FW: New Vector Monitor Project: DEFLECTION SCHEMATIC FOR REVIEW

> Any idea what a microcontroller type spot killer would cost, compared to
> an
> analog circuit ?
>
> Depends on the implementation, but I'd guess between $2.00-5.00? If you
> can [trick listproc fodder] get away with using the onboard A/D of the
> microcontroller probably closer to the cheap end. If you need to add a
> couple external comparitors (probably faster than the internal A/D) maybe
> higher. Depending on the speed requried the internal oscillator on some
> of the micro's our there is probably fine, so the support circuitry would
> probably be minimal.
>
> Some costs will depend on where you want to watch for a failure-- just the
> inputs to the monitor, or somewhere "downstream" in the actual deflection
> amplifier. Argueably for a "Cadillac" version you could watch for the
> same info in a couple spots ( example: did a deflection amplifier die or
> the input to the monitor) and light the LEDs different colors or
> something... Or, just plug in your RS-232 cable and look-- "X-Input:
> PASS, Y-Input: PASS, X-Output: PASS, Y-Output: FAIL, Q102." ;-)
>
> Some of the cost of the circuit would likely be recovered by savings in
> PCB real-estate. And as Jess suggested it would be programmable so the
> "window" for what constitutes a spot-killer event could be changed if need
> be. (And there wouldn't be much of any drift in behaviour over time as
> caps change value, etc.)
>
> -Clay
>
Received on Wed Nov 3 12:45:36 1999