20091130

AVR Project : SPI2CF - WLan For AVR

AVR Project : SPI2CF - WLan For AVRTill Harbaum has build a WLAN system, SPI2CF, which is small, simple and cheap. Using SPI2CF WLAN System you can leave much of the AVR functionality for other use and allowing fast and reliable WLAN data transfers. The final design was based on a prism chipset based compact flash WLAN card which is connected to the AVR CPU using a programmable logic chip (CPLD) made by Xilinx. Since the CF card is attached to the AVR using the SPI interface the entire system is named the SPI2CF project. You can get the complete compact flash specification from the Compact Flash Association.

Download : schematic, verilog source code, uip port

tag : AVR, Project, WLAN, Data Transfer, Wireless Project, Microcontroller Design (src)

AVR 1-Key-Keyboard Project

AVR 1-Key-Keyboard Project This simple microcontroller project build to create a keyboard hack that is smaller and cheaper and better reproducible than what one would get when hacking a keyboard circuit. a perfect solution for when you only want to use one switch in your prototype. The project utilize ATTiny45 as main controller.

This 1-Key-Keyboard Project can be plugged into any computer and will be recognised as a standard USB keyboard. When closing the switch, the keystroke ‘]’ will be sent. When opening the switch, the keystoke ‘[’ will be sent.

Download : Source Code and schematic

related search : AVR microcontroller project, Simple Keyboard project, USB Interfacing (src)

20091129

Ethernet Interface for LED Matrix Display

LED MATRIX are 16x16 LED matrix units with a green and a red LED per pixel allowing each pixel to be switched to either green, red, amber or off. The goal of this LED MATRIX project was to build a 80x32 pixel display by arranging the displays in two rows with 5 displays each giving a total of 16*16*2*2*5 = 5120 LEDs to be controlled individually.

LED Matrix DisplayThis displays come with interated controllers and the data can be shifted into a single display using as few as 6 digital signals. By multiplexing some of the select signals all 10 displays can be controlled with a total of ten wires. Using a cheap ATmega32 microcontroller all ten displays can easily be controlled and updated in real time.

Download
: Schematic, Source Code


Tag : LED Matrix Display, Ethernet Interface, AVR Project (src)

AVR General Purpose Infrared Remote Control Receiver with RS232 Output

AVR General Purpose Infrared Remote Control ReceiverThis Infrared Remote Control Receiver can receive signals transmitted by an infrared remote control that uses the NEC protocol, or similar, with 32 bits of data. The received signal is converted to ASCII and sent on the RS232 protocol 19200bps, no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit. The power is drawn directly from the serial port of your PC, as long as you activate the RTS and DTR lines, to test the circuit you can use the HyperTerminal program standard on Windows.

Download : Source Code and schematic

related search : AVR microcontroller project, Infrared Remote Control Receiver (src)

20091128

LCD2USB : Connect LCD to PC via USB

LCD2USB : Connect LCD to PC via USBLCD2USB is a open source/open hardware project created by Till Harbaum. The goal of LCD2USB is to connect HD44780 based text LCD displays to various PCs via USB. LCD2USB was meant to be cheap and to be made of easily available parts. It is therefore based on the Atmel AVR Mega8 CPU and does not require any difficult to obtain parts like separate USB controllers and the like. The total cost (without display and pcb) are about 5 to 10 Euros. LCD2USB currently comes with a simple demo application that works under Linux, MacOS X and Windows.

Download : Schematic, Souce Code

tags : LCD, USB, AVR, Microcontroller, Interfacing (src)

MC9S08GT60 Virtual Interactive Boxing

Microcontroller Project - Virtual Interactive BoxingThe creative Virtual Interactive Boxing system makes shadow boxing more interesting by providing a virtual opponent with whom to spar. Designed around an MC9S08GT60 microcontroller and an MC13192 RF transmitter, the system monitors the user’s performance. Enhancements include digitized audio and speech that provide motivational cues and feedback about the user’s performance to help him improve his technique.

