Electronics Etc........................: December 2010

It's 2011

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Happy New Year To All. Face the new year with joy and gladness in our heart. God is on our sides.

Design NEWS Magazine

INSIDE THE DECEMBER ISSUE:

Bionic Engineer: Hugh Herr's PowerFoot could make life better for countless amputees
Materials Innovations - GM's ETC actuator cuts weight
New assembly technologies slash costs
Direct drives for inertia matching
PLM and Mechatronics
Gadget Freak #176, Calamities, Made by Monkeys, Sherlock Ohms...and more!

Click here to read inside the digital issue: http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1B4d08bae79450e012.cde

Lithium-ion Battery Safety

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion batteries, or LIB) are fast becoming the power source of choice among makers of many consumer, automotive, medical and defense products. They are safe during normal use, but when abnormalities occur – such as manufacturing defects, excessive temperature elevation, and penetration by outside materials – li-ion batteries can become hazardous. In fact, if enough microscopic metal particles converge within the cell, an electrical short can develop. This can lead to thermal runaway and cause the battery to ignite or explode.

Click here for continue reading: http://www.phillipsplastics.com/case-studies/lithium-ion-battery-safety

LED Flourescent Lamp

New LED flourescent lamp and it says in the article it is much brigther than conventional one. Read more here:http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_112104/article.html

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas and Happy and Blessed New Year To All..May we find peace and love this holiday season and everyday of the whole year 2011. God bless us all.

Parcel Sent By Mr. Beh

This parcel was sent Mr. BEH. This include pcb for LOPT/FBT tester and optoisolator tester and parts list. I Thanks to him.

Robot shows how to solve Rubiks Cube

This video was shared by Mr. BEH.

Counter 65w HP COMPAQ AC ADAPTER OF LAPTOP

AC Power Adapter

Oscilloscope Tutorial Part 3

Oscilloscope Tutorial Part 2

Oscilloscope Tutorial

EDN Magazine December Issue

Inside the December 15th Issue:

Display Technology Advancements - change is the only constant
Multiphysics simulation enhances electronics system design
Hot 100 Products of 2010
Six-core DSPs enable software selection of 3 or 4G air interfaces
Also - Design Ideas, Tales from the cube, Voices, Bakers Best...and more!

Click here to view digital edition:http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1L4d022fc5eb178012.cde

The Video Screen Microscope

This is the microscope that replaces the standard eyepiece with an LCD screen that displays objects at up to 1600X magnification. A built-in 5 MP digital camera captures still images or videos and displays objects on a 3 1/2" thin-film transistor LCD at 320 x 240 resolution. The microscope's three objective lenses (4X, 10X, or 40X) provide magnification from 40X-400X (up to 1600X when used with its 4X digital zoom). Objects can either be illuminated from the top (for solid objects) or from the bottom (for prepared slides) using two separate built-in light sources. A colored filter wheel helps block out wavelengths to make objects clearer. The camera's built-in 128MB memory can store up to 120 still shots or up to 40 minutes of video at 1600 x 1200 resolution; an SD card slot allows for memory expansion. A USB port (cable included) allows you to download content to your computer; works with Windows 7, Vista (32-bit version only), and XP. Plugs into AC. 13" H x 6" W x 4 1/2" D. (3 1/4 lbs.)

Click here:http://www.hammacher.com/Product/79302?refsku=79623&xsp=6&promo=xsells

The Wireless Page To TV Magnifier

As easy to use as a computer mouse, this device scans written materials and sends them wirelessly to your television set in real time, magnifying them up to 28X for easy viewing of fine print. The wireless magnifier's bright 655 x 488 pixel handheld scanner picks up every detail of a picture or every letter of a word and transfers data to its base station (that plugs into your TV using the included RCA video cable) up to 15' away which then sends it to your television screen with a bright, easy-to-read 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" field of view. Magnification ranges from 10X on a 14" TV to 28X on a 32" TV. Includes AC adapter. 6" L x 3 1/2" W x 3 1/4" H. (4 1/2 oz.)

