Method and system for visualizing the working of an electric circuit

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of electrical engineering, and more particularly to a method and system for visualizing the working of an electric circuit. The claimed system for visualizing the working of an electric circuit consists of models (101) of electronic components, which are connected to a computing module (106) via a peripheral circuit (107) connected to said module. The models (101) each have a group of electrical contacts (107) containing two electrical contacts that are contacts of a first kind (103) or of a second kind (104). The computing module (106) is capable of detecting the presence of electrical connections between models (101) of electronic components, determining the physical quantities on regions of a visualized electric circuit consisting of electronic components, and displaying to the user the results of the determination of the physical quantities on the regions of said electric circuit.

Description

[0001] Method for visualizing the operation of an electrical circuit and a system for implementing it

[0002] AREA OF TECHNOLOGY

[0003] The invention relates to the field of electrical engineering, namely to a method for visualizing the operation of an electric circuit and a system for visualizing the operation of an electric circuit. The invention can be used in educational and leisure activities as a training device, a game constructor, a stand for teaching circuit engineering.

[0004] LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY

[0005] An intelligent gaming device simulating an electrical circuit is known, disclosed in the Russian Federation patent for utility model No. RU174016 (published on September 25, 2017). The known intelligent gaming device simulating an electrical circuit comprises a power source consisting of a substrate, on the upper side of which there are fastening pins, and on the lower side - fastening holes, and a housing with a processor and a USB connector installed therein. The said pins and holes located on the substrate and the USB connector are electrically connected to the processor. The device is placed on a breadboard provided with mounting pins for securing the power source and conductive and terminal components to it. These components also have fastening pins and holes allowing them to be connected to the pins and holes of the substrate to form an electrical contact.The USB connector is designed for transferring and recording to the processor a working program edited on an external electronic device, such as a personal computer.

[0006] A known method for creating a layout for teaching programming is disclosed in the Russian Federation patent for invention No. RU2763108 (published on 27.12.2021). The known method for creating a layout for teaching programming includes placing logical elements on a board for programming and connecting them to contact cells, sequentially polling pairs of contact cells to determine the identifiers of the logical elements, decoding the identifiers and writing the program code corresponding to the location of the logical elements to memory, compiling the program code and determining the correctness of its execution. A common drawback of the presented analogs is their functional incompleteness, due to the lack of means for visualizing the operation of the electrical circuit.

[0007] A method for simulating an electrical circuit is known, disclosed in the Russian Federation patent for invention No. RU2715794 (published on 03.03.2020) - prototype. The known method for simulating an electrical circuit includes providing electromagnetic connections between simulating components, one of which is electrically connected to a computing complex; establishing a correspondence between each connected simulating component and the simulated element of the electrical circuit; computer modeling of the simulated electrical circuit; reproducing the results of the computer modeling to the user.

[0008] The prototype has the following disadvantages. In the known invention, all simulating components are placed on a single dielectric plate, and the contact blocks are divided into contact blocks of the first and second kind, but each contact of the simulating component does not provide contact blocks of both the first and second kind, which reduces the number of variants of electrical circuits (circuits) that can be reproduced using the known invention. At the same time, the electrical implementation of the known system, which involves the use of contacts of one kind, is significantly complicated, since it becomes necessary to provide a homogeneous contact block with both of the above-mentioned properties (the ability to both measure and change voltage or current).

[0009] DISCLOSURE OF THE ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The technical problem underlying the present invention is to expand the range of technical means intended for visualizing the operation of an electrical circuit.

[0011] The technical result achieved by the present invention consists in providing the ability to visualize the operation of an electrical circuit composed of models depicting the electronic components of the said electrical circuit and located on a single base.

[0012] An additional technical result is an increase in the number of connection options for the layouts of electronic components included in the visualized electrical circuit.

