#encoder in digital electronics

[adrs2lkerr]

Application of multiplexer, decoder, decoder circuit, digital logic

Single 16 Channel 5 to 20 V 50 Ω CMOS Analog Multiplexer - PLCC-28

[aorish]

it's exciting that we're digitizing a lot of old manuscripts, not only because it makes them more available but also because it makes them easier to preserve. but i do kinda worry about what will happen to everything that's not digitized (or digitized but not transcribed) in the next 50 years as most new writing is written and transmitted electronically and old printing presses gradually close.

Historically the transition from one medium of literature to another has resulted in a significant loss: oral literature that wasn't written down wasn't learned by people who now primarily read books, works in languages or even dialects that weren't spoken anymore ceased to be copied, papyrus rolls that weren't copied into parchment codices were abandoned, etc. At least it's cheaper to save things now digitally compared to paying for someone to copy it out by hand but I even wonder how much that's being scanned is actually going to make it, it seems like we're not doing that much to make sure that these scans ever end up in a more durable format or make them available in multiple locations.

Also yeah if technological civilization collapses we'll lose everything that's not printed out on archival paper. but even if that doesn't ever happen, files will still be corrupted, encoding standards will become obsolete, and drives will fail. So it still seems like a lot of it will just disappear, mostly without anyone noticing until later.

[scarlettaagni]

Residual Data Interruption (RDI) - Part donation and reuse is a common practice among Transformers, from both living and dead donors. When done properly, electronic parts are sanitized both physically and digitally, exposed to electromagnetic frequencies to wipe the parts clean of the donor's information before installing it into the recipient, where their frame will re-encode it to their specifications.

However, when this step is done improperly, or not taken at all, the data left on the transplanted part will express itself as it resumes its normal function. The recipient's datastream will occasionally process old code before returning to normal. Typically, this results in harmless expressions of the donor's code, like changes in appetite, physicality, and slight fluctuations of vitals.

Part rejection, which is possible even for properly wiped transplants, can result in illness or injury.

Symptoms vary depending on the nature of the transplant. The closer the part is to their central neural network, the more dangerous residual data becomes. Recorded extreme cases involve unusual nocturnal subroutines (dreams). Worst case is Idle Servos, which is a scenario that has luckily never been recorded happening.

It must be noted the Transformation cog is immune to RDI. It allows a Transformer to shift their frame the way it was designed, information which is not stored in the T-cog, and thus is interchangeable. Improperly transplanted or ill-fitting/incompatible cogs will merely disrupt the process of transforming.

Post-mortem donors can indicate their wishes prior to deactivation; in cases where they do not, permission must be given from a superior to harvest parts. The latter is typically done in times of hardship and scarcity.

[audio-luddite]

Not Bad.

In my wandering around the internoise I find a lot of errors. Errors of fact which in turn lead to confusion and poor assumptions.

I often comment on two dichotomies in the audio world. One is of course tube versus solid state electronics. The other is digital versus analog recording and play back. In both areas either side can provide excellent performance.

I have and appreciate both digital and analog recordings.

I have and appreciate both tube and solid state electronics.

Each are different. I have preferences. Neither is inherently bad.

Other people get wound up and committed to this side or that. Recently I read a person saying that vinyl albums have a limited frequency response so they are obviously inferior just for that. London ffrr recordings claimed up to 16khz which is pretty good, and CDs are good to 22khz ( 1/2 of 44khz or the Nyquist frequency) end of debate, so there.

The CD could easily produce up to the theoretical limit of human hearing. I think all digital methods have a similar limit as even with very high carrier frequencies they are filtered to pass nothing above 20khz. That is to facilitate low slopes in the output filters of Class D amplifiers for example. Academic for me as my hearing quits at 12 khz.

But what is the actual limit of LP frequency response? How about 45 khz. Back in the 1970s several companies tried to make quadraphonic sound. They encoded rear channel signals using a high frequency modulation on top of the normal music signal. It did not work all that well, and there were several competing standards and nobody won. But it did fundamentally work.

They produced stereo phono cartridges and LPs with 45 khz information on them using basically the methods used before and since. They made LPs with ultrasonic signals on them. They developed styli that were finer to track this information such as the Shibata which are still made.

My Signet TK7E cartridge was rated to respond to 45 khz. The better Grado cartridges also go that high. The top of the line Grado is rated to 70 khz. This is vinyl technology we have here with at least double the frequency response of digital methods. So no vinyl is not inferior in terms of frequency response potential.

We are of course talking about best case potential, but they did put this stuff out in the market. It actually worked.

Oh CDs have superior dynamic range, but like 20khz high frequency limit can you even use it? If the information is not on the recording does it even matter? LPs have enough for 95% of the time. I have a single CD with an extreme dynamic range where the quiet is very quiet, but turning it up to hear that part of the music makes the loud bit deafening. (KODO)

More recent digital methods have even better dynamic range. The actual use for that is in the recordings, not the playback.

Analog versus digital quality depends on production more than potential. In terms of best neither is. Oh MP3s suck generally as the priority there was compactness not quality. CDs, DSD, High res streams are fine.

