School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Automation

Friday 23 October 2015

Introduction to Fault-Tolerant Embedded Systems

Introduction to Fault-Tolerant Embedded Systems 01 TESLA Institute

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all use electronic systems in our day-to-day life. Many times we have seen that when systems fail, things get difficult. Consequences can be serious if failure happens in a critical function. For example, imagine you are travelling in an aircraft and the main controller controlling the aircraft fails. When applications that involve safety of our lives fail, how we handle them becomes critical.

 

Reliable systems are designed based on the data collected about the failure of the components used in the system. Reliability is a figure that can be predicted based on certain parameters for every system. Essentially, reliability is just a predicted number based on probability and does not let the system work in case of failure.

A fault-tolerant (FT) system, on the other hand, will work even if there is a single or multiple faults (based on design) in the system.

Another critical aspect that we need to remember is how fault-tolerance is implemented. Let us take the example of a telephone exchange. If there is a problem in the phone line or line interface in the exchange, the fault can be rectified only when we replace the faulty part with a good one. However, if the controller controlling the exchange fails, this not only affects the user but also leads to revenue loss as all metering information for on-going calls will be lost. So, most service providers expect exchange controllers, and not the subscriber interface, to be fault-tolerant.

 Introduction to Fault-Tolerant Embedded Systems TESLA Institute

There are certain applications like aircraft

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Saturday 11 July 2015

Electromagnet


An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by an electric current. The magnetic field disappears when the current is turned off. Electromagnets usually consist of a large number of closely spaced turns of wire that create the magnetic field. The wire turns are often wound around a magnetic core made from a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material such as iron; the magnetic core concentrates the magnetic flux and makes a more powerful magnet.

 

The main advantage of an electromagnet over a permanent magnet is that the magnetic field can be quickly changed by controlling the amount of electric current in the winding. However, unlike a permanent magnet that needs no power, an electromagnet requires a continuous supply of electrical energy to maintain a magnetic field.

 

Electromagnets are widely used as components of other electrical devices, such as motors, generators, relays, loudspeakers, hard disks, MRI machines, scientific instruments, and magnetic separation equipment. Electomagnets are also employed in industry for picking up and moving heavy iron objects such as scrap iron and steel.

 

 

History

Danish scientist Hans Christian Orsted discovered in 1820 that electric currents create magnetic fields. British scientist William Sturgeon invented the electromagnet in 1824. His first electromagnet was a horseshoe-shaped piece of iron that was wrapped

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Tuesday 19 May 2015

Dual Motor Control for Robots

 

 Dual Motor Control for Robots - TESLA Institute


Presented here is a simple circuit that can drive two motors for a small robot, allowing the robot to negotiate an obstacle course. Two light-dependent resistors (LDRs) are used to detect the obstacle and the motors are driven correspondingly to avoid the obstacles automatically. Two H-bridge motor circuits are used that can drive each motor forward or backward, or stop it, independently.

Circuit and working


Fig. 1 shows the circuit of dual motor control. The circuit is built around four-channel multiplexer CD4052 (IC1), light-dependent resistors (LDR1 and LDR2), four BC547 npn transistors (T1 through T4), four BC338 transistors (T7, T8, T11 and T12), four BC327 pnp transistors (T5, T6, T9 and T10) and a few other components.

Dual Motor Control for Robots - TESLA Institute

Fig. 1: Circuit of the dual motor control

As mentioned earlier, there are two H-bridge circuits to drive the two motors. Motor M1 drives the left side, while motor M2 drives the right side. Each H-bridge circuit is built around a pair of npn and pnp transistors as shown in Fig. 1. Each driving transistor has a diode connected between

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Wednesday 15 April 2015

Concentrated Solar Power

Reportstack announces that it has published a new study Concentrated Solar Power (CSP): Market Shares, Strategy, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2014 to 2020. The 2014 study has 436 pages, 190 tables and figures. Worldwide markets are poised to achieve significant growth as the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) integrates molten salt storage technologies and leverages the existing steam electrical power generating capacity.

