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DIY Stompboxes => Digital & DSP => Topic started by: earthtonesaudio on August 21, 2013, 08:26:16 PM

Title: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: earthtonesaudio on August 21, 2013, 08:26:16 PM
I had an interesting thought today: what if there was a program that let you put in functions (e.g. an analog low pass filter (-3dB @ 500Hz, 1st order)) and would spit out a schematic with that transfer function?

I know there are tons of programs which let you put in schematics and output transfer functions and graphs, but are there any examples of the inverse?

If it doesn't exist I'm thinking it would be a fun project to try and tackle.
Title: Re: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: slacker on August 22, 2013, 03:23:34 AM
Someone recently posted a link to a website that does this for filters, you put in the type and frequency and various other parameters and it generated opamp based schematics. I'll see if I can find the post.
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: g_u_e_s_t on August 22, 2013, 06:33:25 AM
analog devices used to have an awesome filter designer.  it went down a few years ago, and just came back.  its not as good as it used to be, but still useful.  there are also ones you can download from TI, LinearTech, Maxim and others.

http://www.analog.com/designtools/en/filterwizard/#/type

the one advantage to the new analog devices website, is that it shows you the error due to component tolerances.
Title: Re: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: cloudscapes on August 23, 2013, 08:25:08 PM
Quote from: slacker on August 22, 2013, 03:23:34 AM
Someone recently posted a link to a website that does this for filters, you put in the type and frequency and various other parameters and it generated opamp based schematics. I'll see if I can find the post.

filterlab

http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en010007&redirects=filterlab

(http://lookfwd.doit4me.gr/ge99149/electronics/images/filterlab.gif)
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: Digital Larry on August 24, 2013, 10:51:39 AM
In the DSP world you can directly create a filter with a specific frequency response or impulse response function.  No soldering required!

What I'd like to see is something that would synthesize a Fender tone stack.  These low pass filter designers won't get you there.
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: earthtonesaudio on August 24, 2013, 03:55:14 PM
Interesting stuff!  I know I mentioned filters in the OP, but are there also tools for circuits that aren't filters?
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: slacker on August 26, 2013, 07:06:23 AM
That Filterlab looks cool, it was the analog devices one I had seen recently.
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: Seljer on August 26, 2013, 08:28:32 AM
Slightly more academic approach to it: genetic algorithms

http://hforsten.com/evolutionary-algorithms-and-analog-electronic-circuits.html
http://www.damninteresting.com/on-the-origin-of-circuits/
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: Digital Larry on August 27, 2013, 11:44:31 PM
Quote from: Seljer on August 26, 2013, 08:28:32 AM
Slightly more academic approach to it: genetic algorithms

http://hforsten.com/evolutionary-algorithms-and-analog-electronic-circuits.html
http://www.damninteresting.com/on-the-origin-of-circuits/
Now THAT was interesting!
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: earthtonesaudio on August 29, 2013, 08:01:51 AM
Quite!  Thanks Seljer.
Title: Re: Function-to-circuit interpreter?
Post by: Digital Larry on August 29, 2013, 09:34:24 AM
I thought about it all day yesterday and even told my boss about it.  What I love the most is the concept of "mojo" FPGAs.  OMG!