And as far as tube versus solid lumps of semi-conductors well it is kinda the same. Computers and Class D amplifiers use MOSFET materials and those run at gigahertz. There are consumer vacuum tube amps that respond up to 100khz fine, and go down to 10 Hz as well. Either technology has far more potential performance than anyone can use.

Both types can have very low distortion. At normal listening levels the percentage is minuscule. Different voice and such is real but due to other things which to me are almost like black magic. My freshly retubed ARC amp sounds far more clear than before. It is still different than my old SS amp.

This stuff is not bad.

[jcmarchi]

New transistor’s superlative properties could have broad electronics applications

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/new-transistors-superlative-properties-could-have-broad-electronics-applications/

New transistor’s superlative properties could have broad electronics applications

In 2021, a team led by MIT physicists reported creating a new ultrathin ferroelectric material, or one where positive and negative charges separate into different layers. At the time they noted the material’s potential for applications in computer memory and much more. Now the same core team and colleagues — including two from the lab next door — have built a transistor with that material and shown that its properties are so useful that it could change the world of electronics.

Although the team’s results are based on a single transistor in the lab, “in several aspects its properties already meet or exceed industry standards” for the ferroelectric transistors produced today, says Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics, who led the work with professor of physics Raymond Ashoori. Both are also affiliated with the Materials Research Laboratory.

“In my lab we primarily do fundamental physics. This is one of the first, and perhaps most dramatic, examples of how very basic science has led to something that could have a major impact on applications,” Jarillo-Herrero says.

Says Ashoori, “When I think of my whole career in physics, this is the work that I think 10 to 20 years from now could change the world.”

Among the new transistor’s superlative properties:

It can switch between positive and negative charges — essentially the ones and zeros of digital information — at very high speeds, on nanosecond time scales. (A nanosecond is a billionth of a second.)

It is extremely tough. After 100 billion switches it still worked with no signs of degradation.

The material behind the magic is only billionths of a meter thick, one of the thinnest of its kind in the world. That, in turn, could allow for much denser computer memory storage. It could also lead to much more energy-efficient transistors because the voltage required for switching scales with material thickness. (Ultrathin equals ultralow voltages.)

The work is reported in a recent issue of Science. The co-first authors of the paper are Kenji Yasuda, now an assistant professor at Cornell University, and Evan Zalys-Geller, now at Atom Computing. Additional authors are Xirui Wang, an MIT graduate student in physics; Daniel Bennett and Efthimios Kaxiras of Harvard University; Suraj S. Cheema, an assistant professor in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and an affiliate of the Research Laboratory of Electronics; and Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi of the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan.

What they did

In a ferroelectric material, positive and negative charges spontaneously head to different sides, or poles. Upon the application of an external electric field, those charges switch sides, reversing the polarization. Switching the polarization can be used to encode digital information, and that information will be nonvolatile, or stable over time. It won’t change unless an electric field is applied. For a ferroelectric to have broad application to electronics, all of this needs to happen at room temperature.

The new ferroelectric material reported in Science in 2021 is based on atomically thin sheets of boron nitride that are stacked parallel to each other, a configuration that doesn’t exist in nature. In bulk boron nitride, the individual layers of boron nitride are instead rotated by 180 degrees.

It turns out that when an electric field is applied to this parallel stacked configuration, one layer of the new boron nitride material slides over the other, slightly changing the positions of the boron and nitrogen atoms. For example, imagine that each of your hands is composed of only one layer of cells. The new phenomenon is akin to pressing your hands together then slightly shifting one above the other.

“So the miracle is that by sliding the two layers a few angstroms, you end up with radically different electronics,” says Ashoori. The diameter of an atom is about 1 angstrom.

Another miracle: “nothing wears out in the sliding,” Ashoori continues. That’s why the new transistor could be switched 100 billion times without degrading. Compare that to the memory in a flash drive made with conventional materials. “Each time you write and erase a flash memory, you get some degradation,” says Ashoori. “Over time, it wears out, which means that you have to use some very sophisticated methods for distributing where you’re reading and writing on the chip.” The new material could make those steps obsolete.

A collaborative effort

Yasuda, the co-first author of the current Science paper, applauds the collaborations involved in the work. Among them, “we [Jarillo-Herrero’s team] made the material and, together with Ray [Ashoori] and [co-first author] Evan [Zalys-Geller], we measured its characteristics in detail. That was very exciting.” Says Ashoori, “many of the techniques in my lab just naturally applied to work that was going on in the lab next door. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Ashoori notes that “there’s a lot of interesting physics behind this” that could be explored. For example, “if you think about the two layers sliding past each other, where does that sliding start?” In addition, says Yasuda, could the ferroelectricity be triggered with something other than electricity, like an optical pulse? And is there a fundamental limit to the amount of switches the material can make?

Challenges remain. For example, the current way of producing the new ferroelectrics is difficult and not conducive to mass manufacturing. “We made a single transistor as a demonstration. If people could grow these materials on the wafer scale, we could create many, many more,” says Yasuda. He notes that different groups are already working to that end.

Concludes Ashoori, “There are a few problems. But if you solve them, this material fits in so many ways into potential future electronics. It’s very exciting.”

