Paper 1 Theory Unit 5 Input and Output Devices

2- D Scanner
Generally Used for taking a HARD COPY (paper) as INPUT to convert into electronic form to be stored
in the computer.
Working
The cover is raised and the document is placed (facing downward on the glass and the lid is closed.
A bright light (usually XENON) illuminates the document while a SCAN HEAD moves across the document. With
the help of mirrors the image produced is sent to a LENS focused on the document.
The Scanned image falls on a CHARGED COUPLE DEVICE (CCD) which is made up thousands of LIGHT
SENSITIVE CIRCUITS (pixels) that create an electrical charge when light falls on them (electronic form of image).
Which results in the production of an DIGITAL IMAGE from the electronic form.

Application:-
Computer that come equipped with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) can allow the scanned text to be converted into
TEXT FILE where it can be edited using a WORD PROCESSOR. For example, in an airport where the passport is scanned
and the TEXT PART is used for automatically filling electronic forms. Also in the airports, the same technology can be used to
scan the image on a passport for FACIAL RECOGNITION to compare key elements of the face (distance b/w eyes, nose
width, shape of cheek bones and eye brows) with those of a stored image for verification.
3- D Scanner
Scans SOLID OBJECTS to create 3D image (x,y,z coordinates) to be later used in Computer Aided Software (CAD) or even
printed (3D printer). Methods include laser, resonance, white light and so on.
Working
Computed Tomographic (CT) Scanners rely on a TOMOGRAPHY method in which a 3D Image is ‘built up’ using very thin
2D ‘slices’. Each Slice is essentially built up using X-Rays, radio frequencies or gamma imaging. These slices are then stored as
a ‘digital’ image. A Tomographic Scanner can make use of the following techniques:-
• X-Rays (CT Scanners)
• Radio Frequencies (MRI) a.k.a Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
• Gamma Rays a.k.a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
Application:-
• CAD
• 3D Printing.
Bar Code Scanner/Reader
A BARCODE is a series of dark and light lines of varying thickness. Standards such as UPC use these lines to represent the
numbers 0to 9. Each digit is represented by bars that 1 to 4 blocks thick. The barcode is separated into a LEFT HAND SIDE
and RIGHT HAND SIDE.
Working
• Each digit is represented by TWO DARK LINES and TWO LIGHT LINES. Each digit is represented using the
SAME WIDTH.
• The numbers on the LEFT have ODD NUMBER OF DARK ELEMENTS and always start WITH WHITE BAR.
The numbers of the RIGHT HAVE EVEN NUMBER of dark elements and always start WITH A DARK BAR. Due
to which the barcode can be scanned in either direction.
• When a barcode is canned using LED (or RED LASER) little or no light is reflected from the DARK LINES.
• These Reflections are detected by sensors which allows for a pattern to be generated so that the barcode can be
understood. For example a left 3 will look like LDDDDLD (L=Light/0 and D = Dark/1) or 0111101
Application:-
• When a barcode is read it represents a KEY FIELD in the items’ database. The key field is used to retrieve details
regarding the item (usually presented on the POS-Point of Sale terminal screen). Once the item is scanned, the
quantity is reduced by one and the changes are sent back to the DB. If the quantity reaches re-order level a request is
sent to suppliers automatically and FLAG is set to represent this (AUTOMATIC STOCK CONTROL).
• Barcodes allow for easier change in prices
• More updated sales information.
• Automatic Stock Control.
• With barcodes buying patterns can also be identified.
• It also allows for faster checkouts and itemised bills.
• Reduction of errors.

