Digital Block For A Fucntion Generator :: essays research papers

Digital Block Design Design introduction The Digital Block is the heart of this digitally controlled function generator. Symmetry and frequency variation is direct result of the design of this block. In this design the emphasis was on simplicity and some target specifications at the top of the frequency variation were compromised in order to achieve greater simplicity. This design achieves 28 frequencies in the range of 100Hz to 100kHz. Whilst the 17 frequencies from the range 100Hz to 10kHz are symmetry variable in five steps from 0.1 to 0.5. The last eight frequencies only managed to achieve symmetry variations 0.5 and 0.25. This is due to some limiting factors that will be discussed later. The table of achievable frequencies can be found at the end of this report. User inputs are also digitally processed in this function generator and sent out as digital signals to other parts of this function generator namely the amplifier module. Also a filter selector circuit is built in after the digital block. The user inputs controlling frequency and symmetry are also built into this control block. Therefore it is clear that the digital block can be divided into 4 distinct blocks, each with its own functionality. These blocks are the control module, counter module, filter control module and 8-bit D/A. The D/A chosen is the DAC0801LCN. It’s specifications can be found in the appendix. The layout of this design is shown below. The interconnections will be discussed later but the thickness of the lines indicates the number of bits in the bus lines. As the name suggests the control module takes user inputs, processes them and sends them out to the respective modules. The functionality module generates the count, varying between 0 to 255 in 256 steps or in 64 steps. The 8-bit D/A changes this count into a wave and the filter selector module selects which filter in the filter block to pass the signal through. While extensive testing has been done on the functionality module, the control module and filter selector module are relatively simple and have not been tested due to the inability to do so. The control module consists primarily of switches and ROM’s while the filter selection module is made up of two analogue multiplexers. These modules are discussed in further detail in later sections. Control Module Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This block essentially converts user input into digital signals. We have four user inputs coming in, and five control signals outputted, with the extra output being generated internally.

Aging in Family and Marriage

People in society have a longer life-span now than ever before in the history of man.   The population of old people and â€Å"old old† people are increasing every year making a four generation family – consisting of children, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents – the norm in society.In the late 19th century the amount of people in their senior years (i.e. 65 years old and above), given a total population of 23.2 million people was 600,000 which increased tremendously in the 20th century.At the beginning of the 20th century, the amount of old people were at 3.1 million given a population of 76,000,000 and in 1975, with a population of 235,000,000, there were 21.8 million senior citizens in society, making it an 8 percent increase in old people in a span of 75 years.With that percentage growth, there are definitely more â€Å"old old† people currently in society and it cannot be doubted that the amount of â€Å"old old† people affects soci ety in numerous ways.  Ã‚   For this study, the effect of the aging population on the most basic institution of society will be discussed – the family.Aging definitely affects people’s lives and proportionally affects the lives of the people around those who are aging.   Since the family is the basic unit of society, the effect of aging on the family and the changes that occur in that social unit because of aging will be discussed.When we speak of family, this entails the relationships between parent and child as well as husband and wife. Aging has an impact on these relationships that cannot be ignored by the rest of society as the family represents the foundation of society and thus if any changes occur within that framework then it cannot be questioned that these changes influence the dynamics that transpire with the society as a whole.Aging and the FamilyAccording to Andre Cherline (1983), historically, old people continued to hold the power and authority over the family until the day they died.   This was the case mainly because it was the elders who had ownership of all the properties and resources of that family, which the heir will only be able to handle the moment the patriarch of that family has bequeathed his possession in a will, after his death.Thus, older people were normally respected and feared by the younger generation albeit not loved. (7)   Ã‚  This is especially true since it is in itself an accomplishment to grow old because to be old at that time would mean that the person has survived all the diseases in a time when medicine was not at all as advanced as it is today.Although an accomplishment, it creates resentment in the younger generation especially if the younger generation has reached adulthood since the old man controls the family’s resources, the adult child had to be dependent on the old man until such time that he passes away.This no longer holds true in this day and age.   Familial relations are no t as feudalistic as it used to be during colonial times.   The dynamics of the family are no longer such that the parent has full control of the resources of the family.Although, parents may have possessions that they accumulated throughout the years of hard work that they may want to bequeath to their children, the financial stability of the children are no longer fully dependent on these resources as they can independently work for their own wages and accumulate their own wealth apart from that of their parents.However, the presence of old people poses a problem of idleness wherein they are â€Å"too old to work but too young to die† (Freedman, 1999).   In 1952, insurance companies decided that the best way to care for the elderly was to insure them with pension upon retirement.The marketing ploy was to make retirement a leisure trip – no kids, no responsibilities, no worries – which they coined the â€Å"Golden Years.†Due to this, most elderly peop le availed of a pension plan making them absolutely independent of their children while enjoying the rest of their life in comfort and leisure.(1)   Given this independence of each other, the relationship between adult child and parent are normally more favorable than during the colonial times, wherein the parent and child may develop a more emotionally satisfying relationship which is warm, close and affectionate. (Cherline, p.8)This, however, does not hold true for the elderly who are dependent on their children for financial support.   It is common that the parent had spent all their income for the upbringing and education of their children and so upon retirement there are financially incapable of supporting themselves or even enjoying the â€Å"Golden Years.†In cases like these, the relationship between parent and child may be tense and the dynamics of the family of the adult child will have to change and adjust itself to the presence of the elderly parent.The strain or benefit that the elderly parent will cause to its adult child may differ per situation.   First, assuming that the adult child has his own family, the strain may be caused by the elderly parent’s relationship with the in-law.Depending on how intrusive the elderly parent is, his presence will cause a strain in the marriage of his adult children.   Apart from the possible abrasive nature of the elderly parent, the strain may originate from the extra expense in caring for the elderly parent as well.Assuming that the adult child is divorced the strain in the parent-child relationship maybe greater.   Divorce in itself is a very traumatic experience for those involved in the process and so the divorcee is normally both emotionally sensitive and financially unstable.The strain with the elder parent can come in two forms: the disapproval of the elder parent of the divorce and the expense of caring for an elder parent in a situation when finances, due to the divorce, are ext remely tight.   (15)However, the presence of an elder parent in a newly divorced adult child can also have benefits which can strengthen the relationship between the parent and the adult child.The adult child may find his/her emotional support from the present parent as well as help the adult-child in caring for the children, household and finances (granted that the elder parent is financially able).   (16)  Whatever the case maybe, it is through the relations of the elderly with their family that the elderly are able to maintain their social identity.   (18)   Through their connections to their family – with their children, with their grand children and great-grandchildren – the elderly find purpose and meaning to an otherwise â€Å"purposeless† aging existence when they cannot work and contribute to the society or are too young to die.By providing the emotional support for their children their relationship are strengthened.   Through the caring and sharing in the raising and upbringing of the grandchildren, their contributions to the welfare of the children’s disposition ultimately contributes to the well-being of society.Although, these relationships may not be always peachy, the contribution and influence over their children and their grandchildren is apparent and allows them to continue to become a function of society.Aging and MarriageIn marriage, aging has a very direct consequence and influence.   Assuming that both partners are still alive, the interaction of the spouses within their relationship change proportionately with their age because of their emotional maturity as well as deteriorating physical health.In terms of physical health, physiological complication causes the deterioration of physical intimacy within an elderly couple.   Both the ovarian function in females and the testicular function in males deteriorate as they age.Apart from these physiological changes, psychological changes occur as well.    Especially for men, the inability to sexually perform, the loss of the role of leader and breadwinner, and the extra time to notice everything else may cause depression.   Thus, there is a greater need for emotional support, affirmation, acceptance and trust from the spouse.   (Metz, 1998)As a result of these needs and the compensation for the lack of physical intimacy, elderly couples claim that they have a better relationship with their spouses as they now consider them their best friends.   (Appleton & Bohm, 2001) (Fahey, 2001).As Appleton & Bohm succinctly puts it (2001), elder couples have relationships where â€Å"myths dissipate, reality sets in and marital identity takes hold. Communication patterns solidify, knowledge expands and reliance on collaborative-cooperative styles of dispute resolution increases.†