The concentrated solar power market is set to explode despite environmental objections to the technology. The latest CSP launch, Ivanpah solar electric generating system is an engineering marvel that delivers on the full promise of solar energy. Ivanpah

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Thursday 2 April 2015

Signal Diode

Signal Diode 01 TESLA Institute
The semiconductor Signal Diode is a small non-linear semiconductor devices generally used in electronic circuits, where small currents or high frequencies are involved such as in radio, television and digital logic circuits. The signal diode which is also sometimes known by its older name of the Point Contact Diode or the Glass Passivated Diode, are physically very small in size compared to their larger Power Diode cousins.

Generally, the PN junction of a small Signal Diode is encapsulated in glass to protect the PN junction, and usually have a red or black band at one end of their body to help identify which end is the cathode terminal. The most widely used of all the glass encapsulated signal diodes is the very common 1N4148 and its equivalent 1N914 signal diode.
Small signal and switching diodes have much lower power and current ratings, around 150mA, 500mW maximum compared to rectifier diodes, but they can function better in

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Tuesday 31 March 2015

Semiconductors



If Resistors are the most basic passive component in electrical or electronic circuits, then we have to consider the Signal Diode as being the most basic “Active” component. However, unlike a resistor, a diode does not behave linearly with respect to the applied voltage as it has an exponential I-V relationship and therefore can not be described simply by using Ohm’s law as we do for resistors.

Diodes are basic unidirectional Semiconductor Devices that will only allow current to flow through them in one direction only, acting more like a one way electrical valve, (Forward Biased Condition). But, before we have a look at how signal or

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Friday 20 March 2015

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Resistance



 
An electron traveling through the wires and loads of the external circuit encounters resistance. Resistance is the hindrance to the flow of charge. For an electron, the journey from terminal to terminal is not a direct route. Rather, it is a zigzag path that results from countless collisions with fixed atoms within the conducting material. The electrons encounter resistance - a hindrance to their movement. While the electric potential difference established between the two terminals encourages the movement of charge, it is resistance that discourages it. The rate at which charge flows from terminal to terminal is the result of the combined effect of these two quantities.

The flow of charge through wires is often compared to the flow of water through pipes. The resistance to the flow of charge in an electric circuit is analogous to the frictional effects between water and the pipe surfaces as well as the resistance offered by obstacles that are present in its path. It is this resistance that hinders the water flow and reduces both its flow rate and its drift speed. Like the resistance to water flow, the total amount of resistance to charge flow within a wire of an electric circuit is affected by some clearly identifiable variables.

First, the total length of the wires will affect the amount of resistance. The longer the wire, the more resistance that there will be. There is a direct relationship between the amount of resistance encountered by charge and the length of wire it must traverse. After all, if resistance occurs as the result of collisions between charge carriers and the atoms of the wire, then there is likely to be more collisions in a longer wire. More collisions mean more resistance.

 

Second, the cross-sectional area of the wires will affect the amount of resistance. Wider wires have a greater cross-sectional area. Water will flow through a wider pipe at

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Saturday 14 February 2015

Happy Valetine's Day


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Saturday 31 January 2015

Resistors


A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. Resistors act to reduce current flow, and, at the same time, act to lower voltage levels within circuits.

A number of different resistors are shown in the photos. (The resistors are on millimeter paper, with 1cm spacing to give some idea of the dimensions).  Photo below shows some low-power resistors, with power dissipation below 5 watt (most commonly used types) are cylindrical in shape, with a wire protruding from each end for connecting to a circuit.

 

resistors 02 electronic-components TESLA Institute


This photo shows some higher-power resistors, with power dissipation above 5 watt are shown below.

 

 

resistors 03 electronic-components TESLA Institute

 

 


The symbol for a resistor is shown in the following diagram (upper: American symbol, lower: European symbol.)