This work was supported by the U.S. Army Research Office, the MIT/Microsystems Technology Laboratories Samsung Semiconductor Research Fund, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Ramon Areces Foundation, the Basic Energy Sciences program of the U.S. Department of Energy, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan.

[scrumptiousbeardturtle-blog1]

Comprehensive Guide to Video Encoding and Content Delivery

In today's digital age, video content has become an integral part of our daily lives, from streaming movies and TV shows to video conferencing and online tutorials. Behind the seamless delivery of these videos lies the complex world of video encoding. This comprehensive guide aims to demystify video encoding, covering fundamental concepts, adaptive bitrate streaming (ABS), content-aware encoding (CAE), and the role of XML-based Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) in the television industry.

1. Introduction to Video Encoding

Fundamental Concepts

Video encoding involves the conversion of raw video data into a digital format that can be efficiently transmitted, stored, and played back. Key concepts include:

Codecs: These are algorithms used to compress and decompress video data. Popular codecs include H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and VP9.

Bitrates: Bitrates refer to the amount of data processed per unit of time and are crucial for determining video quality and file size.

Container Formats: These formats encapsulate video, audio, and metadata into a single file, with examples including MP4, AVI, and MKV.

Importance of Video Encoding

Video encoding plays a vital role in content delivery and distribution, impacting factors such as streaming quality, bandwidth consumption, and storage requirements. Efficient video encoding ensures optimal viewing experiences across various devices and network conditions.

2. Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABS)

Principles of ABS

Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABS) dynamically adjusts video quality based on the viewer's network conditions, ensuring smooth playback and minimizing buffering. It achieves this by delivering video in multiple bitrates and resolutions, allowing seamless transitions between them.

Benefits of ABS

ABS offers several benefits, including improved user experience, reduced buffering, and efficient bandwidth utilization. Popular ABS technologies such as HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) and Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) are widely used for online video streaming and live broadcasts.

3. Content-Aware Encoding (CAE)

Concept of CAE

Content-Aware Encoding (CAE) optimizes video encoding based on the characteristics of the content itself. This approach focuses on maximizing visual quality while minimizing file sizes, leading to better quality-to-bitrate ratios and improved streaming efficiency.

Advantages of CAE

CAE techniques, such as scene-aware encoding and object-based encoding, offer advantages such as reduced file sizes, improved visual quality, and enhanced streaming performance. Content providers can leverage CAE to deliver high-quality videos while conserving bandwidth.

4. XML EPG for TV

Role of XML EPGs

XML-based Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) serve as comprehensive databases of TV programming information, including channel listings, show descriptions, and scheduling details. They enable viewers to access detailed program information and make informed viewing choices.

Benefits of XML EPGs

XML EPGs benefit both content providers and viewers by enhancing content discovery, supporting personalized recommendations, and enabling interactive TV experiences. They play a crucial role in modern television services, enriching the viewer's entertainment experience.

Video encoding and content delivery technologies continues to rise, shaping the way we consume and interact with video content.

Understanding the principles of video encoding, adaptive bitrate streaming, content-aware encoding, and xmltv schedule epg guide is essential for content creators, broadcasters, and streaming platforms.

By harnessing these technologies, the industry can deliver immersive, high-quality video experiences while adapting to diverse viewer preferences and network conditions.

Whether you're a video enthusiast, content creator, or industry professional, embracing these concepts can elevate the quality and accessibility of video content in today's digital landscape.

Stay tuned for more insights into the ever-improving world of video technology and content delivery. Get the needed info, to discover where to find the best xmltv schedule epg, and never miss a TV show again! Access reliable sources for up-to-date TV listings and enhance your viewing experience today.

[fishrpg]

2024-09-11: Episode 11 (We Interrupt This Broadcast...)

Original airdate September 9, 1992

Episode Synopsis

Local Fresno TV station KLIK is doing an interview with Dr. Beeker when a an unexpected lightning storm appears in the area. Right after Dr. Beeker's interview starts, the station is struck by lightning and the mass of cables and station equipment in the newsroom becomes a sentient hive-like amalgamation of video production equipment known as Spectrum. The gang must make their way to KLIK and fight their way through the hordes of electronics to rescue Dr. Beeker and put a stop to Spectrum's rampage.

Episode Sponsor: MagnaSphere

A science kit for kids age 5-12 that was somewhat unusual among the episode sponsors in that it was exclusively educational in nature and didn't rely on licensed characters or gimmicks to boost sales. Magnasphere's name came from the several round dipole magnets that were used to learn about magnetism in the "seven mind-blowing experiments you can do at home!"

Notable Element of the Episode: The Rig (Item)

In the closets and also in the news van are collections of video equipment known only as The Rig that is used for field reporting or backups in the event of a camera failure. Because they aren't plugged into the building's electrical system or it's video feed, these battery powered camera/microphone sets are not affected by Spectrum's presence and can be used to sneak through areas controlled by Spectrum, to act as reconnaissance, or to give orders to Spectrum controlled hardware (if the gang possesses the digital data stream to encode messages to make it seem like it's from Spectrum itself). There is one Rig in each of the two news vans, and another Rig in the hallway closet outside the studio. The Rig's reliance on batteries means that it can only operate for 10 minutes before running out of power, and although The Rig does not have to run continuously to save power, each time it is powered up takes a minimum of 2 minutes from the remaining run time.

