Tales from the Cube: One Small Step for Synchronization

Estes Saturn V (used for Apollo 11) Model Rocket - RF CafeIn this latest installment of EDN's "Tales from the Cube" series, electrical engineer Larry Baxter recounts his experience as a neophyte circuit designer for a numerical display on the Apollo 11 project and how it helped decades later when working on a dielectric-paper photoprinter circuit. It involves a high-voltage signal generator and the importance of synchronizing system processes to minimize noise and facilitate testing. A lot of good lessons are crammed into this one example of how being creative and having the ability to get the job done on your own is a good thing, but having access to and heeding the learned guidance of senior engineers can save a lot of trouble down the line and result in a superior product to boot. My interest, of course, was immediately piqued to the Apollo program, but the story is very much worthwhile reading for any designer.

Tales from the Cube: One Small Step for Synchronization - RF Cafe

Posted  December 16, 2013