140 170p HA13001 110p LM382 130p
BC558 Op BF245 25p BU903 110p TIP112H 50p °M1 10p 2A/100V 6116 80p AN7145 195p HA13002 200p LM386 60p
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BC560 13p BF255 12p BU922 110p TIP116 30p N4001 3p 2A/200V 62256-12 300p AN7154 180p HA13007 400p LM393 45p
BC637 20p BF256 18p BU930 130p TIP117 30p N4002 3p BR84D 37p 6502A 360p AN7156 240p HA13108 350p LM431 50p
BC639 20p BF257 18p BU2508A 130p TIP120 37p N4003 3p 2A/400V 65CO2 930p AN7168 200p HAI 3412 600p LM710 45p
BC640 20p BF259 18p BU2508AF 130p TIP121 35p N4004 3p BR86D 43p 6522 280p AN7178 180p HA13432 400p LM723 40p
BCY33 200p BF262 25p BU25080 130p TIP122 30p N4005 3p 2A/600V 6800 210p AN7222 75p HA17524 250p LM741DIL 18p
BCY34 200p BF270 18p BU2508DF 150p TIP125 30p N4006 3p BR88D 43p 6802 220p AN7254 150p ICL7106 650p LM741MET 45p
BCY70 16p BF273 15p BU2520AF 225p TIP126 40p N4007 4p 2A/800V 680 500p AN7256 250p ICL7660 240p LM747 55p
BCY7I 16p BF311 21p BU2520DF 225p TIP127 35p N4148 2p BR32 43p 36808 500p AN7310 60p KA2102 150p LMI889 300p
BCY72 16p BF336 20p BU2525AF 325p TIP130 30p N5400 9p 2A/200V 6809 500p AN7311 90p KA2130 150p LM1894N 200p
80115 30p BF337 20p BUH515 200p TIP131 30p N5401 Sp BR34 43p 6810 150p AN7410 150p KA2206 150p LM3900 40p
BD124P 50p BF338 20p BUT11AF 55p TIP132 30p N5402 Op 2A/400V 6818 380p AY3-1015 290p KA2209 125p LM3909 100p
BD131 25p BF362 30p BUT12 80p TIP141 65p N5403 ilp 8836 44p 6821 130p AY3-1270 800p KA2210 230p LM3914 160p
BD132 25p BF367 13p BUT56A 75p TIP142 75p N5404 Op 2A/600V 6840 290p AY3-1350 450p KA2212 80p LM3915 160p
BD133 50p BF371 17p BU18 80p TIP145 50p N5405 11p 8062 80p 6845 200p AY3-8910 360p KA2213 130p LM3916 270p
BD135 20p BF421 18p BU18AF 80p TIP146 70p N5406 12p 6A/200V 6850 90p AY3-8912 400p KA2214 150p L200 200p
BD136 20p BF422 21p BUX10 150p TIP147 80p N5407 12p BR64 72p 8085A 300p BA301 55p KA2261 100p M4918131 500p
BD137 20p BF423 25p BUX11 200p TIP150 90p N5408 12p 6A/400V 8086 500p BA311 80p KA2263 100p M494B1 700p
80138 20p BF455 12p BUX12 150p TIP151 60p RGP15 25p BR251 150p 8088 480p BA313 60p KA2264 100p M50115P 320p
80139 20p BF458 19p BUX20 350p TIP2955 42p RGP30 16p 25A/100V 8156 300p BA333 80p KA2284 100p M50117P 500p
80140 20p BF462 50p BUX21 450p TIP3055 42p SKE4F2/06 60p BR252 165p 8224 240p BA401 60p KA2401 150p M50119P 525p
BDI44 90p BF471 28p BUX22 450p TIPL760 100p SKE4F2/08 80p 25A/200V 8226 240p BA402 50p KA2412 350p M50784 300p
BD157 38p 8F472 28p BUX37 220p TIPL763A 200p SKE4F2/10 100p BR254 185p 8250 750p BA511 145p KA2912 125p M50786 500p
BD166 30p BF479 30p BUX40 210p TIPL791A 80p SR2M 60p 25A/400V 8251 200p BA514 160p KA2914A 300p M50790 600p
BDI75 30p BF494 lop BUX41 200p TIS61 15p BR256 200p 8253 160p BA516 150p LA1130 240p M51161 300p
BDI77 30p BF495 16p BUX42 200p TIS90 25A/600V 8257 220p BA521 100p LA1150 150p M51381P 200p
BD179 32p BF595 18p BUX47A 220p TIS93 lop LC. SOCKETS
20p BR258 240p 8271 3400p BA524 240p LA1185 150p M51387P 800p
BD181 45p BF596 16p BUX48A 150p ZTX107 11p 8 PIN 5p 25A/800V 8279 270p BA526 180p LA1201 75p M51544 150p
BD182 60p BF615 30p BUX80 180p ZTX108 11p 14PIN Bp BR351 185p 8283 400p BA527 95p LA1210 140p M51848 150p
BD184 130p BF617 30p BUX84 50p ZTX109 12p 16PIN 7p 35V/100V 8284 440p BA532 100p LA1222 80p M54523P 200p
80187 30p BF760 40p BUX85 50p ZTX212 20p 18PIN 10p BR352 200p 8287 260p BA534 220p LA1230 130p M54563P 200p
80201 33p BF763 40p BUX86 30p ZTX300 10p 20PIN 12p 35V/200V 8288 650p BA536 150p LA1364 200p M58484 500p
B0202 38p BF870 22p BUX87 50p ZTX301 16p 22PIN 13p BR354 220p 8748 700p BA546 160p LA1365 120p 51516 260p
BD203 42p BF871 22p BUX98A 350p ZTX302 10p 24PIN 14p 35V/400V 8755 800p BA612 120p LA1368 220p 51518 200p
BD204 42p BF960 38p BUY69A 200p ZTX303 20p 28PIN 16p BR356 230p 8726 95p BA656 110p LA1385 170p B3712 140p
BD222 31p BF961 35p BUY71 250p ZTX304 10P 40PIN 18p 35V/600V 8728 110p BA658 350p LA2000 150p M83713 130p
BD225 31p BF964 38p BUZ11 200p ZTX320 20p13; BR358 260p 8A684 400p tA2101 270p MB3714 270p
BD232 31p BFR90 85p BUZ71 73n 2TX501 35V/800V BA685 400p LA2200 190p MB3715 250p
BD233 30p BFR91 99p BUZ80 200i. ZTX502 10p ZENERS BY164 LINEAR ICs
BA1310 160p
ZTX503 LA3160 120p MB3722 280p
80234 32p BFT43 30p 20p 190 400 mWatts 1 5A/100V 40p AN203 210p BA1320 75p LA3210 65p MB3730 160p
25p
BD235
BD236
28p
30p
BFX29
BFX84
20p
20p
8Y448
11
C106D 25P
28p
=,_
0E4
2N697 326pp
2V7 to 39V
t3 watts
5p BY176
1 5A/800V 40p
AN210
AN214Q
165p
170p
BA1330
BA1360
120p
160p
LA3300
LA3301
140p
110p
MB3731
B3756
220p
160p
BD237 21p BFX85 20p IRF630 1.av,' 2N698 40p 2V7 to 39V 9p AN228 280p BA4403 220p LA3361 100p M83759 200p
BD238 24p BFX87 15p J174 2N78 22p AN252 150p BA5101 350p LA3375 300p 88719 360p
BD239 30p BFX88 15p J300
...r.P TRIACS
.',7) 2N914 28p VOLTAGE AN259 250p BA5102 140p LA4030 180p MC1455 45p
BD240 40p BFX89 60p MJ900 200p 2N930 TIC206D 60p AN262 140p BA5204 200p LA4031 140p MC1496 65p
BD241A 40p BFY50 14p MJ1000 200P
18P REGULATORS
2N1131 28p 4A/400V AN27 1 230p BA5402 180p LA4032 140p MC3401 45p
BD243A 50p BFY51 14p MJ1001 200p 2N1132 28p 7805 25p TIC225D 69p AN274 250p BA5406 180p LA4051 160p E555 20p
BD244 50p BFY52 14p MJ10012 300p 2N1613 24p 7806 25p 6A/400V AN301 330p BA5408 180p LA4100 85p NE556 40p
BD245 50p BFY56 25p MJ15003 250p 2N1711 24p 7808 25p TIC226D 68p AN303 250p BA6104 250p LA4101 80p E558 80p
BD246A 50p BFY64 25p MJI5004 300p 2N1893 30p 7812 25p 8A/400V AN304 360p BA6208 175p LA4102 100p NE565 110p

IR( LE NO. 1410N REPLY CARD

1078 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

NEW PRODUCTS C _ASSIFIED
Please quote "Electronics World + Wireless World"when seeking further information

are in different memories, so that

ACTIVE separate buses are used to fetch and

execute in one cycle. There is 2K/14
on -chip programmable memory. Polar
Electronics. Tel., 01525 377093; fax,
01525 378367.
Arrays
5Mgate asics. Up to five million gates Graphics accelerator. Advance
and 10Mbyte of memory, or nearly 50 Logic introduces the ALG2046 dram -
million transistors can be shoe -horned based, 64 -bit PCI graphics
into the G10 series of asics from LSI accelerator, which contains graphics
Logic; to point these figures up, LSI engine, d -to -a converter, clocks and
say that such a density is equivalent BIOS in the one 208 -pin package;
to more than eight Intel P6s. Gate with two 256K/16 drams, the
delays are down to 50ps. There is a accelerator forms a complete
library of complex elements such as graphics sub -system that can be up-
three -transistor memory structures graded by simply increasing memory
and mixed -signal circuitry providing to 2Mbyte. Silicon Concepts Ltd. Tel.,
12 -bit and 270MHz data conversion. 01428 751617; fax, 01428 751603.
LSI Logic Europe plc. Tel., 01344
426544; fax, 01344 481039. Graphics controller. CL-GD5436 is
the fastest of Cirrus's dram -based
Fpgas. Xilinx offers the XC8100 graphics controllers, having a 64 -bit
family of field -programmable cmos graphics engine and enhanced bit-
gate arrays using the company's BLT capability with larger, double -
Micro Via antifuse technique and sea - buffered registers for faster Memory chips
performance with Windows, NT and 2Mb/8 memory modules.
PASSIVE
of -gates architecture to provide
virtually 100% of 1000-9000 usable OS/2, in 24 -bit colour. Features EDI has introduced a 2Mb
gates. Logic cells are configurable to include a direct, glueless interface to by 8 sram having an access
carry out synchronous, combinational the PCIbus and the device supports time of 20-45ns. The
and three -state logic functions. extended burst cycles on the bus. It EDI8F82046C uses four
Supply is 5V and 3.3V. Xilinx Ltd. can be used with PowerPC and other 412/8 srams and is in a 36 -
Passive components
Tel., 01932 349401; fax, 01932 PCI-based systems as well as PCs. pin dip with a Jedec- Silver mica capacitors. ACL's D-15
349499. Graphics modes up to 1024/768 in approved pinout designed range of high -voltage, precision silver
true colour and 1280/1024 in 256 for noise immunity and mica capacitors are in resinous and/or
Microprocessors and colours. Cirrus Logic Inc. Tel., 01727 easier up -grading. EDI (UK). clear epoxy and come in 100Vdc,
872424; fax, 01727 875919. Tel., 01276 472637; fax, 300Vdc and 500Vdc ratings, in values
controllers 01276 473748. in the 1-500pF, 1-820pF and 1-510pF
PICs with voltage comparators. 486 embedded processor. A family ranges respectively. Temperature
Microchip's PIC16C622 eprom-based of 486 processors intended for use in coefficient is 'low' and tolerance is
PIC has two analogue comparators, a equipment other than pcs is 0.25pF and 0.5%. Four operating
programmable voltage reference and announced by National classes are available, from -40°C to
the first 4V low -voltage protection to Semiconductor. The NS486 has a 85°C to -55°C to 150°C. Europa
be offered. It uses the risc-like three -stage pipeline, against the pc and burst -mode rom. Hitachi Europe Components & Equipment plc. Tel.,
architecture common to the series, version with five, and has no co- Ltd. Tel., 01628 585163; fax, 01628 0181-953 2379; fax, 0181-207 6646.
although here, the program and data processor. It does have extra 585160.
peripherals, including a dram
controller, programmable interrupt C -programmed controller. Greening Connectors and cabling
controller, lcd controller, PCMCIA Technology's Micro Genius Optical -fibre distribution. Molex
Audio processor. Philips offers controller, etc, and the device gives a microcontroller is smaller than a credit pre -terminated distribution panels for
the TDA/548Tsingle-chip audio compatible 486 instruction set, a 32 - card and costs £65 for one off. optical fibres provide high -density
processor, which includes bit core, 25MHz working and 12mips Programmed in C, it has 14 connections and versatility and avoid
Bitstream filters for digital de - performance. Power -saving modes configurable i/o lines, an RS232 port, the need for splicing on site. Each
emphasis, volume and tone are provided. National Semiconductor 32K of sram, up to 512K of eprom or panel takes 144 fibres and is mounted
control, Bitstream d -to -a GmbH. Tel., 0049 1805 32 7832 256K flash eprom, a watchdog timer, in a 19in or 23in relay rack; a
converters and headphone psu and an analogue input. It can selection of adaptor interfaces
amplifiers, providing all audio 16 -bit microcontrollers. Hitachi has hold up to 20000 lines of C code, provides flexibility in configuring the
functions needed for CD, MD and the H8S series of 16 -bit devices, including multitasking and access to a system. Molex Electronics Ltd. Tel.,
DC personal stereo players. It is which achieve 10Dhrystone mips at C library. In development, the 01420 477070; fax, 01420 478185.
compatible with 12S or LSB- 5V with a 20MHz clock, a multiply or controller is connected to a pc and
justified serial input data and multiply -and -accumulate instruction code compiled to flash eprom on the
provides 1.7Vpk-pk audio into taking 200ns, and provides 67mips/W board. Greening Technology Ltd. Tel., Displays
320. Low voltage and the at 2.7V (48 at 5V). Power savings 0116 2796500; fax, 0116 2796501. Better lcd. Crystaloid has improved
avoidance of the processing have been obtained by making some the readability of liquid -crystal
needs of purely digital volume of the internal clock -driven functions displays. In earlier types, the
and tone controls reduces power into event -driven logic circuits, not Optical devices indium/tin oxide electrodes carrying
requirements from the 3V battery needing a constant clock input. Led strips. Board -mounting strips of current in the display have a tendency
pack. Two external components - Benefits are lower switching five, six or nine 3mm leds on 0.25in to reflect light, making inactive
capacitors for analogue post frequencies, giving lower power centres are introduced by Lumek. segments of the display appear
filtering -a further decoupling consumption, and lower emi; power They are flexible, can be divided into active. Crystaloid has a new index -
capacitor and three dissipation is 75mW at 10MHz. smaller sections and are available in matching technique in which a coating
potentiometers are needed for a Peripherals provided include a 1MHz any combination of red, super red, is applied over all the areas to match
full stereo output. Philips 10 -bit a -to -d converter, a 32 -bit data yellow, green or amber, light intensity the reflections, so that contrast in the
Semiconductors (Eindhoven). transfer controller needing no cpu or lens type, with bi-colours as an reflections is virtually zero. The
Tel., 00 31 40 722091; fax, 00 31 intervention or dma controller and an option. Lumek Opto/Components Inc. technique also eliminates short
40 724825. enhanced memory interface capable Tel., 001 708 359-2970; fax, 001 708 circuits caused by 'dc plating', since
of accessing fast page -mode dram 359-8904. the coating avoids migration between

