Practical Electronics for Inventors
Third Edition
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Paul Scherz is a physicist/mechanical engineer who received his BS in Physics from the University of Wisconsin. His area of interest in physics focuses on elementary particle interactions. Paul is an inventor/hobbyist in electronics, an area he grew to appreciate through his experience at the Universitys Department of Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics and the Department of Plasma Physics.
Dr. Simon Monk has a bachelors degree in Cybernetics and Computer Science and a PhD in Software Engineering. Simon spent several years as an academic before he returned to industry, cofounding the mobile software company Momote Ltd. Simon is now a full-time author and has published a number of books in the McGraw-Hill Evil Genius series, as well as books on programming the Arduino and Raspberry Pi. He has also published books on IOIO and .NET Gadgeteer.
ABOUT THE TECHNICAL EDITORS
Michael Margolis has more than 40 years of experience developing and delivering hardware and software solutions. He has worked at senior levels with Sony, Lucent/Bell Labs, and a number of start-up companies. Michael is the author of two books, Arduino Cookbook and Make an Arduino-Controlled Robot: Autonomous and Remote-Controlled Bots on Wheels .
Chris Fitzer is a solutions architect and technical manager, who received his PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 2003 and a first class honors degree (BSc) in 1999. Chris currently leads a global team, developing and deploying Smart Grid technologies around the world. Previous positions have seen him drive the European interests of the ZigBee Smart Energy (ZSE) profile and lead the development of the worlds first certified Smart Energy In Premise Display (IPD) and prototype smart meter. He has also authored or co-authored numerous technical journal papers within the field of Smarter Grids.
Practical Electronics for Inventors
Third Edition
Paul Scherz
Simon Monk
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CONTENTS
PREFACE
Inventors in the field of electronics are individuals who possess the knowledge, intuition, creativity, and technical know-how to turn their ideas into real-life electrical gadgets. It is my hope that this book will provide you with an intuitive understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of electronics in a way that fuels your creativity.
This book is designed to help beginning inventors invent. It assumes little to no prior knowledge of electronics. Therefore, educators, students, and aspiring hobbyists will find this book a good initial text. At the same time, technicians and more advanced hobbyists may find this book a useful resource.
Notes About the Third Edition