View allAll Photos Tagged microcontroller
I'm starting to feel the inclination to get back into electronics hobbyism these days - and on the photography side that means closeup / macro shots will be coming along soon.
The fever hits me now and then to make some LEDs blink, and the way I generally do that is to write software for a microcontroller (MCU) - a tiny, cheap, single-chip computer - to do it.
Why bother? You might well ask. Well! MCUs form the heart of all sorts of nifty circuitry - anything that isn't actually a computer and yet is "computerized", which is pretty much everything, anymore. I plan to make fun simple things like clocks and little games and decorative blinky lights, but stuff like homemade MP3 players, GPS units, simple autonomous robots, and Web-based remote control devices are now well within the reach of hobbyist designers. All you have to do is get specialized circuitry to handle the GPS reception or MP3 decoding or time displaying, then plunk a MCU down to order it around according to directions specified by software you write.
These three circuits pictured are all "programmers", or interface devices that let you send MCU software from the PC where you wrote it to the actual MCU chip. These are all for the PIC family of chips manufactured by Microchip, Inc.
In the upper left, the venerable PIC-1a from 1996, a small-scale-commercial variant of a famous programmer invented in April 1994 by a hobbyist named David Tait. The "Tait Classic" circuit, as it came to be known, was intended only for one kind of PIC MCU, the surprisingly useful 16C84. It had space for a 1024-instruction program and 36 bytes of data RAM. Much, much more powerful MCUs are available these days for less than the old C84 cost, but it was a great little chip. The Tait programmer made hobbyist MCU programming affordable, I believe; until recently the professional-grade tools for it were very pricey by hobbyist terms. The Tait Classic could be built for a few dollars or ordered pre-assembled from a cottage industry sort of shop like I did for, IIRC, about $50.
In the upper right, a cottage-commercial version of the P16Pro40, which is basically a newer and more flexible version of the Tait Classic, able to handle several different chips. I think I got this one in about 2004.
These two both still work, as far as I know, but they connect to the PC through the parallel port - and modern PCs don't often have parallel ports! Certainly the little netbook I use now doesn't. Hence, my decision to buy the programmer in the bottom of the shot, the Pickit 3. It's a USB-based programmer made by Microchip itself, and it has several features the Tait-types don't - plus it's fairly cheap, as things like this now are (about $70 for the "deluxe" version of the Pickit 3).
Nifty, eh?
DIY parts kit for building a micro-readerboard LED christmas tree ornament.
Read more about our holiday electronics projects here.
Hacking a digital bathroom scale to use as a general-purpose weight sensor or input device.
Explained in more detail at:
The advanced microcontroller circuitry inside the MidiWing musical instrument can calculate the many different frequencies or pitches that produce complex musical sounds from the position of a joystick, mouse or other input.
Photo by Randy Montoya
Read more at share.sandia.gov/news/resources/news_releases/midiwing/
A DIY mini-LED menorah for hanukkah.
Read more about our holiday electronics projects here.
(We have Kits, too.)
This is my own version of the "weather picture"
The original microcontrollers are replaced by Arduino's with my own software, enabling me to display much more data. The only thing reused are the 7 segment displays.
For example:
- On the left middle and top display's, the Beaufort and km/h value are visible simultaneously.
- Also with the limited possibilities of 7 segment displays, the wind direction is shown in character format. It's amazing how fast I was used to this. 55u is immediately recognised as SSW
- Now, on one display I can show as many values as I want with a selectable delay between the values.
- The most useful addition for me is the 5 minute average wind direction (low left display).
- on the lower right display you see a few LED's. They indicate the barometric rise or fall and how fast it's going up or down.
Assembled from a kit, for programming a wide range of "PIC" microcontrollers.
Designed to be connected to a Windows PC via a "real" RS232 connection, though there is an ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming) header which increases its flexibility, allowing it to be used directly with a device such as the Microchip PicKit series.
