In article <4fvjak$ut@beyla.ifi.uio.no> olee@ifi.uio.no "Ole Christian Kollen Evensen" writes: > > I'm going to build a probe to sense logical "O", "1" or high-impedance state. > I will have three LED's of different color and some logical gate's etc. > My problem is how to sense the high-impedance state. Anyone have an idea ? > > Maybe some kind of 'current-detecting' or something. > > Thanks in advance ! > > -- > Ole Christian Evensen > e-mail: olee@ifi.uio.no You can't just measure the node voltage as others have suggested because Hi-Z outputs are often connected to pull ups or pull downs. +--/\/\/\--5V 1 L +-------------) 2 E | )XOR>----) D o-----+ +--) )XOR>--+ | | +--) L | | | E +--/\/\/\--+----+---+ D | +--/\/\/\--0V OSC o---0V I think this will work. When both sides of the input resistor do the same, that is, probe connected to Hi-Z (or unconnected) then XOR 1 output is low and XOR 2 output is clocking. Both LEDs light. When probe is connected to a Lo-Z logic high, XOR 1 output is clocking out of phase with OSC (XOR 1 inverts the clock) so XOR 2 output is High and lower LED lights. When probe is connected to Lo-Z logic low, XOR 1 output is clocking in phase with OSC (XOR 1 passes the clock) so XOR 2 output is Low and the upper LED lights. OSC may be made using spare XORs from a quad package and a couple of passives. Don't forget the OV connection to the circuit under test. If the oscillator runs at around 10Hz, the lights will flash when Hi-Z which will remind you to switch it off. Beware that this probe will drive a Hi-Z node up and down and may thus have some effect on the following circuit. -- Keith Wootten
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 96 22:55:19 GMT
Original Subject: Re: logic probe