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Beginning Breadboarding: Physical Computing and the Basic Building Blocks of Computers

Name: Beginning Breadboarding: Physical Computing and the Basic Building Blocks of Computers
Author: Jennifer Fox
ISBN: 9781484292181

by Jennifer Fox

May 2023

Beginner

502 pages

9h 15m

English

Apress

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Beginning Breadboarding
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
1. Introduction, Supplies, and Circuit Diagrams
Safety RulesSafety Rule 1: Short CircuitsSafety Rule 2: Right-Hand RuleSafety Rule 3: What’s More Dangerous – Electrical Current or Voltage?Safety Rule 4: Use the Right Tools and Components and Use Them ProperlyTools and MaterialsReading Circuit DiagramsWhat Other Information Is in This Diagram?How to Read This BookGrab These MaterialsSummary
2. Paper Circuits
What Is Electricity?Grab These MaterialsAtoms: The Building Blocks of NatureProject 2-1: Static Electricity!Current, Voltage, and AC vs. DCProject 2-2: Playing with VoltageLet’s Make Our First Circuit!Grab These MaterialsProject 2-3: Let There Be Light!Project 2-4: Making It Bigger!Schematic Symbols for an LED and a BatteryProject 2-5 (Optional): Paper Circuits!Grab These MaterialsBuild ProcedureAdd All the Lights! (a.k.a. Series and Parallel Circuits)Grab These MaterialsProject 2-6: Connecting Two LEDs to One BatteryProject 2-7: Our First Parallel CircuitProject 2-8: More Parallel Circuits!Project 2-9: Our First Series CircuitSummary of Parallel and Series CircuitsElectromagnetic SpectrumGoing Further Project Ideas!Project 1: Light-Up Greeting CardsProject 2: Tiny Light-Up Furniture for Dolls, Action Figures, or Just Because Miniature Things Are Adorable!Project 3: Add Some Light-Up Flair to Your Halloween or Other Holiday Costumes!Project 4: More Lights on Your Bike!! Or Model Train Project 5: Tiny Lightsaber!Summary
3. Breadboards and Outputs
Breadboard AnatomyGrab These MaterialsBreadboarding: Lights On!Grab These MaterialsProject 3-1: Light It Up on a Breadboard!ProcedureProject 3-2: All the Lights!!ProcedureMaking Sounds!Grab These MaterialsProject 3-3: Circuit Sounds!ProcedureSchematic Symbol for a SpeakerHow Does Electricity Make Sounds??An Introduction to the Common SpeakerAn Introduction to How Piezo Elements WorkMaking Movement!Grab These MaterialsProject 3-4: Motor Motion!ProcedureSchematic Symbols for a MotorHow Is Electricity Making the Motor Spin??In-Depth Overview of Motors for Those with Insatiable CuriosityLights and Sounds and Motion, Oh My! But… Why?Going FurtherSummary
4. Controlling Electricity (Passive Components)
Resistance: Limiting ElectricityGrab These MaterialsProject 4-1: Modifying Lights with Resistors!Resistor Schematic SymbolHow Do Resistors Work?Project 4-2 (Optional): Draw a Resistor!Grab These MaterialsA Mini Introduction to Ohm’s Law!Potentiometers: Adjustable Resistors!Grab These MaterialsProject 4-3: Dim the Light!Potentiometers: How Do They Work?Project 4-4: Dim More Lights!!Potentiometer Schematic SymbolCapacitors: Flood Gate Components!Grab These MaterialsProject 4-5: Light Flash!How Is a Capacitor like a Flood Gate?Schematic Symbol for a CapacitorSpecial Safety Note on CapacitorsGoing FurtherSummary
5. Interacting with Electricity via Buttons and Switches! (Electromechanical Components)
Pushbuttons: Hang onto Your Switch!Grab These MaterialsProject 5-1: Light at Our FingertipsWritten Instructions (First Half)Written Instructions (Second Half)Pushbuttons: A Lifetime of Bouncing BackPushbutton Schematic Symbol(Slide) Switches: Set It and Forget ItGrab These MaterialsProject 5-2: Breadboard FlashlightWritten ProcedureSlide Switches: Stay in That State!Poles and Throws2Other Types of Permanent SwitchesPermanent Switch Schematic SymbolProject 5-3: Find and Record All the Switches!Project 5-4: Lights and Motors!Grab These MaterialsWritten Procedure (Full Instructions)Going FurtherSummary

