The Engineering Projects

Calculating trigonometric Functions in MATLAB

Hello everyone! I hope you all will be absolutely fine and having fun. Today, I am going to share my knowledge about Calculating Values of Trigonometric Functions in MATLAB. Trigonometric function have a great importance in latest mathematics. There are six types of trigonometric functions out of which first three are used more frequently in comparison to the other three. Trigonometric functions are important in the study of triangles. Trigonometric functions show the relationship between the angles of the triangle and the lengths of its sides. The positive and negative signs with the trigonometric functions indicate the portion of the quadrants. Well known theorem of mathematics i.e. Pythagoras Theorem is used in case of the right angle triangle and is totally based on the first three trigonometric functions.

Calculating trigonometric Functions in MATLAB

Here in the tutorial Calculating Values of trigonometric Functions in MATLAB, I will explain you that how can you calculate the values of trigonometric functions in MATLAB. First of all I would like to explain a bit about the trigonometric functions. They are important in the studies of triangles and depend upon some particular angle, as I have told earlier. There six types of trigonometric functions and they are given below.

• sine
• cosine
• tangent
• cosecant
• secant
• cotangent

Suppose there is a particular angle ? then all of these functions can be written in MATLAB as shown below.

• sin?
• cos?
• tan?
• cosec?
• sec?
• cot?

 Calculating Values

• Here I am going to calculate the values of the trigonometric functions in editor of the MATLAB.
• First of all open the MATLAB software and open the editor then.
• You need to define a time duration in which the function is defined.
• Set the frequency of sinusoidal signal and write the function to calculate the value.
• All of the above steps are shown in the figure below.

• In the above figure you can see that I have define the duration from 0 to
• I have adjusted the frequency of the signal as 5Hz.

• And then I have written the desired function to calculate its value.
• Since, I want to observe its value on the command window so I have removed the semicolon at the end of this statement as shown in the figure above.
• The result displayed on the command window is shown in the figure below.

• Similarly you can also calculate the values of all of the other trigonometric functions.
• Here I am going to calculate the values of cosine and tangent functions for the same time duration and same frequency as well.
• The code for calculating the values of the cosine and tangent functions is shown in the figure below.

• You can see that there is no semicolon at the end of the last three statements because I want to observe the results of these three statements on the command window, if I put a semicolon, there will appear nothing on the command window then.

• The results shown in the command window are shown in the figure below.

• By scrolling up you can also observe the result of the sine function.

So, that is all from the tutorial Calculating Values of trigonometric Functions in MATLAB. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you face any sort of problem you can ask me in comments anytime without even feeling any kind of hesitation. I will try my level best to solve your issues in a better way, if possible. In my next tutorial I will explain you that how to Plot Simple Signal in MATLAB. I will explore MATLAB further in my later tutorials and will share all of them with all of you as well. So, till then, Take Care :)

Generating Simple Signal in MATLAB

Hello everyone! I hope you all will be absolutely fine and having fun. Today, I am going to share my knowledge about Generating Simple Signal in MATLAB. Signals are of great importance in our daily life. The signals are basically the graphical display of the analog values. We can estimate the severity level by the shape of the signals. The signals have a very wide range of applications in our daily lives. If we observe the shape of the AC voltages of 220V that is supplied in our homes, it is a sinusoidal signal. So, its an application of the signals. Signals also play a vital role in the medical field. While performing ECG and EEG tests in hospitals, doctors visualize the signals displayed on the screen and they can estimate the severity of the disease with the help of these signals. Depending upon the severity they suggest different medicines to the patients. Oscilloscope is a device to monitor the shape of the different signals usually present in engineering institutions. We can observe the shape of the voice, heat and a lot of other signals on it.

Generating Simple Signal in MATLAB

Here in the tutorial Generating Simple Signal in MATLAB, I will explain you the step by step procedure that how can you generate simple sinusoidal signal in MATLAB and how to visualize it.