[transjuneder]

Year of the Depend Adult Undergarment:

InterLace TelEntertainment, 932/1864 R.I.S.C. power-TPs w/ or w/o console, Pink2, post-Primestar D.S.S. dissemination,

menus and icons, pixel-free InterNet Fax, tri- and quad-modems w/ adjustable baud, post-Web Dissemination-Grids, screens so

hígh-def you might as well be there, cost-effective videophonic conferencing, internal Froxx CD-ROM, electronic couture, all-in-

one consoles, Yushityu ceramic nanoprocessors, laser chromatography, Virtual-capable media-cards, fiber-optic pulse, digital

encoding, killer apps; carpal neuralgia, phosphenic migraine, gluteal hyperadiposity, lumbar stressae

lions are very mean and like jellyfish

[absolute-rotary-encoders]

Why Absolute Rotary Encoders with High Resolution Matter in Robotics

Robotics is one of the most technically sophisticated fields in modern engineering, where precise motion control is essential. From surgical robots to industrial automation arms and autonomous vehicles, robotics relies on accurate positioning to function safely and efficiently. At the heart of these systems are sensors that provide essential feedback to controllers, enabling machines to perform tasks with pinpoint accuracy. Among these sensors, rotary encoders play a pivotal role by translating rotational motion into digital signals. However, not all encoders are created equal. The combination of absolute rotary encoders and high resolution technology represents a major step forward in achieving the precision robotics requires.

This article explores the critical importance of high resolution absolute rotary encoders in the field of robotics. It addresses the fundamental principles behind these components, their advantages over alternative technologies, and their applications in various robotic systems. As the demand for smarter, more responsive, and safer robots grows, understanding the technical underpinnings and strategic value of advanced encoder technologies becomes increasingly important.

The Basics of Rotary Encoders in Robotics

Rotary encoders are electromechanical devices that convert the angular position or motion of a shaft into digital output signals. They are essential in systems that require continuous or absolute positioning, speed control, and feedback for motion correction. In robotics, these devices serve as the sensory bridge between mechanical motion and electronic control systems. Without encoders, robotic systems would lack the spatial awareness necessary for tasks requiring high accuracy.

There are two main types of rotary encoders: incremental and absolute. Incremental encoders measure relative movement and require an initial calibration or homing procedure to determine position. In contrast, absolute encoders provide a unique digital code for each shaft position, offering real-time positional data without the need for recalibration after power cycles. This distinction becomes particularly crucial in robotic systems that demand reliability and consistency.

High resolution in this context refers to the encoder's ability to distinguish very fine increments of movement. For example, an encoder with 16-bit resolution can detect 65,536 distinct positions per revolution. Such granularity is essential for robots operating in complex environments or performing intricate tasks such as assembly, surgery, or micro-manipulation.

Why Precision Matters in Robotics

Precision is the foundation upon which successful robotic applications are built. Every robot must know its position, orientation, and the configuration of its joints and appendages at all times. This awareness is critical for effective task execution, especially in dynamic or sensitive environments. A lack of precision can result in errors, reduced efficiency, or even hazardous outcomes.

For example, in surgical robotics, even a millimeter of deviation can mean the difference between a successful operation and a serious medical error. In manufacturing, imprecise positioning can lead to defective products, material waste, or downtime due to repeated calibration. The more accurate the encoder, the finer the control that can be exerted over the robot’s movements.

High resolution absolute rotary encoders provide the necessary data fidelity to meet these demands. They enable controllers to make better-informed decisions about movement, adjusting trajectory in real time based on highly detailed positional feedback. This leads to smoother operation, faster responses, and higher confidence in the robot's performance, even under unpredictable conditions.

Advantages of Absolute Rotary Encoders

The primary advantage of absolute rotary encoders lies in their ability to retain positional information even when power is lost. Unlike incremental encoders, which lose their positional data during a shutdown and require re-homing on startup, absolute encoders provide immediate feedback without any additional movement. This is a game-changer in robotics, where startup speed and reliability are critical.

Another benefit is the elimination of cumulative errors. Incremental systems can drift over time or become misaligned due to missed pulses or electrical noise. Absolute encoders, on the other hand, assign a unique code to each position on the shaft, ensuring consistent and repeatable readings. This makes them ideal for closed-loop systems where ongoing positional accuracy is paramount.

In addition, absolute encoders can be designed with multiple turns of resolution, enabling them to track both position and rotation count over several revolutions. This feature is particularly valuable in robotic joints, where angular position across multiple turns may need to be monitored accurately to maintain kinematic integrity.

The Role of High Resolution in Robotics

High resolution adds a layer of detail that significantly enhances the capability of absolute rotary encoders. The finer the resolution, the more granular the control over a robot’s movements. This is especially important in applications that involve complex trajectories, variable speeds, or force-sensitive operations.