Kent Haruf Tribute

Have you ever been lucky enough to see how Kent Haruf works on his masterpieces? If yes, then you have definitely seen how he pulls a wool cap on the eyes, sits down in front of the manual typewriter and fully dives into the process of creation. He used to write one chapter a day, in the backyard of his home located in Salida, where Kent Haruf actually passed away at 71. Paragraphs, punctuations as well as capitalization – all these issues were left alone before the second draft. The number one task was to generate the first draft, to let the imagery stream run smoothly, single-spaced. He simply described the world previously created in his mind. He most famous work by Mr. Haruf is the â€Å"Plainsong† that reflects the lives of several families: a pregnant teenager, aging brothers, young boy and their mother, who suffers from depression. The author spent six years in order to complete the work. Critics highly praised the depth of his characters as well as his spare sentences and well described circumstances. No wonder that this book made Kent Haruf a real sensation! The author was rejected the very first time he applied to the Writers’ Workshop in Iowa at the age of 20, and even more rejections waited in the future. Fortunately, the author eventually broke through! His first novel was published in 1984. Six years later the world faced with the other masterpiece from Mr. Haruf. As for the â€Å"Plainsong†, this book provided the author with an opportunity to earn enough money to retire from the teaching position he took in Southern Illinois. At that time Kent Haruf continued to write blind. What was so special about this method? The point is that it took away the terrors and never let the author to get back and fix the sentence. The book called â€Å"Eventide† was published in 2004 and included some characters from the â€Å"Plainsong†. Some of the critics said that Kent Haruf had this magical ability to make the readers care about the small-town folks without all unnecessary sentimental clichà ©s. Born in Pueblo (Colo.), on Feb. 24, 1943, Kent Haruf grew up in Yuma and Wray – the towns that are located in the northeastern region of the state. He attended junior high and high school in Canon City. Kent Haruf was the students of Nebraska Wesleyan University situated in Lincoln. In 1965 he took the volunteer position in Peace Corps in Turkey. During the Vietnam War Mr. Haruf received conscientious-objector status and worked in an orphanage and a hospital. The author of the â€Å"Plainsong† was 41 when he actually sold his first literary work to the magazine called â€Å"Puerto del Sol†. His first marriage ended up with divorce. In addition to his wife, a talented and truly knowledgeable writer also had three daughters – Whitney Haruf, Sorel Haruf and Chaney Matsukis, as well as five stepchildren – Joel Dempsey, Amy Dempsey, Jessica Hedayat, Jennifer Dempsey and Jason Dempsey. Many grandchildren, a sister and two brothers – Mr. Haruf was surrounded by people, who truly loved him and appreciated his eternal talents!