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1079

NEW PRODUCTS CLASSIFIED

Please quote "Electronics World + Wireless World"when seeking further information

electrodes. Ginsbury (UK) Ltd. Tel., Coating thickness meter. Tor 488-2 (0X8627) communication for
01634 290903; fax, 01634 290904. Technologies offers the PosiTector control or output. Metrix UK Ltd. Tel.,
100, which is a hand-held coating 01256 311877; fax, 01256 23659.
Touch screens. Lucas Control thickness gauge that uses ultrasonics
announce a range of Duralith touch to measure coatings on concrete, Waveform analyser. Nicolet's new
screens, in six sizes to fit most Icds. A lacquer, varnish, paint, ceramic 2580 waveform analyser is a
reduced layer allows a high degree of glazing, etc. Operation is by two complete system for multichannel
light transmission and the screens buttons, since there is no need to transient recording and analysis; it
can be easily modified to take select coating or substrate and the has a 486 processor, a large colour
overlays, bezels, shielding and filters instrument is auto -calibrating, also display and Windows -based software.
for emi/rfi and esd protection. Layers providing audible and visual alarms It takes the form of a mainframe with
of both analogue or matrix form are and switched imperial/metric plug -ins for up to 24 channels with a
available, in matt or semi -gloss readings. Optional statistical and number of input capabilities. Sampling
surface finish. Lucas Control Systems memory capabilities allow the storage rates are up to 10Msample/s and
Products. Tel., 01535 661144; fax, of up to 1500 readings in 99 groups, memory length up to
01535 661174. with maxima, minima, tolerances, 8Msample/channel. In the X direction,
average and standard deviation there is split timebase and several
5.5in colour lcd. NEC's 5.5in colour appearing on the display. There is an trigger modes to cope with
lcd operates over the -30°C to 85°C RS232 port and infrared connection to complicated waveforms and a high-
temperature range and is meant for the HP-IR printer. Tor Applied speed data transfer system allows the
use in vehicles and in industry for Technologies Ltd. Tel., 01455 display of waveforms within fractions
navigation displays and process 844114; fax, 01455 844116. of a second after acquisition.
monitors. Drive circuitry for the lcd Complete experiments, including the
and for rgb processing is built-in and Analogue/digital oscilloscope. use of external programs, are
an edge light gives luminance of 0X8620/8627 from Metrix are supported. Nicolet Technologies Ltd.
300cd/m2. Resolution is 320/240 combined 100MHz analogue and Tel., 01908 679903; fax, 01908
pixels. NEC Electronics (UK) Ltd. 40Msample/s digital instruments. 677331. Filters
Tel., 01908 691133; fax, 01908 Front panels are familiar, since the Inlet filters. Capable of being
670290. microprocessor interface allows the fitted to existing equipment,
use of rotary knobs and touch buttons Interfaces BLP's SF1020 inlet filter is a
with leds to confirm selection. Auto - PCMCIA interface. CardWize general-purpose type meeting
Hardware setup is provided, setups being stored announce the Card Genie, an IEC 320 and measuring 39.4mm
Rack with keyboard tray. To avoid at switch -off. They are both dual - interface unit connected by cable to a in length. Space is further saved
trailing leads and the difficulty of channel, dual-timebase instruments, serial or parallel PC port to allow the by placing the connectors on top
seeing the screen on an enclosed capturing and recording up to four use of flash or sram PCMCIA cards of the body, so that the filters
computer when the keyboard is waveforms , each having 8000 points; with a desk -top PC. It behaves as a occupy about the same area as a
remote, Optima has modified its 600 0X8627 also has glitch capture down standard dos drive, accepting the non -filtered type. Versions
sloped rack to take a keyboard tray. It to 5Ons. Stored data can be normal commands, and provides available handle 1A, 3A or 6A at
has a sunken area to take the processed in various ways in both simple data swapping between up to 250Vac. BLP Components
keyboard, whose leads go through a analogue and digital modes, and portables and desk -tops, or data Ltd. Tel., 01638 665161; fax,
hole at the back, the operator having there is RS232 (0X8620) and IEEE logging, in which it can replace 01638 660718.
a clear view of the screen through the printers in some applications.
panel of the 10U monitor section, Supplied software allows direct
which is sloped at 20°. Optima access to the card from the dos Gentech. Inrush current of the sensor
Enclosures Ltd. Tel., 01875 610747; Tv aerial measuring receiver. prompt, which allows non -dos data to is 5A at 20Vdc for 15ms and sensing
fax, 01875 612486. ME 900 is an addition to be read, a range of C library files range is up to 15g. They are board -
Grundig's range of measuring eases the incorporation of the mounted devices and contacts are in
receivers and is provided with a interface into embedded applications. Form A, B or C. Gentech International
Instrumentation 5.8in colour display. It is CardWize Data Solutions. Tel., 01635 Ltd. Tel., 01465 713581; fax, 01465
Power analyser. Voltech's PM100 designed for use in the 44.75- 524477; fax, 01635 524488. 714974.
power analyser measures V, I, power, 859.25MHz range, handling all
VA, reactive power, power factor, well-known television standards Eight -channel measurement. For Electromechanical components.
peak current, crest factor current and and having a 200 -programme connecting up to eight sensors of Rendar has published its 1995/6
voltage in waveforms from 0Hz to memory. Operation is by soft various types to a computer, IMS catalogue of connectors, cordsets,
250kHz. It also handles frequency key, or the analyser function produces the ADAM -4017 interface fans, switches, etc. New this time are
and inrush current and harmonic can be cursor -driven, when module, which can be supervised by 10A IEC320 power inlets, an
analysis to the 50th. A feature is the frequency -related values from the host computer via an RS -232/485 extended Stripbloc range and a chip
fact that V and I are directly the range analyser are read and link. It has an on -board processor to fan for Pentium processors. Rendar
connected to floating inputs, compared from the colour monitor sensors and either report Ltd. Tel., 01243 866741; fax, 01243
eliminating external current display. A clock and video readings or interrupt under alarm 841486.
transformers. Thurlby Thandar decoder are provided. A conditions; the eight differential
Instruments Ltd. Tel., 01480 412451; satellite section covers 910- analogue inputs go to a 16 -bit a -to -d
fax, 01480 450409. 2050MHz. Grundig AG. Tel., converter. Integrated Measurement Materials
0049 911/703 86 29; fax, 0049 Systems Ltd. Tel., 01703 771143; fax, Degreaser. From MMCC(UK) comes
911/70 96 87. 01703 704301. Biosane T212, which is a fast, cold -
process degreasing agent that is
environmentally and biologically safe.
Literature Its surface tension is 50% lower than
Network testing. Bisset offers the that of 1.1.1 Trichlorethane and it
Electrodata catalogue of test and dries quickly at room temperature. A
support equipment for data networks, further advantage is its high settling
MI 900 Mot Ant NNA
which describes hand-held power, which means that debris sinks
i illt 1,1 instruments such as line monitors, to the bottom of the tank so that
digital transmission testers, TI and El components do not have to go
analysers and interface test sets. through it, eliminating the vapour
4Fqxtli
Prominent is the E1 -Watcher, a low- rinse normally needed. It also
I
cost tester that monitors 2Mb/s data possesses a 99% recycling capability.
ammo NO, links used for Megastream, primary MMCC(UK) Ltd. Tel., 01707 336282;
diii rate ISDN and 12 -channel pcm. fax, 01707 336290.
it a !idol Bisset Communications Ltd. Tel.,
01582 792637; fax, 01582 792648. Metal -substrate pcbs. IMS is a
printed board on an insulated metal
Inertia sensors. Inertia/impact substrate, produced by the French
sensors using reed -switch techniques company CIRE. The material
are described in a publication from dissipates heat and provides

1080 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 NEW PRODUCTS CLASSIFIED

Please quote "Electronics World + Wireless World"when seeking further information

insulation between circuitry and metal, exhausting from one end and cold air
consisting of a single -sided pcb with at the other. Meech-ARTX Ltd. Tel.,
aluminium (or copper), thermally 01993 706700; fax, 01993 776977.
conductive electrical insulator, circuit
copper and a solder mask, the
aluminium being open to the air for Power supplies
cooling. Double -sided boards can be High -voltage. Farnell Hivolt has the
produced. Insulation depends on the first of the PSM10 Series of high -
material used and its thickness, but it voltage supplies for applications
can be up to 4.8kV. CIRE/BREE. Tel., needing a precise source. Current and
0033 38 30 53 62; fax, 0033 38 30 21 voltage monitoring is provided and
30. there is an output inhibit. Outputs are
2, 5, 10 and 15kV and the PSM10/202
and /153 provide positive or negative
Production equipment output of 10V-2kV at 5mA and 150V-
Solder paste inspection. Automatic 15kV at 666pA. Ripple is less than
solder paste inspection system, DEK 20mVpk-pk at 2kV and under 1.5Vpk-
Inspector 2 by Dek Printing Machines, pk at 15kV, with drift at under
has a set of new features to improve 50ppm/°C. For a ±2V change in the
its versatility without adversely 24V input, regulation is 0.1V at 2kV
affecting speed. It lifts boards off the and 0.75V at 15kV. Farnell Hivolt Ltd.
belt -feed transport rails, other boards Tel., 01234 841888; fax, 01234
continuing to travel forwards while the 824698.
selected one is inspected by a
combination of pattern recognition S -m regulator. With the aid of only
and laser scanning, as many areas of four external components, the Sanken
the board being inspected as possible SAI-01 surface -mounted power
until it is needed further along the line. regulator ic forms a complete Satellite terminal. Magnavox has
switched -mode power supply. It gives added to its range of satellite systems
Switches and relays
It then replaces the board, picks
another up and continues with next an output current of 0.5A at 5V from the MX4042, a desk -top Inmarsat Modular switches. Designed for
inspection area, adding to the original 7-33V, with 80mV stabilisation and terminal providing voice, 2400b/s fax mounting on pc boards, the
inspection database in each case. 30mV regulation. Switching frequency and data. It consists of a remote Secme Cosmos switches
Programming is effected by means of is 60kHz. Allegro MicroSystems Inc. antenna (up to 250ft of cable) and measure 12.3mm square, leads
a graphical/menu-driven screen and a Tel., 01932 253355; fax, 01932 two -wire dtmf desk set with handset, being on a 2.54mm pitch for
library of patterns, the user setting the 246622. signal strength bar graph, keypad and side -by -side mounting. Covers
areas to be examined and tolerances large lcd. Installed software helps to are removable and come in a
to observe. Flash lighting freezes High -current switcher. Having an find the satellite by means of a map range of colours and with
residual motion and special lighting output rated at 1.25A and switching at display on the lcd and synthesised numerous types of legend.
differentiates between paste and 40kHz, Cherry's CS -3972 is meant for voice prompts operation in English These switches withstand wave
pads, a laser measuring paste height. use in both computers and car and six other languages. Magnavox soldering and immersion
Dek Printing Machines Ltd. Tel., systems, in which it serves as the Electronic Systems Co. Tel., 001 310 cleaning, and the bases are
01305 760760; fax, 01305 760123. pulse -width control element in any of 618 1200. fully sealed. EAO-Highland
the standard forms of switching Electronics Ltd. Tel., 01444
Air nozzles. New company Meech- regulator. Input range is 3-60V and 236000; fax, 01444 236641.
ARTX is to manufacture air nozzles output up to 60V at 1.25A at a 50%
Transducers and
for swarf removal or cooling air, a new duty cycle. Undervoltage, thermal and sensors
design saving up to 90% of the current -limit protection is included. Annunciators. Appello
compressed air normally used and Cherry Semiconductor. Tel., 001 401 programmable voice annunciators
providing an air flow 25 times that 885-3600; fax, 001 401 885-5786. have been improved to provide better
given by a normal design. There is Internet info@cherry-semi.com. sound reproduction, more facilities
also a range of compressed -air and easier message creation and Current sensor. The Lem-Heme
powered vortex tubes to handle heat Frugal regulator. ZR78L05 is a 5V storage. Three versions give 16s LA125-P current sensor is for nominal
loads of 10000Btu/h and spot voltage regulator having a quiescent messages, two of 8s with alarm tones currents of 125mA and is pcb-
refrigeration to -40°, hot air current of 350pA, which is about one - and four of 64s in total. Options such mounted, providing 3kV isolation while
fifth that of standard 78L types, also as pause length and number of measuring direct, alternating or
providing regulation and stabilisation repetitions are defined by the user complex currents in the 0 to ±200A
to 200mA, an increase of 100% over and an external microphone input is range to within 0.6% of nominal.
standard. No external components are provided for improved recording of Bandwidth is 0-100kHz and the device
Mighty mouse. Interlink needed and the device is packaged in speech. Analogue inputs are stored will follow waveforms changing at
Electronics announces that SOT23 or low -profile TO92. Thermal directly in non-volatile memory, with 200A/ps. The primary current -carrying
DuraPoint, a fully sealed, overload shuts it down, operation no a -to -d conversion, a technique that conductor is passed through a 17mm
stainless steel, resistive pointing continuing after it has cooled. Zetex provides better quality and wider by 11mm hole in the housing. Lem
device for desk -top use, is now plc. Tel., 0161-627 5105; fax, 0161- bandwidth than often found in Heme Ltd. Tel., 01695 20535; fax,
available in Europe. It is 627 5467. conventional equipment, as well as 01695 50279.
impervious to fluids, other being cheaper and quicker. European
contamination, vibration and Radio communications Safety Systems Ltd. Tel., 0181 743 Tilt sensors. Absolute -encoded tilt
human beings, has no moving 8880; fax, 0181 740 4200. inclinometers in the A -ID by Control
parts or mechanical assemblies products Transducers give an output of
and therefore does not become Radio -controlled clock. Model Optical sensor. Omron claims its EE- 4096mV in lrny steps over a 360° arc
clogged up with filth from the RM913 alarm clock from Oregon SX1101 slotted optosensor to be the while turning continuously. Encoders
mouse mat. It uses the Scientific is radio controlled by the smallest transmissive type available, are of the optical absolute type,
company's VersaPoint 60kHz signal from MSF Rugby, which being contained in a housing needing no zero reference or resetting
technique, in which a touch on a itself is referred to a caesium standard measuring 4.3/4/5mm, with a 2mm and use a pendulum for gravity
button or joystick is transferred at the National Physical Laboratory. wide slot. For increased sensitivity reference. Control Transducers. Tel.,
to a force -sensitive resistor. Data carried by the transmission and reliability, a Fresnel lens focuses 01234 217704; fax, 01234 217083.
Consequently, direction of automatically sets time and date and more light at the detector, which is
cursor movement is determined copes with 30/31 -day months, either a phototransistor or photo-ic for
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on the button and speed of alarm brings on a backlight to the lcd photo diode, amplifier, voltage Video conferencing. Nokia offers an
cursor movement by the amount and a separate alarm is useful for regulator, Schmitt trigger and n -p -n integrated monitor, camera,
of force applied. Steadlands reminders during the day and there is output transistor. Both through -hole microphone and speakers for video
International Marketing, tel a second time zone. The clock is and surface -mounted versions are communication. MediaStation
01670 528200, fax 528212. battery -powered. Oregon Scientific. produced. Omron Electronics Ltd. includes the NVC-100 software codec
Tel., 0181 903 2886; fax, 0181 903 Tel., 0181 450 4646; fax, 0181 450 for video and audio telephony and is
2328. 8087. designed for both local and wide -area

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1081

NEW PRODUCTS CLASSIFIED

Please quote "Electronics World + Wireless World"when seeking further information

networks. The codec is a pc board member of the SPARCengine 5 adaptive dialling and full diagnostics. offered. Provision of a universal
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fax, 0046 87938441. 1.1 mips for networking, telecomms 332810. Electronics. tel., 01666 825146; fax,
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time. Now, for the first time, gang maximum of 44.1kHz. Strategic Test
programming of flash simm and and Measurement Systems Ltd. Tel.,
PCMCIA modules, up to 128Mb, is 01734 795950; fax, 01734 795951.