[0013] The specified technical result is achieved by the claimed method of visualizing the operation of an electric circuit. The claimed method is intended for implementation using models of electronic components associated with a computing module. Each such model, on each of its sections, which corresponds to a contact of the electronic component being depicted, has a group of electrical contacts, each of which has at least two electrical contacts represented by contacts of the first or second kind. At least part of the groups of electrical contacts has at least one contact of the first kind and at least one contact of the second kind. The claimed method of visualizing the operation of an electric circuit includes the following steps:

[0014] - establishing at least one electrical connection between the electronic component layouts using connecting elements, wherein each said electrical connection is established between one contact of the first kind of one of the electronic component layouts and one contact of the second kind of another electronic component layout;

[0015] - determining the presence of an established electrical connection using the computing module and the associated peripheral circuit;

[0016] - determination, using a computing module, of physical quantities in sections of a visualized electrical circuit consisting of electronic components, the models of which are connected, wherein the connections between the models depicting the electronic components correspond to the connections of these electronic components in the visualized electrical circuit;

[0017] - reproduction to the user, using a computing module, of the results of determining physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit.

[0018] Additional advantages and essential features of the present invention can be presented in the following particular embodiments.

[0019] In particular, the model of the depicted electronic component is a section of a dielectric plate containing at least two groups of electrical contacts and a conventional designation of such an electronic component, or a separate three-dimensional product containing at least two groups of electrical contacts and a conventional designation of such an electronic component.

[0020] In particular, a first-class contact is a contact on which voltage or current is changed. In particular, a second-class contact is a contact on which voltage or current is measured.

[0021] In particular, the presence of a connection between the layouts of electronic components is determined by changing the voltage or current on the contacts of the first type of the said layouts and measuring the voltage or current on the contacts of the second type of the said layouts.

[0022] In particular, each connecting element or each contact of the first kind or each contact of the second kind is provided with a rectifier element.

[0023] In particular, the method determines physical quantities in sections of a visualized electrical circuit by means of computer modeling on a computing module.

[0024] In particular, in the visualized electrical circuit, physical quantities selected from a group including at least the level of electrical potential, current strength, capacitor charge, and the state of transitions in semiconductor devices are determined.

[0025] In particular, the reproduction of the results of determining physical quantities to the user is carried out using a multimedia device, on the screen of which the visualized electrical circuit and the values ​​of physical quantities in sections of the specified circuit are displayed.

[0026] In particular, the reproduction of the results of determining physical quantities to the user is carried out using a computing module by controlling indicator, electro-light, electro-sound, electromechanical and other devices that are part of the electronic component models.

[0027] In particular, at least one model is equipped with a sensor and the determination of physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit is carried out taking into account the readings of such a sensor.

[0028] In particular, for the electronic components of the visualized electrical circuit, the state and / or properties are set, which are used to determine the physical quantities in the sections of the visualized electrical circuit.

[0029] The specified technical result is also achieved by a system for visualizing the operation of an electric circuit. The system for visualizing the operation of an electric circuit consists of models of electronic components connected to a computing module via a peripheral circuit connected to it. Moreover, each said model, on each of its sections, which corresponds to a contact of the electronic component being depicted, has a group of electrical contacts, each of which has at least two electrical contacts represented by contacts of the first or second kind. Moreover, at least a part of the groups of electrical contacts has at least one contact of the first kind and at least one contact of the second kind.Moreover, the computing module is capable of determining the presence of electrical connections between the models of electronic components, determining physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit consisting of electronic components, the models of which are connected, and reproducing to the user the results of determining physical quantities in sections of the said electrical circuit.

[0030] Additional advantages and essential features of the present invention can be presented in the following particular embodiments.

[0031] In particular, the peripheral circuit includes a transmitting part that is capable of setting a voltage or current on contacts of the first kind and is an electronic unit formed by electric lines, to each of which a switch is connected that switches said line between two poles of a power source, wherein each contact of the first kind is connected via resistors to at least two of said lines.

[0032] In particular, the peripheral circuit includes a receiving part that is capable of measuring the current strength on contacts of the second kind and is an electronic unit formed by electrical lines, to each of which a circuit based on an operational amplifier is connected, maintaining a constant voltage on said lines and determining the strength of the current flowing along them, wherein each contact of the second kind is connected via resistors to at least two of said lines.

[0033] In particular, the peripheral circuit includes a part of interaction with radio-electronic devices installed on models depicting electronic components.

[0034] In particular, the computing module is capable of determining physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit by remotely querying other computing modules.

