Silicon ChipWhat's New In Car Electronics - March 1994 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: It's your magazine - tell us what you want
  4. Feature: High Energy Batteries For Electric Cars by ABB Review
  5. Feature: What's New In Car Electronics by Julian Edgar
  6. Project: Intelligent IR Remote Controller by Ben Douchkov
  7. Project: Build A 50W Audio Amplifier Module by Darren Yates
  8. Order Form
  9. Feature: Electronic Engine Management; Pt.6 by Julian Edgar
  10. Project: Level Crossing Detector For Model Railways by John Clarke
  11. Feature: Switching Regulators Made Simple by Darren Yates
  12. Serviceman's Log: We all make mistakes sometimes by The TV Serviceman
  13. Project: Voice Activated Switch For FM Microphones by Darren Yates
  14. Book Store
  15. Feature: Amateur Radio by Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
  16. Project: Build A Simple LED Chaser by Darren Yates
  17. Feature: Computer Bits by Darren Yates
  18. Review: Bookshelf by Silicon Chip
  19. Feature: Remote Control by Bob Young
  20. Vintage Radio: Refurbishing a Trio 9R-59D communications receiver by John Hill
  21. Feature: Manufacturer's Data On The LM3876 IC by Leo Simpson
  22. Back Issues
  23. Product Showcase
  24. Market Centre
  25. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the March 1994 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 34 of the 96 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Items relevant to "Build A 50W Audio Amplifier Module":
  • Silicon Chip article scan, March 1994 - 50W Audio Amplifier Module (AUD $10.00)
  • 50W Amplifier Module PCB pattern (PDF download) [01103941] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.1 (October 1993)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.2 (November 1993)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.3 (December 1993)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.4 (January 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.5 (February 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.6 (March 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.7 (April 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.8 (May 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.9 (June 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.10 (July 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.11 (August 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.12 (September 1994)
  • Electronic Engine Management; Pt.13 (October 1994)
Items relevant to "Level Crossing Detector For Model Railways":
  • Level Crossing Detector PCB pattern [15203931] (Free)
Items relevant to "Switching Regulators Made Simple":
  • DOS software for Switching Regulators Made Simple (Free)
Items relevant to "Voice Activated Switch For FM Microphones":
  • Voice Activated Switch PCB pattern (PDF download) [01203941] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
Items relevant to "Build A Simple LED Chaser":
  • Simple LED Chaser PCB pattern (PDF download) [08103941] (Free)
Items relevant to "Computer Bits":
  • DOS software for Computer Bits, March 1994 (BINARY.BAS/EXE) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Computer Bits (July 1989)
  • Computer Bits (August 1989)
  • Computer Bits (September 1989)
  • Computer Bits (October 1989)
  • Computer Bits (November 1989)
  • Computer Bits (January 1990)
  • Computer Bits (April 1990)
  • Computer Bits (October 1990)
  • Computer Bits (November 1990)
  • Computer Bits (December 1990)
  • Computer Bits (January 1991)
  • Computer Bits (February 1991)
  • Computer Bits (March 1991)
  • Computer Bits (April 1991)
  • Computer Bits (May 1991)
  • Computer Bits (June 1991)
  • Computer Bits (July 1991)
  • Computer Bits (August 1991)
  • Computer Bits (September 1991)
  • Computer Bits (October 1991)
  • Computer Bits (November 1991)
  • Computer Bits (December 1991)
  • Computer Bits (January 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1992)
  • Computer Bits (March 1992)
  • Computer Bits (May 1992)
  • Computer Bits (June 1992)
  • Computer Bits (July 1992)
  • Computer Bits (September 1992)
  • Computer Bits (October 1992)
  • Computer Bits (November 1992)
  • Computer Bits (December 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1993)
  • Computer Bits (April 1993)
  • Computer Bits (May 1993)
  • Computer Bits (June 1993)
  • Computer Bits (October 1993)
  • Computer Bits (March 1994)
  • Computer Bits (May 1994)
  • Computer Bits (June 1994)
  • Computer Bits (July 1994)
  • Computer Bits (October 1994)
  • Computer Bits (November 1994)
  • Computer Bits (December 1994)
  • Computer Bits (January 1995)
  • Computer Bits (February 1995)
  • Computer Bits (March 1995)
  • Computer Bits (April 1995)