• First of all open your MATLAB software and open the editor.
• Define a time duration at which the sinusoidal signal is completely defined.
• Set the frequency of the sinusoidal signal.
• Define the sinusoidal signal as the function of time and frequency.
• Then at the end plot that sinusoidal signal across the time duration using the command
• All of the above steps are shown in the figure below.

• You can download the MATLAB simulation here by clicking on the button below.
• Download .rar file, extract it and enjoy the complete simulation.

• You can see that I have defined the time duration from 0 to
• And adjusted the frequency of the signal as
• Now press the Run button as encircled in the figure above.
• A new figure having a sinusoidal signal will be appeared on the screen.
• The sinusoidal signal is shown in the figure below.

• Now, I am going to reduce the frequency of the signal to observe that what will happen to the shape of the signal.
• I am going to reduce the frequency from 10 to 5Hz and want to observe the new shape of the signal.
• The new code with the updated frequency is shown in the figure below.

• The new signal generated is shown in the figure below.

• If we compare the both of the signals we can conclude that there is an inverse relation between the frequency and the width of the signal.
• Smaller the frequency greater will be the width of the signal and vice versa.
• So, that was the brief description of the signal generation in MATLAB.

So, that is all from the tutorial Generating Simple Signal in MATLAB. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you face any sort of problem you can ask me in comments anytime without even feeling any kind of hesitation. I will try my level best to solve your issues in a better way, if possible. In my next tutorial I will explain you that how to Change the Properties of the Figure in MATLAB. I will explore MATLAB further in my later tutorials and will share all of them with all of you as well. So, till then, Take Care :)

Effect of Noise on Signal in MATLAB

Hello everyone! I hope you all will be absolutely fine and having fun. Today, I am going to share my knowledge about Affect of Noise on Signal in MATLAB. Noise is basically an unwanted signal that effects the normal signal. Noise the natural signal which can be removed but can be reduced to some extent. We can see a lot of examples of the signals effected by noise in our daily lives e.g. the distorted voice signal while calling, creates hearing problems, distorted TV signal makes the video invisible and the distorted AC signal can burn most of the home as well as other appliances. In signal processing term, noise is also known as the unwanted signal which carries no useful information. To recover the original signal from the noise effected one, is the basic and necessary goal of the signal processing. All of the filters including low pass, high pass, band pass, band reject (notch) are also designed for this purpose. Noise can never be removed completely but we can make its magnitude lower to some extent.

Effect of Noise on Shape of Signal

Here, in the tutorial Effect of Noise on Shape of Signal, I will elaborate that how noise an effect the shape and the information carried by the normal signal. Since noise is a random and unwanted signal having no useful information, so it has no fix shape, instead it could of any shape. Some of the shapes of the noise signals are shown below.

• Noise across the time with random amplitude is shown in the figure below.

• The noise signal displayed on the oscilloscope is shown in the figure below.

• You can download the MATLAB simulation here by clicking on the button below.
• Download .rar file, extract it and enjoy the complete simulation.

Block Diagram

• I have made a simple block diagram to explain the flow of the program.
• The block diagram is shown in the figure below.

• Noise is added in the signal and hence generated the noise effected signal.

Code Description

• Just copy and paste the source code given below in your editor.

t=0:0.01:1;%time duration
x=sin(2*pi*5.*t);%orignal signal
noise = rand(1,101);%noise signal
corrupted_signal=x+noise;%noise effected signal
subplot(311);%division of figures
plot(t,x);%plotting
title('Orignal Signal');%title
subplot(312)%division of figures
plot(t,noise);%plotting
title('Noise Signal');%title of the corresponding signal
subplot(313)%division of figures
plot(t,corrupted_signal);%plotting
title('Corrupted signal');%title of the corresponding signal

• First of all I have defined the time duration at which the signal is defined.
• Then I have generated the original sinusoidal signal.
• After that, I have generated a random noise.
• Then the noise effected signal has been generated.
• I have plotted all of the signals on the same figure but in different sections in order to visualize all of them.
• As you run the program, a new figure having graphs will be appeared on the screen.
• The figure containing graphs of all the signals is shown in the figure below.

• That was the brief description of the source code for visualizing the Effect of Noise on Shape of Signal.

