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Index
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Introduction
About the Authors
Part 1: The Fundamentals
Chapter 1: The Theory Behind Electricity
Atoms and Their Structure
Electrons
Valence Shell
Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors
Conductors
Insulators
Semiconductors
Electron Flow Versus Hole Flow
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 2: How Electricity Works
Circuits
Electromotive Force or Voltage
Current
Resistance
Ohm’s Law
Power
Joule’s Law
Putting It All Together
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Lab 2.1: Constructing a Simple Circuit
Chapter 3: Currents and Circuits
Direct Current
Alternating Current
The War of Currents
Waveforms
Sine Wave
Other Waveforms
Phase
Using Waves to Measure AC Voltage
Direct Current Waveforms
More About Circuits
Circuit Diagrams
Short Circuits
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Serial and Parallel Circuits
Learning the Language of Electronics
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Part 2: Your Workspace and Tools
Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade
Essential Hand Tools
Essential Instruments
Lab 4-1: Taking a DC Voltage Reading
Lab 4-2: Taking an AC Voltage Reading
Lab 4-3: Measuring Resistance
Lab 4-4: Measuring Current
Electronics Specialty Items
Essential Safety Items
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 5: Shop Setup and Safety
A Clean, Well-Lit Workshop
Claim Your Space
Your Workbench
Adequate Power
Lighting
Ventilation
Storage
Safety Equipment
Good Work Habits Are Good Safety Habits
Come Ready to Work
Dress for the Job
Be Neat and Work Deliberately
Know How Electricity Flows
First Aid for Electrical Shock
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Part 3: Electronic Components
Chapter 6: Switches
Switch Symbols
Mechanical Switches
Poles and Throws
Lab 6-1: SPDT Switch
Push-button Switches
Knife Switches
Bi-metal Switches Mercury Switches
Other Mechanical Switches
DIP Switches
Electromagnetic Switches or Relays
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 7: Resistors
The Mighty Resistor
Fixed-Value Resistors
Resistor Color Codes and Power Ratings
Reading the Code
Power Ratings
Surface Mount Resistors
Single in Line Resistors
Variable Resistors
Kirchhoff’s Laws
Calculating Resistance
Lab 7-1: Using Ohm’s & Kirchhoff’s Laws to Determine the Proper Resistor
Resistors in Series Circuits
Lab 7-2: Resistors in a Series Circuit
Resistors in Parallel Circuits
Lab 7-3: Resistors in a Parallel Circuit
Voltage Division Circuits
Lab 7-4: Voltage Division Using Fixed Value Resistors
Lab 7-5: Voltage Division Using a Variable Resistor
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 8: Capacitors
How a Capacitor Works
Farads
Relative Permittivity
Capacitor Ratings
Nominal Value and Tolerance
Temperature Coefficients
Breakdown Voltage or DC Working Voltage
Polarized Capacitor Types
Electrolytic Capacitors
Tantalum Capacitors
Non-polarized Capacitor Types
Variable Capacitors
Capacitors in a Circuit
Transient Time of Capacitors in a DC RC Circuit
Lab 8-1: Charging Capacitance
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 9: Diodes
How Diodes Work
Types of Semiconductor Diodes
Common Silicon Diodes
Zener Diodes
Schottky Diodes
Power Rectifiers
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)
Photodiodes
Handling Diodes
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 10: Transistors
Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs)
How Amplifiers Work
BJTs Under Varying Voltages
Gain
Darlington Pairs
Field Effect Transistors
Lab 10.1: Using a Transistor to Amplify Current
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 11: Power Sources and Power Supplies
Batteries
How Batteries Produce Energy
Primary vs. Secondary Batteries
Voltages in Batteries
Lab 11-1: Making a Potato Battery
Batteries in Series and in Parallel
Amp-hours
AC-to-DC Power Supplies
Transformers
Variable DC Power Supplies
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Switched-Mode Power Supplies
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Part 4: Getting to Work
Chapter 12: Soldering
Solder
Lead-free Solder
