Monday, June 9, 2014

Lab 14 - Bandwidth and Frequency

Bandwidth and Frequency

Objective:
Oversee bandwidth and quality factor given from waveform generator at different frequencies, capacitance, and resistance.

Process:
1. Problem - Construct circuit using multimeter, resistor, capacitor, waveform generator, and record values at different frequencies.

2. Built Circuit

3. Data Collected and Analzyed

Resistance = 1 ohm
Capacitance = 1 micorFarad



Resistance = 100ohm
Capacitance = 100 microFarad



Conclusion:
Resonance frequency is the inverse of the square root of capacitor times inductor. Knowing this values leads to further analysis of circuit and the quality of it. Bandwidth can be determined from the half-power frequencies as well.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Extra Credit



Lab 13 - Frequency Response and Filters

Frequency Response and Filters

Objective:
Experience practical use with frequency responses of analog filters

Process:
1. Problem - Construct filters and graph their gain magnitude and phase versus frequency contingent off of data collected

2. Materials - .1 microFarad capacitor
                       R_=1000 ohms
                      Waveform generator
                     
3. Circuit Calculations
Theoretical Value of Gain Expected
4. Circuit Built
Circuit Design
Circuit Demonstrated
5. Data Collected
Low Pass Filter Data Values
High pass Filter Data Values
6. Data Analyzed
Low Pass Filter %Error

Conclusion:
The objective was met through successful data collected from the filters. The gain ratio of output voltage to input voltage was relatively close tho theoretical calculations by only 2% in most frequencies. These values determined the validity of our constructed filter.  

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Lab 12 - AC Signals

AC Signals

Objective:
In-Class Demonstration by Prof. Mason to display what AC signals look like and how to retrieve data from them.

Process:
1. Problem - Find unknown capacitance given current, frequency, and voltage.

2. Data Display



Sinusoidal Wave
Same wave at a higher frequency





3. Data Collected and Analyzed


Conclusion:
Information was able to be obtained from the graph displays of signal with the guidance of Prof. Mason. With given frequencies and concurrent voltage the capacitor value was able to be calculated to the amount of 2.88 microfarads. Actual capacitor value was not noted for comparison. 

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Lab 11 - Freemat

Freemat

Objective:
Learn how to navigate through the mathematics application program(Freemat) to solve matrices and imaginary math problems

Process:
1. Assignment 1 - Use freemat to solve Nodal Analysis Equations
Result theoretically
Result verified in Freemat I_2 = -.01857

2. Assignment 2 - Use freemat for Imaginary Numbers operations

All 4 Problems
Problem 1 in Theory
Problem 1 in Freemat
Problem 2 in Theory
Problem 2 in Freemat
Problem 3 in Theory
Problem 3 in Freemat
Problem 4 is to input Imaginary Matrix into Freemat and solve 
Freemat verified correct answer on manual I_2 = 6.12<-35.22
Conclusion:
At the completion of the Feemat lab, assignments became much more feasible to accomplish because it took out computational error. This program is extremely practical, easy to learn, and will be used for the remainder of my academic career.   

Friday, May 16, 2014

Lab 10 - Practical Integrator

Practical Integrator

Objective:
Use an oscilloscope to display time-varying signals

Process:
1. In class Professor Mason used an opened oscilloscope to showcase what is inside the electronic instrument and how it works. It consists of an electric gun accelerating electrons towards a phosphor-coated display screen. This alone only yields one dot on the screen and moves only when electrostatic deflection is applied to it. The deflection plates are orientated horizontally left to right and vertically up or down causing a continuous signal varying with time to be displayed.

