SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS/
NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS
ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY: DIGITAL ELECTRONICS
2022
MARKING GUIDELINES
MARKS: 200
These marking guidelines consist of 17 pages.
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 2 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE MARKERS
1. All questions with multiple answers imply that any relevant, acceptable
answer should be considered.
2. Calculations:
2.1 All calculations must show the formulae.
2.2 Substitution of values must be done correctly.
2.3 All answers MUST contain the correct unit to be considered.
2.4 Alternative methods must be considered, provided that the correct
answer is obtained.
2.5 Where an incorrect answer could be carried over to the next step,
the first answer will be deemed incorrect. However, should the
incorrect answer be carried over correctly, the marker has to re-
calculate the values, using the incorrect answer from the first
calculation. If correctly used, the candidate should receive the full
marks for subsequent calculations.
3. This memorandum is only a guide with model answers. Alternative
interpretations must be considered and marked on merit. However, this
principle should be applied consistently throughout the marking session at
ALL marking centres.
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 3 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
QUESTION 1: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1.1 C (1)
1.2 C (1)
1.3 B (1)
1.4 D (1)
1.5 A (1)
1.6 B (1)
1.7 C (1)
1.8 D (1)
1.9 C (1)
1.10 A (1)
1.11 D (1)
1.12 B (1)
1.13 A (1)
1.14 D (1)
1.15 C (1)
[15]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 4 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
QUESTION 2: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
2.1 Machinery means any article or combination of articles assembled, arranged
or connected and which is used or intended to be used for converting any
form of energy to performing work. (2)
2.2 Critical incident is an event that causes a grave or severe physical injury to
a person , threatening their safety. (2)
2.3 Sound the alarm system immediately.
Use the correct fire extinguisher if you were trained to
If there is a telephone nearby in a safe location, call your school secretary
or principal to let them know of the situation. (2)
2.4 Due to the pandemic the mask protects oneself and others from viral
infections . Not using a mask will be an unsafe act because you are creating
a life threatening unsafe act.
OR
Respirators and masks assist in preventing damage to the lungs when
working in a contaminated area. (2)
2.5 Make use of a chemical waste company to remove or to dispose of
chemicals.
Waste chemicals should NEVER be poured into toilets or down the drain
as they can be harmful to the environment and the local sewerage
system.
Only neutralised chemicals can be disposed of safely.
NOTE: If the candidate mentions safety considerations with reference to the
working environment, 1 mark will be awarded, but not personal protective
equipment. (2)
[10]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 5 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
QUESTION 3: SWITCHING CIRCUITS
3.1 3.1.1 Monostable multivibrator (1)
3.1.2 Bistable multivibrator (1)
3.2 3.2.1 (a) Pull-up resistor.
R1 keeps the voltage on pin 4 high. (1)
(b) To limit the current flowing to the LED. (1)
3.2.2 LED OFF (1)
3.2.3 When set is pressed, it pulls pin 2 'low' (0 V) and cause the output to
go 'high'. (LED ON) (2)
3.2.4 Threshold pin 6 is connected to ground (0 V) so that the IC cannot
reset itself keeping the output high when the set switch is pressed. (2)
3.3 3.3.1 R2 sets the reference voltage on the inverting input. (1)
3.3.2 As the level of light increases the resistance of the LDR decreases,
decreasing the voltage on the non-inverting input. (2)
3.3.3 The Op-amp compares the voltages on its two input terminals. When
the voltage on the non-inverting input is higher than the voltage on the
inverting input it drives the output of the Op-amp output into positive
saturation. With the output being high, LED 2 will illuminate.
