[sdiy] Block based design was: Favourite VCO designs

[David Ingebretsen]

There are comparable "components" across many engineering disciplines. I
took a whole course as an undergraduate where we learned frequency domain
modeling and the similarities between the building blocks used in different
engineering disciplines with emphasis on mechanical and electrical systems.
Quite fascinating.

David

~~ -----Original Message-----
~~ From: synth-diy-bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl [mailto:synth-diy-
~~ bounces at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of David G. Dixon
~~ Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 10:27 AM
~~ To: 'cheater cheater'
~~ Cc: 'synth-diy'
~~ Subject: RE: [sdiy] Block based design was: Favourite VCO designs
~~ 
~~ > it's indeed very useful to break up your designs into blocks and this
~~ > happens in every discipline of engineering...
~~ >
~~ > However it's not good to think of them as completely separate blocks,
~~ > since they can often negatively affect or even interrupt each other's
~~ > operation...
~~ 
~~ Yes, of course.  In process (e.g., chemical, metallurgical, petroleum)
~~ engineering, sub-plants are designed as discrete blocks, but they must be
~~ sized to play their proper role within the overall mass and heat balances
~~ of
~~ the plant.  In other words, each block has a specific task to perform
~~ within
~~ the whole, but can effectively be isolated from the whole for detailed
~~ design, just like electronics.
~~ 
~~ The analogy between chemical and electronic engineering is remarkable.
~~ Indeed, I would classify electronics as just another branch of process
~~ engineering.  The major difference is that process engineers are mostly
~~ concerned with the steady state, while electronics is mostly concerned
~~ with
~~ the transient or cyclic response.  Where process engineering really
~~ approaches electronics very closely is in the realm of process control.
~~ Here, the engineer is mostly concerned with the transient response, and
~~ how
~~ to control the plant to ensure proper and smooth functioning in the face
~~ of
~~ various process upsets.  These upsets include delta functions (triggers),
~~ step functions (gates), cyclic responses (waves), and noise.  Common
~~ process
~~ control elements include sensors (keyboard), controllers (VCFs and
~~ envelopes) and valves (VCAs).  Indeed, when you get right down to it, a
~~ chemical plant is really just one big modular analog synthesizer!
~~ 
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