Download :
Download Project View Abstract

Tags : MC9S08GT60 microcontroller, MC13192 RF transmitter, Microcontroller Project

20091127

MC9S08GT60 MCU Musical Gloves

Microcontroller Project Musical GlovesThe wearable Musical Gloves enable you to play various forms of music on virtually any surface. This exciting wireless system is built around an MC13192 SARD board’s MC9S08GT60 MCU, MC13192 transceiver, and MMA6261Q (x- and y-axis) and MMA1260D (z-axis) accelerometers. The gloves are instrumented with fingertip switches and the three axis accelerometers. The system tracks finger presses, which start and stop notes, and hand motion, which determines the loudness and octave of each note. The Musical Gloves are connected via a wireless RF connection to a host PC, which processes the finger presses and accelerometer readings in order to control the musical output. This project created and build by Steve Kranish.

Download :
Project, Abstract

Tags : Virtul Music Instrument, MC9S08GT60 MCU, Microcontroller Project

Microcontroller Based Remote Sensing System

Microcontroller Based Remote Sensing SystemPageAlert is a flexible remote sensing platform connected to a data recording and alarm system. It is based on an MC13192 SARD board. This electronic project well designed by William Wittig. An MPXM2010 pressure sensor effectively senses the water level in a sump pump hole. The limited transmission range of ZigBee technology makes this wireless system ideal for home use.

Download
Project and Abstract
related search : Remote, Microcontroller Project, MPXM2010, ZigBee src

20091126

PC Rs232 interface for Hygro-Thermo 433 MHz remote sensor

PC Rs232 interface for Hygro-ThermoHow to build electronic project that receive data from weather sensor? this Telemetering Project could help you. By using Serial interface on the PC, it could receive the data sent in a 433 MHz RF sensor weather of Thermo-Hygro Oregon Scientific shown in the picture. This project build by Ficara emilio.

Download
Source code and schematic
search term : Telemetering, Data Logger, Remote Sensor, AVR Microcontroller Projec (src)

PIC MIDI expander with old ISA-BUS Soundcard

PIC project - MIDI expander The circuit makes possible to realize a small MIDI expander using an old ISA-BUS soundcard. This microcontroller project based on micro PIC18F4320. Emilio, project designer, has tested on 2 different cards, and it should work for any card ADLIB OPL3 compatible (the I/O address MUST be 0x388).
The software responds to MIDI commands on Channel 1. The sounds are generated by the FM synthesizer built in the soundcard. The power is derived from two low-cost wall transformers (see picture) with variable output, set to 9V (the output is close to 12V).

Download :
Source code and schematic
search term : Midi expander, ISA BUS, Microcontroller PIC project (src)

20091125

Microchip 16 bit design contest

Microchip/Circuit cellar have announced a 16 bit embedded control design contest - the idea is to promote the use of the dsPIC family of controllers.

Microchip is giving out a generous sample of components to the contest participants - here is what I got:

p1

p2

I find the ENC28J60 device very interesting - it’s an ethernet controller using which your microcontroller can communicate over an ethernet LAN!

Any good ideas to create a prize winning entry?

USB Interfacing with GNU/Linux and PIC 18F2455 - Part 3

Completed interfacing an LCD panel with the USB PIC, thanks to Anish. We are still not able to get interrupt URB’s working properly - except that, everything is OK.

usbdev

Coming next: A comprehensive tutorial on developing USB gadgets with GNU/Linux and PIC! We hope to get it published as an LDP HOWTO.

USB Interfacing with GNU/Linux and PIC 18F2455 - Part 2

It’s no wonder that there are so few complete resources on writing USB firmware on the net - there is only one word to describe the process - `tedious’.

The last few days have been spent reading USB Complete - this is the only good book available to help you get along … it’s extremely well written. This book, combined with the code ofPUF framework seems to be the best combination for getting started. Another great resource is the code written by Bradley A Minch available from here. I prefer the PUF code because it’s better structured - but there seems to be some trouble with the configuration bit definition in it.

