Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Almost-Prize
I almost won a prize -- from the UK's no. 1 electronics magazine. In next month's edition, I receive "honourable mention for displaying great ingenuity" (click on the image to see). In the past, I received three prizes from this publisher (oscilloscopes all) -- and an award. This was all for electronic design.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
My CCO Concept
Browsing the Internet today, I am delighted to note that my CCO metal detector concept is now plastered all over. So is heated discussion. On the one hand: "Thomas Scarborough [has] excellent knowledge of the basics of electronics ... remarkable simplicity." On the other: "Unfortunately, ignorance is shown by editors of magazines who have published the BAD CIRCUITS of Rev. Thomas." So which is it? There's a demo of the CCO concept on YouTube -- only this modifies my original design, and I'm not sure who deserves the blame for its inadequacies. OBSERVATION: I can't find the schematic in question -- I suspect it's been erased from the Internet due to breach of copyright. If you read this post, and you have the "republished" design, send me a copy won't you?
Monday, August 15, 2011
10-Year Flasher
Here's something different. It's a super-efficient LED flasher I designed. Using alkaline AA batteries, it should flash for ten years continuous (the proof lies in R1). There are various secrets to the circuit's efficiency. Perhaps most importantly, the LED is directly powered by capacitive discharge (C2). The LED needs to be ultra-bright. You may click on the image to enlarge. This design is copyrighted.
Friday, August 12, 2011
DRC Uniondale
This cathedralesque Dutch Reformed Church (DRC, or NGK) is to be found in Uniondale, 600km / 370mi east of Cape Town. The Church was constituted in 1866, and the sanctuary built during the ministry of Ds. W.A. Joubert, 1878 to 1893. The tower was demolished and rebuilt in 1908, due to a dangerous crack. You may click on the image to enlarge to 300k.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Plagiarism
I have turned out many electronics designs -- some of them enduring classics. But over the years, many of my designs have been swiped -- usually not from me, but from my publishers. The image shows a design I found on the Internet yesterday -- swiped from one of my books. This one's partly my problem, partly a publisher's, as we share the copyright. On my part, though, I'll leave this one be.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Photo Stitching
There are many thousands of first class software packages for Linux -- free. Most recently, I wanted something that would stitch photos. I found a very nice solution in Fotoxx. The photo shows a chance meeting I had with myself at one of the many cannons that is littered about the city. OBSERVATION: Our secretary comments: "But really, one of yous is enough!"
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