OR
The Op-amp compares the voltages on its two input terminals. When
the voltage on the non-inverting input is lower than the voltage on the
inverting input, it drives the output of the Op-amp output into negative
saturation. With the output being low, LED 1 will illuminate. (3)
3.3.4 LED1 on (forward biased)
LED2 off (reverse biased) (2)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 6 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
3.3.5 Vin
V
Vref
Input
Vsat
Output
Orientation
t (3)
3.4 3.4.1 Inverting Schmitt trigger (1)
3.4.2 -10 V (1)
3.4.3 Positive feedback (1)
3.4.4 The moment the input voltage rises above 1 V the Op-amp output is
driven into negative saturation. The output remains in this state until
the input voltage falls below -1 V. The moment the input voltage falls
below -1 V the output is driven into positive saturation. (4)
3.4.5 An increase in the value of R1 will cause the trigger voltage level to
increase. (1)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 7 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
3.4.6 +V
Upper trigger
voltage
Lower trigger
voltage
-V
+Vsat
Orientation
0
No change on output
-Vsat when input drops below
upper trigger voltage (4)
3.5 3.5.1 Negative feedback
Controlling the gain of the amplifier. (2)
3.5.2 R R R
VOUT V1 F V2 F V3 F
R1 R2 R3
78 260 78 260 78 260
0,4 0,5 0,25
10 000 10 000 10 000
9 V (3)
3.5.3 When RF increases the gain of the amplifier increase. (1)
3.5.4 This amplifier is connected to a 9 V dual supply limiting the output to a
maximum of +/- 9 V. The output of the amplifier is already at -9 V with
RF set to 78,26 kΩ. By increasing the value of RF beyond 78,26 kΩ,
the gain increases further and the Op-amp is driven to saturation
causing the output to be distorted. (4)
3.5.5 This limitation can be overcome by setting the supply voltage to be
higher than the maximum possible output voltage.
This limitation can be overcome by decreasing the V in of each resistor
respectively. This will bring the Vout within the maximum of +/- 9V. (2)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 8 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
3.6 3.6.1 V
Input
t
Vsupply
Output Orientation
t
NOTE: square wave is accepted.
If the output resembles the shape of a charging capacitor, but is
not clipped at the top and bottom, 1 mark will be awarded for
orientation. (3)
3.6.2 V
Input
t
Vsupply
Output Orientation
t
NOTE: triangular wave is accepted. (3)
[50]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 9 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
QUESTION 4: SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
4.1 4.1.1 Pin 6 sets the voltage at which the 555 IC will trigger.
It is used to maintain the voltage across the timing capacitor
which is then discharged through Pin 7. (3)
4.1.2 The 555 IC can only operate at power supply voltages between +5 V
to +18 V . (2)
4.1.3 The RS flip-flop stores the incoming information temporarily, until a
new information is received. (2)
4.2 4.2.1 Monostable multivibrator. (1)
4.2.2 As soon as the push-to-make switch is activated, it pulls Pin 2 to
ground, activating the 555 circuit.
The circuit is immediately set, setting both the output Pin 3 and
discharge Pin 7 high which allows the timing capacitor to begin
charging through resistor R2.
When the threshold voltage on Pin 6 is reached, the 555 circuit will
reset to zero and output Pin 3 will go low. (4)
4.2.3
V
Trigger t
input
Capacitor
voltage
t
Output
voltage
t (4)
4.3 4.3.1 The LED will be flashing ON and OFF as the multivibrator changes
its state at 1 Hz. (2)
4.3.2 (a) The rate of the LED flashing ON and OFF would increase. (1)
(b) The rate of the LED flashing ON and OFF would decrease. (1)
[20]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 10 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
QUESTION 5: DIGITAL AND SEQUENTIAL DEVICES
5.1 5.1.1 In common anode all eight LEDs are internally connected together to
a common positive voltage rail.
In common cathode all eight LEDs are internally connected to a
common 0 V ground. (2)
5.1.2
+V
RL
T1
D1
GND
(5)
OR
+V
T1
D1
GND
This drawing is given in the prescribed textbook. Even though it is
incorrect, it will be marked as correct.
5.2 5.2.1 Light waves will pass through Grid A in the vertical plane only. This
light will then be polarised as it passes in one plane only. (2)
5.2.2 No light waves will pass through Grid B.
The light waves will be blocked. (1)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 11 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
5.3 5.3.1
+5V
R1 R2 R3
S1
1
A0
S2
2
S3
3 A1
(6)
5.3.2 W=0
X= 1
Y= 0
Z= 0 (4)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 12 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
5.4 5.4.1
D
Q
CLK
Q
NOTE: 1 mark for each NAND gate = 2
1 mark for each NOR gate = 2
1 mark for the NOT gate
1 mark for the latch = 1 (6)
OR
D
&
>=1 Q
CLK
>=1 Q
&
=1
5.4.2
INPUTS OUTPUTS
CLK D Q Q
0 0 Latch
0 1 Latch(Unchanged)
1 0 0 1
1 1 1 0
TABLE 5.4.2
NOTE: 1 mark for each row of output (3)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 13 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
5.5
Ci
Σ
A
Co
B
NOTE:
1 mark for each gate = 4
1 mark for each correct connection = 4 (8)
OR
Ci
=1 Σ
A & >=1
>=1 Co
B
&
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 14 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
5.6 5.6.1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8
Clock pulses
Output A
Output B
Output C
NOTE: A mark is allocated for the correct count at each clock pulse.