So, that is all from the tutorial Effect of Noise on Shape of Signal. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you find any sort of problem, you can ask in comments anytime without even feeling any kind of hesitation. I will try my level best to solve your issues in a better way, if possible. In my next tutorial I will elaborate that how to create a simple Graphical User Interface (GUI) in MATLAB and how to use it. I will further explore MATLAB in my later tutorials by making further projects on it and will share them with all of you as well. So, till then, Take Care :)

Convolution in MATLAB

Hello everyone! I hope you all will be absolutely fine and having fun. Today, I am going to share my knowledge about how to convolve the signals using an amazing software tool, MATLAB. MATLAB is an efficient tool for signal processing. MATLAB basically works on matrices. First of all I would like to tell you a bit about the convolution. In engineering terms, convolution describes the output of the Linear Time Invariant (LTI) systems.

Convolution is basically an integral which tells us about the overlapping of one function as it is shifted over another function. Convolution and cross correlation are similar. It has a wide range of applications e.g. computer vision, probability, statistics, engineering, differential equations, signal processing etc.

Convolution in MATLAB

Here in the tutorial, Convolution in MATLAB, I will tell you that how to convolve the two signals in MATLAB using built-in command, conv. Before going into the details of this tutorial, I would like to explain you about the convolution and its mathematical form.

• You can download the MATLAB code or convolution of two signals here by clicking on the button below.
• Download .rar file, extract it and enjoy the simulation.

In simple engineering terms, convolution is used to describe the out of the Linear Time Invariant (LTI) systems (the systems which shows different response at different times). Convolution is similar to cross correlation. Input output behavior of the system can be estimated with the help of the impulse response of that system. And the output of the system can be obtained by convolving the input applied to the system and impulse response of that system.

• Suppose x(t) is the input applied to the system and h(t) is the impulse response of the system.
• Its output y(t) can be obtained using the mathematical expression given below.

y(t) = x(t)*h(t)

• In above expression * sign expresses the convolution between the input and the impulse response of the system.

Block Diagram

•  I have made a very simple block diagram representation of convolution.
• The input x(t) is applied to the system.
• The system has convolved the input x(t) and the impulse response of the system h(t) to obtain its output y(t).
• The block diagram is shown in the figure below.

Signal Representation

• The convolution can also be represented in the form of signals.
• The figure shown below displays the convolution between input and impulse response of the system in order to obtain its output.

Source Code Description

• Just copy and paste the source code give below in your MATLAB editor to observe the convolution results.

clc %clears the command window
clear all %clears the workspace
t1 = 0:1:1;%time duration for the first signal
t2 = 0:2:10;%time duration for the second signal
f1 = 3;%frequency of the first signal
f2 = 5;%frequency of the first signal
x = sin(2*pi*f1.*t1);%first signal
y = cos(2*pi*f2.*t2);%second signal
convolution = conv(x,y) %convolution of both the signals x & y

• You can see first of all I have cleared the command window and the workspace.
• Then I have declared time duration for both the signals.
• After that I have defined the frequency for the both signals.
• Then I have defined the two different sinusoidal signals.
• At the end I have convolved both of them and removed the semicolon at the end of the statement in order to observe the results on command window in MATLAB.
• So, that was the brief description of the code, you can download it from the above button.
• The result shown on the command window are shown in the figure below.

• That was the brief discussion about how to convolve two signals in MATLAB using builtin commands conv.

So, that is all from the tutorial Convolution in MATLAB. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you find any sort of problem, you can ask in comments anytime without even feeling any kind of hesitation. I will try my level best to solve your issues in a better way, if possible. In my next tutorial I will elaborate that how to declare the variables in MATLAB and how to manipulate them without assigning them with the values. I will further explore MATLAB in my later tutorials. So, till then, Take Care :)

Interfacing Arduino with HC-05

Hello friends, i hope you all are fine and enjoying. Today i am going to share a new tutorial which is Interfacing Arduino with HC05 Bluetooth module. First of all lets have a little introduction about HC-05 Bluetooth module. HC-05 is a bluetooth module, which was designed for wireless data communication. This little module is capable of both sending and receiving data but it performs only one thing at a time, which means at a particular time it can only send or receive data but can't do the both tasks.