Our development environment is now stable. The programmer, `odyssey’, is working perfectly and SDCC + gputils seems to be generating correct code. Unfortunately, we were unable to get PUF running on our 18F2455. So we began taking out bits and pieces of code from PUF and started testing them independently. We were able to go as far as initializing endpoint 0 and getting an OUT transaction on it. Now the trouble with USB is that it has a tricky state machine - the way you handle the current transaction depends on what the previous transaction was. You will soon reach a point where you won’t be able to test things with 10-20 lines of code - you will have to have the whole state machine running smoothly. So yesterday, Anish `cleaned up’ the PUF code taking out a lot of things which were not going to be useful for us at present but keeping the core intact. And, magically, everything started working. Enumeration was succesful and we have endpoint 0 ready to accept control transfter requests!

Understanding Microchip’s description of the working of their USB SIE (Serial Interface Engine) is another headache.

Now we have to get some `vendor’ requests working and maybe configure another endpoint to do interrupt transfer. I will think of writing a proper tutorial after that.

USB Interfacing with GNU/Linux and PIC 18F2455 - Part 1

Even though USB has become wildly popular, there are not too many resources on the web which gives you a tutorial introduction on how to go about developing USB peripherals and controlling them with GNU/Linux. Anish and myself have started work on creating a simple USB gadget - we intend to document the process thoroughly so that others can do the same with the mininum of effort.

Choosing the proper microcontroller and setting up a decent development environment is the first headache. When it comes to USB aware uC’s, there is not too much of a choice - it seems that the USB PIC18F devices are the only ones commonly available in India. We purchased a few PIC18F2455 devices from Future Techniks. These are 28 pin devices which are USB 2.0 compliant. Now comes the issue of finding out a proper `burning’ software and hardware. The trouble is that most of them are written for Windows. Anish was succesful in running Free PicPgm under Wine. But I am not satisfied until I find a a 100% GNU/Linux solution. We spent lots of time exploring various possibilities which included using bootloaders - Microchip has an `official’ bootloader whose working is fully documented. The trouble is that there is no GNU/Linux frontend for it - so we had to write a Python program to parse Hex files and deliver it to the bootloader in the proper format - the effort was abandoned midway because we thought it would take some time to test the code thoroughly.

Luckily, we discovered Odyssey, a very well written program for downloading code to PIC devices. It works well with the classical David Tait high voltage PIC programmer. Only trouble was creating two config files - one which describes the hardware (which parallel port pin controls which pin on the PIC) and another one which describes the PIC18F2455 device (device id, config bit masks, amount of code memory etc). The programmer has been working reliably for the past two days.

Now comes the issue of choosing development tools - PIC’s are usually programmed in assembly - they have a bizarre architecture which makes them unfriendly to C compilers. But Microchip has brought out a few changes in the 18F family - it’s said that these changes make the processor more compiler friendly. Anyway, I wish to avoid assembly coding as far as possible. The only freely available C compiler for the PIC’s is SDCC which has support for PIC18F devices. We used a version of the compiler bundled with PUF - the PIC USB Framework. It seems the compiler is not very good at generating compact code - but let’s hope it does a good job generating code! We did a few tests yesterday - and they were OK. But the linker, `gplink’ seems to be having a bug (is it a bug - not sure). SDCC lets us declare arrays in program memory space by using the `code’ directive. Thus, we can do:correct

code unsigned char a[] = {0xe, 0xd, 0xe, 0xef};

This places data in the `code’ section of the resulting object file. The linker, `gplink’, objects to this and generates an assertion failure when it tries to produce a list file.

AVR Remote control for TV (Salora)

AVR Remote control for TVThis is a AT90S2313 microcontroller project based which has function to turns ON the TV-channel 5 - at programmed time (triggered by alarm clock without buzzer). This electronic project use Infrared remote control with fixed code to turn on a TV Salora to a set timetable. The project designed by Emilio Pietro Giovanni.

Download
source code and schematic
search term : Remote Control, TV, AVR microcontroller project (src)

Battery Charger for Hand Held Radio

Battery Charger for Hand Held RadioThis is a handy little charger that can provide a charging current of up to 120 mA continuously for batteries in the range up to 12 volts. This project inspired by 12 volt 500 mA plug pack at an amateur auction. Two potentially useful projects resulted from this plug pack. The other is a variable power supply. The supply is housed in a small plastic enclosure 90 x 55 x 32 mm.

