Loughborough Summer School 2015
Sponsored by ICSAT
Making Electronics simple for
everyone!
Brian P Smith
Welcome
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Good morning and welcome to the Making Electronics Simple for eveyone! Workshop
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I’m Brian Smith and I have been teaching electronics and computing for 34 years and
have created a number of commercial products – Kidschip, Learn & Go, eChip
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This session is sponsored by ICSAT – CPD provider and Resources developer run by 3
‘grumpy’ old men (Brian Russell, Brian Smith & George Asquith)
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In the next 2:45 hrs we will be taking a look at Electronics for KS3, how to get started
and design electronic systems
It will be a ‘hands on’ session
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Aims of the Session
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To review the requirements for electronics at KS3 and 4
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To introduce the Input – Process – Output model of circuit design
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To develop simple electronic design skills using IPO cards
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To develop skills in using breadboards and circuit simulation for prototyping circuits
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To show how microcontrollers can be used to apply computing principles and embed
intelligence into pupil work at KS3 by upgrading circuits and projects
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To have a practical experience of microcontrollers
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To identify next steps in further developing your own use of electronics &
programmable components in the classroom.
Making Electronics simple for everyone!
INTRODUCTION
Electronics in NC 2014
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The key requirement are:
apply their understanding of computing to program, monitor and control their
products . KS2
apply computing and use electronics to embed intelligence in products that
respond to inputs such as sensors, and control outputs such as actuators, using
programmable components such as microcontrollers. KS3
Brian P Smith
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What does it mean in practice?
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It translates into:
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‘The need to teach more advanced electronics that embed intelligence into the
products they design and make’
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This doesn’t mean more difficult, as embedded electronics has moved on in terms
of the development tools and support available
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We need to have high aspirations in this field of D&T to meet the challenges of the
21st Century Designing & Making leading into world class manufacturing and
engineering.
Brian P Smith
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A suggested route
GCSE Draft Technical Content
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how mechanical and electrical power is
stored in order to choose and use
appropriate sources of power to make
products and systems work.
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the key elements of open and closed
systems, including subsystems, and
systems thinking
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how electronic systems provide
functionality to products, including:
switches and sensors to respond to a
variety of input signals; process/control
devices to switch, time and amplify;
and devices to produce a range of
outputs including light, sound and
motion
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the use of programmable components,
including microcontrollers and coding,
to embed functionality into products in
order to enhance and customise their
operation
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the functions of mechanical devices, to
produce different sorts of movement,
changing the magnitude and direction
of forces
What are your thoughts?
Remember to feedback via the
consultation process.
Making Electronics simple for everyone!
GETTING STARTED
Electronic Systems
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All electronic devices can be described in systems terms – what blocks are they
made up from?
All systems have the same basic layout as shown below:
OPEN LOOP
INPUTS
PROCESS
OUTPUTS
CLOSED LOOP
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A system that just uses inputs, process and outputs is an Open Loop system,
it doesn’t monitor or use it’s output to alter its function. One that does is known
as a Closed Loop system.
Update Systems diagram
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The traditional systems diagram needs updating for the following reasons:
– To make it easier to use as a design tool
– To break systems down into small known blocks and components
– To take account of the change in electronics to a more Embedded solutions
INPUTS
PROCESS
CODE
Microcontrollers
INTERFACE
OUTPUTS
Electronic Designers Toolkit
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To assist with the need to design electronic systems I have developed a set of:
• Input Process Output Interface Code cards
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These cards:
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Provide a wide range of building blocks for electronic system design
Contain key information & maths required
Designed for students & teachers starting out
Great aide memoire for experienced teachers
Contain a blocks you might not have come across before
Colour coded to block type
Block type Analogue / Digital identified
Toolkit Cards for Electronics
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Toolkit Cards for Electronics.
The cards cover the following areas:
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Inputs – 16+ cards with example circuits and
calculation info
Process – 25+ cards with example circuits
and calculation info
Interface – 6+ cards with example circuits
Output – 16+ cards with example circuits
and calculation info
Coding – 16+ cards with example code
snippets for standard and more advanced
functions commonly needed
Power – 6+ cards with example circuits and
calculation info
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Available Sept 2015
Making Electronics simple for everyone!
PRACTICAL 1
Light activated night light
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Challenge:
– To design, simulate and make a light activated night light
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Questions to ask:
– Which input block do I need?
– Which process block(s) do I need?
– Which output block do I need?
• Pick a card(s)
Design, Simulate and Make
1. Using the Toolkit cards design a system to meet the challenge
2. Using Crocodile Technology on the PC’s, create and test your circuit
3. Using the Breadboard and the components available make a prototype of your
circuit
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Allows remember to record your work on paper and/or photo’s
Possible solution(s)
NPN Transistor
What variation have I used and why?
N MOSFET Transistor
Fritzing
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Fritzing is a free circuit design
software that:
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Uses virtual breadboard
Creates schematics from the
breadboard design
PCB design from the breadboard /
schematic design
Programming for Arduino & PICAXE
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Making Electronics simple for everyone!
