David Beams’ Project Page

Edited Feb. 12, 2008

PSpice Archives

A collection of circuits and analyses for basic and advanced electronics using PSpice 9.2. Click the link above to go to the PSpice Archives page.

Project TUNA (Texas Universal Network Analyzer):

A system for measuring frequency response of active or passive linear networks between 10 Hz and 100 kHz designed and built by EENG 4409 students at the University of Texas at Tyler. Project TUNA is a LabVIEW-based virtual instrument incorporating custom external hardware and test equipment linked to the host workstation via an IEEE-488 bus.

MADCAT (MATLAB-Derived Circuit Analysis Tool):

A circuit simulator for dc and ac analyses of linear networks written in MATLAB by senior electrical engineering student Kau Teng Lim. This simulation tool was intended for use in introductory courses in circuit analysis without the steep learning curve associated with a highly-integrated schematic capture/circuit analysis package. MADCAT supports passive components (resistance, capacitance, inductance, and mutual inductance), independent voltage and current sources, and dependent sources (both dependent voltage and current sources with voltage control or current control are available). MADCAT will perform single-point dc analysis, swept-dc analysis, and swept-frequency ac analysis.

NSF DUE-9952292: Developing Computer-Based Laboratory Instruments in a New Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Program

Computer-based laboratory instruments using LabVIEW virtual-instrument software and custom external hardware are being designed for undergraduate laboratories in the electrical engineering program at the University of Texas at Tyler. The first instrument under development is Project TUGBOAT (Texas UnderGraduate Basic Operational Amplifier Tester), an instrument for semi-automated measurement of electrical parameters of operational amplifiers (input offset voltage, input bias current, open-loop voltage gain, and gain-bandwidth product). Project GUISE (General-purpose Universal Instrumentation System for Education) provides students with the functional blocks commonly used in instrumentation systems. Measurement systems using strain gages, thermocouples, thermistors, and other types of sensors may be constructed. Project GUISE may be used to illustrate the principles of operation of instrumentation amplifiers, lock-in amplifiers, and thermocouple cold-junction compensation. Project TUNA II , an improvement to Project TUNA (described above) was developed using resources acquired through this grant.

Inexpensive semiconductor curve tracers using LabVIEW:

Semiconductor curve tracers based upon LabVIEW virtual instruments and custom external hardware have been constructed and integrated into the electrical engineering curriculum of the University of Texas at Tyler. Curve tracers are available for p-n junction diodes, small-signal NPN and PNP bipolar transistors in common-emitter connection, small-signal PNP bipolar transistors in common-base connection, n-channel JFETs, and n-channel MOSFETs.

Bode plot demonstration program:

This Matlab program has been written to help students understand the connection between the transfer function of a linear network and the Bode plot. It has been used as a teaching tool at the University of Texas at Tyler in EENG 3305 (Electric Circuits II) and EENG 4409 (Electronics II).

Captain Kinetic, Superhero of Science

See a rare photograph of David Beams as his alter ego!