 

resistors 04 electronic-components TESLA Institute

Resistor symbols

 

 The unit for measuring resistance is the OHM. (the Greek letter Ω - called Omega). Higher resistance values are represented by "k" (kilo-ohms) and M (meg ohms). For example, 120 000 Ω is represented as 120k, while 1 200 000 Ω is represented as 1M2. The dot is generally omitted as it can easily be lost in the printing process. In some circuit diagrams, a value such as 8 or 120 represents a resistance in ohms. Another common practice is to use the letter E for resistance in ohms. The letter R can also be used. For example, 120E (120R) stands for 120


 



Resistor Markings

Resistance value is marked on the resistor body. Most resistors have 4 bands. The first two bands provide the numbers for the resistance and the third band provides the number of zeros. The fourth band indicates the tolerance. Tolerance values of  5%, 2%, and 1% are most commonly available.

The following table shows the colors used to identify resistor values:

 

resistors 05 electronic-components TESLA Institute

 

resistors 06 electronic-components TESLA Institute

a. Four-band resistor, b. Five-band resistor, c. Cylindrical SMD resistor, d. Flat SMD resistor

 



RESISTORS LESS THAN 10 OHMS

When the third band is gold, it indicates the value of the "colors" must be divided by 10.
Gold = "divide by 10" to get values 1R0 to 8R2
See 1st Column above for examples.

When the third band is silver, it indicates the value of the "colors" must be divided by 100.
(Remember: more letters in the word "silver" thus the divisor is "larger.")
Silver = "divide by 100" to get values 0R1 (one tenth of an ohm) to 0R82
e.g: 0R1 = 0.1 ohm     0R22 =  point 22 ohms  
See 4th Column above for examples.

The letters "R, k and M" take the place of a decimal point. The letter "E" is also used to indicate the word "ohm."
e.g: 1R0 = 1 ohm     2R2 = 2 point 2 ohms   22R = 22 ohms  
2k2 = 2,200 ohms     100k = 100,000 ohms
2M2 = 2,200,000 ohms


Common resistors have 4 bands. These are shown above. First two bands indicate the first two digits of the resistance, third band is the multiplier (number of zeros that are to be added to the number derived from first two bands) and fourth represents the tolerance.
Marking the resistance with five bands is used for resistors with tolerance of 2%, 1% and other high-accuracy resistors. First three bands determine the first three digits, fourth is the multiplier and fifth represents the tolerance.


For SMD (Surface Mounted Device) the available space on the resistor is very small. 5% resistors use a 3 digit code, while 1% resistors use a 4 digit code.
Some SMD resistors are made in the shape of small cylinder while the most common type is flat. Cylindrical SMD resistors are marked with six bands - the first five are "read" as with common five-band resistors, while the sixth band determines the Temperature Coefficient (TC), which gives us a value of resistance change upon 1-degree temperature change.
The resistance of flat SMD resistors is marked with digits printed on their upper side. First two digits are the resistance value, while the third digit represents the number of zeros. For example, the printed number 683 stands for 68000W , that is 68k.
It is self-obvious that there is mass production of all types of resistors. Most commonly used are the resistors of the E12 series, and have a tolerance value of 5%. Common values for the first two digits are: 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 27, 33, 39, 47, 56, 68 and 82.
The E24 series includes all the values above, as well as: 11, 13, 16, 20, 24, 30, 36, 43, 51, 62, 75 and 91. What do these numbers mean?  It means that resistors with values for digits "39" are: 0.39W, 3.9W, 39W, 390W, 3.9kW, 39kW, etc are manufactured. (0R39, 3R9, 39R, 390R, 3k9, 39k)
For some electrical circuits, the resistor tolerance is not important and it is not specified. In that case, resistors with 5% tolerance can be used. However, devices which require resistors to have a certain amount of accuracy, need a specified tolerance.