Download :
Schematic
search term : Battery Charger, Hand held Radio charger, Analog Project (src )

20091124

Compact Variable Power Supply

This is a handy little power supply that can provide a voltage range of 1.25 to 13 volts and current up to 500 mA. The supply, created by Don Wilschefski, is housed in a small plastic enclosure 90 x 55 x 32 mm.

Download

schematic

search term : Power Supply, Handy supply, Variable PSU, analog project (src)

RC Pulse to PWM Converter Project

Microcontroller AVR - RC Pulse to PWM Converter ProjectThis Project describes an AVR chip and software that converts two easily formed R/C pulse signals and converts them into a PWM signal suit for driving small motors. This will be good solution for common problem for hobby robotics when controlling the drive level to a motor. As many hacked R/C servo's are used have poor control range. And many micro-controllers don't have built in PWM or the PWM is very slow and makes for lots of motor buzz.

The value of this AVR software application is that one can interface the output signals of the AVR chip to a wide variety of H-Bridge driver chips with a current capacity from 600ma to 5+ amps. Or, it could drive a discrete FET bridge for even higher capacities. The software runs on an Atmel AT90S1200 chip with a 16mhz clock. The project designe by Larry Barello.

Download :

User Guide (doc), schematic and source code

tag : RC, PWM, Converter, AVR project (src)

20091123

AVR Acceleration Sensing Device

AVR Acceleration Sensing Device

The TiltStick is a small acceleration sensing device in form of a USB stick with microcontroller AVR Mega 8 as main processor . To measure acceleration (caused e.g. by motion and tilt), the device using a two axis acceleration sensor. The device is emulating a USB joystick and it can be used in conjunction with any USB equipped host (e.g. a standard PC or the Nokia N8XX family) without any special drivers.

Till Harbaum as designer has made two versions of the TiltStick on different 2D accelerometer chips. The smaller one is based on the Analog Devices XL203 (the XL202 may also be used) while the bigger version is based on the Freescale MMA7261. The advantage of the freescale version is that a pin 3D chip exists. The hardware of the TiltStick is prepared to support the third axis.

Download :
Souce Code and Documentation

tag : Acceleration Sensing, microcontroller AVR project, USB project (src)

Cheap AVR I2C Tiny Usb

Cheap AVR I2C Tiny UsbI2c-tiny-usb made to provide a cheap generic i2c interface to be attached to the usb. It could be as simple and cheap printer port to i2c adapters. A USB solution has several advantages such as the built-in power supply and no cpu intense bitbanging is required on the host side. This USB solution even requires less parts than some printer port solutions. Although i2c-tiny-usb was developed under and for Linux but it also works under Windows and MacOS X.

The hardware the i2c-tiny-usb interface which is designed by Till Harbaumof consists of the Atmel AVR ATtiny45 CPU, a cheap and easy to obtain microcontroller with 4 KBytes flash (of which ~2k are used in this application) and 256 Bytes RAM. And few other parts surrounded the processor.

Download :
Source code, schematic and documentation

tag : USB project, i2c adapter, printer port adapter, avr project (src)

20091122

Parallel Interface AVR Programmer

Parallel Interface AVR Programmer Project
With this project you can program an AVR microcontroler ATMEL (ATmega8, ATMega32, ...) from a parallel printer LPT1 using ISP functionality In System Programming. This programming type can program and/or configure microcontroler directly on the target board without removing device and put it on a separate programmer. This board is compatible with programming software "PonyProg".

You can check USB AVR Microcontroller Programmer and Simple ISP AVR Programmer for another AVR Programmer project.

Download :
Schematic and Source Code

tag : AVR programmer, Microcontroller Project, Parallel Interface (src)

AVR Based Diode Temperature Meter

Temperature MeterThis is Multi channel diode temperature meter project with Microcontroller AVR AT90S2333 as main controller. It can be use to replace thermister temperature meter.

Front end of the temperature sensor and amplifier circuit consists of constant current. Approximately a constant current of 63µA sensor (diode) in the sink, a diode voltage drop of 3-fold amplification and A / D converter (10bit, 3.3V/fs) type. Drift in this block is the main cause of measurement error, the components must be selected as the low temperature drift.