PRACTICAL 2
Touch activated light
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Challenge:
– To design, simulate and make a touch activated light
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Questions to ask:
– Which input block do I need?
– Which process block(s) do I need?
– Which output block do I need?
• Pick a card(s)
Design, Simulate and Make
1. Using the Toolkit cards design a system to meet the challenge
2. Using Crocodile Technology on the PC’s, create and test your circuit
3. Using the Breadboard and the components available make a prototype of your
circuit
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Allows remember to record your work on paper and/or photo’s
Possible solution(s)
NPN Transistor
Here’s a smart alternative
N MOSFET Transistor
Here’s a smart alternative
N MOSFET with memory
Explanation
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The MOSFET transistor use voltage to
switch on and off, but uses very little
current to do so approx 10nA
The capacitor stores voltage, which
keeps the transistor switched on,
until it is discharge by pressing switch
2
The two switches can be replaced by
copper strip or wire and by just
bridging the gap with your finger it
will still work – a switch with NO
moving parts.
Making Electronics simple for everyone!
PRACTICAL 3
Flashing safety light
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Challenge:
– To design, simulate and make a flashing safety light
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Questions to ask:
– Which input block do I need?
– Which process block(s) do I need?
– Which output block do I need?
• Pick a card(s)
Design, Simulate and Make
1. Using the Toolkit cards design a system to meet the challenge
2. Using Crocodile Technology on the PC’s, create and test your circuit
3. Using the Breadboard and the components available make a prototype of your
circuit
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Allows remember to record your work on paper and/or photo’s
Possible solution(s)
555 Timer
74HC14 / 40106
Here’s a couple more
NAND gate - 4011
NOR gate 4001
1. Any how do these 2 related to the 74HC14 & 40106?
2. What block would you add to allow them to drive more LEDs?
3. How could you make them emit audio tones?
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Sketch up a solution to Q2 & Q3
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Most logic chips contain at least 4 gates & are cheap
Making Electronics simple for everyone!
PRACTICAL 4
PIC based flashing safety light
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Challenge:
– To design, simulate and make a PIC based flashing safety light
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Questions to ask:
– Which input block do I need?
– Which process block(s) do I need?
– Which output block do I need?
• Pick a card(s)
Design, Simulate and Make
1. Using the Toolkit cards design a system to meet the challenge
2. Using Crocodile Technology on the PC’s, create and test your circuit
3. Using the Breadboard and the components available make a prototype of your
circuit
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Allows remember to record your work on paper and/or photo’s
Possible solution(s)
PICAXE based
Genie based
How could you drive more LEDs?
What else could the PIC do with the LEDs?
Pin 4 is an analogue input, what block(s) could you attach to give sensing?
Other μC solutions
Arduino Uno
AVR ATtiny
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There are many clones which are cheaper,
the software is free and vast amount of
support on the net
A simple 8 pin
Arduino chip,
uses a £14
programmer or
an Arduino.
Can run small
simple Arduino
code and costs
50p
Same software
as the full
Arduino and is
free.
Making Electronics simple for everyone!
PRACTICAL 5
Have a play
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Challenge:
– To design, simulate and make a ???
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Questions to ask:
– Which input block do I need?
– Which process block(s) do I need?
– Which output block do I need?
• Pick a card(s)
Design, Simulate and Make
1. Using the Toolkit cards design a system to meet the challenge
2. Using Crocodile Technology on the PC’s, create and test your circuit
3. Using the Breadboard and the components available make a prototype of your
circuit
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Allows remember to record your work on paper and/or photo’s
Possible solution(s)
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What have you come up with?
Did it work?
Is it the basis for a project?
Exploring programmable electronics, robotics and coding
IT’S A WRAP
I hope that you have found it useful and
enjoyable and that electronics might not seem
as daunting now.
Key points from the workshop
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Positives
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Things to target / develop
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What are your concerns?
Electronic Designers Toolkit Cards
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For Sept we have developed a set of
Toolkit Cards for Electronics.
The cards cover the following areas:
Inputs – 16+ cards with example circuits
and calculation info
Process – 25+ cards with example circuits
and calculation info
Interface – 6+ cards with example circuits
Output – 16+ cards with example circuits
and calculation info
Coding – 16+ cards with example code
snippets for standard and more advanced
functions commonly needed
Power – 6+ cards with example circuits
and calculation info
Cost to be confirmed
DATA Key Materials
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For the new KS3 DATA has produced a
set of Key Materials to help teachers
lock into the expectations of the new
curriculum for D&T
These materials are not full SoW, but
give an example learning programme
in the areas of:
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Product Design
Textiles
Systems & Control
Food & Nutrition
The each area has four facets:
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Mainly Design
Mainly Making
Design & Make
Technology in Society
They can used in a variety of ways,
for the whole KS, one year group, or
one facet etc.
Fully referenced to the NC 2014
Learning objectives
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Thank you for your time
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Course for Electronics & PIC’s, Crumble & Arduino next term
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Look on our website: www.icsat.co.uk
Checkout our eShop: www.eshop.icsat.co.uk
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If you don’t see what you are looking for talk to us, we can tailor course and
meetings to suit your needs.
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Tell your colleagues about us.