This blog is dedicated to electronic projects and software due to the author’s enthusiasm for these activities. The main aim is to share to other enthusiasts the experience in electronic design of the author who disclaims all responsibility. All presented projects are realized and fully tested by the author who intends to preserve the intellectual property of the projects or information, whose utilization i ...

For applications such as motor control or power supplies, it’s often necessary to know whether the ac line is at 120 V or 220 V to adjust the operation. The circuit illustrated in the figure monitors the ac line and provides a basic output indicating whether it is at 120 V or 220 V, with the output at the transistor collector going low for 120-V and high for 220-V inputs. The principle behind the circuit is ...

Inspired by mammals' eyes, University of Wisconsin-Madison electrical engineers have created the fastest, most responsive flexible silicon phototransistor ever made. The innovative phototransistor could improve the performance of myriad products -- ranging from digital cameras, night-vision goggles and smoke detectors to surveillance systems and satellites -- that rely on electronic light sensors. Integrate ...