Electronics
Basics
How-To: Build BEAM Vibrobots
http://www.streettech.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1618&mode=flat&order=0&thold=1
Lecture 1 - Background and Power Supply
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/tutorial_info.php?tutorials_id=57&page=7
FM Transmitter
http://africatravels.pbwiki.com/RadioTransmitterCircuits
Useful bits
1381 voltage detector
http://members.aon.at/sunbeam/1381.htm
http://www.solarbotics.com/products/1381/
pn2222 transistor
insert url
(how is this useful?, see at http://cachefly.oreilly.com/make/television/08/MiniRobots.pdf )
http://www.solarbotics.com/products/tr2222/
DS2405 Addressable 1-wire Switch
http://rjconway.homeip.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ds2405.pdf
for controlling larger power:
Power Solid State Relay
http://rjconway.homeip.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/ssr-sc842110.pdf
battery meter:
http://profmason.com/?p=689
mulit chemistry battery charger http://members.shaw.ca/Botgoodies2/MultiCharger/MultiCharger.htm
Addressable Dual Digital Potentiometer - DS1803
http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/2779/ln/en
Using an Analog Voltage to Control a Digital Potentiometer
http://pdfserv.maxim-ic.com/en/an/AN4051.pdf
Notes on batteries, including notes on Charge Controllers.
http://www.solar-electric.com/deep_cycle_batteries/deep_cycle_battery_faq.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_charger
Notes on battery desulfinator http://screwdecaf.cx/mini-d.html
Generating Electricity with Stepper Motors
http://www.c-realevents.demon.co.uk/steppers/stepmotor.htm
MultiTherm ( gather temp data from multiple Dallas Semiconductor DS18x20 1-Wire® Thermometers
http://www.thebloughs.net/hobbies/electronics/multitherm/
Digital voltmeter
Build an Analog Bar Graph Expanded Scale Voltmeter
http://www.stefanv.com/electronics/esv.html
MOSFET versus Optisoloator Triac Driver
just took a bunch of MOSFETs off some old mother boards.
So what's the difference between a MOSFET and an Optoisolator Triac Driver?
A MOSFET can take a small voltage signal and make it large or vica versa, take a large voltage signal and make it small.
not that it might be appropriate to use a different type of MOSFET to convert an analog versus a digital signal.
There are n-type MOSFETs and p-type MOSFET, dunno the diff jsut yet.
MOSFETs can get complicated as you try to model how well they "translate" signal. an Idea MOSFET translates a signal perfectly, or exactly as you want it to be translated, however in the realworld depending on the configuration and materials, the MOSFET has a certain response to different types of signals such that it's wise to characterize the signal you give it and find a mosfet that's rated for the best response in that range.
Now compare that with an Optoisolating Triac Driver that also might get wired up the same way as a MOSFET, but does a different job. It's meant to protect on curcuit from another.
Here is an example where a doorbell signal controls a camera shutter
MOCO 3020 Optoisolator Triac Driver - Media:161-12855-0-MOC3010.pdf
the idea I think is that the signal from doorbell is isolated from the shutter control. I play in software alot , so I might liken it to input validation.
You are proecting the delcate camera bits from the door bell bits.