1082
ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995
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Hewlett Packard 3326A - two channel synthesiser £3750 2-20MHz £4700
Hewlett Packard 4948A - transmIssion impairment measunng set £2000 Hewlett Packard 83506- Sweep oscillator mainframe (plug -ins
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Hewlett Packard 3455A-612 digit muttimeter (autoscal) E750
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Hewlett Packard 19808-100MHz -2 channel -FIP18 programmable £750 Hewlett Packard 3575A - gas/phase meter 1Hz-13MHz £500 Hewlett Packard 8656A- Synthesised signal gen.
Hewlett Packard 8165A- 50MHz programmable signal source.. £1650 (100KHz-990MHz) £1750
Gould 5110 - 100MHz intelligent oscilloscope £950 Hewlett Packard 37466 - selective level measuring set £1750 Hewlett Packard 89018- Modulation analyser (150KHz-
Hewlett Packard 1707A, 171378- 75MHz dual ch....... ...... .................... from £275 Hewlett Packard 6002A- autoranging 50V -10A, PSU £650 1300MHz) £4250
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Hewlett Packard 54201A -300MHz digitizing £1750 Hewlett Packard 334A- distortion analyser. . £300 Hewlett Packard 89038 -Audio analyser (20Hz-100KHz) £3250
Hewlett Packard 541000- 1GHz digitizing .... ..... .... ............... £4950 Hewlett Packard 339A- distortion measuring set £1500 Marconi 2337A - Automatic dist. meter £150
Nicolet 3091- Low freq D.S.0 £1100 Hewlett Packard 5314A- (new) 100MHz universal counter £250 Marconi 8938 -A/F power meter E295
Philips 3295 - 350MHz dual ch £1500 Hewlett Packard 53508- (new) microwave frequency counter Marconi 2019A -60Kr-1z-1040MHz synthesised sig. gee £1950
Philips 3315 - 60MHz D.S.O. £750 (20GHz) £2500 Philips PM 5167- 10MHz function gen. £400
Anritsu ME462B - DS -3 transmission analyser £2000 Philips PM 5190- LF synthesizer w/th GPIB £800
Lecroy 140 -100MHz D.S.O. .... .... .. 13250
Philips PM 5565- Waveform monitor
Tektronix 468-100MHz D.S.0.. . Marconi 2305 - modulation meter £2500 £200
. .. £800
Tektronix 2213 - 60MHz dual ch. £425 Marconi 2871- data communications analyser C2003 Philips PM 5567- Vectorscope £600
Tektronix 2215 - 60MHz dual ch. £450 Marconi 6500 - automatic amplitude analyser £1750 Philips PM 8226 -6 -pee recorder £550
Tektronix 2225- 50MHz dual trace £450 Anritsu MG642A - Pulse pattern generator £1500 Phoenix 5500A - telecomms analyser with various interlace options
Tektronix 2235- 100MHz dual ch. (portable) Datalab DL 1080- Programmable Transient Recorder £350 12500
£800
Tektronix 2335- 100MHz dual ch. (portable) £750 Dation 1061 - Precision multimeter £650 Pow ersence- Power line analyser £1950
Tektronix 464/466- 100MHz. storage from £350 Dynapert TP20 - Intelliplace tape peel tester, immac. cored £1950 Race 9301A True RMS Fl/F millivoltmeter £300
Tektronix 465/46513-100MHz dual ch from £350 E.I.P. 331 - 18GHz frequency counter £850 Race Dana 1992 - 1300MHz frequency counter opts 48+55 E800
Tektronix 7313, 7603, 7613,7623,7633,- 100MHz 4 ch. from £300 E.I.P. 548A -frequency counter (26.5GHz) £3000 Race Dana 3100 40-130MHz synthesiser £750
Tektronix 7704- 250MHz 4 ch from £650 Fame!! TSV70 WI- Power Supply (70V -5A or 35V -10A) £225 Race Dana 9081 Synth. sig. gen. 520MHz . ....... £550
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Telequipment 068- 50MHz dual ch..... ..... .... ................... .... ...........£200 Heiden 1107 - 30v -10A Programmable power supply (IEEE) .. ......... Race Dana 9242D Programmable PSU 25V -2A £300
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Hewlett Packard 54501A- 100MHz Digitising -4 channel £1950 Hewlett Packard 3437A - System voltmeter £350 Race Dana 9303 True RMS/RF level meter £650
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lwatsu TS 8123- 100MHz Dig. Storage £850 Hewlett Packard 3490A- Digital multimeter £250 Schlumberger St 4040- Stabilock, high accuracy 1 GHz radio test set
Other scopes available too Hewlett Packard 3586A- SelectNe level meter £1750 £5950
Hewlett Packard 3711A/3712A/379113/379313 -Microwave link Schlumberger 4923- Radio Code Test Set £1500
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Marconi 2370 -110MHz 0995 Hewlett Packard 8011A - Pulse . 0.1Hz-20MHz £500 calibrator £1995
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Rohde .5 Schwarz - SVV013 5 Polyskop 0.1-1300MHz.. E2500 Hewlett Packard 81588 -Optical attenuator with opts 002 + 031 £1100 Time 9811 Programmable resistance £600
Schlumberger 1250 - Frequency response analyser ..... ...... ...... E2500 Hewlett Packard 86200 -Sweep oscillator mainframe MOO lime 9814 Voltage calibrator £750
Alltech 727 - 22.4GHz Hewlett Packard 8750A - Storage norrnaliser £375 Wayne Kerr N905 - Precision LCR meter £850
Alltech 70727- Tracking Generator fcr 727 (1010-tz- 12.4GHz) £2000 Hewlett Packard 3456A- Digital voltmeter E750 Wiltron 560 Scalar Network analyser £800
Polrad 641-1 - 10MHz-18GHz £1500 Hewlett Packard 8684A- 5.4GHz to 12.5GHz Sig Gen . C3500
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Hewlett Packard 37098 -Constellation Analyser with 15709A High Hewlett Packard 5356A- 18GHz Frequency Converter Head £450
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Advanbast 4133B- 11:41z -204H- (60GHz with ext mixers) £8995 Hewlett Packard 435A or B - Power Meter (with 8481A/8484A) GUARANTEE. PLEASE CHECK FOR AVAILABILITY
Eaton/Alitech 757- 10Kblz-22GHz £2750 from £750
Hewlett Packard 853A- with 8559A (0.1-1500MHz) £3500 Hewlett Packard 4953A- Protocol analyser £2995 BEFORE ORDERING - CARRIAGE
Hewlett Packard 853A with 8559A (0.01-21G11z) £4250 Hewlett Packard 5359A- Time synthesiser CP.O.A.
& VAT TO BE ADDED TO ALL GOODS
Hewlett Packard 8565A (0.01-22GHz) £4000 Hewlett Packard 5505A - Laser display £P.O.A.

CIRCLE NO. 144 ON REPLY CARD

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD +WIRELESS WORLD 1083

 RF DESIGN

Do you know
Foster -Seeley?
Amazed at the Despite the increasing use of phase -locked -loop centre frequency of the intermediate frequency band of
fm detectors, the Foster -Seeley discriminator the receiver... At resonance the voltage VI [VP] will be
widespread and its cousin the ratio detector still enjoy in quadrature with the voltages in each half of the sec-
misunderstanding widespread use.
Sadly, familiarity has bred contempt for the principles
ondary winding."3

of how the at work in this apparently simple circuit, top right. It is

still common to see descriptions of the operation of the
Foster -Seeley discriminator which refer - without qualification - to
Foster -Seeley
discriminator the 90° phase -shift which exists between the primary discriminator analysis
and secondary of a tuned transformer'.
works, Richard Yet such a phase shift only occurs under special cir-
Brice sets the cumstances. As a student, I found explanations of the jA-C = WC)+
circuit confusing. Rather than challenge the principles
record straight. given, I opted to believe that a phase shift must exist VA_B = V0(1+ jcoL Rk) cu2 L(1+ k)C)
between the primary and secondary voltage of all tuned
transformers. _v( j l+k (1+k)1
This fallacious belief was finally laid to rest when B (c)kL kR k )
some empirical investigations proved this was not the Vin =VA_B jaL(1+ k)(iA_c + ia-B)
case. A little research has uncovered that this confusing
explanation of the Foster -Seeley discriminator has a /1+ /CL (l+ k) CO2L(1+ k)C
long and distinguished history.
1+ k
"...operation is dependent on the 90° phase shift which =V° +ja>Z ar L(1+ k)C -1+ k
occurs at resonance between primary and secondary
(1+ k)2 (1+k)2
voltages of a tuned transformer."' -jam + (02 LC
kR k
"It will be seen that both primary and secondary wind- V
= aZO
ings of the IF transformer are tuned. Now, when they Vin
are both tuned to resonate to the incoming signal (i.e.,
the normal carrier frequency) the voltage across the °L (2 + 2k - -k-2J
secondary, Vs, lags the voltage across the primary, V p, Tan() =
by 90°."2 0)2 LC(ii + k + 2 -2- 2k)-(-1-+1)
"Conventional discriminators use the composition of
two vectors at right angles when there is no frequency Q(71 ic )
deviation and when the frequency departs from its state , which if w2LC =1,
of rest the angle between the vectors departs from 90°. co2LC(I1-kJ-(k +1)
Figure 2.6 [similar to diagram top right, next page]
shows an elementary balanced discriminator.
Capacitors C tune the inductances to resonate at the
Q(k - f)
Tan° = andooask->0
k +1

L(1+k) L(1+k)
0 rYYYN r+,,n
Action of the
discriminator relies on = Vin R 1C-kL °J
very loose coupling
between primary and 0 Tc T 0i°
secondary windings of
the IF transformer. m=kL

1084 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 RF DESIGN

Foster -Seeley
But, how can any phase -shift exist between the primary discriminator - it is still
and secondary of a transformer if the flux closely couples common to see
both coils? The answer is - in the Foster -Seeley circuit it descriptions of this
does not. referring to a 90° phase -
Circuit action relies on there being a very loose cou- shift between the primary
pling between primary and secondary windings of the and secondary of the
intermediate -frequency transformer. The diagram bottom tuned transformer.
left, and the associated working presents a more rigorous
analysis4. Analysis also shows that when coupling
between a transformer primary and secondary is perfect -
equal to 1 - no phase shift exists between primary and This explanation is unlikely to leave today's students
secondary voltages. This is regardless of whether the crystal clear as to the operation of the circuit. Its author
windings resonate with parallel capacitances or not. appears to use words as did Lewis Carroll's Humpty
M. G. Scroggie in Foundations of Wireless appears to Dumpty who argued, "when I use a word... it means just
be one of the few writers who deemed it necessary to what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less"7
bother the reader with this crucial aspect of the discrimi-
nator's operation,
References
"...because both windings are tuned exactly to the car-
I. Sante, B., 'Detection and Automatic Volume Control', Radio
rier wave and coupled only very loosely, voltages across
Designer's Handbook, 4th edn, Wireless Press, Sydney, 1952.
them are 90° out of phase."
2. King, G., 'Radio Circuits Explained', Newnes Technical
Some authors, perhaps sensing murky waters but being Books, London, 1977.
unsure as how to clear them, simply eschew explanation 3. Maurice R.D.A., 'Television Engineering', Pentech Press,
altogether. A recent, and widely set textbook6 describes London, 1985.
the Foster -Seeley discriminator thus, 4. Private correspondence with my friend Brian Pethers.
5. Scroggie, KG., 'Foundations of Wireless', 8th edn,
"The Foster -Seely (sic) detector, or its variant, the 'ratio Butterworth & Co., London, 1971.
detector' [uses] a single tuned circuit in a fiendishly 6. Horowitz, P. and Hill, W. 'The Art of Electronics', 1st edn,
clever diode arrangement to give a linear curve of ampli- Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1980.
tude output versus frequency over the IF bandpass." 7. Carroll, L., "through the Looking Glass'.

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1086 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 PC ENGINEERING

Analysing
Owen Bishop looks at
how circuit simulators
handle various aspects of
ac analysis - including
noise and poles & zeros.

Analysis of ac is mainly concerned with the effects Other parameters specified are open loop gain, 2x105,
of frequency on the operation of a circuit. This positive and negative slew rates, 5V/p s, and gain band-
article looks at the way that the Micro -Cap IV width, 2.5MHz.
simulator handles analyses in the ac group.
Operating under dos, Micro -Cap IV is a well -estab- Performing ac analysis
lished implementation of Spice2. It accepts netlists in The netlist also issues commands for the ac analysis.
conventional Spice format, but it is also able to work The second term in the .AC command determines fre-
from a schematic using a very comprehensive schemat- quency points for which the results are calculated.
ic editor. Nodes are numbered automatically - they can There are three options. The term DEC stands for
also be given names if preferred - with the ground node `decade' meaning the frequency range is to be divided
being node zero. In Micro -Cap IV or MC4, wires that into decades. The total range is 100Hz to 1MHz divided
cross are taken to be connected, so jumpers are used into four decades - 100Hz to 1kHz, lkHz to 10kHz,
where crossing lines are not joined. 10kHz to 100kHz and 100kHz to 1MHz. The number of
frequencies within each decade is specified by the num-
Analysing op -amps ber following DEC, in this case 20.
Figure 1 shows a low-pass active filter with Chebyshev These points are automatically located on a logarith-
response. Component values were calculated on paper mic scale. Instead of DEC, I could have stipulated LIN to
using the conventional capacitor -ratio tables for a 10kHz
Chebyshev filter with 1dB ripple in the pass -band.
The purpose of the simulation is to confirm the Spice commands
behaviour of the filter, and to investigate the effects of These Spice statements are available for ac analysis.
using different types of op -amp. The user has the option
of allocating each component a name, or simply speci- .AC initiates an ac analysis, with an ac frequency sweep. Small -signal
fying its value. response of the circuit is calculated for each point on a specified range of fre-
In Fig. 1, most components are specified by their val- quencies, assuming that the circuit is linear.
ues, but the voltage source and op -amp are given names. Spice begins the analysis by computing the dc operating point - refer to
The MODEL statements for these appear below the 'Analysing dc via Spice,' EW+1/1/14/ Oct 1995 - and uses the results of this to
schematic. If necessary, these can be edited when provide the voltage levels with reference to which all non-linear components
parameters need to be changed. are linearised.
Parameters in the sine -wave voltage source specify -
in order - a frequency of 1MHz, amplitude of IV, dc .NOISE calculates noise response for input and output.
offset zero, and phase shift zero. Note that Spice does
not distinguish cases. Both `rre and `IVI' mean .PZ performs a pole -zero analysis - available only in Spice3.
For 'mega', Spice uses `meg' or 'MEG'. Other param-
eters may be specified but their default values are satis- .DISTO analyses distortion caused by non-linearities in semiconductor
factory in this example. devices.
Note that parameter symbols used here are not stan-
dard Spice symbols for these parameters. The opera- .PRINT AC calls for the results of the analysis to be printed as a set of tables
tional amplifier model is specified by its model name, - not in Spice3.
LF355, model type, OPA, and some relevant parameters.
The term LEVEL=3 indicates that the most complex op - .PLOT AC calls for the results of the analysis to be plotted as a graph - not in
amp model should be used while TYPE 3 specifies re- Spice3.
channel junction-fet inputs.

