Assignment/Checkpoint #4
Power Supplies
Due Thurs. Feb. 8 in class

This week you're going to design and build your power supply circuitry.   Once you have completed this, your car will be able to operate all necessary systems off of the single 7.2 V ni-cad battery.

Reading:    Horowitz and Hill
        1.25-1.30 (basic intro to power supplies, mostly AC but still many of the issues are relevant)
        6.01 (you should understand the simplified circuits but don't worry if the 723 schematic looks a little intimidating)
        6.02-6.04, 6.14 (you may or may not use zener diodes in your project, but it's good to know what they are and how to use them)
        6.16-6.18 (three terminal regulators, fixed and adjustable, used everywhere!)
        6.19  (Switching Regulators -  the amazing solution to creating whatever voltage you want from any other voltage.   Again, you don't need to understand figure 6.46 but you should be able to identify the major blocks of a switching regulator).

Assignment:  Figure out what power requirements your vehicle will have and the appropriate combination of linear and switching regulators to supply this power.  The motor and servo will draw large amounts of current, this should not cause the rest of your circuit to malfunction.  Build the power circuitry and verify that it produces steady supply voltages under all possible conditions.
         Hand in a schematic of your power circuitry (you can use Orcad capture on the computer or any other drawing program of you choice).  Also, write up a short explanation of what circuitry you chose, why, and the conditions under which you expect it to operate properly.

Checkpoint:   You'll need to have power for the CPU, servo, and any additional circuitry built and working (able to output a steady voltage with the motor running).