If your eyes have a difficulty in reading a small letter this device might help you. Click here:http://www.hammacher.com/Product/78428?refsku=11724&xsp=6&promo=xsells

The VHS To DVD Converter

This device preserves your memories by transferring VHS recordings to DVDs with the touch of a button. Also a player, this device is ideal for those who have a library of both DVD and VHS home videos. An integrated HDTV tuner allows you to record high-definition broadcasts, and the device also copies DV/Digital8 camcorder videocassettes to DVD formats. For viewing DVDs, the unit has 1080p upscaling through an HDMI output, maximizing video resolution and audio on an HDMI-compatible television using a single cable. A DV input allows you to connect a camcorder directly to the device to transfer content directly to a DVD (includes a coaxial input as well as component and composite inputs). An onscreen display guides you through set up. Compatible with most DVD formats. The system allows MP3 and JPEG playback, and includes a universal remote control. Compatible with Quasi Super VHS Playback tapes in addition to normal VHS tapes. 3 1/4" H x 17" W x 10 1/4" D. (9 3/4 lbs.)

Click here: http://www.hammacher.com/Product/76783?refsku=76797&xsp=1&promo=xsells

LP And Cassette To CD Recorder

If you LP(Long Playing) and Casette tape you want to record to cd here is the one you need.
Click here to read more info. http://www.hammacher.com/Product/lpcass?promo=Home&catid=0

Capacitors

This site features some esr and capacitance value of different capacitors by comparing the result measurement of some esr meter and capacitance tester like ESR Micro, EVB esr meter, Fluke 87, SR715, HP4328. This site is being shared by Mr. Beh.

Click here to see the details: http://www.prc68.com/I/Capacitors.shtml

Crystal Tester Schematic Diagram

If you want to build crystal tester here is the diagram.

Crystal Tester

This crystal tester picture was made by Mr. Beh. It can test crystal of crt tv and other crystal that are in the frequency range written in the picture. I send to him schematic diagram of this tester that i found in the internet, I have made also one of this tester. Thanks to him. The circuit below if you want to make one.

LCD Flat panel TV troubleshooting

Here is a good article on troubleshooting lcd tv.

This is the basic guide that can be applied to most LCD flat panel TV.

First, try unplugging it from the outlet for about an hour to see if the TV will reset itself since the minute the TV is plugged into the wall, the power supply and processor will be running 24/7 and the EPROM can get corrupted by spikes and surges. Try using good quality surge suppressor to see if it will help if it happen often.
Look for burnt brown hot spots on the circuit boards, capacitors with leaking/bulging top or seals. Loose wires and connectors. Blown fuses.
Notes: We are dealing with high voltage that can kill you! so if you are not sure what you are doing, please have it fixed by the pro that has proper tools and safety equipment. Try to use GFI outlet and isolation transformer when work around the TV set and DO NOT DEFEAT THE GROUND PIN OF THE OUTLET/POWER CORD.

1) The power supply module (There are 4 regulated output voltages:- Standby 5vdc, switched 5vdc, 12~16vdc, and 24vdc).

The power supply converts the 120/230vac 50/60Hz into DC, then the high frequency (50~100kHz) switching circuits convert it back to AC but at high frequency which allows the power supply to use smaller and much lighter weight transformers (Ferrite core instead of heavy iron core), then this high frequency AC voltage is fed to the rectifier Diodes to get the DC output and filtered by DC filter capacitors that must have low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance), if general purpose electrolytic caps are use, they will fail within a year or less due to high ESR.

The power supply has Standby 5vdc (5VSB, this is a MUST have before anything else will work, when this voltage is not present, there will be no any indicator light on the front panel) which is always on the minute the TV is plugged into the AC outlet, so it is on 24/7 and that is why the power supply will fail even though you may use the a TV not very often. It will see all the voltage spikes and surges 24/7.
This 5vdc is used to power the Processor and the Infrared remote receiver module which will be waiting for the command from the remote control or from the power switch, when the Power on command is received, the Processor will send the turn on signal (3.3~5vdc) to the power supply module (PSON pin) to the switch on the main 5vdc for the rest of the logic and Tuner circuits, 12~16vdc for the sound amplifiers (mostly Class D amplifier for efficiency and small size) and for the T-CON board (interface board between the LCD panel and the Logic board), and 24vdc for the Back lights inverter board (if there is no 24vdc then no back light).
Common failures:
Blown main AC fuse due to shorted out Diodes, transistors.
Bad capacitors leaking or bulging tops:
Shorted Diodes, transistors in the DC output side.