Where an adjustment is not analog, EEPROM calibration parameters are calculated from the temperature to make sure that you store in it. The calibration process is required for proper equipment such as computer terminals instead of the driver. Some cases, ISP via cable (N81, 38.4kbps) has been to enter the calibration mode is turned on and connected.

Download:
Schematic and source code

Tag: Temperature Meter, Microcontroller AVR project, electronic project (src)

20091121

PIC Debugging Tool

PIC in circuit debugger tool
In-Circuit-Debugger is handy and easy PIC debugging tool for PIC programmers that interface to the target PIC placed- board. The device comes with MPLAB plug-ins that provides a full rich set of commands and functions in order to debug your code in real time. The project created by Electrical Engineer Atanasios Melimopoulos.

Download
In-Circuit-debugger

tag : PIC debugger, PIC programmer tools, PIC project src

Digital Clock using Classic LED 7 Segment Displays

Simple digital clock PIC project
This is a simple digital clock project using PIC16F887 and classic LED 7-Segment from HP 5082-7414 created by punkky. The displays are bright red and sun light viewable. Each clock consumes about 0.25W (50mA, 5V) when the PIC16F887 operates at 250kHz (display refresh rate is about 61Hz).

Tag: digital clock, 7 segment display, PIC project src

20091119

I2C Bus Analyzer with USB link to PC

I2C Bus Analyzer
I2C-bus analyzer is a electronic project that has function to capture all transmissions via I2C/TWI bus, decode it and send to PC via virtual RS-232 port. Received data can be displayed by any terminal program on PC computer. The project use ATTiny2313 microcontroller with 20MHz crystal as main part. Link to PC are realized by FTDI FT245RL on UM245R module.

Download


Simple AVR USB Temperature Probe

This simple USB temperature probe uses the AVR USB library by Objective Development. The included ruby script reads the temperature and optionally logs it using RRDTool. The EasyLogger would send the data values over a keyboard interface. The project uses a custom device class and reads values using the ruby-usb library. The project primarily intended to be used in Linux, although it is possible to get it to work in XP with a bit of hassle involved.
Download
USB Temperature Probe Documentation

20091118

PICTalker - Low Cost PIC Speech Synthesizer

PICTalker
PICTalker is a low cost allophone-based system for synthesis speech. The system use PIC16F628 microcontroller as main processor. You need a PIC development system and programmer, and Microsoft QBasic to program the microcontroller and EEPROMs to build this poject.

Speech quality is somewhat inferior to that from an SPO256 system. Most people immediately understand most or all of the speech it produces provided sufficient care is taken when constructing words from the component allophones. The speech is significantly easier to understand if the loudspeaker used has poor base response.

Download
Documentation and source code

AVR Project Wii Conductor

AVR Project Wii Conductor
This AVR project is a simplified implementation of Wii-Music, utilizing a Nintendo Wii Remote (“Wiimote”) to play a gesture-based music game with the player as a virtual music conductor. The project exploited two of the Wiimote’s features: its wand-like shape and the embedded 3-D accelerometers. By interfacing between Microcontroller AVR ATmega 644 and Wiimote, the project able wirelessly transmit motion gestures and button pushes to the MCU. The MCU uses these inputs to create sound by means of Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS).

Tags: Wii Conductor, Simplified Wii Music, Microcontroller AVR project src

PIC LCD Oscilloscope for Spectrum Analyzers

PIC LCD Oscilloscope for Spectrum Analyzers
This is simple and inexpensive LCD oscilloscope for spectrum analyzer display. The project use PIC 16F876A as main processor. Although a small LCD screen is not as good as analog oscilloscope, a LCD oscilloscope may be very useful in field measurements, for battery operation or you need different measurement at the same time along with oscilloscope.

The 80dB scale of this LCD oscilloscope can be adjusted with the two trimmers providing the reference voltages to the A/D converter. The operation of the LCD oscilloscope is slightly different between the 80dB mode and the 40dB mode. In the 80dB mode, the trace is always visible and saturates on the bottom or top of screen. In the 40dB mode, the trace runs out of the screen and only the central part of the original 80dB scale is displayed. This project designed by Matjaz Vidmar.