In order to send or to receive data, you have to make one module as a master and the other module as a slave. If both the modules are acting as master then, data will not transmit and if both the modules are acting as a slave then, again data will not transmit or receive. The hardware of Bluetooth module contains a large no of features. For example it is much sensitive and it is sensitive up to -80dBm and it catches a Bluetooth signal even from far away. If you wish to transmit data through it then, it also have much power to transmit data to a wider range. You can image its transmitting power from the digits that it has transmitting power of +4dBm. This module operates on a low voltages, that's why the power rating of this module is very low. The hardware of the module comes with a integrated antenna and also its hardware contains edged pins. These edged pins gives us the ease that it becomes very easy to plug in or plug out the wires. and also if you are going to use it within a circuit then, it becomes very easy to connect the cable with module. Above was a little introduction about Bluetooth module and its features. now lets move to the basic theme of our project, which is to do interfacing between arduino and HC-05.

Note:

• If you have HC-06 or any other module in HC series then you don't need to get worried as they all work quite same. So you can also follow this tutorial for other HC series bluetooth modules.

Pin Configuration of HC-05

HC-05 Bluetooth module has total 6 pins. A simple HC-05  Bluetooth module is shown in the image given below and you can also see its pin configuration from this image. The pin configuration and the purpose of each pin is listed below as:

1. They pin#1 is abbreviated a KEY pin. The function of this key is to show paired devices. In HC-05 module this pin is used to perform the module in AT mode.
2. Pin#2 of HC-05  module is named as VCC pin. This module requires 3.3 volts to operate. If you will connect it directly with 5 volts then, this module will burn out.
3. Pin#3 of this module is named as GND. At this pin the common ground of the circuit is provided.
4. pin#4 is named as TXD. This pin is used when you have to transmit data to some external device. Asynchronous data transfer is performed by this module.
5. pin#5 is named as RXD. This pin is used when the module have to receive wireless data from some external source. Asynchronous data is received through this module.
6. The last pin of the module which is in fact pin#6 of the module and it is named as STATUS pin. The basic function of this pin is to check the status of the Bluetooth module. If the module is connected to some other device then, output of the system becomes HIGH and if the connection of Bluetooth drops then, this module generates a output pulse.

Interfacing with Arduino

So, now let's start with interfacing Arduino with HC05 bluetooth module. Its quite easy to interface as it works on Serial protocol. As mentioned above it has two pins named as TX and RX through which we can send or receive the data. Moreover, it works exactly the same as any mobile's bluetooth, you can connect your mobile with any device and can share data between these devices, similarly you can share the data with this device as well.

• First of all, connect your HC05 bluetooth module with Arduino as shown in the below figure.

• In the above figure, the connections are quite easy , we have provided power to the bluetooth module from Arduino and also connected TX pin of bluetooth module with RX pin of Arduino and RX pin of bluetooth module with TX of Arduino.
• Now we are done with the connections so next part is to upload the code into Arduino.

Code for interfacing HC-05 with Arduino

Now upload the below code into your Arduino and you are ready to get the first data from your Bluetooth module.

Applications of HC-05 Module

• The biggest application is that it is used to transmit or receive data wirelessly.
• You can play your favorite sound tracks through bluetooth in your car using this module.
• The modern Android phones contains a wireless GPS option. IN fact this module is being used in that phones and it works to seek the bluetooth location.
• This module makes you able to chat with some android phone using Bluetooth.

Alright friends, that all for today. If you have any question, fell free to ask. Till next tutorial Take Care!!! :)

Why Creative Thinking is Important for Web Design Projects

If you look in the past, having a website was enough to generate leads and keep yourself running in the business. But today, the concept of a website has emerged to the whole new level. It is not only a source for your business but a platform to gain exposure globally. With the advancement in the competition, the companies are investing heavily on their websites to achieve maximum ROI. If your website doesn’t get successful in grabbing customers attention at first, then your competitors take up your place. That’s why creativity is essential!

