Turn-key PCB assembly services in prototype quantities or low-volume to mid-volume production runs

Interfacing IDE hard drive with 82C55 microcontroller

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Have you ever thought about of having huge amount of backup memory in your embedded system. The only cheap way is to connect IDE hard drive. And it seems that interfacing IDE isn’t that hard as it may seem.   The software provided for download doesn’t support any of file system formats like FAT16, FAT32 or any other. It just provides ability to access raw sectors. With 82C55 microcontroller running at 14.7456MHz reading speed reached 24 kbytes/s. Continue reading

AVR Network Time Protocol Clock

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There are many time servers around the world that provide reliable time by using NTP (Network Time protocol). Everyone can connect to these serves and receive exact time via this simple protocol. Read more about how does it work in https://www.pool.ntp.org/. Guido Socher from tuxgraphics.org has built nice simple NTP client that can request for time packets from server and display this data on LCD.   He used one of his AVR ethernet boards where simple server application allows easily configure clock settings like NTP server address, time offset, Clock address and more. The web server has also a second page where current time is displayed – the same as on LCD. Author provides ideas on how to build clock, ad even provides source code, but if you just want to have this clock on your table really fast on then buy a kit from https://shop.tuxgraphics.org/ and support Guido for his nice ideas. Continue reading

Mixer of two servo signals for V-Tailed airplanes

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This is nice tiny project that RC hobbyist may find useful. Mixer takes teo servo control signals and provides the sum and differential on two output channels. It can be used to control two servos of V tailed airplane or any other vehicle which has differential driving system.   V-Tail mixer uses Attiny13 AVR microcontroller and just few elements. So it is lightweight that makes it ideal for modeling. It’s other features are: Compatible with standard servo pulses (1ms…2ms); High 1200points resolution; Two Futaba standard servo input and output connectors; Selectable Fail-safe function (middle servo position or no output servo pulse); Small size: 40mm x 15mm x 6mm; Assembly source code is available for download and compile. Continue reading

Turn ON or OFF TV with TV-B-Gone

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Are you tired of LCD TV’s around you in public place, or restaurant. Tired of advertisements while you want to have peaceful time. Didn’t you think how good it would be to have magic remote control that could turn those annoying screens off. TV-B-Gone kit might be just what you need.   This fantastic remote can turn off almost all popular TV’s including latest plazma. Thanks to 4 IR LEDs used, distance may reach more than 100ft. The device uses Attiny85V microcontroller for storing 50 most common codes. You can download project files or buy a kit, and this way support author for nice ideas. Continue reading

Control up to 8 devices with IR remote

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This cool device can be used in many areas. You can connect up to 8 different devices to 8 relays and control them remotely with IR transmitter.   The whole system consist of two parts: IR transmitter and receiver with controlled relays. Transmitter sends RC5 format IR signals modulated to 38kHz carrier. Code is generated by PIC16F630 microcontroller depending on which key is pressed. Receiver also has same PIC16F630 on board which decodes received signal and activates related relay. If you like this project you can build it by yourself as all necessary files are available for download. Continue reading

Simple and cheap AT89S learning board

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If you decide to learn microcontrollers you always need a real board to test programs in reality. Using development boards rather than simulators is more exciting as you can see really working results…or not:). Tahan Prahara have developed simple cheap AT89Sxx development board that every beginner can build for learning assembly or C language programming.     Board can be equipped with one of 40pin MSC-51 series microcontrollers: 89S51, 89S52 or 89S53. S letter means that these microcontrollers are ISP programmable. Board schematic is simple as it has plain 32 GPIO pins available including serial port communication TxD and RxD pins. It is powered via simple 5V voltage regulator circuit. ISP programming adapter probably is the lowest budget. Personally me – I wouldn’t recommend to use it without additional protection circuitry like 74HC244 buffering. But anyway this also works ok if there is no power problems. PCB is single side and easy to build by using any methods you use at home including Laser printer toner transfer or ultraviolet exposing. Continue reading