Harvesting Backscatter Microwaves

Apr 04, 2015 41 Replies

I work with one big company where everybody thinks in Excel and Powerpoint.

Nothing has context, not much makes sense, few docs are titled or dated or actually ever finished.

The quality people are obsessed with SPC and poka-yoke and bizarre practises and buzzwords. As you observe, they have no interest in becoming involved with actual quality problems.

When they have a really big problem, Management forms a Tiger Team, which dissipates into the jungle in a month or two, nothing accomplished.

We have shipped them over 2000 waveform digitizer boxes over the last

3 years with zero field failures. Their quality people audited us and gave us an "F" grade for quality.

Lots of big companies are like this, but still manage to make billions of dollars. That's the part I don't understand.

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc picosecond timing laser drivers and controllers jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com http://www.highlandtechnology.com

So, thing arrived. Actauly works.

5.85 V DC out when turning, seems stabilized. shoet circuit current 100mA Noisy (sound). Turning one way does little, turning the other way works. Looks like some diode and chip. So, opened it:
formatting link
Sure is the biggest up-gear ratio I have seen..

The PCB top, the generator looks like a normal DC motor to me:

formatting link
So diode - transistor and zener, probably emitter follower

And the PCB bottom, work out the circuit yerselves!

formatting link

The LED is red, replace with a white one and you have man powered a flashlight. toodooo list. :-)

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required