.

ectronics World's renowned news section starts on page 4

ELECTRON Cs 0 5>

'WORLD
_AAY 2004 £3.25
9 709 8 33097

in memoriam John Linsley Hood MIEE

FPGAs S
ASSOCIATION

demystified
A new monitoring
pool for 5.1 audio
?recision rectifier
ircuits
3 GSM
:ongress report

Circuit ideas:
Jitter generator
Low battery warning device
Blown fuse indicator
 Quality second -user
Fir
Te net
test & measurement vow

equipment
MEI
ENI 550L Amplifier (1.5 to 400MHz) 50 Watts £2500
Hewlett Packard 3314A Function Generator 20MHz £750 Radio Communications Test Sets
Agilent (HP) 8924C (opt 601) CDMA Mobile Station T/Set £8500
Hewlett Packard 3324A synth. function/sweep gen. (21MHz) £1950
Agilent (HP) E8285A CDMA Mobile Station T/Set £8500
Hewlett Packard 3325B Synthesised Function Generator £2500
Anritsu MT8802A (opt 7) Radio Comms Analyser (300kHz-3GHz) £8500
Hewlett Packard 3326A Two -Channel Synthesiser £2500
Hewlett Packard 8920B (opts 1,4,7,11,12) £6750
H.P. 4191A R/F Imp. Analyser (1GHz) £3995
Hewlett Packard 8922M + 83220E £2000
H.P. 4192A L.F. Imp. Analyser (13MHz) £4000
from £1250
Marconi 2955 / 2955A
Hewlett Packard 4193A Vector Impedance Meter (4-110MHz) £2900 Marconi 2955B/60B £3500
Hewlett Packard 4278A lkHz/1MHz Capacitance Meter £3500 Marconi 2955R £1995
H.P. 53310A Mod. Domain Analyser (opt 1/31) £3950 Motorola R2600B £2500
Hewlett Packard 8349B (2 - 20 GHz) Microwave Amplifier £2000 Racal 6103 (optsl, 2) £5000
Hewlett Packard 8508A (with 85081B plug-in) Rohde & Schwarz SMFP2 £1500
Vector Voltmeter £2500 Rohde & Schwarz CMD 57 (opts B1, 34, 6, 19, 42, 43, 61) £4995
Hewlett Packard 8904A Multifunction Synthesiser (opt 2+4) £1750 Rohde & Schwarz CMT 90 (2GHz) DECT £3995
Hewlett Packard 89440A Vector Signal Analyser (1.8GHz) Rohde & Schwarz CMTA 94 (GSM) £4500
opts AY8, AYA, AYB, AY7, IC2 £9950 Schlumberger Stabilock 4015 £3250
Agilent (HP) E4432B (opt 1E5/K03/H03) or (opt lEM/UK6/UN8) Schlumberger Stabilock 4031 £2750
(250kHz - 3GHz) £6000 Schlumberger Stabilock 4040 £1300
Marconi 6310 - Prog'ble Sweep gen. (2 to 20GHz) - new £2500 Wavetek 4103 (GSM 900) Mobile phone tester £1500
Marconi 6311 Prog'ble sig. gen. (10MHz to 20GHz) £2995 Wavetek 4032 Stabilock Comms Analyser £4000
Marconi 6313 Prog'ble sig. gen. (10MHz to 26.5GHz) £3750 Wavetek 4105 PCS 1900 GSM Tester £1600
R&S SMG (0.1-1GHz) Sig. Generator (opts B1+2) £2500
Rhode & Schwarz UPA3 Audio Analyser 11500 MISCELLANEOUS
Rhode & Schwarz UPA3 Audio Analyser £2250 Agilent (HP) 8656A / 8656B 100kHz-990MHz Synth. Sig. Gen. from £600
Fluke 5800A Oscilloscope Calibrator £8995 Agilent (HP) 8657A/ 8657B 100kHz-1040 or 2060MHz from £1250
Agilent (HP) 8644A (opt 1) 252kHz - 1030 MHz Sig.Gen. £4500
OSCILLOSCOPES Agilent (HP) 8664A (opt 1 + 4) High Pert. Sig. Gen. (0.1-3GHz) £10500
Agilent (HP) 54600B 100MHz 2 channel digital £800 Agilent (HP) 8902A (opt 2) Measuring Rxr (150kHz-1300MHz) £7500
Agilent (HP) 54602B 150MHz 4(2+2) channnel digital £1250 Agilent (HP) 8970B (opt 020) Noise Figure Meter £3950
Agilent (HP) 54616B 500MHz 2 channel digital £1750 Agilent (HP) EPM 441A (opt 2) single ch. Power Meter £1300
Agilent (HP) 54616C 500MHz 2 channel colour £2750 Agilent (HP) 6812A AC Power Source 750VA £2950
Agilent (HP) 54645D DSO/Logic Analyser 100MHz 2 channel £2750
Agilent (HP) 60638 DC Electronic Load 250W (0-10A) £1000
Hewlett Packard 54502A - 400MHz - 400 MS/s 2 channel £1600
Hewlett Packard 54520A 500MHz 2ch £2750 Anritsu MG3670B Digital Modulation Sig. Gen. (300kHz-2250MHz) £4250
Hewlett Packard 54600A - 100MHz -2 channel £675 Anritsu/Wiltron 68347B (10MHz-20GHz) Synth. Sweep Sig. Gen. £9000
Hewlett Packard 54810A 'Infinium' 500MHz 2ch £2995 EIP 545 Microwave Frequency Counter (18GHz) £1000
Lecroy 9310CM 400MHz - 2 channel £2250 EIP 548A and B 26.5GHz Frequency Counter from £1500
Lecroy 9314L 300MHz - 4 channels £2750 EIP 575 Source Locking Freq.Counter (18GHz) £1200
Philips 3295A - 400MHz - Dual channel £1400 EIP 585 Pulse Freq.Counter (18GHz) £1200
Philips PM3392 - 200MHz - 200Ms/s - 4 channel £1750 Fluke 6060A and B Signal Gen. 10kHz - 1050MHz £950
Philips PM3094 - 200MHz - 4 channel £1500 Genrad 1657/1658/1693 LCR meters from £500
Tektronix 2220 - 60MHz - Dual channel D.S.O £850
Gigatronics 8541C Power Meter + 80350A Peak Power Sensor £1250
Tektronix 2221 - 60MHz - Dual channel D.S.O £850
Gigatronics 8542C Dual Power Meter + 2 sensors 80401A £1995
Tektronix 2235 - 100MHz - Dual channel £500
Tektronix 2245A - 100MHz - 4 channel £700 Hewlett Packard 339A Distortion measuring set £600
Tektronix 2430/2430A - Digital storage - 150MHz from £1250 Hewlett Packard 436A power meter and sensor (various) from £750
Tektronix 2445 - 150MHZ - 4 channel +DMM £850 Hewlett Packard 438A power meter - dual channel £1750
Tektronix 2445/2445B - 150MHz - 4 channel £800 Hewlett Packard 3335A - synthesiser (200Hz-81 MHz) £1750
Tektronix 2465/2465A /2465B - 300MHz/350MHz 4 channel from £1250 Hewlett Packard 3784A - Digital Transmission Analyser £2950
Tektronix TDS 310 50MHz DSO - 2 channel £750 Hewlett Packard 37900D - Signalling test set £2500
Tektronix TDS 420 150 MHz 4 channel £950 Hewlett Packard 4274A LCR Meter £1750
Tektronix TDS 520 - 500MHz Digital Oscilloscope £2500 Hewlett Packard 4275A LCR Meter £2750
Tektronix TAS 475 100MHz - 4 channel analogue £750
Hewlett Packard 4276A LCZ Meter (100MHz-20KHz) £1400
Tektronix TDS 340 100MHz - 2 channel digital £950
Tektronix TDS 360 200MHz - 2 channel digital £1200 Hewlett Packard 5342A Microwave Freq.Counter (18GHz) £850
Tektronix TDS 420A 200MHz - 4 channel digital £1800 Hewlett Packard 5385A -1 GHz Frequency counter £495
Tektronix TDS 540B 500MHz - 4 channel digital £2500 Hewlett Packard 8350B - Sweep Generator Mainframe £1500
Tektronix TDS 640A 500MHz - 4 channel digital £2700 Hewlett Packard 8642A - high performance R/F synthesiser (0.1-1050MHz) £2500
Tektronix TDS 744A 500MHZ - 4 channel digital £4250 Hewlett Packard 8901B - Modulation Analyser £1750
Tektronix TDS 754C 500MHz - 4 channel digital £4500 Hewlett Packard 8903A, B and E - Distortion Analyser from £1000
Hewlett Packard 11729B/C Carrier Noise Test Set from £2500
SPECTRUM ANALYSERS Hewlett Packard 85024A High Frequency Probe £1000
Advantest 4131 (10kHz - 3.5GHz) £3000
Hewlett Packard 6032A Power Supply (0 -60V) -(0-50A) £2000
Agilent (HP) 35665A (opt. 1 D1) Dual ch. Dynamic Signal Analyser £3750
Agilent (HP) 3588A High Performance spec. An. 10Hz - 150MHz £6250 Hewlett Packard 5351 B Microwave Freq. Counter (26.5GHz) £2750
Agilent (HP) 8560A (opt 002 - Tracking Gen.) 50Hz -2.9GHz £5000 Hewlett Packard 5352B Microwave Freq. Counter (40GHz) £5250
Agilent (HP) 8593E (opt 41/105/130/151/160) 9kHz - 22GHz £12000 IFR (Marconi) 2051 (opt 1) 10kHz-2.7GHz Sig. Gen. £5000
Agilent (HP) 8594E (opt 41/101/105/130) 9kHz - 2.9GHz £4250 Keithley 220 Programmable Current Source £1750
Agilent (HP) 8753D Network Analyser (30kHz - 3GHz) £8500 Keithley 228A Prog'ble Voltage/Current Source IEEE. £1950
Agilent (HP) 8590A (opt H18) 10kHz - 1.8GHz £2500 Keithley 238 High Current - Source Measure Unit £3750
Agilent (HP) 8596E (opts 41/101/105/130) 9kHz - 12.8 GHz £8000 Keithley 486/487 Picoammeter (+volt.source) £1350/£1850
Farnell SSA -1000A 9KHz-1 GHz Spec. An. £1250 £1950
Keithley 617 Electrometer/source
Hewlett Packard 3582A (0.02Hz - 25.5kHz) dual channel £1500
Keithley 8006 Component Test Fixture £1750
Hewlett Packard 3585A 40 MHz Spec Analyser £3000
£4500 Marconi 6950/6960/6960A/6970A Power Meters & Sensors from £400
Hewlett Packard 3585B 20 Hz - 40 MHz
Hewlett Packard 3561A Dynamic Signal Analyser £3500 Philips 5515 - TN - Colour TV pattern generator £1400
Hewlett Packard 8568A -100kHz - 1.5GHz Spectrum Analyser £3500 Philips PM 5193 - 50 MHz Function generator £1350
Hewlett Packard 8590A (opt 01, 021, 040) 1MHz-1.5MHz £2500 Rohde & Schwarz FAM (opts 2,6 and 8) Modulation Analyser £2500
Hewlett Packard 8713C (opt 1 El) Network An. 3 GHz £6000 Rohde & Schwarz NRV/NRVD Power meters with sensors from £1000
Hewlett Packard 8713B 300kHz - 3GHz Network Analyser £5000 Rohde & Schwarz AMIQ I/O Modulation Generator 2 channel £3500
Hewlett Packard 8752A - Network Analyser (1.3GHz) £4995 Rohde & Schwarz SMIQ 03B Vector Sig. Gen. 3.3GHz £7000
Hewlett Packard 8753A (3000KHz - 3GHz) Network An. £3250 Stanford Research DS360 Ultra Low Distortion Function gen. (200kHz) £1400
Hewlett Packard 8753B+85046A Network An + S Param (3GHz) £6500
Tektronix AM503 - AM503A - AM503B Current Amp's with M/F and probe from £800
Hewlett Packard 8756A/8757A Scaler Network Analyser from £900
Tektronix AWG 2021 Arbitrary Waveform Gen. (10Hz-250MHz) 2 ch. £2400
Hewlett Packard 8757C Scalar Network Analyser £3500
Wayne Kerr 3245 - Precision Inductance Analyser £1750
Hewlett Packard 70001A/70900A/70906A/70902A/70205A - 26.5 GHz
Spectrum Analyser £7000 Bias unit 3220 and 3225L Cal.Coil available if required. (P.O.A)
Tektronix 492P (opt1,2,3) 50KHz - 21GHz £3500 Wayne Kerr 3260A + 3265A Precision Magnetics Analyser with Bias Unit £5500
Tek 496 (9KHz-1.8GHz) £2500 W&G PCM-4 PCM Channel measuring set £3750

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 MAY 2004 VOLUME 110 NUMBER 1817

3 COMMENT 32 A CURIOUS NEW RESULT

The end of an era IN SWITCHING THEORY
Lee Sallows reckons he's found a fundamental
4 NEWS new result
Power fet uses nanotubes
CMOS extends its reach
Europe lags on R&D spending
Wideband radar pinpoints objects
Diamonds are harder, forever

....... .. !
..............

1 10 FPGAS DEMYSTIFIED
All you ever needed top know about
Programmable Gate Arrays, but were afraid to 41 CIRCUIT IDEAS
ask. Eddie Insham dons his wizard's hat Jitter generator
Up -Down -pushbutton control for digital
17 IN MEMORIAM potentiometers
J L LINSLEY HOOD MIEE Ultrasonic oscillator
One of the best audio designers ever passed away Low battery warning device
this month. Ian Hickman reflects Traffic light simulator
Long delay timer using only one 555 chip
1 18 A NEW MONITORING Blown fuse indicator
TOOL FOR 5.1 AUDIO
In a slightly off -topic article, Richard Brice looks 48 NEW PRODUCTS
at the eccentricities of monitoring multi -channel The month's top new products
sound in a professional environment
50 NOT ME, GUV
The ubiquitous Ivor Catt has a go at the EMC
fraternity

LF
INN
Centre RF
52 CELL PHONES SURGE
AHEAD
Ian Poole reports on this month's 3GSM
Congress in Cannes
LFE
55 LETTERS
LS RS Clangers
Archiving
802.11
Cathode Ray and M. G. Scroggie
Audible distortion
26 PRECISION RECTIFIER The safe route
CIRCUITS
Intrigued by a recent Circuit Idea, Alan Bate has 60 WEB DIRECTIONS
some different ideas Useful web addresses for electronics engineers

June issue on sale 6 May

a
May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 1
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 EDITOR
Phil Reed
[email protected]
CONSULTANT
Ian Hickman
The end of an era
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
As I'm sure you read on please send them in, as
Martin Eccles the cover, one of next month we will be
PRODUCTION EDITOR/DESIGNER our great audio running a proper
Jane Massey circuit designers memorial to him, When I
passed away this say next month, I mean
[email protected] month. as soon as you read this
Elsewhere in this - get them over as we
EDITORIAL E -MAILS
issue, Ian in electronics only start the next issue
[email protected] Hickman has
Oetime a few days after you
EDITORIAL ADMINISTRATION penned an obituary, are reading this. As we
so I won't go on too only got the news a
Caroline Fisher much. few days before going
01322 611274 John Linsley to press, I've not been
[email protected] Hood's name first able to do much this
came to my attention month, but our
GROUP SALES when I joined the BBC - sympathies go out
in 1970. The 1969 Class I, to his wife, June
Luke Baldock A design was rapidly who kindly
01322 611292 gaining a 'cult' phoned us with
[email protected] following. Almost the sad news.
everybody in London On a different
PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE studio engineering had a note, I've been
Dean Turner couple of channels going, noticing that
and I even put a pair in some of the spats
[email protected] my car! I built them from in the
01322 611206 bits in the junk box and a letters
set of PCBs that a bloke on section
CLASSIFIED FAX the other shift was selling have been
01322 616376 through WW. In fact, he getting far
advertised his extension a life titne , too
MANAGING EDITOR number in the ad - and got ..antleri
electrook personal. It
Bill Evett people on the other shift to is for this
take messages when he reason that
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR was not there! A bit of I've pulled
Tony Greville brazen profiteering. some recently.
Completely 1 So if you were
coincidentally, next following a juicy
ISSN 0959-8332 month we start a series thread, apologies.
of audio articles from If you are one of
,
,
SUBSCRIPTION QUERIES
Graham Maynard, nns the authors -
Tel (0) 1353 654431 who pulls heavily on please keep it
Fax (0) 1353 654400 JLH's early work. down a bit to
Disclaimer
The Class A design is ensure publication.
We work hard to ensure that the information referenced more than And I don't care
41 presented in Electronics World is accurate. once, so I think it is who started it, but
However, Electronics World's publisher - appropriate to suffice to say that I
Highbury Business - will not take responsibility
for any injury or loss of earnings that may result
reprint the original Class will be handing out
from applying information presented in the A article as a tribute to the great man. detentions!
a magazine. It is your responsibility to familiarise So, if anybody has any comments,
yourself with the laws relating to dealing with recollections or just plain tributes to pay, Phil Reed
your customers and suppliers, and with safety
practices relating to working with
electrical/electronic circuitry - particularly as
regards electric shock, fire hazards and
explosions.

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May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 3

 ':DATE
Magnetics
Power fet uses nanotubes sound
Researchers at Infineon have
made a power semiconductor attractive
structure using carbon
nanotubes. A firm from Bristol is
"This is considered a developing magnetic particles
breakthrough for for data storage that are formed
nanotechnology," said the firm, and contained within proteins.
"since scientists previously NanoMagnetics has won
assumed that these atomic -sized several million pounds in
components were not suitable for funding to develop its
the high voltages and currents technology, which could
used in power applications." dramatically increase data
Making the mosfets is not storage density.
complicated. "All process "Our technology is unique. It
parameters, such as temperature allows consumer electronics
and materials, are suitable for manufacturers to integrate a
use in conjunction with standard DVD capacity, rewritable,
semiconductor manufacturing removable storage product in a
processes," said Infineon. form factor no larger than a
The firm first coated a metallic matchbook at a lower cost than
substrate with a thin insulating any other technology including
oxide layer, then grew random flash and magnetic tape," said
nanotubes on that by Dr Eric Mayes, chief executive
decomposing a carbon - at NanoMagnetics.
containing gas mixture. pulse, conducting -type tubes are The device is not practical for The basic technology is
A random tangle of nanotubes vaporised, leaving around 300 production, said the company. dubbed DataInk. It starts with
is deposited, much like a plate of desirable semiconducting tubes. For future use, ways will have to hollow protein spheres with an
spaghetti, or the fibres in felt. In These are a mixture of high- be found to grow mostly single - internal diameter of just eight
the mix are multi and single - performance single -walled and wall tubes, and grow them with nanometres inside which are
walled tubes, conducting and poor multi -walled tubes, but no specific orientation. grown the magnetic particles.
semi -conducting tubes, and practical separation techniques If this can be achieved, the The resulting powder can be
various length tubes. yet exists to cut out the multi - simple production method could mixed with resin and used to
Drain and source electrodes are walled tubes. make nanotube power fets coat surfaces of disk drives. The
then deposited directly onto the Potential on the substrate, commercially viable, said uniform nature of the particles
nanotube layer using a single which acts as a gate, pulls Infineon, and there would be means they can be laid down
lithographic step - leaving a carriers into the semiconducting other advantages: "The main with an even distribution.
square drain surrounded by a nanotubes and turns the device advantages offered by the new "We are receiving a great deal
source, with a 90nm gap On. type of power transistor can be of interest from a range of
between them. Current capability several seen in the significantly simpler industries that are increasingly
Although many do not, microamps per tube, and about manufacturing process, higher reliant on data storage and have
hundreds of the tubes have one 2mA per structure. A viable switching speeds, reduced heat a need to increase storage
end in contact with the drain, and transistor could be built by development and in the high capacity," said Mayes.
the other in contact with the paralleling thousands of current densities that the tightly DataInk could also be used as
source. structures. Maximum voltage is packed carbon tubes are able to the storage medium in magnetic
By applying a brief current 2.5V, limited by the 90nm gap. withstand." RAM chips, claimed Mayes.

World's smallest globe

NTT, the Japanese telecom To pattern 3D structures, NTT
carrier, has built an electron invented a two -axis rotation
beam lithography system that system to move the sample. A
can create three-dimensional height sensor made from a
structures. To test its system confocal laser microscope is
NTT etched the globe pictured. used the keep the e -beam
The small sphere measures focused on the sample.
60/rm in diameter, with the The resolution of the beam is
smallest patterned feature just 10 claimed to be 100 times better
nanometres wide. that optical or X-ray systems.

4 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

CMOS extends its reach
CMOS, that workhorse process design challenges, as the high
of the chipmaking industry, is power demand in GSM, up to
extending its influence further 33dBm antenna power, results in
into the wireless high voltages (up to 12V) in the
communications sector. PA when driving a 50 Ohm load.
Two companies, Silicon CMOS, with its low breakdown
Laboratories and Axiom voltage, cannot cope with this,
Microdevices, have unveiled so both firms have done some
power amplifiers for mobile clever design.
phones made entirely in CMOS, From left to right are the crystal, baseband processor, filter and Silicon Labs said it has an
while SiGe Semiconductor has 6.4x3.9mm power amplifier for a Silicon Labs GSM handset. architecture that "distributes the
power amplifiers made using high voltage across multiple
silicon germanium. amplifiers. This saves made using gallium arsenide transistors".
The beauty of using silicon component count, cost, power (GaAs) or indium gallium SiGe's device is aimed at
CMOS or SiGe for the power and improves reliability. phosphide (InGaP). wideband-CMDA (3G) phones.
stage of RF equipment is that All three companies say their Silicon Labs and Axiom have At 3x3mm the device is smaller
control circuitry can be power amplifiers require no devices for the GSM mobile than the GSM devices, but 3G
integrated alongside the external components, unlike PAs phone market. This brings huge has lower power specifications.

Brain on a chip UK firm marks 20 years in space

Canadian and German scientists UK satellite developer SSTL has transmitting the expedition's
have taken a significant step in celebrated 20 years of successful position using the voice
interfacing brain cells to silicon orbital operations, with its synthesiser.
chips. second satellite, UoSAT-2, still Signals are still audible on the
Dr Naweed Syed from the in use today. 2 -metre amateur radio band
University of Calgary's Faculty Thousands of radio amateurs, (145.826MHz) and also, but not
of Medicine planted neurons on a schools, college and university so strongly, on the
chip's surface and observed groups have received, decoded 2401.1428MHz S -band beacon.
synaptic connections operate as and analysed data transmitted by UoSAT-2 was launched on
stimuli were applied. UoSAT-2. As well as the digital March 1, 1984 onboard an
"The nerve cells not only telemetry and whole -orbit data American Delta rocket from the
regenerate their synaptic collection files, plain text news Western Range, Vandenberg Air
connections on the silicon chip bulletins were uploaded to the Force Base in California.
but also exhibit memory traces satellite each week and Since then the firm has built
that were successfully read by the broadcast around the world. more than 20 satellites, ranging
chip," said Syed. Working with Schools were also able to in weight from six to 315kg.
the Max Planck Institute for listen to digital voice encoded The firm is currently building
Biochemistry in Munich, Syed telemetry data transmitted by the a 400kg device for ESA, the first
cultured nerve cells from a snail satellite direct to two million in the Galileo constellation of
before placing them on the chip. handheld receivers. All of this positioning satellites. It is also
A stimulus applied to one cell culminated in UoSAT-2 SSTL's first foray beyond low
was communicated to others and supporting a trans -polar trek Earth orbit.
read through a transistor on the
device.
"We discovered that when we
used the chip to stimulate the
Europe lags on R&D spending
neurons, their synaptic strength European countries spend two R&D. Japan spends 2.98%, with 052bn. France spends
was enhanced. This finding tells per cent of GDP on research the US 2.8%. around a33bn, the UK just
us that these neurons are and development in science and Spending various from one over 030bn.
exhibiting signs of learning and technology, but this lags both country to another in the EU. In total the EU15 spend
memory," said Syed. the US and Japan, which spend Sweden exceeds 4%, 0176bn, compared to
The next stage is to connect almost 3%. Finland is at 3.5%. 0315bn for the US and 0154bn
human brain neurons to silicon. Latest figures from the The UK spends around 1.84% for Japan.
The Calgary team hope the work European Union's statistics on R&D. The EU has set a target of
will one day lead to control of service show that the 15 In terms of absolute values, spending 3% of GDP on R&D
prosthetic limbs or even the European states spend 1.99% on Germany is the big spender by the year 2010.
restoration of sight.

May 2004 ELECTRON ICS WORLD

Proton polymer Mitsubishi Electric has
developed a liquid crystal
battery nears display capable of showing
images on both its front and
release rear surfaces.
NEC Tokin has further developed The reversible LCD module
its proton polymer battery consists of a single liquid
technology, but still has not put it crystal panel sandwiched
into production. between two transparent
First revealed in March 2000, backlights, each of which can
proton polymer batteries can be be turned on or off.
thought of as half -way between The display is aimed at devices
batteries and supercapacitors in such as 'clamshell' mobile
capacity, cycle life and discharge phones, which have a
capability. In operation, protons secondary display on show
(hydrogen ions) shuttle back and when the phone is closed.
forth between two conductive
polymer electrodes as the cells is
charged and discharged by an
oxidation-reduction reaction.
The protons are tiny compared
with the ions normally exchanged
between battery electrodes and
therefore cause almost no life -
limiting electrode damage. "A
charging -discharging cycle of about
100,000 times can be achieved,"
said NEC, "surpassing the service
life of general electronic systems. It
UK batteries go to Mars
is expected that this battery will be The UK's AEA Battery Systems computer with similar power
used as an embedded power source has revealed that its lithium -ion demands, depth of discharge is
that needs no replacement." batteries are running the limited and battery life extended
The nimbleness of a proton also European Space Agency's Mars to the thousands of cycles
means high -current charge and Express orbiter. needed in an orbiting solar -
discharge is possible. "About 20 Although it makes its own powered space craft.
times that of a lead battery," said cells, for military use, the actual Even with generous capacity
the firm. "Actually, a proton cells on Mars Express are made specification, the Li -ion cells are
polymer battery can be fully by Sony under AEA patents, less than half the size, and
charged in minutes, and even a then tested and matched by AEA lighter, than space -rated NiCd
200mAh cell is able to apply a for space use. cells.
current of as much as 10A. This By specifying a larger battery AEA also provided cells for
characteristic is closer to a than would be used in, say, a ill-fated Beagle2.
capacitor than a battery."
Any voltage less than a proton
polymer cell's rated voltage can be
applied indefinitely without
World radio from UK firm
damage, and complete discharge is A UK firm has developed a radio stations from around the
harmless, NEC spokesman Shu radio that picks up worldwide world," said Trevor Goldberg,
Hattori told Electronics World. stations broadcast over the Reciva's chief executive.
Capacity is about a tenth of a Internet. "By eliminating the need for a
lithium ion secondary battery, Reciva's Internet radio uses PC, we bring listening
almost as much as a lead -acid wireless LAN to connect to a enjoyment to where it belongs;
battery, and dozens of times more broadband link, such as an the kitchen and living room,
than a super capacitor. At -20°C, ADSL modem, without the need rather than the home office and
70% of room temperature capacity for a PC. it's incredibly easy to use."
is maintained. "Our first radio product is Goldberg said the firm plans to
NEC's reluctance to produce demonstrable now and allows manufacture products, to
proton polymer cells could be from listeners to choose license the technology
Intel has developed an optical to third parties,
lack of a clear market. The
transceiver containing a laser and also
technology was first developed for
tuneable across the entire C -band, provide an
memory back-up in phones and
used by telecoms carriers for OEM based
PDAs, but these devices are getting
dense wavelength division offering for
on fine without proton polymer.
multiplexing. The C -band contains companies
Now the company is emphasising
80 channels, each spaced by wanting to
the excellent environmental
50GHz. By thermally tuning the embed the
credentials of its new cells and is
laser to any of these channels firms technology.
producing prototypes in various
can save money on inventory. The
sizes, possibly in the hope that a
Intel transceiver is able to support
potential customer will arrive with
10Gbit/s transmissions.
an application.