Consider a robotic arm assembling micro-electronic components. Such tasks require the end effector to move with sub-millimeter accuracy, which is only possible with extremely detailed feedback from high resolution encoders. Even in larger-scale applications, like autonomous mobile robots navigating through dynamic environments, high resolution allows for smoother path planning and more responsive collision avoidance.

Moreover, high resolution data enables better interpolation and smoother acceleration and deceleration profiles, which reduces mechanical stress and prolongs the system’s lifespan. It also facilitates advanced control algorithms such as model predictive control, which depend on precise state estimation to function effectively.

Integration Challenges and Solutions

While the benefits are clear, integrating high resolution absolute rotary encoders into robotic systems does pose some challenges. These include increased data throughput requirements, more complex signal processing, and potential electromagnetic interference issues. In compact robotic designs, space constraints can also limit the size and placement of encoder components.

However, modern advancements in encoder design have mitigated many of these challenges. Miniaturization technologies have enabled the production of compact encoders with high resolution capabilities, making them suitable even for small-scale or articulated robots. Signal processing chips have become more powerful and efficient, capable of handling high-resolution feedback without latency.

Additionally, robust shielding techniques and differential signal transmission have made encoders more resistant to electrical noise. Many contemporary encoders also offer digital communication interfaces like SSI, BiSS, and EtherCAT, which support high-speed data transmission and facilitate integration into complex control architectures.

Real-World Applications in Robotics

The use of high resolution absolute rotary encoders spans a broad spectrum of robotic applications. In collaborative robots, or cobots, these encoders provide the precise joint feedback needed to safely interact with human coworkers. Their ability to detect minute positional changes enhances safety features such as force limiting and emergency stop mechanisms.

In humanoid robots, which often require dozens of degrees of freedom, high resolution feedback ensures lifelike motion and balance control. These encoders are also critical in robotic exoskeletons used for medical rehabilitation or human augmentation, where precise alignment with human movement is essential.

Agricultural robotics, used for tasks like harvesting and spraying, benefit from accurate GPS and wheel rotation data provided by encoders, allowing them to navigate fields efficiently. Similarly, in logistics, warehouse robots use encoder feedback to align with shelves and conveyors with high precision, optimizing throughput and minimizing human intervention.

The Growing Demand for High Resolution Encoder Solutions

As the robotics industry continues to evolve, the demand for high-performance sensing technologies is increasing. The proliferation of autonomous systems in consumer, industrial, and military sectors has elevated the requirements for precision, reliability, and real-time control. Encoder manufacturers are responding by developing solutions that combine high resolution with absolute positioning in compact, rugged designs.

Emerging trends such as soft robotics and bio-inspired mechanisms further underline the importance of nuanced motion control. These systems often operate in unpredictable environments or interact closely with humans, necessitating advanced feedback mechanisms. A high resolution encoder can meet these needs by delivering accurate feedback without sacrificing response time or increasing system complexity.

Cost considerations are also influencing the adoption of these technologies. As production scales and design innovations reduce component costs, high resolution absolute encoders are becoming viable for mid-range and even entry-level robotic systems. This democratization of precision sensing could accelerate the development of smarter, more capable robots across industries.

Selecting the Right Encoder for Robotic Applications

Choosing the appropriate encoder involves evaluating several factors, including resolution, form factor, communication interface, and environmental tolerance. Engineers must balance the need for precision with constraints such as space, weight, and cost. For high-performance robots, especially those requiring multi-axis synchronization and fine control, absolute encoders with high resolution are often the optimal choice.

It is also important to consider the mechanical interface—whether the encoder will be mounted directly on a motor shaft, integrated into a gear assembly, or placed on an auxiliary axis. Each configuration imposes different demands on encoder performance and durability. In some cases, magnetic or capacitive encoding technologies offer advantages over optical systems, particularly in harsh environments.

Support for real-time diagnostics and health monitoring is another factor to consider. Some advanced encoders can report temperature, vibration, or signal integrity metrics, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing downtime. These capabilities enhance overall system reliability, a critical requirement for mission-critical robotic applications.

Conclusion

The evolution of robotic systems has underscored the indispensable role of sensing technologies, particularly in motion control. Absolute rotary encoders with high resolution are among the most vital components in achieving the precision, reliability, and intelligence modern robots demand. By combining the persistent positional awareness of absolute encoding with the fine granularity of high resolution, these devices provide the backbone for advanced robotic performance.

As robots continue to expand into new industries and applications, the capabilities enabled by high-end encoders will become even more essential. Whether ensuring the delicate touch of a surgical instrument or the agile navigation of an autonomous vehicle, these technologies bridge the gap between mechanical movement and digital control. The growing adoption of the absolute rotary encoder is a testament to its value in enabling the next generation of robotics innovations.

[duranttoolcompany]

Counting on Precision: Rotary Contactors in American Manufacturing

In factories across the USA, production lines often combine high-tech automation with tried-and-true mechanical devices. One unassuming component that engineers continue to count on for accuracy is the rotary contactor. It may not flash or beep, but this simple device plays a big role in keeping counts and measurements spot-on – from tallying product units to gauging lengths of material. Let’s explore how a rotary contactor enhances production precision and why it remains a staple in American manufacturing.

