Circuit Cellar Online -This Month

THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS Circuit Cellar Online offers articles illustrating creative solutions and unique applications through complete projects, practical tutorials, and useful design techniques.

	MONITORING THE HEALTH
		OF YOUR ELECTRONIC POWER GRID Precision PC-Based 60-Hz Frequency Counter by Doug Criner This month Doug asks the question, "Would you like to know in advance if your electric power grid is on the verge of collapse?" Well, an important indicator of power grid health is the system frequency, and the project he has in mind uses only three parts-not a lot to ask for early problem detection. August 2001
	A EULOGY FOR INDIVIDUAL INNOVATION
		The New Generation of Programmable Logic by John Hughes This month John mourns the bygone days when you could easily acquire the tools and materials to set up shop for digital electronics design. The trend these days has moved in favor of programmable logic, which has both good and bad points. Reduced production cost and enhanced functionality are at the top of the pro list, but the high cost of tools make that lone person building in the garage a thing of the past. August 2001
	FINE-TUNING AN EMBEDDED IDEA
		Part 2: Ethernet-Equipped RabbitCore Modules by Fred Eady We're still in the land of Z-World's BL2000. Inspired by one of his music mates, Fred moves us into networking, where he shows us how to use the resources of the Dynamic C Premier source code. In this second part, he approaches things from the software point of view, because the hardware speaks for itself. August 2001
	PATTERNS IN NUMBERS
		A State Machine Design for Binary Pattern Recognition by James Antonakos James thinks ones and zeroes have it all over crossword puzzles. What's not to like? They have patterns within patterns, are interesting to look at, and are, to put it simply, fun. When he asked one of his classes to take on a digital hardware problem, he translated his interest in binary numbers into the article for this month. Pull up a chair and take notes. August 2001
	SPECIAL FEATURE • TAKE MY COMPUTER, PLEASE!
		Part 5: Is the Pen Mightier than the Sword? by Steve Ciarcia Way back at the dawn of the microcomputer age, Steve Ciarcia was blazing a trail (sometimes literally) through the hardware and software issues of the era. At the request of many of our readers, we've brought back a series of articles, written by Steve, chronicling the design adventures of those early days in the Circuit Cellar. This month, it's chapter one from Take My Computer, Please! August 2001
	DETECTIVE STORY
		Testing Problem Parts by George Martin Some mysteries are never solved. This month George takes on a parts puzzler with one of his customers and takes the roundabout route to a solution. What, exactly, was the problem? Well, some questions are forever left unanswered, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun playing detective. August 2001
	IS YOU IS, OR IS YOU ISN'T?
		Silicon Update Online by Tom Cantrell We're not Dr. Suess, but we often find ourselves asking "Big B, little b. What's the meaning of B?" when we read a Circuit Cellar article. And this month, Tom found out that determining whether a project has built-in serial EEPROM or a serial flash memory chip is a little more difficult. It requires a full-blown investigation. August 2001
	ASK US
		Got Questions? Want Answers? ASK US Browse Q&As from other engineers or submit your tough technical questions to the ASK US team and let us help keep your project on track or simplify your design decision.
	WHAT'S YOUR ENGINEERING QUOTIENT?
		Test Your EQ presents some basic engineering problems for you to test your engineering quotient. Problem 1—What is the difference between the declaration and the definition of a symbol? Problem 2—Prove that the following circuit works as a logarithmic amplifier: The rest of this month's questions
	RESOURCE LINKS
		Each month Circuit Cellar's Resource Links provide helpful links and information on a variety of featured topics. Basic Stamps by Rick Prescott Cable Modems by Brant Schroeder i845 "Brookdale" chipset by Brant Schroeder
	NEW PRODUCT NEWS—edited by Rick Prescott
		PMC Gigabit Ethernet Products FPGA VIM-2 Board Compact Keyboard I²C/SMBus Analyzer Transmissive Optical Sensor FMLB Circular Connectors Microchip PIC emulator Temperature Probe Interface New Product submissions may be sent to Rick Prescott 4 Park St. Vernon, CT 06066
	PRIORITY INTERRUPT
		An Embedded Future by Steve Ciarcia Read Steve Ciarcia's latest editorial exclusively presented by AVNET. August 2001
	CIRCUIT CELLAR's Print Magazine
		Take advantage of more than 12 years of engineering editorial experience with Circuit Cellar's print magazine! Full of unique, application-oriented articles. Come see what's in this month's publication! August 2001
	COPYRIGHT
		CIRCUIT CELLAR� Online, (ISSN 1527-8131) and Circuit Cellar are published monthly by Circuit Cellar Incorporated, 4 Park Street, Suite 20, Vernon, CT 06066 (860) 875-2751. Entire contents copyright � 2001 by Circuit Cellar Incorporated and eChips, Inc. All rights reserved. Circuit Cellar and Circuit Cellar INK are the registered trademarks of Circuit Cellar Inc. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part without written consent from Circuit Cellar Inc. is prohibited. Disclaimer