[0035] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0036] The present invention is explained with reference to the following figures: FIG. 1 illustrates a functional diagram of the visualization of the operation of an electrical circuit;

[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a method for visualizing the operation of an electrical circuit;

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for visualizing the operation of an electrical circuit;

[0039] FIG.4 illustrates the receiving portion of the peripheral circuit;

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates the transmitting portion of the peripheral circuit.

[0041] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0042] In accordance with FIG. 1, the electronic component layouts 101 are electrically connected to the computing module 102. Each layout 101 contains at least two groups 102 of contacts. The groups 102 are intended for electrically connecting the layouts 101 and are located on the layouts 101 in the same positions where the connecting contacts are located on the real electronic components that are depicted by the layouts 101. The number of groups 102 on the layout 101 depends on the design of the real electronic component depicted by the layout 101. In particular, if the layout 101 depicts a resistor, then the layout is made with two groups 102 of contacts. In particular, if the layout 101 depicts a transistor, then the layout 101 is made with three groups 102 of contacts.

[0043] Each group 102 contains at least one contact of the first kind 103 and at least one contact of the second kind 104. In essence, contacts 103 and contacts 104 are electrically conductive contacts with a different function and, in particular, with a different design. In particular, contact of the first kind 103 is a contact on which, when implementing the actions of the claimed method, the voltage or current is changed. In particular, contact of the second kind 104 is a contact on which, when implementing the actions of the claimed method, the voltage or current is measured.

[0044] The different design of contacts 103 and 104 is intended to limit the user when composing an electric circuit based on the layouts of electronic components so that he cannot connect similar contacts, for example, connect two contacts of the first kind 103 together or connect two contacts of the second kind 104 together. Composing the said electric circuit includes the user's actions to physically connect contacts 103 and 104 with connecting elements that are electrically conductive elements. In particular, connecting element 105 is an electric wire.

[0045] In particular, each contact 103 may have a design that is an opening, and each contact 104 may have a design that is a pin complementary to the said opening. In this case, the opposite implementation is possible, in which each contact 103 has a design that is a pin, and each contact 104 has a design that is an opening. For the above-mentioned particular embodiments, a design of the connecting element with end parts is provided, one of which is made in the form of an opening, and the other end part is made in the form of a pin complementary to such an opening. Such a particular embodiment assumes the formation of an electric circuit by physically connecting dissimilar contacts 103 and 104, wherein each connection is fixed mechanically due to the friction force arising when the pin touches the inner surfaces of the opening.

[0046] In particular, each contact 103 may have a shaped form that does not coincide with the shaped form of contact 104. For the above-mentioned particular variants, a design of the connecting element with end parts is provided, one of which has a shaped form that coincides with the shaped form of contact 103, and the other end part has a shaped form that coincides with the shaped form of contact 104.

[0047] In particular, regardless of the design of contacts 103 and 104 and the end parts of the connecting element, contacts 103 and 104 and the end parts of the connecting elements are provided with magnetic elements. This embodiment ensures fixation of connections between contacts 103 and 104 and the end parts of the connecting elements due to magnetism.

[0048] In all of the above-described particular embodiments, the design of contacts 103 and 104 and the end portions of the connecting elements does not allow the user to connect identical contacts together using the connecting element.

[0049] The simplest implementation is one in which each group 102 contains one contact of the first type 103 and one contact of the second type 104. Most often, this is sufficient to enable the user to connect two or three electronic component layouts with connecting elements.

[0050] The contacts of the first type 103 and the contacts of the second type 104 are electrically connected to the computing module 106 by means of the peripheral circuit 107.

[0051] The peripheral circuit 107 includes a transmitting part 108, a receiving part 109 and a part for interacting 110 with radio-electronic devices installed on the models.

[0052] The computing module can be connected to a multimedia device 111, which allows information about the visualized electrical circuit to be displayed on the screen.

[0053] According to FIG. 2, the method for visualizing the operation of an electric circuit includes the following steps.

[0054] In step 201, at least one electrical connection is established between the electronic component mock-ups 101 using connecting elements, wherein each said electrical connection is established between one contact of the first kind 103 of one of the electronic component mock-ups 101 and one contact of the second kind 104 of the other electronic component mock-up 101.