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1087

 PC ENGINEERING

Flt 11011*

t t
Pt a toe Rub
Netlists in Micro -Cap IV
Micro -Cap IV is able to use a standard Spice netlist, which may be typed on the
Editing screen, then saved as a .CKT file. Alternatively, it will import a Spice
netlist from another simulator or typed on a word -processor, provided that it is
saved as an ascii file without special headers.
The most convenient technique is to draw the schematic, add .MODEL and
other statements, then work with this combined schematic-netlist, using the
interactive Limits boxes, of which there is one each for dc, ac, Fig. 2, and tran-
,ODEL PIN E1N ,F.1m11 0.1 DC.0 PH.01
,ODEL 1,155 OPA ,EVEL.1 TYPE.. A-15.05 SPP.51.006 1/01.51006 0101.1. 00 sient analyses.
.00 DEC 10 100 111E0
.PRIpui AC 1/10(61 On request, MC4 prints out a netlist but this is not a Spice netlist and can not
.10D
be used to run a simulation. It is a compact statement of the circuit and param-
Of eters, excluding command statements.
Fig. 1. Typical schematic drawn with Micro -Cap Under the statement line .OPTIONS, it lists the values of a number of param-
IV includes definitions of models and optional eters currently being used by Spice. These include GMIN, the minimum con-
command statements for the analysis. ductance value used in calculations, and RELTOL, a tolerance level used to
determine when Spice has performed sufficient iterations.
These and other parameters have default values which it is not normally nec-
essary to alter.

Frequency reset 0.01, LOO

Nualter 00 points
euxereters
Nus Unto clutsur
ispet somrue have the frequency range divided on a linear and select 1:Run. This gives Fig. 3.
Baise output sodeEs)
1100)00expr 100 X raw V range rut scale. Spice also has a OCT option, not avail- The magnitude scale is a little difficult to
(Ott 1) wto to able in MC4, in which the range is divided interpret. This is because the second grid line
into octaves, the end of each sub -range having down is at -3.6dB, but the pass -band shows an
I
twice the frequency of its beginning. output of 0dB from 100Hz up to about 9kHz.
Command statements shown on the netlist There is one large ripple between about
Li are optional, as MC4 has an 'ac analysis lim- 1.5kHz and 7kHz. The -3dB frequency is
its' dialogue box which allows the analysis to 10kHz, as required. Roll -off is from -3dB at
be set up and modified interactively. If com- 10kHz to about -66dB at 80kHz, or about
Fig. 2. The ac analysis dialogue box allows mand statements have been entered on the -21dB/octave.
analyses to proceed interactively. netlist, they appear in the dialogue box and
can be used as the basis for an analysis.
Otherwise, and more usually, analyses are
controlled from the box, Fig. 2. To reach this
from the schematic screen, select the Run
menu, then item 2:AC Analysis. The upper
panel holds run parameters, beginning with
the frequency range and listing the final and
starting frequencies. The default number of
steps is 51, giving 50 equal intervals through-
out the range, and overrides the Spice com-
mand given on the netlist.
The lower part of the box controls graphical
output. Enter details of the curve or curves to
be plotted. Checking in column N gives a
numeric printout. Its format - number of
places before and after the decimal point - is Fig. 5. Output noise analysis of the filter of Fig 1
Fig. 3. AC response of the circuit of Fig. 1 shows shows a strong peak at 10kHz.
set by the numbers in the 'fmt' column. The X
the typical response of Chebyshev low-pass
filter. and Y columns specify logarithmic scales if
checked or linear scales if unchecked.
Expression X is usually frequency, F, in ac
analyses. Expression Y has a variety of forms.
Jo
0.00
In Fig. 2, the first line states that the y -vari- C00.07 - Noise routines
0.00 able is to be the magnitude, MAG, of the volt-
Needs 'Nodal ' , ^Nodal 2. )
ao.ou age, V, at node 6, plotted on a decibel scale.
The second line calls for the imaginary com- attan,modalmetwork [Resistor Il 0,1), 75. 0],
Resistorill,21,120. 01.
-ELM
-100.00
ponent of the voltage at node 6, plotted on a Rukaistto r 110. 2), 70. 011

decibel scale. The third line asks for the phase MoiseParasetern[40200
AMIUROla /(1111109m)
of the voltage at node 6. Click on 'Limits' and plot 3D)
-90.00 DBPIbloiserigure Ix Ir 2 1.422011114
select 1:Default all, to enter 'auto' in the X (0,1,150),
-180.00 IY.-80,901,
-0}0.00
range and Y range columns. The software Ases1.0.1-> I No.. NW. 11114. 14
B01100 ->141.0l
460.00 now calculates suitable limits for the graphs.
-450.00 To plot only the magnitude -frequency graph, ,t1 I Je
41 1611
select the table's first row by typing`1' in the R.dmenoebd.
OW
416.1.
Fig. 4. The upper graph shows real and plot column, P, Fig. 2. Click on the square in Fig. 6. Nodal routines are used for calculating
imaginary components of the output of the filter the Limit box top left corner and select 6:Close. noise parameters of circuits such as the
of Fig. 1. The lower graph shows phase response. The ac analysis screen is revealed. Click on AC attenuator network of Fig. 7.

1088 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 PC ENGINEERING

Figure 4 shows the result of returning to the ted on the same graph. Type '2' in the P col-
`analysis limits box', and making a few umn of the third line to obtain a separate graph Table 1. Part of the printout of the ac analysis
amendments. Edit the Y expression in the first of the phase. The result is Fig. 4. locates the -30 point.
line to dB(RE(V(6))), to plot only the real There are some interesting changes of
component of the output voltage. Type '1' amplitude between 6kHz and 10kHz, when F dB(mag(V(6)))
into the P column of the first two lines, so that the phase lag is rapidly swinging from -90° to (kHz) (V)

both real and imaginary components are plot - -180°. The phase curve follows a 'wavy' line, 9.690 -2.632
typical of a Chebyshev filter. 9.770 -2.857
For more precise values than can be read 9.850 -3.088 -3dB at approx 9.85kHz
from the graphs, return to the ac analysis 9.930 -3.322
Limits box and check the N column of the 10.010 -3.560
appropriate graphs. The graphical display is 10.170 -4.044
then accompanied by a numerical printout.
Table 1 shows part of the results of printout of
Table 2. Results of using NoiseParameters to
the curve of Fig. 3, locating the -3dB point at analyse the attenuator circuit of Fig. 7.
9.85kHz, which is reasonably close to the Fmin -> 25.
designed value. NFmin -> 13.9794
The earlier part of the printout shows a local Rn -> 312
minimum (-0.863dB) at 4.57kHz, and a local Yopt -> 0.02
maximum (+0.207dB) in the pass -band, con- Gammaopt -> 0
firming the expected 1dB ripple.
Fig. 7. A lc -network is the subject of the noise
analysis reported in Table 2. Component substitutions
Once the schematic/netlist has been prepared,
Node 1
it takes only a few minutes to investigate the
effects of substituting different components.
Replace the LF355 with a bjt-input op -amp,
the LM301A, which costs only half as much.
On the schematic, click on 'Select' at the bot-
tom of the screen, then double-click on the
MODEL line. A text box opens near the top of
the screen, containing the current model defi-
nition. Edit this to,

.MODEL LM301A OPA (LEVEL=3

TYPE=1 A=16E+04 SRP=5E+005
SRN=5E+005 GBW=1E+006) Fig. 9. Poles and zeros of this band-pass filter are
analysed by a Nodal routine in Fig. 10.
Fig. 8. A three-dimensional plot of the noise The new op -amp is type 1, i.e. with a bipolar
figure of the attenuator helps the engineer to see transistor input. It has lower open -loop gain, a
how noise is related to source resistance and much slower slew rate and a narrower, though 1"11L1111:17.2r/ifilli 731117=111': 41'
;11111111111.1.111

1;;;;311111v°414: AMPTIM INAMIRRN.

M
impedance. still adequate bandwidth. Running ac analysis GODOU - Polo 0rt4 harlyeitt
produces curves of much the same shape as Mradataktddl'....Modeigl.iel*
wrt.flogrIN*tworkIVoltimaileureetki.01,0101*
before, but the -3dB point is now at 9.45kHz, hatillt*F111,2),*11,

Spice output variables and the roll -off above that point is about thdsket.s.-ttO,21.0k11,
eeperitottl0, 21.e111r
22dB/octave. There would appear to be no eiroltrytMedalknelytaIort, Rtketilt-WOVI*
ttrollewter->6eplaes11
Syntax used by MC4 is not applicable to advantage in using the LF355. itimPtiert% thi el.->atr01*2, r1. ->r0

other Spice simulators. Standard Spice The original calculations specified capaci- tr-Intrawittl t R.211 r
itelvotiMikeriarter(tt)*B.0
variable names for output voltages at a tors to a high degree of precision. Edit the traftert*Pune(61 enapirmit.tr /,011 ->61,4 -1.30A -f 't
01013000,tittemiettrufteteitre * °aria III,
given node are, schematic to replace the capacitors with E12 loilat,-21.101.161m0.6-1.0.101,
k..*L.6.1->40,**0.'te"),PlotPitinte-5.11,
values. Replace 40.9nF with 39nF, 25811F with Di.tilgh4.-314-21,101,1-10.101,40.1811,
ebedtr.->peler, berarti,i-1.t 1,1, 141
VM Magnitude of complex voltage 270nF and leave the 1nF capacitor unchanged.
VR Real part of complex voltage The analysis printout shows the -3dB point at
VI Imaginary part of complex voltage 9.25kHz with roll -off still at 22dB/octave. Fig. 10. NodalNetwork function is used to assign
VP Phase of complex voltage There is little need to use precision capacitors. the symbol net to the circuit of Fig. 9. Then the
VDB Magnitude of complex voltage, in dB. net is analysed to locate its poles and zeros.
Simulating noise
The corresponding variable for output Spice is able to simulate noise generated by for which a noise report is required. Noise
current begins with instead of V.
I resistors and active components. Thermal, shot reports for output and input noise are called up
Variable name of an output voltage is fol- and flicker noise are represented by appropri- by the command statement,
lowed by the node number, in brackets. ate voltage sources in the component models.
If two nodes are quoted in brackets, the Their total effect at the circuit output is .PRINT NOISE ONOISE INOISE
variable refers to the difference in voltage obtained by using the command line,
between the two nodes. By default, ONOISE and INOISE are expressed
The variable name of an output current .ONOISE V(N) Vname n as voltages. But if ONOISE and/or INOISE are
is followed in brackets by the name of followed by (DB), the values are in decibels.
the voltage source through which the Here, N is the output node number, Vname is At each point, the analysis lists the thermal
current is to be found. This may be a the name of the input voltage source (this can noise contributed by each resistor. It also lists
dummy source - refer to 'Deeper into dc also be Iname, for a current source), and n is noise generated in semiconductor devices -
analysis,' EW+WW Nov 1995. the number of points in the frequency range thermal noise from resistances, shot noise

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1089

 PC ENGINEERING

from currents across junctions and flicker printout. A detailed analysis such as this is Gammaopt the optimum source conductance.
noise. These noise levels are expressed as useful for identifying the major sources of One of the advantages of Mathematica is
mean squares (e2/Hz). Their total is calculated, noise, with a view to reducing their effect. For that it allows three-dimensional plots. This
and the square root of this is also printed, to a more overall view, the .PLOT command makes it is possible to visualise the effects of
give rms values. produces a graphical printout of rms values for two parameters simultaneously. Figure 8
Finally, the transfer function of the circuit is each point. shows a decibel plot of the noise figure of the
evaluated and the equivalent noise at the input, A graphical display is obtained in MC4 by attenuator against source resistance and source
!NOISE, is obtained by dividing the rms output completing the two 'noise' entries in the 'ac impedance. The minimum noise figure is
noise by the transfer function. All of this is analysis limits' box of Fig. 2. Enter 'YIN' as found when source resistance is 500 and
repeated at each frequency point, so a com- the noise input source and '6' as the noise out- source impedance is zero.
plete noise analysis extends to several pages of put node. In the curve table, enter '1' under P,

t E Pi 1.
I.
gMgr
I COMM
dole 1111
I I ha I I 1 1 1
11111.,r&*.
I 1141' 1

-
III
`F' under X expression, and 'ONOISE' under Y
expression. Select default limits. In the ac
analysis window, select Run.
Graph Fig. 5 shows the noise level peaking
Pole -zero analysis
Pole -zero analysis is available only in Spice3,
and certain high-level Spice implementations.
At present, of the simulators I am looking at,
at 270nWsiflz at 10kHz. Run an analysis for only the full version of IsSpice has this fea-
NOISE in the same way. This results in a sim- ture. The command statement for the band-
ilar peaked curve, reaching its maximum of pass filter of Fig. 9 is,
85µV at 105kHz.
To investigate the effects of temperature on .PZ 0 1 0 2 VOL PZ
noise, return to the 'Limits' box and alter the
temperature setting - in a regular Spice netlist, The numerals specify input and output nodes
this is done by a .TEMP statement. Increasing respectively, VOL indicates that the input is a
the temperature from the standard 27°C to voltage - use CUR for a current - and PZ calls
1 50°C raises the peak of the ONOISE plot from for both poles and zeros to be calculated. For
NI
(*131 Ito 2 123K BYer flee 270nV to 280nV. Decreasing the temperature poles only use POL, or for zeros only, use ZER.
to 0°C reduces it to 257nV. Nodal provides a routine for visualising the
Fig. 11. In a three-dimensional plot such as this, Reset temperature to 27°C, then substitute poles and zeros of a transfer function. In Fig.
peaks in the surface correspond to poles and an LT1028AM op -amp, described as an ultra - 10, the circuit of Fig. 9 is described by the
depression to zero level corresponds to a zero. low noise op -amp, for the LF355 and run an netlist net. In this example, components are
Plots of this type are useful for visualising the
ONOISE analysis. The peak comes at 10kHz not given specific values but symbolic names:
poles and zeros of a circuit.
as before, but now the noise level is only rl, cl and h/. The ability of Mathematica and
160nV/411z, confirming that the description of Nodal to work with symbols as well as, or
M. Help the op -amp is appropriate. instead of, numeric values is one of their
III 1:15P -r
File Ed cell
I I I II I I Ill" I I? strengths.
Measuring generated noise The network is analysed, using the
A widely used measure of the noise generated `NodalAnalyse' function, to find the transfer
in a circuit is noise figure. Spice does not pro- function, which is the ratio V2J1l1. The
vide a direct calculation of noise figure, but it `Simplify' function simplifies the result of the
can be found via Mathematica. Last month I analysis and it is displayed as,
demonstrated a routine from the Electrical hl x s
Engineering Pack. rl+hlxs+clxhlxs2
An even more extensive collection of
Mathematica functions and utilities is pub-
lished by Macallan Consulting under the title This formula can be used for calculating the
Nodal. Figure 6 shows a Mathematica transfer function, given values of rl, cl and
119200 OpO, Free
Notebook which demonstrates two of the sev- h/.
Fig. 12. Changing two parameters produces a
eral Nodal functions associated with noise cal- Analysis continues by eliminating the com-
plot with two imaginary poles instead of the two culations. Run Mathematica, load the note- ponent symbols, using well-known relation-
real ones of Fig. 11. book then click on the first line followed by ships; replace hid with 1/6)02 and rl with
the Evaluate button, to load Nodal. woh//q, where wo is the resonant frequency
One of the most frequently used Nodal func- and q is the quality factor of the filter. After
tions is NodalNetwork. Just as in a Spice simplifying, the transfer function is,
GASPICEACE1000.clr
netlist, a circuit is described in NodalNetwork qscoo
\SF10E410ED0
PZ 1 0 2 u L FZ
by listing its components and the nodes to s2 + qsco, + co02
SPICE NET which it is connected. As in Spice, node 0 is
R11 013 33
Cl 205 the ground node. Simplification is required after certain calcu-
C1 2 0 125001)
VI 1 0 AC 1
Pole bA
A netlist can be quoted in full in any func- lations because Mathematica does not always
END
tions in which it is used or, to save typing and reduce an expression to its simplest possible
--
Transfer luncton of M2) -AO)/ M1) - V(0)) in Volts/ Volt

