Valve Amplifiers are regarded by many to be the ne plus ultra when it comes to processing audio signals. The combination of classical technology and modern components has resulted in a revival of the valve amplifier. The use of toraidal-core output transformers, developed by the author over the past 15 years, has contributed to this revival. The most remarkable features of these transformers are their extremely wide frequency ranges and their very low levels of linear and nonlinear distortion. This book explains the whys and wherefores of toroidal output transformers at various technical levels, starting with elementary concepts and culminating in complete mathematical descriptions. In all of this, the interactions of the output valves, transformer and loudspeaker form the central theme. Next come the practical aspects. The schematic diagram of a valve amplifier often appears to be very simple at first glance, but anyone who has built a modern valve amplifier knows that a lot of critical details are hidden behind this apparent simplicity. These are discussed extensively, in connection with designs for amplifiers with output powers ranging from 10 to 100 watts. Finally, the author gives some attention to a number of special valve amplifiers, and to the theory and practice of negative feedback. In summary, this book offers innovative solutions for achieving perfect audio quality. Do-it-yourself builders, as well as persons who want to gain a deeper technical understanding of the complex world of audio transformers, valve amplifiers and audio signal processing, will find this book a rich and useful source of information.

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This book is about DC electric motors and their use in Arduino and Raspberry Pi Zero W based projects. The book includes many tested and working projects where each project has the following sub-headings: Title of the project Description of the project Block diagram Circuit diagram Project assembly Complete program listing of the project Full description of the program The projects in the book cover the standard DC motors, stepper motors, servo motors, and mobile robots. The book is aimed at students, hobbyists, and anyone else interested in developing microcontroller based projects using the Arduino Uno or the Raspberry Pi Zero W. One of the nice features of this book is that it gives complete projects for remote control of a mobile robot from a mobile phone, using the Arduino Uno as well as the Raspberry Pi Zero W development boards. These projects are developed using Wi-Fi as well as the Bluetooth connectivity with the mobile phone. Readers should be able to move a robot forward, reverse, turn left, or turn right by sending simple commands from a mobile phone. Full program listings of all the projects as well as the detailed program descriptions are given in the book. Users should be able to use the projects as they are presented, or modify them to suit to their own needs.

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Architecture, Programming and Applications The MSP430 is a popular family of microcontrollers from Texas Instruments. In this book we will work with the smallest type, which is the powerful MSP430G2553. We will look at the capabilities of this microcontroller in detail, as it is well-suited for self-made projects because it is available in a P-DIP20 package. We will take a closer look at the microcontroller and then build, step by step, some interesting applications, including a 'Hello World' blinking LED and a nice clock application, which can calculate the day of the week based on the date. You also will learn how to create code for the MSP microcontroller in assembler. In addition to that, we will work with the MSP-Arduino IDE, which makes it quite easy to create fast applications without special in-depth knowledge of the microcontrollers. All the code used in the book is available for download from the Elektor website.

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Multitasking and multiprocessing have become a very important topic in microcontroller-based systems, namely in complex commercial, domestic, and industrial automation applications. As the complexity of projects grows, more functionalities are demanded from the projects. Such projects require the use of multiple inter-related tasks running on the same system and sharing the available resources, such as the CPU, memory, and input-output ports. As a result of this, the importance of multitasking operations in microcontroller-based applications has grown steadily over the last few years. Many complex automation projects now make use of some form of a multitasking kernel. This book is project-based and its main aim is to teach the basic features of multitasking using the Python 3 programming language on Raspberry Pi. Many fully tested projects are provided in the book using the multitasking modules of Python. Each project is described fully and in detail. Complete program listings are given for each project. Readers should be able to use the projects as they are, or modify them to suit their own needs. The following Python multitasking modules have been described and used in the projects: Fork Thread Threading Subprocess Multiprocessing The book includes simple multitasking projects such as independently controlling multiple LEDs, to more complex multitasking projects such as on/off temperature control, traffic lights control, 2-digit, and 4-digit 7-segment LED event counter, reaction timer, stepper motor control, keypad based projects, car park controller, and many more. The fundamental multitasking concepts such as process synchronization, process communication, and memory sharing techniques have been described in projects concerning event flags, queues, semaphores, values, and so on.

