Peter Fuchs

Single Phase Electricity Meter Based on Mixed-Signal Processor MSP430FE427 with PLC Modem

An overview of single phase electronic electricity meter using the Texas Instruments mixed-signal processor MSP430FE42x with modem for communication via power line is given.

A contribution to the VCO modeling and simulation

Voltage-Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) are at the heart of many electronic systems such as phase-locked loops (PLL), radar, and communication systems. The overall performance of these systems is often limited by the VCOs parameters and performance. Optimizing system performance requires a complete understanding of the VCOs characteristics. Most applications require that the VCO operate at one frequency, and then be quickly switched to another frequency where it will stay for some time. The key VCO parameters here are frequency overshoot, settling time, and post-tuning drift. Depending on how often a VCO is switched, these parameters will change. In this paper we describe a model of VCO intended to be used in system modeling in the PSPICE environment. Model is especially designed for study of the VCOs step response.

Single phase electricity meter with PLC modem

An overview of a single phase electronic electricity meter using the Texas Instruments mixed-signal processor MSP430FE42x is given. Some aspects of the Power Line Communication (PLC), specific problems of implementation PLC modem into electronic electricity meter and basic topology of automated meter reading are discussed. Interface between PLC modem and electronic electricity meter was designed and experimentally tested.

Portable AC current source

Two versions of a portable AC current source with the frequency of the power network are presented. The output current is adjustable in steps from hundreds of mA up to 60 A. Fine current adjustment inside every step is also possible. The phase shift of the output current −60°, 0° and +60° is selectable. Equations for the calculations of the necessary elements to set the desired phase shift have been derived. Some measured results of a constructed sample to be manufactured are also given. The current source is intended to be used for on-site electricity meters accuracy testing without the necessity to bring them into the test laboratory.

Automated Workplace for Measurement of Directional Characteristics of Microphones

Measurement of various properties is the way to determine, whether the measured device is useful for our specific purposes, or it is not. This paper deals with the measurement of microphone properties, concretely the directional characteristic, which indicates how sensitive it is to sounds arriving at different angles about its central axis. The goal was to design and realize a full automatic measurement workplace, develop a method of controlling the acoustic signal source, transfer the measured data to the personal computer for post-processing and set microphone position by the stepping motor. Verification of results to the values from manufacturer was then done.