Flux
Soldering Iron and Tips
Heat Sink
Circuit Boards
Printed Circuit Boards
Prepping for Soldering
Place the Items on the Board
Prepare Your Soldering Iron
Soldering Technique
Desoldering
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 13: Constructing a Power Supply
Power Supply Kit and Construction
Safety First
Powering On
Getting Acquainted with Your Power Supply
Creating a Positive DC Wave
Seeing Caps and Voltage Regulators in Action
Using Your Variable DC Power Supply
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Part 5: Going Digital
Chapter 14: Digital Theory
The Idea Behind Digital Concepts
Analog vs. Digital
Truth Tables
Binary Numbers
Application to Electronics
Logic Gates
Lab 14-1: AND Gate
Lab 14.2: OR Gate
A Revolution Requiring Attention to Detail
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 15: Integrated Circuits
Analog ICs
Digital ICs
Flip-flops
555 and 556 Timers
Counters
Encoders and Decoders
Mixed Signal ICs
Lab 15-1: Building a Decoder Circuit, Part 1
Lab 15-2: Building a Decoder Circuit, Part 2
Lab 15-3: Guitar Amplifier
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 16: Memory
Digital vs. Analog Memory Storage
Parity Bits and Other Error Detection
Hexadecimal
Data and Address
The Von Neumann Computer Model
Memory Registers
Writing and Reading
Volatile and Nonvolatile Memory
Storage Media
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 17: Microcontrollers
What Are Microcontrollers?
Microcontroller Components
Inputs/Outputs
Programming Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers for Hobbyists
Open Source Hardware
The Arduino Microcontroller Platform
The Netduino Microcontroller Platform
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Part 6: Electronics in Practice
Chapter 18: Motors and Controllers
Brushed DC Motors
Brushless DC Motors
Stepper Motors
Servo Motors
Controllers
Pulse Width Modulation
H-bridge
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 19: Sensors
What Is a Sensor?
Electronic Sensors
Accelerometers
Digital Compasses or Magnetometers
Light and Color Sensors
Microphones
Alcohol and Other Environmental Gas Sensors
GPS Sensors
The Least You Need to Know
Chapter Review Questions
Chapter 20: Electronic Communication
The Basics of Electronic Communication
The Electromagnetic Spectrum, Revisited
Radio Waves
Microwaves
Infrared
Visible Light
Ultraviolet, X-Rays, and Gamma Rays
Encoding and Decoding a Signal
Amplitude Modulation
Frequency Modulation
Phase Modulation
Rasterization
Lab 20.1: Building an FM Stereo Transmitter
The Least You Should Know
Chapter Review Questions
Part 7: Constructing a Robot
Chapter 21A: Arduino: Building Your Robot
Shopping for Your Robot
Get the Software You Need
Connecting Your Arduino and Getting to Work
Chapter 21B: Netduino: Building Your Robot
Shopping for Your Robot
Get the Software You Need
Connecting Your Netduino and Getting to Work
Downloading to the Netduino Microcontroller
Chapter 22A: Arduino: Getting Your Robot Moving
Get Your Motor on Board
Assembling the Motor Driver Shield
Power It Up
Programming Your Robot to Start and Stop
Identifying the I/O Pins
Assembling the Robot Platform
Chapter 22B: Netduino: Getting Your Robot Moving
Get Your Motor on Board
Assembling the Motor Driver Shield
Power It Up
Programming Your Robot to Start and Stop
Identifying the I/O Pins
Adding Speed Control
Assembling the Robot Platform
Chapter 23A: Arduino: Adding Sensors to Your Robot
Adding Collision Control
The Ultrasonic Range Finder
Lab 23: Sensing Distance
Adding the Sensor to Your Robot
Adding a Power Switch
Planning and Writing the Code
Arduino Code
Letting Your Robot Roam
Chapter 23B: Netduino: Adding Sensors to Your Robot
Adding Collision Control
The Ultrasonic Range Finder
Lab 23.1: Sensing Distance
Adding the Sensor to Your Robot
Adding a Power Switch
Planning and Writing the Code
Letting Your Robot Roam
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: Timeline of Electronics
Appendix C: Mathematics for Electronics
Appendix D: Careers in Electronics
Appendix E: Resources
Appendix F: Answers for Odd-Numbered Questions
Appendix G: Lab Video Directory
Index
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