Contents
Vol.34, No.8
August 2021
SILICON
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
Features & Reviews
12 Advanced Medical & Biometric Imaging – Part 1
The development of non-destructive ways, such as X-rays, to look inside
humans and animals has been critical for diagnosing diseases and for
performing corrective procedures – by Dr David Maddison
35 Automated PCB Assembly for Home Constructors
For a small fee, you can have your own PCBs professionally assembled with
dozens, or even hundreds, of SMD components – by Geoff Graham
38 The History of Op Amps
Harold S. Black’s discovery of negative feedback paved the way for the
development of operational amplifiers, which are widely used in all sorts of
electronic devices, especially for audio – by Roderick Wall & Nicholas Vinen
88 El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD Triggers
In part one of our two-part series
on imaging technologies, we focus
on the medical uses of it along with
its history. For example: CT scans,
MRI, ultrasound etc – Page 12
We look at a series of four different USB-PD trigger/decoy and tester modules.
These are used to adjust the voltage and current levels provided by a USB-PD
compatible charger or power source – by Jim Rowe
Constructional Projects
26 Second Generation Colour Maximite 2 – Part 1
The second generation version of the Colour Maximite 2 is a backwardscompatible, improved version of the first. It has four times as much RAM, support
for 1920x1080 video, 24-bit colour and more – by Geoff Graham & Peter Mather
46 Nano Pong using an 8-pin PIC
In contrast to the authentic Arcade Pong design from June 2021, our Nano Pong
costs just a few dollars to make and fits on a mini PCB measuring 43 x 16.5mm.
It simply connects to a TV via an RCA cable – by Tim Blythman
The Gen2 Colour Maximite 2 now
has the ability to connect a mouse,
along with two connectors for Wii
controllers. You can even add WiFi
via an ESP-01 module – Page 26
68 Multi-Purpose Battery Manager
This Battery Manager is an update to our Battery Multi-Logger, and interface to
the High-Current Battery Balancer. It can connect or disconnect up to four loads/
chargers, and switch well over 20A at 10-60V – by Tim Blythman
92 Simple Linear MIDI Keyboard
This MIDI Keyboard provides an alternative layout to our 64-key MIDI Matrix by
letting you join a series of 8-button modules laterally – by Tim Blythman
Your Favourite Columns
61 Serviceman’s Log
Rocking Raucous Retro Roland Repair – by Dave Thompson
80 Circuit Notebook
(1) Portable amplifier built from modules
(2) Frequency meter with non-contact mains reading
Op amps are used in a huge variety
of different circuit configurations,
like the inverting amplifier shown
above. They rely on the principle
of negative feedback, which was
discovered by Harold Steven Black
in 1927 – Page 38
98 Vintage Radio
Bush VTR103 AM/FM radio – by Ian Batty
Everything Else
2 Editorial Viewpoint
4 Mailbag – Your Feedback
87 Product Showcase
siliconchip.com.au
96 Silicon Chip Online Shop
107 Ask Silicon Chip
111 Market Centre
112 Notes and Errata
Australia’s
electronicsIndex
magazine
112
Advertising
Our version
of Pong is built
on a nano-sized PCB
(shown at actual size). It requires
just a few discrete components,
August 2021 3
a PIC12F1572, the two controllers
and an RCA cable – Page 46