Web Design: what's audience looking for?

If you think of a design and start implementing it right away - you won’t get the results no matter how creative, you go. At first, you need to put yourself in the audience shoes, think about what they are looking for? What interests them? What features attract them? Does animation move them? What is the first impression you’re making from your website? The second most crucial factor in bringing the website in your audience attention is the keywords. If your website is SEO-optimized, your audience will find you on the search engines and if not optimized, no matter how much effort you put - you’ll be missing from their list.

Fluidity and Adaptability

Once your audience land on your website, they look for the information they want. If they are looking to order something, they’ll go directly to the order page. But if your website is taking too long to load, then this might turn your visitors off.  The designers need to design each page creatively and organized for the incoming website traffic. Not only this, but the website also needs to be adaptable to all screen sizes. While some people still browse from the desktop, the majority view from their mobiles. If your website isn’t dynamite, it’ll have less readability and viewability. The summary is when you’re starting a web design, make sure it is adaptable to the OS and efficiently accommodate the size of the screen.

Learn to Stand Out

Social media has act brilliant in educating the customers; be it about the brand, design, marketing, or the happenings. The customer knows who’s the right fit for their needs. That’s why brands focus on building the campaigns that are audience-centred and revolves around their interest. When you design a website same as others are doing, your audience doesn’t find any engaging factor in it and withdraw you from the list. And grabbing the first impression is highly important. So, creativity is the factor that separates you from the rest, and unless you have innovative ideas that will work for you, don’t start the project.

Creativity in Website Branding

Your website speaks about you. It defines your objective, mission, vision, achievements, and everything you want your customers to know. People can learn about you with a simple online search that’s why big brands spend considerable time in creating a web design that appeals to their customers and conveys the information creatively. A silent message, short video, whiteboard animation, or a great story that clicks your audience. Learn what your audience is searching for and answer them through visuals. Use the power of social media to grow your brand reach. Images, color theme, and text should reflect the tone of your company. If you search some of the successful brands like Starbucks, Adidas, Amazon, Apple - you’ll find an X factor in it, be it the idea, design, tagline, or the style. Innovation and creativity pique the audience interest in your brand. So, when you come up with an idea which your audience hasn’t seen before sparks their interest and lead the customer down the conversion funnel.

Sound Financial Advice For Recent College Graduates

Hello friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today's tutorial, we are going to share some Sound Financial Advice For Recent College Graduates. After four years in college earning that degree, you're ready to begin climbing up the ladder of your chosen career. Now you have to think about what you want to do with the salary your new job pays. Yes, you want a new car, nice clothes, and a big apartment, but hold on—what you really need is a financially stable future. It starts now.  Some sound financial advice for recent college grads is listed below.

Use Credit Wisely

Credit becomes necessary when buying a new home or car. You begin building a credit history and score by paying monthly bills like your cell phone and electricity. Your credit score also rises and falls according to your student loan payments and any defaults. The average monthly payment on a student loan is about $280, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. By accepting the lowest monthly payment, you'll have more cash to save. You can choose to pay it off faster, but you lose the savings and the higher credit score you earn by paying on time every month. Unsecured credit cards are a double-edged sword: They can lead to a mountain of debt that compounds with high interest, but they are also a way to build a high credit score and a resource to use in case of an emergency. Choose a credit card with a low fixed interest rate and low fees. Start with just one, use it wisely, pay it off each month and keep a low credit line ($500 or less). Watch out for low-interest rates with high fees; the fees negate the interest rate. You are entitled to one free credit report a year, too, so take advantage of this and monitor your credit.