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From basics to flows for sensors, automation, motors, MQTT, and cloud services This book is a learning guide and a reference. Use it to learn Node-RED, Raspberry Pi Pico W, and MicroPython, and add these state-of-the-art tools to your technology toolkit. It will introduce you to virtual machines, Docker, and MySQL in support of IoT projects based on Node-RED and the Raspberry Pi Pico W. This book combines several elements into a platform that powers the development of modern Internet of Things applications. These elements are a flow-based server, a WiFi-enabled microcontroller, a high-level programming language, and a deployment technology. Combining these elements gives you the tools you need to create automation systems at any scale. From home automation to industrial automation, this book will help you get started. Node-RED is an open-source flow-based development tool that makes it easy to wire together devices, APIs, and online services. Drag and drop nodes to create a flowchart that turns on your lights at sunset or sends you an email when a sensor detects movement. Raspberry Pi Pico W is a version of the Raspberry Pi Pico with added 802.11n Wi-Fi capability. It is an ideal device for physical computing tasks and an excellent match to the Node-RED. Quick book facts Project-based learning approach. Assumes no prior knowledge of flow-based programming tools. Learn to use essential infrastructure tools in your projects, such as virtual machines, Docker, MySQL and useful web APIs such as Google Sheets and OpenWeatherMap. Dozens of mini-projects supported by photographs, wiring schematics, and source code. Get these from the book GitHub repository. Step-by-step instructions on everything. All experiments are based on the Raspberry Pi Pico W. A Wi-Fi network is required for all projects. Hardware (including the Raspberry Pi Pico W) is available as a kit. Downloads GitHub

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Hands-on in more than 50 projects STM32 Nucleo family of processors are manufactured by STMicroelectronics. These are low-cost ARM microcontroller development boards. This book is about developing projects using the popular STM32CubeIDE software with the Nucleo-L476RG development board. In the early Chapters of the book the architecture of the Nucleo family is briefly described. The book covers many projects using most features of the Nucleo-L476RG development board where the full software listings for the STM32CubeIDE are given for each project together with extensive descriptions. The projects range from simple flashing LEDs to more complex projects using modules, devices, and libraries such as GPIO, ADC, DAC, I²C, SPI, LCD, DMA, analogue inputs, power management, X-CUBE-MEMS1 library, DEBUGGING, and others. In addition, several projects are given using the popular Nucleo Expansion Boards. These Expansion Boards plug on top of the Nucleo development boards and provide sensors, relays, accelerometers, gyroscopes, Wi-Fi, and many others. Using an expansion board together with the X-CUBE-MEMS1 library simplifies the task of project development considerably. All the projects in the book have been tested and are working. The following sub-headings are given for each project: Project Title, Description, Aim, Block Diagram, Circuit Diagram, and Program Listing for the STM32CubeIDE. In this book you will learn about STM32 microcontroller architecture; the Nucleo-L476RG development board in projects using the STM32CubeIDE integrated software development tool; external and internal interrupts and DMA; DEBUG, a program developed using the STM32CubeIDE; the MCU in Sleep, Stop, and in Standby modes; Nucleo Expansion Boards with the Nucleo development boards. What you need a PC with Internet connection and a USB port; STM32CubeIDE software (available at STMicroelectronics website free of charge) the project source files, available from the book’s webpage hosted by Elektor; Nucleo-L476RG development board; simple electronic devices such as LEDs, temperature sensor, I²C and SPI chips, and a few more; Nucleo Expansion Boards (optional).

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Modular and Scalable Control Systems Using Structured Text This book offers a structured and practical approach to modern PLC development using object-oriented principles. It is a guide for engineers, programmers, and students seeking to harness the power of object-oriented programming (OOP) in the context of industrial automation with PLCs. The content focuses on the CODESYS development environment and Structured Text (ST), both of which support modern programming techniques while maintaining compatibility with real-time automation requirements. Through step-by-step demos and instructional examples, it demonstrates how modular, reusable code can enhance development efficiency, simplify ongoing maintenance, and enable scalable and flexible control system architectures. Key topics include: Structured Text fundamentals: conditions, loops, arrays, and functions Object-oriented concepts: classes, methods, and inheritance Advanced techniques: polymorphism, interfaces, and access control Modular design with reusable components and structured program flow Implementation of finite state machines and scalable application design Built around instructional demos and clear explanations, this book helps readers develop maintainable and modern control software in the CODESYS environment using proven programming techniques.