Download
Source code, documentation and schematic

20091117

Arduino Digital Thermometer

Arduino Project Digital Thermometer
This Digital Thermometer based on famous Arduino board and LM35DZ as temperature sensor. The sensor component has three pins, +5V, ground and a variable voltage output to indicate the temperature. This simple project wired the sensor output straight to the Arduino's analogue input 0. As display, it use two line LCD (a Displaytech 162B).

Tags : Temperature Measurement, Digital Thermometer, Arduino project src

ARM USB Data Acquisition

ARM Project USB Data AcquisitionThis project shows you how to build a simple data acquisition device around an LPC2138, ARM-based microcontroller. The system features a simple GUI that allows you to view graphed data instead of the streaming serial data in a terminal emulator session. In this project, Bruce gives example by collects temperature data from an analog temperature sensor and graphs it via a PC GUI.

Download
Source and PDF

USB PIC Programmer

If you start learning PIC microcontroller, you need PIC progrmmer to "fill" your PIC with compiled source code. You can build your own PIC programmer like USBPICprog project.

Usbpicprog is an USB in circuit programmer for Microchip PIC processors. The hardware is as simple. The latest version only contains one PIC18F2550, 3 mosfets, and besides the connectors a hand full of passive components.

download
Open source programmer

20091115

PIC Cactus LED Display

LED Cactus Display PIC Project

LEDactus is LED display project that resemble Cactus. It used PIC microcontroller 18F1320 as controller of the LED. LEDactus is immobile and attempts to survive by creating a pleasant display. It can produce more complex and mesmerizing displays. And in the latest generations, a sense of touch is added to allow the LEDactus to interact with passersby.

term : LED display, electronic cactus, PIC project (src)

AVR Shark Tag Project

microcontroller project animal tag

The goal of this project was to develop a shark tag working bench-top microcontroller platform. It is to be used for on-animal, in-situ data logging applications involving sharks and potentially other large pelagic.

The project used the Atmel Mega32 microcontroller to develop the core platform and functionality of a data archival tag. The project use temperature and pressure as sensor variable. The tasks ranged from logging sensor data to developing a simple user interface that requires only the addition of a laptop and a custom RS232 serial cable in the field.

It used an off-the-shelf SD (Secure Digital) card using flash memory for large capacity multi-read/write data storage. The microcontroller’s ADCs (analog to digital converters) were used to convert analog voltages produced by select sensors into digital format.

Tag: Animal Tag, shark, data logging, avr project src

Simple PIC RF/Microwave Frequency Counter

PIC RF/Microwave Frequency Counter

This RF/Microwave Frequency Counter project built based on PIC 16F876A. The basic counter rate is extended to at least 180MHz using two 74Fxx devices. A divide-by-64 prescaler is used for higher frequencies up to at least 4.5GHz. All results of the measurement are shown on an inexpensive, 2x16 alphanumeric LCD module with large characters.

There are 3 inpust on this project a microwave (prescaled) input, an RF input and a TTL input. The microwave and RF inputs are AC coupled and terminated to a low impedance (around 50ohms). The TTL input is DC coupled and has a high input impedance. A progress-bar indicator is provided on the LCD for the gate timing.

Both the microwave and RF inputs have an additional feature : a simple signal-level detector driving yet another bar indicator on the LCD module. This is very useful to check for the correct input-signal level as well as an indicator for circuit tuning or absorption-wave-meter dip display (Lecher wires). This project designed by Matjaz Vidmar.

tag : RF counter, Microwave Frequency counter, PIC project source

20091114

AVR Digital Clock with Roman Numerals



This digital clock project will display a Roman number instead Hindu-Arabic numeral system (1,2,3... ). The project uses micro ATTINY2313 as main processor and LCD to display the clock. When you turn on the device, it will shows a screen flashes "Tempera tempus" as reminder to adjust the time.

