Had a meeting during the live session so watching the archive. I found programmable logic the most valuable. I would like to see a whole week session going into it in more detail.
ICL? Now you did bring back some memories -- Istarted at slides 4, 5 and 6... (those types) doing math processor and comm processor design. And yes... dealing with ICL codes and all that stuf...
@Max: Perhaps in your short history of everything such as phones and cameras, you could include a day on cars (focusing on control systems and the transition to electronics there).
@MAX: On the ANALOG COMPUTER. Some of the participants may call me crazy, but I ventuyre to say, that there is still a reason to use analog computers. Picture this scenario, where the engineer in charge of power generation research, is studying some fancy self-adaptive control system for a group of scatteredsychronous machines. The straight control solution today, no doubt will be digital. However, between sampling times of the A/D & D/A conversions, the synbc. generators are in "open loop" and therefore lprone to instability and/or deviation from the reference signals. In my master thesis, I used the digital computer to do all the fancy controls, but before I plugged it to the actual generation system, I plugged it to the analog computer where the actual process was simulated almost exactly how it is in real life. How would I have done it in this hybrid fashion, if not for the old nanalog Telefunken?
heading off too - thanks again, Max! Really enjoyed it. Planning to fiddle-and-diddle with FPGAs as soon as I get my current work overload off my plate. G'bye all!
Re: How Computers Work... Don't suppose this would include info regarding home computers? I come from a marketing background, and trying to set up wi-fi at home with my satellite internet service is incomprehensible to me. Can't someone invent easier technology for home set up?!
Max, Rich, Design News, and Digi-Key: Thank you for a very informative week!
@BruceW - in this case I clearly remember it being crossing - that's what made it so surprising. But you're right 99.999% of the time; crossing ok, parallel not so much...
Max - history is fun, but I'd prefer lessons to expand my knowledge. Yesterday's FPGA was a super intro, and all the web sites help to get going with it. Would love to do more with it - build something step-by-step through the week.
But then again, I'd listen to you (and your stories) even if you were just reading the dictionary... :)
I still like the idea of doing a "How Computers Work" type week -- where we start off with an AND gate and work ourt way through designing a simple 8-bit processor ...
@Kenti -- we would end up talking about all sapects, like handhelds, exchanges, VoIP, ... everything to do with phones -- from where they started to waht it was like having shared (party) lines to the stuff we have today...
@bmatts - ah... at least I had a sensible idea... :) I remember hearing about some board having a problem that turned out to be two traces crossing each other on opposite sides of the board. (probably 2 layer boards - this was back in mid-70s) They had to lay it out so they didn't cross. If I remember right, it had something to do with radar (?) - high RF frequencies. RF is all black magic to me...
This was a great refresher week! Seems that you could digress and expound for a follow on course week. CPLD and loading OS and networking, would be great! Thank you and let us know what you have coming up next. Bobs your Uncle and Fannie your Aunt! Take care!
Thanks to everyone for attending -- also for posting these kind comments (these are what those who don th eundergarments of authority and stride the corridors of power at Digi-Key will be looking at to see whether or not to invite me back :-)
Enjoyed most your sense of wonder at what is truly one of the greatest wonders of human achievement. I am similarly amazed every day at what has been accomplished in electronics and where it is all going - also horrified at how easily it could all come to a sudden stop. Thanks much for your insights and captivating style.
@RICH: A question about next module: Debbuging with Linux. I feel a little of a "jump" here on the subject of Linux. I am now studying on a O'Relly textbook, "Building Embedded Linux Systems" and there is so mu to learn about it before we get into the specifics of debugging ... I wonder what I am missing here.
Thanks - I'll save this as a good introduction for all who ask. I'm an advisor for the tech center at the local high school. I'm sure some students in the Engineering, Information Technology, and Digital Audio-Video programs will benefit.
There can be a "board hook" problem in which the board resonates at 200KHz and 20MHz. To get rid of that, the board needs to be routed out between the effected traces.
@bmatts: Re "Max, I've had some problems with impedances within the boards causing me problems with some of my digital circuits. I would get misshaping of my digital pulses due to impedance within the board. How do I solve this and is their a place where I can get the formulas."
I'm sorry -- I'm up to my ears -- that's beyond an introductory course -- also I don;t make my own boards these days (I'm too busy writing) maybe someone else can sugges t something
Max, I've had some problems with impedances within the boards causing me problems with some of my digital circuits. I would get misshaping of my digital pulses due to impedance within the board. How do I solve this and is their a place where I can get the formulas.
Yes, thanks to Max, Digi-Key, and Design News for this excellent opportunity to learn. I don't think I can pick a favorite class. Max made it all interesting and informative.
Max, God Bless You -- I spent 3.5 years in Huntsville, AL. You must be made of iron! How is the BBQ? I couldn't last down there -- needed a big city for me. I'm back in NJ now since 2004; not great here but I'm open to other cities.
@richnass - joined late, so missed today's question. from context, I'm guessing... everything this week has been interesting, FPGAs especially so. Really sorry I joined late today (based on looking at comments... But will listen to archive later...) Would love more sessions on FPGAs. (I love being right down near the hardware; system software, drivers, etc) Would love more Max sessions - about anything!
Unless I missed something, interestingly you didn't bring up BGA (ball grid arrays). It is perhaps the predominate way that processor chips are attached to boards (particularily laptops). It of course has it's own advantages and disadvantages and complications.
@RICH: Today's subject is adding a lot of new knowledge for me. I stopped seeking new learning opportunities on printed circuit board technology for quite some time. Because the quality of Max's slides are so good, plus his clear British accent and clear sentences, makes the whole presentation, top notch opportunity to realy learn this stuff.
@richnass: concerning today's question: all of these sessions have been very interesting and helpful. This may have been the most valuable class yet. Thanks to you, Max, and Digi-Key!
RE: Today's question: All good - chips and packages - loved the history and have fond memories of what we used to call DIPs (what has been referred to as dual in-line ICs in this series) when we were modifying Apple computers to run 80 columes and Z-80 processors (CPM).
@bmats, layout internal layers same as surface layers. Keep checking registration to make sure things line up. Fabricate layers individually then laminate together
Board layouts in the 60s were layed out on a large sheet of mylar, and traces were drawn with a grease pencil. It was easy to make corrections that way.
For hobbyists -- two articles on a great prototyping / testing and even production method of putting parts to circuit boards using what's called the Manhattan method of PCB construction.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
New versions of BASF's Ecovio line are both compostable and designed for either injection molding or thermoforming. These combinations are becoming more common for the single-use bioplastics used in food service and food packaging applications, but are still not widely available.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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