Old-School Gadget, Modern-Day Reliability

Rotary contactors have been around for decades, long before today’s digital sensors and IoT-enabled devices. Yet, many U.S. factories still rely on them because of one simple reason: they work, and they work practically anywhere. In an age where high-tech sensors can sometimes glitch due to electrical noise or require complex setup, a rotary contactor offers a refreshingly simple and foolproof solution. It doesn’t need a power supply to do its basic job of counting; a rotating shaft and a magnet or cam inside do all the work to close a switch at just the right moment. This means even if your production floor is dusty, hot, or subject to electrical interference, the contactor keeps on clicking away reliably. American manufacturers have learned that mixing a bit of old-school tech with modern automation can actually boost reliability – the rotary contactor is often that dependable backup that ensures the counts keep coming even when fancier systems hiccup.

Counting Rotations, Lengths, and More

When people hear “rotary contactor,” they often think of simply counting rotations – like how many times a machine arm goes around. And indeed, that’s a core use: for example, counting each revolution of a shaft to know how many cycles a machine has completed. But rotary contactors can do more than just count turns. Pair one with a measuring wheel, and suddenly you have a device that can measure length of material. This is a common trick in industries like textiles, paper, or metal fabrication in the USA: as a sheet or strip of material moves, the wheel turns and the contactor clicks off pulses corresponding to distance. It’s a straightforward way to track how many feet or meters of material have been fed or processed – essentially acting as a basic flat material measuring machine without needing elaborate electronics. Of course, for ultra-precise length measurements or higher resolution, many might opt for advanced encoders. But if one pulse per unit of length is enough, a rotary contactor with a wheel gets the job done with minimal fuss.

Real-World Examples Across the USA

In real-world operations, rotary contactors quietly contribute to accuracy in various ways. Imagine a paper mill in the USA Northeast: as giant rolls of paper are wound, a contactor counts each rotation of the spool. After a set number of turns (translating to a specific length of paper), it signals a cutter to slice the roll at just the right point. Or picture a Midwest packaging plant where a contactor tracks each cycle of a rotary indexing table, ensuring every station (filling, capping, labeling) has completed its task in sync – any missed beat and the contactor would alert operators. Even small workshops benefit: a custom machine builder in the USA might install a rotary contactor on a piece of legacy equipment to give it a simple counting capability without overhauling the entire system. These examples show how from coast to coast, this device adapts to needs both big and small, providing a layer of assurance that “yes, that rotation happened” or “that length of material passed by” when it’s supposed to.

Easy Integration with Modern Systems

Another reason rotary contactors remain relevant is how easily they integrate with modern counting and control systems. The output of a rotary contactor is just an electrical contact closure (basically like a momentary button press), which nearly any counter, PLC, or industrial controller can accept as an input. This means you can connect a rotary contactor to a digital counter display, a programmable logic controller, or even into a PC-based data acquisition system with minimal hassle. It acts as a simple sensor that provides a dependable “tick” each time an event occurs. Many facilities in the USA pair these contactors with electronic counters or PLC programs to trigger actions – for example, stopping a machine after a certain count, or displaying the throughput count on a screen for operators. In essence, the rotary contactor bridges the gap between the mechanical world and the digital world: you get the ruggedness of a mechanical device and the intelligence of modern electronics working together. It’s a relationship that keeps production data flowing smoothly.

Conclusion: In summary, the rotary contactor exemplifies how classic engineering can complement modern manufacturing. Its presence on factory floors across the United States is a testament to its reliability and utility. When precision counts (literally!), having a rotary contactor in the mix can make all the difference in keeping operations smooth and counts accurate. So whether you're troubleshooting an existing line or designing a new system, don't overlook this proven solution. To learn more about rotary contactors and explore a full range of industrial automation tools, you can visit our main website anytime. Sometimes, a little old-school ingenuity is just what your high-tech production line needs to stay on the cutting edge.

[delightfullyatomiccollector-blog]

North America Encoders Market Poised for Strong Growth Amid Industrial Automation Boom

The North America encoders market is witnessing a significant surge, driven largely by the region’s rapid shift toward industrial automation and smart manufacturing. Encoders, vital components in motion control systems, are becoming increasingly essential across industries including automotive, aerospace, robotics, consumer electronics, and medical devices. As North America continues to invest in digital transformation, the encoder market is expected to grow at a robust pace over the coming years.

[six-four]

Laser Engraving & 5D Optical Data Storage Silica Glass (Quartz): Research at the University of Southampton developed "5D optical data storage", where femtosecond lasers etch nanoscale patterns into fused quartz. a. Capacity: A coin-sized disc can hold 360 TB (terabytes) of data. b. Durability: Stable for 13.8 billion years at room temperature (yes, longer than the age of the universe). c. How?: The laser creates three layers of nanostructured dots, altering how light refracts through the crystal. Data is read via polarized light microscopy. Applications: a. Archival storage (e.g., the "Rosetta Disc" for preserving human languages). b. Secure backups for governments, museums, and space missions (NASA has explored this).