6 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 Diamonds are
Wideband radar pinpoints objects harder, forever
Cambridge Consultants Ltd to keep it legal. Four sampling
(CCL) has developed a prototype receivers detect returns, with their
ultra -wide band (UWB) radar sample delay varied so each
sensor that can pinpoint objects detects objects in a hemispherical
to within lm range and five sub -lm range 'slice' on each
degrees angular accuracy, and transmit pulse. In this way, the
then track them. Total range is entire range is swept slice by slice
around 100m. many times per second.
Applications in traffic are Digital signal processing
planned: "For example, a analyses the four receiver outputs This is a synthetic brilliant cut
pedestrian crossing such as the and extracts a 3-D map of objects. single -crystal diamond grown by
UK's Puffin system might use No exotic integrated circuits chemical vapour deposition. It is
Doppler radar to sense are used, so production costs around 2.5mm high and was
approaching vehicles, induction need not be high and complete grown in about one day at
loops in the road to detect systems could be installed with Carnegie. The seed crystal is
stationary traffic, and infrared to limited road digging. "UWB yellow, hence the tint, which is
sense pedestrians," said the The radar operates in the radar sensing provides vehicle due to internal reflection as the
company. "CCL's ultra -wide 5.8GHz licence -free band. and pedestrian detection that is CVD diamond is transparent.
band radar provides all this It has a single transmit antenna more effective for both
information in one module, surrounded by four receive authorities and road -users, and Scientists at the Carnegie
providing a complete image of antennas. The whole assembly is lower in cost," said Jon Institution have used a standard
activity with presence, direction about 100mm across. Garnsworthy, head of transport chip making process to grow
and speed data on objects in its The central antenna transmits systems at CCL. synthetic diamonds that are at
field of view." an ultra -fast pulse, band -limited www.cambridgeconsultants.com least 50% harder than natural
crystals.
"These are real diamonds
Detector measures single photons made of carbon and identical in
structure to those formed in
A detector for Incident where, relative to the local nature and by high pressure and
single photons radiation Fermi level, the electron has temperature methods," said
Input
has been Input electrode a lot of energy and frees Chih-shiue Yan from Carnegie.
developed at electrode
contact
between 10 to 20 electrons - The US team used chemical
the University Insulator depending on its energy. vapour deposition (CVD) to
of Oxford, These naturally drift into grow diamonds on a seed crystal
which is now the adjacent normal metal from a mixture of hydrogen and
looking for trap layer where a bias methane. A high temperature
partners to voltage causes them to (2000°C), high pressure (7GPa)
----
commercialise Intermediate tunnel through a final process than 'hardens' the
the device. Substrate electrode
contact
insulator into a second crystals.
"It is a superconducting layer from "Not only were the diamonds
single photon Collector S, Normal metal S, Heat sink N, where they can be extracted. so hard that they broke the
detector with electrode trap N, Harvard University measuring equipment, we were
improved contact
contributed to the able to grow gem -sized crystals
sensitivity development, which is in about a day," added Yan.
compared with scintillation Under the influence of a bias continuing at the University of His team have grown
counters and any other field, the electron tunnels over Naples and Oxford. diamonds up to 10mm in
dispersive photon detector we into a superconducting layer www.isis-innovation.com diameter and 4.5mm thick.
know of," said Dr Roger Welch
of Isis Innovations, the
university's intellectual property No fan needed for 1GHz x86
exploitation arm. Taiwanese PC component maker generation PadLock security miniature motherboards and,
Called Quatratran, for quasi - VIA Technologies has produced system with hardware AES although no announcement has
particle trapping transistor, it is fanless versions of its 800MHz encryption and two random been made, the new 800MHz and
a superconducting device which and 1GHz x86 -compatible Eden number generators. "This 1GHz devices are expected to
produces 10 to 20 electrons for processor. produces encryption rates of follow suit. www.via.com.tw
every photon hitting its top Called ESP8000 and 12.5Gbit/s with minimal load on
surface. "It gives you energy ESP10000, the chips include the the processor," said the firm Eden specification:
resolution as well as detection," firm's Nehemiah CPU core and natively.
said Welch. "It has applications the 10000 dissipates 7W Multimedia capabilities come in x86 compatible
in infrared and X-ray maximum at 1GHz. the form of VIA's matched up to 1GHz operation
astronomy, materials "The processors are already CLE266 chipset, which has a 7W max power
characterisation, and being designed into computing hardware MPEG-2 decoder, sixteen pipeline stages
florescence measurements of and communications devices, DDR266 SDRAM support, 6 - SSE multimedia instructions
biological samples." including thin clients, personal channel surround sound, USB2.0 floating point unit
In operation, said Welch, a servers and industrial PC ports, and 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet. 64kbyte L2 cache
photon hits the top material platforms," said VIA. VIA's previous processors have 35x12mm35x1.5mm BGA
freeing an electron -hole pair. Included is the firm's second - appeared on its own -brand package

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 7

Models are hot topics
"The problem [bottleneck] is the rate at fluid dynamics package Flowtherm, and other
which a thermal expert can respond," said design tools. Thermal feasibility reports can be
Robin Bornoff, Flomerics' PCB product generated automatically.
manager. "FLO/PCB automates much of the In future, an option to export the functional
numerical aspect of analysis with default block diagrams to common schematic capture
settings covering 80% of applications. These packages may be added.
can be overridden for the remaining 20%." Customers buying multiple copies of
Flomerics canvassed engineers, looking for a FLO/PCB, or buying bundles can expect price
simple way to gather data for thermal analysis. reductions. A full release is due in April.
It found that engineers like to draw functional
block diagrams, ideal for FLO/PCB, but
fro
have no standard way of doing it. , *
So Flomerics included an easy -to -use gliunisiamlUra, X BM bettor
Aro. wows,.
functional block diagram drawing tool in 77
kmetion

FLO/PCB which captures data for thermal PE11:141 Rm.

1Reastai

analysis as users draw their diagrams.

Users can add power dissipation figures in
various ways, from a simple global
power/unit area figure for the whole physical
structure, through dissipative rectangular awe CO. b.)
blocks representing components, to full
device models from the included library.
Models for single and multiple board 3 1

arrangements include cards with mezzanine

and daughterboards of arbitrary size and
70.3 IS
spacing are provided. Forced air and natural
convective cooling are catered for.
Modeling is in 3-D. Options are 'trend', a 835 1 111

Electronic engineering professionals can now quick coarse -grained evaluation for
thermally model products at the earliest design comparing different options, and 'accurate'
stages through a software package from which is slower, but produces representative 581 013

Surrey -based Flomerics. temperatures. Functional block, physical

Priced at $7,900/seat/year, FLO/PCB as it is layout, and thermal views are available m4"
called, allows multiple physical and thermal simultaneously on -screen.
designs to be evaluated without a specialist on - Resultant physical layouts can be exported
hand. to the company's full-blown computational

Electricity is a flush away Superconducting processor

Flushing the toilet removes most of the Japanese researchers have Circuits using SFQs process
could lead to electricity oxygen demand from designed and built a data by observing the pulse
generation, if work at the organic matter in microprocessor from shape when single quanta pass
Penn state University the waste. superconducting Josephson through a superconducting
sees the light of day. "If power generation junctions. ring containing the Josephson
Environmental in these systems can be Over 5,000 junctions made junctions.
engineers at the increased, MFC from niobium are used in the CORE1 has a 32 -byte
University have shown technology may CORE1 design, which memory shared between
that a microbial fuel provide a new method implements a complete 8 -bit instructions and data, a 5 -bit
cell can generate to offset wastewater processor. program counter, 8 -bit
electricity from treatment plant The team from Nagoya instruction register and two
standard sewage and Bruce Logan and operating costs, making University, and Yokohama data registers. The instruction
waste water. lead researcher, advanced wastewater University and Japan's set is very simple; halt, add,
Microbial fuel cells Hong Liu. treatment more national superconducting load, store, skip if zero, jump
work through the action of affordable for both developing research centre said the design and move.
bacteria that can pass electrons and industrialised nations," said has a clock speed of 15.2GHz To reduce complexity and
to an anode. Electrons are Bruce Logan, professor of and consumes a mere 1.6mW cut the number of data lines,
passed to the cathode - a environmental engineering and of power. the arithmetic and logic unit is
carbon/platinum catalyst/proton director of the project. Low power is achieved by bit serial in form. This helps,
exchange membrane - where the Unlike some other microbial transferring data with very as the clock signal's
electrons combine with fuel cells, Logan's needs no short pulse widths, just a few wavelength is significant
hydrogen ions (protons) and extra bacteria or enzymes to picoseconds, and with compared to the die size of the
oxygen to form water. begin the process. voltages under lmV. The processor.
Experiments have yielded up The cell is a 150mm tube, actual data transfer The processor measures
to 50mW of power per square around 60mm in diameter, mechanism is the single flux 1.8x2.8mm and because it is
metre of electrode surface. The containing eight anodes giving a quantum (SFQ), a well -tested superconducting it runs at a
oxidising nature of the process total of 225cm2 of surface area. technique. temperature of just 4.2K.

8 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

a
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 116

FPGAs
demystified r.

Starting on any new technology can be a difficult process if the first few
steps are not very clear. A typical case is getting to know
Programmable Gate Arrays. Eddie Insam explains some of the facts,
and describes a step by step guide on getting started and building your
own simple programming development kit

Aweek hardly passes by without of which having a purpose in life that gates, counters and flip-flops that are
us being bombarded with appears to be completely unknown. dispersed around a PCB to provide
information on new products, No wonder many designers who have general interfacing, buffering and
new techniques and new devices. not been brought up on the subject address decoding. Their advantage,
Adverts and press releases are from college days are avoiding or from a commercial point of view, is
peppered with words such as refusing to get involved in this magic that GAs are cheaper and occupy less
`solutions' and 'benefits' that to me at world. board space than the discrete ICs
least, don't convey much information. This article will dispel some of the they replace. In order to make GAs
Perhaps this is because I cannot see myths. Even if you are not interested work, they need to be programmed
the problem they are addressing in the in using GAs, the article will induce (not unlike a PROM). The fact that
first place. The press releases some confidence by introducing they can be fuse -programmed in
themselves don't help much by not some of the jargon. For those wishing place means designs can be tweaked
mentioning it either! This kind of to become more involved, there will and modified after the PCB has been
situation can be very confusing to a be a step by step guide, including an committed to production.
newcomer or to a recent graduate. easy to build circuit for a As GAs became more powerful,
The basic chicken and egg dilemma is CPLD/FPGA device programmer they started to be used as sub -
that if we know little or nothing about that won't cost a fortune. This, modules or as complete designs in
a concept, it is unlikely that we will together with the free tools available their own right. For example, as
gain much information from material for download from the internet, will purpose built interfaces to
presented about it in an abstract way. make the inroad into GA know-how microcontrollers, as fast UARTs or
We won't understand what they are accessible to anyone. as complex communications
trying to say, or appreciate their controllers for Ethernet or encryption
benefits. Where would I use a gate array? systems. The latest generation of
One such area is Gate Array Traditionally, GAs are used as direct GAs are powerful enough to include
Technology (GA), also known under replacement for glue logic. This is their own built in CPU cores, which
various other names such as PLDs the term given to the various logic can be used for standard computing
and FPGAs. This is a typical example
of a line of products that live in a Not real electronics?
jargon fenced world, and which can
put a dead stop in anybody's learning Gate Arrays? Surely they are not 'real' electronics, where is the fun in that?
curve. The main barriers are a lack of If you are one of those people who think projects involving GAs are not
appreciation of the uses they can be for you because they are not 'true hardware' and would prefer to design
put to, a perceived high cost of entry projects using discrete CMOS or TTL logic, this article is definitely for you.
and the difficulty in knowing where If it is because you are afraid to get into the technology, even more so.
to start. Unless you are lucky or rich You do not know what you are missing! Even if you are a firm believer in
enough to attend a course or seminar, the old ways, there is good information here to allow you to understand a
the only practical way to enter this bit on how they work, the jargon they use and what they could do for you.
secret world is by reading existing Admittedly, any new technology takes away established methods that
literature. Unfortunately, a lot of the we may feel confident with. Gate Arrays do not take the fun out of
information available seems to electronics; they just place on a different level. There is an odd sense of
assume you know all about the achievement when you try, modify and improve a logic design on
subject and have a lab full of software before you commit to a PCB or even pick up a soldering iron.
equipment and software tools, most Welcome to the new order!

10 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 Clock
Digital inputs (11)

PRO GRAMMABL E
AND ARRAY
44 x 1321

J;6
1.1757 OUTPUT
L OGIC
---411,1ACR(i -MACRO
,FA
OUTPUT

CE
- OUTPUT
_fro,LOGIC
MACRO
CFI.L
.1

.1,

III
11

-.
OUTPUT
LOGIC
TACR1.
OUTPUT

ACRO
CFI I
OUTPUT
LCGIC
-.MACRO -vt4ACRO
OUTPUT
LOGIC I

ACRO
c`,1:11
OUTPUT
_aLOGIC
- CI II
1 1,1 I 1

'I VI- 11111 I I

or for specialist applications such as Some of you may remember the

Digital Signal Processing (DSP). venerable 82S32 fusible link PROM
Developing your own CPU may (still available today amazingly
sound a bit like re -inventing the enough!) This was nothing more than
wheel, but there are major advantages a 32x8 cross array of open collector
in adding your own custom transistors forming a 256 bit memory
instructions to an otherwise standard cell in a standard dual in line
set. For example, complex package. The device was
procedures that require several 'C' `programmed' by applying high
language statements in a standard voltages to some of the pins, which B
CPU could be performed within a made the internal die cross links
single clock cycle in a customised `blow up' ending up with the Logic Macrocell
set. This can result in a serious equivalent of a one time
increase in performance, an programmable 32 byte ROM. The
important factor in fast applications device could operate at nanosecond A typical PLD consists of a number of macrocells linked to a
such as voice or video switching speeds, very fast in those common cross -wire bus (A). The connections are defined by
communications. days, making it useful in applications fuse links that are programmed to be either on or off thus
such as address decoders and establishing the final operation of the device. Each macrocell
The basics dynamic ram timing generators. consists of a standard circuit using a D flip-flop and a number
Like any good old engineering The next evolutionary step saw of combinatorial AND -OR logic inputs (B).
textbook, we shall start at the gates and flip-flops being integrated
beginning. Programmable logic as building blocks within the
arrays have been with us for quite a interconnected fuse arrays. These registers, timers, parity generators
few years. The original concept was devices have the generic name of etc. A separate clock pin usually
first conceived in the early days of Programmable Logic (PLD), or drives all the flip-flops within the
custom integrated circuit design. A Program or Gate Array Logic (PAL chip, and most devices include
few thoughtful manufacturers or GAL). A typical design has a separate pins for clear, preset and tri-
decided to offer IC 'pizza bases' quantity of islands or blocks of state output enables. Typical part
consisting of gates, flip flops and standard flip-flops layouts with numbers have names like 16V8,
other components laid out in neat programmable feedback paths and 20L8, 22V10 etc, where the first two
substrate arrays but without the final programmable random logic inputs digits indicate the number of logic
metalisation layer topping (that is, the (Figure 1) A typical device may have input pins, the last digit the number
wiring connection between the 8, 10 or more of these macrocells of flip-flops, and the middle letter or
devices). Users only needed to plan a within a dual in line package. The letters, the technology used; with
design for this final layer and submit inputs to the flip-flops are fed from a some minor variation among
a CAD file containing the node matrix array of combinatorial inputs, manufacturers. Each of these devices
interconnections to the manufacturer so that various Boolean logic is designed to replace 4-5 equivalent
for final phase production. The users combinations can be programmed to CMOS or TTL packages. Not a
did not need to get involved in the drive the register's D inputs, either world shattering improvement, but
design of the IC gates, nor they did from the outside world, or from other useful in context as PCBs get more
need to know how they worked apart flip-flops within the package. This and more crowded.
from knowing there were so many makes PLDs useful as simple address Most of the newer PLD families
flip-flops, gates or whatever per chip. decoders, adders, counters, shift use CMOS technology, whilst the

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 11

 1/0 Herr II I. 101 11,41)E 1() E 10E 10E 10E 10E 10E
(10E)

COitIfIlfl i*--1 Logic Array

lotercomed Logic Array
Block (lAR)

/ I

Logic
Row
interconnect

1
local Interconnect

Logic
Array

(A)

.)'

4
(B) The more advanced CPL Ds and FPGAs consist of hundreds of Logic
Array Blocks linked together in a 2D array of cross -connecting links
(A). Each Logic Block consists of one or more Logic Element Blocks or
macrocells (B) Each Macrocell consists of a Flip-flop plus
programmable feedback logic (C). Various extra circuits can be added
to the die, e.g. PLLs, clock multipliers, special purpose I/Os, RAM and
even full CPU cores.

Carry -In Cascade -In Register Bypass Programmable

Register

data 1 --*--110. Look -Up

Carry
Tir

Cascade
I Pr To FastTrack
data 2 PRt
Table Interconnect
data 3 (LUTY
; Chain Chain Pro C

datact -NW>
-OP ENA
CL RN
17,
To LAB L ccal
Interconnect

labctd 1 Clean
labctd2 Preset
Logic
Chip -Wide
Reset

Clock
Select

labctd3

(C) labctrl4

Carry -Out Cascade -Out

12
ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004
older use established MOS size and their building blocks can be or unallocated.
techniques mainly devised to achieve far more complex. Figures of several Families are also divided into
fast switching speeds, with million transistors on a die are not CPLDs and FPGAs as described
propagation delays of 5nS or less. uncommon. above. In general, most CPLDs
One hidden aspect of this technology One small price to pay with most include permanent program storage,
is that static power dissipation can be current FPGA technology is that and FPGAs require external
quite high; a factor to consider when programming is not permanent. In configuration devices. This division
calculating overall board costs. From other words, the fuse link information is not always strict, Atmel for
the programming point of view, is stored in RAM within the device example, have an FPGA technology
devices are either one-time and must be re -loaded every time that includes permanent program
programmable (in -site or at the power is applied. This requires storage. In the simplest of terms,
factory) or re -programmable by the external boot loading circuitry known CPLDs will be used in applications
use of electrically erasable memory as configuration devices, which are requiring up to 512 registers (flip-
cells. Depending on technology, nothing more than special purpose flops) and FPGAs where more than
special voltages and pulse patterns flash EEPROMs holding an image of these are needed.
may be required, and as the fuse map. The main parameters distinguishing
programming information is not Improved processing techniques members of a family are the number
always openly or freely available now allow whole sections within a of gates or macrocells per package,
from manufacturers, special FPGA device to be allocated for the number of I/O pins, the package
commercial programmers may need special tasks such as RAM, special type (which limits the total number of
to be obtained. purpose I/O or even complete I/O pins) and other features such as
Programming information takes the embedded micro -controllers. As an on chip PLLs and special purpose I/O
form of fuse co-ordinate listings. example of current technology, the drivers. Subtle differences in the way
These are collections of ones and Xilinx Virtex II/PRO series contains the macrocells are designed allow for
zeros that more or less mimic the the equivalent of 4Mb of dual port some manufacturers to offer 'better'
fuse map geography within the RAM, over 45,000 registers, I/O that implementation of commonly used
device. These files can be generated can operate in the Gigahertz range logic blocks, for example patented
by hand - a rather laborious task - or and four (yes four) embedded Power ultra -fast carry look -ahead adders,
with the help of computers and PC CPUs, all in a single package. and tricks to improve performance,
compilers using descriptive such as on -chip clock frequency
languages which take as input node Let's talk Klingon multipliers or phase locked loops.
allocations in the form of text and If you already know that 'Spartan Families do not always
logic equations, more on this later. delivers Serdes at Gigabyte speeds' complement each other in a logical
The next step in the development has nothing to do with Greeks way but overlap widely. This may
ladder is Complex Programmable spreading nasty diseases, you may seem confusing and can make device
Logic Devices (CPLD). These are in perhaps want to skip this section. choosing rather complicated. The
the main, evolutionary variations on Mythical and obscure product names reason for this is partly because the
the PLD theme. The register flip- are ripe in the Gate Array world, market is technology driven. New IC
flops are placed in a two dimensional possibly one of the reasons why the fabrication techniques quickly make
row and column grid with the uninitiated may want to shy away. previous families obsolete. With such
interconnections straddling them, just One should not expect these magic short design cycle times, many users
like the streets on a city map (Figure names to be acronyms for anything out there will still be designing using
2). This allows many more registers (at least as far as I know). Just like `older' families, which could result in
to be placed on a die. Cell designs car model names in TV commercials, a lot of confusion and aggravation.
can also be more complex, typical they possibly sound good to the ear Manufacturers are keen to continue
CPLD devices can have 256 registers and convey an element of wizardry to support for previous families, while
or more in a single package, making the people who program them. at the same time nudge users to move
them reasonably powerful. The basic Four manufacturers dominate the to newer processes, which are usually
flavour of the month technology is field, of which two: Xilinx and Altera cheaper and more powerful. This can
CMOS, which has the advantage of are the brand leaders. Others, such as make sense from the manufacturer's
low power consumption. Lattice, Atmel and Actel, command a point of view, who does not want to
Programming in the main is smaller section of the market, but be lumbered with many legacy
performed at standard logic levels, provide good competition by the manufacturing processes. From the
using a simple serial protocol, doing introduction of innovative features user's point of view however, this
away for the need for special and originality in their devices. policy can be a disaster, especially
programming voltages or specialist Devices are grouped into 'families' when it comes to maintaining a
hardware (a microprocessor can be with heroic sounding names such as multitude of end products using a
used to generate the programming Spartan, Acex or Stratix. These are in range of different devices. Some
signals) the main, variations of a particular families have become more settled
Beyond CPLDs are the generic fabrication technology, MOS Type, and popular than others, this is
Gate Arrays (GAs), which include or cell size in microns. Devices are reflected in prices and stock levels
Field Programmable Gate Arrays arranged by size, number of devices from the various suppliers, an
(FPGAs.) The generic FPGA and external package outline. The important factor to consider when
architecture is similar to that of more complex devices are used in selecting devices in a new design.
CPLDs, but using much smaller applications where a large number of
transistor cells and corresponding I/0 pins are required, so they are The story so far
miniature MOS technologies (CMOS usually fitted into the larger Here is a summary of current status.
requires massive surface areas per packages. This is not always the case, Of course, no guarantees that this
gate in comparison) FPGA and most FPGA designs end up will all be superseded by the time
macrocells can be much smaller in leaving most of their I/0 pins unused you read this! The list given below is

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 13

 Manuf Type Family Supply I/O pins FFs/ RAM bits Equiv Package options
V logic gates
elems

Altera CPLD MAX7000 2.5/3.3/5 36-212 21-512 PLCC,TQFP,PQFP,BGA

Altera CPLD MAX3000 3.3 34-158 32-256 PLCC,TQFP
Xilinx CPLD XC9500 2.5/3.3 36-192 PLCC,PQFP,TQFP,BGA
Xilinx CPLD Cool runner 1.8/3.3 33-270 32-512 PLCC,PQFP,TQFP,BGA
Altera FPGA FLEX6000 3.3/5 71/218 880-2000 10k -24k TQFP,PQFP,BGA
Altera FPGA FLEX] OK 2.5/3.3/5 59-470 576-12000 6k -41k 10k -250k PLCC,TQFP,PQFP,BGA
Altera FPGA ACEX1K 2.5 66-333 576-5000 13k -50k 10k -100k TQFP,PQFP,BGA
Altera FPGA APEX II 1.5 492-1060 16k -67k 420k -1.1M BGA
Altera FPGA STRATIX 1.5 340-1300 10k -114k 920k -10M BGA
Altera FPGA APEX20K 1.8/2.5 92-808 1200-52k 24k -442k 30k -1.5M TQFP,PQFP,BGA
Altera FPGA EXCALI BUR 1.8 186-711 4k -38k 53k -327k 100k -1M BGA
Altera FPGA HARDCOPY 1.5/1.8 275-1060 16k -62k 220k -2.4M 400k -3M BGA
Altera FPGA MERCURY 1.8 303-486 5k -14k 49k -115k 120k -350k BGA
Altera FPGA CYCLONE 1.5 65-301 3k -20k 60k -300k TQFP,PQFP,BGA
Xilinx FPGA SPARTAN II 2.5 86-284 432-5300 6k -74k 15k -200k PQFP,TQFP,BGA
Xilinx FPGA SPARTAN IIE 1.8 182-330 1700-7000 24k -96k 50k -300k PQFP,TQFP,BGA
Xilinx FPGA VIRTEX E 1.8 1 76-804 1.7k -73k 64k -832k 72k -4M PQFP,TQFP,BGA
Xilinx FPGA VIRTEX II/PRO 1.5 88-1200 3k -125k 216k -10M 40k -8M BGA

by no means complete and only at superseding these, although there even 1.5 volts. Many FPGAs have
offered as a general guide. Readers is still plenty of life left in the two separate power supplies, one for
should refer to the published existing ones. More advanced the internal core (at say 2.5V), and
literature and manufacturer's families include Excalibur, with a one for the external I/O drivers (at
websites for the latest information. built in ARM 922T CPU processor say 3.3V) this makes them
core. Mercury, aimed at high speed compatible with external discrete
CPLD I/O intensive products. Hardcopy, logic circuitry even though internally
The current Altera CPLD families are aimed at bridging the transition they are operating at a lower voltage.
the MAX7xxx and MAX3xxx. The between FPGAs and custom ASICs. Most CPLDs and FPGAs are not
last three digits indicate the number APEX, a high power, general- normally compatible with external 5
of flip-flops or registers per device. purpose device, culminating with volt logic, even though some devices
For example the 7128 is a 128 STRATIX at the top end. Xilinx with 3.3V I/O drivers can accept 5
register device. The 7xxx series is offerings are less complex: their volt logic level inputs (a 3.3V output
now a 'mature' family (another word mature technology includes the XC from a GA device can correctly drive
for obsolete) and it is one of the few series topped by the SPARTAN a 5V CMOS or Tm logic gate).
remaining parts that can still operate series in various disguises, and Because of their design, CPLDs
from 5 volt as well as 3.3 volt power VIRTEX at the top end, again in have a relatively static current
supplies. The newer 3xxx family, various disguises (see table). Top end consumption, independently of
recommended for new designs, uses devices can offer serious processing number of gates 'active' and only
3.3 volt supplies only but its I/O pins power, with data bandwidths in the rising slightly at higher clock speeds.
are 5 volt tolerant. Xilinx CPLD Gigabit per second range and On the other hand, the current
families are the 9500 series (with up computing power, e.g. DSP with consumption of a FPGA is directly
to 72 registers), and Coolrunner, equivalent performance in the 2 dependent on the number of gates
noted for its low power consumption. GigaMAC range. active and the clock speed (i.e.
Lattice CPLD families are the number of transitions). Power
Machl , Mach2, Mach4 and the latest On power supplies and interfaces dissipation is also dependent on the
Mach4000 series, which offer up to Here is a little quiz: a large integrated software programming method used,
1024 registers. circuit may contain several million for example a synchronous system
Prices for CPLD devices start from transistors; assume for simplicity that where all the clocks are fed from the
less than a dollar each for the smaller each has a dynamic load of about a same high speed source, and the use
devices, making CPLDs very cost megohm. Simple calculations of clock enables, which may or may
effective as a replacement for random (assuming a 50% on/off ratio) tell us not reduce clock dissipation.
glue logic. In general, CPLD prices that the average resulting load The moral of the story is simple,
(and power consumption) are directly between VCC and GND is less than before selecting a device for a
proportional to the number of gates in an ohm. With a five volt supply, the project, make sure you have read all
the die whether they are used or not. corresponding power dissipation will the documentation and application
So it does not pay to over specify a be about 25 watts. In order to reduce notes on power supplies and I/O
design using a CPLD that is larger this large sink, manufactures have interfacing. Most give charts of
than necessary. developed MOS technologies power consumption versus speed,
working at lower voltage supplies. and number of gates in use.
FPGA Since a device that runs at half the
The more mature Altera FPGA voltage consumes only a quarter of Line driving
families are the FLEX6000, the power, this strategy is sound. FPGAs are heavily used in
FLEXIOK, and the ACEX1K series. Most of the newer FPGAs (and telecommunications, display panels
The latest Cyclone family is targeted CPLDs) operate at 3.3, 2.5, 1.8 or and CPU bus drivers. No wonder