  • CMOS Memory Settings - What To Do When The Battery Goes Flat (May 1995)
  • Computer Bits (July 1995)
  • Computer Bits (September 1995)
  • Computer Bits: Connecting To The Internet With WIndows 95 (October 1995)
  • Computer Bits (December 1995)
  • Computer Bits (January 1996)
  • Computer Bits (February 1996)
  • Computer Bits (March 1996)
  • Computer Bits (May 1996)
  • Computer Bits (June 1996)
  • Computer Bits (July 1996)
  • Computer Bits (August 1996)
  • Computer Bits (January 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1997)
  • Windows 95: The Hardware That's Required (May 1997)
  • Turning Up Your Hard Disc Drive (June 1997)
  • Computer Bits (July 1997)
  • Computer Bits: The Ins & Outs Of Sound Cards (August 1997)
  • Computer Bits (September 1997)
  • Computer Bits (October 1997)
  • Computer Bits (November 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1998)
  • Computer Bits (June 1998)
  • Computer Bits (July 1998)
  • Computer Bits (November 1998)
  • Computer Bits (December 1998)
  • Control Your World Using Linux (July 2011)
Articles in this series:
  • Remote Control (March 1994)
  • Remote Control (May 1994)
What’s New In Car Electronics? Latest Nissan uses HUD Recently released onto the Australian market, Nissan’s new Bluebird now includes a Head-Up Display (HUD) in the SSS sporty model. Claimed by Nissan to be a world first in a production car, the HUD panel is illuminated in the lower right-hand side of the windscreen. The green display comprises a digital speedometer, turn signal indicator arrows, door-ajar indicator, brake failure warning, and a master warning indicator which lights the word “Check” when activated. The HUD works by using a vacuum fluorescent display located behind the instrument cluster in the dashboard. It transmits the image onto a mirror, which reflects the information onto a “com­biner” panel. This in turn reflects the infor­mation to form a virtual image in front of the windscreen. The brightness of the image is ad­justable and it can also be turned completely off, if the driver desires. The HUD is in addition to the normal instrumentation pro­vided in the dashboard. 14  Silicon Chip WINDSHIELD COMBINER VIRTUAL IMAGE MIRROR HUD UNIT ANALOG INSTRUMENT CLUSTER VFD CONTROL UNIT Fig.1: how the head-up display is formed. A mirror reflects the image on a vacuum fluorescent display onto a “combiner” panel & this in turn reflects the infor­mation to form a virtual image. K ALEX BRAKE WARNING TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS DOOR WARNING The UV People ETCH TANKS ● Bubble Etch ● Circulating SPEED INDICATION MASTER WARNING Fig.2: this diagram illustrates the readings on the Head-Up Display (HUD) unit used in the new Nissan Bluebird. LIGHT BOXES ● Portuvee 4 ● Portuvee 6 ● Dual Level TRIMMER ● Ideal VDO upgrades plant PCB DRILL ● Toyo HiSpeed MATERIALS ● PC Board: Riston, Dynachem ● 3M Label/Panel Stock ● Dynamark: Metal, Plastic ✸ AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 STOCKIST ✸ K ALEX 40 Wallis Ave, East Ivanhoe 3079. Phone (03) 9497 3422, Fax (03) 9499 2381 Silicon Chip Binders VDO Instruments Australia, a major manufacturer of automo­tive instruments, has recently spent $2.5 million upgrading its Australian manufacturing plant by installing the latest in sur­face mount technology (SMT). “Clean” technology is being em­ployed, whereby the SMT system operates in a nitrogen atmosphere. This removes the need for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to be used for cleaning the circuit board assemblies at the end of the manu­ facturing process. Cartridges containing 10-20 individual circuit boards are loaded at the beginning of the system, each marked with a bar code label determining the necessary procedures to be carried out during the manufacturing process. As each circuit board passes through flip stations, the board is turned so that components can be mounted on either side. A high speed “chip placer” inserts resistors, capacitors, diodes and transistors onto the solder paste, while a “chip shooter” is used for larger ICs. Cameras monitor the placement of components onto the boards, before they pass into a nitrogen curing oven. VDO has contracts to supply instrument clusters and fuel pump assemblies to German car-makers Mercedes-Benz and BMW, as well as supplying 70% of the local market. These beautifully-made binders will protect your copies of SILICON CHIP. They are made from a dis­tinctive 2-tone green vinyl & will look great on your bookshelf. Price: $A14.95 (incl. postage in Australia). NZ & PNG orders add $5 each for postage. Not available elsewhere. Send your order to: Silicon Chip Publications PO Box 139 Collaroy Beach 2097. Or fax (02) 979 6503; or ring (02) 979 5644 & quote your credit card number. March 1994  15