jueves, 11 de febrero de 2010




That's it. I took real values measuring the resistance and the voltage. The images show the real values and the theoretical values(left bottom corner on the first image) predicted by the mathematical model. Of course, I have to rise the temperature and read several values.
The current is on the order of hundreds of uA which is good because it prevents the self-heating.

miércoles, 10 de febrero de 2010

Sterilizer's bridge


Researching, I found that the Wheatstone bridge it's the most common mode for obtaining a change of voltage due to a change of resistance. After a few elementary maths I've reached the resistance vs voltage equation. If I didn't make any mistakes, then the picture shows this plot. If I did have mistakes, then I will apologise (again) and re-do the job. Of course, being the plot positive or negative is just a matter of how the voltage is being measured.

martes, 9 de febrero de 2010

Sterilizer's Temperature(Update)


Today, the RTD temperature sensors arrived. I can now put the correct plot. I don't think putting the Resistance vs Temperature equation to the FPGA will be a problem, but I'm not quite sure if it's worth the effort. Perhaps would be easier to obtain a linear regression and use the form Y=a+bX.

lunes, 1 de febrero de 2010

jueves, 28 de enero de 2010

Sterilizer's temperature

Well. I've found errors on my plot. Anyway it's not worth to correct it (I will delete it, its easier hehe), the LM35D is only 0 to 100 grades, and a sensor capable of reading at least 140 grades is needed. I've kept the track of a Honeywell's sensor capable of sensing such a high temperature. I'll update when I have it in my hands.

miércoles, 27 de enero de 2010

Sterilizer's LM35

At the moment, we'll use the LM35 to sense the temperature. The image shows the octave's plot of the temperatur vs ADC digital word.
The Spartan 3 starter kit has a 14-bit two's complement ADC.
When the time comes, a better sensor might be used. I've seen some others, but, for now, we'll use this.
(The image has been deleted, read the next post)

martes, 26 de enero de 2010

Sterilizing

I've been working with FPGAs for many years now. Right now, With friends, we are working on a sterilizer's control unit. An FPGA will control the entire sensors, electrovalves, Keyboard and GLCD.
A spartan 3e starter kit from digilent is the FPGA's development board used for this task and, thinking positive (meaning: if the budget allows to) the keyboard will be developed using PSoCs from Cypress, achieving a great user-friendly interface.
I'll deliver some pictures next days!!!!