14 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 VCC JTAG PS S

<-1 VCC VCC

nju nStatus

TDO ConfDone
74HC244 v cc
1G
VCC
14 GF4D
2G GND
GND
1A1 1Y1
(1)
VCC VCC VCC
ev vv 1A2 1Y2
W., 1 1A3 1Y3
j_ 1A4 1Y4
A
2A1 2Y1 ----V V V < I TCK Dclk
2A2 2Y2 TMS nConfig
2A3 2Y3 w' I TDI Data°
2A4 2Y4

GND GND
10
GND
m (I)
1=-"Aeu
13

1=)- (014
(I)
(I)
1=-W4
12

AO "CC
(2)
.>5
1

(1) resistors are 100 ohm

18-25
40 (2) resistors are 2k2 ohm
GND

Figure 3: This simple circuit is all that is required to program

most CPLDs or FPGAs in the Altera family. The resistors are
many column inches of advertising The common standards for single required to provide compatibility with some of the lower voltage
are dedicated at profiling the many ended I/O interfacing are LVTTL parts. The same circuit is used both for serial programming via
types of line driving interfacing these (3.3V), LVCMOS (3.3/2.5/1.8 and the P55 port or for JTAG debugging. A similar layout (but with
devices can handle. In order to 1.5V). PCI (33 & 66MHz busses). different pinouts) is used for Xilinx or Lattice devices.
reduce external component count, GTL and GTL+ (Xerox 0.8V open
bus interface, logic level and drain). HST (IBM 1.5/1.8V). SSTL program do make a visual check to
impedance matching components are (IBM -Hitachi 2.5/3.3V). Differential ensure the any library footprints
sometimes built into the GAs standards include LVDS (2.5V) and dimensions correspond to the
themselves. This allows the devices its variations BLVDS (bi-directional) information on the datasheet of the
to be connected directly to PCI and LDT (AMD 2.5V). GAs can be device you are using, better be safe
busses and external transmission programmed to implement any of than sorry.
lines. Devices can include options for these standards by the use of Prototyping and soldering surface
differential outputs and inputs, programmable impedance drivers and mount devices requires a masterful
impedance terminating resistors and terminators, input/output levels and combination of bravery and steady
various voltage threshold slice thresholds. hands. However with some practice
arrangements, including clock this is possible, even with the very
recovery circuits. This provides a Packages fine .5mm pin spacing devices. There
complete in -out (no external Most CPLDs and FPGAs are shipped are many guidelines on how to do
component) interface for external in Surface mount (SMD) package this on the Internet, some with step-
loads and transmission lines. form, with a few available in PLCC by-step pictures. Enter keywords
In general, data transmission is format. There is some standardisation `soldering SMDs' in an online search
effected as a permutation of voltage in package size and format, but with engine such as `Google' to find out
levels, transmission impedance and the vast number of options regarding more.
driving methods such as single package size, pin separation, outline
ended, differential, or parallel form. shape and footprint arrangements, Programming
The electronics to perform the each device package is more or less All GAs have a number of dedicated
serialisation and de -serialisation (in is unique. PCB footprints libraries pins for device programming. In
other words, clock recovery and should be used with caution as not all general there are two programming
parallel to serial conversion) is pinout dimensions are catalogue methods, serial and parallel. With
sometimes also built into some items. The best strategy is to read the parallel programming, the fuse file is
FPGA devices as block modules, data sheet carefully together with the presented as a series of parallel eight
with some of these working at up to application notes covering package bit bytes clocked in one at a time; an
Gigabyte speed. layouts. If using a PCB layout CAD internal auto -increment counter loads

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 15

 the data at their right locations in the
What is JTAG?
fuse map. In the serial method, data
is clocked in one bit at a time, using a The Joint Test Action Group is a common standard developed to
simple four wire serial protocol. The
facilitate in -site simulation and debugging. A target system, which can
protocol is simple enough to be
implemented with a microprocessor, be an IC or a full board, is connected to a debugging station, usually a
but clever enough to include facilities PC using a simple four wire serial interface, which is used for monitoring
to allow more than one device to be
programmed in daisy chain fashion
status. In the context of GAs, JTAG is used to allow the PC to initialise 41
and read internal registers and I/O states which can then be displayed on
I
from the same source. The more
the PC during the debug session. JTAG does not strictly support device
advanced devices include functional
JTAG interfaces, which can be programming, but the same interface circuit can be used to program
shared for programming and for on - devices by means of non-standard commands.
site debugging.
CMOS based CPLDs can keep the
stored program indefinitely. and an interface cable connected to the supplies) will be required to program
However, one constraint is that the USB or parallel port. The the lower voltage parts. The
number of times some of these programming files take many formats: equivalent programmer for Xilinx
devices can be reliably programmed raw binary, Intel style hex or comma devices is very similar, but uses
is relatively small (about 100 times). separated lists of decimal numbers. different pinouts. Note that two sets
FPGAs can be programmed any Figure 3 shows the circuit diagram of outputs are shown, one for JTAG
number of times, but the information of a typical programmer for Altera and the other for PSS (passive serial).
is lost when the device is powered devices using the parallel port of a Some devices require JTAG format
off. As already mentioned, the PC. The multitude of resistors are for programming, others PSS (or
permanent storage has to be kept required to provide voltage level both).
outside the device in an external compatibility with both 5Volt and In the next part of the article, I shall
EEPROM and transferred across on 3.3Volt devices. The programmer can describe how to use the development
power on. be used to program any device in any environment and how a simple
During development, device of the Altera families, although development system can be put
programming is usually done via a PC different value resistors (and together.

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16 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

In memoriam 1 L Linsley Hood MILL
It will be with deep regret that many readers articles appeared in these pages over a span into a.m. radio (E&WW, Oct. 1986, pp 16 -
will learn of the death of that respected of many decades. I have two files of articles 19) and a then important article called The
regular contributor to this magazine, John saved from WWIEW, one of my own articles Liniac (WW, Sept. 1971, pp 437 - 441). This
L. Linsley Hood. Born in 1925, John and one of others'. This second file runs to described what was in essence an opamp,
Lawrence Linsley Hood was educated at two bulging wallet folders, and a quick trawl implemented with discretes, in the days when
Reading School, Acton Polytechnic, The through one of them unearthed nine articles opamps were still fairly new, expensive, and
Royal Technical College (Glasgow) and, after by J L L H. The earliest I have is his 15-20W of limited performance.
extern,:l

55P.'2
Rio
prose range 118V
R35.1 cote of,
nen,
RIB R27 R33
nputs

Tr7
023 =1
10

fens ftr R32

5,
-
oro
C22

0
Rzo
52b
Nenc2
I output

p2.>, g;`: 63, , ,s

Sat

C '14.0 ,

the war, at Reading University. In 1942 he Class AB Audio Amplifier, Wireless World, John's interests included the important
joined the G.E.C. Research Laboratories at July 1970, pp 321 - 324 and the latest Class A topic of measurements. Lord Kelvin or
Wembley, working on magnetron Power, Electronics World, September 1996, Rutherford or some similar luminary once
development as a junior member of the team. pp 681 - 687, although I'm sure there are said that if you cannot measure something,
In 1943 he joined the R.A.F. in aircrew but more of his articles tucked away somewhere. you don't understand it - a truer statement
was transferred to work on radar. He But don't get the impression that John was you will not come across in a very long time.
subsequently worked with T.R.E. (Malvern) only interested in audio power amplifier An exceedingly useful piece of measurement
overseas. After a return to university he joined design, although he did stand in the great equipment for anyone interested in audio, is a
the Windscale Research Laboratories of the tradition of interest in this topic in Wireless distortion meter. John published in WW, July
Atomic Energy Authority. He was placed in World, from D. T. N. Williamson onwards. 1972, pp 306 - 308, a design for a Portable
charge of the research laboratories of British But other articles of his included Linear Distortion Monitor, designed using discrete
Cellophane Ltd. in 1954. In the late 70s John Voltage Controlled Oscillator (WW, Nov. semiconductors and based on an all -pass filter
retired from British Cellophane Ltd. and set 1973, pp 567 - 569), Putting the quality back section implemented with a Wien Bridge
up his own business from home, as a circuit. This was intended for use in
consultant and writer of books and articles, as conjunction with an oscilloscope to view the
Robins Electronics (Robin being the Components list "residual" - the distortion products - once the
Resistors
nickname by which he and his brother were 1 - 900k 19 1.5M.2% fundamental has been suppressed, or with an
2 - 100k, lin. 20 1584, 2%
known in the forces and elsewhere, on 3 - 22k 21
-
- 4.7k AC millivoltmeter to obtain an approximate
4 - 47k - 4.7k
account of the surname Hood). In a long and 5 - 15k, 5%
22
23 - 5k. preset
figure for the THD. I built at least two of
distinguished career, John published many of 6 3.3k, 5% 24 3.3k, 5% these, one using a twin gang 500pF capacitor
7 - 22k, 5% 25 - 15k

state-of-the-art articles, which I always found 8 - I.8k, 5% 26 820, 5% as in the original design, and one using fixed
9 - 470k 27 - 68k, 3%
of the greatest technical interest. From 1962 10 2.5k, lin. (10 toms) 29 39k, 5% capacitors and a two -gang pot, to avoid the
- 3.3k, 5% 29 471r, 5%
he lived in Taunton, in a house called / I

12 - 120k 30 - 2.7k high circuit impedances otherwise involved.

39k, 5%, - 686, 5%
"Robins", and I often meant to contact him, 13 -
14 - 1k
31
32 336, 5% The design, though since overtaken by later
with a view to paying a visit when in the area. 15 - 1506, 2%
16 - 1.5M, 2%
22
34
- 220k, 5%
lk
developments, was so important in its day
For one reason or another, it never happened, 17- 15M,2°%
150k, 2%
35 1.8k and such a good example of what can be
18 - 36 - 3.3k, 5%
and now unfortunately the opportunity is 37 - 4700 achieved by innovative circuit design using
Capacitors
gone. 1 470n 13 100n discretes, that I have asked the Editor to find
2 - 100p/4V 14 - In
I first started reading Wireless World as a 3 225/20V 15 lOn room to reproduce the circuit and component
250p/25V
sixth former in the early 1950s, and 4
5, 6 - 470p, ganged
16
17
-
- 68p
120p
list herewith, scanned in from a rather dog-
remember many of the names of a 7
8
- trimmer
trimmer
18
19
- 330p
- 680p
eared, scribbled -on and yellowed -with -age
distinguished group of regular contributors. 9 - 320p/6.4V 20 - 3.3n copy from my files, somewhat tidied up with
10 100a 21 - 680p
John was one of these, along with other II 4,7n 22 - 6.8n the aid of the ever invaluable Paintshop Pro.
12 250p/25V 23 - 220n
famous names such as Thomas Roddam, L. John must have been well known to former
Diode
Nelson -Jones, P. J. Baxandall, Colin Pyckett, 1 3V, rem editors of EW/WW, such as Martin Eccles,
`Cathode Ray' (M. G. Scroggie) and others, Transistors
Frank Ogden, Phil Darrington, Tom Ivall and
at least one of whom I know is still with us. 1

2 -
BC109 (C)
MPSA14
4
5, 6, 7
-
-
2N4058
BC109
others, and many readers, like me, will feel
John will long be remembered, by many 3 - 2544302 that they had come to know him a little also.
readers including younger ones, for his He will be sorely missed.

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 17

 A new monitoring
tool for 5.1 audio
In this article Richard Brice proposes a new visual -display monitoring
tool for sound engineers working with 5.1 audio. It combines the
advantages of the analytical power of the familiar stereo Lissajous
display with a visualisation of the periphonic sound -field pioneered in
the 'Jellyfish' display. The background and theory are discussed and a
practical, analogue circuit implementation is given

Multi -channel audio has its channel arranged as shown in pairs in the following way:
historical roots in the cinema Figure 1. left front, right front (LF, RF)
industry where a sense of The low frequency channel (LFE) left surround, right surround (LS, RS)
periphonic sound has long been was originally termed the 'Baby centre and low frequency
thought a great benefit to the overall Boom' channel for its original enhancement (C & LFE)
entertainment. Despite a multiplicity adoption in Star Wars in the late Unfortunately, the presentation of
of products, a standard has gradually nineteen -seventies and is reserved these signals, either on peak -reading
emerged which, whilst it fails to and engineered to provide the type or power -averaging type meters,
provide accurate periphonic physical sensation we associate with is both difficult to interpret and gives
localisation, nonetheless provides a deep space explosions (albeit that very little visual information about
degree of audio 'envelopment' which these take place in a vacuum!). the 'enveloping' 5.1 sound -field. An
is deemed by film makers and attempt has been made to improve
audiences alike to be the most Monitoring upon this situation by DK-Audio A/S
important factor in the enhancement Because of its increasingly wide of Denmark in what they have termed
of their entertainment. That standard spread adoption, the requirement for the 'Jellyfish display' as illustrated in
has become known as 5.1 multi- a suitable monitoring device for 5.1 Figure 2.
channel audio; these numbers audio is becoming similarly In this computer -generated
referring to the fact that the system widespread. At the present time, the presentation, the positions of the five,
comprises five full -bandwidth most common is the presentation of full range loudspeakers are marked
channels and one reduced bandwidth, three quasi -stereo channels; the 5.1 on a graticule and the amplitude
low frequency enhancement (LFE) audio being broken down into three distribution of the sound -field is used
to modulate a visual 'blob' which sits
in the middle of the screen. This
amplitude induced distortion of the
`blob' is very highly damped, such
that if a signal of consistent energy is
used to energise - for example - the
left front loudspeaker, then a tentacle
grows out of the blob in the direction
of the speaker position. When
energised with complex multi-
channel programme the overall affect
resembles a dancing jellyfish!
Whilst this approach is rather fun,
in my own experimental 5.1 mixing
sessions, I have found it to be not
terribly useful. The problem is that
the damping is so high that the
Figure 1: The display fails to register all but the
standard 5.1 listening largest contours of programme
arrangement dynamics. In addition, it simply

18 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 on summing localisation has been
well established for many years:
especially so in television, where
rapid quality judgements have to be
made in perhaps less than ideal
conditions. The solution is a display
of a complex Lissajous Figure',
derived from the left and right of the
standard stereo inputs. In this type of
display the plates of an oscilloscope
are fed with an amplified audio
signal. This two-dimensional display Figure 4: The initial experimental prototype
has a particular advantage in that it
Figure 2: The 'Jellyfish display' from permits the engineer easily to inspect the presentation of a complex plane
DK-AUDIO the degree to which the left and right such that any instantaneous sound
signals are correlated; which is to say pressure, caused by the combination
displays the energy distribution about the degree to which a stereo signal of the signals issuing from the left and
the periphery of the listening space: contains in -phase, mono components right loudspeakers, may be thought of
which is the one thing your ears can and the degree to which it contains as a complex number where the
reliably tell you! What is required is out -of -phase or stereo components. difference component is the real part
a much 'faster' display, and one that In the usual arrangement, the Y and the sum, the imaginary.
gives an indication of phase plates inside the oscilloscope are
relationships between the channels. driven with a signal that is the sum of A New Monitoring Display
the left and right input signal (suitably This article outlines the development
Phase amplified). The X plates are driven of a new visual display device for the
The phase relationships that exist with a signal derived from the stereo mixing and quality monitoring of 5.1
between channels of a multi -channel difference signal (R -L), as shown in audio signals. It combines the
audio system represent critical Figure 3. Note that the left signal will attributes of the agility of the peak
information to a recording or quality create a single moving line along the programme meter, the presentation of
control engineer. This is because - diagonal L axis as shown. The right the distribution of the overall sound
although multi -channel audio signal clearly does the same thing field of the Jellyfish display and the
systems are largely based on along the R axis. A mono (L=R) analytical power of the complex
amplitude -derived stereophony - signal will create a single vertical line Lissajous display.
faults in microphone placement and and an out -of -phase mono signal will
in subsequent engineering and produce a horizontal line. A stereo Theory
processing can produce phase -errors signal produces a woolly ball centred Practical 5.1 audio systems treat the
and anomalies that result in poor on the origin; its vertical extent creation of phantom auditory events
localisation or bass cancellation and governed by the degree of L/R on the periphery of the circle on
comb -filter effects; especially when correlation and its horizontal extent which lie the five cardinal
down -mixed to stereo or to mono. governed by L/R de -correlation. And loudspeaker positions by means of a
An indication of the phase herein lies the polar display's piecewise stereophony. A study of
relationships between the channels particular power, that it can be used to 5.1 audio books and articles, as well
can alert the sound engineer to these asses the character of a stereo signal, as investigation of practical
possible problems in a way that alerting the engineer to possible implementations reveals the
tired, over -worked ears cannot transmission or recording problems, orthodoxy is the following:
always do. as illustrated in Figure 3. Phantom images are reliably
The requirement to view the phase The presentation of simultaneous created by the energising - with
relationships between the channels of left and right signals in a Lissajous appropriate amplitude differences
a multi -channel audio system relying display may usefully be thought of as the two adjacent channels to the
particular phantom position.
In the case of the forward arc, this
L+R
is familiar from conventional
stereophony. However, the Centre
channel loudspeaker complicates the
R -L
situation and this is dealt with later.
Interestingly, contemporary usage
tends still towards the use of
conventional, two -loudspeaker
stereophony (LF, RF only) for music -
right left mono
bed and front effects, with the Centre
L+R
channel being reserved for dialogue
or a mix of dialogue and an
arithmetically derived average of left
R -L
and right. This theory is extended to
cover the rear arc (between LS and
RS) and for side images between LF
and LS and RF and RS. This
monitoring tool supports the
out of phase narrow stereo wide stereo
orthodoxy of 5.1 multi -channel audio
Figure 3: The stereo Lissajous display. and reflects the theoretical and

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 19

 Figure 5: A front to rear left pan.
exactly what is required given the
I .0
piecewise, two channel stereophonic
approach employed in 5.1 audio.
In the experimental set up shown in
Figure 4, it can be seen that, with the
R (x) (x)
appropriate direction of rectifier, LF
and RF contribute the imaginary and
0

real values in the first quadrant and

1

LS and RS represent the real and

(i)
imaginary components in the third I0

quadrant. Note also that the Centre

channel is added equally to the real Figure 7: the result of a LF to centre pan
R (x)
and imaginary values in the first when the circuit if Figure 4 is employed.
quadrant. This ensures that the Centre
channel contributes only to a special
vector at -I-n/4. (The Centre channel degenerates (d) to becoming two
is shown greyed -out in Figure 4 entirely separated phases on the
because there is a limitation with the real and imaginary axis (e). This is
technique as shown, which will be remarkably intuitive and correlates
dealt with below.) well with this objective experience.
Now consider a sound panned from This demonstrates that the proposed
front to back to the left of the display combines the virtues of:
listener. A little thought will a fast acting presentation of five
demonstrate that this will appear on signal amplitudes
the display as a phasor of length 1 an accurate visualisation of the
which rotates between the positive direction of the phantom sound
imaginary axis and the negative real within the sound field
one as illustrated in Figure. 5. the phase relationships which exist
In fact, ignoring the Centre channel between channels.
for a moment and imagining the four
remaining speakers as contributors in Incorporating the Centre channel
a conventional quadraphonic As described above, if the
Figure 6: A thru e - practical presentation of the virtual loudspeaker set up, one can imagine conventional, two -loudspeaker, stereo
adjacent channel sound field according to that that, with the appropriate amplitude panning technique is used, the
display with various orthodoxy, as will be shown below. panning, it is possible to produce a proposed display will accurately
interchannel phase phasor of a certain length rotating represent the perceived phantom
The schematic of the initial,
relationships. experimental prototype of the around the origin on the complex image position as a phasor which
proposed monitoring system is given plane. Clearly, this is exactly what rotates between the Y(I) axis and the
in Figure 4. Central to the concept the recording engineer requires since X(R) axis. However, there exists a
are the half wave -rectifiers. Later I it gives an accurate picture of the problem with the proposed display in
will give analogue circuit amplitude and position of phantom relation to the way the Centre channel
implementation of the complete images within the listening 'circle'. is introduced as shown above.
monitoring system but, both this The Centre channel represents a
rectification part and the subsequent Phase display complication in the piecewise
display part, could easily be adapted It is instructive to consider the stereophonic approach of 5.1 theory,
(and improved) to digital techniques resulting display when, for example, because sounds may be panned
and/or software implementation. two coherent signals are presented across the front arc in two ways.
Why half wave rectification of each to adjacent stereophonic speakers Imagine a left -to -right pan across the
of the input signals? The answer lies but at different phase relationships. arc bounded by the loudspeakers LF
in the piecewise, two -channel In this example I will take the and RF. This may be accomplished
stereophonic approach to periphony example of LS and RS. Imagine that either by means of a conventional
adopted in 5.1 audio. Think back to LS is fed with a tone of 1 kHz and stereo pan between LF and RF, or as
the complex visual display used for that RS is presented with a similar a pan from LF to C and thence to RF.
stereophonic monitoring in which we tone but with a varying phase Several authors recommend the
saw two signals energising the X and relationship with respect to the second technique as the preferred
Y plates of a cathode ray oscilloscope signal in the LS channel. method (Holman 2000). However,
display. As discussed, one way of Experiments have shown that the there is great disagreement between
rationalising this display was to resulting display is highly authors on the preferred control law
imagine that one signal represented informative and is summarised at (Rumsey 2001). Gerzon (1992) goes
real values and the other imaginary, five important phase relationships in so far as to state that no simple law
and that any instantaneous sound Figure 6. can ever exist for such a control.
pressure - caused by the combination When both signals are entirely So what will the proposed display
of these two signals - was represented coherent and in phase the result is a indicate as a source is panned
at a point on the complex plane. Half - phasor at 225° (Figure 6a). As the between the three front loudspeakers?
wave rectification of the signals (the phase begins to change at the 90° Figure 7 represents the result of a LF
transformation of bipolar signals into point, the display has become a to Centre pane when the primitive
unipolar ones) ensures that the hemi semi -circle in the third circuit of Figure 4 is employed. To
presentation of the signals on the quadrant (c). As the signals phase understand the graph you have to
display is confined to one quadrant of relationship moves beyond the 90° read each point left to right as the
the complex plane. And this is point, the hemi semi -circle position of the tip of the phasor as it

20 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 0 where ( , yR) is the point after
LF 01 0(01)
rotation.
0 Because the required rotation is
RF
constant, these multiplications are
0N I constant too, and simply represent the
appropriate scaling of the summing
0 resistors shown in Figure 11, which
X( R)
is the final, prototype circuit. Notice
too that a precision rectifier circuit
LS
has replaced the simple rectifiers of
the initial prototype. This is
0
RS 14 important because the complex
exponentials in the two (I / Vak)
relationships of the simple diodes
Figure 8: An improved circuit giving better results in the first quadrant. translate to strange curly things when
viewed on the complex plane!

moves from extreme left (LF) to generate the X(R) and Y(I) signals Further Improvements
centre (C) in quadrant 1 as the pan is for the first quadrant. A simplified Nowadays, an analogue
operated, the various points circuit for so doing is given in implementation is outdated, but - as
indicating one -tenth of the overall Figure 8. stated above - these ideas are easy to
pan -control rotation. The reason for Interestingly, this alternative translate to either a hardware digital
this non-linear result is the effect of approach has exposed the unexpected or to a software implementation. One
the rectifiers. Looking at the circuit result that, depending on the pan law, limitation which might easily be
in Figure 4, you can see that the at some phasor arguments, the phasor addressed in a software
positive values presented to the Y(I) magnitude appears distorted as implementation would be the
output will be the rectified result of revealed in Figure 9. In the figure, addition of a conventional PPM
the LF signal and the Centre signal the phasor positions are given for linear meter to monitor the LFE
and, in each case, the instantaneous, twenty points between full LF and
positive value will be whichever is RF passing through Centre.
the greater of these two signals. That Two laws are plotted, constant -power
accounts for the inflection in the (diamonds) and constant -gain
curve in Figure 7. (squares).
This result is neither accurate nor However, as Figure 9 reveals, in
intuitive and something better is spite of the phasor amplitude
evidently required. One way of distortion, the phasor arguments
approaching the problem is to say, accord well with the pan -control
`what is really needed is a fifth deflection irrespective of pan -law and
oscilloscope deflection plate between this is a big improvement over the
the positive Y plate and the positive original circuit. Furthermore, it is
X plate, energised directly by the widely recognised that neither the
Centre signal' (as shown in Figure piecewise, constant -power (sine -
Al in the Appendix). Naturally this cosine -sine) approach nor the
would be impossibly expensive and constant -gain approach are ideal for LS RS
- in any case - unnecessary, because pan -controls for three loudspeakers in
it's possible to produce an identical the forward arc, being deplored on
LFE -18415
effect to this extra plate by both psychoacoustic (Rumsey 2001)
OdBFS
energising the positive X and Y and theoretical (Gerzon 1992) One-up
plates with a Centre signal multiplied grounds. Certainly the phasor
by sine 45 degrees and cosine 45 distortion on the proposed display Figure 10 The final graticule for the new monitoring device.
degrees respectively3. This is during LF-C-R pans supports the
accomplished in circuitry by reservations of these authors. (See
rectifying the Centre signal, reducing Appendix 1 for a further discussion). References
its amplitude by 1W 2 and summing Gerzon, Michael A. 1992. Panpot laws for multispeaker
it with the signals for LF and RF to The Final Design
stereo. 92nd Convention of the Audio Eng. Soc., Vienna.
Comparing the Figures 5 and 6 with Preprint 3309.
1.40 the disposition of the speakers in
relation to the listener as shown in Holman, T. (2000) 5.1 Surround Sound Up and Running.
Figure 1, it is evident that rotating Focal Press
1 00
the entire display by 45 degrees Riimsey, F. (2001) Spatial Audio. Focal Press.
0 80 would be advantage to the user;
because the mapping of the resulting
0E0
phasors would better coincide with 1After Jules Lissajous who was professor of mathematics at
0.40 the listening room arrangement. the Lycee Saint-Louis in Paris in the mid eighteen -hundreds
Now, any point (x, y) may be rotated and who studied vibrations by means of mirrors attached to
0 ^0
by any angle (a) by means of the perpendicularly mounted tuning forks of related frequencies.
0.00 matrix multiplication:
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2Assuming a constant -power (sine -cosine) law.
Figure 9 : Various pan laws as (x , y) . cos a sin a = ( , yR) 3Assuming linear amplifiers and linear deflection
displayed on the proposed display. -sin a cos a