 

Resistor Power Dissipation

If the flow of current through a resistor increases,  it heats up, and if the temperature exceeds a certain critical value, it can be damaged. The wattage rating of a resistor is the power it can dissipate over a long period of time.
Wattage rating is not identified on small resistors. The following diagrams show the size and wattage rating:

resistors 07 electronic-components TESLA Institute

Resistor dimensions

 

Most commonly used resistors in electronic circuits have a wattage rating of 1/2W or 1/4W. There are smaller resistors  (1/8W and 1/16W) and higher (1W, 2W, 5W, etc).
In place of a single resistor with specified dissipation, another one with the same resistance and higher rating may be used, but its larger dimensions increase the space taken on a printed circuit board as well as the added cost.
Power (in watts) can be calculated according to one of the following formulae, where U is the symbol for Voltage across the resistor (and is in Volts), I is the symbol for Current in Amps and R is the resistance in ohms:

resistors 08 electronic-components TESLA Institute

 

For example, if the voltage across an 820 Ω resistor is 12V, the wattage dissipated by the resistors is:

resistors 09 electronic-components TESLA Institute

 

A 1/4W resistor can be used.

In many cases, it is not easy to determine the current or voltage across a resistor. In this case the wattage dissipated by the resistor is determined for the "worst" case. We should assume the highest possible voltage across a resistor, i.e. the full voltage of the power supply (battery, etc).
If we mark this voltage as UB, the highest dissipation is:

For example, if UB=9V, the dissipation of a 220 Ω resistor is:

resistors 10 electronic-components TESLA Institute

 

A 0.5W or higher wattage resistor should be used.

 

 

EE01000 001

EEE0100 001 

EEE0120 001

EE02000 001

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Tuesday 20 January 2015

Ohm's Law

Ohms Law TESLA Institute

 

The relationship between Voltage, Current and Resistance in any DC electrical circuit was firstly discovered by the German physicist Georg Ohm. Ohm found that, at a constant temperature, the electrical current flowing through a fixed linear resistance is directly proportional to the voltage applied across it, and also inversely proportional to the resistance.



This relationship between the Voltage, Current and Resistance forms the bases of Ohms Law and is shown below.

 

Ohms Law TESLA Institute

 Ohm's Law Relationship

 

By knowing any two values of the Voltage, Current or Resistance quantities we can use Ohm's Law to find the third missing value. Ohm's Law is used extensively in electronics formulas and calculations so it is “very important to understand and accurately remember these formulas”.

 

To find the Voltage ( V )

[ V = I x R ]      V (volts) = I (amps) x R (Ω)

 

To find the Current ( I )

[ I = V ÷ R ]      I (amps) = V (volts) ÷ R (Ω)

 

To find the Resistance ( R )

[ R = V ÷ I ]      R (Ω) = V (volts) ÷ I (amps)

 

It is sometimes easier to remember Ohms law relationship by using pictures. Here the three quantities of V, I and R have been superimposed into a triangle (affectionately called the Ohm's Law Triangle) giving voltage at the top with current and resistance at the bottom. This arrangement represents the actual position of each quantity in the Ohms law formulas.

 

Ohms Law Triangle - TESLA Institute

Ohms Law Triangle

 

Transposing the above Ohms Law equation gives us the following combinations of the same equation:

 

Ohms Law Triangle - TESLA Institute

Then by using Ohms Law we can see that a voltage of 1V applied to a resistor of 1Ω will cause a current of 1A to flow and the greater the resistance, the less current will flow for any applied voltage. Any Electrical device or component that obeys “Ohms Law” that is, the current flowing through it is proportional to the voltage across it ( I α V ), such as resistors or cables, are said to be “Ohmic” in nature, and devices that do not, such as transistors or diodes, are said to be “Non-ohmic” devices.

 

Ohm's Law Example

For the circuit shown below find the Voltage (V), the Current (I), the Resistance (R)

Ohms Law - TESLA Institute

 

Voltage   [ V = I x R ] = 2 x 12Ω = 24V

Current   [ I = V ÷ R ] = 24 ÷ 12Ω = 2A

Resistance   [ R = V ÷ I ] = 24 ÷ 2 = 12 Ω


Ohms Law - TESLA Institute

Georg Simon Ohm, Alessandro Volta, André-Marie Ampère


Ohms Law - TESLA Institute

 
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