Identify the converter (buck, boost or buck-boost) and the duty cycle D from the voltage ratio.
Use volt-second balance on the inductor: the average inductor voltage over a period is zero.
Find the inductor voltage while the switch is on, then ΔIL = VL·D/(L·f).
For the output ripple, find the charge that flows in and out of the capacitor; for the CCM boundary, set the average inductor current equal to ΔIL/2.
Wheatstone bridge & strain gauges
Divider voltages
Va = VsR2/(R1 + R2), Vb = VsR4/(R3 + R4)
Output
Vab = Va − Vb
Balance
R1/R2 = R3/R4
Slide-wire bridge
R/Rx = l/(100 − l)
Thévenin resistance
Rth = R1∥R2 + R3∥R4
Gauge factor
ΔR/R = GF·ε
Bridge output
quarter Vs·GF·ε/4, half Vs·GF·ε/2, full Vs·GF·ε
Small change, one arm
Vab ≈ Vs·ΔR/(4R)
Stress
σ = E·ε
Method
Treat the bridge as two voltage dividers across the same supply.
For balance, set R₁/R₂ = R₃/R₄ and solve for the unknown resistor.
For an unbalanced bridge, find Va and Vb from the dividers and subtract; use the Thévenin equivalent when a meter loads the output.
For strain gauges, convert strain to ΔR/R = GF·ε and use Vs·GF·ε/4, /2 or ×1 for a quarter, half or full bridge.
Digital logic: gates, K-maps & flip-flops
Basic gates
A·B, A + B, A′, (A·B)′, (A + B)′, A ⊕ B
Boolean rules
X + X′ = 1, X·X′ = 0, X + XY = X, XY + XY′ = X
De Morgan
(X·Y)′ = X′ + Y′, (X + Y)′ = X′·Y′
Karnaugh map order
00, 01, 11, 10 (Gray code)
Group of 2ᵏ cells
loses k variables
4-to-1 multiplexer
F = A′B′I0 + A′BI1 + AB′I2 + ABI3
Flip-flops
D: Q⁺ = D, T: Q⁺ = T ⊕ Q, JK: Q⁺ = JQ′ + K′Q
Counters
n-bit: 2ⁿ states; mod-N: smallest n with 2ⁿ ≥ N; fout = fclk/N
Ripple counter
fmax = 1/(n·tpd)
Ring and Johnson counters
n and 2n states
Method
For a circuit, work from the inputs to the output one gate at a time and write the value on every wire, or write its expression and fill in the truth table.
For simplification, put the 1s (and the don’t-cares as X) into a Karnaugh map with Gray-code rows and columns: 00, 01, 11, 10.
Cover the 1s with as few and as large groups of 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 cells as possible, wrapping round the edges; each group is one product term made of the variables that stay constant. Group the 0s for the POS form.
For flip-flops and counters, read the inputs at each active clock edge, write the state after every edge, and remember that an n-bit counter wraps round after 2ⁿ states.
2Practice problems
1.Diodes & transistorsMedium
An NPN transistor with β = 100 is biased by a base resistor RB = 270 kΩ from the supply VCC = 9 V. The collector resistor is RC = 1 kΩ and the emitter is grounded. Take VBE = 0.7 V and assume the transistor is in the active region. Find the collector–emitter voltage VCE.
VCC = 9 VRB = 270 kΩRC = 1 kΩβ = 100VBE = 0.7 V
VCE = V
2.Diodes & transistorsHard
A 5.1 V Zener regulator must supply up to 30 mA to a load. The input can drop to 20 V, and the Zener needs at least 5 mA to regulate. Find the largest series resistance Rmax that keeps it regulating.
The inductor carries a steady current of 1.5 A. At t = 0 the switch closes the loop through R and the source is removed, so the inductor current decays through R. Find the voltage vR across R at t = 1 ms.
i(0) = 1.5 AR = 33 ΩL = 22 mHt = 1 ms
vR = V
6.RC & RL transientsHard
Just before the switch closes at t = 0, the capacitor holds 10 V with the polarity shown. Find the capacitor voltage vC at t = 60 ms.
Vs = 5 VR = 1 kΩC = 47 µFvC(0) = 10 Vt = 60 ms
vC = V
7.Series & parallel resistorsMedium
Find the current IR2 through R2.