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 21

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Appendix
1.40
Is there a better LF-C- RF pan -law? phasor (c, d) and (a, b).
Given the fact that the constant - More generally, we can say that, 1..0

power (sine -cosine) panning law is r =a+cand 1.00

universally accepted as being the best s=d+b
0.80
approach to standard, two -channel We need to solve for a, b, c and d
stereo panning and that this law in terms of r and s. But there are too 0.60

produces, on the proposed display, a many unknowns. Fortunately, we can 0.40

result that is both theoretically and simplify. Firstly, because one
perceivably justified, it seems not component of the vector is always 0 ^0

unreasonable to turn the argument aligned with the Y-axis, the value of 000
`on its head' and use the display to c will always be zero. Secondly, 0.00 050 100 1.50

suggest an improved panning law because the second component is

Figure A4 - The result of the new
which will produce - when employed always at 45 degrees, a will always
panning law when displayed on
-a similarly consistent result when equal b. So we can re -write this,
proposed display (triangles). Constant -
displayed in the manner described in r= a, or a = r and gain (squares) and constant -power laws
this article. s = d + a , or, s = d + r
are plotted for comparison.
d = ( s -r )
But, because we are thinking in 3R
terms of the voltages applied to these
plates, we must think in terms of the
magnitudes of each phasor M(Y) and
M(C). Because c is always zero, the
M(Y) = d. The magnitude of the
phasor (a, b) is given by,
M(C) = (a2 + b2)
Although this simplifies (because
Figure Al: The proposed display
a=b) to,
rationalised as a five -plate
oscilloscope.
M(C) = 2 a = 2 r
If - as shown in Figure Al - we We can now solve for a and d so
imagine the proposed display as a that the phasor (r, s) proscribes a
Figure AS: Proposed new pan control
five -plate oscilloscope with an extra circular path; just as it does when it is
and values.
plate placed at +45 degrees between generated using the sine -cosine
the positive X and Y plates (and it is relationship in X and Y. The results circuit plotted with the theoretical
mathematically justifiable to think of are given in Figure A3. curve in Figure A6.
it in this way), we can solve Note that the LF and RF responses Returning to the analogy of the
simultaneous equations to find the are based on a (sin0 - cos0) curve and five -plate oscilloscope, the proposed
ideal law so that we get an identical the Centre channel pan is based on an display is a consistent analogue of the
display for the three -channel, LF-C- amplified version of the cosine curve physical, acoustical situation when
RF pan and for the two -channel LF- between 0 and 45 degrees and its five loudspeakers are arranged as in a
RF pan. mirror image (both these functions 5.1 set-up. It thereby represents a
This requires that we resolve any having a similar form). Happily for consistent, theoretical framework for
phasor into component phasors the analogue designer, the results are analysing the 'pan problem' discussed
separated by 45 degrees. In Figure very nearly linear and a proposed by the authors in the references.
A2, phasor (r, s) is the resultant of circuit is given in Figure A5. Therein lies the possible legitimacy of
The results shown in Figure A4 are the new pan -law. Nevertheless, the
(r, s) plotted on the same axes as Figure 9 display is not a perceptual model and
to compare this proposed law with the validity (or otherwise) of the
Figure A6: Practical pan -
the constant -power and constant -gain proposed pan -law would need to
control law and its display
regimes discussed in the main text. be tested in listening
on proposed display
For comparison, the results of the experiments.
(theoretical curve is also
given - triangles).
t20
120
(c, d)
(a. b) 1.00
1.00

0.80 1111111111112lik 0.80

0.60 111111.111PFAIM111111111111 0.60

0.40 IIIIIR311111111111116111111 0.40

0.20
0.20

0.00 IFAII/1111/11 0.00

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
0.00 020 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20
Figure A2: Phasor (r, s) is the vector
sum of phasor (c, d) and (a , b). Figure A3: A proposed new panning law.

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 23

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 HANDBOOK OF RF DIGITAL TV FAULT- VALVE
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Covering topics such as advanced sensor fusion, Steve Seething
control systems for a wide array of application information on digital
of Television magazine. A comprehensive guide to
sensors and instrumentation, and fuzzy logic television, datacasting,
Arranged by make and domestic VCR technology and repair techniques.
applications, this volume is essential reading for interactive video, digital camcorders and VCRs,
model, it features over 2000 reports on over This edition brings the information fully -up-to-
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200 models of VCR, including diagnosis and date, with expanded coverage of camcorders,
far undergraduate and graduate students including European, Asian and North/South
repair advice. sections on DVD equipment and the latest
studying robotic engineering, artificial intelligence American video standards, methods and
VCR technology.
and cognitive science. Its state-of-the-art techniques.

treatment of core concepts in mobile robotics helps

and challenges readers in exploring new avenues
in an exciting field.

3rd edition A Jul 2001 A 784 pages & CD -Rom

Mar 2000 A 447 pages A Illustrations A PB 5th edition A Apr 2001 A 323 pages References A Glossary A Index A PB
Published in UK January 2004 A PB & CD -Rom A 352 pages Illustrations A PB A Published in UK Published in UK
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a PROCESSING Douglas Self

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University of Coventry) Douglas Self's work in Electronics World magazine
Designed to complement the digital systems and a career at the cutting edge of audio design.
modules and develop the essential skills needed This handbook aims to provide a practical guide to
for RF circuit design, this book demystifies the art the state of the art, and includes detailed design
of analogue circuit design and analysis. The and construction information.
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 Precision ar

rectifier circuits
Intrigued by Darren Heywood's precision full wave rectifier circuit
described in the January 2003 issue of Circuit Ideas (EW page 36),
Alan Bate has come up with some different ideas

As this kind of circuit is usually

implemented by linearising a diode
rectifier forward characteristic within
a negative feedback loop, Figure 1
shows the classic full wave circuit
using this approach. The problem
with such a circuit is the performance
of amplifier 1 which not only needs
to have wide small signal bandwidth
and but also high slew rate to rapidly
switch through the open loop
transition when the diodes are shut
off. See Figure 2 of a SPICE
simulation at 10kHz, using general-
purpose small signal Schottky diodes
and OP37s. Note the fast transition
Figure 1: Classic fullwave precision rectifier.
required of the op amp in the diode
drive waveform. However, new op level and bandwidth. His sensitivity However, at either signal extremity
amps like the Analogue Devices and bandwidth claims of 201tV and all the output current will pass
AD3038/39, with a small signal 2Mhz are also worth investigating. through one of the emitter resistors
bandwidth of 350MHz, and slew rate while the other compound pair is
of 425V/ms would now turn this Rectifier out -put stage virtually turned off. This variation in
approach into a 'humdinger of a The differential output rectifier stage, current shifts the turn on threshold at
circuit'! uses local feedback pairs in an each input, due almost entirely to the
Mr. Heywood's approach to attempt match the 'rectifier gain' for volt drop across R19 and R20.
linearise the rectifier function is each quadrant. There are three Consider the Figure 3 Model of the
novel as it potentially offers wide shortcomings with this circuit, which output stage DC requirements.
bandwidth. However, his circuit showed up in SPICE simulations. Assuming a typical beta of 100, Vbe
suffers from a few limitations, which Consider one compound pair, Tr4, for silicon of 0.6 Volt, and using the
can easily be put right, greatly Tr7. Degenerating the gain in both rule of thumb for transistor intrinsic
improving linearity at low signal transistors is not necessary as there is emitter resistance re = (26 / Ie)
Figure 2: Classic full wave rectifier output. 100% overall feedback applied to (based on Schottky's diode law at
dilute the non-linearities in both room temperture where the emitter
3.00- transistors. The resistor R15 only current Ie is in mA).
suppresses precious loop gain and Examining the left-hand arm of the
S decreases the current transfer output stage Tr4 and Tr7 and letting
-300- efficiency around the loop by raising output current = 'out (mA).
4 HO- the ac input impedance of the second Let transistor current gain = 100,
transistor Tr7. compound pair current gain = Ai =
Even if the two compound pairs approximately Beta Tr4 x Beta Tr7 x
had infinite loop gain, we would still say 50% current transfer at Tr7 base,
Li 0.00
I' 00- be left with a large dead -band around then Ai = 100x 100 x 0.5 = 5,000.
the null point. This is due to the Max input voltage (seen from the
g. comparatively large resistance value preceding stage) with Tr4 on and Tr5
chosen for the emitter degeneration fully off:
1.00 resistors R19 and R20. At the Voltage input for full output = Iout
000 300.00u quiescent bias condition, the resistors (RIO/Ai + R20 + R22) + re/le (Tr4)+
Time (s) Vbe4. (Eq 1)
equally share the output current.

26 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 I-
V supply 7.00-

6.90-
Tr6
Tr7 2N3000 6.80_

269041
R10 R8 > 6.70-
lb1 2N3904 1b2
2.2k I 2.2k
I I

6.60-
TO 243900 I

1 .46 mA
6.50 I ' I

E -500.00m -250.00m 0.00 250.00m 500.00m

L 1 .5 mA
tt L
KI 1 .5 mA

Compound pair 1 Compound pair 2 Figure 4: Deadband of 200mV in the

original rectifier transfer characteristic
Tr4 current = 34 uA
lout 3 mA
1400

e4

Vbe Tr4,Tr5 = 0.6 Volt re =26/le (mA)

1300

E.12 00

0 Volt a
00
Mismatch of differential gain in the first stage due to R2
introducing Miller feedback around the current tail
transistor Tr3
Figure 3: DC conditions of Mr. Haywood's output stage. 10 00

9.00
At the mid point the two arms of signal, significantly reducing the 100 fk 10k 100k 10M !WM
Frequency (Hz)
the output stage equally share the dynamic range and progressively
output current, so assuming the increasing low level distortion. This Figure 5a
compound pair gain remains constant effect when referred to the input is
1400-
with Iout and their Vbes (Tr4, Tr5) are diluted only a little by the modest
equal; voltage gain (7:1) of the preceding
Voltage input at the null point = stage.
(Iout/2) (R10/ Ai + R20) + R22. Lout Looking at the compound pairs, the 6 67- 71, 31224
+ rele (Tr4) + Vbe4. (Eq 2) collector loads R16 and R17 are X II? 4310 V921
Now, assume the current in Tr4 is unnecessarily large. Here there are
a 12430 303
« Tr7, i.e. the bulk of the output conflicting requirements as R16, R17
current passes through Tr7, not should be: -66667m-
through the re of Tr4. Running a DC 1. Lowest possible resistance, in
Simply decoupling the current tail transistor Tr3 for correct
SPICE analysis showed lc of Tr7 = order to rapidly remove base charge common base operation cures the problem
1.46 mA and lc of TR4 to be only from Tr7, Tr6 for good high
34.3RA. Hence, we can ignore the frequency performance. -800
100 fk fOk 100k 1M fOM NOM
volt drop across re. Then: 2. Highest possible value, to Frequency (Ft)
Change in Vir, = (Equation 1) - efficiently transfer the current signal Figure 5b
(Equation 2) from Tr4 into Tr7 and achieve the
Differential pre -amp stage Figures 5a & 5b:
Delta Vin = I(R10/Ai + R20). Iout/2 highest current loop gain in the
SPICE simulations
As the compound pair current gain compound pair. Considering the long tail pair input
demonstrating the
Ai, is very large, we can ignore the R15 and R18 are not a good idea as stage the current tail transistor Tr3
increasing imbalance
volt drop across R10, simplifying the they not only suppress gain in the should be operated as a constant
in differential gain.
change in Vi to: wrong place but also raise the input current device for efficient current
Delta Vin = R20.(lout/2) impedance of Tr6, Tr7 and further signal transfer at the emitters of Trl,
For an output current of 3mA reduce the efficient transfer of signal Tr2. This means operating Tr3 in
which is what Mr. Heywood's circuit current from Tr4, Tr5. grounded base to give the highest ac
runs at: The third improvement would output impedance (around 1MQ at
Rectifier stage dead -band, Delta be to ac couple the long tail pair low frequency for common base).
Vin = 1.5(mA) x 68 Ohms = ±102mV preamplifier to the output stage. This requires voltage DC bias of the
See Figure 4 of the SPICE This blocks any unwanted DC base and de -coupling it to ac right at
simulation of the output stage imbalance in the first stage, which any the base with a (low inductance)
differential DC transfer function way is ac coupled on its input so there ceramic capacitor. R2 defeats this,
about the DC null or steady state is no point in preserving DC coupling allowing a 'soggy' operation
showing the dead -band discussed with all the associated temperature somewhere between common emitter
above. drift problems. and common base, giving a less
This causes the output circuit to be The bias requirements of the output efficient constant current sink and
`blind' to the middle of the incoming stage can then be optimised separately. worse allows Miller feedback around

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 27

 Tr3 which adds a very undesirable
capacitive lag across the current tail.
This causes the high frequency gain 800

to peak through Tr 1 as it provides ac

700
bypass to Tr 1 emitter and to roll off at
Tr2's frequency response by shunting .5

the signal path to Tr2 emitter! This in

turn, gives an increasing imbalance in
the differential ac gain with increasing 3-
E.0
frequency. See Figure 5a and Figure
5b SPICE simulations demonstrating
200
this effect. A minimal change is to de -
couple Tr3's base. The high frequency 1 00

bandwidth of the circuit is also limited

by the unnecessary resistors R8, R10, 1500 2000 25 0 3000 3500 .000 4500 5000

R16 collector load value to Ohms

which with 'circuit strays' and the
input capacitance of the following Figure 7: Gain versus R16 value.
stage form low pass RC filters.
There is also a second Miller return on gain increase with tuners to achieve high gain at RF.
feedback effect from the base collector increasing load value. 3.3kW appears See Figure 11. The first stage of
capacitance of Trl. Miller feedback is about the optimum value, giving near triode amplification was fed directly
minimal at TR2 due to its de -coupled maximum gain while maintaining a into the low ac impedance of the
base and common base operation much lower resistance value than cathode port of a second triode valve,
(with the long tail pair driven single used in the original circuit and operating in common grid (common
ended). This second Miller effect can therefore enabling a faster turn off base, in transistor talk). The first
easily be demonstrated by driving the response. See also Figure 8 of the re- valve gave no voltage amplification
input from a low impedance generator vamped circuit and Figure 9, but very high power gain due to the
rather than the 600Q source used by comparison of linearity with the amplified signal current from the
Mr. Heywood. Compare Figure 6 of original circuit at 500kHz. Figures valves mutual or transconductance,
the SPICE frequency response 10a and 10b, comparison of gm. The second stage had no Miller
simulation of the first stage output, frequency response with the original limitation due to the grounded control
driven by a zero Ohm source with the circuit. grid, preventing any anode to grid
600Q source performance of Figure Miller capacitive feedback. The
5b. Driving from a low generator Further development. common grid topology has high
source impedance 'absorbs' Trl's With bandwidth limited by the Miller output impedance (analogous to
base collector capacitive current. This effect in the first stage and wishing to transistor common base), allowing
effectively minimises the 'Miller find a simpler output stage, my high voltage amplification to be
effect' to the internal workings of the thoughts turned to designing a achieved. The cascode principle
transistor. Adding an emitter follower rectifier output stage, which would adapts readily to transistor circuits
to the input would be a practical way use the Cascode principle. The with the advantage of folding the
of achieving the same result. `Cascode' was an amplifier topology circuit, avoiding build up of DC
invented back in 'valve days' to levels by using complimentary PNP
Re -vamped circuit overcome Miller feedback. Voltage devices for the second stage. They
With the above points in mind, I have generation of the signal at the didn't have the advantage of a `PNP
re -vamped the circuit for interest amplifier's first stage output was valve', hence the valve circuit
sake, optimising with the aid of avoided and hence there was no stacked up in its DC requirements.
SPICE circuit simulation. internal feedback through the anode Figure 12 shows my use of this
See the Figure 7 plot of rectifier to grid capacitance (or base collector technique with the output stage
gain versus Tr4, (and Tr5) collector in transistor talk). The Cascode was configured in differential common
loads R16 (R17) values. Examining used universally as the front end RF base. The low impedance of the PNP
the plot shows a rapidly diminishing amplifier in valve VHF/UHF TV emitters clamp the first stage output
signal voltage so that the voltage
14 00
change becomes minimal but near
linear signal current is transferred
into the output circuit. AC coupling
and the high value emitter bias
A
resistors allow each PNP transistor to
6 67 x rieT: y:12.24 be accurately biased on the verge of
x
e
112 43M Y 9 21
conduction. As soon as each
A-13 amplified signal from the first stage
x 1243M y 3.03
0 swings positive the relevant PNP
transistor conducts and the signal
-666.67m
current flows on into the output
Simply decoupling the current tail transistor Tr3 for correct
resistive load. Common base
common base operation cures the problem operation ensures the PNP transistors
will have very closely matched gains.
-8.00 1 II11111 111f I IIllq Because hfb = hfe/(hfe +1) and with
00 k 10k 100k fM 10M 100M hfe variations of 100 minimum to
Frequency (Hz) 300 typical for the 2N3904 devices
used, the common base gain or
Figure 6: Proof of the unwanted Miller feedback.

28 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 Ni. 1131

1kit 2
N
1..42
US
T6 2N N35
.34

2N3926
R3 11:113
rc CS lion/ R21 101a
I I -
TS 2N33:14
VP2

" cvpi T42N3SICR

-q 1,1
R 10 6[1:11:1
T1 2NN:li ;HF,

C
R23103
T2 2N3A14
'AA
1122 1011
01 eon. kAA
Rlt
ro

rc

.1 a

T3 2 N3911
- 12
N
070

N
n
as

IN O N
N

000 Figure 8a: Revamped circuit.

050 0

190 0

-500
-3 al at 17 8 MHz 5500

.0 5

1 350 0 5
Neat 18 MHz of overall bandwidth from the enhanced circlet
250 0 v

ISO 0 5

33F7- C.3 Is
?11823 rots MO m5
.soomUt' ILO mV 150 mV

Bald V30 Inpm immi mvl

1500 I r
' '"I ' "I "1
Figure 9a: Original circuit linearity at 500kHz.
101 1008 1M 10M 100M
Frequenry 1001

Figure 8b: Overall bandwidth of enhanced circuit.

emitter efficiency will only vary lowest) and the simulated drive and
around 0.9901 to 0.99668. output waveforms at 500kHz (Figure
The common base operation also 14). Note the clamping of the pre -
enables high voltage gain to be amp output voltage on each positive
achieved due to the inherently high half cycle where the associated PNP
output impedance of around IMO at turns on. The active part of each
low frequency, allowing a high signal offers little voltage variation
collector load value. The non - and hence minimal Miller feedback,
linearity of the Vbe characteristic is allowing near full bandwidth to be
effectively diluted by the ratio of achieved on the positive half cycles. 50 IWO onV 0110.0 mV zv mV
output impedance of the first stage What happens on the negative cycles kval
(defined by the collector loads of is a 'don't care' as the corresponding Figure 9b: Revamped linearity at 500kHz.
Trl , Tr2) and the low intrinsic re of output device is shut off. This allows
the PNP devices. While this circuit is some over loading of the first stage to the long tail pair, further minimising
not as linear as the enhanced occur on large signals, with the input Miller feedback. This will also raise
compound pair approach, it is transistors bottoming on the the input impedance of the input
considerably more linear than the unwanted negative half cycles. This circuit to over 50kW with the aid of
original circuit having a much effectively increases the dynamic `bootstrapping', eliminating the
smaller dead -band of only 10mV. range at frequencies where the loading of the input bias chain from
The PNP approach has the potential propagation delay of T1 and T2 can about 10kHz. Stray capacitance of
to give wider bandwidth. be ignored. Finally a spare NPN 1 pF has been assumed in the
See Figure 13 of the simulated transistor (the original circuit uses simulations across each resistor.
linearity at 500kHz showing non - seven transistors) is used as an input Circuit strays have not been included
linearity at very low levels (where re emitter follower to provide a low AC in the simulations, as this will depend
will be large and current gain at its impedance drive, of around 15W to on layout.

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 29

 116

53)-

High voltage gain here without Miller

feedback due to grounded grid
536-
Anode grid capacitances

Signal voltage small here

E
due to drive into low impedance
f 535-

.5 ,
:bra.
x ee,., v636

i itnra / 4711M

3000,n I500m 3000m

,-.4 ,,,,,,,

Figure 10: Reduced dead -band enhanced circuit. Figure 11: Outline of original valve cascode RF amplifier.

02814,

fM1
---II---
RS 10.5
,..L.1 'ill LII

R9105

re 1a --I I

. E C271.14,

*9 S 0
N

C5 47001 -= >. '1

- - I I
02

-I I

0
T1 2J39:4
C7 47001
, -I I

C31 14..

0 T1 2N396i
--IH- T6 2N2:114 T7 219936
0

P C16 470.01

T2 2NNO4
1023 10011.

.1

C294701-11 TV A - -o C23 14J (Fait vcsre cow!

,_;

T3 214 3,3CAj vb
1--e-s-W--
P14 ma
r.
=
.__
9 -a--
41 rti

..,,
.2
< - (-

' I
(.3 (7)

Figure 12: Circuit of folded cascode approach.

output

f 0000m -

r Mao
it
: 2[4,1

0. r,4,
.10020-J
00-

Full wave output

0.00-' -

620- _..

ist stage output

stamped by ou

550
6 ICI -

50 100 1 0 250 300 350

5 50
I i' ' ' I

30u
I"
400u 5W,
II
000 100u 200u
Input signal level mV Time 0)

Figure 13: Linearity at 500kHz of the enhanced circuit using the PNP rectifier output. Figure 14: Folded cascode waveforms at 500kHz.

30 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 Word on bread boarding Note on Miller feedback
My own bread board method today
is to glue surface mount
components using 'super glue' to
industrial fibre glass FR4 board This is the effect that unless prevented, kills of finite source impedance Rs. With no
with copper on the opposite side to bandwidth in any voltage amplifier. voltage gain, the capacitance will be the
serve as the reference (ground) Assume we have an amplifier device with a input capacitance (Cin +Cf) which will
plane. Unpopulated etched boards voltage gain Av of 100 and ideal infinite form an RC lag with the generator source
can also be used with the green input resistance with zero output impedance, giving in turn a low pass RC
masking serving as an insulating impedance. It has unwanted feedback filter.
barrier. This has perfectly adequate capacitance between the input and output -3 dB bandwidth = 1/ (21r Rs (Cin +CO)
insulation for low voltage terminals of Cf. The capacitance will cause If we now add gain Av, the bandwidth will
circuitry. feedback signal current from output to shrink accordingly as
If space is not an issue use 0805
input. Usually, this feedback capacitance is -3 dB bandwidth = 1/ (27E Rs(Cin + Cf(1 + Av)))
size passive chip components as
they are easier to manage than the small say 2pF. The capacitor current will be The bandwidth has now reduced in
smaller 0603 size components. Use proportional to the voltage across the proportion to the voltage gain of the
the smaller 0403 components only capacitor, which in our case is amplifier, in our case by one hundred
if you have bionic eyesight! Wire Vin -(-Av. Vin) or Vin(l+Av) = 101 Vin times! This occurs inside any bipolar
point to point to the chip ends If the capacitor volt drop has increased transistor due to the collector to base
using the fine Kynar insulated wire 101 times due to the amplifier gain then the capacitance and the base spreading
available from RS or Farrell feedback capacitive current will be 101 resistance rbb giving a minimum input
components. Glue down the wires times larger for the same input voltage. source impedance even when voltage
to the required layout. Keep wiring The feedback capacitance Cf, now looks driven. This is why the common emitter
as short as possible, especially to
101 times bigger at the amplifier input! The gain of a transistor is often considerably
inputs of active devices.
I have found bread boarding like problem occurs when we drive the less than its transition or unity gain
this gives a reasonable amplifier input from a real world generator frequency would imply.
approximation to a final PCB
layout using a ground plane.