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 Paper 1 Theory Unit 5 Input and Output Devices
Quick Response Code (QR Code):-
It is another type of Barcode that is made up of a matrix of filled-in dark squares on light background.
Normal Barcodes can store UP TO 30 digits only, whereas, QR code can store over7000 digits.
Working
• Using a modern smartphone and the appropriate application the QR code (that can be a website link, phone
number, GPS coordinates) is scanned.
• The phone will then use its Internet Connection to retrieve the information portrayed by the QR code on the screen
without typing anything.
Application:-
• Is a very effective method for advertising products in public places.
• Can also hold promotional codes etc.
Digital Camera:-
Conventional cameras that required film development and before pictures could printed and these images (if not taken
properly) could not be deleted. However, digital cameras can be linked to a computer through USB ports/cables or Bluetooth.
Working
• The microprocessor can control features like shutter speed, image focus, flash, aperture size, size of image and
removal of “red eye” effect.
• When Light passes through the lens it lands onto light sensitive cell that is made up many pixels.
• The number of pixels determines the size and quality of image. The quality is also dependent of factors such as light
and types of lens.
Application:-
• Mobile phones have very quickly started to use this technology. However, today’s phones are limited by the quality of
their lens and storage size.
Keyboards:-
It is still probably the most common data entry method. It may be slow, prone to errors but it is also the easiest method used.
Tablets and Mobile phones make use of an ONSCREEN keyboard as opposed to physical keyboard.
Working
• Each character on the keyboard represents an ASCII value (Unit 2).
• When a key is pressed it essentially causes a circuit to close resulting in a signal being sent to the processor where it is
interpreted according to the ASCII value.
Application:-
• It is the easiest method however, it is also causes REPETETIVE STRAIN INJURY (RSI) due to excessive use.
• RSI can be reduced with Ergonomic Keyboards which has keys arranged in a more comfortable manner.
Pointing Devices:-
Selecting items on a screen can be carried out by pointing devices such as Mouse, Tracker Ball, Touch Pad or Touch Screen
Working
• A traditional mouse made use of a mechanical ball arrangement the movement of which (along an X and Y plain) is
noted and the represented on computer connected via USB. The more recent technology known as optical mouse
makes use of a red LED that can detect movement on a surface(mouse mat or paper). The latter can be seen as a
WIRELESS mouse as well connected via Bluetooth.
• Instead of a mouse moving, Tracker Balls make use of a larger ball that is moved for curser movement instead of the
mouse itself.
• Both tracker balls and mouse have additional buttons for selection and scrolling.
• Touch pads make use of a tactile sensor which allow the user to move a cursor by simply moving a finger across the
surface of the pad. They too have buttons for selection (which can also be replicated by “tapping” the touch pad.
Application:-
• Mouse are the most common pointing device.
• However, if space is limited or if you want to reduce the chances of RSI Tracker Balls and Touch Pads come in
handy.
• Touchpads are also the standard pointing devices in laptops.

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Paper 1 Theory Unit 5 Input and Output Devices

Touch Screens:-

Microphones:-
Microphones (either as part of the device or connected through USB) pick up sound causing diaphragm to vibrate producing
an electric signal. This electrical signal goes to a sound card where it is converted to digital values for computer use/storage.
Working
• Voice Recognition systems detect a user’s voice and converts it into digital values. The words spoken(which are
always the same) produce a wave pattern. If the pattern produced is the same the pattern saved then the person can
be correctly identified.
• Speech Recognition on the other hand is more complex as it doesn’t try to recognise the person talking, in fact it tries
to recognise the words spoken so that they can be used for various computer applications. In such systems the sound
card will take convert the sound into digital form where it will be broken into phonemes (the smallest units that
make up any language). These phonemes are then compared to words found in the built in dictionary.
Applications:-
• Both voice recognition and speech recognition can be used together in various applications for example a car can be
designed to take specific voice commands (speech recognition) from the driver only (voice recognition).

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Paper 1 Theory Unit 5 Input and Output Devices

Sensors:-
It is a input device that can read or measure physical quantities in ANALOGUE FORM.
Working
Analogue data means that it’s constantly changing and there no discrete values as a result of which readings generated by
sensors can have INFINITE number of values depending on precision which makes them IMPOSSIBLE for computer to
understand. That is why an Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) is used to
Applications:-
Temperature:- Pressure:-
• Central heating system • Burglar alarms
• Chemical factory • Gas pressure sensitive environments.
• Greenhouse • Weighing scales.
Humidity:- Acoustic/ Sound:-
• Humidity and moisture levels in air and • Pipe dripping
soil in green house. • Footsteps in burglar alarms.
• Moisture levels in factories (such freshly Gas( O2 or CO2 ):-
applied paint on car) • O2 or CO2 levels in green house
Light:- • Gas leaks.
• Auto on/off lights in a car • Pollution levels in rivers.
• Light levels in a green house. pH:-
• Street lights that automatically turn on • Monitoring pollution in rivers.
during the night. • Acidity or alkalinity of soil in green house.
Infra-Red / Motion:- Magnetic Field:-
• Auto Windshield wipers on cars. • Cell phones
• Burglar alarm systems. • Anti-lock braking systems in motor vehicles.
• Auto opening and closing doors.
Actuators:-
An actuator is an OUTPUT device that is an integral part of a control system. It can also be in the form of a DIGITAL
ACTUATOR (such as solenoid) that require a DIGITAL SIGNAL or MOTORS or VALVES that require an ELECTRIC
CURRENT.
Working
A Solenoid (digital actuator) OPENS or CLOSES as circuit as required. For example in a fuel injector.
Other actuators such as motors and valves require a DIGITAL TO ANALOGUE converter because they rely on electric
current rather than a simple digital signal from the computer.
Applications:-
Actuators are an integral Part of Control Systems and Monitoring Systems.
Interactive White Boards:-
Allows users to interact with images displayed on a white board. The hand-made changes can be save in a computer for later
use.
Working
A light projector is used to display an image on a white board. Users can use specialised smart board markers to write text
on the board. These writings can also be saved for later use. With specialised software it also possible to interact with
whiteboard using only your fingers.
Applications:-
Board room meetings where handwritten text entered during the meeting can later be reviewed. Also for demonstrating a
new software.