The Cost of Living

"When choosing a place to live, look at the big picture before committing to a lease," says Allen. If you have roommates and the living arrangements agree with you, stay there. Splitting rent and bills saves a lot of money. If you choose to live alone, consider the actual amount of time you spend at home and the room you need to live. Single living doesn't take much room, and a two-bedroom apartment may mean you'll waste money on space no one uses. A one-bedroom or a studio apartment costs less and still gives you room for comfort. Your monthly bills will cost more than necessary if you don't comparison shop. If you live in an area with more than one energy provider, you're lucky, because the competition keeps the price down. And just because your parents or roommates have a bundled cable, Internet and phone contract with a big company, doesn't mean you have to follow suit. Shop around to find the best deal, and always ask what your monthly bill will be once the promotion ends, as some packages almost double in price after the initial promotion.

The Budget

For budgeting help, use a program like Mint.com. It's free, and it will organize and categorize your spending for you. Most experts agree that 10 percent of your monthly gross pay is what you should save at a minimum. To make saving easier, set up a savings account and have the amount automatically deducted from each check. You never see it, which makes saving easier.

Why should we use Torch Lighters

Lighters are popular for the cigar smokers but not only have the smokers used the lighters but also for the people who are interested in camping, picnicking and any other activities in the outside the windy environments. Usually, cigar smokers prefer butane torch lighters during the smoke. A torch lighter is a portable thing that is used for instant flame or fire. It is used for many activities like outside cooking, lightening in the dark area, fishing, and many many activities. Butane torch lighter in an instrument that is worked by utilizing butane creates hot flames. If you can’t buy a good torch lighter, it can make you in trouble in a serious condition. Suppose you are when you need instant fire and you have a lighter and unfortunately your lighter is not working, just think about that feeling. There are many reasons for not working your torch lighter. If you can identify those, then you can avoid the situation you don’t want. These reasons are described below why torch lighters stop working.

1. INCORRECT BLEEDING

It’s important bleed the lighter correctly because incorrect bleeding can be the reason for not working your lighter properly. You should bleed your lighter when the flame drops and fuel tank about to be empty; the fire is not frequent. During the bleed, turn off the gas valve, position the light up a stand that the port is facing the floor, then put a small screwdriver into the port and press. Keep the pressure until the hissing sound stops. Then continue pressing for a few more seconds for making sure escape the air.

2. NON-PREMIUM FUEL

The quality of your fuel is very much dependent on the quality of your lighter. If you don’t put premium fuel to your lighter, it will affect your lighter. Non-premium fuel can cause longevity and work. If you are not skimped about the fuel, then your lighter will work properly. Inexpensive fuel or butane is poorly refined or not adequately refined, which is very harmful for the torch because it contains microscopic impurities. The port of torch is tiny that’s why it can create a focused flame and the impurities refined can block and once it blocked, it is very much difficult to unblock them. You should continue with better fuel or butane.

3.INCORRECT REFILLING

Your lighter can be malfunctioned if you refill your lighter incorrectly. Incorrect refill sometimes means the air will insert the fuel tank, and it malfunctions the work of a lighter. To avoid this situation, every time you do it by the position of the torch upside down. So during the refilling fuel, be careful. Put the nozzle directly to the gas valve and firmly press it a couple of seconds when you feel that the hissing stops, the tank becomes full stop the press. This is the process of refilling the tank correctly. Know of it.

4. ALTITUDE

Altitude problems can occur in butane torch lighters. There are the functions of fuel and air ratios, which are mixtures of different fuel. If you use non-premium fuel, then this altitude problem can occur. When the lighter refilled in a lower altitude and it is operating it, then it is a higher possibility to occur an airlock with a valve. If the partial release of pressure is done with the adjustment valve, then it can unlock the air.

FLAME ADJUSTMENTS

The flame adjustment will be needed if your torch is not working properly, such as the flame too high or too low. Adjust the flame by using the (-), (+) button in front of the torch. If you have fueled inexpensive fuel and bled incorrectly, then it can be the flame change problem. Lighters are very much important for those people who spend a lot of time outside the home and especially at night. The smokers are required the torch lighters more than the other. Though people can use matches, I think torch lighters is more convenient and portable and also economical than the matches. However, it is very helpful for our many types of activities. So it is also can be a troublemaker if it is not working properly. For making it works properly you have maintained certain things I have described above, if you follow those things and keep maintaining then you will experience a better use of torch lighters.