Has this copy of

uss-oux
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 A curious new
result in
switching theory
The following account relates how a puzzle new realms of complexity in the
possibilities it offered of switches
brought to light a remarkably simple, highly controlling still other switches in
endlessly convoluted networks. The
intriguing, probably useless, but undeniably problems thrown up in this new
domain soon became the concern of
fundamental new result in switching theory. `switching theory'.
Ten years following Shannon,
Spice is added to the story through the role switching theory advanced to a new
played by construction of a wildly improbable level of maturity with G.A.
Montgomerie's Sketch for an Algebra
electronic device in helping to establish the new of Relay and Contactor Circuits3. By
now a vital distinction had been
finding. 'Switching theory' has a slightly old- recognised in the division of
networks into combinational and
fashioned ring to it, what exactly does it sequential types.
Combinational circuits were those
signify? A brief remark on this and a couple of in which the open or closed states of
related matters will set our subject in every switch depended purely upon
current input values (0,1) to the
perspective and prepare the way for issues network. A Boolean formula, simple
or complicated, would always
arising later. Lee C.F. Sallows explains describe this relation satisfactorily.
Sequential circuits, on the other hand,
"Godel turned out to be an unadulterated Platonist, and apparently believed that were those whose response to input
an eternal 'not' was laid up in heaven, where virtuous logicians might hope to patterns also depended in part on
meet it hereafter." - Bertrand Russell'. their past history: on the foregoing
sequence of values presented. The
Computer science emerges into equivalent to the former. No meaning behaviour of the circuit might thus
view as a separate discipline is attached to these transformations, change significantly after receipt of
from a cluster of related topics, except in the loose identification of some critical input, the latter event
chief among them symbolic logic, sign with signified usual when thereby being in some sense
Boolean algebra, switching and applying such formalisms to external `remembered'. In fact memory
automata theory. Logic, originating systems (such as logic). Whether the (introduced via feedback effects) was
with Aristotle, concerns the study of algebra applied really is an accurate the key property of such networks.
deductive inference, of the conditions model of the system in question is of Flow tables and state transition
of truth -preservation in deriving one course a problem not resolvable diagrams now displaced static
statement from another. More than within the algebra itself. formulas in the need to capture this
two millennia following Aristotle, A notable success in the practical temporal context -dependent
George Boole was to design his application of Boolean algebra behaviour. Thus was launched the
algebra to model logic, a step largely occurred with the appearance of C.E. study of what came to be called
intended to replace reasoning with Shannon's Symbolic Analysis of sequential or finite state machines, a
calculation, with the rule -governed Relay and Switching Circuits in field later to be known as automata
manipulation of symbols. Boolean 19382. Ever since, the analogy of '0' theory.
algebra, we remind ourselves, and '1' with open and closed switch The progress of developments in
comprises a so-called formal system: contacts and of series/parallel switch automata theory is beyond our
a well-defined set of signs and connections with AND/OR Boolean purpose here: advances were rapid,
conventions by means of which, operators has been a stereotypical leading to theoretical results of great
starting with certain symbol strings, textbook example. Then, as today, a moment in connection with Turing
certain others may be legally relay was an electromagnetically machines and mathematical
substituted, the latter being deemed operated switch, a device opening up linguistics, the subject soon shading

32 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 seamlessly into computer science z

proper. Back in the mainstream of

switching theory however, by the X0 xvz

1960s advances in technology had xyi

shifted emphasis away from relays
and onto 'electronic digital logic' 7rY7
realised in micro -packaged integrated yo
circuits or 'chips'. Mechanically
actuated contacts gave way before
),z
`AND -gates' and 'OR -gates' etc., the
Zo
binary states (0,1) of whose input and
output lines were represented by two xyz
discrete voltage levels. Soon Boolean
algebra was a standard item on the
training syllabus of electronics
engineers; formerly recondite
chapters of the now slightly
outmoded -sounding 'switching
DD>
AND OR NOT

theory' became the stock -in -trade of on. Each of the eight possible 3 -bit minor) variations, some more Figure 1:
every technician. input words thus gives rise to its economical in gates than others; our Moore's circuit
Hence, overtaken by studies into complementary word at the outputs. example is picked for its functional
the more challenging finite state Normally speaking such a transfer clarity. Interested readers might like
machines, as a subject of research, function would be achieved by using to seek for a more parsimonious
switching theory dropped into the three inverters (NOTs) connected circuit using one gate fewer than
background, furnishing instead a between each input and output. Figure 1 (multi -input gates then
well -knit body of established results Problem: Design a network using being counted as if built up from 2 -
that found daily application in any number of AND and OR gates, input equivalents; Figure 1 thus
electronic logic design. This is not to but not more than two (2) NOTs to containing 11 ANDs and 14 ORs). In
say that all the theoretical questions achieve exactly the same input-output view of its importance to what
raised had been successfully function. (The ANDs and ORs may follows, a few comments on Moore's
answered. Many problems, especially have as many inputs as required.) circuit will be worthwhile.
in the area of minimization, remained Now relays, gates, switchery and Central to every variant of Moore's
1 unsolved; later these would provide a logic hold a powerful fascination for solution is circuitry leading to a
point of departure for the currently some. The possibility of simulating binary representation of the number
vigorous theory of circuit complexity three inverters by means of two had of zeros present in the input word
(see reference 4), a field closely never so much as crossed my mind (xyz) by the four possible states of
related to, yet historically distinct before; the bare contingency hinted the two inverter outputs: 00 = none,
from the old switching theory. In any indefinably at something wonderful. 01 = one, 10 = two, 11 = three zeros.
case, mass -production techniques had It seemed to call for ingenious Simple as this may seem, there is but
extinguished any practical need for circuitry. The puzzle had me hooked a single way to achieve it. In effect,
such solutions. Gone forever was the in no time. each inverter's output state (0 or 1)
pioneering impetus of the early days. It turned out to be a far tougher must represent a classification of xyz
Who then would have expected to conundrum than first imagined. So according to whether the number of
stumble across an undiscovered much so, in its elusiveness it became ones it contains falls in the top or
nugget still reposing amid the slag - hypnotic. In fact, on and off I took bottom row (first inverter), and in the
heaps of this abandoned mine? almost a fortnight to solve it, left or right column (second inverter)
succeeding even then only through of the following table:
A Knotty Problem reasoning aided by trial and error. B
Recently browsing through A But the solution was worth waiting
Computer Science Reader (Selections for: an intricate network of true 1 0
from Abacus, Springer-Verlag 1988), Platonic elegance and inevitability. It
my eye was caught by an article on is a logical constellation that was 1 0 1
A
Automated Reasoning by Larry always there, sooner or later someone 2 3
0
Wos5. Wos illustrated the working of was bound to find it: a sheer poem
his reasoning program by means of a for the switching theorist. As the In this way the intersection of A's
few example problems, one of which sequel shows, the name of the man row and B's column choice pinpoints
immediately captured my attention. who did find it first turned out to be the number of ones (and thus, zeros)
It was this: Edward F. Moore, a distinguished in the input word.
pioneer in the field of automata In our circuit, use of AND gates to
theory. From now on I shall refer to combine this information with the
the basic arrangement as Moore's specific input pattern enables a
circuit. Incidentally, Wos's complete decoding of the input word.
17'
automated reasoning program was See how each of the seven lines
successful in solving the problem; his feeding the three OR gates at the
method being too complex to outline right is uniquely activated by a
The black box above receives here, a detailed account can be found different input word (indicated). The
binary inputs (0, 1) at x, y and z. in reference 6. circuitry to the left is thus a '3 -bit to
Each output line yields the One version of Moore's circuit is parallel decoder'. Note that although
complement of the corresponding shown in Figure 1. The network available, the eighth line (23 = 8) is
input; that is, if x is 0, x' is 1, and so admits of a number of (essentially unused since, when active (i.e. when

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 33

 that alternative OR combinations Designating the output of inverter
NETWORK 1
a0 o a' could replace (or supplement) this A as A, for instance, we can work
bo o one to produce any desired input- backwards through the circuitry
C-- c' output functions: an output word may
have as many bits as we please, and
towards the inputs, transcribing
directly as we go:
distinct recoders working in parallel A = Not[(x & y) Or (x &z)Or (y & z).1.
could realise unlimited simultaneous Comparing formula with circuit we
output words, if required. Already find the inverter is replaced by Not,

>>
NETWORK 2 one senses a surprising latent potency the 3 -termed, square -bracketed Or
y here, although, as we shall see, most expression deputizes for the OR -gate
of the magic in Moore's circuit lies wired to its input, and the three
do o d'
exactly in the mischievous recoding parenthesised terms stand in for the
he did choose. AND -gates communicating between
Speaking of coding and recoding the input pairs xy, xz and yz and the
Figure 2: x = y = z = 1), all outputs are to serves to recall that a circuit diagram OR inputs. Note how the nesting of
Four NOT -functions remain 0. is a kind of coded representation and expressions reproduces the pattern of
from two inverters. Similarly, the three interconnected thus itself capable of translation into outputs feeding into inputs in the
output ORs comprise a 'parallel to 3 - different symbol systems. A change circuit. We are looking at a fragment
bit re -coder', the coding in this case of medium often brings new aspects of Moore's circuit written in a
ensuring that xyz inputs that are 0 into view. An obvious alternative in different language.
result in corresponding outputs that this connection is Boolean algebra. Analogously, and taking advantage
are 1, and vice versa: an active `xy7' Re -expressing Moore's circuit in of the above, a compact expression
line turns on outputs y and z, for these terms is a mere mechanical representing the output B of inverter
instance. A point to observe though is exercise. B can also be written:
B Not[(x & A) Or (y & A) Or
Figure 3: (z & A) Or (x & y & z)].
Recursive nesting Note how the presence of A as an
to produce N argument in the function describing B
0
-0
>>
a1 ai
negations from is more than a convenient
two inverters. abbreviation, it reflects A's
antecedence in the signal processing
path: the value of A must already be
available in determining that of B,
but not vice versa, a point we shall
have cause to recall later. However,
0
a2 -0a2 the real convenience of these partial
descriptions becomes clear in the
crisp encapsulation of the complete
Moore circuit they now facilitate:
x'= [(y & A) Or (z & A) Or
(B & y & z) Or (A & B)]

0 y'= [(x & A) Or (z & A) Or

3 -a3 (B & x & z) Or (A &

z'= [(x & A) Or (y & A) Or

(B & x & y) Or (A &B)]
See how the equations expose a
(predictable) three -fold functional
symmetry hinted at, but less
successfully conveyed, by their
equivalent circuit diagram, an
obfuscation resulting from the latter's
confinement to two dimensions. (An
amusing exercise is to design a 3-D
0 0 version of the circuit recapturing the
aN _ 3 aN -3
trilateral balance.) Still later we shall
have occasion to recall these
formulas. So much then for a
preliminary look at Moore's circuit.

Networks and Notworks

This was all fine as far as it went: an
0 0
aN _2 aN -2 intriguing puzzle with a beautiful
0 0 solution, if lacking in practical
aN _1 - aN -1 application. During an early stage in
0 reaching that solution however, a
aN aN
rather astounding thought hit me. As
an electronics engineer, the idea
occurred to mind quite easily and,

34 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

although perhaps ingenious in small Theorem III people are not), the two separate
degree, is certainly no creative tour Every possible finite state machine insights needed for reaching the
de force. Nevertheless, the (automaton) is realisable using no solution put it well beyond all
implications struck me as luminous more than two primary complement reasonable ingenuity. It would be a
and compelling. The idea was functions. creative act to re -invent Moore's
simply this: If it is possible to Am I alone in continuing to feel a circuit from scratch; penetrating to
simulate three independent NOT - sense of wonder in this simple the fact that such a circuit is
functions using only two primary discovery? necessary as a component in the 4 -
NOTs (or real inverters) then As I say, the idea for the above complement configuration asks too
couldn't we use two of those three in configuration occurred to me at the much of human imagination. In light
order to simulate a second set of time of reading Wos' article, even of this, some of the scepticism
three NOT -functions? At this stage, before solving his problem. Taking it poured on my assurances that the
having used only two of the first set to be a merely personal rediscovery solution was complex but
of three, there would still be one of a presumably well -established straightforward, involving absolutely
over. That means that a total of result in logic, thought of any further no hanky-panky, becomes explicable.
FOUR independent NOT -functions development never arose. Being It was at this stage that Hans
would have been simulated while satisfied the idea was sound, as an Cornet, a mathematical friend at The
still using only two real inverters. engineer I felt only sheer surprise Hague, ran across what proved to be
Figure 2 makes the proposal that, in principle, all the millions of the original source of the 3 -
explicit. inverters in use throughout the world complement problem. This was in
Consider the circuit shown. could be 'seeded' from a single pair. Marvin Minsky's book Computation:
Network 2 is the straightforward Having a romantic turn of mind, it Finite and Infinite Machines
Moore circuit; as such its behaviour conjured an imaginative vision of a (Prentice -Hall Inc., 1967, p. 65), a
is functionally equivalent to an sort of Yin -Yang dyad of inverters confirmation of my assumption that
outwardly similar box containing occupying a dusty, temperature - Wos had merely borrowed rather
three separate NOTs or inverters controlled glass case at the National than invented the problem. Looking
connected between each of its three Bureau of Standards. Wires leading up Minsky's book in Nijmegen I
inputs and outputs. away from the four old-fashioned learned the problem had first been
Network 1 is identical to Network knurled brass input and output `suggested by E.F. Moore'.
2 except that its two inverters have terminals lead off for distribution to Admittedly the solution circuit
been removed. The internal input- other boxes scattered about the (shown only in skeletal form) is not
output connections normally made nation. (I should say five terminals: a overtly attributed to Moore but surely
to the missing inverters have been `common' or reference would also be no one could pose such a riddle
brought out and connected instead to required.) without first having unravelled it?
two channels of Network 2. Network Well -established result or no, the A comment by Minsky following
2 thus furnishes the two NOT self -duplicating inverter circuit was a the problem statement drew from me
functions required for normal revelation to me and continued to an appreciative smile: "The solution
working of Network 1 (channels a, exercise fascination. Having nothing net ... is quite hard to find, but it is an
b, c) while still leaving a fourth better to do, for fun I typed out a extremely instructive problem to
independent complement function devilish new version of Wos' work on, so keep trying! Do not look
over (channel d). That is all. problem, sending it around to tease at the solution unless desperate." It
The ramifications of this stratagem friends and colleagues at computer was a final remark of his however,
ripple swiftly outwards. For clearly science and mathematics departments that brought me up with a jolt. With
the four newly created NOT - at the University of Nijmegen. In the deepening puzzlement I ran my eye
functions can again be nested in an new version, otherwise identical to again and again over his two terminal
endlessly expandable recursive the old, four complement functions sentences: To what extent can this
hierarchy to produce an unlimited are to be realised instead of three. As result be applied to itself - that is,
number of independent negation before, of course, only two inverters how many NOTs are needed to obtain
functions; see Figure 3. In other are allowed. (As a matter of fact, by K simultaneous complements? This
words (and striving for the infinite Theorem II above, the input-output leads to a whole theory in itself; see
in the name of logic): functions demanded by any severer Gilbert [1954] and karkov [1958].
version of the problem could be made Clearly the sufficiency of two
Theorem I as complicated as one wished. NOTs in obtaining K (an arbitrary
In any universe, exactly two Asking for four NOT -functions is the number of) complements was
fundamental negators suffice for obvious choice, this representing the unknown to Minsky. Yet to speak of
concomitant synthesis of all others. least jump in difficulty at the new "applying the result to itself' was a
But this soon leads us to a couple level of complexity.) pretty reasonable description of
of other interesting consequences: In a few cases the response to this exactly the trick used in my 4 -
teasing was sharper than anticipated. complement circuit. How could it be
Theorem II I suppose the problem is so clear-cut that he had envisioned the self -same
A device whose input-output and inescapable it poses a possibility without ending up at the
relations are described by some provocative challenge to one's self - same idea? Why on earth should a
system of Boolean functions is estimate as an engineer, "whole theory" be required?
always constructible using a mathematician, logician or whatever. My thoughts sped back to those
network comprising some number of Prevarication in the face of this kind sceptical friends who could "almost
AND- and OR -gates but no more of simplicity is difficult; admitting prove your 4 -complement problem is
that two inverters. one cannot solve such an apparently insoluble". Previously I could afford
Or, still more ambitiously, (and elementary problem, even more so. to be smug, now it was me against
relying on other well-known results The trouble is, unless you happen to Minsky, Gilbert and Markov - the
in the field): be aware of Moore's circuit (as most latter a name of intimidating

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 35

 x
Right - Figure 4: authority in the world of completed within a matter of hours.
Race condition - mathematics. Was it likely his theory An obvious approach in
y
input word xyz would turn out to be wrong? Hadn't I implementing the device was dictated
changes from 101 after all overlooked some inherent by the very principle of operation: first z
to 100. Delayed logical flaw that rendered reflexive build and test two quite independent
reaction of second re -application of the circuit to itself Moore circuits, afterwards remove the
inverter (B) to first in fact unworkable? I lost no time in inverters from one (a single
Aout

4- delay
-o
(A) causes brief hunting up the papers from Gilbert SN74LSO4 chip) and replace with
Boot
pulse at the output and Markov. Alas, the journals were connections to two inputs and outputs
of the AND to not available in Nijmegen; there was on the other. This is exactly what I AND
- spike
which they are nothing for it but to order copies. did. In the photograph below, the twin 0

connected That would take a week or so. In the Moore circuits are formed by the two
meantime I returned to the 4 - groups of eight chips furthest from the 0

complement circuit, re-examining it connector. In one circuit, four wires

from every angle. leading from the underside of the card
Later that evening I banged a to a small plug that replaces the
defiant fist on the table. It was no discarded inverter chip are plain to
good: Markov or no Markov, theory see.
time
or no theory, there was nothing Finally, to facilitate testing, a push
wrong with that circuit: it had to button controlled 4 -bit binary counter nested circuit becomes gated through
work! - And why not demonstrate and a sprinkling of light -emitting the outer circuit to the input of the
my reasoning agreed with reality by diodes (LEDs) were added. second inverter (B, see Figures 1
building it? The very next day saw Successive presses on the button and 2) - itself, however, now
me launched on construction. (seen adjacent to the main connector) simulated by channel y of the nested
run the counter through 0000, 0001, circuit. Our spike, in other words,
The 4 -Complement Simulator 0010, .. , 1111, the sequence of traverses a sneaky feedback loop and
Physical realisation of the circuit sixteen possible 4 -bit words. Counter now finds itself re-entering an input
followed conventional electronic outputs are wired to the four NOT - of the inner Moore circuit! A vicious
practice. Taking standard TTL simulator inputs, the presently circle has been established:
integrated circuits lying to hand (six activated word being indicated by a regenerative oscillation sets in.
SN74LSO8s and eight SN74LS32s: line of four adjacent LEDs situated Notice that the culprit here is not
14 pin packages containing four 2 - close by (on = 0, off = 1). Six the feedback loop - an intrinsic
input ANDs and ORs, respectively) remaining LEDs dotted about the feature of the nested scheme (to
and a prototype -development printed board report on the high/low status of which we shall return) - but the
circuit card fitted out with 14 -pin chip the 2 X 3 Moore circuit outputs. For pulse generated by the race condition.
holders, using a wire -wrap pistol to ease of comparability one of these is Happily, a cure is easily effected
make interconnections, assembly was duplicated so as to form a single line through interposing a delay in the
of four evenly spaced LEDs appropriate line (connecting the
monitoring the four main outputs. output of inverter A to the AND -gate
These additions account for two of input so as to ensure the latter cannot
the three extra chips at one end of the receive a 1 from the former until after
board: an SN74LS93 binary counter the output of inverter B has changed
and an SN74LSOO 4 x two -input to 0). This accounts for the last
NAND used as a so-called set -reset remaining chip in the photo (another
flip-flop to eliminate push-button SN74LS08; four ANDs connected
contact bounce problems. The need together head to tail, each
for still a further chip made itself felt contributing its own share to the
when, having completed and tested aggregate delay thus created). With
the two separate Moore circuits, the this modification completed, turning
final 4 -complement simulator on the power once again, I finally had
produced by combining them failed the satisfaction of verifying a
to work as anticipated! perfectly functioning 4 -complement
At first this was unnerving. Using simulator. It was a happy moment of
an oscilloscope, however, the source vindication and triumph.
of the trouble was soon tracked The 4 -complement circuit thus
down: under certain input transitions stood acquitted - though in
Moore's circuit exhibits race hindsight it is amusing to recall
conditions. Race conditions arise exultation on completion of one of
when delays introduced by hardware the most futile or, at least, redundant
inertia result in unintended overlaps items of electronic apparatus ever
between logical state durations, constructed! The Great Unanswered
leading to transitory 'spikes' or Question now remaining, however,
pulses of very short duration (the was how this success could ever be
antecedence of inverter A in the reconciled with the apparently
signal processing path now shows its contradictory theory of Gilbert and
significance; see Figure 4). Such Markov? The working device was an
spikes can be innocuous enough in unshakeable fact, yet a theorem in
many applications, but not so in the logic cannot be validated via any
4 -complement simulator. Here, a empirical demonstration, however
spike emerging from output x' of the suggestive. Could some sort of

36 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

disillusionment still lurk in the moment. This was a good instance of write out a set of formulas depicting
publications awaited? what Richard Guy calls proof by the 4 -complement circuit comes the
intimidation. discovery that no Boolean
A Gordian Not Unravelled But what was that result? representation of it exists.
Following eventual receipt of the Following Markov we must be quite The barrier to deriving a Boolean
anxiously awaited material, a rapid precise here. representation is revealing. Looking
glance at Markov's and Gilbert's Consider a system of m Boolean back at the 4 -complement block
conclusions confirmed Minsky's functions of n arguments. It can be diagram (Figure 2), recall that
original remark: blatant contradiction defined by different systems of m Network 2, the nested box, is a pure
of the two -inverters -always -suffice formulas in n variables. Take now a Moore circuit for which we already
idea. Steeling myself to the worst -case instance of such a system have a system of formulas. To
mathematics, I settled down to read. of functions in which the number of represent the complete 4 -complement
Gilbert's is the earlier, exploratory distinct negative sub -formulas box, however, we first need to re -
paper, his partial result later necessary to their definition is at its specify x, y and z - the inputs to the
subsumed by Markov's more greatest. Then, says Markov, the least nested box - in terms of the new set
embracing work, On the Inversion number of negative sub -formulas that of arguments: a, b, c and d, the main
Complexity of a System of Functions will have to appear in the formulas inputs. The obstacle to achieving this
(translated by Morris D. Friedman). defining the functions will be appears in finding that no expression
We confine ourselves to the latter. llog2 n1+1 = the number of digits in for y can be derived without y
Markov begins his monograph with the binary representation of n. (The occurring as one of its own
a series of careful definitions. A vertical strokes indicate the truncated arguments!
small alphabet of the signs familiar value of log2 n) How does this come about? It is our
from Boolean algebra is introduced, In other words, llog2 n1+1, old friend the sneaky feedback loop,
constants and variables included: {0, otherwise known as I or the inversion reminding us that this is no longer a
1,x1,...,x,,,&,Or,Not,(,)}. complexity of the system of simple combinational circuit like
Certain words or strings of these are functions, is indeed the Markovian Moore's. Through the nesting of one
specified as formulas and sub - equivalent to the minimum number box in another a primitive form of
formulas, negative sub formulas of separate inverters that would be memory has been introduced
being characterised as those prefixed required in any network whereby it has become a sequential
by 'Not'. The so-called inversion implementation of its formulas. Note switching circuit whose subsequent
complexity of a system of sub - that m, the number of functions (or internal state depends both upon
formulas is now identified with the formulas) does not actually enter into present inputs and current state: the
number of distinct negative sub - it. (Think of all the recoders that can present value of y plays a part in
formulas occurring in it. be connected to Moore's 3 -bit to determining y's new value. In short,
My précis lacks his precision, but parallel decoder, each yielding a new the 4 -complement circuit is really a
the outline of what is going on here is output function, none demanding finite state machine, a device whose
already clear: substituting extra negations). context -sensitive action lies beyond
concatenations of discrete symbols We can examine this further by the descriptive scope of Boolean
for the tangled Celtic knotwork taking Moore's problem as an formulas. The facile notion that
language of the switching engineer, example. Translating into Boolean everything can always be 'talked
Boolean formulas replace circuit terms, our question concerns a about in a different language' is thus
diagrams: `Nots' are to be counted system of three functions (x' = not without its pitfalls.
instead of inverters. Not(x), y' = Not(y), e = Not(z), of Still sneakier, (and this really is
So far so good. Moore's problem three arguments x, y, z). Applying rather subtle) the 4 -complement
itself might well have been so Markov's result we find n = 3, log2 3 circuit is a finite state machine
reformulated as to ask for a system of = 1.5849..., hence / = 1 + 1 = 2. That mimicking the behaviour of a non -
Boolean functions equivalent to x' = agrees with our conclusion: two sequential machine, the latter
Not(x), y' = Not(y), e = Not(z), but inverters sufficient. comprising a humble combinational
in which 'Not' (preceding a distinct But what about the 4 -complement circuit of just four inverters: a' =
sub -formula) would occur no more problem? Now n = 4, log2 4 = 2, / = 2 Not(a), b' = Not(b), c' = Not(c), d =
than twice. Our previously derived + 1 = 3. Three inverters are required. Not(d). Here we have the peculiar
set of three formulas describing That disagrees with our conclusion. case of a higher or meta -Boolean
Moore's circuit is just such a In effect, Theorem I above would form of life disguised as a lower or
solution. As before, we are merely assert that I = 2, irrespective of m and Boolean form. The camouflage is
talking about the same thing in a n. Here is the contradiction. truly effective too, since no
different language. The collision here is so acute that experiment conducted on the
Markov's list of definitions ends something will have to give way. terminals of the 4 -complement
abruptly with a bold statement of his And so it proves. Forcing the issue to (black) box could determine whether
result, followed by a one -page lemma a head, an obvious step now is to it contained Boolean or non -Boolean -
running into sub-subscripted, sub- produce a counter -example to representable entrails. (Although
superscripted variables that "plays an Markov's result by writing out the 4 - curiously - and here is another
essential role in the proof". The full complement circuit as a system of tricky twist - the non -Boolean
proof is spared us - the author Boolean formulas, thus circuit is actually composed entirely
doubtless feeling that a recapitulation demonstrating that only two distinct of Boolean components: ANDs, ORs
of the obvious would be too tedious negative sub -formulas need appear. and NOTs, an indication both of the
- and so ends his paper. It is just as And indeed, with this comes a import of their interconnection
well: that lemma might have been breakthrough and the resolution to pattern and of the source of weakness
written in Celtic for all I could make this whole curious dilemma. The in the algebra that cannot describe it.)
of it (printing errors abound too). Not scales, so to speak, are about to fall A fine distinction is involved in all
that I questioned his result for a from our /'s. For with an attempt to this that it is worth being clear about.

