The Engineering Projects

Characteristics of Blockchain Technology

Hi friends, hope you are doing well. I have given you an introduction to Blockchain Technology and ethereum in my previous tutorials. In today’s article, I am going to talk about the characteristics of blockchain. There are several key characteristics of blockchain technology that make it different and usable from other technologies. The architecture of blockchain is so unique that it inherently provides a lot of features to this technology. These features have benefits for several areas and sectors so let’s discuss these characteristic features.

Characteristics of Blockchain

We have already discussed the components of Blockchain in our previous tutorial Introduction to BlockChain Technology. Now, let's understand the characteristics of Blockchain one by one:

1. Decentralization

• The most important one on the list is decentralization so I am going to explain it first.
• Blockchain is entirely different from traditional internet architecture where each computer or system is connected to a central server. The central server is responsible for managing data.
• In the blockchain, each system has access to the whole data with no central server controlling the operations. No organization is in charge of the data.
• The consensus mechanism in the blockchain is responsible for controlling the network.
• Each node has an updated copy of data and execution power instead of only one server having data and execution control.
• The benefits of decentralization are listed below:

Less Failure

• One benefit of decentralization is that the network and data are available always even if some server or node is not accessible.

User Control

• Users have full control of their assets and transactions.

No Intermediary

• There is no need for a central authority for verifying transactions.

Less possibility of hacking

• Attacking the system requires a lot of computing power.

Distributed Ledger

• The next feature is distributed ledger and to understand this, I will define ledger first. A ledger is a file for recording the transactions.
• An example is the ledgers in banks. All transactions of an account are listed in the ledger in an order. Each new transaction is added to it while retaining the previous record.
• Similarly, every approved transaction is added to the blockchain ledger while maintaining the previous history.
• The blockchain ledger is open to everyone as any node can view the transactions.
• Also, every node on the network is connected to other nodes of the network in many to many connections which makes it a distributed network.
• The network is maintained by all of the nodes. Each node provides computational power to this system.
• Some of the benefits of a distributed ledger are as follow:
  • Fast Response: As the network is distributed with no central power, the transactions take less time.
  • Participation: Every node participates in maintaining the record and database. Each node takes part in the validation process.
  • No Tempering in Data: Each node has a copy of data, a single node cannot temper the past data. Any malicious activity is noticed easily.
  • Equal Privileges: All nodes in the distributed network go through the same process of transaction verification.
• This was some idea of a distributed ledger in the blockchain. Next, I will talk about the Immutability feature.

Immutability

• Immutability is a core characteristic of blockchain. Immutable refers to something that cannot be changed with time.
• The data stored in the blockchain cannot be corrupted and this is a very useful and interesting feature.
• In the blockchain, immutability means that any records or transactions stored in it can never be changed or removed. Let’s explain how immutability works here.
• The data in the blockchain is added in the form of blocks. These blocks are verified by nodes and every entity of the network accepts them.
• Every node has a copy of data and changing a single copy residing on a single node cannot alter the data on the entire network.
• The data in each block is cryptographically secure and hashed. Each block is identified by its hash value and each block has the hash value of the previous block too.
• Changing the data of a block changes its hash value too and as each block contains information of the previous block the hash no longer matches with the next block of the chain.
• So, the distributed nature and cryptography make the data immutable in the blockchain.
• Once a transaction is recorded in a block, verified by nodes, and added to the blockchain, no one is able to modify or remove that from the database.

Security

• The next feature that I am going to discuss is security. The architecture of blockchain provides data security.
• Due to cryptography, all information is secure in the database and that makes it different from the existing internet structure.
• The account information is also secure and the identity of each node is hidden. Each account has a private and public key. The private key is secured and cannot be generated via public key.
• The network is controlled by a set of rules instead of any authority. So, no one is able to change the rules for themselves. The system enforces security and integrity itself.
• Now let’s talk about another important feature i.e., traceability.

Traceability

• Blockchain provides the traceability feature.
• Traceability means being able to trace and track the origin of something. Traceability allows verifying the source or origin, history, and all data of a product.
• As blockchain is an immutable database, any asset or transactional data can be traced back.
• The origin of any transaction can be traced back to the distributed ledger.
• This characteristic is very useful in a lot of applications such as in a supply chain network.

Cryptographic Hashing

• I have already given you an idea of what cryptographic hashing is in this article. The blockchain transactions are all cryptographically secured.
• The transactions in a block are hashed and thus converted to a fixed-length value. This value is stored in the block.
• Data can be converted to a hash value but a hash value cannot be converted back to input data which implies that cryptographic hashing is a one-way function.
• The pair of a public and a private key for each account also has cryptography associated with it. The public key is generated from the private key. The private key is secured and not shared on the network while the public key is open on the network. The public key can be generated via private key using cryptographic functions but the private key cannot be generated using public key due to the one-way nature of cryptographic functions.

Anonymity

• Having discussed the important features of blockchain technology, let’s not leave out another significant property that is anonymity.
• On a blockchain network, the true identity of a participant is hidden.
• Each participant of the distributed network has an address associated with it. This address is the identity of that entity instead of a true identity.
• The addresses keep the user anonymous on the network.

So, I have explained the basic characteristics of blockchain that make it unique from the traditional systems. I am hoping that you will get an idea of the benefits of blockchain after reading this article. I will come with another useful article next time. Till then, take care!

Buck Converter using MOSFET Gate Driver in Proteus

Hey Geeks! Welcome to The Engineering Projects. We hope you are doing great. MOSFET is a predominant component widely used in electronics due to its performance. We are working on the Projects of MOSFET and today's experiment is really interesting. We are working on the MOSFET Gate Driver and we will work on the following concepts:

1. Introduction to MOSFET Gate Driver.
2. Circuit of MOSFET Gate Driver.
3. Working of MOSFET Gate Driver.
4. Simulation of MOSFET Gate Driver in Proteus.
5. Applications of MOSFET Gate Driver.

