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Electronics Mini Course - Lesson Five

The coup-de-gras at last!

So the original circuit we've been using was from a Make Circuit Skills tutorial.

Here's a variation that omits the 20k trimming potentiometers ("trim pots"), and varies a couple of the resistor and cap values:

As an input stage we've been using a little electret microphone to pick up audio and route it into the colour organ.

Posted by Graham - 02/16/2012 - 00:33
Electronics Mini Course - Lesson Four

Now for something similar but different... the "light theremin."

Theremins are wicked. Check them out.

We'll make a simple version using a 555 timer IC.

The 555 timer chip is a bit like the op amp chip, and by adding a few additional components we'll create another oscillator.

We'll also add in one of our CdS photocells to act as a sensor that will change the frequency our circuit puts out.

Posted by Graham - 02/16/2012 - 00:25
Electronics Mini Course - Lesson Three

Let's crank it up.

Here we introduce the operational amplifier, or "op amp."

Op amps are integrated circuits (ICs), which means they've got their own specialized circuitry inside. Op amp ICs are very versatile.

The figure above shows a "quad op amp" chip. The notch at the left makes orientation clearer. They also come in single and double chips, as well as different styles of packages.

Posted by Graham - 02/15/2012 - 01:10
Electronics Mini Course - Lesson Two

In lesson two we'll cover:

  • diodes
  • bread boards
  • a really simple activity with the LED
  • a few additional components you should know about

Let's go.

A new component: the diode

Diodes allow current to flow only in one direction (forward bias). When in forward bias, the triangle symbol points away from high voltage.

In "reverse bias" no current flows.

Posted by Graham - 02/14/2012 - 19:01
The Zero-to-Hero Electronics Mini Course - Lesson One

The goal of this mini coarse is to get you from having almost no experience building electronics to the point where you're assembling some pretty cool circuits.

We'll start simple and build up quickly.

  • Basic components, symbols, and some useful (simple) math.
  • The "bread board" and our first LED circuit.
Posted by Graham - 02/12/2012 - 19:17
The Society of Awesome

Recently a bunch of us (undergrads, grads, faculty, myself) started a little group to work on some awesome "special projects."

In particular, there's one big project in the works for September, and there will be a few others that we work on along the way. It's going to need a pile of work, but it's pretty cool and should be a tonne of fun.

Posted by Graham - 02/12/2012 - 18:28
This seems very useful

You have to have a lot of faith in your product if you're willing to go to extremes like this man:  
http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/edible-super-insulating-foam-prot...

Posted by ctarapac - 02/03/2012 - 11:11
Yoan Medev's focused ultrasound TEDMED presentation

Posted by Graham - 12/19/2011 - 12:53
hifu, ultrasound
TIME Magazine features focused ultrasound as one of this year’s 50 Best Inventions

Dr. Tavakkoli recently brought to my attention the following announcement from the Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation:


In case you missed the announcement in the Foundation’s Nov 22 newsletter, TIME Magazine has recognized focused ultrasound as one of the 50 “most inspired ideas, innovations and revolutions” of 2011. For us, this exciting and highly validating news is something to share and celebrate with everyone we know.

Posted by Graham - 12/14/2011 - 13:08
hifu, ultrasound
I feel somewhat insignificant.
A 17yr old girl won honors at the Siemens Foundation's annual high school science competition for her project titled "Design of Image-guided, Photo-thermal Controlled Drug Releasing Multifunctional Nanosystem for the Treatment of Cancer Stem Cells".
Posted by amanda.tran - 12/12/2011 - 21:19

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