October 29, 2022
Where I demonstrate different methods of measuring a servo pulse to ensure it meets requirements.
In the entry on servos I discussed the specific pulse requirements to make a servo move. In a nutshell, a servo needs a positive pulse .5ms to 2.3ms in a 60Hz signal. Or to put it another way, it requires a 60Hz signal with a duty cycle ranging from 3% to ~14%.
June 17, 2021
Where I compare the Labrador with the $300 Digilent Analog Discovery 2 and determine if using a “rail-to-rail” operational amplifier matters.
This video, Rail to Rail Op Amps P1 got me thinking as to the issues with the LM358. So to determine if it mattered on my previous amplifier design, I went back and redid the circuit. I used the OP484, as it was an op-amp I had and it is specifically a “Precision Rail-to-Rail Input and Output…”. I thought it would be interesting to do two things:
May 16, 2021
Where I explore filters in electronics and use the Espotek Labrador to demonstrate how to understand filters and create amplitude response curves. This discussion will be absurdly simplistic in comparison to the topic. My goal is to show sufficient theoretical examples of filters, so we can then test them using the Labrador.
Our goal with the Labrador is to test the following filter analysis. Doing so will help make electronics more intuitive and familiar and help you understand as to how to use the Labrador. It will also help you understand how to plot data and in this case, using a log scale.
April 1, 2021
Here are links to Operational Amplifier information, primarily for the design of simple, practical amplifiers.
March 31, 2021
Using potentiometers for programmable bias and gain on the amplifier.
If you followed the last couple of experiments, AC Signal Analysis and DC Sweep, you know you have a functional amplifier that will take either a DC level or AC signal and amplify it -2.5x. How do you know this? You were able to test the amplifier using the Labrador’s built-in Signal Generator.
This is nice, if that is the only signal you want to amplify. However, that isn’t the point of electronics! We want to explore and use our amplifier to amplify unknown signals! We want to put it to use!
March 27, 2021
I’ll use this amplifier to perform multiple tests using the Espotek Labrador.
For more information on using operational amplifiers, I encourage you to look at these sources:
Simple op amp figure (note the voltage names)