Reel 1meg Number possible errors, it may be assigned to a vari- form. In the example above, it omits to cancel
-3000750,000 2.(149000.100 1
able name once and for all. In Fig. 6 a simple out hl throughout the expression when
-300075e'000 -264100e4000
attenuator network, Fig. 7, with input and out- `Simplify' is not used. Simplify tells it to try
1

Zeros Reel Imeg Number

0 0000000.000 00000000.000 1
put impedance 505/ and an attenuation factor harder.
of 5, is assigned to the variable 'atten'. Using To find the zeros, look for values of the
this variable in Nodal' s NoiseParameters func- variables to make the expression equal to zero.
tion provides the results listed in Table 2. Values that make it equal to zero are values
Fig. 13. The netlist of Fig. 9, with the pole -zero Parameters listed are Fmin, the minimum which make the numerator equal to zero.
analysis seen in the Output file. The circuit has noise figure, NFmin, the minimum noise fig- Zeros can usually be found by inspecting the
two complex poles, q and coo having been given ure in decibels, Rn the network resistance, expression. Quality factor and w0 can not be
the values that produced Fig. 12. Yopt the optimum source admittance, and zero, but the expression evaluates to zero

1 090 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

 PC ENGINEERING

when s is zero. This is one of the zeros of the and zeros is obtained by plotting the transfer and the output between nodes 0 and 2. Both
function. Making s infinitely large also makes function for a range of values of s and co in poles and zeros are to be found. In the
the expression equal to zero, so a second zero three dimensions. Define another transfer `Actions' menu, click on 'Simulate'.
is at infinity. function in which s/ is a complex variable, The analysis takes only a fraction of a sec-
To find the poles, look for variable values and replace s in the original transfer function. ond, then select 'Edit' in the `Actions' menu,
which make the expression take an infinite For the sake of comparison with the numer- and click on the OUT button to display the out-
value. These are those which make the ical example above, make q=3 and coo=5. Any put file. This shows that the circuit has com-
denominator equal to zero, and the next step in other reasonable values could be used, with plex poles at the points s= -3+j2.65 and
the routine is to find them. different results. The three dimensional plot is s= -3-j2.26, as has been demonstrated by
The expression above is actually part of a shown in Fig. 11. The shallow depression in Nodal in Fig. 12. There is one zero, which is
list, though this is not displayed on the screen. the surface at (s=0,co=0) is one of the zeros. at the origin.
The `Normal' function picks out the expres- The surface slopes down in all directions
sion and allocates it to symbol tf. Solve the around the plot, indicating the other zero at
equation for s when the denominator is put co=±..).
equal to zero. This gives two values for s. It is The poles show up clearly as two peaks on
obvious that the standard formula for solving the negative s -axis, where s=-1.91 and
quadratic equations has been used, s=-13.09. The appearance of the plot is
V(q2c002 4002 changed if different values of q and coo are
s= used. In Fig. 12 the plot with q=1.5 and to0=4
2 shows two complex poles, the zeros being
This equation can be used directly to calcu- located where they were before.
late the position of the poles on the s axis, by Nodal calculates the transfer function in Reference
substituting actual values of q and coo. For symbolic form but all Spice programs require Riddle, Alfred, and Dick, Samuel, 'Applied
example, if q is 3 and coo is 5, then s is -1.91 component values to be specified. In Fig. 13 Electronic Engineering with Mathematica',
or -13.09. The number of poles equals the the lsSpice netlist of the filter of Fig. 9, set up Addison-Wesley Publishing Company 1995.
number of zeros, as required by theory. for q=1.5 and (00=4. It identifies the input Includes a demonstration version of Nodal on
A clearer picture of the distribution of poles between nodes 0 and 1- the voltage source - diskette.

SuperFILTER synthesizes Active, Passive and Utypo@

MDW4MGTO
Digital FIR\IIR filters and ports to SpiceAge for
WindowsTM for a complete analysis.
Super FILTER Version 3 for Windows provides the following features.
1. Choice of specifying parameters for desired Super FILTER - LESSONS.ACT - IS -Plane]
response includes gain & phase coordinates, Files Edit Define View Theory Window Help

graphical (mouse tracing response), poles and n 11. Srr 12111

zeroes in S and Z planes and Laplace transfer Zeros gni_
n Real Imaginary Real
function coordinates. part part pat
r

I
Imaginary
pal
2. No order limits of cascaded filters - applies to 1_ -1

3
2 1 0
digital, active and passive types. -1 107076165 76043383041
3. Types available include Butterworth, Chebyshev, 4 -1.107076165 - 7604338304

Hale Show:
Elliptic, Besse!, Realpole, Gaussian, Linear phase,
klT z-Zn Hide Z.., Ci Real Imaginary
Inverse Chebyshev, Digital Hilbert FIR, n 1 Hide Pole, Fteq & quality
141,1
Differentiator, Raised cosine, Squared root raised
H z-rn Salek and White
cosine of LPF, HPF, BPF, APF, Notch filters. n-1
4. Minimum specification of suitable op amps for 1,1-10 N=0 Close

achieving active filter performance. 5elm3 1 ->en-.

5. Analysis of components' sensitivity using Monte

Carlo method for analogue filters.
6. Analysis of effect of register characteristics on
digital filters and D to A converters. Displays the S -Plane Of Z -Plane

7. Analysis of inductor losses for passive filters.

8. Defining digital FIR filters by gain using the Remez Exchange algorithm.
9. Supports behavioural modelling within SpiceAge for Windows synthesizing more than 150 topologies
10. Graphic display of the realized versus the ideal filter with best fit options taken from a comprehensive (and user
controllable) library of preferred component values.
"This is a stunning program that will save and save again."
For further details and demonstation disk, contact Those Engineers Ltd, 31 Birkbeck Road, LONDON NW7 4BP.
Tel 0181-906 0155, FAX 0181-906 0969, CompuServe 100550, 2455. CIRCLE NO. 147 ON REPLY CARD

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD + WIRELESS WORLD 1001

 HUMIDITY METER KIT Builds into a precision LCD humidity
PORTABLE X RAY MACHINE PLANS Easy to construct **A,VOLVERTIAIVIPTON, meter, 9 is design, pcb, lcd display and all components included. £49
plans on a simple and cheap way to build a home X-ray machine!
Effective device, X-ray sealed assemblies. can be used for NOW ()PEN .kT WORCENTS PC TRIER KR Four channel output controlled by your PC, will
experimental purposes. Not a toy or for minors! £6/set. Ref F/XP1. switch high current mains with relays (supplied). Software supplied
TELEKINETIC ENHANCER PLANS Mystify and amaze your WIIAMPION TE so you can program the channels to do what you want whenever you
want. Minimum system configeration is 286, VGA, 4.1,640k, serial
friends by creating motion with no known apparent means or cause.
port, hard drive with min 100k free. £24.99
Uses no electrical or mechanical connections, no special gimmicks MINI FM TRANSMITTER KR Very high gain preamp, supplied
yetproducespoetive motion and effed. Excellentfor science p rojeds, DIVINING RODS Expensive technology cannot challenge the fool
complete with FET electret microphone. Designed to cover 88-108 proof artofwater divining, passed down from generation togeneration.
magic shows, party demonstrations or serious research & Mhz but easily changed to cover 63-130 Mhz. Works with a common
development of this strange and amazing psychic phenomenon. Seeing is believing. Use in the home, garden, countryside or desert,
9v (PP3) battery. 0.2W RF. E7 Ref 1001. it's divinely simple! £4.99 a pair ref Ef3.
£4/set Ref F/TKE1.
ELECTRONIC SIREN KIT Impressive 5 watt power output. Ideal HUGE BUBBLE MAKING KIT You'll be amazed at the the size
ELECTRONIC HYPNOSIS PLA NS & DATA This data shows for cartike alarm etc. 6-12v dc max current 1A, 1.2khz £6 Ref 1003.
several ways to put subjects under your control. Included is a full of the bubbles you can acheive with this bubble making kit. Once you
3-30V POWER SUPPLY KIT Variable, stabilized power supply have got the knack it is possible to make bubbles of up to 40 feet long.
volume reference text and several construction plans that when
for lab use. Short circuit protected, suitable for profesional or amateur £11.99 ref E/9.
assembled can produce highly effective stimuli. This material must
use 24v 3A transformer is needed to complete the kit. £14 Ref 1007. FM CORDLESS M ICROPHON E This undis an FM broadcasting
be used cautiously. It is for use as entertainment at parties etc only,
by those experienced in its use. £15/set. Ref F/EH2. 1 WATT FM TRANSMITTER KIT Supplied with piezo electric station in minature, 3 transistor transmitter with electret condenser
microphone 8-30vdc. At 25-30v you will get nearly 2 watts! £12 ref
GRAVITY GENERATOR PLANS This unique plan mic+fetamp design resultin maximum sensitivityandbroadfrequency
1009. response. 90-105mhz, 50-1500hz, 500 foot range in open country!
demonstrates a simple electrical phenomena that produces an anti-
gravity effect. You can actually build a small mock spaceship out of FM/AM SCANNER KR Well not quite, you have to turn the knob PP3 battery required. £15.00 ref 15P42A.
simple materials and without any visible means- cause it to levitate. your self but you will hear things on this radio that you would not hear MAGNETIC MARBLES They have been around for a number of
£10/set Ref F/GRA1. on an ordinary radio (even TV). Covers 50-160mhz on both AM and years but still give rise to cu riosity and amazement. A pack of 12 isjust
FM. Built in 5 watt amplifier, Inc speaker. £15 ref 1013. £3.99 ref GI/R20
WORLDS SMALLEST TESLA COIL/LIGHTENING
MOSQUITO REPELLER KIT Modern way to keep midges at STETHOSCOPES A fully functioning stethoscope for all those
DISPLAY GLOBE PLANS Produces up to 750,000 volts of
discharge, experiment with extraordinary HV effects, 'Plasma in a bay! Runs for about a month on one 1.5v battery. £7 Ref 1015. intricate projects. Enables you to listen to motors, pipes, heartbeats,
jar', St Elmds fire, Corona, excellent science project or conversation 3 CHANNEL SOUND TO LIGHT KR Wireless system, mains walls, insects etc. £6 ref MAR6P6.
piece. £5/set Ref F/BTC1AG5. operated, separate sensitivity adjustment for each channel, 1,200w NICKEL PLATING KIT Proffesional electroplating kit that will
power handling, microphone included. £14 Ref 1014. transform rusting parts into showpieces in 3 hours! Will plate onto
COPPER VAPOUR LASER PLANS Produces 100mw of
visible green light. High coherency and spectral quality similar to MOTORBIKE/CYCLE TREMBLER ALARM KfT Adjustable steel, iron, bronze, gunmetal,copper, welded,silver soldered orb razed
Argon laser but easier and less costly to build yet far more efficient. sensitivity, preset alarm time, auto reset. Could be connected to horn joints. Kit includes enough to plate 1,000 sq inches. You will also need
Thisparticulardesign was developed atthe Atomic EnergyCommision etc. £12 Ref 1011. a 12v supply, a container and 2 12v light bulbs. E39.99 ref NIK39.