A Giftware Guide for Software Guys

The thought of special holidays coming up isn’t always what gets us scrambling to check off our gift lists. For most of us, gift-giving occasions happen all year round, with someone’s birthday or anniversary to commemorate almost every month. While gift ideas abound for teachers, doctors, or hobbyists, it is a little more challenging to find the perfect present for that loveable computer geek or software engineer in your life. Techies can be quite particular about the latest gadgets that get them excited. But it’s not always about model kits or computer hardware. To find the right gift, a little imagination and resourcefulness are all that’s required. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Coffee Break Gift Basket

Hardworking computer engineers often work round the clock, and may need some reminding to take much-needed breaks. After all, the best ideas usually come to a mind that’s refreshed and rested. To create a coffee-themed gift, simply find a decorative box or a roomy basket and fill it with coffee essentials, including your friend or loved one’s favorite blend. If your budget allows it, you can even opt to include a funny mug or a single-serve coffee press. If putting together an appealing coffee break gift basket seems daunting, there’s no need to worry. You can simply order one, ready made, from one-stop online gift shops that provide specialty gift baskets and delivery services. Gift baskets are a thoughtful and crowd-pleasing idea that won’t fail to delight its recipient, especially during those long, exhausting workdays. Our favorite source for gift baskets are here.

Circuit Board Novelties

Software engineers may have little to do with circuit boards, but the idea is quirky and fun, nevertheless! They’ll look sharp like the geek gods that they are as they sport a necktie with a circuit board print, or when they entertain guests using a set of coasters made of actual circuit board parts. A whole range of similarly themed items are available online, from jewelry and accessories, to notebooks and clocks made out of recycled and repurposed circuit boards. Not only is this idea creative, it’s eco-friendly, too!

Raspberry Pi Starter Kit

This efficient little device is perfect for student engineers and beginner enthusiasts. It enables anyone, young or old, to explore computing and learn basic programming. It’s capable of equipping users with the tools to build homemade versions of laptops or netbooks, portable gaming consoles, music systems or radios, scanners, weather detectors, and even household appliances. It’s safe to say that your engineer is sure to flip over this gift, if he doesn’t possess one already.

Geek Games and Puzzles

Software engineers live and breathe codes. Computer language is what they use to communicate their best ideas. Give them a gift that challenges their intellect and their penchant for finding solutions to every problem. Have them solve tough puzzles that require them to crack complicated codes, or brainteaser games that will provide hours of challenging amusement.

Decode the Possibilities

If someone’s special day is just around the corner, this list is your springboard to finding the perfect gift. In fact, any of the above suggestions is sure to be a hit with your computer engineer friends. They’re useful and lighthearted, and show how much you know your buddies. There are more items and possibilities to be explored out there, and matching the right gift to the right person is part of the fun. One rule of thumb in gift hunting: if you love the gift you’ve chosen yourself, chances are your recipient will love it, too. Be guided accordingly, and let the search begin!

Introduction to BC549

Hi Friends! I hope you’re well today. I welcome you on board. In this post, I’m going to discuss the Introduction to BC549. BC549 is a general purpose bipolar junction transistor that belongs to NPN transistor family. It contains three pins where small current change in one terminal produces a much large current change across other terminals. In other words, it is nothing but a current booster. It is known as a low power low voltage current controlled device and is used for switching and amplification purpose.  In this article I’ll be discussing complete details of BC549 transistor i.e. pinout, working principle, power ratings, physical dimensions and applications. Stay tuned.

Introduction to BC549

• BC549 is an NPN general-purpose bipolar junction transistor. It carries three pins named emitter, base, and collector and is available in TO-92 and SOT54 package.
• BC549 transistor contains three layers i.e. two N-doped layers and one P-doped layer. The P-doped layer stands between two N-doped layers. Plus, it contains two PN junctions where one is forward biased and the other is reverse biased.