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 37

 A Boolean function describes a or tails from heads. In the end, just came in two, supposedly equivalent,
relation or mapping between one how is it that K such reversals can be versions: Moore's original problem in
two -valued variable (the value of the effected given only two reversing circuit design and an analogous
function) and others (its arguments). machines? problem in computer programming. In
As such it may be expressed or The answer is simple. It is done by the latter form we are asked to "write
specified in different ways; in a using those machines more than an [assembly language] program that
tabulation of corresponding values, once. Through reiterated application will store in locations U, V, W the l's
for instance. Often we represent it as we can achieve serially the same complement of locations x, y and z.
a Boolean formula, that is to say, as a result as K single-action machines You can use as many COPY, OR and
legal expression in the formalism working in parallel. But at a price, to AND instructions as you like, but you
called Boolean algebra. In that case, be sure. Here is how John E. Savage cannot use more than two COMP (1's
the dependence of the formula's puts it in The Complexity of complement) instructions." This
value on that of its variables will Computing4: "Sequential machines second version is absent from Wos et
strictly mirror that of the function on compute logic functions, just as do al's Automated Reasoning6, appearing
its arguments. Moreover, any logic circuits. However, since only subsequently in his synoptic
Boolean function can always be sequential machines use their Abacus article. The trouble is,
described by a Boolean formula. memories to reuse their logic although aimed at preserving the
But that is not to say that it has to circuitry, they can realise functions essence of the former, the conditions
be so represented or that a with less circuitry than a no -memory imposed are actually more restrictive
specification or implementation of machine but at the expense of time" than Moore's: a whole class of
the function must depend on some [my italics]. As we saw earlier, solutions becoming inadvertently
analogous structure or mechanism. hardware -implemented logic excluded.
The 4 -complement finite state introduces lag. As K increases, so What is it that makes the program
machine is an example of an will the number of passes through version different? In effect, it is a silent
alternative implementation, its effect feedback paths in the nested circuitry, prohibition against certain kinds of
representable by a' = Not(a), etc., but and the longer final outputs will take perfectly valid circuit configurations: a
its internal operation (as embodied in in responding to changing input ruling out of the use of feedback loops
its circuit diagram) having no patterns. In practice this would be a implicit in the preclusion of a JUMP
counterpart in Boolean algebra. The serious factor to consider. instruction. Self -modifying functions
importance of this is that Lastly, note how Savage casts would be excluded from representation
generalizations about Boolean incidental light on the reason why a in software. That is, for every program
functions are not to be reliably based single inverter - however combined solution there would be an equivalent
solely on inferences about Boolean with ANDs and ORs - is inadequate circuit, but not vice versa. Just as
representations of those functions. for simulating further negators. sequential networks defy description in
So it is that the supposed Negation of externally presented bits the notation of Boolean algebra, so
discrepancy between Markov's on one channel will always require loops in any circuit solution will defeat
conclusion and Theorem I turns out one inverter. But at least a second implementation in such a program.
to be illusory. The meticulous will be demanded in creating the The slip is an easy one to make, and
definitions at the beginning of his memory needed in re -utilising that especially so when Moore's own
paper are not for nothing. As a first. In fact, as we have seen, two circuit uses no feedback. Perhaps it
careful re-examination of the account inverters are both necessary and was familiarity with this that
above will show, the result he proves sufficient. unconsciously acted to restrict Wos's
is explicitly restricted to Boolean Simple but hard-won insights are contemplation to combinational type
functions realized in Boolean compressed into the foregoing solutions only. Let us make no
formulas. Our concern, on the other paragraphs. Having gained clearer mistake however: discarding one
hand, (if only lately appreciated) has understanding, a letter to the author channel from the 4 -complement
been with Boolean functions realised whose casual remarks unwittingly simulator would leave a three -channel
otherwise. Minsky's implication triggered this improbable detective device answering all the demands of
notwithstanding, Markov's work is story seemed not inapposite. I was Moore's problem. Here we have a
simply inapplicable to the case in gratified thus when, in a subsequent finite state machine solution (one of
hand. Like the 4 -complement box, communication, Marvin Minsky an infinity) that cannot be represented
the K -complement box need employ warmly concurred in the above in the reduced instruction code. I
no more than two inverters. But at analysis, graciously conceding a too suspect that in the urge to translate
least llog2 KI+1 distinct negative sub - hasty perusal of Gilbert and Moore's problem into terms suited to
formulas will be required in any Markov's articles. Likewise, his "To his automatic reasoning program,
Boolean formulas describing the what extent can this result be applied Larry Wos temporarily underestimates
input-output functions of the latter. to itself?" turned out to be a mere and thus misrepresents the complexity
No contradiction is implied. E.N. chance form of words, no reference and potential of networks using
Gilbert's paper, incidentally, which to recursion intended, but resonant to ANDs, ORs and NOTs. [In passing -
also addresses the minimum inverter me under the circumstances. and without any reference to the
requirement question, is equivalently Thus were K-nots disentangled aforementioned author - the tendency
restricted, his analysis being confined from a Markov chain of deduction, to see circuit diagrams as engineer's
to loop -free networks. and the sufficiency of two negators in easy -to -read -picture -book -explications
Even so, doesn't a suspicion linger producing Moore inverters ad libitum of 'real mathematics' envisioned in
that the K -complement simulator is in confirmed. putative formulas, is not uncommon
some way yielding something for among mathematicians. Engineers, I
nothing? After all, inverting binary Conclusion may add, humble as their mental
signals is a concrete if trivial The inception of this narrative was a endowment may be, will be more
operation, analogous to flipping over puzzle appearing in Abacus. As a impressed when condescension can be
coins so as to make heads from tails matter of fact, the question there posed matched with insight into the

38 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

advantages of a two-dimensional language.] Whether
or not the automated reasoning technique could be Program Four_Complement_Simulator; ;Turbo Pascal Version 3)
successfully applied to the 4 -complement problem is {Compare Fig.2 and Moore circuit diagram for all that follows}
a further interesting question.
Following the lead suggested here, the 4 - Var
complement circuit is elegantly modelled in a simple a,b,c,d,x,y,z, {main and nested inputs}
computer program using iteration to imitate the A1,B1,A2,B2, {inverter outputs Networks 1/2}
feedback loop (see listing). A series of assignment aa,bb,cc,dd, {main outputs a',b',c',d' in Fig.2}
statements based on the earlier derived formulas initial_y {previous y state} : Boolean;
describing Moore's circuit make up the body of the
program. Figure 5 shows a version written in Turbo Procedure Specify_inputs; Var ai,bi,ci,di : char;
Pascal. Read in conjunction with Moore's circuit and Begin
Figure 2, the program is self-explanatory: more WritelnCInput 4 truth -values for a,b,c,d: T(rue)/F(alse)');
eloquent in fact than any verbal commentary on Read(Kbd,ai,bi,ci,di);
circuit operation. Interested readers may like to try If ai=7' Then a:=True Else a:=False;
the effect of including a write statement in the Repeat If bi=`T' Then b:=True Else b:=False;
loop so as to expose the behaviour of y under If ci=`T' Then c:=True Else c:=False;
different input sequences. If di=`T' Then d:=True Else d:=False;
A final observation on Markov's result must bring Writeln(`Inputs: `,a:8,b:8,c:8,d:8);
this account to a close. Figure 3 depicted the End;
endlessly expandable system of recursively nested
Moore circuits for producing an arbitrary number of Begin {Main}
NOTs. Winning three NOTs from two, every level of Specify_inputs;
nesting yields a spare inverting channel. In practice, {Nested box inputs x and z first respecified in terms of a,b,c,d:}
however, the mass -production of NOT -functions can x:= ((a And b) Or (a And c) Or (b And c));
be enormously accelerated. How? Notice that {Expression for 1st inverter input in Moore circuit}
Markov's I is still only 3 for n as high as 7. But this is z:= d;
another way of saying that a simple combinational {z is connected to input d}
circuit exists that can simulate seven inverters {Input y feedback involvement calls for iteration:}
directly from three. Similarly, from these seven a Repeat
further 127 can be produced at only the third level of initial_y:=y;
nesting (2 -> 3 -> 7 -> 127 -> ...). Readers may like A2:= Not((x And z) Or (x And y) Or (y And z));
to test their grasp of the foregoing by writing a {Nested box first inverter output defined}
program that implements seven inversions while B2:= Not((x And A2) Or (y And A2) Or (z And A2) Or (x And y And z));
using only two Not operators. {Nested box second inverter output defined}
In conclusion, and before any false hopes are raised A 1 := ((y And A2) Or (z And A2) Or (y And z And B2) Or (A2 And B2));
though, I ought to say that the above suggestion is {Al = x' output of nested box, see Fig.2}
intended merely as an exercise. Patents, it must be y:= ((a And Al) Or (b And Al) Or (c And Al) Or (a And b And c));
explained, have already been granted and the Sal - {Expression for 2nd inverter input in Moore circuit. y may have
Mar International Inverter Hire Company Inc. is due changed value, or not, depending on previous input pattern}
for launching at an early date. Prompt negations of Until y = initial_y;
the highest quality will be available to customers via {Remain in loop until y stabilizes; two loop passes always
standard phone lines. Charges are expected to be suffice: y's value self -confirming after one change. A
modest. simple 2 -cycle Do -loop would serve equally well here}
In the meantime, call me an adulterated Platonist if B1:= (x And A2) Or (z And A2) Or (x And z And B2) Or (A2 And B2);
you will, up in heaven two eternal NOTs await the {B1 = y' output of nested box, see Fig. 2}
arrival of virtuous logicians (and the occasional
virtuous engineer). I look forward to rubbing that in {Standard Moore circuit formulas follow}
with Godel and Russell hereafter.
Grateful thanks are due to Jim Propp, formerly of aa:= ((b And Al) Or (c And Al) Or (b And c And B1) Or (Al And B1));
the Department of Mathematics, University of bb:= ((a And Al) Or (c And Al) Or (a And c And B1) Or (Al And Bl));
Maryland, whose searching criticisms brought to cc:= ((a And Al) Or (b And Al) Or (a And b And B1) Or (Al And B1));
light various errors and made for substantial dd:= ((x And A2) Or (y And A2) Or (x And y And B2) Or (A2 And B2));
improvements to an earlier draft of this paper.
The above article was first published in Writeln(`Outputs: `,aa:8,bb:8,cc:8,dd:8);
The Mathematical Intelligencer, Vol. 12, No. 1, End.
1990, pp 21-32.

References
7 M. Minsky, Computation: Finite and Infinite
1 B. Russell, The Autobiography of Bertrand 4 J.E. Savage, The Complexity of Computing,
Machines, Prentice -Hall (1967), p. 65.
Russell. Unwin (1978), p. 466. Wiley (1976).
8 E.N. Gilbert, Lattice theoretic properties of
2 C. E. Shannon, A symbolic analysis of relay 5 L Wos, A Computer Science Reader, Ed. E. A.
frontal switching functions, Jour. Math. &
and switching circuits. Trans. AIEE 57 (1938), Weiss, Springer-Verlag, (1988), pp 110-137.
Physics 33 (April 1954), 57-67.
713-723. Orig. pub. Abacus, vol. 2, no. 3 (Spring 1985),
pp. 6-21. 9 A.A. Markov, "On the inversion complexity of
3 G. A. Montgomerie, Sketch for an algebra of
a system of functions" (translated by M. D.
relay and contactor circuits, Jour. IEE 95, Part 6 L. Wos, R. Overbeek, E. Lusk & J. Boyle,
III (1948), 303-312. Friedman), JACM 5 (1958) 331-334. Orig,
Automated Reasoning, Introduction and
Applications, Prentice -Hall (1984).
pub. Doklady Akad Nauk SSSR 116 (1957),
917-919.

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 39

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Wel I :tell] Y i IDEAS
Fact: most circuit ideas sent to Electronics World get published
The best circuit ideas are ones that save time or money, or stimulate the thought process.
This includes the odd solution looking for a problem - provided it has a degree of ingenuity.
Your submissions are judged mainly on their originality and usefulness. Interesting modifications to existing
circuits are strong contenders too - provided that you clearly acknowledge the circuit you have modified. Never
send us anything that you believe has been published before though.
Don't forget to say why you think your idea is worthy.
Clear hand-written notes on paper are a minimum requirement: disks with separate drawing and text files in a
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email Caroline Fisher with the circuit idea name as the subject.
Send your ideas to: Phil Reed, Highbury Business Communications, Nexus House,
Azalea Drive, Swanley, Kent, BR8 8HU email [email protected]

Jitter generator
Within my company, BCD Audio, we maximum noise generation. R2 and amplified by Q3, filtered by C10 and
had a requirement for a unit that 12V Zener D2 roughly regulate the superimposed on the square wave
could inject a small amount of jitter supply to the noise generator, making signal at U3. The range of jitter
onto a suitable square wave. The the unit independent of supply produced is around 0 to 100nS. The
resulting circuit also had some other variations. noise signal is injected onto both
desirable features; the output level The 5V regulator used was trimmed edges of the signal.
was exactly 5V p -p from exactly 75R via RV1 for a supply slightly higher A Dallas DS32K oscillator module
impedance, and the oscillator module than 5V, so that the outputs were was used as the square -wave
used was accurate to 1PPM. exactly 5V P -P. generator; the circuit would work
The circuit works as follows: a The noise generator diode is with other modules provided their
noise generator is produced from the amplified by transistor Q2, filtered jitter performance was adequate. The
zener-like breakdown of transistor and taken to RV3 which is used as signal is fed down two Schmitt
Ql. RV2 sets the current into the the front panel jitter level adjustment. triggered inverter chains, that include
transistor and is adjusted for The resulting noise signal is a small amount of high pass filtering
to slow the rise and fall times, and
then recover the speed. The final
inverter stages are paralleled for low
R3
output impedance. Two chains are
used so that one output is subject to a
IF-- controlled amount of jitter, and the
other output is not, but has the same
o 02 propagation delay.
RV1
2 The clean output may be used to
trigger an oscilloscope, the jittered
TRt ADJUST JITTER NOISE GENERATOR
output can then be applied to the
M. C3
TRIM NOISE CIO equipment under test, and the
resulting signal measured by the
U2 A oscilloscope. Keep in mind that this
RV2
C9
circuit produces jitter on both clock
R10
C
R12 edges, but some circuits are more
sensitive to jitter on one edge than
the other.
Mike Law
Slough
Berkshire
USE
R16 R13
U3 .E
UK
v- ix -

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 41

 Up -Down -pushbutton control for digital
potentiometers
The schematic presented, Figure 1, and the CLK (Clock) lines of the IC. pushbutton debouncing. The multi -
is intended to provide a simple, no - As the manufacturer does not vibrators are retriggerable, so only
microprocessor control for the suggest a circuit for simple the first negative -going pulse on the
Analog Devices AD5220 pushbutton interface and the idea of A -gate will trigger the multivibrator
Increment/Decrement Digital including a whole microprocessor to produce the over 100ms output
Potentiometer U1, which is used to system only for the task of pulse. Any other pulses resulting
control a voltage -to -frequency controlling this device sounds from pushbutton bouncing will only
converter (AD7741) U2. ridiculous, I designed this simple make the duration of the output pulse
The AD5220 is a simple 8 -pin pushbutton -circuit, which provides longer, but will not contribute to
device with nominal resistance of 10, both Up/Down Control with Clock additional clock edges to the CLK-
50 and 100kQ, in the design Pulses and pushbutton debouncing. input of the potentiometer. The
proposed the 501S2 version was used. The pushbuttons are SW1 and SW2 timeconstant can be adjusted to suit
The digital potentiometer is designed with pull-up resistors R5 and R6. The your actual needs by changing the
to interface to a microprocessor or to U4 74123 device is used as one-shot R3 -C7 and R4 -C8 components. To
simple logic circuitry, which will multivibrator with a time -constant of provide for the Clock line of the
drive the U/D (increment/decrement) around 120ms to provide the AD5220, the two resulting

Figure 1. 11
F!?, "4_
\ VC(

N C2
0.1

hl
'2

VDD 12
CU( fat
CS A R2
w 6
VIN font
1i

ON!) 4 O
14
A05220-50

27p 2'7p

25

4A
;A
R3 C7
TrIE 13A 1.130
14
V(1. 1)
12
15
36k
Bela)Cod
9474123 13

VC( SN741 ICt SN741306

VCk:
T, f

VC('
1813
'3
113C

VC(

SN74110:10 S7,174H00

7
LXWN

V(t
115
LM7f105
13 1 3 R7
Vin +5V 470
0'4001 0
POW.' CHI CI I

700/25V MOu.06V 220n D2

111 MYR LED

42 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 debounced negative going pulses pushbutton pressed. The Q -output of associated with the described
from the two pushbuttons at the Q\ - the flip-flop controls the U/D\-line of circuit behavior are presented below
outputs of the U4-multivibrators are the AD5220 and is settled to the in Figure 2.
AND-ed by the U3D gate. It is correct level, before the low -going Emil Vladkov
assumed that the user will press only edge is applied to the CLK-input. The Sofia
one of the two pushbuttons at a time, circuit has its own power supply Bulgaria
pressing together the two buttons is around U5 and the J3, DI, C9, C10 and
illegal with this circuit. The U3D C11 parts.
produces the positive -going The, simple pushbutton -interface
debounced pulse at the CLK-input of presented here gives the user the
References
the digital potentiometer. As the opportunity to build a programmable
AD5220 is negative -edge triggered, voltage divider around the digital 1 AD5220 Increment/Decrement
the falling edge of this pulse will potentiometer with the range (0 Digital Potentiometer, Analog
actually adjust the potentiometer. divided by 2.48)V, 128 steps and Devices Inc., Rev.0.
The pulse duration (of more than output at the J1 -connector and a
100ms) will be more than adequate to programmable frequency synthesiser 2 AD7741/AD7742 Single and
provide for the R\ -S\ -Flip -Flop, (Quartz stabilized through X1) with Multichannel, Synchronous
formed around the U3A and U30 the range (0 18 divided by 1.66)MHz
Voltage -to -Frequency Converters,
gates, to settle to the appropriate Up-, in 11.521(Hz steps and output at
respective Down -Direction. The Q\ - connector J2. At Power -On the digital Analog Devices Inc., Rev.0.
outputs of U4 will SET or RESET\ potentiometer is reset to middle
the flip-flop depending on the position. All timing diagrams

Figure 2.

Pushbutton
SW1 or SW2
Q\ -output of the
Up- or Down- one-
shot Multivibrator
U4 120ms

Q -output of the U3
R1 -S\ flip-flop for
the Up -direction

CLK-input for the

AD5220 at U3D-
gate output

Digital
AD5220 settles to a new value
Potentiometer Data

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May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 4

 Ultrasonic oscillator
Ultrasonic transducers for use in s= +12V
intruder detectors and similar a
applications of the well-known
Doppler principle typically have a R1 R3
resonant frequency of 40kHz, ±1kHz 100k 680k
tolerance. For best output from the
transmitter, it is important to drive it
at or near resonance. Though
transmitters and receivers normally Al
0Vo
LF356
come in factory -matched pairs,
maximum area coverage and range
can be achieved only if the two R4 R4.
transducers are accurately tuned to 1k0 S.O.T.
each other. 100n
A fairly simple method of
achieving this is to drive the
transmitter from a variable frequency
source, and examine the amplified
ct
15p
C2
10n
Cx
TSO -40T
R2
output of the receiver for maximum 100k
signal. However, the potential R5 R5a
resonance of the transmitting 1k0 S.O.T.
transducer is then wasted, and drift in
the frequency of the source can easily 0 OV
lead to appreciable fall -off in the
Figure 1.
received signal. Therefore a
self -oscillating but nevertheless
tuneable driver -circuit is called for.
With care, even if the frequency of
the transmitter does change with
temperature, it will be matched by a
corresponding change in the receiver
(normally mounted alongside).
A wide -band op -amp with good
A
slew -rate is needed; the LF356 is LH6630
adequate, and cheap. Also, it has low
In o 8 LH6642 o Out
consumption and a JFET front end. 4

In Figure 1, the non -inverting input

of A1 is biased to half V, by means of
the divider R1 R2, and feedback from 330
R3 to the inverting input sets the
quiescent level of Vo at half V, too. 330
Full -wave rectifier
The ultrasonic transducer C,, has high
B
Q, and at resonance its current is in LH6630
phase with the voltage applied across 3
8
it. By stringing it between Vo and OV
via the resistors R4 and R5, a suitable
signal can be picked off at R5 and fed
to the non -inverting input, hence Zero -crossing
detector
providing positive feedback at the
resonant frequency of Cx. Figure 2.
Furthermore, the frequency at which
the circuit actually oscillates can be
tuned upwards by reducing R5, or
downwards by reducing R4. Raising
C1 has a frequency -lowering effect circuit tuned to f = 39.665kHz the
too, but it is preferable to keep this drift was less than 10Hz over three
capacitor as a fixed -value low -temp hours, after five minutes to warm up.
coefficient ceramic (NPO). The value The power consumption is modest,
of the coupling capacitor C2 has a about 2mA at 12V. The circuit will
secondary influence (bigger C2 oscillate consistently down to approx
lowers foss). Thus the ultrasonic 6.5V, and is safe up to at least 30V Pi
output can easily be trimmed until a (the limit of the op -amp being 36V MIN

maximum is observed at the receiver, total). The shift in frequency with V,

adding parallel resistance at R4 or R5 is roughly 20Hz per volt.
as necessary. C D Cato
The overall frequency stability is Cambridge
fairly good, for example with the UK

44 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

111
Low battery warning device
The circuit in Figure 1 was designed charge curve thus increasing the
to give an audible blip and a visual frequency of the warning devices.
flash warning when the battery This particular circuit was used in a
voltage dropped below a certain 9 Volt battery powered instrument
threshold. The frequency increases as with a 5 Volt stabilised power supply
Figure 1.
the battery voltage continues to fall. requirement, but the circuit could be
The approximate frequency relative easily modified to suit different
to voltage is given in Figure 2. requirements. 5V
The circuit uses a Programmable Des Kepple
Unijunction Transistor (PUT) as a Co. Carlow
relaxation oscillator. The voltage at Ireland
Figure 2.
point B varies with battery voltage
and if it drops to 4.4V (i.e. 5.0 - 0.6) Battery Frequency
1/
the PUT conducts and discharges the (Volts) (Hz) 2N6028
capacitor through the LED and 8.0 0.0
bleeper. As the battery voltage
7.5 0.15
continues to decrease the voltage at
trigger point B tracks the decreasing 7.0 0.25
battery voltage, consequently
lowering the trigger voltage. With the
decreasing trigger voltage the PUT
switches on earlier in the capacitor
6.5
6.0
5.5
0.33
0.45
0.66
/-
Traffic light simulator
At power up, pin 3 of Gl reset times out, pin 4 of Gl goes 1C4 now cycles red to green to colour, so there is one for each
immediately goes high, this forces low, removing the reset on 1C2, orange. At the end of the orange side of the approach. IC1 is set up
1C3 to reset, forcing its Q output hence 1C2 steps through its cycle period for B phase, 1C4 also so it always powers up, low, at its
to O. This low together with the red to green to orange. At the end generates a pulse at pin 10, again output, before oscillation. All
power up reset signal forces 1C2 of the orange period a pulse is toggling 1C3, again reversing the unused inputs should be tied to a
to reset. The high on the Q output generated at pin 10 of 1C2. This resets. This again brings up the all supply rail.
of 1C3 also resets 1C4. Hence the toggles 1C3 reversing the resets to red period and so the cycle Gregory Freeman
red LEDs are all lit indicating the 1C2 and 1C4. The all red period continues. Mt. Barker
all red condition. As the power up now reappears and after 3 seconds Two LEDs are used for each Australia

+6V

G,
4070
1M 1N914
220k 3/
II 2
Power up
+6V reset
+6V
Tip
16

4 15
P R
(6
IC,
555 10

IC2 +6V
74HC4017 7

+6V y - 4 2 x BA742
0
2

lop
414 16V
2 16
IC3
4013
D --
5

Master 15
Oscillator I

10
-12 S )1"
R G 0
A Phase IC4

display driver 74HC4017 4 2 x BA742 Reset control

150
2

14 3
,if
131 r 4,
G o
B Phase
display driver
150

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 45

 Long delay timer using only one 555 chip
VCC

+ I ' C2 C3
44

Ri R2 R5 To radio
Op 70.1 10k 10k 220p 4M7
R6
1k
6

4 Vcc R7
Rst
1k
20 Trig o/p
7 Tri
Dis
6 Ctrl 5
Thres Voltage - N/C
Gnd
Start 1:1 Stop
(7)555

DC jack skt
with break contact

The example sleep timer uses a resistor to ensure it is saturated. The 1.1C1R5 seconds.
transistor as a switch but other reset button turns the radio off, and I wasn't sure if any diode clamps
applications could use it to drive a the Start button turns it on (thus on were needed at the threshold
relay or isolated triac for heavier loads. starting the timeout period), or input, so just decided to rely on those
My first attempt to build a simple restarts the timeout period. I also present in the IC as part of its static
one chip (7555) battery saving 30 added a DC jack with make break protection circuitry. The power
minute sleep timer for a personal contact so that I could plug in a solar indicator LED1 only uses lmA.
radio failed due the electrolytic panel/mains battery eliminator to I housed the timer PCB and 2AA
capacitor's leakage current preventing further save batteries. cell batteries in a case of similar size
the monostable from timing out. I The timing components Cl and R5 to the radio, joined the two with stick
then used the standard long timer have been re -arranged so that the on Velcro pads and connected power
circuit of a 555 astable and digital discharge pin actually charges C1 to the radio using wires ending in
counter IC, which worked as desired and so the timing period is set by the dummy AA cells (for example,
but I felt there must be someway of Cl - R5 discharge time, which means Maplin YX92A)
making a single 555 do the job. that any leakage current will simply My 555 CR timing circuit section
The solution seemed rather simple, slightly shorten the delay by seemed so simple that I searched on
the circuit is shown in diagram 1: discharging Cl faster. By referencing the intemet to check whether anyone
The main circuit uses a CMOS Cl to Vcc rather than ground, the 555 had already thought of it but found
7555CN (for the low quiescent threshold pin sees the voltage (Vcc - nothing.
current (60mA) to turn the radio on Voltage Across C1), which makes it Alan Bradley.
for up to 25 minutes using TR1 as a appear as if Cl was charging as Belfast
switch. TR1 has a low 1k base expected. Thus the delay remains UK

Warning
Blown fuse indicator Last month we published a couple of
This circuit is a simplified version of Circuit Ideas that could be dangerous
Alastair Borthwick's idea in the February if precautions are not taken.
2003 edition for indicating the status of a Firstly, the Intelligent Electric
fuse or other type of overload protection. Fence should not be built as it stands.
Normally the fuse shorts out the red Connecting a metal fence almost to
LED and supplies current via R1 to the mains is not a clever thing to do -
illuminate the given LED. R1 is chosen so this circuit should be only used via
according to the supply voltage. When a low current source - for example a
the fuse ruptures, current is interrupted to protected isolating transformer. On
the given LED and the supply voltage is no account should a fence be
dropped across the fuse illuminating the connected directly to mains.
red LED. As with Mr Borthwick's Secondly, the 3 -phase selector has
design, shunt diodes across the LEDs no protection should any relay coil
allow operation on A.C. supplies and go short. Low current protection
may offer reverse voltage protection for should be used.
the LEDs, a situation which could occur must point out that circuits in this
if the supply fails. section are just ideas. They do not
Rod Brown normally constitute a full, tested
Nottingham project, and so great care must be
UK taken with any of them that get
connected to a mains power supply.

