If one visits the lovely city of Philadelphia during the December holiday season, they will not fail to notice a number of spectacular light shows that are held at various points around the metro. These complex exhibitions are only made possible by electronic machines called mergers, which give trained professionals the ability to control the large numbers of lights involved. If one takes apart one of these machines, they will find several electronic components arranged in a DMX PCB.
Most people will be familiar with Printed Circuit Boards, sometimes referred to as Printed Wiring Boards. These form the basic building blocks of practically all modern electronic devices. Without them, bulk production of these components would be extremely hard, and very expensive.
Hobbyists would find their small projects impossible to do. These boards are made up of very thin copper sheets, covered with an insulating layer. Circuits can be added by removing or adding material, the latter process being more preferable because it is less wasteful. Extra components can be added if the end user demands it.
Etched Wiring Boards alone cannot make up an electronic device, and other parts need to be added in order for it to be complete. The most important of these is a micro processor. This minuscule component is the most important part of a DMX merger, and without it, the amazing machine cannot do its work. The tiny chip accepts programs, handles the complex calculations, and executes the results. An Arithmetic Logic Unit does the math, while a Control Unit handles the implementation. Contemporary chips add a cache to speed up their operations.
Without an indicator, there is no way of knowing if a DMX controller is on, or that its functioning as it should. To solve this problem, hobbyists and manufacturers incorporate light emitting diodes into the Printed Circuit Boards. These are made of a hard, clear epoxy casing which pulls double duty as a diffuser, and a protective shell around the component's delicate bits and pieces. A very small reflector and electrical inputs complete the picture. Larger ones make excellent illuminators, and use very little power.
Next to micro processors and circuit boards, transistors are some of the most important parts in an electronic circuit. All of them have at least three pins; when electrical energy is applied on a centre one, electrons flow from one of the side pins to the other one. This behaviour is what makes them attractive as switches. They are also used as amplifiers, replacing the massive vacuum tubes of yore. Transistors are generally an important part of integrated circuits.
Another ubiquitous component of an electronic circuit is a capacitor. These come in various sizes and configurations, and they act much like batteries, storing electrical charge. These tiny components are made up of two metal plates separated by a non-electrical substance known as a dielectric. This can be ceramic, cellulose, porcelain or similar materials. Glass is frequently used for high voltage applications, while ceramics are used in antennas, X-ray machines and other high frequency applications.
To put all these components in a DMX PCB board, a soldering iron is needed. These metal tools come with a sharp tip and an insulated handle, and can be heated using electricity, or a gas like butane where electrical outlets are not available. Those used in automated soldering are configured differently.
Most people will be familiar with Printed Circuit Boards, sometimes referred to as Printed Wiring Boards. These form the basic building blocks of practically all modern electronic devices. Without them, bulk production of these components would be extremely hard, and very expensive.
Hobbyists would find their small projects impossible to do. These boards are made up of very thin copper sheets, covered with an insulating layer. Circuits can be added by removing or adding material, the latter process being more preferable because it is less wasteful. Extra components can be added if the end user demands it.
Etched Wiring Boards alone cannot make up an electronic device, and other parts need to be added in order for it to be complete. The most important of these is a micro processor. This minuscule component is the most important part of a DMX merger, and without it, the amazing machine cannot do its work. The tiny chip accepts programs, handles the complex calculations, and executes the results. An Arithmetic Logic Unit does the math, while a Control Unit handles the implementation. Contemporary chips add a cache to speed up their operations.
Without an indicator, there is no way of knowing if a DMX controller is on, or that its functioning as it should. To solve this problem, hobbyists and manufacturers incorporate light emitting diodes into the Printed Circuit Boards. These are made of a hard, clear epoxy casing which pulls double duty as a diffuser, and a protective shell around the component's delicate bits and pieces. A very small reflector and electrical inputs complete the picture. Larger ones make excellent illuminators, and use very little power.
Next to micro processors and circuit boards, transistors are some of the most important parts in an electronic circuit. All of them have at least three pins; when electrical energy is applied on a centre one, electrons flow from one of the side pins to the other one. This behaviour is what makes them attractive as switches. They are also used as amplifiers, replacing the massive vacuum tubes of yore. Transistors are generally an important part of integrated circuits.
Another ubiquitous component of an electronic circuit is a capacitor. These come in various sizes and configurations, and they act much like batteries, storing electrical charge. These tiny components are made up of two metal plates separated by a non-electrical substance known as a dielectric. This can be ceramic, cellulose, porcelain or similar materials. Glass is frequently used for high voltage applications, while ceramics are used in antennas, X-ray machines and other high frequency applications.
To put all these components in a DMX PCB board, a soldering iron is needed. These metal tools come with a sharp tip and an insulated handle, and can be heated using electricity, or a gas like butane where electrical outlets are not available. Those used in automated soldering are configured differently.
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