V1 = 10 VR1 = 8 ΩR2 = 8 ΩR3 = 10 ΩR4 = 20 Ω
IR2 = A
8.Series & parallel resistorsHard
Find the current IR1 delivered by the source, which flows through R1.
An ideal boost converter turns 24 V into 32 V at 200 kHz with L = 330 µH. Find the peak-to-peak inductor ripple current ΔIL.
Vin = 24 VVo = 32 Vf = 200 kHzL = 330 µH
ΔIL = A
10.DC-DC convertersHard
An ideal inverting buck-boost converter turns 9 V into −6 V for a 10 Ω load at 50 kHz. Find the smallest inductance Lcrit for continuous conduction.
Vin = 9 VVo = −6 Vf = 50 kHzR = 10 Ω
Lcrit = µH
11.Wheatstone bridge & strain gaugesMedium
A galvanometer with a resistance of 200 Ω is connected between a and b of the bridge shown (Vs = 5 V). Find the galvanometer current Ig from a to b, in µA.
A bridge with 120 Ω arms is excited with 3 V and has one active gauge (quarter bridge). The gauge factor is 2.05 and the strain is 1000 µε. Find the bridge output Vo in mV.
Use the Karnaugh map to find the minimal sum-of-products (SOP) form of F(A, B, C) = Σm(0, 1, 4, 6). How many literals L does it contain in total (a primed variable counts as one literal)?
F(A, B, C) = Σm(0, 1, 4, 6)
L =
14.Digital logic: gates, K-maps & flip-flopsHard
For F(A, B, C, D) = Σm(0, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14) + d(3, 5, 6, 13), where d marks the don't-care conditions, find the number N of essential prime implicants.
BJT bias point: in the active region VBE = 0.7 V, IC = β·IB and IE = (β + 1)·IB. Find IB from the base loop with KVL, then IC, then VCE from the collector–emitter loop. A voltage divider at the base is replaced by its Thévenin equivalent VTH = VCC·R₂/(R₁ + R₂), RTH = R₁∥R₂; an emitter resistor appears (β + 1) times larger in the base loop.
Base current
IB = (VCC − VBE)/RB = (9 − 0.7)/270 kΩ = 30.74 µA
Collector current
IC = β·IB = 100·30.74 µA = 3.074 mA
Collector–emitter voltage
VCE = 9 − 3.074 mA·1 kΩ = 5.926 V
Answer
VCE = 5.926 V
2.Diodes & transistors
Answer: Rmax = 425.7 Ω
Zener regulator: a reverse-biased Zener diode holds its voltage VZ while its current stays above a minimum IZ,min. The series resistor R takes the difference between input and output: IR = (Vin − VZ)/R. That current splits between the load, IL = VZ/RL, and the Zener: IZ = IR − IL. Design for the worst cases: the lowest input with the largest load must still leave IZ,min, and the highest input with no load gives the largest Zener power PZ = VZ·IZ.
Worst-case current
IR = 30 + 5 = 35 mA
Largest resistance
Rmax = 14.9/0.035 = 425.7 Ω
Answer
Rmax = 425.7 Ω
3.Op-amp circuits
Answer: Vout = 0.8955 V
Ideal op-amp rules: with negative feedback, the op-amp drives its output so that its two inputs sit at the same voltage (V₋ = V₊), and no current flows into either input. Writing KCL at the inverting input with these two facts gives the output.
Ideal op-amp rules: with negative feedback, the op-amp drives its output so that its two inputs sit at the same voltage (V₋ = V₊), and no current flows into either input. Writing KCL at the inverting input with these two facts gives the output.
Voltage at the + input
V₊ = V2·R4/(R3 + R4) = −1·22/(1 + 22) = −0.9565 V
Superpose the two inputs
With V₂ = 0, V₁ sees an inverting amplifier. With V₁ = 0, V₊ is amplified by the non-inverting gain 1 + R₂/R₁.
First-order transients: in a circuit with one capacitor or one inductor, every voltage and current moves exponentially from its initial value to its final value: x(t) = x(∞) + [x(0) − x(∞)]·e−t/τ, with τ = RC or τ = L/R. After about 5τ the circuit has settled.