You will find important information about the topic in DID YOU KNOW sections.

Introduction to MOSFET Gate Driver

We all know MOSFET is a type of transistor and is used in a wide range of circuits. It has many interesting features and the characteristics of MOSFET are at the fingertips of electrical and electronic engineers. The circuit of the MOSFET Gate Driver may be new for many students so let's have a look at its definition:

"The MOSFET Gate Driver is a type of DC to DC power amplifier that in the form of on-chip as well as discrete module in which we use MOSFET as the gate driver IC, the low power is taken as input from MOSFET and high power is obtained its gate terminal and vice versa according to need." 

DID YOU KNOW?

The name of the MOSFET Gate Driver is due to its characteristic to have the high current drive gate input of a Transistor. We use the MOSFET because it is a gate driver IC.

MOSFET is used in this circuit because it is commonly used in switching devices where the frequency ranges from hundred of KHz to thousands of KHz. It is mostly used in appliances where we need DC to DC amplification. It is used in computers to low their temperature during their performance. The MOSFET Gate driver is used to change the value of DC according to the circuit of the appliances. There are three types of drivers:

1. High side drivers.
2. Low side Driver.
3. Isolated Drivers.

 

Circuit of MOSFET Gate driver

When we look at the circuit of the MOSFET Gate drive, we found there are some basic as well as some special components in the circuit. In addition to MOSFET, the circuit consists of resistor, capacitor, inductor and IR2101. Let's look at their functions:

MOSFET

• Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors have a thin layer of silicon oxide between Gate and channel. It four terminals:  Gate, Drain, Source.

IR2101

It is IC that works very great with MOSFET. We use it in the MOSFET Gate driver to insert the voltage in the Gate terminal of the MOSFET in the form of pulses. We define the IR2101 as:

"It is  seven pins, high power, high voltage, MOSFET and IGBT driver that has independent high and low channel references."

The detail of the pins is given as:

1. Vcc: This Pin is for Low side and logic fixed supply voltage.
2. Vs: It is for High side floating supply offset voltage.
3. Hin: High side gate driver output is taken by this pin.
4. HO: We get High side gate drive output through this pin.
5. Lin: Low side gate driver output is taken by this pin.
6. LO: Low side gate drive output is obtained through it.
7. COM: we get Low side return from this pin.

Other components are very common to discuss.

Working of MOSFET Gate Driver

The working of the MOSFET Gate Driver start when the power is generated from power terminals.

1.  The IR2101 starts with the power terminal, the input pulse generators convert this power into the special length as set by the user.
2. These pulses Enter at the gate terminals of MOSFETs.
3. Both of these MOSFETs do not turn on at the same time. They work in a loop so that if the high side MOSFET is turned on then the other is off and vice versa.
4. The MOSFET M1 on the upper side of the circuit is considered at the High side of the driver and the MOSFET M2, on the lower side of the circuit is at the Low side driver.
5. After some time, when the voltage becomes greater than the threshold voltage of MOSFETs, they start working.
6. The terminals of  MOSFETs are connected with the capacitor.
7. The aim of this circuit is to charge the capacitors. Hence when the MOSFET starts working, the charging of the capacitor takes place.
8. The pulses reach both the MOSFET at a very specific time due to IR2101.
9. Once the capacitor C2 is fully charged, it starts the discharging power and this discharging power from the inductor as well and at last, it goes to the ground terminal.
10. In this case, the polarity of the inductor changes and in this way, the energy stored in the capacitor is discharged.
11. Hence at the end, when we check on the oscilloscope, we get the changed output pulse from the input.

Simulation of MOSFET Gate Driver in Proteus ISIS

Material Required for MOSFET Gate Driver

1. MOSFET
2. IR2101
3. Resistor
4. Capacitor
5. Inductor
6. Ground Terminal
7. Power Terminal
8. Pulse Generator

Using all the concepts given above, we'll simulate the circuit in Proteus for a crystal clear concept. Just follow the steps given next:

• Start your Proteus Software.
• Make a new Project.
• Click at "P" button to choose the first five components for the experiment one after the other.
• Arrange all the components in the working area according to the arrangement given next:

• Go to Terminal Mode> Ground and add ground terminal with the required components of the circuit.
• Repeat the above step with the power Terminal.

DID YOU KNOW?

The efficiency of MOSFET Gate driver is more than 90% in many cases.

• Go to Instrument Mode and take the Oscilloscope from there. Now, arrange it just below the circuit.
• Connect all the components with the help of connecting wires by carefully following the image given next:

• Double-tap the components one by one and change the default values according to the table given next:

  Components	Values
  R1	10R
  R2	10R
  R3	60R
  L1	500u
  C1	4.7u
  C2	60u
  Pulse 1	Pulse (High) voltage =5v, frequency 1k, Pulse Width 50%
  Pulse 2	Pulse (High) voltage =5v, frequency 1k, Pulse Width 50%

• Tap the play button at the lower-left corner of the screen to simulate the graph.
• Set the values of voltage and current through the nob to see a clear output.

Applications of MOSFET Gate Driver

1. MOSFET Gate driver is used in DC to DC converter.
2. It is used in the conversion of high voltage to low voltage.
3. It is mainly used to reduce heat in many circuits.
4. Due to its functions, it is useful in extending battery life.

So, in the present article, we saw what is MOSFET Gate driver. What important components are used in it, how does its circuit works and how can we simulate its circuit in Proteus. Moreover, we also read some of its applications. We hope you learned well from this article.