e.g. the count at clock pulse 3 should be 011 and at clock pulse 8
the count should be 000. (8)
5.6.2 The circuit in FIGURE 5.6 is synchronous. (1)
5.7 Robotics
CNC machines (2)
5.8
Serial
D Q
Data in
FFA
Clock CLK Q
D Q
FFB
Q
CLK
D Q
FFC
CLK Q
D Q
Serial
Data out
FFD
CLK Q
(7)
[55]
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 15 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
QUESTION 6: MICROCONTROLLERS
6.1 Microcontrollers are used in Industrial control devices:
Industrial instrumentation
Monitoring
Process control
Cooling systems (2)
6.2
Fetch instruction
(and data)
Execute instruction Decode instruction
NOTE: 1 mark for each correct label = 3
1 mark for correct connection and direction = 1 (4)
6.3 A microprocessor is simply an IC which has only the Central Processing Unit
(CPU) inside it.
A microcontroller is essentially a complete, small scale computer with all the
necessary devices required to function, embedded together on a single IC
chip.
OR
A microprocessor is an Integrated Circuit (IC) with only a Central Processing
Unit (CPU).
A microcontroller is a complete, small scale computer with all the necessary
devices required to function, embedded together on a single IC chip. (4)
6.4 6.4.1 The Memory Data Register (MDR) stores a copy of the current
instruction to be executed. (2)
6.4.2 The Current Instruction Register (CIR) splits the instruction into two
parts. One part is decoded by the control unit ready for execution,
the other part is the address of the data stored that needs to be used
together with that instruction. (3)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 16 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
6.5 The electrical (or mechanical) method of passing information between
devices. (2)
6.6
Receiver Transmitter
Transmitter Receiver
(simultaneous)
(4)
6.7 6.7.1 Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (1)
6.7.2 Reliable for high speed serial communication
Uses less wires than parallel communication
Useful for communicating serial data, i.e. text, numbers to a PC from
a mouse or keyboard
Easy and low-cost serial interface connection between two computer
systems (3)
6.7.3 On the transmit side, a UART creates the data packet – adding both
sync, parity and stop bits to the eight-bit byte
and sending that 'packet' out the transmission line (Tx) with precise
timing.
On the receiving end, the UART samples the Receive line (Rx) and at
the same timing rates, picks out the sync and parity bits
and produces the data in parallel form at its output.
It has one start bit, eight data bits and one parity bit and one stop bit.
Once the start bit has gone high, the next eight bits are data bits,
followed by the parity bit.
Once the stop bit has gone low it means the eight-bit data transfer is
complete. (6)
6.8 6.8.1 Point of sale (POS) terminals
Metering instruments
Large special automated machines
Modems
Computer Numerically Controlled machines (CNC)
Robots
Embedded control computers
Medical instruments and equipment (3)
6.8.2 Differential (1)
Copyright reserved Please turn over
Electrical Technology: Digital Electronics 17 DBE/2022
SC/NSC – Marking Guidelines
6.9 The ADC detects a continuously variable (analogue) signal and changes this
analogue signal, without altering its essential content, into a multi-level (digital)
signal. (3)
6.10 An algorithm is a precise set of procedures to be followed in order to solve a
problem, being independent of any computer language.
A flowchart is a pictorial version of an algorithm and shows the flow of a
program. (4)
6.11
Start
Sensor 1? Sensor 2? Sensor 3?
No No
No
Yes Yes
Yes
Alarm
on
Reset ?
No
Yes
Alarm
off
NOTE: 1 mark for each correctly labelled symbol = 6
1 mark for each correctly placed flow line = 2 (8)
[50]
TOTAL: 200
Copyright reserved