[0055] In particular, the model 101 of the depicted electronic component may be a section of a dielectric plate containing at least two groups of electrical contacts and a conventional designation of such an electronic component. In particular, the dielectric plate may be one common plate for all the models 101. In particular, there may be several dielectric plates, and each of them may be a common plate for at least two models 101, or only one model 101 may correspond to one plate. In particular, the model 101 of the depicted electronic component may be a separate three-dimensional product containing at least two groups of electrical contacts and a conventional designation of such an electronic component.

[0056] In particular, the visualized electric circuit can be composed of two electronic component mock-ups 101 with the establishment of one electrical connection between them. Such an electrical connection is provided by physically connecting one contact of the first kind 103 of one of the electronic component mock-ups 101 to one contact of the second kind 104 of the other electronic component mock-up 101. One connecting element is used to establish one connection. The design of the mentioned contacts can be used to fix the end parts of the connecting element in the segment of the mock-up 101, provided with contacts 103 and 104. In particular, the design of the mock-ups 101 can be characterized by the use of magnets or pins and holes complementary to them, but not limited to these particular embodiments.

[0057] In particular, the visualized electric circuit can be composed of a larger number of models 101: three, four or more, without any restrictions. In such a case, the model 101 is electrically connected to at least one of the other models 101. As noted above, one electrical connection corresponds to one connecting element.

[0058] When implementing the method, the voltage or current is changed on the contacts of the first type 103. The voltage or current is measured on the contacts of the second type 104.

[0059] At step 202, the presence of an established electrical connection is determined using the computing module.

[0060] The computing module 106 is a microcontroller or other computing device. The computing module has a long-term memory, in which program instructions for interaction with the models 101 and determination of the parameters of the visualized electric circuit are stored, as well as RAM for loading the said program instructions, temporary recording of service data obtained during interaction with the models 101 and determination of the parameters of the visualized electric circuit, and a processor capable of executing the said instructions and processing the said service data. In particular, the said instructions reflect algorithms for determining the presence of an established electrical connection between the models 101. In particular, the said instructions reflect algorithms for determining physical quantities in sections of the visualized electric circuit.In particular, the computing module 106 is connected to a multimedia device that allows the user to reproduce the results of determining physical quantities on sections of the said electrical circuit. The computing module is electrically connected to contacts 103 and 104 by means of a peripheral circuit 107. Determining the presence of an established electrical connection includes a sequential change in voltage or current on contacts of the first type 103 and simultaneous measurement of voltage or current on contacts of the second type 104. If, when changing the voltage or current on one of the contacts of the first type 103, a change in voltage or current occurs on one of the contacts of the second type 104, a decision is made that such contacts are connected. In particular, each connecting element can be provided with a rectifier element. In particular, each contact of the first type 103 can be provided with a rectifier element.In particular, each contact of the second kind can be provided with a rectifier element. A rectifier diode can be used as such a rectifier element. The said rectifier element can be used to cut off parasitic currents.

[0061] In step 203, determination is made using the computing module 106 of physical quantities in sections of the visualized electric circuit consisting of electronic components, the models of which are connected. In this case, the connections between the models 101 depicting the electronic components correspond to the connections of these electronic components in the visualized electric circuit.

[0062] In particular, the determination of physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit can be carried out by computer modeling on the computing module 106. In particular, the determination of physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit can be carried out by computer modeling on another computing module, while being transmitted to the computing module 106.

[0063] In particular, the determination of physical quantities may include the determination of quantities selected from a group including the level of electric potential, current strength, charge of a capacitor, the state of transitions in semiconductor devices, but is not limited to only these examples of physical quantities.

[0064] At step 204, the results of determining physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit are reproduced to the user using the computing module.