of NEGEV in Israel. £10/set Ref F/CVL 1. 0-6 MINUTE TRIER KIT adjustable, will switch up to 2A mains. SHOP WOBBLERSIGmall assemblies designed to take D size
VOICE SCRAMBLER PLANS Minature solid state system Perfect for alarms, photography, etc. £7 Ref 1020. batteries and 'wobble' signs about in shops! E3.99 Ref SEP4P2.
turns speech sound into indecipherable noise that cannot be 4 WATT FM TRANSMFTTER KIT Small but powerful FM OMRON ELECTRONIC INTERVAL TRIERS.
understood without a second matching unit. Use on telephone to transmitter, 3 RF stages, microphone and audio preamp included.
£20 Ref 1028.
NEW LOW PRICES TO CLEAR!!!
prevent third party listening and bugging. 6/set Ref FNS9.
PULSED TV JOKER PLANS Little hand held device utilises STROBE LIGHT KIT Adjustable from 1-60 hz (a lot faster than Minature adjustable timers, 4 pole oio output 3A 240v,
pulse techniques that will completely disrupt TV picture and sound! conventional strobes). Mains operated. £16 Ref 1037. HY1230S, 12vDC adjustable from 0-30 secs. £4.99
works on FM too! DISCRETION ADVISED. £8/set Ref F/TJ5. ULTRASONIC RADAR KIT Ideal as a movement detector with a HY1210M, 12vDC adjustable from 0-10 mins. £4.99
BODYHEAT TELESCOPE PLANS Highly directional long range of about 10 metres, automate your cat flap! 12v dc. £15 Ref HY1260M, 12vDC adjustable from 0-60 mins. £4.99
range device uses recent technology to detect the presence of living 1049. HY2460M, 24vAC adjustable from 0-60 mins. £2.99
bodies, warm and hot spots, heat leaks etc. Intended for security, law LIQUID LEVEL DETECTOR KIT Useful fortanks, ponds, baths, HY243H, 24vAC adjustable from 0-3 hours. £2.99
enforcement, research and development, etc. Excellent security rain alarm, leak detector etc. Will switch 2A mains. £5 Ref 1081.
device or very interesting science project. E8/set Ref F/BHTI.
HY2401S, 240v adjustable from 0-1 secs. £4.99
COMBINATION LOCK KIT 9 key, programmable, complete with HY2405S, 240v adjustable from 0-5 secs. £4.99
BURNING, CUTTING CO2 LASER PLANS Projects an keypad, will switch 2A mains. 9v dc operation. £10 ref 1114.
invisible beam of heat capable of burning and melting materials over HY24060m, 240v adjustable from 0-60 mins. £6.99
PHONE BUG DETECTOR KIT This device will warn you if
a considerable distance. This laser is one of the most effident, DRINKING BIRD Remember these? hook onto wine glass (sup-
somebody is eavesdropping on your line. £6 ref 1130.
converting 10% input power into useful output. Not only is this device plied) and they drink, standup,drink,standup ETC! £4 each Ref EF1
ROBOT VOICE KM Interesting circuit that distorts your voice!
a workhorse in welding, cutting and heat processing materials but it SOLAR POWER LAB SPECIALYou get TWO 6"x6' 6v 130mA
adjustable, answerthe phonewith a differentvoice! 12vdc E9 ref 1131
is also a likely candidate as an effective directed energy beam solar cells, 4 LED's, wire, buzzer, switch plus 1 relay or motor.Superb
weapon against missiles, aircraft, ground -to -ground, etc. Particle TELEPHONE BUG KIT Small bug powered by the 'phone line, value kit just £5.99 REF: MAG6P8
beams may very well utilize a laser of this type to blast a channel in starts transmitting as soon as the phone is picked up! £8 Ref 1135.
BUGGING TAPE RECORDER Small voice activated recorder,
the atmosphere for a high energy stream of neutrons or other FUNCTION GENERATOR KIT Produces sinusoidal, saw tooth uses m icro cassette complete with headphones. £28.99 ref MAR29P1.
particles. The device is easily applicable to burning and etching and square waves from 20-2040z, separate level controls for each
PLUG IN ACORN PSU 19v AC 14w , £2.99 REF MAG3P10
wood, cutting, plastics, textiles etc £12/set Ref FACT shape. Will produce all 3 together. 24vac. £16 ref 1008.
POWER SUPPLY fully cased with mains and o/p leads 17v DC
MYSTERY ANTI GRAVITY DEVICE PLANS Uses simple 3 CHANNEL LIGHT CHASER KIT 800 watts per channel,
900 1A output. Bargain price £5.99 ref MAG6P9
concept. Objects float in air and move to the touch. Defies gravity, speed and direction controlssupplied with 12 LEDS (you can fittriacs
amazing gift, conversation piece, magic trick or science project. E6/ instead to make kit mains, not supplied) 9-12vdc £17 ref 1026. 9v DC POWER SUPP LYStandard plug in type 150ma 9v DC with
set Ref F/ANT1 K. lead and DC power plug. price for two is £299 ref AUG3P4.
12V FLOU RESCENT LAMP DRIVER KITLight up 4 foottubes
ULTRASONIC BLASTER PLANS Laboratory source of sonic from your car battery! 9v 2a transformer also required. £8 ref 1069. 13.8V 1.9A psu cased with leads. Just £9.99 REF MAG10P3
shock waves. Blow holes In metal, produce 'cold' steam, atomize voxswrrcH KiTSound activated switch ideal formaking bugging INFRA RED REMOTE CONTROLLERS Originally made for hi
liquides. Many cleaning uses for PC boards, jewllery, coins, small tape recorders etc, adjustable sensitivity. £8 ref 1073. spec satellite equipment but perfect for all sorts of remote control
parts etc. £6/set Ref FAJLB1. projects. Our clearance price is just £2 REF: MAG2
INCARSOUNDTO LIGHT KITPutsomeatmosphereinyourcar
ULTRA H IG H GAIN AMP/STETHOSCOPICM IKEJSOUN D with this mini 3 channel sound to fight. Each channel has 6 led's. £10 MAINSCABLE Precut black 2 core 2 metre lengths ideal for
AND VIBRATION DETECTOR PLANS Ultrasensitive device ref 1086. repairs, projects etc. 50 metres for £1.99 ref AUG2P7.
enables one to hear a whole new world of sounds. Listen through 7W HI Fl AMPLIFIER KIT Useful, powerful, ideal for audio COMPOSITE VIDEO KR. Converts composite video into sepa-
walls, windows, floors etc. Many applications shown, from law systems, intercoms etc. 12-18vdc £7 ref 1025. rate H sync, V sync, and video. 12v DC. £8.00 REF: MAG8P2.
enforcement, nature listening, medical heartbeat, to mechanical PHONE CALL RELAY KIT Useful device that operates a relay UNIVERSAL PC POWER SUPPLY complete with flyleads,
devices. £6/set Ref F/HGA7 whenever the 'phone rings Switches mains at 2A £10 ref 1122. switch, fan etc.200w at £20 REF: MAG20P3 (265x155x125mm).
ANTI DOG FORCE FIELD PLANS Highly effective circuit LEAD ACID CHARGER KR Two automatic charging rates, GYROSCOPE About 3' high and an excellenteducationaf toy for all
produces time variable pulses of accoustical energy that dogs visual indication of battery state, ideal for alarrn systems etc, 100mA ages! Price with instruction booklet £6 Ref EF15.
cannot tolerate £6/set Ref F/DOG2 12vdc £12 ref 1095. FUTURE PC POWER SUPPLIES These are 295x135x60mm,
LASER BOUNCE LISTENER SYSTEM PLANS Allows you CAR ALARM KIT Works on voltage drop and vibration, entry/exit 4 drive connectors 1 mother board connector. 150watt, 12v fan, iec
to hear sounds from a premises without gaining access. £12/set Ref delays, adjustable alarm duration. Ideal caravans etc E12 ref 1019. inlet and on/off switch. E12 Ref EF6.
F/LLIST 1 VENUS FLYTRAP KIT Grow your own carnivorous plantwith this
PORTABLEALARM KIT Based on mercurysw itch , alrm continues
CRAWLING INSECT ROASTER PLANS Harmless high to sound until reset by owner. Buzzer inc. £11 ref 1150. simple kit £3 ref EF34.
frequency energy pulses destroy pests as they crawl into PREAMP MIXER KR 3 input mono mixer, sep bass and treble TWEETERS 2' diameter good quality tweeter 140R (ok with the
the energy field! £4/set Ref F/RCR1 controls plus individual level controls, 18vdc, input sans 100mA. £15 above speaker) 2 for £2 REF: MAG2P5 or 4 for E3 REF: MAG3P4
LASER LIGHT SHOW PLANS Do it yourself plans show three ref 1052. 6"X12" AMORPHOUS SOLAR PANEL 12v 155x310mm
methods. £6 Ref F/LLS1 METAL DETECTOR KR Range 15-20cm, complete with case, 130mA. Bargain price just E5.99 ea REF MAG6P12.
PHASOR BLAST WAVE PISTOL SERIES PLANS 9vdc. £8 ref 1022. FIBRE OPTIC CABLE BUMPER PACK 10 metres for £4.99
Handheld, has large transducer and battery capacity with external SINGLE CHANNEL SOUND TO LIGHT KR Mains operated, ref MAG5P 13 ideal for experimenters! 30 m for £12.99 ref MAG13P 1
controls. £6/set Ref F/PSP4 add ryth um to your party for only £8 ref 1006. ROCK LIGHTS Unusual things these, two pieces of rock that glow
SOUND EFFECTS GENEFtATORKFT Produces soundsranging when rubbed together! belived to cause rainl£3 a pair Ref EF29.
INFINITY TRANSMITTER PLANS Telephone line grabber/
room monitor. The ultimate i n home/ofTice security and safety! simple from bird chips to sirens. Complete with speaker, add sound effects 3' by 1' AMORPHOUS SOLAR PANELS 14.5v, 700mA 10
to use! Call your home or office phone, push a secret tone on your to your projects for just £9 ref 1045. watts, aluminium frame, screw terminals, £44.95 ref MAG45.
telephone to access either: A) On premises sound and voices or B) GUITAR P REAMP KR Completewith tone controls, small enough ELECT RO NICACC UPUNCTURE KR Builds Intoan electronic
Existing conversation with break-in capability for emergency tofit in any guitar, based on TL082 IC, 9-l2vdc £8 Ref 1091. version instead of needles! good to experiment with. £7 ref 7P30
messages. £7 Ref F/TELEGRAB. 16 WATT FM TRANSMITTER (BUILT) 4 stage high power, SHOCKING COIL KIT Build this little battery operated device into
BUG DETECTOR PLANS Is that someone getting the goods on preamp required 12-18vdc, can use ground plane, yagi or open all sorts of things, also gets worms out of the ground! £7 ref 7P36.
you? Easy to construct device locates any hidden source of radio dipole. £69 ref 1021. FLYING PARROTS Easily assembled kit that builds a parrot that
energy! Sniffs out and finds bugs and other sources of bothersome TELEPHONE AMPLIFIER KM Very sensitive amplifier which actually flaps its wings and flies! 50 m range E6 ref EF2.
interference. Detects low, high and UHF frequencies. £5/set Ref F/ uses a pickup coil (supplied)will let you follow a conversation with out HIGH POWER CATAPULTS Hinged arm brace for stability,
BD1. holding the 'phone. £11 ref 1059. tempered steel yoke, super strength latex power bands. Departure
ELECTROMAGNETIC GUN PLANS Projects a metal object speed of ammunition is in excess of 200 miles per hour! Range of over
a considerable distance -requires adult supervision £5 ref F/EM L2. .eanwr. OF nnw PRCITAR7.1"A MAY BE ITPTUMNRART.R IN TITR UK 200 metres! £7.99 ref R/9.
ELECTRIC MAN PLANS, SHOCK PEOPLE WITH THE BALLON MANUFACTURING KIT British made, small blob
TOUCH OF YOUR HAND! E5/set Ref F/EMA1. blows into a large, longlasting balloon, hours offunl 0.99 ref GI/E99R
PARABOLIC DISH MICROPHONE PLANS Listen to distant
sounds and voices, open windows, sound sources in 'hard to get' or WE BUY SURPLUS STOCK FOR CASH
hostile premises. Uses satellite technology to gather distant sounds
and focus them to our ultra sensitive electronics. Plans also show an
optional wireless link system. £8/set ref F/PM5 400 FREE CATALOGUE
2 FOR 1 MULTIFUNCTIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY AND
HIGH DC VOLTAGE, SOLID STATE TESLA COIL AND intiOV DAYS mnittimi 100 PAGE CATALOGUE NOW
VARIABLE 100,000 VDC OUTPUT GENERATORPLANS !...1.1qM Per.04nra .
Operates on 9- 12vdc, many possible experiments. £10 Ref F/HVM7/ AVAILABLE, 45P STAMP OR FREE
TCL4. TEL: 01273 203500 ON REQUEST WITH ORDER.
CIRCLE NO. 148 ON REPLY CARD FAX 01273 323077