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Understanding and Using Them Effectively What happens in electronics is invisible to the naked eye. The instrument that allows to accurately visualize electrical signals, the one through which the effects of electronics become apparent to us, is the oscilloscope. Alas, when one first ventures into electronics, it is often without an oscilloscope. And one is left fumbling, both physically and mentally. Observing an electrical signal on a screen for the first time is a revelation. Nobody wishes to forgo that marvel again. There is no turning back. In electronics, if one wishes to progress with both enjoyment and understanding, an oscilloscope is essential. This marks the beginning of a period of questioning: how to choose one? And no sooner is that question answered than a whole string of others arises, which can be summed up in just one: how does one use the oscilloscope in such a way that what it displays truly reflects the reality of the signals? Rémy Mallard is a passionate communicator with a gift for making complex technical subjects understandable and engaging. In this book, he provides clear answers to essential questions about using an oscilloscope and offers a wealth of guidance to help readers explore and understand the electrical signals behind electronic systems. With his accessible style and practical insights, this book is a valuable tool for anyone eager to deepen their understanding of electronics.

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A Small Basic Approach There are many different PC programming languages available on the market. Some have beautiful names; some have easy to use development tools. Others have incredible power. They all have one thing in common: they assume that you have, or want to have, a knack for technology and difficult to read commands. In this book we take a practical approach to programming. We assume that you simply want to write a PC program, and write it quickly. Not in a professional environment, not in order to start a new career, but for plain and simple fun... or just to get a task done. Therefore we use Small Basic. You will have an application up and running in a matter of minutes. You will understand exactly how it works and be able to write text programs, graphical user interfaces, and advanced drivers. It is so simple; you don't even need to be an adult!

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The software simulation of gauges, control-knobs, meters and indicators which behave just like real hardware components on a PC’s screen is known as virtual instrumentation. In this book, the Delphi program is used to create these mimics and PIC based external sensors are connected via a USB/RS232 converter communication link to a PC. Detailed case studies in this Book include a virtual compass displayed on the PC’s screen, a virtual digital storage oscilloscope, virtual -50 to +125 degree C thermometer, and FFT sound analyser, a joystick mouse and many examples detailing virtual instrumentation Delphi components. Arizona’s embedded microcontrollers – the PIC's are used in the projects and include PIC16F84A, PIC16C71, DSPIC30F6012A, PIC16F877, PIC12F629 and the PIC16F887. Much use is made of Microchip’s 44 pin development board (a virtual instrument ‘engine)’, equipped with a PIC16F887 with an onboard potentiometer in conjunction with the PIC’s ADC to simulate the generation of a variable voltage from a sensor/transducer, a UART to enable PC RS232 communications and a bank of 8 LED's to monitor received data is also equipped with an ISP connector to which the ‘PICKIT 2’ programmer may easily be connected. Full source code examples are provided both for several different PIC’s, both in assembler and C, together with the Pascal code for the Delphi programs which use different 3rd party Delphi virtual components.

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in 10 captivating lessons Using the lessons in this book you learn how to program a microcontroller. You’ll be using JAL, a free but extremely powerful programming language for PIC microcontrollers, which enjoys great popularity in the hobby world. Starting out from scratch virtually, you slowly build up the knowledge. No previous knowledge is needed: anyone can get started with this book. Assuming you have absorbed all lessons – meaning you have actually completed all the exercises – you should be confident to write PIC microcontroller programs, as well as read and understand programs written by other people. JAL commands You learn the function of JAL commands such as include, pin, delay, forever loop, while loop, case, exit loop, repeat until, if then, as well as the use of functions, procedures and timer- and port interrupts. JAL programs You make an LED blink, build a time switch, measure a potentiometer’s wiper position, produce sounds, suppress contact bounce, and control the brightness of an LED. And of course you learn to debug, meaning: how to spot and fix errors in your programs. Hardware You learn to recognize various components including the PIC microcontroller, potentiometer and quartz crystal, and how to wire up a PIC microcontroller and effectively link it to your PC. A breadboard is used for the purpose, allowing you to easily modify the component arrangement for further experimenting. The companion software with this book can be downloaded free of charge, including the JAL programming language. In addition, you may order a kit of parts so you don’t have to go shopping for the required components. Especially for a beginner, this is the easiest way to start with this unique pastime. Having finished this book does not mean you are through with your pastime. You can get your hands dirty again, and if desired use other books packed with fun projects using the JAL programming language. More information may be found at the end of the lessons in the chapter "Done! What’s next?""