[0065] In particular, the results of determining physical quantities are reproduced to the user using a multimedia device, on the screen of which the visualized electric circuit and the values ​​of physical quantities on sections of said circuit are displayed. In particular, the results of determining physical quantities are reproduced to the user using the computing module 106 and the peripheral circuit 107 by controlling the indicator, electric-light, electro-sound, electromechanical and other devices that are part of the electronic component models. In particular, if at least one model is equipped with a sensor, and the determination of physical quantities on sections of the visualized electric circuit is carried out taking into account the readings of such a sensor. The readings of the sensor can also be visualized for the user.In particular, initial states and / or properties can be set for the electronic components of the visualized electric circuit, which are used to determine physical quantities in sections of the visualized electric circuit. The devices installed on the models 101 can be represented by light-emitting diodes, sensors, mechanical devices that operate when controlling the visualized electric circuit, but are not limited to these examples of devices.

[0066] In accordance with FIG. 3, the system for visualizing the operation of an electric circuit consists of models 101 of electronic components placed on one or more dielectric plates that form a dielectric base 301 for the models 101. Each model 101 is provided with at least two groups 102 of contacts. The groups 102 of contacts are placed on sections of the models 101 that correspond to the arrangement of contacts in real electronic components. Each group 102 of contacts includes at least one contact of the first kind 103 and at least one contact of the second kind 104. In particular, the layouts 101, depicting resistors 302, capacitors 303, inductor 304 and diodes 305 have two groups of contacts, each of which contains two contacts of the first kind 103 and two contacts of the second kind 104. In particular, the layout depicting transistor 306 has three groups of contacts 102, each of which contains two contacts of the first kind 103 and two contacts of the second kind 104.In addition, the system for visualizing the operation of an electric circuit is provided with a model 101, depicting a power source 307. Such a model has two groups of contacts 102, each of which consists of a plurality of contacts of the first kind 103 and a plurality of contacts of the second kind 104.

[0067] Contacts 103 and 104 are electrically connected to the computing module 106. In particular, contacts 103 and 104 are connected to the computing module 106 via peripheral circuit 107.

[0068] The computing module 106 can be connected to other computing modules, on which the modeling of electric circuits is partially or completely performed. The peripheral circuit 107 consists of a transmitting part 108, a receiving part 109 and a part for interaction 110 with devices installed on the models 101. The transmitting part 108 is made in such a way as to be able to set the voltage or current on the contacts of the first kind 103. The receiving part 109 is made in such a way as to be able to measure the voltage or current on the contacts of the second kind 104.

[0069] According to FIG. 4, the transmitting part 108 is an electrical unit formed by electrical lines 401, to each of which a switch 402 is connected, which switches the lines 401 between two poles of the power supply 403, wherein each contact of the first kind 103 is connected through resistors 404 with at least two of the said lines 401. The switch 402 can be a device selected from the following group: a mechanical or semiconductor relay, a transistor half-bridge, a multiplexer. The transmitting part 108 operates as follows. When connecting two lines 401 to the positive pole of the power supply 403, the voltage on the contact connected to both of these lines becomes equal to the voltage on the positive pole of the power supply 403 (Vcc), on all other contacts of the first kind 103 the voltage becomes equal to Vcc / 2 or 0.

[0070] In accordance with FIG. 5, the receiving part 109 is an electrical unit formed by electrical lines 501, to each of which a circuit based on an operational amplifier 502 is connected, maintaining a constant voltage on the lines 501 and determining the strength of the current flowing along them. In this case, each contact of the second kind 104 is connected through resistors 503 to at least two of the said lines 501. The receiving part operates as follows. On all lines, the operational amplifiers maintain a voltage of Vcc / 2. When connecting a contact of the first kind to one of the contacts of the second kind, on which a voltage equal to Vcc is set, the two lines connected to the said contact of the second kind are connected to a higher voltage, therefore, the voltage at the outputs of the operational amplifiers decreases.

[0071] Thus, the technical possibility of visualizing the operation of an electrical circuit is illustrated.

[0072] It should be noted that the above description is given as an example and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention, which is determined solely by the scope of the attached claims.

[0073] Although the above-described particular embodiments are given with reference to specific steps performed in a specific order and software and hardware that perform these steps, it should be obvious that these steps and hardware can be supplemented in practice with any other features without deviating from the essence of the present invention.