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Paper 1 Theory Unit 5 Input and Output Devices
Example of Monitoring System (Burglar Alarm
System):-
When the system is activated by home owner the
sensors become active
• The infra-red sensor will be actively
detecting any motion.
• The sound/acoustic sensor will monitor
sounds such as breaking of glass.
• The pressure sensor will detect if the
intruder has stepped through the door.
The sensor data will pass through the ADC (due t
its analogue nature) to be converted to digital to
be sent to the microprocessor. The
microprocessor will sample data after fixed
intervals to check if they are within acceptable
range. If not the computer will send signal to
sound the alarm. DAC will ONLY be used if the
output devices require analogue value to operate.
(however in this case the alarm is either ON or
OFF i.e. digital values). This alarm will continue
to work until it is reset by the home owner.

Example of Control System (Car Anti-Lock Brake System):-

Makes use of Magnetic Field Sensors to stop wheels from LOCKING UP if brakes have been applied to sharply.
• If a one the wheels is near locking up (moving slower than others) the sensor sends data to the CPU (again through
ADC).
• The CPU will check the speed of other wheels as well.
• If the speed of the others is faster, it sends a signal to the braking system to reducing the braking pressure on the slower
wheel to avoid locking up.
• The wheels rotational speed is then increased to match with other wheels.
• This process is carried out several times a second under heavy braking. This can be felt by a vibration in the brake
pedals.
• The goal is make sure that that all wheel’s rotational speeds are matched hence reducing skidding.
• The whole process is reversed if it one wheel is moving FASTER than the rest, in which case the braking pressure is
increased causing speed to reduce and match the other wheels.
Ink Jet Printer:- Working:-
• An inkjet printer is essentially made up of the following 1. Data is sent to the printer driver.
components:- 2. The driver makes sure that data is the appropriate format for
• A Print Head that is made up of nozzles that spray printing.
droplets of ink to form characters on paper. 3. It also makes sure that the printer is ready and available.
• Ink cartridges (colour that are grouped to have Red, 4. The data is sent to the printer buffer where it is stored whilst
Green and Blue Ink as well as a Black Cartridge) waiting to be printed.
• A stepper motor and belt that moves the cartridges from 5. After a sheet is fed to the printer the head starts moving from
side to side across the paper while printing. side to side printing the document.
• Paper tray that automatically feeds paper to the printer 6. At each complete movement of the head across the sheet of
while printing. paper the sheet is moved a little so that printing can be done
Ink Droplets can be formed using two different technologies:- on the next line.
Thermal Bubble make use of tiny resisters that generate high 7. When buffer is empty more data is sent for printing with the
temperatures in a tiny area so that when ink comes in contact a help of an INTERRUPT until there is no more.
vapour bubble is created causing the ink to eject form nozzle Application:-
The Piezoelectric Technique makes use of a crystal behind each INKJET PRINTERS are best for one-off photos or where only a
nozzle that essentially vibrates when given a charge causing the ink few pages of good quality, color printing are needed; the small ink
to be forced out of the nozzle an onto the paper. cartridges or small paper trays would not be an issue with such
applications.

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Paper 1 Theory Unit 5 Input and Output Devices