2. Problem
Sketch a circuit's input and output waveform for 1kHz sine wave, triangle wave, and square wave

3. Data Collected
In class demonstration - sine wave

Thats Prof. Mason!
Noise in the background illustrated because resistor was removed

square wave

Cosine wave

Conclusion:
The overall demonstration was peculiarly interesting from start to finish. To understand the how the instrument works and follow through to the product it produces, was remarkable to see what you can actually do with the material that is taught in class. Unfortunately, our camera equipment is not up to par and therefore could not capture the measurements of the waves. Although removal of the resistor did yield scratchy waves and input of it gave more smooth ones.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Lab 9 - Second Order Circuit

Second Order Circuit

Objective:
Practice online a second order circuit

Process:
1. Problem - Solve and input answer into online program about second order circuit

2. Data Collected





Conclusion:
The objective was met through completion of the problem

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Lab 8 - Capacitor Charging/Discharging

Capacitor Charging/Discharging

Objective:
To charge and discharge a capacitor

Process:
1. Problem
      Design, build, and test a charge/discharge system that utilizes a 12v DC power supply, employs a charging interval of 20seconds with a resulting stored energy of 2.5mj and then discharges that 2.5mj in2seconds.

2. Circuit Calculations

Original Circuit
Computing R_th for t <0 and t > 0 of Capacitor
Calculating the Capacitance Required
Calculations for R_discharging and Peak Power and Current for Resistances
3.Built Circuit
4. Data Collected
Final Voltage recorded and length of time it took to discharge 
Time to discharge was 5.15seconds

5. Data Analyzed

Conclusion:
Given the constraints of the problem we were able to able to identify a specified capacitance by analyzing the circuit using the Thevenin resistance and voltage at the a time before it is charged and then discharged. This process fulfilled the objective of learning the practical use of a capacitor and yielded results in the 11% error range. Due to leakage resistance our final voltage digressed completely from our calculated value.
     

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Lab 7 - Practical Signal Conditioning

Practical Signal Conditioning

Objective:
Use a scaling and level-shifting circuit to process the output signal from a temperature sensor to produce temperature reading in Fahrenheit.

Process:
1. Theory
         Scaling is defined as multiplying a current by a constant to change its amplitude while level-shifting is the process of adding a constant to the current.

2. Problem
         Turn room temperature degree reading Celsius into unit reading of Fahrenheit.

3. Given
         Use Semiconductor LM35
         R_1 = 1000 ohms
         V_in = +4 to +20volts

4. Circuit Calculations

Finding R_1 and R_2
Encountered an obstacle during caluculations as we noticed that breadboards only accept input of two voltages and we needed a third for V_ref leading to redesigning of circuit
Final design for Circuit 
5. Built Circuit

6. Data collected and analyzed


Conclusion:
During lab procedure we discovered that we did not have the appropriate equipment to proceed with the experiment and therefore had to alter the original circuit given to accommodate for our third voltage input. Once that was resolved we were able to get a a voltage measurement of the room in Fahrenheit with a 10% error rate meeting, the objective of amplifying the signal from Celsius.  

Friday, April 4, 2014

Lab 6 - Op Amp

Operational Amplifiers I

Objective:
Establish a sensor to a processing agent(micro-controller) by using a signal conditioning circuit in between otherwise known as an OP Amp with given restrictions.

Process:
1. Problem
          Design a circuit that increases the voltage range of a sensor from 0-1volts to 0-10volts at the microcontroller.

2. Given Constraints
         V_in = 0-1volts
         V_out = 0-10volts
         Current through sensor = 1mAmp
         Power = 30mVolt each
         V_source of sensor = 12volts

3.  Circuit Calculations
Establishing R_i and R_f

Establishng R_x , R_y, and R_th

4. Built Circuit

5. Data Collected
Measurement of individual components


Conclusion:
The objective was met through successful connection of a sensor to op amp to micro-controller. The gain calculated to produce the desired voltage of 10volts was -10 and verified in the data collected. As the input voltage increased to 1volt so did the output voltage to 9.96volts.  Unfortunately, currents at V_1 and V_2 could not be measured to analyze if the overall circuit satisfied the constraint of not having over 30mWatts of power.