1092 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD December 1995

SURVEILLANCE TELESCOPE Superb Russian zoom
telescope adjustable from 15x to 60x! complete with metal tripod
WOLVERHAMPTON 1314NNCI1 13.8V 1.9A PSU cased with leads. Just £9.99 REF MAG10P3
200 WATT INVERTER Converts 10-15v DC into either 110v or
(imposible to use without this on the higher settings) 66mm tense,
leather carrying case E149 ref BAR69
NOW OPEN Al' WORCESTER ST 240v AC. Fully cased 115x36x156mm, complete with heavy
dutypower lead, cigar plug, AC outlet socket. Auto overload shutdown,
RADIATION DETECTOR SYSTEM Designed to be wall W'llAMP EON TEL 01992`.22039 auto short circuit shut down, auto input over voltage shutdown, auto
mounted and connected into a PC, ideal for remote monitoring, whole input undervoltage shut down (with audible alarm), autotemp control,
building coverage etc. Complete with detector, cable and software. unit shuts down if overheated and sounds audible alarm. Fused
£19.95 ref BAR75. MINI MICRO FANS 12V 1.5' sq SALE PRICE E2. Ref SA13. reversed polarity protected. output frequency within 2%, voltage
WIRELESS VIDEO BUG KIT Transmits video and audio REUSEABLE HEAT PACKS. Ideal for fishermen. outdoor within 10%. A well built unit at an keen price. Just £64.99 ref AUG65.
signals from a mi nature CCTV camera (included) to any standard enthusiasts elderly or infirm, warming food, drinks etc, defrosting UNIVERSAL SPEED CONTROLLER KIT Designed by us for
television! All the components including a PP3 battery will fit into a pipes etc reuseable up to 10 times, lasts for up to 8 hours per go, the C5 motor but ok for any 12v motor up to 30A. Complete with PCB
cigarette packet with the lens requiring a hole about 3mm diameter. 2,00:Avh energy, gets up to 90 degC. SALE PRICE £9.95 REF SA29 etc. A heat sink may be required. £17.00 REF: MAG17
Supplied with telescopic aerial but a piece of wire about 4' long will 12V2AMP LAPTOP psu's 110x55x4Omm (includes standard IEC COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS PACK Kit contains 100m
still give a range of up to 100 metres. A single PP3 will probably give socket) and 2m lead with plug. 100-240v IP. E6.99 REF SA15. of 6 core cable, 100 cable clips, 2 line drivers with RS232 interfaces
less than 1 hours use. E99 REF EP79. (probably not licensable!) PC CONTROLLED 4 CHANNEL TIMER Control (on/off times and all connectors etc. Ideal low cost method of communicating
CCTV CAMERA MODULES 46X70X29mm, 30 grams, 12v Mc) up to 4 items (8A 240v each)with this kit. Complete with Software, between PC's over a long distance. Complete kit £8.99.
100nA. auto electronic shutter, 3.6mm F2 lens, CCIR, 512x492 relays, PCB etc. £25.99 Ref 95/26 VIEWDATA SYSTEMS made by Phillips, complete with intemal
pixels, video output is 1v p -p (75 ohm). Works directly Into a start or COMPLETE PC 300 WATT UPS SYSTEM Top of the range 1200/75 modem, keyboard, psu etc RGB and composite outputs,
video input on a tv or video. IR sensitive. £79.95 ref EF137. UPS system providing protection for your computer system and menu driven, autodialler etc. SALE PRICE E12.99 REF SA18
IR LAMP KIT Suitable for the above camera enables the camera valuable software against mains power fluctuations and cuts. New AIR RIFLES .22 As used by the Chinese army for training puposes,
and boxed, UK made Provides up to 5 rains running time in the event so there is a lot about! £39.95 Ref EF78. 500 pellets E4.50 ref E F80.
to be used in total darkness! £5.99 ref EF138.
of complete power failure to allow you to run your system down
TANDATATD1400 VIEWDATA Complete system comprising PLUG IN POWER SUPPLY SALE FROM £1.60 Plugs in to
correctly. SALE PRICE Just E89.00.
modem. infra red remote keyboard, psu, UHF and RGB output, 13A socket with output lead. three types available, 9vdc 150mAE1 50
SOLAR PATH LIGHTS Low energy walklights powered by the ref SA19, 9vdc 200mA £2.00 ref SA20, 65vdc 500mA E2 ref SA21.
phone lead. RS232 output composite output £9.95 ref BAR33.
sun! built in PIR so they w ork w hen you walk past. I nd udes solar pa nel
MAGNETIC CARD READERS (Swipes) £9.95 Cased with VIDEO SENDER U NIT. Transmits both audio and video signals
& rechargeable bat SALE PRICE E19.95 REF EP62
flyleads, designed to read standard credit cards! they have 3 wires from either a video camera, video recorder, TVor Computer etc to a ny
BIG BROTHER PSU Cased PSU, 6v 2A output, 2m o/p lead, 1.5m standard TV set in a 100' range! (tune TV to a spare channel) 12v DC
coming out of the head so they may write as well? complete with
input lead. UK made,220v. SALE PRICE E4.99 REF EP7 op. Price is £15 REF: MAG15 12v psu is £5 extra REF: MAG5P2
control elctronics PCB. just £9.95 ref BAR31
PANORAMIC CAMERA OFFER Takes double width WANTTOMAKESOM EMON EY? STUCK FORAN IDEA? *FM CORDLESS MICROPHONE Small hand held unit with a
We have collated 140 business manuals that give you information on 500' range! 2 transmit power levels. Reqs PP3 9v battery. Tuneable
photographs using standard 35mm film. Use in horizontal or vertical
mode. Complete with strap £7.99 ref BART
setting up different businesses, you peruse these at your leisure to any FM receiver. Price is El 5 REF: MAG15P1
using the text editor on your PC. Also included is a certificate enabling
COIN OPERATED TIMER KIT Complete with coinslot you to reproduce the manuals as much as you like! SALE PRICE E 14
*MINATU RE RADIO TRANSCEIVERS A pair of walkie talkies
mechanism, adjustable time delay, relay output, put a coinsld on w ith a range up to 2 km in open county. Units measure 22(52x 155mm.
REF E P74
anything you like! TV,s, videos, fridges, drinks cupboards, HIFI. Including cases and earp'ces. 2xP P3 req'd. £30.00 pr. REF: MAG30
RACAL MODEM BONANZA! 1 Racal MPS12231200/75modem,
takes 50p's and £1 coins. DC operated, price just£7.99 ref BAR27. 'FM TRANSMITTER KIT housed in a standard working 13A
telephone lead, mains lead, manual and comms software, the
ZENITH 900 X MAGNIFICATION MICROSCOPE Zoom, cheapest way onto the net! all this for just E13 ref DEC13. adapter!! the bug runs directly off the mains so lasts forever! why pay
metal construction, built in light. shrimp farm, group viewing screen, £700? or price is £15 REF: EF62 (kit) Transmits to any FM radio.
lots of accessories. £29 ref ANAYLT. *FM BUG BUILT AND TESTED superior design to kit. Supplied
4.6mw LASER POINTER. BRAND NEW MODEL NOW IN
LUBITEL 166U Twin lens Russian 2 1/4r sq reflex camera to detective agencies. 9v battery req'd. £14 REF: MAG14
STOCK!, supplied in fully built form (looks like a nice
supplied with two free rolls of colour film, flip up magnifier, 3 element TALKING COINBOX STRIPPER COMPLETE WITH
14.5 lens £19.99 ref BAR36. pen) complete with handy pocket clip (which also acts
COINSLOT M EC HAN ISMS originally made to retail atE79 each,
AA NICAD PACK Pack of 4 tagged AA nicads £2.99 ref BAR34 as the on/off switch.) About 60 metres range! Runs on these units are designed to convert an ordinary phone into a
PLASMA SCREENS 222x310mm, no data hence E4.99 ref 2 AAA batteries. Produces thin red beam ideal for payphone. The units have the locks missing and sometimes broken
BAR67 levels, gun sights, experiments etc. just E39.96 ref hinges. However they can be adapted for their original use or used for
NIGHTSIGHTS Model TZS4 with infra red illuminator, views up to DEC49 TRADE PRICE E28 MIN 10 PIECES something else?? SALE PRICE JUST E2.50 REF SA23
75 metres in full darkness in infrared mode, 150m range, 45mm lens, GAT AIR PISTOL PACK Complete with pistol, darts and pellets
13 deg angle of view, focussing range 1.5m to infinity. 2 AA batteries BULL TENS UNIT Fully built and tested TENS (Transcutaneous £12.95 Ref EF82B extra pellets (500) £4.50 ref EFS°.
required. 950g weight. £210 ref BAR61. 1 years warranty Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit, complete with electrodes and full 6"X12" AMORPHOUS SOLAR PANEL 12v 155x310mm
FILIN-1 150m range, 15 deg angle of view, focusing 10m -infinity, instructions. TENS is used for the relief of pain etc in up to 70% of 130rnA. SALE PRICE E4.99 REF SA24
E179 ref BAR62. A separate infra red light is available at £30 ref sufferers. Drug free pain relief, safe and easy to use, can be used in FIBRE OPTIC CABLE BUMPER PACK 10 metres for £4.99
BAR63. conjunction with analgesics etc. £49 Ref TEN/1 ref MAG5P13 ideal for experimenters! 30 m for £12.99 ref MAG13P1
WHITE N IG HT SIGHTS Excellent professional nightsight, small, COMPUTER RS232 TERMINALS. (LIBERTY)Excellent MIXED GOODIES BOX OF
hand held with camollaged carrying case £325. 1 years warranty. quality modern units,(like wyse 50,$) 2xRS232, 20 function keys, 50 MIXED COMPONENTS WEIGHING 2 KILOS
MEGA AIR MOVERS 375 cubic feet per min!, 240v 200 watt, throb 38,400 baud, menu driven port, screen, cursor, and keyboard
setup menus (18 menu's). E29 REF NOV4.
YOURS FOR JUST £6.99
2.800 rpm, reversable, rxT UK made, new. Aluminium, current list 4X28 TELESCOPIC SIGHTS Suitable for all air rifles, ground
price about £180 ours? E29.95 ref BAR35. RUSSIAN MONOCULARS Amazing 20 times magnification,
coated lenses, carrying case and shoulder strap.£29.95 REF BAR73 lenses, good light gathering properties. £19.95 ref R/7.
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS Bargain prices, RATTLE BACKS Interesting things these, small piece of solid
16 character 2 line, 65x14mm £1.99 ref SM1612A PC PAL VGA TO TV CONVERTER Converts a colour TV into
perspex like material that it you try to spin it on the desk it only spins
a basic VGA screen. Complete with builtin psu, lead and sAvare.. Ideal
16 character 2 line, 99x24mm £2.99 ref SM1623A for laptops or a cheap upgrade.Supplied in kit form for home one way! in fact if you spin it the 'wrong' way it stops of its own accord
20 character 2 line, 83x19mm £3.99 ref SM2020A assembly. SALE PRICE US REF SA34 and go's back the other way! £1.99 ref GI/J01.
16 character 4 line, 62x25mm £5.99 ref SMC1640A GYROSCOPES Rememberthese? well we havefound a company
EMERGENCY LIGHTING UNIT Complete unit with 2 double
TAL-1 110MM NEWTONIAN REFLECTORTELESCOPE that still manufactures these popular scientific toys, perfect gift or for
bulb floodlights, built in charger and auto switch. Fully cased. 6v 8AH
Russian. Superb astronomical 'scope, everything you need forsome educational use etc £6 ref EP70
lead acid req'd. (secondhand) £4 ref MAG4P11.
serious star gazing! up to 169x magnification. Send or fax forfurther SWINGFIRE GUIDED MISSILE WIRE. 4,200 metre reel of HYPOTHERMIA SPACE BLANKET 215x 150cm aluminised
details £249 ref TAL-1 foil blanket, reflects more than 90% of body heat. Also suitable for the
ultra thin 4 core insulated cable, 28Ibs breaking strain, less than 1mm
GOTAN EXPENSIVE BIKE?You need one of our botIlealairns, construction of two way mirrors! £3.99 each ref 0/L041.
thick! Ideal alarms, intercoms, dolls house's etc. £13.99 ref EP51
they look like a standard water bottle, but open the top, insert a key LENSTATIC RANGER COMPASS Oil filled capsule, strong
ELECTRIC CAR WINDOW DE-ICERS Complete with cable,
to activate a motion sensor alarm built inside. Fits all standard bottle plug etc SALE PRICE JUST £4.99 REF SA28 metal case, large luminous points. Sight line with magnifying viewer
carriers, supplied with two keys. SALE PRICE E7.99 REF SA32. 50mm dla, 86gm. £10.99 ref 0/K604.
ASTEC SWITCHED MODE PSU BM41012 Gives +5 C7; 3.75A,
GOT AN EXPENSIVE ANYTHING? You need one of our +12G1.5A, -12Q.4A. 230/110. cased, B M41012. £5.99 ref AUG6P3.
RECHARGE ORDINARY BATTERIES UP TO 10 TMES!
cased vibration alarms, keyswitch operated, fully cased just fit it to With the Battery Wizard! Uses the latest pulse wave charge system
AUTO S UNCHARG ER 155x300mm solar panel with diode and 3
anything from videos to caravans, provides a years protection from to charge all popular brands of ordinary batteries AAA, AA, C, D, four
metre lead fitted with a cigar plug. 12v 2watt. £9.99 REF SA25. at atm& Led system showsw hen batteries are charged, automatically
1 PP3 battery, UK made. SALE PRICE E4.99 REF SA33.
TOP QUALITY CENTRIFUGAL MAINS MOTORS SALE rejects unsuitable cells, complete with mans adaptor. BS approved.
DAMAGED ANSWER PHONES These are probably beyond
repair so just £4.99 each. BT response 200 machines. REF SA30. PRICE2 FOR JUST £2.60 REF SA38 Price Is £21.95 ref EP31.
COMMODORE GAMES CONSOLES Just a few of these left ECLATRON FLASH TUBE As used in police car flashing lights TALKING WATCH Yes, it actually tells you the time at the press of
to dear at £5 ref SA31. Condition unknown. etc, full spec supplied, 60-100 flashes a min. E8.99 REF SA15. a button. Also features a voice alarm that wakes you up and tells you
24v AC 96WATT Cased power supply. New. E9.99 REF SA40 what the time is! Lithium cell induded. £7.99 ref EP26.
COMPUTER DISC CLEARO UT We are left with a lot of software
packs that need clearing so we are selling atdi sc value only! 50 discs M ILITARYSPECG EIGERCOUNTERS Unused anstraightfrom PHOTOGRAPHIC RADAR TRAPS CAN COST YOU
for E4, thats just 8p eachd(our choice of discs) EA ref EPEE Her majesty's forces. SALE PRICE E44 REF SA16 YOUR LICENCE! The new multiband 2000 radar detector can
IBM PS2 MODEL 160Z CASE AND POWER SUPPLY MICRODRIVE STRIPPERS Small cased tape drives ideal for prevent even the most responsible of drivers from losing thei r I icence!
Complete with fan etc and 200 watt power supply. E9.95 ref E P67 stripping, lots of useful goodies including a smart case, and lots of Adjustable audible alarm with 8 flashing leds gives instant warning of
components. SALE PRICE JUST E4.99 FOR FIVE REF SA26 radar zones. Detects X, K, and Ka bands, 3 mile range, 'over the hill'
DELL PC POWER SUPPLIES 145 wan, +5.-5.+12.-12, 'around bends' and ' reartrap facilities. micro sizejust4.25N2.5N.751.
150x150x85mm complete with switch, flyleads and IEC socket. SOLAR POWER LAB SPECIAL You get TVV06'x6* 6v 130mA
solar cells, 4 LED's, wire, buzzer, switch plus 1 relay or motor. Superb
Can pay for itself in just one day! £79.95 ref E P3.
SALE PRICE E9.99 ref EP55
value kit SALE PRICE JUST £4.99 REF SA27 SANYO NICAD PACKS 120mmx14rnm 4.8v 270 maH suitable
1.44 DISC DRIVES Standard PC 3.5* drives but returns so they
RGB/CGA/EGA/TTL COLOUR MONITORS 121 In good for cordless phones etc. Pack of 2 just E5 ref EP78.
will need attention SALE PRICE E4.99 ref EP68
condition. Back anodised metal case. SALE PRICE E49 REF SA16 3" DISCS As used on older Amstrad machines, Spectrum plus3's
1.2 DISC DRIVES Standard 5.25' drives but returns so they will etc £3 each ref BAR400.
need attention SALE PRICE £4.99 ref EP69 PLUG IN ACORN PSU 19v AC 14w, £299 REF MAG3P 10
POWER SUPPLY fully cased with mains and o/p leads 17v DC STEREO MICROSOPES BACK IN STOCK Russian, 200x
PP3 N CADS Unused but some storage marks. £4.99 ref EP52
900nA output. Bargain price £5.99 ref MAG6P9 complete with lenses, lights, filters etc etc very comprehensive
DELL PC POWER SUPPLIES (Customer retums) Standard microscope that would normally be around the £700 mark, our price
PC psu's complete with fly leads, case and fan, pack of two psus ACORN ARCH S1EDES PSU +5v G 4.4k on/off sw uncased, is just E299 (full money back guarantee) full details in catalogue. Ref
SALE PRICE E5 FOR TWO!! ref EP61 selectable mains input, 145x 100x45mm £3.99 REF MAG7P2 95/300.
GAS HOBS ANDOVENSBrand new gas appliances, perfectfor SOMB OF OUR PRODUCTS MAY BE TJNLICENSABLE III THE SOLAR POWERED CAR VENTILATOR Simply fits along the
small flats etc. Basic 3 burner hob SALE PRICE £24.99 ref EP72. top of the glass in a side window and provides a constant supply of
Basic small built in oven SALE PRICE E79 ref EP73
BITS AND BOBS We have a quantity of cased modems,
multiplexers etc different specs but ideal strippers. E4 each ref E P63
BULL ELECT
25t ro tzr4Arlp ww). toM$04fra:
fresh air in hot sunny conditions! keeps your car cool in summer.
£19.95 ref s/vent.

RED EYE SECURITY PROTECTOR 1,000 watt outdoor PIR

'111StABLISHF114iVikit*. WE BUY SURPLUS STOCK FOR CASH
switch SALE PRICE E9.99 ref EP57
ENERGY BANK KIT 1006x6. 6v 100mA panels, 100 diodes,
connection details etc. £69.95 ref EF 112.
*Of4i***Ktpimk4s0, P() OltCHEQUE FREE CATALOGUE
PASTEL ACCOUNTS SOFTWARE, does everything for all
...'i!W/11fORBIRPai$4) P&P PUS VAT.
sizes of businesses, includes wordprocessor, report writer. :i4144:10-1.0PATATOXPWYEgYtg ,OPPO 100 PAGE CATALOGUE NOW
windowing. networkable up to 10 stations, multiple cash books etc
200 page comprehensive manual. 90 days free technical support AVAILABLE. 45P STAMP OR FREE
(0345-326009 try before you buy!) Current retail price is E129, Tgui oi 273 203500 WITH ORDER.
SALE PRICE £9.95 ref SA12. SAVE £120!!!
FAX 01273 323077

December 1995 ELECTRONICS WORLD+WIRELESS WORLD 1093

 CLASSIFIED
TEL 0181 652 3620 FAX 0181 652 8956

ARTICLES WANTED
VALVES, and CRTs FOR SALL
ONE MILLION VALVES stocked for Audio, Receiving, Transmit-
ting & RF Heating. Rare brands such as Mullard & GEC available.
Also MAGNETRONS, KLYSTRONS, CRTs and SOCKETS.

WE WANT TO BUY!! Large stocks of Russian & Sovtek items.

Please ask for our free catalogues of valves or CRTs.
IN VIEW OF THE EXTREMELY VALVES, etc. WANTED
RAPID CHANGE TAKING PLACE All types considered but especially KT88 (£48) PX4/PX25 (00),
IN THE ELECTRONICS KT66 (05), KT77 (£15) EL34/EL37 (0), ECC83 (£2.50). Valves
must be UK manufacture to achieve prices mentioned.
INDUSTRY, LARGE QUANTITIES All VALVE -ERA EQUIPMENT such QUAD, LEAK, GARRARD 301.
If possible, send a written list for a prompt decision.
OF COMPONENTS BECOME BILLINGTON EXPORT LTD., Billingshurst, Sussex RH14 9EZ.
REDUNDANT. WE ARE CASH Tel: 01403 784961 Fax: 01403 783519
VISITORS STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT. MINIMUM ORDER £50 plus VAT
PURCHASERS OF SUCH
MATERIALS AND WOULD WANTED!!
Top prices paid for your test equipment made by HEWLETT-PACKARD,
APPRECIATE A TELEPHONE MARCONI, FLUKE, TEKTRONIX, BOONTON, ROHDE & SCHWARZ etc.
From Europe's No. 1 Test Equipment Leader
CALL OR A LIST IF AVAILABLE. ROSENKRANZ-ELEKTRONIK, AXEL ROSENKRANZ
WE PAY TOP PRICES AND GROSS GERAUER WEG 55, 64295 DARMSTADT/GERMANY
Phone: 0049-6151-3998-0 Fax: 0049-6151-3998-18
COLLECT.
CONTACT US NOW!
R. HENSON LTD. You are looking for test equipment? More than 10,000 units in stock for
immediate delivery. Call or fax for our new 100 page catalogue
21 Lodge Lane, N.Finchley, today
London N12 8JG. ** WHAT WE DON'T HAVE YOU DON'T NEED **
5 Mins, from Tally Ho Corner.
TELEPHONE PURCHASE FOR CASH
SURPLUS - OBSOLETE - REDUNDANT - EXCESS stocks of
0181-445-2713/0749 electronic, electrical components/accessories, part processed and/or
finished products. Plese submit preliminary information or lists for
FAX 0181-445-5702 immediate response to:
K.B. COMPONENTS, 21 Playle Chase, Gt Totham,
Maldon, Essex CM9 8UT
Telephone 01621-893204. Facsimile 01621-893180.
**WANTED** STATIC INVERTORS
Test equipment, Electronic Scrap, Ferranti type F.I.45E A/C type 24/28v DC UP
Valves, Transmitters/Receivers, rated 0/P 115v 400c/s 1 phase 150 watt cont
Factory & Warehouse Clearance. sine wave, or 225 watt 10 Min. with connec
Confidentiality Assured.
TELFORD ELECTRONICS
Phone: 01952 605451
& mt hardware. £220 each inclusive.
A.H. SUPPLIES
Unit 12, Bankside Works
Darnall Road, Sheffield S9 5HA
ADVERTISERS
Fax: 01952 677978 Tel: 0114 244 4278

ELECTRONICS
PLEASE NOTE
ARTICLES
VALVES &
SEMICONDUCTORS FOR SALE For all your future enquiries
Phone for a most
WIRELESS WORLD and television
magazines. 1976 to date. For list write
on advertising rates
courteous quotation to: S. Jacovides, 20 Cheverton Road,
London N19 3AY. Tel: 0171-272 7139.