Provides rudimentary test functions in the form of input switches and output LEDs
A basic control panel on a home made tennis mahcine. The speed and spin knobs are pots read by a microcontroller, which calculates the power for the two propulsion wheels. That's the circuit board at the bottom with the microcontroller and two PWM motor driver circuits.
The new scrap of veroboard is a simple interface to drive an LED from Pin 21 of the PIC microcontroller to indicate optimum audio input level.
Programming an AVR using an absolute minimalist target board.
Testing out the USBtinyISP AVR programmer from Adafruit Industries.
Read more here.
This is a binary clock that was built into a 3d-printed case created in Minecraft. It shows the current time in a binary coded decimal format.
The model was exported with the free tool Mineways and printed on a Zprinter 650 3d-printer, with a block size of 125mm^3 (so every block has an edge length of 5mm). After printing, LEDs were glued into the case after filing the openings a bit wider. Then, the LEDs were soldered to form a 4x4 LED matrix, and the matrix was connected to an Arduino board.
A technical description of the setup as well as downloads of the model and the code can be found here: postapocalypticresearchinstitute.wordpress.com/2012/07/18...
Insect robot build after the description in Oreilly Make Arduino Bots and GadgetsDetails: On the back of the insect is the Arduino MC board powered by a 9V battery on the rear end ;-)
Video of V 0.0.1.2 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHLnzWc7X3I
More pictures and another video here: xinchejian.com/2011/04/11/insect-robot-from-lumi/
Pixel VGA, version 1 (Floor Cluster) - Garnet Hertz
Two dozen old computer monitors occupy the center of a gallery floor in a cluster facing the wall. Each screen is controlled with custom electronics to create pulsating and strobing patterns, casting a colored wash across the darkened gallery.
Dimensions: Variable (approx 3m x 3m). VGA monitors, custom electronics. 2011.
More project information: conceptlab.com/pixel/
I hacked a power switch into my programmer instead of the silly little jumper that I lost about 5 minutes after receiving the kit. The switch turns on/off power to the chip being programmed.
With it on, the programmer can be used as a low-current power supply to, say, a chip in a prototype board. Or with it off, the programmer can be used to reprogram a chip in a fully powered, production, environment.
[img]http://blake-foster.com/projects/remote_startup_connected.jpg[/img]
Frequently, while at the office or out of town, I find (to my dismay) that I need to access files on my desktop computer at home. The inevitable results are special trips and wasted time. While I could leave my desktop on indefinitely and access files remotely as, the inordinate amount of electricity that it consumes literally doubles my electric bill. With the help of an Arduino, I've solved the problem for good, for the cost of about 3 months of running my desktop all day.
Read more here: blake-foster.com/project.php?p=44
On the left, original, working, RC & cassette based retro Omnibot. His only upgrade is a new NiMH power pack. He has a broken hand which I still need to sort out.
On the right, enhanced semi-autonomous Omnibot with his new brain and power shoulders & elbows. I've installed a 6th toggle switch to enable separate switching of power supplies to the servo sequencers and UNO stack. Amongst other benefits, this reduces the likelihood of him making a dash for it half way through programming...!
Insect robot build after the description in Oreilly Make Arduino Bots and Gadgets
Detail: Just a quick working model hold together with tape velcro and cable binders ;-) Big eyes wrking with ultra sonic to measure the distance to avoid obstacles.
Video of V 0.0.1.2 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHLnzWc7X3I
More pictures and another video here: xinchejian.com/2011/04/11/insect-robot-from-lumi/
An Arduino microcontroller uses a CdS photocell and a set of LEDs to indicate the ambient light level. (Move your mouse over the picture to see explanatory notes.)
Just fooling around because I was bored. Maybe I'll think of a good use for this later.
