5 ms·
Hardware solutions can be quite beautiful in their simplicity. HP's first product was a precision oscillator. To get the necessary precision, they needed a nega
by blackguardx 17y ago
Hardware solutions can be quite beautiful in their simplicity. HP's first product was a precision oscillator. To get the necessary precision, they needed a negative feedback mechanism to stabilize their oscillation circuit. They used a lightbulb. As the circuit drew more current, the lightbulb element heated up, causing its resistance to go up and thus acting to reduce the current through the circuit.
- chronomex 17y agoUsing a light bulb as a non-linear element in a circuit dates back at least to Western Electric and its 1915-era Panel switch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_switch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_switch (By the way, if you're near Seattle, interested in electronics and history, and can spare a Tuesday morning, you might enjoy going to visit the Museum of Communications in Georgetown: http://www.museumofcommunications.org/ http://www.museumofcommunications.org/ . I volunteer there when school's not in session.)
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]
- stcredzero 17y agoI believe some audio compressors work like this.