Digital Voltmeter
Get Hands-On Experience
with 5 Key Design Phases
WHY A DESIGN PROJECT?
Circuit design can be frustrating while trying to answer critical questions: what accuracy is needed? which circuit works best? how will customers use it? A design project provides a journey from customer need to application. This series can help propel your skill development with hands-on experiences through the 5 key design phases
- Define It – answer the WHY, WHAT and HOW of a design.
- Design It – create the specific real-world details.
- Build It – make something according to our design.
- Test It – verify it works as designed.
- Apply It – validate and enjoy the benefits.
WHY A VOLTMETER?
In addition to being an indespensible tool, a voltmeter
- showcases many key aspects of EE circuit design, even a basic design such as this one.
- provides benefits in everday life - testing batteries (9V, 1.5V AA).
- extends to other applications: industrial, consumer, DIY / maker / hobby spaces, laboratory experiments.
A voltmeter also provides a hands-on platform for applying a Microcontroller (Arduino UNO) and coding in C.
WHY TRY THIS SERIES?
- Apply real-world skills and tools used in the industry
- Learn engineering thinking and decision making
- Develop competence and confidence
- Get templates (Design, Simulation, Test) for your own designs.
1. DEFINE IT
Topic Link Customer Use Case (WHY) Use-Case Design Requirements Spec (WHAT) Requirements Implementation Strategy (HOW) Strategy
2. DESIGN IT
Hardware Link Circuit Design (Schematic, Calculations) Circuit Design Circuit Simulations (SPICE) SPICE Basic
AdvancedError Budget Analysis (Excel) Offset Errors
Gain ErrorsSoftware Software - Design SW Design Software - Code Initial Test
Basic Voltmeter
3. BUILD IT
Topic Link Hardware Prototype (Arduino UNO, Breadboard) Prototype Build
4. TEST IT
Topic Link Bring-Up Test, Basic Functions Bring-Up Test Full Functional, Accuracy Test Functional,
Accuracy Test
5. APPLY IT
Topic Link Customer Field Application Test