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The Piccolino rapid development board can be used to design microcontroller circuits quickly. The Piccolino has a fast 16f887 PIC microcontroller, voltage regulator, and communications module, and can be easily extended using its four headers. This e-book contains 30 projects based on the Piccolino. We'll use its unique communications facilities and get the Piccolino to communicate with programs on a PC. On the PC, we use the free programming language Small Basic. You can use this to create Windows programs with buttons and graphs quickly. You will learn how to analyze components such as inductors, capacitors, and OPAMPs, and how to display the measurement results in a graphical format. This will help you to design your circuits easily. We will then start to adapt to the Piccolino. We'll add components to it to make it more powerful, with extra features such as flow control and digital to analog conversion. The clear instructions will enable you to design and build your adaptations. This way you can make your custom designed Piccolino. We'll end up making an extension: a PCB that that can be mounted on the Piccolino headers. As an example, we'll design and build an extension for an LCD. You can use the included board layout to make your PCB or have it made for you. At the same time, you will learn how to make your extensions. The only limitation is your imagination! The clear descriptions along with circuit diagrams and photos, will make the building of these projects an enjoyable experience. Each project has a clear explanation of the reasons why it was designed in a particular way. This helps you learn a lot about the Piccolino, as well as Small Basic, and the components that are used in this e-book. You can adapt the projects to suit your requirements or combine several projects.

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The Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller development system encompassing hardware, an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and a vast number of libraries. It is supported by an enormous community of programmers, electronic engineers, enthusiasts, and academics. The libraries in particular really smooth Arduino programming and reduce programming time. What’s more, the libraries greatly facilitate testing your programs since most come fully tested and working. The Raspberry Pi 4 can be used in many applications such as audio and video media devices. It also works in industrial controllers, robotics, games, and in many domestic and commercial applications. The Raspberry Pi 4 also offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability which makes it great for remote and Internet-based control and monitoring applications. This book is about using both the Raspberry Pi 4 and the Arduino Uno in PID-based automatic control applications. The book starts with basic theory of the control systems and feedback control. Working and tested projects are given for controlling real-life systems using PID controllers. The open-loop step time response, tuning the PID parameters, and the closed-loop time response of the developed systems are discussed together with the block diagrams, circuit diagrams, PID controller algorithms, and the full program listings for both the Raspberry Pi and the Arduino Uno. The projects given in the book aim to teach the theory and applications of PID controllers and can be modified easily as desired for other applications. The projects given for the Raspberry Pi 4 should work with all other models of Raspberry Pi family. The book covers the following topics: Open-loop and closed-loop control systems Analog and digital sensors Transfer functions and continuous-time systems First-order and second-order system time responses Discrete-time digital systems Continuous-time PID controllers Discrete-time PID controllers ON-OFF temperature control with Raspberry Pi and Arduino Uno PID-based temperature control with Raspberry Pi and Arduino Uno PID-based DC motor control with Raspberry Pi and Arduino Uno PID-based water level control with Raspberry Pi and Arduino Uno PID-based LED-LDR brightness control with Raspberry Pi and Arduino Uno

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ModbusRTU and ModbusTCP examples with the Arduino Uno and ESP8266 Introduction to PLC programming with OpenPLC, the first fully open source Programmable Logic Controller on the Raspberry Pi, and Modbus examples with Arduino Uno and ESP8266 PLC programming is very common in industry and home automation. This book describes how the Raspberry Pi 4 can be used as a Programmable Logic Controller. Before taking you into the programming, the author starts with the software installation on the Raspberry Pi and the PLC editor on the PC, followed by a description of the hardware. You'll then find interesting examples in the different programming languages complying with the IEC 61131-3 standard. This manual also explains in detail how to use the PLC editor and how to load and execute the programs on the Raspberry Pi. All IEC languages are explained with examples, starting with LD (Ladder Diagram) over ST (Structured Control Language) to SFC (Special Function Chart). All examples can be downloaded from the author's website. Networking gets thorough attention too. The Arduino Uno and the ESP8266 are programmed as ModbusRTU or ModbusTCP modules to get access to external peripherals, reading sensors and switching electrical loads. I/O circuits complying with the 24 V industry standard may also be of interest for the reader. The book ends with an overview of commands for ST and LD. After reading the book, the reader will be able to create his own controllers with the Raspberry Pi.

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This book is for people who want to understand how AC drives (also known as inverter drives) work and how they are used in industry by showing mainly the practical design and application of drives. The key principles of power electronics are described and presented in a simple way, as are the basics of both DC and AC motors. The different parts of an AC drive are explained, together with the theoretical background and the practical design issues such as cooling and protection. An important part of the book gives details of the features and functions often found in AC drives and gives practical advice on how and where to use these. Also described is future drive technology, including a matrix inverter. The mathematics is kept to an essential minimum. Some basic understanding of mechanical and electrical theory is presumed, and a basic knowledge of single andthree phase AC systems would be useful. Anyone who uses or installs drives, or is just interested in how these powerful electronic products operate and control modern industry, will find this book fascinating and informative.