46 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

111
 OLSON
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:iJr Jr TEL: 020 8905 7273 FAX: 020 8952 1232

e-mail: [email protected] web site: http://www.olson.co.uk 47
 I VATIP RO D U C TS
Please quote Electronics World when seeking further information

Ultracapacitors deliver Simultaneous

instant power bursts connection of up
NessCap Co. Ltd.has introduced
the addition of 3F to 100F models to 480 contacts
to their 2.7 volt ultracapacitor The new G2 mass
product line.Available in seven interconnection system from
different capacitance ratings Virginia Panel Corporation,
designed to meet a variety of available exclusively in the UK
primary or backup energy needs from The Peak Group, is a
for compact electronics., they compact, high -density unit that
enable designers of power can simultaneously engage up
systems to increase product life, to 480 signal contacts in
reduce or eliminate battery use seconds.
and improve peak power Designed to speed the
availability. interfacing of UUTs (units
When used in conjunction with under test) in ATE applications,
batteries, the ultracapacitors the G2 provides a rapid
deliver peak power to reduce the Rewritable visual card system alternative to the repeated
required battery size while connection and disconnection of
minimizing battery discharge offers versatility across applications individual leads and contacts in
cycles to effectively extend a rugged. reliable system.
battery life. With the new Star Micronics have launched a including visitor/employee
compact sizes and ability to new low cost, 'communicating' access, security ID, travel
withstand 500,000 discharges rewritable card unit offering tickets, transportation tracking,
with no maintenance, NessCap versatility to work with other loyalty schemes and club
ultracapacitors allow designers to component peripherals including memberships, as well as
use smaller batteries that will last proximity RF/ID, magnetic electronic wallets.
longer, while keeping overall stripe, IC chip or barcode Capable of writing text or
product size and cost to a reader/writers. detailed graphics (e.g. portrait
minimum. In many cases the Called the MRS100, the new photograph) to the blue or black
ultracapacitor will never need to visual card system uses ISO cards in seven and 45 seconds
be replaced. standard cards, but with a respectively, the MRS100 is
Available now with ratings of special Ricoh or Mitsubishi palm -sized in design and affords
3F, 5F, 10F, 25F, 50F, 90F and coating to enable text or both front and rear card entry
100F, pricing for the new models graphics to be re -written to the and ejection, depending on the
is based on the quantity ordered card up to 500 times. Its re- process requirements.
starting at US $ 0.8 for sample usability makes it ideal across a StarMicronics
quantities of the 3F device. All of diversity of applications, www.StarMicronicsEurope.com
the new models feature a
convenient cylindrical cell form -
factor and boast an operating Signal source equipment sets the industry standard
temperature range of -40°C to Tektronix have from legacy
+60°C and a projected operating recently devices to the
life of 10 years. introduced latest The two-piece. EMI -shielded
NessCap Co Ltd DTG5000 Series technologies. In ITA enclosure features a large
www.nesscap.com of signal source addition, eight adjustable cable clamp to
equipment. low -current, accommodate various sized wire
Designed in independently bundles, and slides open for
response to ever higher clock controlled DC outputs can easy access to modules and
rates and tighter timing margins, substitute for external power contacts.
it combines the power of a data supplies. Each mainframe A small footprint and rugged
generator with the capabilities of incorporates a full complement of construction make the G2 a
a pulse generator in a versatile, auxiliary input and output versatile connector solution for
bench -top form factor. Used in a channels to easily integrate with use in military, aerospace,
variety of applications, the other instruments, such as medical, automotive,
DTG5000 Series consists of two oscilloscopes and logic analysers, telecommunications, industrial,
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DTG5274 - and three plug-in laboratory set-up. applications.
output modules that combine to Tektronix The Peak Group
cover a range of applications www.tektronix.com www.thepeakgroup.com

48 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

 NEW

Please quote Electronics World when seeking further information

Eighth -brick line of DC/DC converters offers higher Micro sized

power levels and more output voltages connectors carry
series now includes additional are manufactured in their fully
VDE approvals
modules of 1.0V at 25A, 2.5V automated production facility
at 25A (63W), 3.3V at 20A in Boxborough, MA.
(66W), and 5.0V at 15A (75W), The expanded Eighth -brick
and it has recently added a 12V series complements SynQor's
module to their 50W Mega existing broad line of Quarter -
series. All units operate from an bricks and Half -bricks from 15- Micro Mate -N -Lock connectors,
input voltage of 35V to 75V 100 amps to provide the widest based on 3mm centrelines,
and employ the established and most scalable product available in wire -to -wire, wire -
industry standard eighth -brick offering for high -efficiency, to -board, single row and double
footprint and pin out. The no-heatsink dc/dc converters. row configurations have been
eighth -brick converters occupy The eighth -brick converters awarded the VDE certification
only 60% of the board space of include a full complement of mark, allowing the product to be
a standard quarter -brick, yet control and protection features used throughout Europe and
their ultra high efficiency such as on/off control, voltage certifies compliance with
results in minimal power trim, remote sense, short European standards.
derating. This allows designers circuit, output OVP, thermal They are suitable for a variety
to replace existing quarter - shutdown and 2000Vdc of industrial and commercial
SynQor, has recently expanded bricks in many applications. isolation rating. These features applications including medical
its popular line of Eighth -brick SynQor's eighth -brick family allow advanced functionality, devices, household appliances,
dc/dc converters. The is currently offered with while standard safety commercial appliances, industrial
PowerQor TM Eighth -brick through -hole mounting and will certifications allow easy controls and other applications
family will now include also be available in a surface integration into the end user's that require small centreline
modules up to 75W and include mount configuration. product. power and signal I/O connections
output voltages as low as 1.0V. All converters use a single SynQor Tyco Electronics
The new eighth -brick Giga board, open frame design and www.synqorcom www.tycoelectronics.com

Insulated metal substrate technologies reduce cost of thermal

management in high power density applications
Bergquist's latest Thermal Clad temperatures, thermal resistance. T -Clad can be
(T -Clad) Insulated Metal reduce PCB used to replace FR -4 in
Substrate (IMS) technologies size, increase conventional multi -layer
will reduce the cost and the power assemblies to reduce the thickness
complexity of thermal densities, and of the copper circuit layer.
management in high power simplify The latest T -Clad dielectrics are
density surface mount assembly based on a proprietary
applications. The new materials through the polymer/ceramic blend and are
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LED displays, and other cooling fans temperature (HT), depending on
applications where size and other specific application requirements.
constraints, die size reductions hardware. In Dielectric thicknesses range from
and high component densities addition, T -Clad substrates base layer. Circuit layers range in 75µm to 30014m depending on
make semiconductor heat minimise interconnects and are thickness from 35 to 350µm. specific isolation needs.
dissipation a major design more robust than the fragile thick - Base layers are typically 1.0mm Operating temperatures are up to
challenge. film ceramics and direct bond thick aluminium, although other 140°C, while dielectric
They minimise thermal copper (DBC) constructions often thicknesses and other metals breakdown voltages range from
impedance and conduct heat more used in modem applications. including copper may be used. 6.0kV AC to 12.5V AC. Thermal
efficiently than standard printed Based on a three -layered Circuit layer and base layer are impedances are from 0.90°C/W to
circuit board materials. As a system, T -Clad boards typically bonded together by the multiple just 0.45°C/W.
result, cooling can help to extend comprise the printed circuit foil layer dielectric, which combines Bergquist
die life through lower operating layer, the dielectric layer, and the electrical isolation with minimum www.bergquistcompany.com

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 49

Cell phones surge ahead 3GSM, the world's largest cellular supplier named Emblaze
Ian Poole reports on the 3GSM telecommunications congress Semiconductor, who make the chips
was held in Cannes France and also the accompanying software,
World Cellular Telecommunications between 23 and 26 February 2004. It were demonstrating a very impressive
took place in the famous Palais des high quality video solution.
Congress in Cannes, France Festivals, the same place where the Chip manufacturers and solution
Cannes Film Festival is held, and this providers were also in evidence.
year was bigger and more exciting than Qualcomm, a little known name in
before. With over 35,000 visitors Europe outside the cellular
registered this showed an increase of telecommunications industry were
30% over the previous year, and there. This company, effectively the
following a similar trend the number of founder of CDMA technology is one of
exhibitors increased to a total of 624, the largest solution providers in the
and as a result a larger exhibition space industry. They have focussed their
was needed. efforts on providing complete chip sets
In addition to the exhibition there with the associated software. This
was a lecture programme with an removes the integration effort required
impressive line-up of nearly 200 by phone manufacturers who only need
speakers ranging from technical experts to focus their efforts on customising the
to the industry leaders including people solution to their neMs and packaging it
like Arun Sarin CEO Vodafone Group, in the right way. By adopting this
and Rene Obermann, Chairman of T approach they now supply 3G chipsets
Mobile International. to 17 customers worldwide.
After the recent years of financial Interestingly for the CDMA 2000
recession, the feel of the show was family of standards used widely in the
upbeat, with the exhibitors indicating US and Asia Pacific regions, they
that it had been better than last year. supply their solutions to over 65
Many new products were being customers - no mean achievement.
launched. One new idea is that of Push Currently one of their development
to Talk over Cellular phones (PoC). boards for W-CDMA solutions fits onto
This enables phones to connect to other a board a little over an inch square.
users in a group and be used a little like As one would expect there are many
walkie-talkies. Operators are already other famous names manufacturing
looking at the idea very seriously, with chips. Analog Devices, TI and many
Orange, for example launching the idea others were all showing their new
in France to business users in April and offerings, each fielding an impressive
the mass market about six months later. set of parameters.
Manufacturers including Nokia and However with over 600 exhibitors
many others are also investing heavily there with large companies from
in this technology. Agilent to Sony Ericsson, and smaller
Another area of interest is the ones from Antenova to Followap, the
location services market. By linking range of products and innovations was
phones to the GPS system, it is possible enormous, including everything from
to provide many location services, test equipment to antennas, and
including using the phone to give software to hardware, in fact anything
location instructions. associated with cellular
As far as 3G was concerned there telecommunications was there.
were plenty of demonstrations of 3G And as if was not enough, next year
video services, showing what can be is already being planned for 14th to
achieved now. One of the keys to the 17th February, and if this year's event
success of this will be the processing is anything to go by, it should be even
within the phone and a solution larger and more exciting.

- .1111 s Mkt - -
1111-31M-111"11WI."1 Illintar.-7--1F-441- .
.411,-114binfin views
7ririsrAor 11

. .

ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

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Not me, guy
Ivor Catt discusses the interference when an electronic module is
switched on, every second half cycle

DC power supply market depress the 50Hz supply. The EMC

tends to be very competitive, so
The community have slept through these
that there is minimal surplus and Remanent problems.
minimal margin of safety in the magnetism
performance of any component. It Every half cycle
will follow that nearly all the area in When a classical DC power supply is
the BH curve in the input transformer switched on, the first raw decoupling
will be used. Also, competition and capacitor is uncharged. Let us follow
pride will drive the material choice the path of the initial charging
towards magnetic material as shown current, Figure 2. The input voltage
in Figure 1, with the smallest, builds up according to the
narrowest area to minimise the transformer's turns ratio, perhaps to
heating from hysteresis. The area 7V RMS or 10V peak. This confronts
inside the closed curve represents the a negligible resistance in the
amount of power lost. This power has transformer primary and then a
to be expensively removed as heat. source impedance in the secondary of
Avoidance of this heating leads to perhaps 250m52. The impedance of
high Remanent Magnetism, indicated the full bridge rectifier can be more
by the point where the graph cuts the or less ignored, each diode presenting
vertical axis. Minimal area within the less than one volt drop but no
closed curve indicates maximum Remanent resistive drop. Thus, perhaps 8V
remanent magnetism. magnetism proceeds to the uncharged capacitor,
Let us assume that when switched which presents no significant
off, the transformer core will retain impedance. This means that the
its remanent magnetism, see Figure resulting electric current into the
1. On the next switch on, the first Figure 1. capacitor is defined by the resistance
half cycle of the 50Hz may be of the transformer secondary.
positive or negative. If negative, it Again, the measured current pulses
will take the transformer's magnetic BH curve, and stop saturating. are 100A, in this case every half
core through its normal cycle. The designer of an identical piece cycle, lasting for a fraction of a
However, should it be positive, it will of equipment plugged in nearby has second.
take it upwards by the vertical demanded in his specification that the Since another piece of digital
distance, resulting in a massive value mains should not drop by more than equipment will crash when the mains
for H, which means a massive 6%, or 14V. The customer, or user, voltage sags by 50V for half a
electric current. In other words, this has agreed to this. Thus, when our second, its manufacturer will increase
puts the core hard into saturation. equipment is switched on, the loss of the capacity of his first raw capacitor.
When saturated, the transformer core logic bits in the other equipment will However, should he also manufacture
behaves like air, so that the be the fault of the 50Hz power the rogue equipment, it will drag
secondary loses linkage with the supplier, not of the equipment. The down the mains voltage for twice as
primary, which degrades into an air - customer will have read the small long. The manufacturer will chase his
cored choke. Such an inductor places print of the equipment, and agree that own tail.
only a small restraint on the rapidly the mains voltage must not drop by The simplest way out for the EMC
rising input current. more than 6%. The only blameless community is to cover the whole
In 1970, Guido Watson did the party will be the manufacturer who subject with a smokescreen of
difficult experiment for me. This supplied the saturating transformer. mathematics, tell us not to use our
involved keeping the oscilloscope Nobody has ever suggested that mobile phone or computer while
calm. He found mains current of power switch on should or should not flying in an aeroplane, and so forth.
some 100A in every second half
cycle. 4R
The best estimate we can make of
the source impedance of the 50Hz
mains is half an ohm. Thus, 100
amps will cause the mains to drop
through 50 volts for the half second
or so that it takes the input
transformer to gradually recover
towards normal working within the

ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

1
2GHz
That is the way the EMC investigations are so difficult is

1
community deals with its failure
is to solemnly tell us not to use
more than one piece of equipment
that, as my colleague Guido
Watson found, an oscilloscope is
traumatised when something else
full -performance
at the same time. A piece of is switched on, so that more skill
equipment which is not in use is
likely to be compatible with an
active piece of equipment,
and care is needed when looking
at these effects than EMC
hotshots could muster. Buried in
RF Generator
without the aid of half a century the necessary experiments is the
of EMC pontification. very problem being investigated!
Put a four ohm resistor in series TGR205.9 EGH:SYNTNESISEORF GENERATOR

with the transformer primary. Background

That will ameliorate the problem, Three engineers including myself
which is that during the critical were concerned that professional
quarter of a second after switch - engineers did not have the
on, nothing limits the primary information and understanding that
current. The long-term solution is they needed to design and build 1 8 9

to include the transient behaviour digital electronic systems. 1 1

my u8,

7I
4 5 8

of a piece of equipment along Education remained in the hands of

with its steady state behaviour. radio men who had migrated from 2

The people who should have been

doing this, of course, are the
the lab to take college jobs.
We began giving private
0 .

77
EMC punkah -wallahs. The seminars in 1977. I have found the
problem is a physical one, and letter acknowledging our deposit
mathematical high trapeze acts paid to Theobalds Park College
will not help.

Broadening out
towards £900 to rent the Stately
Home for two days to give
residential courses, 26-28 October
£2,195
Transformer, bridge rectifier 1977 and 14-16 December 1977. The new TGR2050 is a synthesised signal generator with a
followed by raw capacitor is not We used the umbrella of frequency range of 150kHz to 2000MHz.
the only way in which AC is Middlesex Polytechnic, who were Excellent frequency accuracy is matched with high stability,
converted into DC. The circuit developing my WSI invention (see wide dynamic range, low phase noise and low leakage.
may use a swinging choke, which Wireless World July 1981), to give
FM, phase and AM modulation modes are incorporated along
probably gets even more upset us further credibility, but took all
during power switch -on. My the risk ourselves. We made the with RS232 and GPIB (IEEE.488.2) interfaces.
warning is that, the EMC mistake of charging too little - £45. The TGR2050 provides the most cost effective solution
community and the rest of us or £60 residential - but then available for engineers needing a wide range high performance
having apparently ignored the hurriedly increased the price to RF source.
problem of switch -on for more reach £240, so that in future
150kHz to 2000MHz frequency range with 10Hz setability
than a half century of digital engineers would be able to attend
electronics, questions have to with honour. These courses -127dBm to +7dBm amplitude range with 0.1dBm setability
raised about the hazard to other continued for ten years, and I have Better than 1 ppm internal accuracy: external frequency lock
equipment presented by switching the 1987 brochure. Companies FM, Phase and AM modulation, internal or external source
on all other types of power who sent their engineers to more
Direct numeric entry or rotary control with user setable
supply. Looking behind this, we than one of our courses included
have to ask whether, and why, the STL Harlow; ITT Cockfosters; frequency and amplitude increments
glamorous, well funded EMC Shell, Chester, Square D, Swindon: Non-volatile set-up memories for repetitive testing
community have ignored the BTel Holborn; ICI Plastics, Full remote control via RS -232 and GPIB interfaces
subject. (Probably this is because Welwyn; Redifon, Crawley; GEC, Unrivalled performance and features at this price level !

you have to know what you are Coventry; Royal Free Hospital,
doing, rather than just brew up Hampstead. We discussed many of For applications with a narrower frequency requirement a
fancy maths.) If so, I would argue the subjects ignored (and still 1GHz generator, the TGR 1040, is available for around £1,200 .

that enforcement of their ignored) by the EMC Community For full details of both generators, please contact us directly,
regulations by the EEC using and by academia. visit our website, or circle the reply number below.
criminal sanctions must end. We I fmd that every item on our list
must not allow incompetents to (www.ivorcatt.com/43.htm) is still
control our profession and ignored, although most of them
industry. In particular, they must remain important today, a quarter
not be allowed to take control of of a century later. All the course
the necessary similar analyses notes were later published
needed for other DC power privately, and most of them were
supply circuits. Note that my republished by Macmillan in our Measurably better value
analysis above contains no 1979 book Digital Hardware
mathematics. If EMC wallahs are Design. Macmillan quickly took Thurlby Thandar Instruments Limited
allowed to bury such problems in the book out of print. Glebe Road, Huntingdon. Cambridgeshire PE29 7DR
fancy maths, with the support of In sixteen hours of lecturing, we Tel: 01480 412451, Fax: 450409, e-mail: [email protected]
criminal sanctions, they will had to omit some critical
Web: www.tti-test.com
create a terrible mess. problems. The one discussed in
It has only just occurred to me this article has never before seen
that the reason why the necessary the light of day. THURLBY THANDAR INSTRUMENTS

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 53

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to the editor
Letters to "Electronics World" Highbury Business Communications,
Nexus House, Azalea Drive, Swanley, Kent, BR8 8HU
e-mail [email protected] using subject heading 'Letters'.

Clangers substance, and setting up unnecessary unreadable pages, pages with the most
I must apologise to readers for errors barriers for authors (e.g. the use of relevant information missing. No, I
in my article A pseudo -sine wave cutting edge cameras only, and a don't think it would be a good idea to
inverter, in the April issue, page 11. In months -long approval process). I had have the average reader archive
Figures 3 and 4, "2ms" should have the sense that the editor was a publisher EW/WW to electronic media. I realise
read "2iis". I can offer no excuses, first, not an electronics enthusiast. the cost of 'professional' companies
only apologies, since I proof read the EPE magazine, on the other hand, and the return on sales of the finished
article myself. My only consolation is has been frowned upon by one or two result. I have Wireless World and
that readers of this magazine will of its competitors for its lack of flash; I Electronics World dating back to the
doubtless all have realised that was in one editor's office, and he was Forties and earlier copies that are
microseconds were in fact intended. It flapping about an edition of EPE, and disintegrating into a pile if flakes. The
is the sort of slip, which would never he didn't think much of it, but EPE has most useful tool I find is a good index,
have escaped Geoff Amold's eagle substance, and I believe that that is preferably covering from the first issue
eye. Evidently I'm not the calibre of what matters. (Vol 1 Nol) to date. More realistically
proof-reader for whom Phil appealed Diversity of content would probably it could be broken into 10 -year lots.
in the leader page of that issue! also be a plus, and that would likely Those who do not have the advantage
Ian Hickman limit the length of articles. In my view, of such a vast library will most benefit
By email the SDI to Analogue Converter in my from a set of archive CDs, 90 or so
latest EW, at 13 pages, is very long, and years worth. Which brings up another
The character of EW is reminiscent of the overly long question - how far back would be a
I just bought the February 2004 features that filled PE magazine reasonable assessment for archiving?
Electronics World at the Cape Town towards the end of its life, not to detract Some might argue that anything over,
Waterfront. I sat up on a balcony from the value of the article in itself. say 10 years would be too far, as the
overlooking the Atlantic for breakfast, Your news items are good. Thinking technology that far back would be
and read your editorial. again of Poptronics, they had news outdated, outmoded and irrelevant. I,
I have written for six electronics items, but again they were focussed on though, would not agree.
magazines during the past year, flash or hype, not on substance, and so On the politically correct subject -
which included several cover articles they seemed empty. News items are 'master' and 'slave' are terms that
(EPE, Silicon Chip, Elektor). I'm good if they have substance, and cover more devices than one would, at
also a contributing editor of Nuts & identify truly significant first, appreciate. If it is to be taboo to
Volts magazine. developments, and I think you have use these words then 'primary' and
Firstly, the fact that Electronics that more or less right. It would also fit `secondary' would cover most of
World still exists should be of great with a profile of `going deeper'. present master/slave usage and have
encouragement to you, only a handful Well having said this, I wouldn't the advantage of tertiary and perhaps
of electronics magazines still do, and presume to know with any confidence quaternary, quinary, senary, septenary,
that is only because their editors were what makes a magazine succeed, so octanary, nonary, denary undenary,
a cut above the rest, both in intellect these are just some thoughts from the duodenary etc. Other suggestions
and character. ground. I hope you will both persevere could be 'master' and `submaster',
Clearly Electronics World has had a and go from strength to strength. `master' and 'subordinate'. In personal
distinctive character, and I myself have Thomas Scarborough computer usage `primary' and
seen it as a magazine, above all, that Cape Town `secondary' are used to describe the
goes just that much deeper than e.g. Republic of South Africa IDE buss'. As the hard disk drives are
EPE magazine, while not becoming not really 'master' and 'slave' devices
esoteric. A good example is Douglas Thank you for your comments. It's they can be, and sometimes are, called
Self's recent article on Electronic good to think that we are read under Drive 0(zero) and Drive 1 - problem
Analogue Switching. such nice conditions. -Ed solved. Where two or more devices are
In my view, the electronics configured in a manner that one device
magazines that succeed, do so mainly Archiving controls another, it is common to name
due to two things: With regard to your suggestion of a the devices 'master' and `slave' as it
1. Substance, substance, substance, workforce mobilisation to copy describes their function concisely and
and EW/WW back issues. I have, over unambiguously. If it is the word
2. Giving contributors priority, with many years, seen copies of documenta- `master' that is objected to then we
a warm and low -hurdle policy tion made by 'those who should know really are in trouble.
Poptronics recently ceased better' and even 'professional' copiers. There are Harbour Masters,
publication as you will know, and I Most of the copies have had either or Headmasters (or are they called Head
think that was due largely to their all of the following: skewed, off Teachers now), Ship's Master and
inordinate emphasis on flash, with little centre, bottom missing, top missing, many more. It is even possible to gain

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 55

 a Master's Degree. If it is the word magazines printed reader's circuits. taken up and into production. Someone
`slave' that is objected to, there is no Any pointers would be gratefully must know of this device and I would
equivalent word in the English received. urge you to publish a request for
language, so we will have to 'borrow' Walter Gray details. It would, I think, make a fitting
one from another language or invent a By email memorial to a great man, and in the
word which means 'slave'. But a slave best traditions of 'our' magazine.
by any other name is still a slave.
Cathode Ray and M. G. Keep up the good work and I hope
And anyone who equates the Scroggie we will still have the option of a 3 year
function of an inanimate object to that In both guises, this gentleman served subscription again this year.
of a human being should first ask as my mentor. His lucid explanations Peter Dorey
themselves who's thinking needs to of engineering fundamentals gave me Bournmouth
change. an understanding that still serves me Dorset
John E. Lavender well fifty years later. I have amassed a UK
By email collection of his books from used book
Web sources like www.abebooks.com We are running a 'buy four, get one
802.11 and www.alibris.com. free' offer at the moment and you can
Regarding Mr Long's letter in EW Cathode Ray wrote the excellent now 'trade in' payment for Circuit
March referring to the paragraph in my Second Thoughts on Radio Theory Ideas for one. Unfortunately, these
802.11 article (Jan 2004 EW issue (1956). Both Scroggie and Cathode Ray cost a lot to produce, as the labour
page 46, bottom of middle column) gave us further thoughts in Essays in involved in cataloguing, and generally
about the numbering scheme used for Electronics (1963). Scroggie authored; 'electrifying' some of the older stuff is
the 802 committee. Foundations of Wireless (1958), Radio very time consuming. However, I am
The correct description should have Laboratory Handbook (1961), currently working out a 'points' system
been that the IEEE named their 802 Principals of Semiconductors (1961), for those of you who have offered to
committee after the second month of Television (1952), The Electron in help with the scanning of old issues,
year 80, not the eighth week of the Electronics (1965). These are the details which you could use to purloin free
second month as printed. of my collection; titles do vary with CDs. -Ed
Won't feel too guilty about this slip. impression and World region.
I am sure many people ensnared in Sadly many of the books came from Audible distortion
long drawn committees may quite places like Bell Research Laboratories A while back articles for beginners
believe that February has eight weeks and Goonhilly Downs. These works were printed in EW/WW to interest
rather than four. strengthen our understanding of young people to buy EW/WW and learn
Eddie Insam fundamental principals, what has basic electronics what would they fell
By email replaced them? I would welcome further like if Seb criticised them for writing in,
publications that collected the Wireless he is the reason lots of ordinary people
802.11 World articles by Cathode Ray. like myself stopped Buying EW/WW. Is
May I join the rush of email to claim M. I. Maytum, Senior Member, IEEE Seb saying that certain manufacturers
the editor's special prize. Bedford introduce distortion into Power Amps?
It is not Electronics World that Mr. Bedfordshire My amp started out as a basic JLH
Long should be castigating for UK design with distortion of -78dB at
inaccuracy. His ire should be directed 10kHz, after expansion by me it is now
to the IEEE. Political correctness -95dB at 20kHz. No added 'niceness'.
Jan 2004 EW Page 46, centre I guess these will have been suggested, On the contrary, I am in total agreement
column, last paragraph, says "IEEE but I like the sound of: with Graham Maynard, Letters January
sub- committees follow rather `Dominant' and 'Submissive' or 2001, I quote "the resulting
unsophisticated numbering scheme `Mistress' (more PC) and 'Servant' or reproduction might sound sweet, but is
based on the week of creation: 802 is `Menial' or any other bondage inspired not accurate." I am also in agreement,
the 8th week of the second month, names could be good, alternatively: "with his God." D.Self, there is no filter
February." `Sayid' - Arabic name meaning Master at my amp's input. Regarding
Maybe they are operating in a and 'Obaid' ironically meaning Slave. Graham's comment about loss of
different time frame to the rest of us? Alex Copland. defmition on transient and sibilant
Tony Meacock. By email sounds, I have tested and found to be
Norwich correct, no computer here. I also agree
UK CD offer with Cyril Bateman, all my small value
As a long time reader of more than 40 capacitors are 1950s air -spaced
I'd often thought that was the case -Ed years, how about an offer on the `beehive' capacitors, you can't beat air.
archive CDs for subscribers (All 5 of Time and again I found amps I
Help wanted them no messing about)? repaired had inbuilt crossover distortion
I wonder if any of your readers can Bearing in mind that we are mainly and large amounts of noise both cause
help me with a circuit I saw back in BOFs (Boring Old Farts) and on sibilance to sound very rough, I wasn't
the 1960s or early 1970s. limited incomes it would help the being paid to improve fidelity only bring
It was a simple parametric down - groaning shelves. to working order. I found it is a total
converter that used ordinary A friend recently lent me some waste of time fitting high quality
transistors and allowed them to Audio Amateur magazines from the capacitors and resistors at the input
operate well above their cut-off United States and I was amazed to under those conditions and that 'golden
frequency, e.g. up to 1GHz for a read an interview with Peter Baxandall ears' approval of low/nil negative
300MHz silicon planar transistor. (issue dated 1/1980) in which he feedback causing large amounts of
I don't think it was a Wireless mentions an audio sweep generator. crossover distortion can never sound
World circuit, though I could be This was prompted by a Circuit Idea good, I also used D.Self s methods of
wrong. In those days several in Wireless World. He failed to get it power -supply noise rejection, and while

