Electronics Circuit Design Challenge (Tech GC 1) Problem Statement

From STAB Resources

This was the first Tech GC of the year - 'Electric Jhatka' Classified as a 'Low Preparation' GC, this event was an on-the-spot competition in WEL.

Contents 1 GC Details 2 Rules 2.1 Additional Points 2.2 On-the-spot Rule 3 Problem Statement 3.1 Scoring 3.2 Questions 4 Results

GC Details

• Date: 30 ^th August, 2011
• Time: 9:00 PM - Midnight
• Venue: WEL

Rules

• 1 team is allowed per hostel. There is no restriction on the team size.
• However the number of components available for circuit design for each hostel will be limited.
• The hostels are expected to solve the given circuit challenge. They may also have to wire up the circuit on breadboard and demo the working circuit, or simulate it using some simulation software.

Additional Points

• Please bring atleast 1 laptop per team with the following softwares installed: LTSpice and Eagle
• Please bring a pen
• There is no restriction on team size. However team at the start of the competition is the final team.
• New members may not join the team later. Old members may leave.
• If you leave the lab you may not rejoin your team later!
• To accomodate for the Elec Sophies we will start the competition 15 min late. Coming early will get you a better place. Closer to the many components you will need in the competition.
• Use of internet/cell phones is NOT allowed. It may lead to disqualification at the sole discretion of the organizing team.
• Additional rules may be declared on the spot prior to the competition.

On-the-spot Rule

Teams will be ranked according to the following equation: Score/(Size of Team)^0.5

Note: In case of any disputes / discrepancies, the organizers' decision will be final and binding. Change in rules, if any will be highlighted on this page. In case of any queries, contact the undersigned.

No more details about the event will be divulged.

Problem Statement

Scoring

1. Problems have following points:
   1. 200 points
   2. 250 points
   3. 300 points
   4. 300 points
   5. 150 points
   6. 150 points
   7. 200 points
   8. 200 points
   9. 300 points
   10. 150 points
2. Timing Time of completion of each problem will be recorded. Incase team optimizes circuit later that will be the new time of completion
3. King of the Hill Scoring The teams that uses minimum number of components in a problem is used as baseline for that problem For every component more than the baseline score you get a 50 point "Jhatka" Example: If H4 uses a minimum of 3 components in problem 2 and H6 uses 6 then H6 gets a 150 point jhatka. Hence their net score is 0 for that problem. If a team completes the paper that will be the baseline time. For every minute used by the next team above the baseline time they get a 2 point "Jhatka".
4. Tie Breaking In case of tie between any 2 teams we will check the time of completion of each of the problems. Team which completes most faster wins. In case of tie even in this case we will use time taken to solve the Jhatka problem!
5. For analog circuits: If you successfully simulate a circuit on LTSpice you’ll get 50% credit. Successful implementation on the breadboard will fetch you 100% points.
6. For digital circuits: Satisfactory explanation of the circuit will fetch you 50% credit. Successful implementation on the breadboard will fetch you 100% points

Questions

1. JHATKA Using only passive components and an AC power supply of 1kHz sine wave, generate an output voltage of 12 times the peak input voltage. (Although we can generate voltages even higher for a potential jhatka, here you are required to multiply it only by twelve.
2. MULTIPLIER Design a Multiplier Block that will implement multiplication of a 3-bit number by the following factors: 20, 24, 33, 50. Use minimum possible number of ICs.
3. CRO FLAME Display on a CRO the following parametric plot: (sin(t), 3+|4*t|) for -pi < t < pi You can use a function generator in this problem
4. PHASE MATTERS Design and implement a circuit block that will take in an input waveform and generate an output waveform that is at a different phase from the input. The output phase must vary from -180 to 180. You can control the output phase using a potentiometer and a switch. Input waveform will be a sine wave of 1kHz
5. 555 Design a Schmitt Trigger using IC 55
6. DICE Generate a digital dice. Press an input button to ‘throw’ the dice and display the number onto a Seven Segment Display Board
7. MODULATE/DEMODULATE You are given a (square) carrier wave of any frequency greater than 2kHz and a (square) input [x (t)] wave of less than 100Hz. Design the following circuit blocks: Modulator: If input is 1 (HIGH), then the modulator should output the carrier wave. If input is 0 (LOW) then the modulator should output zero. Demodulator: The input to this block should be the output of the modulator. The output of the demodulator should be the input waveform again. [x (t)
8. TRAIN Given a DC source (5V and GND) without using any ICs generate a train a pulses
9. HILLS AND VALLEYS Display the following graph on CRO. The slopes of all the lines are +/- 45 degrees. (insert pic here)
10. PERMUTATIONS Input a 3 - bit number and using a toggle switch you have to toggle between output 1 and output 2 (insert table here)

Here is a link to the detailed problem statement : http://www.stab-iitb.org/images/Problem_Statements/2011/gc1.pdf

Results

Hostel 2 won the GC with Hostel 9 coming second and hostel 8 finishing third. It started off with more than a hundred members but as soon as the team saw the Team Jhatka rule that changed a bit. Finally the competition had a total 87 members. The event saw participation from 11 hostels. Here are the final normalized results:

Hostel	Total	Points
2	424.85	25
9	416.67	20
8	307.35	15
3	265.36	12
5	166.02	10
10	142.30	8
4	132.58	6
1	123.74	6
7	90.45	6
6	23.72	6
12	0.00	6
11	NA	0
13	NA	0
14	NA	0

The largest team size was 14 and the smallest was 2. Points were awarded for correct LTSpice simulations. Logical Digital circuits. No points were awarded for analog circuits without simulation. Full credit was awarded for working implementation with our innovative incentive rule. The rule was invoked in 1 problem where an amazing solution by H9 caused almost all teams to lose all their points. It is interesting to note that a single cool headed individual who could solve 2 out of the 10 problems would most likely beat the top team