• When no voltage is applied at the base terminal it is considered as grounded. In this case, the transistor acts like an open switch where both emitter and collector remain open.
• When voltage is applied at the base terminals it gets biased and draws current which is used to connect other terminals and current starts flowing from collector to emitter terminal.
• As this is an NPN transistor, here current flows from collector to emitter when voltage is applied, unlike PNP transistor where current flows from emitter to collector.
• Plus, both electrons and holes play a vital role in conductivity. In NPN transistor electrons are majority charge carriers and in PNP transistor holes are majority carriers.
• The movement of electrons, however, is faster than the movement of holes, the reason NPN transistors are better and faster than PNP transistors.

BC549 Pinout

BC549 comes with three pins named:

• 1: Emitter
• 2: Base
• 3: Collector

Following figure shows the pinout diagram of BC549.

• All three pins are used for external connections with other circuits. These pins are different in terms of operation and doping concentration.
• The collector voltage is larger than the base voltage and emitter terminal is highly doped compared to other terminals.

BC549 Pin Configuration

BC549 transistor can be employed in three main configurations as follows:

• Common emitter configuration
• Common base configuration
• Common collector configuration

Common emitter configuration is mostly used for amplification purposes as it contains the exact current and voltage ratings required for amplification.

• The amplification factor is called beta and is denoted by ß. It is mainly used to define the nature of amplification. It’s a ratio between collector current and base current. In BC549, the amplification factor ranges from 420 to 800.
• Another important factor is the current gain which is a ratio between collector current and emitter current. It is known as alpha and is denoted by a. The alpha value stands from 0.95 to 0.99 but more often than not its value is taken as unity.

BC549 Working Principle

• In BC549, emitter-base voltage is 5V which means when 5V is applied at the base terminal it gets biased and triggers the electron reaction.
• In the NPN transistor, the base terminal behaves like a control valve that controls the number of electrons.
• When voltage is applied at the base terminal, emitter starts emitting the electrons into the base terminal which controls the number of electrons. These emitted electrons passing through the base are collected by the collector terminal of the transistor.
• Moreover, the collector current is a mere 100mA i.e. you cannot drive heave loads using this transistor.
• As the only 5V is required to start the electron reaction at the base terminal, it can be easily employed across microcontrollers and microprocessors.
• When BC549 operates as an amplifier, small current as an input signal at the base terminal is used to induce a much bigger electric current at the other terminals.
• And when it works like a switch, it switches the small current at one part of the transistor into a much larger current across the other parts of the transistor.
• When transistor acts as a switch, it carriers two distinct states i.e. values are stored in the form of zero and one. Memory chip used in a computer is a common example of an electronic device that contains billions of transistors which can be turned on and off individually.

BC549 Power Ratings

Follow figure shows the absolute maximum rating of BC549:

• Emitter-Base voltage and Collector-Emitter voltages are 5V and 30V respectively.
• And Collector-Base voltage is 30V with collector current 100mA i.e. it cannot drive loads carrying ratings more than 100mA.
• The current gain ranges from 420 to 800 and transition frequency is 100MHz.
• These are stress ratings. Before you employ this transistor into your project and execute, make sure the ratings don’t exceed from absolute maximum ratings, else they will damage the product, and worse, your entire project, eventually.
• Also, if these ratings are applied for more than the required time, they can affect device reliability.

BC549 Alternatives

The following are the alternatives of a BC549 transistor.

• BC547
• BC548
• BC550

The PNP complementary of BC549 are:

• BC559
• BC560

BC549 Applications

BC549 can be used in the following applications:

• Used in liner audio amplifiers.
• Employed in Darlington pairs and sensor circuits.
• Used in oscillator and comparator circuits.
• Finds application in current mirror circuits.
• Used in Astable and Bistable multivibrators.
• Used for impedance buffering and switching applications.
• Finds application in low noise stages in audio frequency equipment.

BC549 Physical dimensions

Follow figure shows the physical dimensions of BC549: That’s all for today. Hope you find this article helpful. If you are unsure or have any question, you can approach me in the section below. I’d love to help you the best way I can. You’re most welcome to keep us updated with your valuable feedback and suggestions, they help us produce quality content. Thank you for reading this article.