Remember learning all about functions in algebra? Neither do we. Oh sure, most of us remember linear plots and the magic of understanding y=mx+b for the first time. But a lot of us managed to slide by with only a tenuous grasp of more complex functions like exponentials and conic sections. Luckily the functionally challenged among us can bolster their understanding with this demonstration using analog multipliers and op amps.
[devttys0]’s video tutorial is a great primer on analog multipliers and their many uses. Starting with a simple example that multiplies two input voltages together, he goes on to show circuits that output both the square and the cube of an input voltage. Seeing the output waveform of the cube of a ramped input voltage was what nailed the concept for us and transported us back to those seemingly wasted hours in algebra class many years ago. Further refinements by the addition of an op amp yield a circuit that outputs the square root of an input voltage, and eventually lead to a voltage controlled resistor that can attenuate an input signal depending on its voltage. Pretty powerful stuff for just a few chips.
The chip behind [devttys0]’s primer is the Analog Devices AD633, a pretty handy chip to have around. For more on this chip, check out [Bil Herd]’s post on analog computing.
Have ever wondered what just multiplying a couple emails can do when you divide them at ZX… Y? Pivoting of the T at 90°
And again in English?
I swear the comment sections here are being overtaken by Markov chain bots.
I thought it was autocorrect, and maybe someone smarter than me could puzzle out what [G] meant. Maybe not…
A couple emails are divided at ZX, wondering T of pivot can do at 90°, banana, carrot, porcupine Y?
The “application” that immediately comes to mind for me is building a circuit that would draw the Lorenz attractor.
Worked with an analog computer for a while back in school, it was a fun machine to program even though it was already outclassed by the more powerful digital ones in service.
y=mx+b?
b??????
you americans sure are a strange bunch!
M is already pretty odd choice.
But not the oddest. Lookit https://www.mathsisfun.com/equation_of_line.html#Countrynote and scroll down to Country Note. I’da never guessed.
That price though…..
“A 1 MHz bandwidth, 20 V/μs slew rate, and the ability to drive capacitive loads make the AD633 useful in a wide variety of applications where simplicity and cost are key concerns.”
…$5k per at a thousand….
Do you mean $5k per 1000? The price I see at qty 1000 is ~$5 each. About $10 each in quantity 1. Considering the AD633 is the cheapest analog multiplier on Digi-Key or Mouser that I can find, the price probably isn’t too bad for what it is.