I am new to circuit design so forgive my question if it sounds silly. I am just playing around with some ideas but I was looking at some schematics for a zero crossings detector. Can a two input 'and' lojic gate be used for this type of circuit? Have one input tied to ground. The other input would be tied to a low voltage ac power supply. Then when the ac voltage crosses zero both inputs to the and gate would be zero and would therefor provide a high output. Or am I missing something? Thanks in advance for any feedback i may receive.
the problem with logic gates, in this case it must be an 'AND'-gate is the logic level for the function. Both inputs must be high to achieve a positive output state.
In order to to that you require a power supply for the logic gates. The AC must then be adapted not to exceed the allowed input voltage (CMOS-ICs) can handle up to 15V provided they are supplied with a 15VDC power supply.
for the steady ground you require a steady high as one input to the 'AND'-gate and for the AC-input it must be inverted, causing high on the other input when AC reaches zero Volt.
Try this; unless you attenuate it, Vp-p of the incoming AC waveform has to be < +V of the CMOS gate.
The resistor/zener string should pass current >5x more than the gate input current.
Thanks, Mr. G., for telling me how to do a thumbnail.
Try this; unless you attenuate it, Vp-p of the incoming AC waveform has to be < +V of the CMOS gate.
The resistor/zener string should pass current >5x more than the gate input current.
Thanks, Mr. G., for telling me how to do a thumbnail.
I agree, it's a great schematic tool. I use ExpressPCB's Export function to transform schematics to a .bmp file (@ 300 pixels per inch). Then right click on the file and "Open with >" Microsoft Office Picture Manager. Easy to crop out frame, resize, and export to many formats...usually .gif. I think the best part is the ease in creating any schematic symbol you want...or modifying any in their large library.
I make schematics with Microsoft Paint program.
Parts of other schematics and datasheets are copied and are pasted into the Paint program. Straight lines are made with the SHIFT key down. Simple and look good.
I agree. I have used ExpressPCB for some time now. It was a lot easier to learn than Eagle. The components are easier to manage (at least right now). I downloaded Eagle because a number of people had suggested it and the price was right I'm still working with Eagle, trying to learn the ins and outs. Is there a "sticky" somewhere that could give me some helpful hints? Or maybe a tutorial on-line?
Some people have posted schematics with meters showing readings that were evidently calculated using math models for the components shown in the schematic.
How'd they do that?
Some people have posted schematics with meters showing readings that were evidently calculated using math models for the components shown in the schematic.
How'd they do that?
It comes from National Instruments. They have an eval version free for 30 days. I've used it and as far as I know does everything the licensed one will do. You should be able to reinstall to extend it. The license cost $40.00 as of last Fall.
A comparator makes a much better zero crossing detector because you can control
the hysteresis much better. If you must use a logic gate then use a high voltage
AC signal through a resistor to drive the input, and use two diode clamps (one to
positive and one to ground) to clamp the input to a safe level for the gate. This
will get you closer to the true zero crossing.
With a definate cross-over point noise on a slow moving signal will cause multiple crossings. It's a conpromise between sensitivity and relability. You don't have to have a lot of hysteresis, a few mv should be enough to curb any noise issues.
Also, zero-crossing detectors are designed to cope with a certain bandwidth. What frequency are you dealing with here? If it is a datastream from some form of telecommunications, then the bandwidth would be fixed, or at least within a narrow band. This way you can tune the zero crossing detector. You can't expect it to cope with a sine wave of 5Hz, AND say 100khz.