Nuts and Volts - July 2014

Low power consumption in combination with advanced analog and digital integration make the PIC16F178Xs ideal for LED and other lighting applications, battery management, digital power supplies, motor control, and general-purpose applications.

Available in 28- and 40-pin packages, the MCU’s intelligent analog integration paired with core independent peripherals — inclusive of the PSMC, DACs, op-amps, high speed comparators, and 12-bit ADC — enable self-sustaining smart control loops with minimal CPU intervention. This allows for optimal application control while freeing the CPU to provide incremental application value such as system health monitoring, communications, or human-interface control.

Initial evaluation and development of the PIC16F178X family can quickly begin with the F1 PSMC 28-pin evaluation board platform (US$19.99). Additionally, the PIC16F178X family is supported by Microchip’s standard suite of development tools, including the PICkit™ 3 (US$44.95), MPLAB REAL ICE (US$499.98), and MPLAB ICD 3 (US$189.99).

1,200W MULTI-RANGE DC POWER

SUPPLIES

B&K Precision has expanded its 9115 series with the addition of two new multi-range programmable DC power supplies: models 9115-AT and 9116. Like the 9115, The 9115-AT provides unique built-in automotive test functions and the 9116 offers a higher voltage range up to 150V, making these new models suitable for automotive, as well as a variety of benchtop or ATE system applications.

The 9115-AT's special built-in automotive test functions can simulate common test conditions to ensure reliability of electrical and electronic devices installed in automobiles. Compliant to automotive standard’s DIN 40839 and ISO 16750-2, these power test waveforms include: motor startup simulation, short voltage drop, reset behavior voltage drop, and engine start routine with cranking.

Front panel features from the 9115 carry over to the 9115-AT and 9116, which include a high resolution VFD display, independent voltage and current control knobs, cursors, and a numerical keypad for direct data entry. Both new models also provide internal memory storage to save and recall up to 100 different instrument settings, sequence (list mode) programming, and configurable overvoltage and overpower protection limits.

On the rear are standard USBTMC-compliant USB, RS-232, GPIB, and RS-485 interfaces supporting SCPI commands.

For ease of programming and remote control, the 9115 series now offers remote control software for front panel emulation, generation and execution of test sequences, and logging measurements via a PC.

The application software can also be integrated with NI's Data Dashboard for LabVIEW app (available for Android or iOS), allowing users to create custom