Thirteenth Week of Electronics Media

The thirteenth week of electronics media has ended. For this week, we focused on understanding motors and discussing our project ideas. Here is a recap of all that occurred this week.

On 3/31/25, I took the time to write down the notes from the labs before I got started on the motor examples. This is what I have recorded:

What is a Base Resistor?
  • The resistor that goes between the Arduino output pin and the base of the transistor 
    • Keeps the transistor from drawing to much current
What is a Flyback Diode?
  • A diode that is installed "backwards" in a circuit to keep high-voltage spikes (transients) produced by inductive loads from traveling through the circuit and damaging sensitive components
What is H-Bridge?
  • A circuit that switches the polarity of 2 electrical contacts
    • Looks like an H when made from scratch
What is a Solenoid?
  • A coil that when energized produces a controlled magnetic field down through its center, which in-turn pushes or pulls a metal plunger; easy way to make a small back/forward motion
What are the 4 ways of activating a DC motor using an Arduino?
  • Using Transistor
  • Using a MOSFET
  • Using a Relay (driven by a transistor)
  • Using a Motor driver

What is a Transistor?

  • A device that is used to switch electricity without any moving parts, uses current
    • Can also be used to switch devices that exceed the Arduino's 5V limit
    • Types:
      • NPN transistors: A type of bipolar transistor with 3 layers that are used for amplifying circuits
        • Ex: PN222 (In Kit), B547, 2N222, and 2N3904
          • Any of these could take the place of PN222
      • PNP transistors: A type of bipolar transistor that are used for controlling current
    • Have to calculate value of base resistor to make sure we don't draw too much current (720mA) from the Arduino's digital pin



What is a MOSFET?
  • A device that are capable of switching higher voltages and currents than transistors
    • Similar structure to transistors but has a gate/drain/source pins instead of base/collector/emitter 
    • Uses certain voltage appearing at the gate pin
    • Will act as a switch when they see a logic-level HIGH at their gate pin
    • More expensive than transistors
What is a Relay? 
  • An electrically operated mechanical switch 
    • Has two parts
      • Coil: where current flows through to create a tiny electromagnet
      • Switch: the bit of metal the flip flops from the magnet
    • Types:
      • Single-Pole Single-Throw (SPST): On/Off
      • Single-Pole Double-Throw (SPDT): Forward and Reverse
      • A switch with multiple poles can switch multiple separate paths of electricity simultaneously with one flip of the switch
    • Labels: 
      • COM (Common): Always connected to a wire
      • Normally Connected (NC): Connected to COM until switch is on
      • Normally Open (NO): Not connected to switch until switch is on




What is a L293D Motor Driver?
  • A "Dual H-Bridge" or "Quadruple Half H" motor driver IC (Integrated Circuit)
    • IC (Integrated Circuit): many are "Dual Inline Pin" (DIP) package whick looks like a black box with legs on both sides
      • Legs can fold under accidentally and potentially break
      • Can be sensitive to static electricity
      • Are sensitive, advised to avoid soldering and instead use a dip socket
      • Have pin numbered 1-16, starts at the left and makes it around counter clockwise with the end of the #1 pin identified by its notch
        • Enable 1, 2 (Pin 1): When this pin is HIGH, the left part of the IC will work and when it is LOW, the left part won't work; master control of the IC left side 
        • Input (Pin 2): When this pin is HIGH, output 1 becomes HIGH, i.e. current will flow through output 1
        • Output (Pin 3): Connected to terminal of motor 1
        • GND (Pin 4, 5, 12, 13): Ground 
        • Output 2 (Pin 6): Connected to terminal of motor 1
        • Input 2 (Pin 7): When this pin is HIGH, i.e., current will flow through Output 2
        • VCC2 (Pin 8): Voltage required to run the motor, can be greater than VCC 1
        • Enable 3,4 (Pin 9): When this pin is HIGH, right part of the IC will work and when it is LOW, the right part won't workl master control of IC's right half
        • Input 3 (Pin 10): When HIGH, current will flow to Output 3
        • Output 3 (Pin 11): Connected to one terminal of motor 2
        • Output 4 (Pin 14): Connected to other terminal of motor 2
        • Input 4 (Pin 15): When HIGH, current will flow through Output 4
        • VCC1 (Pin 16): Provide 5V to IC

On 4/1/25, we discussed our project sketches. Out of all the sketches I've made, I decided to opt in for the "Manners Trash Can" where the piece would involve a trash can (with a motor on the bottom covered by a fake bottom) that would reject trash if you don't ask nicely beforehand.

On 4/2/25, I went back to the labs and performed each of the demonstrations. Here is what was recorded:

Example 1:




Example 2:





Example 3:




On 4/3/25, our class went through a servo motor demonstration. Here is the demonstration:

Example 1:



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