CLICK HERE FOR INDEX PAGE | ||
ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL SYSTEMS | ||
V. Ryan © 2002 - 2009 | ||
PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR WORKSHEET BASED ON EXERCISE BELOW | ||
Electrical signals are in
two forms; Analogue signals Digital signals |
||
Analogue signals:
These are usually older electronic gadgets (introduced before the mid
1990’s). A good example of an analogue signal is the loud-speaker of a
stereo system. When the volume is turned up the sound increases slowly
and constantly. Examples of analogue systems include; Old radios, megaphones and the volume control on old telephone hand sets. |
This graph is typical of analogue signals. |
|
Digital Signals: Modern electronic products such as computers and mobile phones depend on digital signals. However, a good example of a digital signal is Morse Code. The signal is sent as a series of ‘on’ and ‘off’ pulses. The signal is either present or it is not. Morse code was introduced in 1837 by Samuel Morse, as a method of communication. For further information on digital computers - see Bits and BYTES. |
||
Both analogue and digital systems can be used as sensors. A thermistor is analogue as resistance slowly changes, a micro-switch is digital, as it is ‘on’ or ‘off’. Computers are digital devices and the various electronic parts communicate using 1’s and 0’s. |
||
1 = ON 0 = OFF |
||
LIST EXAMPLES OF ANALOGUE SYSTEMS | ||
LIST EXAMPLES OF DIGITAL SYSTEMS | ||
CLICK HERE FOR ELECTRONICS INDEX PAGE | ||