~uer-developers/ubuntuelectronicsremix/uer-docs-karmic

<p>Ktechlab is an application that allows the creation of circuits and algorithms. This tutorial will explain how to create and simulate an astable 555 circuit.</p>

<section>Setup</section>

<p>Currently Ktechlab does not have a menu entry, to start Ktechlab select Accessories -> Terminal from the Ubuntu menu, a terminal window will appear, type ktechlab and press return.</p>

<section>Creating and Simulating Circuit</section>

<p>To create a new circuit select the File -> New menu option or click the New toolbar button, which is the left most toolbar button. A dialogue box will appear with a selection of projects, click on "Circuit" and then OK.</p>

<p>Click the components tab on the left side of the Ktechlab window, this will show the available components in the left side-pane. To add components to the circuit click and drag components from the left side-pane to the center of the Ktechlab window.</p>

<p>Add the following components from these sections to the circuit, you may need to click the + symbol next to a section name to see the components.</p>

<list>

<item><p>Sources -> Fixed Volatge</p></item>

<item><p>Sources -> Ground</p></item>

<item><p>Passive -> Resistor x 3</p></item>

<item><p>Passive -> Capcitor x 2</p></item>

<item><p>Outputs -> LED</p></item>

<item><p>Integrated Circuits -> 555</p></item>

</list>

<p>Connect the components as shown in the screenshot below, ignore the two voltage probes (sqaure boxes with a wave inside) these will be added later. To connect components click on a terminal of a components and then on the terminal or wire to connect it to. If the circuit is simulating while you are adding components wires in the circuit will be highlighted and annotated, don't worry about this for now.</p>

<p><media type="image" mime="image/png" src="images/ktechlab555circuit.png">555 circuit in Ktechlab</media></p>

<p>When the circuit has been constructed click on each of the resistors and capictors in turn and click on the "Property View" in the right side-pane of the Ktechlab window and change the values of the components to those shown in the screenshot above.</p>

<p>If the circuit is being simulated the LED should flash on and off, if not select Tools -> Run Simulation menu option.</p>

<p>Add two Voltage Probe components in from the "Outputs" component section. Connect one side of each of the probes to ground. Connect second pin of one of the probes to the Th / Trg pin of the 555 symbol and the other probe to the output pin. Select Oscilloscope from the bottom pane of the Ktechlab window. The signals at these two points will be displayed.</p>

<section>Further Information</section>

<p>Ktechlab includes a number of example circuits, these can be found in the Help -> Examples menu.</p>

<list>

<item><p><a href="http://sourceforge.net/projects/ktechlab/files/">Ktechlab User guide (in the docs sub-directory)</a></p></item>

<item><p><a href="http://ktechlab.org/">Ktechlab website</a> (currently broke)</p></item>

</list>

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