Time constant
τ = L/R = 22 mH / 33 Ω = 0.6667 ms
Decay of the current
i(t) = 1.5·e−1/0.6667 = 0.3347 A
vR = R·i = 33·0.3347 = 11.04 V
Answer
vR = 11.04 V
6.RC & RL transients
Answer: vC = 6.395 V
First-order transients: in a circuit with one capacitor or one inductor, every voltage and current moves exponentially from its initial value to its final value: x(t) = x(∞) + [x(0) − x(∞)]·e−t/τ, with τ = RC or τ = L/R. After about 5τ the circuit has settled.
Initial value, final value, time constant
The capacitor voltage cannot jump, so it starts at its stored value and heads for the source voltage.
vC(0) = 10 V, vC(∞) = Vs = 5 V
τ = R·C = 1 kΩ · 47 µF = 47 ms
vC(t) = 5 + (10 − 5)·e−t/τ
Voltage at the given time
vC(60) = 5 + (5)·e−60/47 = 6.395 V
Answer
vC = 6.395 V
7.Series & parallel resistors
Answer: IR2 = 0.5515 A
Series and parallel resistors: in series the same current flows through each resistor and R = R₁ + R₂ + …. In parallel each resistor has the same voltage and 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …. A ladder network is reduced one pair at a time until a single equivalent resistance remains.
Combine resistors from the far end
Start at the end farthest from the source and work back towards it. Resistors carrying the same current are in series; resistors across the same two nodes are in parallel.
R3 + R4 = 10 + 20 = 30 Ω
R2 ∥ 30 = 8·30/(8+30) = 6.316 Ω
Req = R1 + 6.316 = 8 + 6.316 = 14.32 Ω
Current from the source
The source sees only Req, so Ohm’s law gives the current it delivers. That current flows through R₁.
IR1 = V1/Req = 10/14.32 = 0.6985 A
Current through R₂
Subtract the drop across R₁ to get the voltage at node A, which is the voltage across R₂.
VA = V1 − IR1·R1 = 10 − 0.6985·8 = 4.412 V
IR2 = VA/R2 = 4.412/8 = 0.5515 A
Answer
IR2 = 0.5515 A
8.Series & parallel resistors
Answer: IR1 = 1.075 A
Series and parallel resistors: in series the same current flows through each resistor and R = R₁ + R₂ + …. In parallel each resistor has the same voltage and 1/R = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …. A ladder network is reduced one pair at a time until a single equivalent resistance remains.
Combine resistors from the far end
Start at the end farthest from the source and work back towards it. Resistors carrying the same current are in series; resistors across the same two nodes are in parallel.
R5 + R6 = 10 + 8 = 18 Ω
R4 ∥ 18 = 5.538 Ω
R3 + 5.538 = 30.54 Ω
R2 ∥ 30.54 = 13.75 Ω
Req = R1 + 13.75 = 3 + 13.75 = 16.75 Ω
Current from the source
The source sees only Req, so Ohm’s law gives the current it delivers. That current flows through R₁.
IR1 = V1/Req = 18/16.75 = 1.075 A
Answer
IR1 = 1.075 A
9.DC-DC converters
Answer: ΔIL = 0.09091 A
DC-DC converters: a switch S turns on for the fraction D of each period T = 1/f. In steady state the average inductor voltage is zero (volt-second balance), which gives the ideal conversion ratios in continuous conduction: buck Vo = D·Vin, boost Vo = Vin/(1 − D), inverting buck-boost |Vo| = Vin·D/(1 − D). An ideal converter keeps the power: Vin·Iin = Vo·Io. While S is on the inductor current rises by ΔIL = VL·D·T/L, with VL = Vin − Vo for the buck and Vin for the boost and buck-boost. The output ripple is ΔVo = ΔIL/(8fC) for the buck and Io·D/(fC) for the boost and buck-boost. The inductor current just touches zero (the CCM boundary) when the average inductor current equals ΔIL/2.
Duty cycle
D = 1 − 24/32 = 0.25
Inductor voltage during the on-time
While S is on, the inductor sits directly across Vin.
