[Ktechlab-devel] My ktechlab modifications

[Link]

On 02/07/09 22:09, thomas at tgohome.com wrote:
> I'm more of an analog kinda guy, I don't really deal that much with
> digital circuits yet - but I'm still learning. Could the glitch be
> prevented by making inputs and outputs directional (inputs can only take
> in signals, outputs can only put signals in.) I assume that you've thought
> of this already and there's some very good reason it isn't done...
>
> Anyway, I will be creating a patch based on current SVN soon.
>
> Quick status check. I've added over-rates for resistors now. Resistors
> also display the power they're dissipating. See screenshot:
>    http://files.getdropbox.com/u/1134084/ResistorOverRatePlusPower.png
>
> (In the picture the resistor is 1/2W, 350V max., so it would normally be
> burning up and destroying itself.)
>
> I was thinking of doing some of the following:
>   - NTC/PTC resistors. These resistors vary resistance with temperature.
> The resistors can be specifically designed to warm up and reduce/increase
> resistance. For example, in some CRT TVs, they are used to control the
> CRT degauss coil - as the TV starts up the resistor is cool, and at a low
> resistane, and the coil degausses the TV. Then when the resistor's
> temperature increases the coil reduces in power over a few seconds. A bit
> of a speciality item, but would be a very neat addition.
>   - Variable resistors with:
>     - Log/antilog/linear scale.
>     - Power dissipation/voltage limits, identical to fixed resistors.
>     - Update value next to resistor (maybe) depending on slider value. Or
> put another value next to slider.
>   - Signal generator/voltage signal modifications:
>     - If possible, add other types of wave: sawtooth (a triangle wave with
> 100% rise 0% fall), triangle, square and white noise.
>     - Symmetry, for square and triangle waves.
>   - For all voltage sources: warn if excess current/short circuit.
>   - Allow plotting of things like power dissipation through a resistor,
> charge in a capacitor, joules in a capacitor, etc.
>   - Transformers.
>   - Relays. Model as an inductor, so we get back EMF. Switch is controlled
> by current through inductor.
>   - Thyristors, TRIACS, and other needed semiconductor devices.
>   - For transistors, back-EMF shows warning.
>
> That's a long list of possible things to do, but I'd really like to
> improve KTechLab because the other software I've come across is either
> commercial  /not open-source, or Windows-only, or slow / non-functional in
> Wine or has significant analog bugs that affect me. It's also a first big,
> open-source project that I've ever worked on, and great C(++) experience.
>
> I have noticed that in my SVN version LEDs and diodes do not work. Is this
> (or was this) a problem with SVN a bit back?
>
> Tom
>
Teehee, you're working on half of my own wishlist! I posted that a 
little over a month ago.[1]

[1] 
http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_name=4A1E478E.5090408%40penguindevelopment.org&forum_name=ktechlab-devel