Wednesday, December 9, 2015

SIWES HARDWARE ACTIVITIES FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE/ENGINEERING



CHAPTER THREE

HARDWARE ACTIVITIES
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3.1   HARDWARE

The computer hardware is the physical component of the computer system. Peripherals, input/output devices, display, storage, processor that make up the computer hardware.
The Hardware is the solid parts of the computer we can see and touch. This could also be the equipment and devices that make up a computer system as opposed to the programs used on it.
Under the hardware we have both the input and output devices.
1. Input Devices/peripherals: Input devices are devices that allow computer users to communicate and send command to the computer. They are devices that allow users to send date into the computer.
Examples of input devices are;
i.                    Keyboard
ii.                  Track pad
iii.                webcam
2. Output Devices/peripherals: Output devices are devices that display processed information in either soft or hard copy to the display unit using the system video card.
Examples of Output devices are;
i.                    Monitor
ii.                  Printer.
iii.                Speaker
3. Peripherals: These are devices that work in ad-hoc with the computer for their different purposes and ease the use of the computer but the computer can do without when necessary.
Examples of Peripherals are;
i.                    Mouse
ii.                  Light pen.
iii.                Multimedia audio set(microphone and ear piece)
iv.                Joy stick
v.                  Modems

3.1.1    HARDWARE AND THEIR FUNCTIONS.

I had a great experience and use of these hardware components in my place of attachment, I was opportune to work and repair these components and they are:
1.      Monitor
2.      System Unit
3.      RAM (SDRAM DDR 2GB)
4.      Scanner
5.      keyboard
6.      cd rom
7.      Printer Cartridges
8.      Mother Board
9.      External Hard disk drives (Laptop and desktop external HDD).

1.         Monitor: The monitor is an output device that displays its output on a screen as softcopy.  In the office, we made use of flat monitors called the LCD monitor (Liquid Crystal Display). Most computer monitors use a cathode-ray tube (CRT) as the display device. A CRT is a glass tube that is narrow at one end and opens to a flat screen at the other end. The CRTs used for monitors have rectangular screens, but other types of CRTs may have circular or square screens.
             
                                        Fig 3.1 desktop monitor

2.         System Unit: The system unit can be referred to as a cabinet that houses internal components of the computer system such as; The microprocessor, i.e the central processing unit (CPU), that directs logical and arithmetical functions and executes computer programs. The CPU is located on a motherboard with
Other chips
   
                                            Fig 3.2  system unit

3. RAM: The RAM is an electronic memory known as random access memory (RAM) to temporarily store programs and data. It is a Semiconductor-based memory that can be read and written by the microprocessor or other hardware devices. The storage locations can be accessed in any order
I was exposed to the SDRAM of a desktop computer and an SDRAM DDR2 2Gigabyte which I replaced in the office.
Fig 3.3   different varieties of RAM (Random Access Memory)

4. Processor: This is a multi-purpose programmable, cock driven, register based electronic device that accepts digital data as input, process it according to instructions stored in its memory and provides results as output.
fig 3.4 Pentium 4 CPU

5. Keyboard: This is a physical device used for inputting letters, numbers, cursor movements and commands into the computer system.

6. CD-ROM drive:  This is a drive in the computer system that is used to read CDS, DVDs and every other optical disk, it could be SATA or IDE CD ROM, it contains a lens for reading discs.

7. Printer Cartridges: This is a container that carries the ink used in the printer. The Printer cartridge below is that used for HP 4000 series printer.
       

8. Mother Board: This is a board in which all the components of the system unit are connected to.
9. External Hard Disk Drive (Laptop and desktop external HDD). These are normal HDD but are removed from the system unit, fitted into electronic casing and are plugged usually into the USB port of the computer. This is done so that the HDD could be carried around conveniently. The laptop HDD is smaller in physical size than the desktop HDD so is the casing.
                         Internal structure of a hard drive













3.1.2   SOME OTHER HARDWARE COMPONENTS USED IN FRCN

·         RACK: This is a rectangular shaped device that houses components like switches, encoder, decoder, modulator, etc.


·         BGAN (BROADBAND GLOBAL AREA NETWORK) IMMARSAT DEVICE:
This is a communication device that is used in communication-restricted areas that allows one to reach out to colleagues, suppliers, or customers from anywhere in the world.

Components of a BGAN device:

·         BGAN satellite internet terminal
·         USB cables
·         BGAN launch pad: a  software to be installed before one can communicate with the device

Installation of the BGAN Inmarsat Device:

·         Setup your device and switch it on
·         Once it’s on, it searches for a GPS by displaying the command ‘Acquiring GPS’
·         Once the GPS is acquired, connect your device to the system with the already installed BGAN launch pad
Software;
·         Connect your system or mobile device to the BGAN device using a USB cable and open the BGAN launch pad.
·         You can now communicate with someone that is using the BGAN launch pad in his/her system via video chat or phone call.






·         V-SAT

 Components of V-sat
·         LNB (Low Noise Block-down connector): basically for transmitting signals.
·         BUC (Block-up Connector): for receiving signals
·         FEED HORNE
·         RJ8 and RJ6 cables

Installation procedure:
·         Mount the Satellite dish (Intelsat 902)
·         Get a Location (62 degrees east)
·         Determine the angle of Elevation or depression (40 degrees) using an
      Inclinometer
·         Azimuth (sideways projection )
       Consideration when connecting a V-sat
·         Proper configuration of equipment
·         Proper tracking and alignment of V-sat to the satellite in orbit

4.   CONSOLE
This is a device that performs the basic function of mixing, controlling, adjusting and distributing audio signals.

Parts of a console:
·         Input line
·         Master control output (MCO)
·         Audio level inference
·         Power supply
·         Channel input



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