301 Moved Permanently

Posted September 30, 2011 by Chris

If you have an old DE1 board from Altera, this article will interest you. It clones the Sega Genesis console and allows you to play a few of the old school games that the Genesis had. Project files are stored in google’s code repository with a tiny bit of documentation (I really wish there was more).

Posted September 29, 2011 by Chris

If you want to make a super simple I/O system that anyone can use, the ps/2 keyboard and a standard 16×2 LCD is all you need. This article explains how to display input from a PS/2 keyboard on a 16×2 lcd with a few example ‘commands’ like backspace and delete. PS/2 and 16×2 LCD theory is explained, the hardware schematic is included and the software available in the article.

Posted September 28, 2011 by Chris

With Flash memory being everywhere these days and extremely cheap, you’d be crazy not to try and understand how to interface to at least one flash memory device. This article uses a sourceforge project to build up an MMC memory device to RS232 serial converter. Hardware schematics and software are available for download.

Posted September 27, 2011 by Chris

A “fan cart” is a roughly constant-force device used in introductory physics labs. It consists of a fan (usually a model airplane propeller on a brushed DC motor) mounted on top of a low-friction cart. This article gives a quick overview of the design and includes the software used to make the system work. Take a look!

Posted September 26, 2011 by Chris

This little spider (only 6 legs!) uses some sensors and a Stamp (or PIC) to navigate its way about the world. The article describes how it was built and the custom software that accompanies the project. Also, the article is in german so if you’re not a Deutscher/Österreicher/Schweizer be sure to google translate it.

Posted September 25, 2011 by Chris

The watchdog timer is something most embedded designers put off learning about until it’s necessary, primarily because it’s not typically necessary. However, when you begin designing for very redundant systems for space or autonomy, you will have to use it. This article covers what this thing is and how it is used. Some software examples are included.

Posted September 24, 2011 by Chris

Simulink is a part of a larger engineering tool called MatLab and has a wide variety of design and test functions. This article shows you how to use SimuLink to build functional system models for a PIC microcontroller using simulink blocks. Code is generated by simulink and downloaded to the PIC. It is just as easy as it sounds, so take a look at microchip’s simulink blockset.

Posted September 23, 2011 by Chris

“Art Bots are autonomous machines that paint or draw on a canvas, sheet of paper or a surface of some kind. Systems that utilizes this concept are currently used widely to create generative or algorithmic art. Some Art Bots that were created, walk around the surface of a canvas and paint a composition predetermined by the image or video they use as reference.”

Posted September 22, 2011 by Chris

This week’s PyroElectro article dives into the PS/2 protocol. Using a PIC microcontroller and a standard PS/2 keyboard, learn how to make your own keyboard interface that translates keypresses and outputs them to a 7 segment LED display. The article explains the theory and has all the hardware schematics and software used in the design available for download.

Posted September 21, 2011 by Chris

“Flyback transformers are found in monitors, TVs or anything with a CRT, and are sometimes known as Line OutPut Transformers, or just LOPT. They are used for generating high voltage for the CRT, which is needed to create an electric field, which in turn accelerates electrons towards the screen, which finally excite phosphors and create the image you see.”