GCSE Electronic Products

 

electronics

Calendar | Components | Links | Theory | Coursework | Practical | Pupil work

e-mail is logicgate@hotmail.co.uk

 

Circuit Development

 

 

This is where you need to …..

 

And here is a link to a good example

 

Finding circuits

 

Modifying and joining circuits

 

Systems approach

 

Input Process Output

 

Breaking the system down into sub systems

 

Rounded Rectangle: Development of Final Solution ‘AQA Says’ Candidates should give reasons why they have selected a certain circuit from their generation of ideas and, equally, give reasons why they have rejected the other considered circuits. It may well be that the candidate has decided to take a number of sub-systems from discrete circuits and therefore needs to explain why. Candidates should present an accurate final circuit drawing which satisfies the specification and clearly takes into account relevant research and analysis. The circuit diagram should contain sufficient information for the circuit to be made by a competent third person. Depending upon the type of assembly board to be used, the candidate should design the component layout. This can include a variety of outcomes from printed circuit boards to matrix boards and pins. Whatever method is used, it is expected that the candidate will show evidence of planning the layout of the circuit for ease of component assembly, soldering, inspection purposes, position of input and output devices and final secure positioning of the circuit board in the external package. If veraboard is used for example, candidates should show recorded evidence in their design folders of planning the component layout, the number of link wires required and the position of the breaks in the conductive tracks etc. Equally, candidates who intend to use a printed circuit board should show the developmental stages of their PCB layout or transparent overlay. This type of activity gives candidates of all abilities the opportunity to involve themselves in electronic design and to show what they know and can do. This method of working contrasts greatly to the trend of many candidates who find a single circuit and use it without considering whether or not it can be improved upon. Many candidates use circuits from electronics magazines which are totally unsuitable for a GCSE course in Electronic Products and consequently have little or no understanding of how their chosen circuit works and are unable to fault find if the circuit fails to operate.