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ABOUT
Interests, Background, Web details
C++ (proficient), Verilog (proficient/intermediate), MATLab (proficient), python (intermediate),
My passions and interests within the field of Electrical Engineering include, but are not limited to, RF, Power electronics, Digital Design, Signal Processing, Embedded Systems, Field Engineering, Analog Circuits, Semiconductors, and robotics.
I attended the Santa Rosa Junior College as an Electrical Engineering major for August 2016 - May 2019. I am now attending California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (currently with Senior/Junior status) for B.S in EE.
My site contains my resume, contact info, and EE projects to exhibit my perpetual interest and desire to contribute to the field.
RGB LED AUDIO VISUALIZER
May 2019
- Arduino Nano
- RobotDyn® Microphone Sound Measure Module
- WS2812B Individually Addressable LED Strip
- LM2596 Power Supply Module
RGB Color Assignments
The microphone sound measuring module measures the sound strength of the environment - the amplitude of the waves rather than the frequency.
Knowing this I decided to assign blues to quieter sounds & reds to louder ones. Instead of following the common RGB color diagram that can be googled, I decided to create my own ----->
When tested only more red-ish colors appear, leading me to work on a new assignment order.
Coding the Strip
How to Improve (In Progress)
- Instead of using one sensor to determine the brightness and color of the LEDs, it would appear more fluid and dynamic if I made use of a Frequency-to-Voltage converter to determine the color of the LEDs while the Sound Measure Module determines the brightness of the LEDs.
- Code can DEFINITELY be improved. I wrote it in 2019 and plan to revisit it soon.
The goal of this design was to have each updated LED move down the line of 300 LEDs as a new LED updated - snake-like. This was achieved with C++, nested for loops, and bit shifting.
The toughest part of this build was creating the bit shift & finding a balance in the delay of it such that the movement is fluid, not stagnant.
Shell's EcoMarathon Electronic Speed Controller
June 2018 - August 2018
The purpose of this Santa Rosa Junior College summer Club was to manufacture a functional single-rider electric car. With a team of 3 other EE majors we were specifically tasked with designing a "purpose-built" Electronic Speed Controller for our car - running on BLDC Motors.
Circuit Theory
With our VCC, AOs, and DOs we worked with DC voltages of 13V, 0-5V, and 5V respectively.
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When an analog signal is delivered to the base (large enough to create current between collector and emitter - ICE ) the 22K/50K voltage divider delivers ~9V to the gate of the N-channel MOSFET, allowing current from VCC to flow through it.
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This allows current to flow into one of the Motor coils (X, Y, or Z). Current flowing into X leaves through coil winding Y, so here we deliver 5V through Digital Output 5 (D5) to close the entire circuit such that it has a path to ground.
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If this is done fast enough and in the proper manner an artificial sine wave using PWM can be created for each Motor winding - optimal.
Circuit Construction
The schematic to the right was created using AutoDesk Eagle.
The circuit board itself was made using an etching machine by one of the members of our group with a copper plate, this allowed us to use the non-etched surface of the plate as the common GND.
Purpose:
FPGAs with BASYS 3 - Verilog & Digital Design
Elaborated Design (Schematic)
behavioral simulation (Counter)
SCHEMATIC
The Elaborated Design showcases a number of Digital components such as a Finite State Machine (FSM), 3 Multiplexers, 2 Clock Dividers, and a Universal Seven Segment module.
The FSM dictates what most modules do and what the multiplexers output to the board.
Originally a comparator and/or Shift Register were to be used for the LEDs, but rather I constructed a purpose-built LED Shifter
BEHAVIORAL SIMULATION
Just as a sample I simulated the Counter modul, which simply counts down from 20 at 1 Hz, resets if the Cop (1 LED) catches the Robber (2 LEDs) or if the Timer expires.
[5:0]Timer is represented in Hexadecimal.
I2C OLED Display Music Visualizer
DETAILS:
This project utilizes an Arduino Nano for Digital/Analog reading & outputting, as well as I2C communication protocols. I custom designed and printed a personal PCB for a Frequency/Amplitude to Voltage Converter, which outputs a DC voltage from 0 - 5V based on the Frequency/Amplitude.
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Other peripherals that are interfaced with are a button to change the state of the internal FSM, a switch to power ON the device, so it can stay plugged into the wall, and finally a 128x32 OLED display printing bitmaps personal to whom this was gifted to.
POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS:
Aside from cleaner wood work this project can be improved with more efficient code (specifically some FSM states), a larger OLED Display capable of colors, and a larger designed PCB that allows the Nano to be soldered to cut down on the number of wires for better wire-routing.
Project Display:
NASA Jet Propulsion Labrotories (JPL)
Engineering
Summer 2022
Reflector Antenna Performance using Offset Non-Focal Plane Arrays (Group 333: Deep Space Network)
Abstract: Center-fed full-parabolic reflectors are often accompanied by phased antenna arrays located along the bisecting line that cuts the parabolic reflector symmetrically in half. However, this Phased Array Fed Reflector (PAFR) antenna architecture results in rays from the radiating antenna array to bounce off of the reflector and return, blocking some of the signal from transmission. Additionally, mechanical beam scanning has its limitations and antennas operating at frequencies at or above W-band (75 - 110 GHz) require further optimization taking into account antenna array size, spacing, architecture dimensions, and overall cost of construction/components
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PAFRs offer intermediate performance and minimal complexity with a scanning range. Due to the limitations of center fed PAFRs, offsetting the radiating element eliminates RF blockage. Additionally, if this reflector is fed with a phased antenna array, there is a beam-steering capability of ∓5° to ∓10°.
Lightweight Deployable Thin Shell-membrane W-band Reflector for SmallSats (Group 337: Flight Communications)
Abstract: Large deployable mesh reflectors used for Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) and the NASA ISRO SAR (NISAR) missions were designed to higher frequencies. These mesh reflectors are made of a conductive grid net, gold-plated, and integrated within a complex supporting deployable structure. This mesh is very stiff and difficult to force into a parabolic shape, leading to surface and shape inaccuracies that are not negligible at W-band. Treated carbon nanotubes (CNT) offer a competitive alternative with their lightweight, durable, heat-tolerant, and memory characteristics. These CNTs are treated in three ways which can be cascaded: (1) Thermal Doping & Clean Treatment; (2) Chemical Doping with gold deposition and Consolidating; (3) Chemical Doping with gold electroless plating and Consolidating. Treated CNTs are thin and lightweight, optimizing stowing efficiency for SmallSats all the while remaining durable and resilient to bending. Additionally, heat treating of CNTs into the shape of a parabolic reflector minimizes surface inaccuracies while retaining memory of this parabolic shape if deformed.