We are one of the largest FOR SALE. Marconi 2018 synthesised

AM/FM Sie Gen £600. Philips oscillo- Please contact
stockists of valves etc, scope PM 3065 100 Mhz D.T.B. £400.
in the U.K.
Lab closing down, can fax list of equip-
ment available. Call 01252 871048. Malcolm Wells on
COLOMOR ARTICLES WANTED
ELECTRONICS LTD
170 Goldhawk Road,
WANTED Operating manual for Boon-
ton Radio 260A Q -Meter. De Braban-
Tel: 0181-652 3620
London W12 8HJ dere Ommegangstr 14, 9690 Kluis-
England.
Tel: 0181 743 0899
bergen, Belgium 00-32-55-388968.
WANTED: Suit case radio sets, "Spy -
Set", Crypto equipment for museum.
Fax: 0181.6528956
Fax: 0181 749 3934 Rae Otterstad, P.O. Box 73, L,JAN,
N-1113, Oslo, Norway.

10 94
 CLASSIFIED
TEL 0181 652 3620 FAX 0181 652 8956

ARTICLES FOR SALE

40,
[
/
00r I
SUPPLIER OF QUALITY USED OPERATING & SERVICE MANUALS
TEST INSTRUMENTS

\
OM...-. .

irk Mk
J Si
,, .00

-..- ,

CONTACT CONTACT
Cooke International Cooke International
ELECTRONIC TEST & MEASURING INSTRUMENTS ELECTRONIC TEST & MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Unit Four, Fordingbridge Site, Main Road, Barnham, Unit Four, Fordingbridge Site, Main Road, Barnham,
Bognor Regis, West Sussex, P022 OEB Bognor Regis, West Sussex, P022 OEB
Tel: (+44)01243 545111/2 Fax: (+44)01243 542457 Tel: (+ 44)01243 545111/2 Fax: (+44)01243 542457
CIRCLE NO. I SO ON REPLY CARL) CIR( \Y). I 7 I ON REPLY CARD

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
PAGE PAGE PAGE
AMI Hart Electronic Kits Ltd
1049 1053 Perrybee 1063
Anchor Surplus Ltd HSPS Ltd
1086 1022 Pico Technology 1085
Bamber Electronics Ltd 1005 ICE Technology Ltd 1007 Quickroute Systems 1002
BK Electronics 1064 Interconnections 1002
Bull Electrical 1092, 1093 Iosis 1002 Ralfe Electronics 1095
Johns Radio Research Communications 1020
CMS 1064 1051
JPG Electronics Robinson Marshal
Cooke International 1032
1014 (Europe) Ltd 1033
Cricklewood Electronics 1022 Kanda Systems 1032
Seetrax Ltd 1083
Crownhill Associates 1076 Kestrel Electronic
Components Ltd 1032 Smart Communications Ltd 1057
Danmere OBC Keytronics 1043 Stag Programmers 1063
Display Electronics 1044 Labcenter Electronics Stewart of Reading 1032
1005
Equinox Technologies IFC Labcenter Electronics 1011
Surrey Electronics Ltd 1057

Field Electric Ltd LCE 1077 Telford Electronics 1049

1005
Flight Electronics Lloyd Research Ltd 1057 Telnet 1083
IBC
M&B Radio (Leeds) 1055 Those Engineers Ltd 1091
Grandata Ltd 1078 Milford Instruments Tsien Ltd 1064
1077
Halcyon Electronics 1049 Number One Systems Ltd 1077 Ultimate Technology 1039

10 9S
 SPECTRUM ANALYSERS RALFE ELECTRONICS HEWLETT PACKARD
36 EASTCOTE LANE. S. HARROW. MIDDLESEX HA28DB
TEL 1 44) 0181-422 3593. FAX ( -44)0181-4234009 ,-----1,-- --...
or ..
:I- i -
EST
:ii
41
YRS 3561A dynamics signal analyser (opt 01) £5500
3764A digital transmission analyser £2000
DISTRIBUZIONE E ASSISTENZA, ITALY: TLC RADIO, ROMA (06) 871 90254 3325B function generator E3000
IFR MODEL A-7550 1GHz portable £3500 3312A function generator E500
HP141T 1.25GHz system (8552B, 8554B) £1250 3400A voltmeter, analogue 10Hz-10MHz £250
HP141T 18GHz system (8552B, 8555A) £1500 TEST EQUIPMENT 3456A digital multimeter £750
HP3580A5Hz-50kHz audio frequency spectrum analyser 1000 to £1500 BRUEL & KJAER 2511 vibration meter (field set with 1621 filter) £1500 3580A audio frequency spectrum analyser £1500
HP3582A audio frequency fft analyser dual -channel (2000 BRUEL & KJAER 2317 portable level recorder £1500 3581C selective voltmeter £1250
HP8568A high -specification 1.5GHz spectrum analyser £7500 BRUEL & KJAER 2635 charge amplifier £950 41406 pA/meter, DC voltage source £4000
MARCONI 2386 100Hz-26.5GHz (in 1Hz steps!) £15000 BRUEL & KJAER 2609 measuring amplifier £750 4339A high resistance meter c/w lead set 16117B £2000
TEKTRONIX 496P 1.8GHz spectrum analyser, GPIB programmable £4500 BRUEL & KJAER 2308 analogue X -Y pen recorder £750 £3500
4275A multi -frequency Icr meter
BRUEL & KJAER 2639 preamplifier £275
MARCONI INSTRUMENTS CHASE LFR1000 interference measuring receiver 9kHz-150kHz
4358 microwave power meter, analogue £400
436A microwave power meter (digital) £850
DAMN 1061 & 1061A- various, digital mulbmeter & 1065 -cal from £500 53346 frequency counter w option 010 high -stab £1250
IDAOOM PT502 Rob:dans/yea (Hewlett Packard E3910I3 with E3335A) 03500
54100A 1GHz digitizing oscilloscope £2250
6012A power supply 0-60V 0-50A 1000W £650
6033A system power supply 0-20V 0-30A £1000
6038A system power supply 0-60V 0-10A £1000
.4perxocfieusssiv
raffeelectrimics onal T&M 6253A dual power supply 0-20V 0-1A twice £250
6443B power supply 0-120V 0-2.5A £400
SEND FOR LATEST STOCK LIST. WE FAX LISTS 6825A bipolar power supply/amplifier-20V to +20V, 0-1A £350
AND SHIP WORLDWIDE. ALL FULLY LAB -TESTED 8011A pulse generator 20MHz £1250
AND NO -QUIBBLE GUARANTEED 4 8444A tracking generator with option 059 £1250
85054B 'N -type' calibration kit £3000
8568A spectrum analyser 100Hz-1.5GHz £7500
2019A synthesized AM/FM signal generator 80kHz- IS09002 ACCREDITED STOCIOST OMR= 87510A gain -phase analyser 100KHz-300Mliz £6500
1040MHz £2000 CERT:. 95/013 MEASUREMENT& TEST EQUIPMENT CERT:. 954313 8901A modulation analyser with option 021010 £3500
2305 modulation analyser 50kHz-2.3GHz £3000 8903A audio analyser £2000
2828432829 digital simulator/analyser £500
£350
PLEASE NOTE: ALL OUR EQUIPMENT IS NOW
2386 spectrum analyser, superb specification, 100Hz-26.5GHz £15000 JJ INSTRUMENTS CR600 2 -channel pen recorder
£500 KIKUSUI 8520 frequency response analyser 20H-200KHz £750
OPERATION -VERIFICATION TESTED BEFORE DESPATCH BY
2926 TV generator & inserter (NTSC variant)
6460/6421 power meter & sensor 10MHz-12.4GHz £350 PHILIPS PM8272 X -Y & Y -t dual -channel pen recorder £850 INDEPENDENT LABORATORY
6500 amplitude analyser c/w 2c 6514 waveguide detectors £2500 RACAL -DANA 1992 frequency counter 1.3GHz IEEE option £700
We would be pleased to handle all grades of calibration or NAMAS
6960 microwave power meter with 6910 power sensor 10MHz- SYSIFIONDCMER 1X0 vithesizei signal goner& 1001-tz-1Gliz GF16 £1350
certification by same laboratory a cost price. Al items covered by our 90 -
20GHz £1000 TEKTRONIX AA501/SG505 distortion analyser (complete with 1M503) £1250
day pads and labour guarantee and 7 -day 'Right la Refuse' (money bad()
0A2805A pan regenerator test set £750 TEKTRONIX P6303 dscope probes NEW 250NHz X10/10 xiti readout* E50/33
warranty.
P0910/4 non-linear distortion (video) test set £500 WAVETEK 2520 synthesized signal generator 200KHz-2700MHz £2500

Milliff=111
ELECTRONIC UPDATE Contact Malcolm Wells on A regular advertising feature enabling
readers to obtain more information
0181-652 3620 on companies' products or services.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT! NEW CATALOGUE

This new 264 page Guide to The new 1996 National
SMDs now includes 64 pages of Instruments Instrumentation
SM Connector Systems from Reference and Catalogue is
AMP, JAE, Molex, Hirose, Oxley, available now. Discover how to
Cinch and Sumitomo and develop integrated systems for
mainly from stock as well. test and measurement and
industrial automation. Includes
Not only that but it's bulging details of over 500 software and
with new SMDs from over 30 hardware products for PCs and
franchises which now include workstations. Includes valuable
Panasonic. What an incredibly tutorials on data acquisition and
useful publication. instrument control.
I had better ring NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
01530 510333 for my copy Tel: 01635 523545
before they run out!
CIRCLE NO. 153 ON REPLY CARO ( IR( If \O. I37 ON REPLY CARD

NEW Feedback T&M 1995 MASTER PRODUCT

Catalogue CATALOGUE NOW OUT!
Test and instrument control solutions.
The latest edition of the Feed- 48 pages of full description and technical
back Test & Measurement cata- data on our own range of solutions to your
logue is now available. Over 60 PC and PS2 interfacing problems: IEEE488
pages packed with more than (GPIB) * DID Timer/Counters RS232
RS422/485 A/D D/A * plus Opto
800 products divided into over Isolated versions. New Parallel/Serial
20 sections. The catalogue is RS232, Opto Dual RS232, Motion Control,
indexed for both product and Converter and Repeater for 1995!
manufacturer and is fully illus- ISO 9001 Quality guarantee /
UK design and manufacture
trated. Whether you are looking 36 month no -quibble warranty
for an individual product, a com- Telephone hotline support 1'
IIIII plete workstation, or a solution
to a particular Test & Measure-
Competitive pricing on the page /
Intelligent solutions 8 friendly service
ment need the NEW Feedback BRAIN BOXES
catalogue will sove your prob- Unif 3f Waverlree Boulevard South
Wavertree Technology Park
I I I
lems, send for a copy NOW! Liverpool L7 9PF
Tel: 0151 220 2500 Fax: 0151 252 0446
0189:
( IR( II NO. 1.04 ON REPLY CARD
111E211.11=
to9b
 At last! The complete 14 UNIQUE
ADVANTAGES!
PC -Based PLD ys Superb Manual
g Everything in one box
Training System El Save time & money
Z1 Demo area provided
1 23 worked experiments
C1 Menu drive for fast
learning
g Includes PALASM
Ti 3 simultaneous PLD's
EiJumper wire linkage
g Supports GAL16V8
& GAL20V8
g 3 input, 4 output areas
ti No tied up ports
g 4 FREE GAL's
j12 month guarantee

THE PAL TRAINER LIKE TO SEE THE PAL TRAINER IN ACTION?

Nothing beats an actual hands-on experience of
Until now, introducing students and engineers to the world of Programmable the system's completeness, ease of use, and flexibility.
Just call 01703 227721 and order today! -
Logic Devices has been fraught with problems. We operate a `no strings' 30 days
Not only has the necessary hardware to be laboriously assembled in bits and 'no risk' refund.

pieces, but suitable software and - equally important - supporting documentation

has been, if anything, harder to source. USING THE SYSTEM
With the launch of THE PAL TRAINER system from Flight Electronics International, The two main parts of the PAL TRAINER are the
the entire problem has been neatly solved in one comprehensive programmer and the applications sections.
Using the programmer section, up to 3 GAL devices are
hardware/software/documentation package... placed in ZIF sockets, and programmed from the PC using
the supplied software. This lets you choose a particular
...providing everything that the engineer and student needs for a thorough PAL to emulate, loads a JEDEC file into memory (either
generated from the PAL TRAINER's own software or any
introduction to PLD's at a very realistic price. other appropriate software package), downloads the
JEDEC file to the GAL, and even lets you 'view' the GAL
and takes the student right from unpacking and setting
COMPLETE & up the system, through a short demonstration program
once it has been programmed.
which runs without the need to do into PALASM and
COMPREHENSIVE then, in a gentle step-by-step sequence, through 23
separate experiments.
We accept: Flight House
Ascupart Street
One of the main advantages of THE PAL TRAINER is its O The complete PALASM software package, whose separate
completeness. The board and accessory kit consists of: Access Southampton

Aft
manual also contains a number of example programs.
II The MPLDT-10 main unit - a sturdy metal -cased PCB S014 1WP U.K.
containing both a GAL programmer and a test unit.
There is also a separate demo area for use with the
SIMPLE, FAST FRIENDLY Telephone:
demonstration section of the manual. The design parameters of THE PAL TRAINER were that it
01703 227721
should: MasterCard
A PCPET interface card, which plugs into a free PC Facsimile:
expansion slot, and connects to the main unit via a IN run on IBM XT, AT or compatibles - with no need for
supplied API -37 cable. This allows rapid programming ANY other hardware. 01703 330039
of the PLD, and greater flexibility than a serial link can provide a complete training course, from initial logic Email: Sales
deliver. design, to PC simulation, device programming & @flight demon.co.uk

Flight
A 360kb system diskette containing the board driver testing.
files. II be enjoyable, readily -understandable, but fully
An external power line for use with the experiment applicable to 'real -world' situations.
section. include a top programming language - in this case
II Various connection lines and block jumpers. AMD's PALASM Version 4, widely regarded as the PLD

II The comprehensive PAL TRAINER User's Manual. This

has been written in precise, easy -to -understand English,
standard. Version 4, incidentally, can be linked to other
schematic packages such as OrCad. ELECTRONICS
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
CIRCLE NO. 102 ON REPLY CARD

Flight ELECTRONIC& MICROPROCESSOR TRAINING EQUIPMENT TEL: 01703 227721

also TEST & MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT
make 4 FREE COLOUR BROCHURES AVAILABLE - CALL TODAY! FAX: 01703 330039
If you have never lost a file,
never ran out of disk space or
love re -installing software,
don't read any further.
Backer' is a high performance back-up system designed
specifically for the home user. For less than the price
of most PC games, you can store up to 1.5Gbytes of
data on a single VHS video tape, the equivalent of
3 CD-ROMs. Backer& utilises your existing
video recorder to transfer data from your
hard disk at up to 9Mbytes per minute,
faster than many of the significantly
more expensive tape streamers.

Free up extra disk space by arc wing

less frequently used files
Protect important files by keeping back-up copies
Transfer data between PCs, copy hundreds of Megabytes Inc. VAT
quickly and easily
Runs under Windows' in the background, allowing you
to continue working with other applications
Uses low cost standard video tapes
Comprises of an expansion card and easy -to -use software
State of the art sophisticated error correction ensures
reliable operation
Back-up selected files or the whole hard disk

Order now by ringing 01606 44244 quoting your Access

or Visa number or by sending your cheque or postal order
for £37.45 (*.£34.95 inc. VAT + P&P £2.50) to Danmere
Technologies Ltd., Darland House, 44 Winnington Hill,
Northwich, Cheshire CW8 1AU.

Distributor enquiries welcome.

Danmere Technologies Ltd., Darland House, 44 Winnington Hill, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 1AU.