Silicon ChipSiemens’ Electronic Wedge Brake - November 2007 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Now for the next 20 years
  4. Feature: Your Own Home Recording Studio by Michael Goebel
  5. Feature: The Electricity-Saving Box – Does It Work? by Mauro Grassi
  6. Project: PIC-Based Water-Tank Level Meter; Pt.1 by John Clarke
  7. Project: Playback Adaptor For CD-ROM Drives by Mauro Grassi
  8. Feature: Siemens’ Electronic Wedge Brake by Silicon Chip
  9. Project: Rolling Code Security System; Pt.2 by John Clarke
  10. Project: A UV Light Box For Making PC Boards by Robert Scott
  11. Vintage Radio: Pocket-sized valve portable radios by Rodney Champness
  12. Book Store
  13. Advertising Index
  14. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the November 2007 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 30 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Items relevant to "PIC-Based Water-Tank Level Meter; Pt.1":
  • PIC16F88-I/P programmed for the Water Tank Level Meter telemetry base station (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • PIC16F88-I/P programmed for the Water Tank Level Meter main/transmitter unit (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • PIC16F88 firmware and source code for the Water Tank Level Meter receiver [water tank level receiver.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • PIC16F88 firmware and source code for the Water Tank Level Meter transmitter (Software, Free)
  • Water Tank Level Meter base station PCB patterns (PDF download) [04101081/2] (Free)
  • Water Tank Level Meter main PCB pattern (PDF download) [04111071] (Free)
  • Water Tank Level Meter base station front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
  • Water Tank Level Meter main sensor/transmitter unit front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • PIC-Based Water-Tank Level Meter; Pt.1 (November 2007)
  • PIC-Based Water-Tank Level Meter; Pt.1 (November 2007)
  • PIC-Based Water-Tank Level Meter; Pt.2 (December 2007)
  • PIC-Based Water-Tank Level Meter; Pt.2 (December 2007)
  • Water Tank Level Meter, Pt.3: The Base Station (January 2008)
  • Water Tank Level Meter, Pt.3: The Base Station (January 2008)
Items relevant to "Playback Adaptor For CD-ROM Drives":
  • ATmega8515 programmed for the CDROM Playback Adaptor (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • ATmega8515 firmware and source code for the CDROM Playback Adaptor (Software, Free)
  • CDROM Playback Adaptor PCB pattern (PDF download) [07112071] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Playback Adaptor For CD-ROM Drives (November 2007)
  • Playback Adaptor For CD-ROM Drives (November 2007)
  • Playback Adaptor For CD-ROM Drives; Pt.2 (December 2007)
  • Playback Adaptor For CD-ROM Drives; Pt.2 (December 2007)
Items relevant to "Rolling Code Security System; Pt.2":
  • Rolling Code Receiver PCB [01510071] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC16F88-I/P programmed for the Rolling Code Keyless Entry System receiver unit [ircroll.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • PIC16F628A-I/SO programmed for the Rolling Code Keyless Entry System transmitter unit [irxmroll.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC18F628A firmware and source code for the Infrared Rolling Code Transmitter [irxmroll.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • PIC18F88 firmware and source code for the Infrared Rolling Code Receiver [ircroll.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Rolling Code Keyless Entry System PCB patterns (PDF download) [01510071/2] (Free)
  • Rolling Code Keyless Entry System receiver front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Rolling Code Security System; Pt.1 (October 2007)
  • Rolling Code Security System; Pt.1 (October 2007)
  • Rolling Code Security System; Pt.2 (November 2007)
  • Rolling Code Security System; Pt.2 (November 2007)
Items relevant to "A UV Light Box For Making PC Boards":
  • PIC16F84(A)-04/P programmed for the UV Lightbox Timer (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC18F84 firmware and source code for the UV Lightbox Timer (Software, Free)
  • UV Lightbox Timer PCB patterns (PDF download) [10111071/2] (Free)
  • UV Lightbox Controller front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

Siemens’ Electronic Wedge Brake: no hydraulics, better braking Schematic of the Siemens VDO Electronic Wedge Brake: The brake caliper (1) spans the brake disc (2) from two sides. The disc is braked by a pad (3) which is moved by an electric motor (4) and several rollers (5) along wedgeshaped inclined faces. Vehicle brakes haven’t changed all that much since the first drivers realised they needed something to make them stop as well as go. Siemens might have just changed all that with their new Electronic Wedge Brake. T he electronic wedge brake (EWB) from Siemens can reduce braking distance on snowy and icy roads by up to 15%. In tests conducted in northern Sweden, a prototype required a distance of 64.5m to bring a vehicle travelling at a speed of 80km/h to a halt. A comparable vehicle equipped with hydraulic brakes and the anti-locking system ABS needs around 75m on average to brake when traveling at the same speed. This means that such a vehicle will still be travelling at a speed of 30km/h when one equipped with the EWB has already come to a complete stop. The tests were carried out by experts from the Siemens VDO automotive supply company in the town of Arjeplog, located around 100km south of the Arctic Circle and some 900km north of Stockholm. Test procedures and results were also monitored by staff from the international safety service provider DEKRA. Up until now, the EWB system’s ability to shorten braking distance had only been demonstrated in simulations. The tests impressively confirmed the computer results. Siemens VDO will channel the knowledge gained from the tests into the further development of the EWB, which is expected to be ready for series production in three years. 48  Silicon Chip The EWB represents a revolution in brake technology because it works without any hydraulic systems. Each wheel on the car has its own separate unit equipped with a brake calliper, disc and pad, all of which are controlled electronically. At the heart of the EWB system is a wedge-bearing mechanism whose special geometric shape results in a self-energising effect. Here, an electric motor that moves the roller bearing is able to generate a strong braking force with only a minimal amount of energy. The electric motor holds the brake pad on the roller bearing in the exact position necessary to apply optimal braking force, while sensors monitor the brake pad 1000 times per second. Hydraulic systems, which are used in practically all vehicles today, tend to react more sluggishly than EWB, despite being linked with ABS and brake force boosters. Valuable milliseconds are lost in the time it takes the pressure applied to the brake pedal to be transferred to the hydraulic system. With EWB, everything occurs electronically. Introduction of the EWB would also eliminate the need to produce brake fluid. An estimated 5.4 million litres of brake fluid are required each year in Germany for new vehicles alone. SC siliconchip.com.au