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Easy and Affordable Digital Signal ProcessingThe aim of this book is to teach the basic principles of Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and to introduce it from a practical point of view using the bare minimum of mathematics. Only the basic level of discrete-time systems theory is given, sufficient to implement DSP applications in real time. The practical implementations are described in real time using the highly popular ESP32 DevKitC microcontroller development board. With the low cost and extremely popular ESP32 microcontroller, you should be able to design elementary DSP projects with sampling frequencies within the audio range. All programming is done using the popular Arduino IDE in conjunction with the C language compiler.After laying a solid foundation of DSP theory and pertinent discussions on the main DSP software tools on the market, the book presents the following audio-based sound and DSP projects: Using an I²S-based digital microphone to capture audio sound Using an I²S-based class-D audio amplifier and speaker Playing MP3 music stored on an SD card through an I²S-based amplifier and speaker Playing MP3 music files stored in ESP32 flash memory through an I²S-based amplifier and speaker Mono and stereo Internet radio with I²S-based amplifiers and speakers Text-to-speech output with an I²S-based amplifier and speaker Using the volume control in I²S-based amplifier and speaker systems A speaking event counter with an I²S-based amplifier and speaker An adjustable sinewave generator with I²S-based amplifier and speaker Using the Pmod I²S2 24-bit fast ADC/DAC module Digital low-pass and band-pass real-time FIR filter design with external and internal A/D and D/A conversion Digital low-pass and band-pass real-time IIR filter design with external and internal A/D and D/A conversion Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT)

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Learning circuit design the fun way Welcome to the world of electronics! Getting started in electronics is not as difficult as you may think. Using this book, you will explore and learn the most important electrical and electronics engineering concepts in a fun way by doing various experiments and by simulating circuits. It will teach you electronics practically without getting into complex technical jargon and long calculations. As a result, you will be creating your own projects soon. No prior knowledge of electronics is required, only some basic algebra is used in a few simple calculations. Many tested and working projects and simulations are presented to familiarise yourself with the construction of electronic circuits. Circuit simulation is introduced at an early stage to enable you to experiment with circuits easily without breaking anything. You will learn: The concepts of voltage, current, and power AC and DC Basic lamp circuits with switches Passive components: resistors, capacitors & inductors RC & RCL circuits Electromagnetism Loudspeakers, relays, buzzers, and transformers Active components: diodes & LEDs, bipolar transistors & MOSFETs Transistor-based switching circuits Optocoupler circuits Astable & monostable multivibrators Using the 555 timer IC The operational amplifier Digital logic Advanced examples: amplifiers, oscillators, filters, and sensors Test and measurement tools Microcontrollers: Arduino UNO, ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico, and Raspberry Pi Reading datasheets and best practices for selecting components EMC & EMI and norms & regulations

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From Simple Ciphers to Secure Systems Understanding how to apply cryptography on modern microcontrollers is essential for building secure, reliable, and trustworthy systems. This book explains cryptography in the context of embedded hardware, from classical ciphers that illustrate core principles to modern techniques such as AES for practical high-security applications. By combining mathematical theory with real-world microcontroller implementations, readers learn not only how cryptography works, but also how to implement it effectively on systems with limited processing power and memory. The book is intended for students starting out in cryptography, hobbyists securing personal projects, and engineers looking for a structured guide to embedded security. The book covers these key topics in applied cryptography: Classical ciphers on Arduino Uno and Raspberry Pi Pico, with full programs: Spartan Scytale, Hebrew Atbash, Caesar, ROT13, Alberti Disk, Vigenère, Affine, Polybius, Playfair, Beaufort, Ottoman Codebook, and One-Time Pad. Hacking classical ciphers using microcontrollers, with examples. Pseudo-random (PRNG) and true random number generation (TRNG) on microcontrollers. Symmetric-key cryptography with full programs: DES and AES-128/256. Memory and speed constraints of cryptography on microcontrollers. Asymmetric cryptography: public/private keys, digital signatures, key distribution and derivation (KDF), RSA, and SHA-256 implementations. A complete secure communication program using RSA and AES-256. A glossary of commonly used cryptography terms.

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