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Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: ib1yysguy on February 24, 2009, 07:05:57 PM

Title: Learning About Complex Circuits - Suggestions?
Post by: ib1yysguy on February 24, 2009, 07:05:57 PM
I'm trying to find one place to pick up a comprehensive set of information about working with complex circuits. In programming, there are dozens of sights dedicated to highly detailed instructional tutorials for just about any programming language you could hope for. For electronics, it seems like more of a matter of visiting forums, asking a question, then having to dig the answers out of people who are willing to help you.

I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to circuit design, but I know the basics well enough to follow along. Some specific issues I'm having are knowing how to understand datasheets for complicated ICs like the ARM 7 or any number of Amtels so you know what pins do what and how to interface with them. Secondly, knowing what kind of signal those pins require and how to build circuits to feed those pins the proper information. For instance, a timer IC needs a signal to start it and it'll output a signal, etc. But where do I send that output signal in a corresponding microprocessor to read and process the thing? One has to understand what the specific pins do in order to do that.

Anyway, I'm not looking for answers to these specific questions from you folks (unless you really want to!), but if anyone knows of a place that has a bunch of tutorials for that sort of level of electrical design please point me in the right direction.
Title: Re: Learning About Complex Circuits - Suggestions?
Post by: Soeren on February 24, 2009, 07:30:29 PM
Hi,

http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/ (http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/) should keep you occupied for some time.
Title: Re: Learning About Complex Circuits - Suggestions?
Post by: ib1yysguy on February 24, 2009, 08:01:29 PM
Perfect. Thanks.
Title: Re: Learning About Complex Circuits - Suggestions?
Post by: Admin on March 01, 2009, 08:02:57 AM
Quote
a comprehensive set of information about working with complex circuits
Two questions, when you say comprehensive, you mean like a text book?

And are you interested in analog, digital, or both? Or just microcontrollers?

But personally, I recommend you starting some project that involves a complex circuit. Then try and figure it out, learning stuff in the process. Being an engineer is about solving hard problems, racking your brain, debugging, and learning how to find the solutions online and in the literature. No such thing as reading a book and finding yourself so smart you never need to ask for help again :P