Elektor @ 60: Engineering in November

Elektor has been celebrating its 60th anniversary all year. We continue this month with a look at several articles from past November editions of Elektor magazine. We had hundreds of articles to choose from, but we could only highlight a few. This collection of articles covers a wide variety of innovative technologies, including a Wi-Fi controller board, long-range IR transmission/reception, and a TV test pattern generator. 

Improved Radiation Meter (November 2019)

In June 2011, Elektor presented an innovative radiation meter that worked without an expensive Geiger-Müller tube. The project proved that a simple photodiode with some additional electronics was enough to show radiation. In November 2019, Ton Giesberts followed up with an improved radiation meter. What's new? "JFETs in a TO92 housing are difficult to obtain today, especially the good old BF245 we used in the original design," he noted. "The BF256B is just as adequate though and more widely available, and now sits prominently in the new schematic. In addition, we have now used another LC display: a green/black model with background lighting ... Instead of a simple pinheader for connecting the power supply we’ve now installed a 'real' power connector allowing the use of a standard 9-V power adapter without any problems." The microcontroller, an ATmega88, is the same. Read More
 

Return of the Wi-Fi Controller Board: WWW-Connect Objects to Your Smartphone (November 2016)

With this Wi-Fi Controller Board, you can control electric loads over the Internet and receive status info in return. "You can control up to three loads with a PWM signal," the authors explain. "Although its main target is RGB LED strips, it is not limited to this type of load. Relays and motors can be controlled too. Furthermore, eight digital outputs are available for switching tiny loads like optocouplers. The device is controlled wirelessly over Wi-Fi from either an Android device running the special app or from a web browser on any other type of device like an iPhone or a PC." An ATmega328P microcontroller, three power MOSFETs, and a few additional parts make up the circuit. Read More
 

Temperature Gradient Meter: Detect and Report the Tiniest Changes (November 2011)

Measuring temperature precisely can take some skill, particularly when you need to obtain readings to a resolution of better than one tenth of a degree. This circuit measures temperature to a resolution of one ten-thousandth of a degree, using just four active components and an optional display. The circuit enables you to detect even the smallest change in temperature: the emphasis is much more on extreme sensitivity and resolution than on absolute accuracy. "Without any tedious calibration the circuit measures temperatures to a basic absolute accuracy of about two degrees," the designer explained. "It also indicates the temperature gradient, or rate of change of temperature with time. Output is via a digital display and an analogue pointer, as well as being represented in the changing pitch of an acoustic output. Readings are also made available on a serial port for transfer to a PC." Read More
 

PC Surround Sound Power Amplifier: Implemented as a Six-Channel Plug-In Card (November 2001)

Back in the fall of 2001, we presented a six-channel amplifier designed to fit in either an ISA or PCI slot, with its supply coming from the PC. The idea was to give anyone looking for a decent-quality PC surround system a helpful starting point (along with some loudspeakers). The circuit is simple. "Apart from the two ICs and the inevitable input and output decoupling capacitors, there are only six presets that are used to set the input level," Ton Giesberts explained. "These are required to compensate for any differences in the loudspeaker efficiencies as well as other possible differences." Read More

Debugging the 8031 Series (November 1994)

It's frustrating when a circuit doesn't work. Fortunately, you can locate faults fairly quickly if you follow a smart, structured approach to debugging. In this 1994 article, Elektor's helpful design and editorial team detailed a 10-step guide for successful fault finding on an MCS-51 (Intel 8031 series) microcontroller system. Read More
 

Long-Range Infra-Red Transmitter-Receiver (November 1987)

Elektor has been covering long-range IR transmission and reception for a few decades now. In the fall of 1987, we presented an interesting two-way, infra-red, FM, communication system. The setup was capable of covering quite long line-of-sight paths without the use of expensive optoelectronic devices. “The real key to long-distance communication in the infra-red part of the frequency spectrum is a well-known physical phenomenon: beam convergence,” explained J. C. Stekelenburg. Read More

TV Test Pattern Generator (November 1975)

"A television pattern generator is one of the most useful TV service aids," Elektor engineers wrote back in November of 1975. Why? It was used to simplify the processes checking of the video stages, adjusting picture geometry, and setting up of convergence in color receivers. "Using logic ICs for the generation of the test pattern allows the construction of a simple and reliable circuit, and the design given here is based on the 74 series TTL logic family," they noted. Read More
 

More Engineering to Come

These are just a few of the thousands of classic Elektor electronics projects and engineering tutorials our members can enjoy. Next time, we'll highlight a few of the editorial team's favorite engineering articles from past Decembers. The engineering never stops. Take out an Elektor membership to start enjoying the entire Elektor library.