15 step digital power supply

     Here is a simple circuit to obtain variable DC voltage from 1.25V to 15.19V in reasonably small steps as shown in the table.

     The input voltage may lie anywhere between 20V and 35V. The first section of the circuit comprises a digital up-down counter built around IC1— a quad 2-input NAND schmitt trigger (4093), followed by IC2— a binary up-down counter (4029). Two gates of IC 4093 are used to generate up-down logic using push buttons S1 and S2, respectively, while the other two gates form an oscillator to provide clock pulses to IC2 (4029).

     The frequency of oscillations can be varied by changing the value of capacitor C1 or preset VR1. IC2 receives clock pulses from the oscillator and produces a sequential binary output. As long as its pin 5 is low, the counter continues to count at the rising edge of each clock pulse, but stops counting as soon as its pin 5 is brought to logic 1. Logic 1 at pin 10 makes the counter to count upwards, while logic 0 makes it count downwards. Therefore the counter counts up by closing switch S1 and counts down by closing switch S2.

      The output of counter IC2 is used to realise a digitally variable resistor. This section consists of four N/O reed relays that need just about 5mA current for their operation. ( The original circuit containing quad bilateral switch IC 4066 has been replaced by reed relays operated by transistorised switches because of unreliable operation of the former.) The switching action is performed using BC548 transistors. External resistors are connected in parallel with the reed relay contacts. If particular relay contacts are opened by the control input at the base of a transistor, the corresponding resistor across the relay contacts gets connected to the circuit.

     The table shows the theoretical output for various digital input combinations.

     The measured output is nearly equal to the theoretically calculated output across regulator IC3 (LM317). The output voltage is governed by the following relationship as long as the input-to-output differential is greater than or equal to 2.5V: Vout = 1.25(1+R2/R1) Where, R1 = R15 = 270 ohms (fixed) and R2 = R11 + R12 + R13 + R14 = 220 + 470 + 820 +1500 ohms = 3,010 ohms (with all relays energised) One can use either the binary weighted LED display as indicated by LED1 through LED4 in the circuit or a 74LS154 IC in conjunction with LED5 through LED20 to indicate one of the 16 selected voltage steps of Table I. The input for IC4 is to be tapped from points marked ‘A’ through ‘D’ in the figure. This arrangement can be used to replace the LED arrangement at points A, B, C, and D. This 74LS154 IC is a decoder/demultiplexer that senses the output of IC2 and accordingly activates only one of its 16 outputs in accordance with the count value. LEDs at the output of this IC can be arranged in a circular way along side the corresponding voltages.

      When the power is switched on, IC2 resets itself, and hence the output at pins 6, 11, 14, and 12 is equivalent to binary zero, i.e. ‘0000’. The corresponding DC output of the circuit is minimum (1.25V). As count-up switch S1 is pressed, the binary count of IC2 increases and the output starts increasing too. At the highest count output of 1111, the output voltage is 15.19V (assuming the in-circuit resistance of preset VR2 as zero). Preset VR2 can be used for trimming the output voltage as desired. To decrease the output voltage within the range of 1.25V to 15.2V, count-down switch S2 is to be depressed.

Notes.

1. When relay contacts across a particular resistor are opened, the corresponding LED glows.

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Low Cost Dual Digital Dice

This simple dual digital dice is based on three low-cost ICs, a few transistors and a handful of LEDs. IC1a & IC1b operate as an oscillator with a frequency of about 4kHz and this clocks IC2. The frequency of oscillation is not critical - it simply needs to be high enough to prevent cheating. IC2 and IC3 are 4516 binary counters, configured to count in binary from 1-6. A power-on reset is not required here since, if the initial state is outside the correct range, the counters will count into the correct range after a few clock pulses. Lets first consider how IC2 operates. When the counter reaches "7" (ie, 111), the AND gate formed by diodes D1 & D2 and the 47kO resistor applies a high to the PE pin (pin 1).

This presets the counter to 1 (ie, 001) and so PE goes low again. The counter then increments in the normal manner until it reaches "7" again. Counter IC3 operates in the same manner except that the clock signal is derived from IC2s O3 output. The counter outputs (O1, O2 & O3) drive NPN transistors Q1-Q6 and these in turn drive the LEDs (ie, the LEDs indicate the states of the counters). Normally, the counters are incrementing continuously and the LEDs all appear to be lit. However, when push-button switch S1 is pressed, pin 6 of IC1c goes low and pin 9 of IC1d pulls the Ci input of IC2 high, thus stopping the counters. Finally, toggle switch S2 allows the user to choose between having two dice operating simultaneously or just one.

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Digital Stop Watch Using NE555 Timer IC

This is s design of digital stop watch circuit that built around timer IC LM555 and 4-digit counter IC MM74C926 with multiplexed 7-segment LED display. This is the figure of the circuit.


MM74C926 consists of a 4-digit counter, an internal output latch, NPN output sourcing drivers for common cathode, 7-segment display and an internal multiplexing circuitry with four multiplexing outputs. The counter advances on negative edge of the clock. The clock is generated by timer IC LM555. The circuit works off a 5V power supply. It can be easily assembled on a general-purpose PCB. Enclose the circuit in a metal box with provisions for four 7-segment displays, rotary switch S1, start/stop switch S2 and reset switch S3.

For operation this circuit is explanation in the next. First, reset the circuit by pressing S3 so that the display shows ‘0000.’ Now open switch S2 for the stop watch to start counting the time. If you want to stop the clock, close S2. Rotary switch S1 is used to select the different time periods at the output of the unstable multi vibrator (IC1). This circuit is powered by 5V DC. That power supply can take from regulator power supply. You can read in this site about the regulator that can be used.

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Digital thermometer schematics

This digital thermometer circuit diagram uses a common 1N4148 diode as the temperature sensor. The temperature coefficient of the diode, -2 mV / 0C is exploited for this application to create an accurate electronic thermometer. To display the measured temperature, a digital multimeter is used and so we can measure temperature values from -9.990C up to +99.90C.

 

Calibration of the digital thermometer

To set the minimum level (00C), place the diode in a glass of water filled with crushed ice (check the temperature first with a normal thermometer) wait until the thermometer shows zero degrees centigrade. Set P1 so that the digital voltmeter will display 000 when the diode senses zero degree centigade.

To set the maximum level (1000C), place the diode sensor into a boiling water and adjust P2 so that the digital meter exactly displays 99.9.

source [link] 

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