Laser Jet Printer:-

Unlike inkjet printer, laser printers print document using powders (toner) instead of liquid ink. With the help of STATIC
ELECTRICITY and heating these printers are capable of printing documents at a much faster rate. Apart from the fact that
laser printers are capable of printing many more documents than inkjets, they are also capable of printing documents in one go.
Working:-
Steps 1 to 4 are the same as Inkjet Printer
5. A drum is given a POSITIVE CHARGE. As the drum rotates a LASER focuses on certain parts of the drum and removes
the charge leaving a NEGATIVELY CHARGE pattern of characters to be printed.
6. The drum is then coated with POSITIVELY CHARGED toner that sticks to the negative charged places.
7. A negatively charged sheet is then rolled over the drum so that the positively charged toner sticks to the paper. The Charge
on the paper is then removed to avoid the paper sticking to the drum.
8. The paper with the powdered ink is then passed through heated rollers which melt the toner onto the paper permanently.
9. A discharge lamp removes all charge from the drum to prepare for printing the next page.
Application:-
LASER PRINTERS produce high quality printouts and are very fast when making multiple copies of a document; any
application that needs high- volume printing (in colour or monochrome) would choose the laser printer (for example, producing
a large number of high quality flyers or posters for advertising) they have two advantages: they have large toner cartridges and
large paper trays (often holding more than a ream of paper)
3D Printers:-
3D Printers are used alongside CAD to create solid objects that actually work using materials like powdered resin, metal, paper
or even ceramic powder. 3D printers can be as small as a microwave oven an as large as a car!
• 3D printers follow the process of ADDITIVE manufacturing where the finished product is “built-up” layer by layer or it
can follow SUBTRACTIVE manufacturing where it a finished product is created by “removing” or “carving” unwanted
parts from a solid object.
• Direct 3D Printing uses a technology similar to Inkjet Printing however, as opposed to moving only from side to side the
print head can also move up and down to build layers of an object.
• Similarly, Binder 3D Printing involves two passes of forming layers, the first pass sprays dry powder whereas the second
pass sprays a binder (type of glue) that hardens the powder forming a solid layer.
• Newer technologies make use of UV lights and lasers to harden liquid materials to allow for wider range of use.
Working:- Application:-
1. The design is made using CAD 1. prosthetic limbs made for an exact fit.
2. The final drawing is exported using specialised SW in a format 2. reconstructive surgery
understandable by the Printer. 3. lightweight parts for airplanes or
3. The printer is set up for printing process to begin. vintage cars.
4. The printing process begins by building up layers (0.1mm thick) 4. fashion and art.
until the finished product is achieved. It may take several hours
depending on the size of the object and material used.
5. The object is then removed and prepared (excess cutting, curing,
cleaning).
2D and 3D Cutters:-
Laser cutters are used for cutting through materials like glass, crystal, wood, metal and polymer. 2D cutters cut along a
x and y plane whereas 3D cutters can cut along the x,y and x plane. 3D cutters can be referred to as subtractive
manufacturing as compared to 3D printing which is additive manufacturing.
Speakers and Headphones:-
It involves passing digital Data through a Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) and then through an Amplifier before emerging
from a Speaker.
The rate at which the DAC is capable of doing this is known as the sampling rate. Ideally sampling rate should be 44100 sample
rate and if a DAC is a 16bit device that means that it is capable of creating samples each of 16 bits.
If a sound file is to be stored it would require
44100 * 16 (bits per sample) * 2(audio channels Left/Right) = 1,411,200 bits per second of the sound. Therefore, calculating the
size of sound file becomes a relatively straightforward process.

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Paper 1 Theory Unit 5 Input and Output Devices
LCDs and LEDs:- OLEDs:-
Most monitors and TVs today are made from Liquid Crystal LED technology which is essentially made up of organic
Display/Diodes which means that the front layer of the monitor materials as result of which the screens can be flexible
is made up of liquid crystal diodes in the groups of three (RED, and made into a wide range of shapes. An organic film is
GREEN, BLUE) or four (RED,GREEN,BLUE,YELLOW for sandwiched between two charged electrodes (a metallic
more vivid colours). cathode and glass anode) that give off light when electric
LCD Screens come equipped with a backlight which is a Cold charge is given to it.
Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (i.e. two fluorescent tubes). Essentially the benefits of OLEDs over LCD technology
As opposed to LCD technology the LED technology makes use is same as LED. However, OLED also provide the
of a matrix of tiny LEDs which are on their own light emitting following benefits:-
sources (no need for CCFL). • OLEDs are essentially plastic that is why they
Furthermore the newer LED technology has the following can be made into large thin sheets
advantages over LCD:- • They have a very large field of view about 170
• LED’s do not require warm up period that means they degrees.
reach maximum brightness immediately.
• Produce whiter light and more vivid colours
• LED are thinner and require less power to run
• LEDs are more reliable.
DLP (Digital Light Projector):-
The DLP chip contains millions of micro mirrors (one for each pixel)
that are either ON (towards light source) or OFF (away from light
source). These mirrors can change state thousands of times a second
creating 1024 different shades of grey(a.k.a grey scale image). A bright
white LIGHT SOURCE passes through a colour filter separating the
white light into R,G,B creating over 16 million different colours. The
ON and OFF states of the mirrors are then linked with these colours to
produce an coloured image. It can be seen as REVERSE BLACK AND
WHITE Photography where the colours are removed from an otherwise
coloured image.

LCD Projectors:-
Older technology than DLP that involves the following steps:-
1. a powerful light beam emits white light onto chromatic
coated mirrors that reflect light back at different
wavelength (each corresponding to red, green and blue
wavelengths) .
2. These coloured lights are passed through three LCD
screens that each show the projected image as millions of
grey scale pixels.
3. The Red, Green and Blue versions of the images emerge
from the LCD screens which are combined at a prism in
the centre producing a full colour image. This image is
then passed through a projector lens onto a screen.

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