6. Encoding Information into Electricity! (Logic Gates Part 1)
Why Records Sound Better Than CDsLogically Delicious! (Building Basic Logic Gates)Grab These MaterialsProject 6-1: Combining Two Pushbuttons!Solutions to ExperimentProject 6-2: Gotta Push ’Em All! (Pushbuttons in Series)Written InstructionsAND Logic Gate Schematic SymbolProject 6-3: Push Any Button (Pushbuttons in Parallel)Written InstructionsOR Logic Gate Schematic SymbolHow to Count with Just Two Fingers (a.k.a. Binary Numbers)Project 6-4: Flip It and Reverse It! (NOT Gate)Grab These MaterialsWritten ProcedureNOT Logic Gate Schematic SymbolProject 6-5: Making Decisions with Logic Gates!Grab These MaterialsBonus Points: Logic Gate As InputGoing Further: More Logic Gates and Project Ideas!Quick Intro to Other Logic Gates: NAND and NOR!Build All the Projects!Summary
7. Sensors!
Using Our Senses to Detect SensorsProject 7-1: The Wonderful World of SensorsA Brief Inventory of SensorsAnalog vs. DigitalWhat Kinds of Things Can We Sense with Electricity?Electronic Eyes: Photoresistors!Grab These MaterialsProject 7-2: Light-Sensitive LightWritten InstructionsBut Wait, Electronic Eyes?! How Does That Work??Photoresistor Schematic SymbolElectronic Touch: Force-Sensing ResistorsGrab These MaterialsProject 7-3: Touch-Sensitive LightWritten InstructionsFSR: Converting Touch into ElectricityFSR Schematic SymbolElectronic Proprioception: Tilt Sensors!Grab These MaterialsProject 7-4: Gravity-Sensing LightWritten InstructionsThe Beautifully Simple Tilt SensorTilt Sensor Schematic SymbolElectronic Motion Sensing: IR Sensors!Grab These MaterialsProject 7-5: Sensing “invisible” lightWritten InstructionsSensing Invisible LightIR Break-Beam Schematic SymbolGoing Further: All the Sensors and Fun Project Ideas!Sensor Stuff!Build All the Projects!Summary
8. Transistors: The Building Blocks of Computers!
Transistors As an Electronic SwitchGrab These MaterialsProject 8-1: Make an Electronic SwitchWritten InstructionsWritten InstructionsProject 8-2: How Much Voltage on the Gate Pin?(FET) Transistor Schematic SymbolUnraveling the Mystery of Transistors!Semiconductors: The Secret SauceTransistor TaxonomyToo Many Letters!!Transistors As AmplifiersGrab These MaterialsProject 8-3: Make an Amplifier!Circuit OverviewWritten Starting InstructionsFull Written InstructionsP-cause We Can: P-Channel FETs (Optional)Grab These MaterialsProject 8-4 (Optional): P-Channel SwitchWritten InstructionsWritten InstructionsGoing Further: Transistor Time!Summary
9. Logic Gates Round 2!
The Truth About Physical ComputingGrab These MaterialsProjects 9-1 and 9-2: ANDs and ORs GaloreWritten Instructions (Part 1)Written Instructions (Part 2)Written Instructions (Part 3)AND GateWritten InstructionsRefresher: AND Logic Gate Schematic Symbol and Truth TableOR GateWritten InstructionsRefresher: OR Logic Gate Schematic Symbol and Truth TableProject 9-3: NOT Gate with Transistors!Written Instructions (Beginning)Written Instructions (Remaining Circuit)WHAT. How in the Electric Universe Does This NOT Gate Work?!Refresher: NOT Logic Gate Schematic Symbol and Truth TableConcept Break: Electric Ground!Flashback to Voltage!Ground As a Connection to Earth?Schematic Symbol for GroundLogic Gates: The More, the Merrier!Grab These MaterialsProject 9-4: NOT Another Logic Gate! (Yes!) NAND Gate Refresher: NAND Logic Gate Schematic Symbol and Truth Table NOR Gate Refresher: NOR Logic Gate Schematic Symbol and Truth TableGoing Further!Summary