VL = 24 V
Ripple current
ΔIL = VL·D/(L·f) = 24·0.25/(330·10⁻⁶·200·10³) = 0.09091 A
Answer
ΔIL = 0.09091 A
10.DC-DC converters
Answer: Lcrit = 36 µH
DC-DC converters: a switch S turns on for the fraction D of each period T = 1/f. In steady state the average inductor voltage is zero (volt-second balance), which gives the ideal conversion ratios in continuous conduction: buck Vo = D·Vin, boost Vo = Vin/(1 − D), inverting buck-boost |Vo| = Vin·D/(1 − D). An ideal converter keeps the power: Vin·Iin = Vo·Io. While S is on the inductor current rises by ΔIL = VL·D·T/L, with VL = Vin − Vo for the buck and Vin for the boost and buck-boost. The output ripple is ΔVo = ΔIL/(8fC) for the buck and Io·D/(fC) for the boost and buck-boost. The inductor current just touches zero (the CCM boundary) when the average inductor current equals ΔIL/2.
Duty cycle
D = 6/(9 + 6) = 0.4
Boundary condition
Set the average inductor current equal to half the ripple current and solve for L.
Lcrit = (1 − D)²·R/(2f)
Critical inductance
Lcrit = (1 − 0.4)²·10/(250·10³) = 36 µH
Answer
Lcrit = 36 µH
11.Wheatstone bridge & strain gauges
Answer: Ig = 9000 µA
Wheatstone bridge: two voltage dividers share one supply Vs. The left divider R1–R2 gives Va = Vs·R2/(R1 + R2) and the right divider R3–R4 gives Vb = Vs·R4/(R3 + R4); the output is Vab = Va − Vb. The bridge is balanced (Vab = 0, no current in the meter) when R1/R2 = R3/R4, that is R1·R4 = R2·R3. Seen from the output, the bridge is a Thévenin source with Rth = R1∥R2 + R3∥R4.
Thévenin voltage
Vth = 5·(250/400 − 20/320) = 2.813 V
Thévenin resistance
Rth = R₁∥R₂ + R₃∥R₄ = 112.5 Ω
Galvanometer current
Ig = 2.813/(112.5 + 200) = 9000 µA
Answer
Ig = 9000 µA
12.Wheatstone bridge & strain gauges
Answer: Vo = 1.537 mV
Strain gauges: a gauge changes its resistance with strain: ΔR/R = GF·ε, where the gauge factor GF is about 2 for metal foil. In a bridge with all arms equal to R, one active gauge (quarter bridge) gives Vo ≈ Vs·GF·ε/4. Two active gauges with opposite strains in adjacent arms (half bridge) give Vs·GF·ε/2, and four (full bridge) give Vs·GF·ε. Stress follows from Hooke’s law, σ = E·ε. Load cells state their sensitivity in mV/V: the output at full load per volt of excitation.
Relative resistance change
ΔR/R = 2.05·1000·10⁻⁶ = 0.00205
Bridge output
Vo ≈ Vs·GF·ε/4 = 3·0.00205/4 = 1.537 mV
Answer
Vo = 1.537 mV
13.Digital logic: gates, K-maps & flip-flops
Answer: L = 4
Karnaugh maps: the cells are ordered in Gray code (00, 01, 11, 10), so neighbouring cells, including the ones across the edges, differ in exactly one variable. Group the 1s in rectangles of 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 cells, as large as possible and as few as possible, until every 1 is covered. Each group is one product term: the variables that stay constant inside it. A group of 2ᵏ cells loses k variables. Don't-cares (X) may be used to make groups bigger but never have to be covered. Grouping the 0s instead gives the minimal POS form.
Group the 1s
Every group is a rectangle of 2ᵏ cells; edge cells are neighbours of the cells on the opposite edge.
AC′
A′B′
Minimal SOP form
F = AC′ + A′B′
L = 4
Answer
L = 4
14.Digital logic: gates, K-maps & flip-flops
Answer: N = 1
Karnaugh maps: the cells are ordered in Gray code (00, 01, 11, 10), so neighbouring cells, including the ones across the edges, differ in exactly one variable. Group the 1s in rectangles of 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 cells, as large as possible and as few as possible, until every 1 is covered. Each group is one product term: the variables that stay constant inside it. A group of 2ᵏ cells loses k variables. Don't-cares (X) may be used to make groups bigger but never have to be covered. Grouping the 0s instead gives the minimal POS form.
Prime implicants
The largest groups that can be formed from 1s and Xs.