The adjustment is done via the small button.
  • Press and hold the button for about 3 seconds -> hours appear on the screen -> release the button.
  • Press the button again and hold -> the hours advance from "I" to "XXIV" -> release the button on the time right.
  • Wait about 3 seconds -> minutes to appear on the screen.
  • Press the button and hold -> the minutes advance from "nothing" to "LIX" -> release on just minutes.
Unfortunately, you have to readjust the time after your turn off the power, because there is no RTC in this project.

Download schematic and source code here

dsPIC 33F128MC706 NUE-PSK Digital Modem

dsPIC NUE-PSK Digital Modem

PSK31 is one of the latest communications modes to capture the interest of hams worldwide. Its inherent ability to dig out low, near-inaudible signals is ideally suited for low power QRP enthusiasts. The PSK31 digital modem engine, however, requires intense DSP processing that is only commonly available in PC sound card. Thus the PSK operator desiring portability for field operation is locked into using a laptop computer as a controller, which results in a cumbersome station.

This project shows you design and construction of a standalone, battery-operated digital modem using a Microchip dsPIC microcontroller. The project includes a character display for transmit and receive text data, and a graphic display showing band spectrum and tuning indicator. Using GPL open source software, the modem can be homebrewed for less than $50 parts cost. When coupled with an SSB-capable transceiver or with a popular PSK-xx transceiver board from Small Wonder Labs, you too can have an effective portable PSK31 station.

Download
Project documentation

dsPIC MiniTron Amplifier

dsPIC MiniTron Tube AmplifierThe MiniTron is a high end vacuum tube stereo amplifier with efficiency, distortion, and power output enhancements provided by some unique circuitry featuring a dsPIC30F2023 controller IC. The dsPIC is used in this project to create a tracking buck converter whose output voltage tracks the audio signal. The unique SMPS resources in these IC’s do most of the "hard stuff" usually required in an SMPS design, leaving ample processing power available for other activities.

These IC’s and the Avago galvanic isolators are truly the "enabling technology" for this project. The controller IC is also used to perform system health checks, and set the operating points of the individual vacuum tubes. This allows total system programmability, offering several possible preset operating modes.

Download
Project Documentation

PIC Project : Infra/radio remote control transmitter/receiver

PIC Project : Infra/radio remote control transmitter/receiverThis is a general purpose remote control project with programmable PIC microcontrollers. Schematics are shown for using infrared (RF) or radio (RF) media. If you are not familiar with microcontroller programming, you can use fixed encoder and decoder integrated circuits instead. Well-known such IC-s are Holtek HT-12D, HT-12E and Motorola MC145026, MC145027, MC145028.

Remote controls usually consist of encoder/decoder parts connected to a transmitter/receiver module which takes care of the transmission of digital signals by radio or infra waves. The format of this project's signal is designed to be ideal even for the cheapest ASK RF modules (using 50% signal/silence ratio), and it is similar to the Philips RC-5 format used in infrared remote controls. The transmitter has a varying number of buttons and sends the states of these inputs to the receiver. The receiver device decodes the message and sets the outputs accordingly.

Download schematic IR(jpeg), schematic RF
source

R/C Transmitter Range Tester

electronic circuit project - R/C Transmitter Range TesterThis project suitable for people who like with the transmitter system. It's an electronic analog project. You don't have to programming the IC to build it. The function of this electronic project is to measure the RF power being radiated from a transmitting antenna.

Among the Amateur Radio fraternity, a device such as the one described here would otherwise be known as a Field Strength Meter (FSM). Its main purpose would be to check that RF power is being radiated from a transmitting antenna. Some FSMs are tuneable across a wide range of frequencies, which allows the device to work with different transmitters and antennae - usually from HF to VHF and beyond. A difference with this unit is that it is only sensitive to those signals in the R/C section of the radio spectrum. The on-board trimmer allows you to tweak for maximum signal strength of your frequency of choice, whether it be 27MHz AM, or 40MHz FM.

In order to read the received signal strength, such a unit would ordinarily employ a mechanical analogue meter. The unit described here differs in that it uses four super-bright LEDs. The benefit of this is that it allows you to read the display from a distance - even in bright sunlight.

