Output Devices

Understanding Output Devices

  • Familiarise with various output devices such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays), and motors used in control systems.
  • Recognise the role and operation of digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and how they translate digital code from a microcontroller into an analogue signal for output devices.
  • Comprehend the electro-mechanical operation of actuators, their applications and importance in an electronic control system.

LEDs and Optoelectronics

  • Understand the operational principles of LEDs, including how they generate light, their energy efficiency compared to traditional light bulbs, and the important role of the current limiting resistor.
  • Gain knowledge of other optoelectronic devices such as photodiodes and phototransistors, and their respective functions.
  • Appreciate the application of LEDs in displays, indicators, and lighting systems.

LCDs and Other Display Technologies

  • Develop a sound understanding of an LCD’s working principle, which includes the role of liquid crystals, the pixel matrix, and the backlight in generating an image.
  • Compare and contrast LCDs with other display technologies like OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), E-Ink, and TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCDs.
  • Become aware of the problem of screen burn-in in certain types of displays and how to prevent it.

Motors and Motor Control

  • Recognise the basic principles behind the operation of DC motors, AC motors, and stepper motors.
  • Understand the role of a motor controller in managing the operation of a motor, adjusting variables like speed, direction, and position.
  • Learn how H-bridge circuits are used to control the direction of motors.

Speakers and Sound Production

  • Comprehend how loudspeakers generate sound by converting electrical signals into mechanical vibrations, which in turn produce sound waves.
  • Understand the concept of amplification and attenuation in relation to electronic sound production.
  • Recognise the role of a DAC in audio playback; converting digital audio data into an analogue signal for output to speakers.

Use of Output Devices in Control Systems

  • Understand output mapping, knowing how output devices such as LEDs, motors, and speakers can be mapped to perform tasks in a control system.
  • Learn to interface output devices with microcontrollers, practising the proper wiring and coding of output devices to a microcontroller.
  • Develop practical skills in troubleshooting output devices in a control system, including common issues and their potential solutions.