Testing the power supply output with dummy load:
24vdc testing: Disconnect the wires that go to the inverter board first. You can use two #1157 (using both Lo & Hi filaments by paralleling them at the base) car light bulbs connected in series so they can handle the 24vdc, this will put light load (about 70w) on the 24vdc output, the voltage out should be steady at 24vdc (+/-2v), if not, the power supply has regulation problem.
12vdc testing: disconnect the 12vdc TV load from the power supply board and attach one #1157 (using just the Hi filament), the 12vdc output should stay at 12v (+/-1v), if not, the power supply has regulation problem.

You should see the lamps go on when the TV power switch is ON and go OFF when the TV is powered OFF.

2) Main Logic board (It has Processor, Tuner, Sound Processor, Sources selector, Power amplifiers for speakers, interface port to the T-CON board for pictures).
This logic board sends out the turn on signals (3.3~5vdc) to turn on the rest of the Power supply module (Switched main 5vdc, 12~16vdc, and 24vdc), Inverter backlight ON (if no back light on command then there is no back lights),
Logic board supplies 5 or 12vdc to T-CON board B+ pin through switched transistor if T-CON board does not get the voltage from the logic board, you will get white/gray glowing screen without pictures.
Back lights Dimming (PWM) control signal.

3) Back lights Inverter board. Its job is to provide the drive voltage for the CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) to give white light for the screen.
This board is fed by the switched 24vdc (VBL) from the power supply module, it also get the Back lights on (BL on) control signal and the Dimming (Dim/PWM/) signal from the logic board. So for it to work, it needs 24vdc and the BL_ON signal.
Common failures:
Blown surface mounted fuses due to shorted transistors/ICs, Transformers.
Bad capacitors.

4) The T-CON (Timing Control or LCD controller) board (on the LCD panel assembly). It transfer the universal image signal of TTL and LVDS signal to specific TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCD.
This is the interface board that talks to the Logic board and the LCD panel to produce pictures on the screen. White/gray glowing screen when it fails or not getting the voltage from the logic board (the 5 or 12vdc is supplied by switched transistor on the logic board). Notes: T-CON board is mounted under the metal cover shield.
Common failures:
Scrambled pictures, Lines, multiple pictures, color smears/blotches, rolling pictures after warm up.
Blown surface mounted fuse.
No pictures, very dark screen almost like there is no backlights.

5) LCD panel assembly to display pictures. The LCD pixels will block or unblock the back lights from the back of the panel to the front of the panel. This is the most expensive part of the TV, it will be more than the TV is worth.

As you can see, you must have all the above Voltages and signals for the TV to work properly. This may help you narrowing down the bad modules instead of buying the wrong module just to find out later that it did not solve the problem. Hope this will help you out.

Sound problem:
Let verify first to narrow down to where the problem can be. First, check the on screen sound set up menu to make sure the speakers are not set to OFF. If the setting is OK, then attach the powered PC speakers to the Audio Line out RCA jacks to see if you can get the sound there, if you do, then the problem can be in the power amp circuits, if you do not get the sound at RCA jacks, then the problem can be in the sound processor circuit. To get the sound repair, it can be from $150 and up, so if you can put up with using the good set of Powered PC speakers which actually give better sound than the tiny speakers inside the TV, I would keep using it that way, you may want to find out if the on screen sound setup will allow you to set the audio line out to be VARIABLE which means the sound output feeding the PC speakers can be varied using the TV remote control, then all you have to do is to set the PC volume to about half way up and set the TV volume to what ever you want.

Click here for continue reading: http://www.fixya.com/support/r5093881-lcd_flat_panel_tv_troubleshooting_guide

The Transistor and Diode Data Book for Design Engineers First Edition: Texas Instruments Incorporated: Books

Amazon.com: The Transistor and Diode Data Book for Design Engineers First Edition: Texas Instruments Incorporated: Books

This book has transistor and diode data. Visit amazon.com or click the above link.

Electronic Data Library: Transistors-Diodes

Design News Magazine

INSIDE THE NOVEMBER ISSUE:

Mega Bloks designers use 3-D CAD and digital sculpting technology to facilitate around-the-clock development cycle
Weight Reduction - cars are getting lighter!
Chevy Volt powertrain stirs controversy
Virus targets automation
Gadget Freak #174, Calamities, Made by Monkeys, Sherlock Ohms...and more!
Also - check out the special Automation and Control Trend Watch at right ------------>>>>>>>>