Homemade using an Addressable RGB LED Light Strip and Microcontroller Board
See my YouTube video showing all of my current Light Painting Tools and how they work.
www.youtube.com/user/michaelrross1
You can find get to the detailed tutorial information and videos to make this tool yourself on my personal website under the new Tutorial Blog at:
The PCB from the Tesco scales, with LCD and control buttons. Next step: figure out how this works and how to interface it to the Arduino!
Photo taken to accompany short article on working with AVR microcontrollers, and making minimalist target boards for programming them.
Properly Selecting Electronic Components: Part 3
by Vaughn D. Martin
This time, investigate basic solid-state theory, diodes, rectifiers, transistor amplifiers, and characterize them.
Experiments with Alternative Energy
by John Gavlik
This time, we’ll use these same microcontroller circuits and code to illustrate three primary conditions that affect solar panel operation in the real world: heat, shading, and tilt angle.
Magnetic Pendulum
Electronic Gadgets
by Tony Gasparovic
Here’s a really fun project that will get a lot of attention. It’s an electronic pendulum that operates on the principle of magnetism.
Bicycle Gear Position Indicator
Circuits
by Dan Gravatt
Here’s a couple of simple circuits to tell you what gear your bicycle is in while you’re pedaling down the road. I usually check what gear I am in by looking down at the front and rear gears. I decided I needed a better way after I bought a good road bike with 30 (!) gear combinations (three gears in front and 10 in back).
The ReFUSEable Box
Electronic Gadgets
by Ron Newton
This project was built for field troubleshooting and replaces blown fuses until the problem is solved. By dialing in the amperage, you can preset the drop-out point in the place of a fuse (200 mA – 5 amps). It is also known as a programmable relay. It displays the active AC or DC amperage being drawn when in the circuit.
Techknowledgey
by Jeff Eckert
Techknowledgey 2009
Topics covered include the world’s smallest reed switch, lasers that create new forms of metal, a new all-in-one PC, plus other stuff you’ll find fascinating.
Smiley’s Workshop
by Joe Pardue
Smileys Workshop: An AVR C Programming Series (Part 14)
Last month, we learned how to build a command interpreter and how to make beautiful music (okay, noise) on a piezo element. This month, we are going to look at components from the kit that sense light and temperature.
Getting Started With PICS
by Chuck Hellebuyck
Programming the PICDEM 2 Plus Development Board
After getting everything set up — I used an MPLAB® ICD 2 for the programming tool because it is available bundled with the PICDEM 2 Plus board — I was ready to write some code.
Q&A
by Russell Kincaid
Q&A | September 2009
Solar panel voltage regulator, op-amps and diodes, current sensing motor control, plus more.
Near Space
by L. Paul Verhage
Near Space | September 2009
I’m always on the look-out for neat stuff to do. So, when Mike Manes of EOSS posted over the GPSL* email list that Harbor Freight had discounted a vacuum pump that might be suitable for near space testing, I couldn’t resist. My creation takes near space testing to new lows and represents a unique use for an air-tight flour container that the manufacturer surely hadn’t intended.
The Spin Zone
by Jon Williams
LCDs & Things… oh my!
It must have been 1994 when I discovered how much I enjoy character LCDs. Like so many others, I got started thanks to Scott Edwards and his articles here in Nuts & Volts.
The Design Cycle
by Fred Eady
USB To Ethernet Using Microchip’s Free Stacks: Part 2
Now that we’ve had a taste of the free Microchip TCP/IP and USB stacks, it’s time to put the chocolate in the peanut butter. As promised, this month we’ll put a Microchip PIC18F14K50 Low Pin Count USB microcontroller in front of a PIC18F67J60 Ethernet microcontroller and put another RS-232 converter IC out to pasture.
Personal Robotics
by Vern Graner
The Dungeon Keeper
So, how about we make an animatronic body for our talking skull and put him in a creepy coffin so he can beckon them forward with a flickering candle? Though this may sound like a pretty big project, it's actually rather straight-forward and, if you start now, you should be able to have your own Dungeon Keeper ready to thrill the kids and wow the parents for this Halloween!