56 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

working on my expanded amp I found Political correctness to the Omega VLF long-range naviga-
JLM's tuning and feed -back methods With regard to the requirements of Los tion system. The problem was normal-
were no longer viable after testing by Angeles County - who have objected ly isolated to certain seats near the
various methods. I found that D.Self's to the use of 'master' and 'slave' - they antenna. It fact the pilots got to the
methods were reliable under change of could try what I just did and use point of telling the cabin crew which
circuit conditions and all that was quotes. They would probably love seat the offender was in! This particu-
required to obtain a 90° leading edge on `Hierarchical address sending and lar problem has ceased with the demise
a 1kHz square wave was a slight synchronising reference unit' giving of the Omega system. However other
adjustment of the small value variable not instructions, but helpful sugges- possibilities for interference exist. The
capacitor in series with a resistor from tions that other devices would only act local oscillator of a VHF FM radio can
the out put to the inner base of the input on if they really wanted to. If they fall in the VOR/ILS band, and while a
differential pair. So you see I put my chose to, these devices could call problem should be signalled by a
money where my mouth is - if it works themselves 'Synchronous address failure flag in the pilot's display, a
I use it, no bigotry here, or subjectivity. location units'. My first choice was dormant fault could prevent adequate
And what about Cyril Bateman's Monarch and subject, with leader and warning. Harmonics of VHF local
`capacitor sounds'? He's proved follower a close second. VTR manu- oscillators can also affect GPS signals.
electronics and PET capacitors at the facturers have it covered already - the Even some aircraft radios themselves
input and negative feedback can sockets are labelled `RS422'. have caused this problem. Cell phone
introduce distortion, a man who has said In the actual world where VTRs are spurious emissions can fall in the
in the past that he is 'anti -subjective.' connected to edit controllers and audio DME frequency range and any
I've had polyprop capacitors in those workstations, the VTR master is powerful RF such as from a cell phone
positions for 14 years - are you going to actually controlled by the slave - play, can be induced into the aircraft wiring.
argue with Cyril? Using Seb's logic, D. stop, and rewind are usually software The Aircraft and Avionics manufactur-
Self builds and sells nil distortion amps. controls on the slave device the editor ers are working to improve immunity,
Thousands of others at home and abroad is using. but the consumer market moves much
sell nil distortion amps do they sound Los Angeles County might want to faster than conservative aviation.
the same and if not why not? Are you consider their name. The Angels' Robert Atkinson, MRAeS, G8RPI
saying some amplifier designers and could cause considerable offence to Christchurch,
manufacturers introduce distortion into those whose religious beliefs did not Dorset
their amps? I hope you've a good incorporate angels, and someone with
lawyer - a straight yes or no. Seb, are no religious beliefs might well Airborne Lasers
you saying that there are components consider the beliefs of others were Referring to the letter in EW March, I
fitted to power amps that change the being imposed on them. The use of think Edward Phelan has 'been had',
`sound' of that amp without showing up Spanish denies knowledge to non - we pilots do enjoy the same game as
as distortion? If so why do you not speakers of this language. 'The County any other activity that involves a
believe that types of capacitors affect the Of The Mythical Flying Sub -Deities' certain amount of specialist knowl-
fidelity of power amps, you can't have it (in Esperanto) would surely be less edge, namely 'what misinformation
both ways? likely to cause any offence. can we make some gullible member of
On a different tack why do many Do you think we should let them the public believe'. I know I've been
audio designers and engineers have know that the master VTR is itself on the receiving end from sailing
audio amps designed by others, usually slaved, or would the use of the terms friends!
very expensive? If I were an audio `black' and 'colourburse further Consider this, your laser light
designer I would lock myself in a muddy these uncharted waters? escapes from a CD player. Once it's
room with a fridge, cooker and bed Colin Macnab (freelance sound mixer) away from the zone where the disk
and not come out till I had designed a Edinburgh may reasonably be found it quickly
nil distortion amp, to equal the top of UK loses focus. The materials lining the
the range models. My amp is different cabin are not exactly highly reflective
from anybody else's and I get great Airborne lasers so any energy 'bouncing around' will
enjoyment knowing that I built it I think that Edward Phelan has been quickly disperse - it would be well and
myself. unintentionally misled by the pilot he truly scattered (or absorbed) by the
Lastly, when working on my amp, I talked to (Airborne lasers letters EW first reflection.
kept blowing the small signal mosfets March 2004). It is virtually impossible The light would then have to make
in the Vas stage - the series BJT never for any laser light to escape from a CD it's way through closed hatches into
blew, I put in a high current mosfet in or DVD player and affect any system, the avionics bay, into a sealed box, and
both channels till I had finished never mind get into the avionics bay, break into the fibre arrangement which
working on the circuits. It proved bomb inside an inertial navigation system is tightly coupled to the optical
proof. When I had sorted things out I and affect the ring laser gyro therein. transmitters and receivers. No, I don't
was so fed up with them I bought The reason for banning the use of think we need worry about that!
several SND mosfets from Maplin and electronic devices during critical As to the preference for 'an old
using my bench magnifier and welter phases of flight, i.e. takeoff and type spinning top', well I'd prefer a
pointed tip soldering iron, I soldered landing is to prevent EMC of the RF ring laser gyro - far more accurate
them in to both channels, you could variety. In the cruse phase the pilot has and reliable. Not many people realise
hardly see the SND for the solder blobs, time to recognise and respond to that the best, most accurate,
and the result totally reliable, so my problems, this may not be the case gyrocompasses drift by 15' per hour
next power amp will be all SND when close to the ground. Reported and need to be corrected. To this end,
components, in the future. incidents span many frequencies and on all but the most basic aircraft the
D. Lucas systems. The problem was first noted compass is being constantly corrected
Anstruther when 'Walkman' tape players became by reference to the earth's magnetic
Fife popular. Some models had bias field detected by a sensor placed
Scotland UK oscillators that ran at frequencies close (typically) right at the end of a wing

May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 57

 away from anything in the plane that item to view the original source for The safe route
could upset it. In the event of a symbols which will not have converted Your editorial plea (February issue) for
malfunction, then this would be more correctly. In the meantime, readers can comments from non-readers deserves
apparent with a ring laser gyro as it take it as a challenge to decrypt the some replies. Your predecessor made
OW
can be monitored much more articles, working out where the 'W' EW a rather dull read for the most part.
comprehensively (and an alarm means watts and where it means ohms, However, one of your earlier predeces-
raised in the event of malfunction) and where an 'm' means micro -rather sors made it very interesting, by
than an 'old type spinning top' where than publishing articles by people with
the only practical monitoring is 'is it Whilst we are on the subject of interesting ideas that could not get
spinning?' editorial checklists, the article Hybrid printed in the standard scientific and
However, that all assumes that the Audio Amplifier in the March edition technical journals.
compass is as important as some had a generous helping of that old The problem, as Ivor Catt has
people believe. Apart from the fact favourite techno-babble phrase `Watts pointed out many times, is orthodoxy.
that there is more than compass one RMS'. The checklist item should say The former editor of Nature remarked
on a commercial aircraft (even the something like, `If Watts, or W, that these days even Watson and
biggest jumbo still has a magnetic appears next to RMS it is wrong. Crick's paper on the double helix
compass in the cockpit), it is only used Delete the `RMS' and replace it by could not get published. This reveals a
as part of the navigation. While within `mean' ." fearful protection of safe thinking
range, ground based radio facilities are Leslie Green CEng MIEE rather than scientific thinking.
The basic point we should keep in
used for navigation, with the compass
only used to maintain a steady
Ilford, Essex
UK mind is that all our theories are models Ii
heading. Should the compass drift of reality, not reality itself. I do not
then the heading would be adjusted to As I mentioned in last month's editori- believe the human mind is capable of
maintain the correct track according to al, we do have a vacancy for a part- any idea that is 'right'. The history of
the radio navigation - this is no time proof reader. And yes, even in ideas and specifically of scientific
different to the adjustments required today's 'interoperable' world, PCs theories, should be enough to convince
to cater for variations in wind speed and Macs still do not completely see anyone of that, who is not determined
and direction. eye to eye and Quark remains one of to believe that suddenly, in this
The main principles of air navigation the most awful pieces of software generation, we have acquired
are driven by the basic principle of around, if you are an engineer. perceptions and mental skills denied to
redundancy - use one tool for primary Apologies to all. - Ed. all our ancestors.
navigation, and at least one other tool In electronics, there is now a great
as a check. Don't forget that most of Pedant Club deal of work on 'evolutionary design',
the time, there are two pairs of the Your response to Paul Bartlett is by which a computerised design
oldest navigation tool in existence at unfortunate. As editor, surely you process iteratively changes the design
work - the Mkl eyeball! should be keen to uphold standards of of a circuit until its performance is
Only when out of range of land good grammar, for the sake of clarity, very good at which point typically
based radio navigation facilities would if nothing else. Treating those of your electronic theory is unable to explain
the compass and dead -reckoning readers who clearly care about the how it works. As the old joke went,
become the primary navigation tool. quality of your publication's content avionics design is 'two days to design
The airways across the Atlantic are a good deal more than you do in such and four years to get the bugs out'. The
very wide to allow for the uncertainties a flippant, offensive manner is not two days is according to theory, the
inherent in dead reckoning. conducive to improving its reputa- four years is struggling to
And finally, bear in mind that tion. accommodate to reality.
anything with an avionics fit modem Martin Sadler One topic recently in the letters is
enough to include a ring laser gyro is By email Maxwell's equations. I do not need to
almost certain to include a GPS which denigrate them: they are an awesome
is by far the most accurate navigation Of course. But sometimes I do think achievement. However, Hertz (or was
tool available. that letter writer's time might be it Helmholtz?) found their meaning
Simon Hobson spent more productively -by address- baffling, which is not surprising.
Ulverston ing more important issues. -Ed Maxwell based them on behaviour of
Cumbria fluids, but modern physical theory says
UK AvD there are no fluid and nothing that
Sorry, Ed. On this one I'm with behaves like a fluid.
More errors `pedant' Mr. Paul Bartlett (Letters, On basic principle, then, there has to
I was pleased to see my circuit idea March 04). 'Less' is an analogue be something wrong with the
Absolute Harmonic Filter for RF which word while `fewer' is digital. They underlying assumptions. Also, as
appeared in the March 2004 edition. I are not interchangeable. Would you Phipps has remarked, they conflict
was disappointed, however, to see that say: 'I shall take less calories by with the relativity principle at first
all the omega symbols had been eating fewer butter'? order; and deal with field source
changed to capital Ws. I understand In electronics we demand nothing motions but not field sink motions.
that Quark on the Mac 'scrambles' fewer than precision. We should I would urge you, then, to be more
several Word 95 symbols, but it has therefore expect no fewer precision in adventurous.
always done this. Indeed in a previous the use of the language which Roderick Rees
article, there were a couple of letters describes our interest. Woodinville
sent in by readers to correct 'my error' David Ponting Washington
which was another editorially induced Clutton, Bristol U.S.A
translation artefact (converting a mu UK
symbol to an "m"). Come on Phil, `fess Thank you for the laying down of that
up, and issue a final layout checklist OK -I give up. -Ed particular gauntlet. -Ed

58 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004

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Fr4 1.6mm, 35pm Cu
Board cameras all with 512x582 pixels 8.5mm 1/3 inch sensor and composite video out.
All need to be housed in your own enclosure and have fragile exposed surface mount
mf F7a5rF2 parts. They all require a power supply of between 10 and 12v DC 150mA.
47MIR size 60x36x27mm with 6 infra red LEDs (gives the same illumination as a small
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torch but is not visible to the human eye) £37.00 + vat = £43.48
+ Tooling 30MP size 32x32x14mm spy camera with a fixed focus pin hole lens for hiding behind a
very small hole £35.00 + vat = £41.13
+ Photoplols
40MC size 39x38x27mm camera for 'C' mount lens these give a much sharper image
+ VAT than with the smaller lenses £32.00 + vat = £37.60
Economy C mount lenses all fixed focus & fixed iris
£ 29.89* VSL1220F 12mm F1.6 12x15 degrees viewing angle £15.97 + vat = £18.76
VSL4022F 4mm F1.22 63x47 degrees viewing angle £17.65 + vat = £20.74
'Sterling rates may vary. Pace = E 49
VSL6022F 6mm F1.22 42x32 degrees viewing angle £19.05 + vat = £22.38
VSL8020F 8mm F1.22 32x24 degrees viewing angle £19.90 + vat = £23.38
Better quality C Mount lenses
VSL1614F 16mm F1.6 30x24 degrees viewing angle £26.43 + vat = £31.06
VWL813M 8mm F1.3 with iris 56x42 degrees viewing angle £77.45 4. vat = £91.00
1206 surface mount resistors E12 values 10 ohm to 1M ohm 100 of 1 value £1.00 + vat
1000 of 1 value £5.00 + vat
CleePh°". 660 866 battery pack originally intended to be used with an orbitel
Id 353 (0)31 69 - mobile telephone it contains 10 1.6Ah sub C batteries
0690°3
. ! 73
fw. 35310)61501164 (42x22dia the size usually used in cordless screwdrivers etc.)
,11. E-Aterl, mks:, the pack is new and unused and can be broken open quite
Moen
easily £7.46+vat = £8.77
Simply send your files and order ONLINF Please add 1.66 + vat = £1.95 postage & packing per order

JPG ELECTRONICS
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HP. 8640A Signal Generator AM/FM 500KHz 512MHz..£250
KENWOOD CS4025 Oscilloscope Dual Trace 20MHz _1125 H.P. 66309D PSU Dual 0 - 15V 0 -3A/0 -12V 0-1.5A £750
FARNELL LFI 12-14 Sine/Sq OSCILLATOR
LEADER LB0523 Oscilloscope Dual Trace 35MHz £140 H.P. 66328 PSU 0 - 20V/0 -5A £500
GOULD 05300 Oscilloscope Dual Trace 20MHz
NATIONAL PANASONIC VP7705A Distortion Analyser.1125
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OSCILLOSCOPES H.P./Agilent 34401A DMM 61/2 digit £400/£450
KENWOOD FL140 Wow & Flutter Meter. £50
KENWOOD F1.180A Wow & Flutter Meter Used.......... ..£75
H.P. 3478A DMM 51/2 digit £275
TEKTRONIX TDS350 Dual Trace 200MHz 1G/S
TEKTRONIX 2445A 4 Ch Unused £125 FLUKE 45 DMM Dual Display £400
unused £1500
150MHz Delay, Cursors etc. BIRD 43 Watt Meter £75 KEITHLEY 2010 DMM 71/2 digit £950
Supplied with 2 Tektronix probes £425 Elements for the above.. £25
TEKTRONIX TDS320 Dual Trace 100MHz 500M/S 0 200
TEKTRONIX TDS310 Dual Trace 50MHz 200M/S £950 KEITHLEY 61 Programmable Electrometer £1250
LECROY 9400A Dual Trace 175MHz SG/5 £750 .433 mmeter £1500
TEKTRONIX 2232 Digital Storage Scope. Dual Trace MARCONI 893C AF Power Meter, Sinad Measurement. HITACHI VC6523 Dual Trace 20MHz 20M/S e 1999 2.6 GHz £500
100 MHz,100m/s with probes. £525 un £5 3131A 3GHz £850
Unused £100 Used £60 PHILIPS PM3092 21-2Ch 200MHz Delay
H.P. 54501A Digitizing Oscilloscope100MHz, 4Ch £425 MARCONI 2610 True RMS Voltmeter Autorangin 5Hz- .£800 A OA Functi Gen/ARB £900/£1000
CIRRUS CRL254 Sound Level Meter with Calibrator, PHILIPS PM3082 2.2Ch 100M Hz- 15MHz
25MHz £195
130-120d8, LEO £95 ONY/TEKTRONIX A s itary Function Gen..£1250
BECKMAN HD110 Handheld 31/2 digit DMM, 28 ranges GOULD J3B Sine/Sq Osc. 1092-100kHz. Low distortion TEKTRONIX T. H.P. 8904A Sy unc - 600KHz£1000/£1250
with battery, leads and carrying case
WAYNE KERR 8424 Component Bridge
£30
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RACAL 9300 True RMS Voltmeter 5Hz-20MHz usable Others Avos from £50 er.. 1mH-50MHz £1950
to 60MHZ 10V -316V £50
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RACAL 9300B as above £75 100MH ITCH 1.5GHz
Ranges Freq 10Hz-1MHz 250 £40
TEKTRO 85 Dual Trace 350M 50 CABLES £10
H.P. 3312A Function Gen 0.1Hz-13MHz AM/FM SOLARTRON 7150 DMM 61/2 di it Tr M
Sweep/Tri/Gata/Burst etc £300
TEKTRONIX 47 Dual Trace 20
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FARNELL AMM255 Automatic Mod Meter 1.5MHz- SOLARTR 50 PLUS TEKTRONIX D weep 1250 H.P. 8561B 50Hz - 6.5GHz £5000
2GHz Unused £300 PHILIP /Delay Autoset H.P. 8560A 50Hz - 2.9GHz Synthesised £5000
ITT RA £375
FARNELL DSG1 Low Frequency Syn Sig Gen H.P. 8594E 9KHz - 2.9GHz £4500
99 nter, 50 z £50 30 1 MHz Dual TB/De set
0.001Hz to 99.99kHz, Low Distortion TTUSquare/ H.P. 8591E 1MHz 1.8GHz 75 ohm £2750
Pulse Outputs etc Hz £7 75
H.P. 853A with 8559A 100KHz - 21G1-12 £1750
217 Dual Trace 50MHz 55
FLUKE 8060A Handheld True RM M 1/2 -560MHz. 9 -digit £50 1100 Dual Trace 30MHz H.P. 85588 with Main Frame 100KHz - 1500MHz £750
9343M, LCR Databri -.1200 EG HM303.6 Du H.P. 3585A 20Hz - 40MHz £2500
H.P. 3310A Functi utomeasure nts of D. ster. As new... £240 H.P. 3580A 5Hz - 50KHz £600
Sine/Sq/Tri/Ramp/Pulse.. AMEG 3 Component ADVANTEST R4131B 10KHz 3.5GHz £2750
HUNTRON £125
FARNELL FLM4 Sine/S low Testa £200
MAR r A u MHz.... 75 BAILABLE
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eq Synthesizer 6747A-20 10MHz-20GHz
and 547A Current Tracer £90 P Ia stet .......... ........ H.P. 182 with 8557 10KHz - 350MHz £500

FLUKE 77 SERIES II
HEMS 1000 LCD Clam
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ONI 2022E Synthesised AM/FM Sig Gen1525 - £750
1.01GHz LCD Displ etc
.P. 8657A Syn 100KHz - 1040May Hz Sig Gen
H.P. 8656B Syn 100KHz - 890MHz Sig Gen
H.P. 8656A Syn 100KHz - 990 MHz Gen Gen
£2000
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H.P. 141T Systems
8553 1KHz - 110MHz
8554 500KHz - 1250MHz..
8555 10MHz - 180Hz
£500
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Racal 9008 R&S APN62 Syn 1Hz - 260KHz Sig Gen £425 H.P. 8443 Tracking Gen/Counter 110MHz £250
Automatic Modulation M H.P. 60128 DC 0-50A 10 £1000 Balanced/Unbalanced Output LCD Display H.P. 8444 Opt 059 £750
1.5MHz - 2GHz FARNELL AP60/50 Autoranging £1000 PHILIPS PM5328 Sig Gen 100KHz - 180MHz with 200MHz B & K 2033R Signal Analyser £650
£550 H.P. 8754A Network Analyser 4MHz - 1300MHz.....£1250
FARNELL 960-/50 0-60V 0-50A £750
Freq Counter IEEE
Datron 1061A H.P. 3577A Network Analyser 5Hz - 200MHz
FARNELL H60/25 0-60V; 0-25A £400 RACAL 9081 Syn AM/FM Sig Gen 5MHz - 520MHz .£250 £3000
High Quality 61/2 digit Bench Multimete4! e 11110 H.P. 53310A Modulation Domain Analyser Opt
Power Supply HPS3010 0-309; 0-10A £140 H.P. 3325A Syn Function Gen 21MHz
True RMS/4 wire/Current Converter MARCONI 6500 Amplitude Analyser 001/003
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FARNELL Dual PSU XA35-2T 0-35V 0-2A Twice C1MD LCD
BLACK STAR ORION PAL/TV Colour Pattern Generator H.P. 4192A Impedence Analyser £5000 ONO SOKKI Portable FFT Analyser £1500
Display £180 H.P. 4275A LCR Meter 10KHz - 10MHz £2750 H.P. 8720C Microwave Network Analyser 50MHz-20tH
from £75-£125 H.P. 8903A Distortion Analyser £1000
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THURLBY/THANDER TG210 Function Generator, 0.002Hz- WAYNE KERR Inductance Analyser 3245 £2000
2MHz, TTL etc £80-£95 FARNELL L30-1 0-30V; 0-1A £60
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THURNLY THANDAR P.S.U. PL3200MD, OV-32V, OA -2A Many other Power Supplies available. MARCONI 2440 Freq Counter 20GHz £1000
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H P 5342A 10Hz - 18GHz Freq Counter £800 Rohde & Schwarz CMT 0.1 - 1000MHz £1500
H.P. 16508 Logic Analyser 80 Channel £1000
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Schlumberger 4040 £750

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May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 59

ELECTRONICS WORLD

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 ELECTRONICS
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May 2004 ELECTRONICS WORLD 63

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Fax: 01403 783519
Email: [email protected] SERVICES Designer:
Visitors by appointment MICROCHIP 4 t SYP.F171P)
POWER SUPPLY DESIGN
Switched Mode PSU
TOP PRICES PAID Power Factor Correction PCBs Conv/PTH/Multi-Layer/Flexible UK & Far East production
For all your valves, designed to your specification CAD Layout Electronic Design Assembly (prototype & production)
SMD m/c assy @ 18,500 cps/hr
tubes, semi conductors Tel/Fax: 01243 842520

and ICs. e-mail: eugen_kusffcix.co.uk

Deliveries tram
Langrex Supplies Limited Lomond Electronic Services 011°-
f.
1 Mayo Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 2QP
TEL: 020 8684 1166 FAX: 020 8684 3056
24rs from ju Approvalsisosoun

f40. SEE OUR WEB SITES

WESTDALE Tel: 01635 40347
WANTED
ELECTRONICS Newbury Electronics Ltd

We would welcome the opportunity

Faraday Road Newbury Becks 0514 2AD
Fax: 01635 36143 www.pcbtram.corn
The low cost source for prototype PCBs
of quoting for your requirements. e-mail: [email protected]
http://www.newburyelectronics.co.uk from 1 to 6 layers
If you have a problem with your
VALVES AND semiconductors or relays,
VALVE BASES give us a call and we will locate
Valve associated components including them for you.
high voltage capacitors, electrolytics etc. We also have access to inventory WANTED
Must be over 250v working, OLD I watt Stateside ie
and I watt resistors (Carbon). Current. Obsolete. MII, Spec
Obsolete semiconductors.
CBS
Call: Bryan on - 11
WANTED Surplus or Obsolete Electronic Components
Tel/Fax:
157 Dickson Road, Blackpool FYI 2EU
Tel: 01253 751858. Fax: 01253 302979 0115 9402127 Turn your excess stock into instant cash!
SEND OR FAX YOUR LIST IN STRICTEST CONFIDENCE
Will collect anywhere in the UK

For a FREE consultation on how best

to market your products/services to
Mushroom
it#COMPONENTS

a professional audience 28 College Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire, MK42 8LU

Tel: 01234 363611 Fax: 01234 326611
ring LUKE on 01322 611289 E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.mushroom.co.uk

Service Link
64 ELECTRONICS WORLD May 2004
 THERE IS INTERESTING NEWS
vfr-

PC CONTROLLED MEASURING INSTRUMENT

COMPLETE PACKAGE STARTING AT t 435

FFT ANALYSER RECORDER

The Handyscope 3 is a powerful and versatile two channel measuring

instrument with an integrated function generator.
flee .re 011 I.nebase Terp, cmorsIBM.. 2etnqt
° USB 2.0 connection (USB 1.1 compatible) EJEI.:1,141EtilLIME_501sin

° sample speed up to 100 MHz per channel

° 8 to 16 bit resolution (6 pVolt resolution)
° 50 MHz bandwidth
° input sensitivity from 200 mVolt up to 80 Volt
° large memory up to 131060 samples per channel
,eV) ° four integrated measuring devices
° spectrum analyser with a dynamic range of 95 dB 1.1..ura Chi F reprencv S.nife dt,c

fast transient recorder up to I 0 kHz r_111011F LIPLUiFdR-, SpocinAn128 4128

° several trigger features

° auto start/stop triggering
° auto disk function up to 1000 files
° auto setup for amplitude axis and time base
° auto trigger level and hysteresis setting
° cursor measurements with 21 read-outs
° very extensive function generator (AWG) 0-2 MHz 0-12 Volt ,

for more information, demo software, software, source code and DLL's visit our nternet page: http://www.tiepie.n

TiePie engineering (NL) TiePie engineering (UK)

Kopefslagersstraat 37 28, Stephenson Road, St. Ives
8601 WL SNEEK Cambridgeshire, PE17 3WJ, UK
The Netherlands
Tel: 01480-460028
Tel: +31 515 415 416
Fax: 01480-460340
+31 515 418 819

(tt) Copyright 2002 TePie engineering. All rights reserved.

 Special Sale of

Te net Quality Second -User

Test Equipment

Amitsu - MP1552A/B various options ATM/PDH/SDH Analyser From £1400

Amitsu - MP1560A opt 01/02/03 STM Analyser £2700 -
Amitsu - MP1656A opt 02 Portable STM-16 Analyser 1310/1550mm £4000
Amitsu - MP1570A- SDH/PDH/ATM Tester various From £2700
Amitsu - MI9001A Optical Power Meter (Various sensors available) £650
Amitsu - MN939A/MN939C/MN9605A/MN9610A Optic. Attens. From £750
Amitsu - ME520A Digital Transmission Test Set £500
Amitsu - ME520B Digital Transmission Test Set £2000
Amitsu - MP1520B Digital Transmission Analyser £1500
Amitsu - ME3520A SDH/SONET Analyser (Tx and Rx) £6000
Amitsu - ME3620A SDH/SONET Analyser (Tx and Rx) £7500
Amitsu - MD6430A Network Data Analyser £9995
Amitsu - Emiscan EMCT Test Solution (Consists: MS2601B/ANT1/4401/MA8611) £3500
Agilent - J2300E Advisor WAN Protocol Analyser £5250
Agilent - 8753D (Opt 006) Network Analyser - Colour - 6GHz £12000
Agilent - 54810A lnfinium 500MHz -2 channel £3000
Agilent - 54610B 500MHz -2 channel £1250
Agilent - 3325B Synthesised Function Gen. (21 MHz) £2000
Agilent - 3326A (opt 001) Synth. Function Gen. (13MHz) £1500
Agilent - 35665A Dual Channel Dynamic Signal Analyser £4000
Agilent - 71500A - 40GHz Microwave Transition Analyser (Inc 70004A/70820A) £8000
Agilent - 37717C - Various options available - phone for details from £1000
Agilent - 37718B - Comms. Peri. An. opts 1, 12, 106, 601, 602 £9750
Agilent - 8153A Lightwave Multimeter (less I/P Module) Modules available separately £650
Agilent - 8163A Lightweight Multimeter £500
Agilent - 8156A Dig. Optical Attenuator - various options from £750
Agilent - 8164A Lightwave Measurement Mainframe £2250
Agilent - 86120C Optical Wavelength Meter from £1500
Agilent - 83480A Sampling Oscilloscope Mainframe (plus ins avail) £2950
Burster - 1424 IEEE High Precision Decade Resistor £1250
IFR 2031 2.7 GHz Signal Generator (opt 05) £3500
IFR 2850 Digital Transmission Analyser £900
IFR 2853 Digital Transmission Analyser (opts 14, 15, 25) £1475
Tektronix CSA 8000 Comms. Sig. An. (ring for plug -ins available) from £11000
Tektronix CSA 803C Communications Signal Analyser Mainframe £3500
Tektronix MTS 100 MPEG Test System £3000

Lots more equipment available.

Please call for availability and prices.
Tel 024 7665 0702
Carriage and VAT added to all goods.
Fax: 024 7665 0773 See Inside Front Cover for address.
Email: [email protected]