Download schematic(gif), PCB1, PCB2

20091113

Classic LED 7-Segment Displays

Just recently I have been addicted to old LED displays as they are small and bright and I love the classic look. We can see them in vintage calculators and vintage led watches. However these displays consume significant amount of power, so they are not used in watches and calculators anymore. As they are replaced by LCD, these LED 7-Segment displays are not in production anymore and difficult to obtain.

Now, I have 2 models of the classic LED 7-Segment as shown in the picture below: HP 5082-7414 from HP is on the left. It’s a 4-digit Red LED 7-Segment very nice for wristwatch. The one on the right is an 2-digit Red LED 7-Segment from an unknown maker. It can be used in a wristwatch too (with a little bit bigger case).

LED 7-Segment Display HP 5082-7414

Based on my inspection, I have made symbols for these displays with Eagle 5.4.0 free version. The displays are common cathode and the symbols are below

LED 7-Segment Display HP 5082-7414 schematic

The PCB footprints are as the following (DIP 12)

LED 7-Segment Display HP 5082-7414 PCB footprint

I have made simple clocks using these displays and PIC16F887. The real thing looks much better than the photo. The displays are bright red and sun light viewable. Very COOL!!! They are on my computer desk and I love to see them very often.
bubble-7-segment-clock

LED 7-Segment Display HP 5082-7414 clock

LED 7-Segment Display HP 5082-7414 digital clock

Each clock consumes about 0.25W (50mA, 5V) when the PIC16F887 operates at 250kHz (display refresh rate is about 61Hz). The amount of consumed current can be reduced significantly if I use some current limit resistors. But the displays will be dimmer than without resistors. I will try to use PWM for reducing the power consumption as I don’t want to put 8 resistors into my design. The schematic/PCB and firmware including source code in MikroC will be made public once I have complete all of the designs. I will even have kits for sell if my time permitted.

Microcontroller Based Remote Sensing System

Microcontroller Based Remote Sensing SystemPageAlert is a flexible remote sensing platform connected to a data recording and alarm system. It is based on an MC13192 SARD board. This electronic project well designed by William Wittig. An MPXM2010 pressure sensor effectively senses the water level in a sump pump hole. The limited transmission range of ZigBee technology makes this wireless system ideal for home use.

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Project and Abstract

AVR Nikon Camera Remote Control

Nikon Camera Remote Control Microcontroller projectThis is an IR remote control for Nikon cameras. The circuit project is very simple: an ATtiny13V, button, transistor, resistor, IR diode and 3V battery. You can also connect the IR diode directly to the ATtiny13V, but that will limit the LED current and therefore the range. The project is compatible with the Nikon ML-L3 remote control. Supported cameras include: D40, D40X, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, and Coolpix 8400 8800. This project created by Dick Streefland

Minimechadon : PIC16F819 Based Walking Robotic

Electronic Project - PIC16F819 Based Walking RoboticMinimechadon is a great walking robot design by Mike Smyth. He creates Minimechadon to experiment with learning algorithms for walking. This walking robot weighs 12oz and has 4 degrees-of-freedom.

The sensor array consists of 4 touch sensors on the bottom of each foot, Left and right IR obstacle detection, and 4 CdS photo detectors located on all four sides of the robot. The heart of the control system is a Microchip PIC16F819 micro-controller and a separate 8 channel A-D converter.

The mechanical structure is built from brass tubing (which all the wiring runs through, UHMW (a high density plastic material), and PCBs. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the robot is the use of PCBs to create a 3D structure and mount all of the circuits/electronics.

tag : robotic design,PIC, Microcontroller, Electronic (src)

Small LED dot matrix development board

I was very busy for the past two months so this blog just didn't move. As you may know, the LED dot matrix display is my favorite device. I have designed a small development board for testing my led dot matrix related programs.
The schematic is as the following:

LED dot matrix development board Schematic

The PCB is single sided so I can make it at home. Most of the components are SMD to keep small footprint of the board. The PCB size: 58.4mm x 46mm

LED dot matrix development board PCB

Acutally, I made a PCB and installed all components but the board didn't work :p. It was working when I tested the schematic on breadboard (with through hole version of PIC16F887). I think the SMD PIC16F887 may be broken or the PCB is bad but I just don't have time to figure out the problem. I will try new PCB and PIC16F887.