Claims

Invention formula 1. A method for visualizing the operation of an electrical circuit, intended for implementation using models of electronic components associated with a computing module, wherein each such model, in each of its sections that corresponds to a contact of the electronic component being depicted, has a group of electrical contacts, each of which has at least two electrical contacts represented by contacts of the first or second kind, wherein at least part of the groups of electrical contacts has at least one contact of the first kind and at least one contact of the second kind, wherein the method includes: - establishing at least one electrical connection between the electronic component layouts using connecting elements, wherein each said electrical connection is established between one contact of the first kind of one of the electronic component layouts and one contact of the second kind of another electronic component layout, wherein the contact of the first kind is the contact on which the voltage or current is changed, and the contact of the second kind is the contact on which the voltage or current is measured; - determining the presence of an established electrical connection between the said layouts using the computing module and the peripheral circuit associated therewith by changing the voltage or current at the contacts of the first kind of the said layouts and measuring the voltage or current at the contacts of the second kind of the said layouts; - determination, using a computing module, of physical quantities in sections of a visualized electrical circuit consisting of electronic components, the models of which are connected, wherein the connections between the models depicting the electronic components correspond to the connections of these electronic components in the visualized electrical circuit; reproduction, using a computing module and a multimedia device, to the user of the results of determination of physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the layout of the depicted electronic component is a section of a dielectric plate containing at least two groups of electrical contacts and a symbol for such an electronic component, or a separate three-dimensional product containing at least two groups of electrical contacts and the conventional designation of such an electronic component.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each connecting element, or each contact of the first kind, or each contact of the second kind is provided with a rectifier element.

4. The method according to paragraph 1, in which physical quantities are determined in sections of the visualized electrical circuit by computer modeling on a computing module.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein physical quantities selected from a group including at least the level of electrical potential, current strength, capacitor charge, and the state of transitions in semiconductor devices are determined in the visualized electrical circuit.

6. The method according to paragraph 1, in which the reproduction of the results of determining physical quantities to the user is carried out using a computing module by controlling indicator, electro-light, electro-sound, electromechanical and other devices that are part of the electronic component layouts.

7. The method according to claim 1, in which at least one model is equipped with a sensor, and the determination of physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit is carried out taking into account the readings of such a sensor.

8. The method according to claim 1, in which the state and / or properties are set for the electronic components of the visualized electrical circuit, which are used to determine physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit.

9. A system for visualizing the operation of an electrical circuit, consisting of models of electronic components connected to a computing module through a peripheral circuit connected thereto, wherein each of said models, in each of its sections that corresponds to a contact of the electronic component being depicted, has a group of electrical contacts, each of which has at least two electrical contacts represented by contacts of the first or second kind, wherein at least part of the groups of electrical contacts has at least one contact of the first kind and at least one contact of the second kind, wherein the contact of the first kind is a contact on which the voltage or current is changed, and the contact of the second kind is a contact on which the voltage or current is measured, wherein the computing module is capable of determining the presence of electrical connections 16 between the layouts of electronic components by changing the voltage or current on the contacts of the first kind of the said layouts and measuring the voltage or current on the contacts of the second kind of the said layouts, determine the physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit consisting of electronic components, the layouts of which are connected, and reproduce to the user, using a multimedia device, the results of determining the physical quantities in sections of the said electrical circuit.

10. The system according to item 9, in which the peripheral circuit includes a transmitting part that is capable of setting the voltage or current on the contacts of the first kind and is an electronic unit formed by electrical lines, to each of which a switch is connected that switches said line between two poles of the power source, wherein each contact of the first kind is connected through resistors to at least two of said lines.

11. The system according to item 9, in which the peripheral circuit includes a receiving part that is capable of measuring the current strength at contacts of the second kind and is an electronic unit formed by electrical lines, to each of which a circuit based on an operational amplifier is connected, maintaining a constant voltage on said lines and determining the strength of the current flowing through them, wherein each contact of the second kind is connected through resistors to at least two of said lines.

12. The system according to item 9, in which the peripheral circuit includes a part for interaction with radio-electronic devices installed on models depicting electronic components.

13. The system according to I.9, in which the computing module is capable of determining physical quantities in sections of the visualized electrical circuit by remotely requesting other computing modules.

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