10. A Simple Computer!
Cascading Logic Gates: A (Controlled) Electrical Waterfall!Grab These MaterialsProject 10-1: NOT It!Written InstructionsProject 10-2: Our One and Only XOR GateUhhh, How Does This Give Us an XOR Gate?XOR Schematic SymbolNOT-ing the XORHow to Build a (Simple) ComputerBoolean Algebra and Binary AdditionTranslating Decimal Numbers into Binary (and Back Again)One More Thing: Adding Binary Numbers!How Does This Translate to Computers??Bringing Bits Along for the Ride: Binary Adders! Single-Bit Adder 2-Bit AdderAdding It All Together: Single-Digit Binary Adder!Grab These MaterialsWritten InstructionsWhere Do We Go from Here?I Hear You and I See (IC) You: An Easier and Faster Way to Build “Smart” CircuitsGoing Further: Logic Gate Circuits and Beyond!Further Exploration with Logic Gates!Beyond Logic Gates!Summary
Appendix 1: Applied Project 1: Using a Multimeter!
What Is a Multimeter?Grab These MaterialsOverviewMeasuring VoltageProject A1-1: Measure Battery Voltage!Measuring CurrentMeasuring ResistanceProject A1-2: Measure the Resistance of Your Skin!Measuring Continuity!Project A1-3: Does It Conduct?Summary
Appendix 2: Applied Project 2: Ohm’s Law!
Ohm’s Law: How to Math Electricity!Grab These MaterialsProject A2-1: Calculating CurrentTrial 1: Resistor Value = ___________ ΩTrial 2: Resistor Value = ___________ ΩTrial 3: Resistor Value = ___________ ΩProject A2-2: Measuring CurrentTrial 1: Resistor Value = ___________ ΩTrial 2: Resistor Value = ___________ ΩTrial 3: Resistor Value = ___________ ΩGoing FurtherSummary
Appendix 3: Applied Project 3: PCB Identification
Look Inside: An Overview of Harvesting PartsPrinted Circuit Boards: Tiny Cities for Electronic ComponentsSafety GuidelinesTools: Using Them Safely and EffectivelyTools! (Besides Your Hands ☺)Datasheets: All the Information Your Heart (and Brain) Could DesireWhere and What to Look for When Taking Apart ElectronicsLocating Electronics for Take Apart ShenanigansTypes of Electronics for Take ApartSafe ElectronicsElectronics to AvoidHarvesting PartsLook Inside: Let’s Take Some Things Apart!Grab These MaterialsToolsElectronic Parts (for Exploration)Electronic ToyGeneral ProcedureHarvesting PartsPlaying with and Using Harvested PartsGoing FurtherProject 1: Repair ElectronicsProject 2: Toy MashupProject 3: Electronic InstrumentsProject 4: DIY Robotic or Motorized ToySummary
Index

Content preview from Beginning Breadboarding: Physical Computing and the Basic Building Blocks of Computers

J. FoxBeginning Breadboardinghttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-9218-1_4

4. Controlling Electricity (Passive Components)

Jennifer Fox¹

(1)

Seattle, WA, USA

Resistance: Limiting Electricity

You’ve used the power of electricity to turn on individual circuit components like LEDs and motors, hooray! But how do we control how much electricity goes into these parts?? One way to do this is with resistors! Resistors limit, or resist (oh, hey!), the flow of electricity.

The best (and most fun) way to learn is to do! That means we’ll start learning about resistors by building a circuit. Well… technically three circuits, but most of the circuit stays the same.

A quick ...

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Beginning Breadboarding: Physical Computing and the Basic Building Blocks of Computers

by Jennifer Fox

4. Controlling Electricity (Passive Components)

Resistance: Limiting Electricity

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.