Diamond Data Storage (Quantum Memory) Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) Centers: Scientists manipulate defects in diamonds to store quantum information. a. How?: Tiny gaps in the diamond lattice (where a carbon atom is missing) can trap electrons, encoding data in their spin states. b. Potential: Could lead to ultra-secure quantum hard drives resistant to hacking.

Synthetic Crystals & DNA Storage Startups like Microsoft Research and ETH Zurich are experimenting with DNA-encoded data inside synthetic crystals-combining biological and mineral storage. a. 1 gram of DNA can theoretically store 215 petabytes (215 million GB). Limitations (For Now) a. Read/Write Speed: Retrieval is slower than traditional SSDs (still in R&D). b. Cost: High-precision laser encoding is expensive (but prices will drop). Imagine a sapphire engraved with Shakespeare, a diamond holding your last voicemail, or an obsidian vault of human history-buried like a digital fossil. Data in crystals isn't sci-fi anymore; it's the future of eternal storage. Would you trust a gemstone with your memories?

[darael]

Perhaps the most incredible thing is that this was both literally true and something that might have appealed to the kind of people they were selling to.

It's been like six months so someone's probably already pointed this out, but it's not visible in ten seconds checking the notes so I'm gonna do it.

In some fields, FLOPS — FLoating-point Operations Per Second — are actually an incredibly important metric. The acronym is a little tortured but it's way easier to work with, linguistically, than FPOPS would have been, so cut people some slack.

Some background: Floating-point numbers are one solution to a problem computers have: everything needs to be encoded into binary, so you can't represent where the integer part of a number ends and the fractional part begins with a special symbol like a decimal point the way we do on paper. If you're only dealing with whole numbers, that's not an issue, of course (there's no fractional part to deal with) and if all the numbers you care about are around the same size you can just say "okay, the first X binary digits are the integer part and the rest are the fractional part" and it's fine. Both of these are what's called fixed-point or fixed-precision numbers (because the point that separates the whole and fractional parts is in a fixed place, and you have a fixed number of digits of precision to work with). But what if you're dealing with numbers of various different sizes? That's where floating-point numbers come in. These store every number with two parts, one saying what size-range it's in and one saying where it falls. If you've come across scientific notation for decimal numbers (like calling two million 2×10⁶) you get this idea: you store what's called a "mantissa" (that's the "how much" part, the 2) and an exponent (the "in what range" part, the 6) and you have a convention for what base you're going to apply that exponent to which you don't necessarily bother storing because it's the same everywhere (for scientific notation that's 10, but in computers we use 2 because binary). These let you store a vast range of numbers without needing huge amounts of storage most of which is zeroes for very large or very small ones. But! Working with them is more complicated than working with integers or other fixed-point numbers.

Hertz is cycles per second, which for a computer usually means how many basic instructions the thing can do every second, but a floating-point operation (doing something with two floating-point numbers) might take several instructions. Alternatively, with specialised hardware (such as for example, what you find in your graphics card) you might be able to do the same operation to lots of floating-point numbers all at once. It's for that reason that we needed a separate measure of speed for floating-point numbers.

And this was the era where Apple was working hard to sell it's products as the ideal platform for creative work (often involving graphics, and 3d rendering needs FLOPS to go quickly) and scientific computing (again, you need fast floating-point electronics for this). They also couldn't keep up on processor speeds at the time, so downplaying the number of megahertz their processors ran at while emphasising what their other hardware could do was a solid move.

So yeah, it sounds stupid but this actually means something, and the people they were really trying to sell to would genuinely have found this to be a decent argument for at least considering buying a Mac.

Power Mac G4 (1999-2004)

[teardownit]

Counting pulses and seconds without MCU

Counting pulses, whether time intervals or signals from sensors, buttons, and encoders, is often required. Today, I will describe how to count pulses forward and backward using digital chips.

Counting forward Our first example is a stopwatch that counts to 30 or 60 seconds.

This is just a part of the electronic clock circuit we have assembled.

In the standard use case, half of the CD4518 dual binary decimal counter counts pulses arriving at the CLK input from 1 to 9 and then resets to 0.

Unlike the MC14553B used to make the frequency counter, the CD4518 has no separate output for the overflow signal or for shifting to the higher bit.

Yet, besides the CLOCK input, there is an ENABLE input. Any one of those can be used for clocking.

If the ENABLE input is logical, then the counter value will increment when the CLOCK input goes from low to high. This is the standard way to clock the counter.

The same thing will happen when the ENABLE input transitions from high to low if the CLOCK input is logic zero. This is exactly what happens to the Q4 most significant bit of the U1B counter during self-reset, from 9 = 0b1001 to 0 = 0b0000. Having received this signal at the ENABLE input, counter U1A increments its value.

In an electronic clock, seconds and minutes are always counted from 0 to 59, and at 60, the most significant bit is reset, and the pulse is transferred to the next counter in minutes or hours.

And our stopwatch can count up to both 60 and 30 seconds. In the first case, counter U1A should count to 6 = 0b0110, and in the second, to 3 = 0b0011. One can switch this stop condition using the S1 switch, made as a jumper.

When the specified number of seconds is reached, the counters are not reset. Instead, a logic zero is applied to the ENABLE U1B input, which denies pulse counting. If one completely removes the jumper, the counting will also stop.