Developing Perspectives
by Bryan Bergeron
The results of a DIY project writing custom code for a Node MCU micro-controller to control addressable LEDs.
8 bit microcontroller with 20kByte of internal Flash-ROM, 256x8bit RAM, 8051-compatible
Size is about 7mm x 4mm
This is a binary clock that was built into a 3d-printed case created in Minecraft. It shows the current time in a binary coded decimal format.
The model was exported with the free tool Mineways and printed on a Zprinter 650 3d-printer, with a block size of 125mm^3 (so every block has an edge length of 5mm). After printing, LEDs were glued into the case after filing the openings a bit wider. Then, the LEDs were soldered to form a 4x4 LED matrix, and the matrix was connected to an Arduino board.
A technical description of the setup as well as downloads of the model and the code can be found here: postapocalypticresearchinstitute.wordpress.com/2012/07/18...
Insect robot build after the description in Oreilly Make Arduino Bots and Gadgets
Details: Have to add some rubber feet to give it more grip on the floor.
Video of V 0.0.1.2 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHLnzWc7X3I
More pictures and another video here: xinchejian.com/2011/04/11/insect-robot-from-lumi/
The Atmel AVRISP MkII USB programmer, one of the popular, low-cost variety.
Photo taken to accompany short article on working with AVR microcontrollers, and making minimalist target boards for programming them.
Visitors to our family blog can launch a car from our closet for our toddler to play with. I built a simple gravity-powered car launcher that is controlled by the web site. Clicking "Launch Car Now!" on the web site results in a sound clip from the movie "Cars" playing in our living room, followed by a car shooting out from under the coat closet door. The website uses a bit of PHP to send an email to my wife's computer, which happens to sit in the living room next to the coat closet. I created a filter in Apple Mail to run an AppleScript when a correctly coded email comes through. The AppleScript pauses iTunes and raises the system volume of the computer before activating a small applet I wrote in the Processing language. The Processing applet plays a bit of Lightning McQueen (main character in "Cars") psyching himself up before a big race. The applet then sends an "l" to the serial port, where the car launcher's Basic Stamp II microcontroller is patiently waiting. The BSII opens the sliding garage door on the launcher exactly one bay. There are five bays, for five cars. I set up little tabs to interrupt an infrared beam as the edge of each opening is reached. Once a given bay is open, gravity pulls the toy car out and down the ramp. Momentum carries it under the closed closet door and across the floor to the excited toddler. After receiving each launch command (each clicked "Launch Car Now! from the web site), the launcher will release one car and then wait for another command, progressing until the door is completely open and all cars have been released. The launcher door will then close and wait to be reloaded. The PHP on the web server makes sure the "Launch Car Now!" link is only available during usual playtime hours and also limits the number of cars launched to five per day.
This is my simple circuit with preamp module inserted to display music on a VGA monitor like on an oscilloscope.
For more details go to :
Microchip expanded its Arduino™ compatible chipKIT™ platform ecosystem to include a new Raspberry Pi® tool that it co-developed with partner element14—the chipKIT Pi Expansion Board. On the software side, volunteers from the chipKIT and Arduino communities collaborated with Microchip’s engineers to expand the free chipKIT Multi-Platform IDE (MPIDE), to allow users to create, compile and program Arduino sketch-based chipKIT applications within the Raspberry Pi operating system. The chipKIT MPIDE is open source and compatible with the Arduino programming language and development environment. Both of these tools are based on Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers (MCUs) in prototyping-friendly, low pin count SPDIP packages, which was previously only available with 8-bit MCUs for the Arduino community. This enables all users—including hobbyists, academics, makers and professionals—to benefit from the PIC32’s high performance, memory and integrated peripherals while using the basic hobbyist prototyping equipment that is found in most home workshops. For more info, visit chipkit.net/.