Jeffledger wrote this Instructable detailing his construction of a retro-style microcomputer using a Parallax Propeller Multicore Startup Special dev kit (any Propeller board should work), an RCA Ultimate TV IR keyboard, 38 kHz IR receiver module, resistor and micro SD card with adapter. The result is a mockup of a retro computer on which you […]
Author Archives: the machinegeek
Milkymist™ open source sound visualizer
The Milkymist™ is an open source sound visualization tool. Its said to be one of the fastest open source systems on a chip capable of running uClinux. It features the LatticeMico32 processor core on a Spartan-6 FPGA (XC6SLX45). The project developed from Sebastien Bourdeauduca’s Master’s Thesis in system-on-chip design. The Milkymist™ project develops a comprehensive […]
Free webcast: PCIe design using Altera FPGAs
The PCI Express (PCIe) protocol is seeing increasing use in conjunction with FPGA based designs. In this free webcast from Altera, Jeff Wimett, Product Marketing Engineer for Altera, describes how to use FPGAs in high-bandwidth PCIe designs.
DIY workshop power drive using Parallax Propeller
Jamie at the BackyardWorkshop developed this project using a Parallax Propeller Proto board and an Easydriver stepper driver from Sparkfun to build this homemade workshop power drive for a lathe / mill / drill. The project costs around $50 in parts, representing a major cost savings over buying a manufactured unit at $300 – $500. […]
Zilog Zmotion sensor
Zilog has introduced the Zmotion intrusion detection solution. The Zmotion Z8FS021A consists of a PIR and a high-performance microcontroller with integrated motion-detection algorithms. According to the product specification, the device includes a high-performance eZ8 MCU core, 2 KB in-circuit programmable Flash available for application code, single-pin debug with unlimited breakpoints, internal precision oscillator running at […]
Updated MRF24J40 library code
KarlP from the website “False and misleading information” has written this AVR code library for the MRF24J40 802.15.4 radio chip. The MRF24J40 operates in the 2.4 GHz band and supports ZigBee™, MiWi™ protocols and proprietary protocols. It interfaces with an MCU via a four-wire SPI interface.
Radio Shack seeking input from DIY enthusiasts
As part of their participation in the recent Maker Faire, Radio Shack is seeking your input on what type of DIY components and products you would like to see in their stores. Leave a comment at this RS webpage with the top three DIY-focused parts, pieces, or products that you would like to be able […]
Microchip expands low pin count, enhanced mid-range 8-bit PIC® microcontroller family
Microchip recently announced the latest additions to its Enhanced Mid-Range core 8-bit PIC® microcontroller (MCU) family, the low pin count PIC12F(LF)1840 and PIC16F(LF)1847. Features include MI2C, SPI, and EUSART (w/auto baud) interfaces, and an ECCP (Enhanced/Capture Compare PWM) Module, along with the usual ADC, DAC, capacitive touch sensor channels, 256 bytes of EEPROM and In […]
Si4707 weather band radio receiver ICs
NashblackCat writes to inform us of a chip that reads weather radio data: Silicon Laboratories makes an IC Weather Band (WB) radio called the Si4707. This IC is capable of using the specific area message encoding (SAME) and also supports the detection of the 1050Hz alert tone that is used by the National Weather Service. […]
Touchstone Semi Coolest Op Amp design competition
Touchtone Semiconductor is a startup company whose products include an op amp known as the TS1001, which they say is the only such component to operate on 0.8 V and 0.6uA. They’ve announced a Coolest Op Amp design competition for developers who incorporate the TS1001 into their designs. See the Touchstone Semi’s website for a […]
Maker Faire: Jeri’s brain wave light bulb
At Maker Faire SF, Jeri Ellsworth demonstrated this project which uses an Analog Devices AD620 instrumentation amplifier to read electrical impulses and show activity on a wearable LED light bulb head gear.
Pachube controlled RGB LED
Andy from the UK was looking to build a simple proof of concept project which would integrate an Arduino and ENC28J60 based ethernet shield (or a Nanode) to connect with his Pachube account to control an RGB LED. He says: This article describes a simple application to demonstrate the ENC28J60 EtherShield library. It can be […]
Arduino-tiny: ATtiny core for Arduino
Here’s an open source code project that allows you to program the Arduino core into physically smaller DIP chips, such as the Attiny84, Attiny85 or Attiny2313.
PIR controlled LED matrix display
Sometimes it’s handy to have a message display when persons enter a specific area. Having the message appear only when someone approaches brings more attention it, and can be useful for holiday displays, directions or warnings. In this project by Jer from Volts and Bytes, an Atmega8 is used to activate a Sure Electronics 0832 […]
Command line LCD Arduino interface
Joseph Swanson from swantron likes working with the command line. He also likes working with the Arduino. So he came up with this simple project which takes the results of his command line entries and directs them over the Linux box’s USB output to the Arduino. The Arduino then displays the data on an attached […]
Purdue senior design roundup 2011
Each year the Purdue seniors in electrical and computer engineering design and construct projects as part of their coursework. For your reading and viewing pleasure, here’s a descriptive summary of the projects produced by the 15 teams participating in the this spring’s ECE477 design roundup. A summary of the rules which governed these design projects […]
Practical MC13224 firmware extraction
Travis Goodspeed wrote this article on his blog detailing his extraction of firmware from the MC13224 that had been read protected. This is the same MCU used in the Defcon 18 badge and the Redwire Econotag. He presents two methods. In one he decaps the SPI flash memory chip using nitric acid, then removes and […]
Foosball table uses Arduino to put scores on web
The gang at SinnerSchrader have combined their love of foosball and their passion for digital solutions to make the world’s first digital foosball game. The project uses optical sensors to detect the scoring of goals. These sensors are read with the Arduino which sends it over WiFi to the server which then makes it available […]
Atmel AVR Xplained dev boards
Atmel has announced their AVR Xplained series of dev boards. Atmel AVR Xplained is a series small-sized and easy-to-use evaluation kits for 8- and 32-bit AVR microcontrollers. It consists of a series of low cost MCU boards for evaluation and demonstration of feature and capabilities of different AVR familie. Example projects and code drivers are […]
Arduino to Android IO on the cheap (aka Poor Man’s NFC)
Joe Desbonnet was looking for a cheap and easy way to transfer data from an Arduino to an Android device. The hack he devised requires only a 1-meter length of wire wound into a coil, a resistor and diode. He writes: This is a little hack that allows very low bandwidth communications in one direction […]