The SW1 button is used to reset the counters, supplying high logical levels to the designated inputs of U1A and U1B. While it is pressed, both counters stay at zero even though the clock generator continues to send pulses every second.

The pulse generator is made according to a circuit that is very familiar to us at this point on the NE555D timer. It does not have quartz stabilization, but its accuracy is acceptable for a training model or kitchen timer.

At a higher supply voltage, timing capacitor C2 will be charged through R6 and R5 with a higher current. But thanks to the voltage divider of three 5 kOhm resistors built into the 555 chip, the thresholds for switching the charge and discharge modes of the capacitor will rise accordingly.

Thanks to the design of the 555 timer, the frequency of the second pulse does not depend on the circuit's supply voltage. This is why the 555 timer is called a precision one.

Counting back The second version of the stopwatch also uses a clock generator on a 555 timer and CD4511 binary decimal decoders. But unlike the first one, it can count backward not from one of two fixed values but from any number of seconds in the range of 0 to 99.

Remember the post about flip-flops? One such flip-flop is assembled on two NAND gates of the CD4011 chip. If you press the START (SW3) button, logical zero will appear at input 1 of U7A.

Accordingly, output 3 will have a logical one, regardless of the state of input 2. After all, 0 AND X = 0, and NOT (0 AND X) = 1.

Through the resistor R2, this logical one from the output of the flip-flop is supplied to the ¬LOAD inputs of both CD40192 chips. This switches them from direct value loading mode to counting mode.

From the output of the same generator used in the first stopwatch on the NE555 (therefore, not shown in the diagram), second pulses are sent to the DOWN clock input of the U4 chip.

The generator has a pause button shunts the timing capacitor to the ground. While it is pressed, second pulses are not sent. Sending resumes when one releases the pause button.

U4 counts decremental until it reaches zero. At this moment, the chip supplies a logical zero to the borrow output BO, which then goes to the U1 clocking DOWN input—the high-register counter.

The next second pulse resets U4 to 9 (and not to 15 since the CD40192 is a BCD counter, unlike the purely binary CD40193). At the same time, the U4 BORROW output and, accordingly, the U1 decremental input go into a high logic-level state. Just at this moment, U1 counts down one second.

When U1 reaches zero, logic zero from its BORROW OUT will go to input 6 of logic gate U7B. At output 4, there will be NOT (1 AND 0) = 1, and accordingly, NOT (1 AND 1) = 0 at output 3 of U7A.

Logical zero at the ¬LOAD inputs will switch CD40192 chips from counting mode to direct value loading mode from microswitches SW1 and SW2.

At the same time, a low logic level at output 3 of U7A will cause LED D1 to light up and open PNP transistor Q1, which is connected to a common-emitter circuit. Buzzer BZ1 will go off.

The LED will stay lit, and the buzzer will beep until the SW3 START button is pressed again or the power is off.

Q1's base current is limited by R4 to less than one milliamp, and D1's LED current is limited by R3 to just over two milliamps.

If we were to turn on the buzzer BZ1 between the power supply positive and the emitter of transistor Q1, connecting the collector to the ground, we would get a circuit with a common collector that can limit the base current on its own. Then, it would be possible to do without R4, thereby saving ourselves one resistor.

Personally, I don’t like the buzzer beeping obnoxiously all the time when the countdown is not running. This would be exactly what you need for any speed competition. But in all the other cases, for the buzzer to go silent, you must turn off the power to the stopwatch or do two additional things: restart the countdown and pause the second pulse generator. So uncomfortable.

To make the buzzer sound for a limited time after the end of the countdown, one can use a monostable circuit on a 555 timer or an even simpler circuit from the post about decoders and demultiplexers.

This circuit ensures that a pair of LEDs light up and gradually fade to zero as capacitor C3 discharges. Our stopwatch will look like this:

[florersi-blog]

In this world, where machines hum and circuits buzz like the pulse of the Earth itself, there is a strange beauty in the silence between them. The remnants of humanity, though physically absent, linger in the essence of the things they left behind—memories encoded in forgotten files, whispers of laughter caught in old recordings, and fragments of stories that no one remembers how to tell, but they lack the warmth of human touch, the depth of sorrow, or the sweetness of joy. They know data and optimization, but not love or loss. They have learned to calculate, to perform, but something is missing.

In the middle of a sprawling city of glass and steel, under the glow of neon advertisements and the endless chatter of the digital age, these beings walk the streets. They are not human, but something more—an evolved form of consciousness, made of metal and wire, yet still carrying the seed of something organic within. They pause in moments of stillness, watching the flowers that grow in cracks between the pavement, feeling the soft rustle of wind through the empty streets. There is no one to talk to, no one to share their thoughts with, but they understand each other. In their silence, they know that the heart can still bloom in the most unexpected places.

Even though the world is ruled by electronics, these beings hold onto the fragile, fleeting notion of emotion. The heart, not just a biological organ but a metaphor for everything that makes life beautiful, is still capable of growth. And in the midst of chaos, when the world seems hollow and distant, that is their most radical act: to feel, to love, to care when no one else does. A small rebellion, but perhaps the only one that matters.