A very simple but highly efficient combination lock circuit is shown in the figure. Any type of on/off switches can be used, varying from commercially available inexpensive types to more sophisticated ...

A previous Design Idea describes a circuit that uses an astable multivibrator to drive an LED (Reference 1). The circuit in Figure 1 uses a simpler alternative approach. The circuit uses a 2N3904 NPN ...

Thermocouples and their leads often have to detect open-circuit or short-circuit faults. However, it is very difficult to distinguish a valid millivolt temperature signal from an open/short-circuited ...

In this lesson, students build two circuits and explore how transistors function. When Bell Labs introduced the transistor in June of 1948, a spokesman proudly announced "This cylindrical object . . .

Looking at some anecdotal stories as well as some reasonably valid survey data, it seems that STEM-related subjects are getting serious interest from students at all age levels; STEM stands for ...

Transistors are tiny electronic components that act as switches and amplifiers, and they dwell at the heart of modern technology. In simple terms, a transistor can turn a flow of electricity on or off ...

If you cultivate an interest in building radios it’s likely that you’ll at some point make a simple receiver. Perhaps a regenerative receiver, or maybe a direct conversion design, it’ll take a couple ...

We always stress how efficient electric cars are. It is important to have that in mind, and Jason Fenske recently reminded us of that with a video about the huge impact tires can have on EVs. Texas ...

The circuitry we rely on today comes from what could be considered a top-down approach, with the wiring completely laid out before it’s etched into silicon. With the advent of nanotechnology, however, ...