FAQ  

Circuit Cellar is the Contest Administrator for the DesignStellaris2006 Contest (“Contest”). If you can’t find the answer to your question below, please contact us at contest@circuitcellar.com.

Eligibility
Registration & Registration Number
Eligible Devices
Kit Samples
Entry Materials (abstract, documentation, code)
File Formats
Submission Methods/Deadline
Winning (how to win, what happens when you win, etc.)

I am not a U.S. resident. May I enter the Contest?
Yes. The Contest is open anyone who is 18 years or older as of October 3, 2006, regardless of your place of residence. However, foreign entrants are cautioned to review the laws in the country or province in which they reside to determine if they are prohibited from participating.

I work for a major distributor that sells Luminary Micro and/or Keil Software components. Am I eligible to enter the Contest?
No, you are not eligible to enter. Major distributors of Luminary Micro or Keil Software products are considered affiliates. Direct employees of Circuit Cellar, Luminary Micro, or Keil Software, their affiliates, and their advertising, promotion, and production agencies, as well as members of their immediate families, are ineligible.

May I submit multiple entries?
Yes. You may submit as many entries as you want.

Each project must have its own Registration Number. Complete a Registration Form for each project you intend to submit.

May I submit a project that I submitted to a previous Circuit Cellar design contest ?
Technically, yes. However, you must comply with the official rules of this Contest.

If you submit a project that you submitted previously, we strongly advise you to modify your original project by improving it and/or adding new features. Don't simply change the core processor. When the Contest concludes, we will select a number of entries to post at www.circuitcellar.com/designstellaris2006/. The uniqueness of a project will be a key factor in this decision. We may be less inclined to select a project that is exactly the same as a project that has been posted for a previous contest.

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Do I have to register for the Contest?
Yes. Complete a Registration Form to register for the Contest.

After you register, you will receive your Registration Number, which you must use to label your entry.

Is there a registration deadline?
Technically, no. Registration is required. However, we don’t want to penalize anyone rushing at the last minute. If you forget to register in advance of the Contest deadline, you may still submit an entry. You will be required to complete a Registration Form shortly thereafter.

When I register for the Contest, will I be automatically entered to receive a development sample?
No. If you want to request a sample, you must fill out the sample Request Form.

What is a Registration Number?
A Registration Number is a six-character alphanumeric code (for example, LM9999) that you will receive after registering your project for the Contest. This Registration Number should be used to label your entry.

May I include my name in my entry materials?
No. Do NOT put your name on any materials that will be judged. Your name should not appear on your abstract, complete documentation, schematic, photograph, block diagram, other diagrams, or code files. Use your Registration Number to label these files.

May I include my name in e-mails I send to contest@circuitcellar.com?
Yes. Staff members at Circuit Cellar are the only people who will see your e-mails. The judges will not see your e-mails. The judges will only see your entry materials. Please DO include your name in all correspondence with us. Also, please include your Registration Number in the subject line of all correspondence with us.

If I’m working with co-designers, do each of us need to register?
No. One person should register for the group. After registering, you will receive one Registration Number to label your entry.

If I’m entering more than one project in the Contest, do I need more than one Registration Number?
Yes. Each entry must have a separate Registration Number. Fill out a Registration Form for each project you intend to submit.

By entering this contest or requesting a development sample, will my contact information be sold to third parties?
No. Your contact information will be used by Luminary Micro, Keil Software and Circuit Cellar personnel only. All Privacy Act conditions apply.

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What devices must I use with my project?
The eligible devices are:

Stellaris MCU product family (any LM3Sxxx device), and the project software must be developed using Keil’s RealView Microcontroller Development Kit.

Can I use a third-party commercial board or a Luminary Micro/Keil Software development system?
Yes, as long as the third-party board uses a Stellaris MCU (any LM3Sxxx device), and the project software is developed using Keil’s RealView.  We recommend that you redraw the schematic of any commercial product in order to highlight your hardware circuitry. Your photograph should show your actual hardware, even if you use a commercial development system.

E-mail contest@circuitcellar.com if you have any questions

Can I use commercial code?
Yes, in some cases. The majority of your source code should not come from a commercial source though. If you use commercial code, you must specify the product you used, the manufacturer/supplier, and which parts of your code are commercial. 

You cannot use commercial code if the manufacturer/supplier prohibits the posting of the code that you include with your entry. You cannot use commercial code if you are not allowed to use the commercial run-time libraries and shareware in your entry.

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How do I request a Luminary Micro/Keil Software Evaluation Kit sample?
You must fill out the Sample Request Form.

When I register for the Contest, will I automatically receive an Evaluation Kit sample?
No. If you want to request a kit sample, you must fill out the Kit Request Form. Kits samples will be given to eligible Contest participants on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last.

Is the Evaluation Kit free? Do I have to pay shipping and handling costs?
The kit is free to eligible Contest participants on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. Shipping and handling are free.

By entering the Contest or requesting a development Kit sample, will my contact information be sold to third parties?
No. Your contact information will be used by Luminary Micro, Keil Software and Circuit Cellar personnel only. All Privacy Act conditions apply.

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Your entry must include certain materials: an abstract, complete documentation, and source code. For detailed explanations about the required entry materials, click here.

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What file formats are acceptable?

• Word doc
• ASCII
• GIF
• JPG
• TIF
• BMP
• EPS
• EAGLE sch
• No PDF

What should I feature in the photograph? What file formats are acceptable?
Your photograph should show your complete project. See file formats in the answer above.

If you embed your photograph in a text file, you must also include a separate file. High-resolution (around 300 dpi) images that are approximately 4 × 4 inches are preferred. Please do not resize or manipulate the photograph in any other way.

What fonts are acceptable?
Use something standard like:

• Arial
• Courier New
• Helvetica
• Times New Roman

For more information about formatting, click here.

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When should I send in my entry?
The deadline is 1:00 PM EST on February 7, 2007. It makes sense to submit your entry early. If you submit your entry at least a few business days prior to the deadline, you’ll give us time to check for corrupt files and missing elements. If your zip won’t open, for example, we would have time to e-mail you so you could send a replacement by the deadline.

To whom should I e-mail my entry?
E-mail your entry to the Contest Administrator at contest@circuitcellar.com. Do NOT e-mail it to any other e-mail address. Doing so might cause confusion if we receive multiple copies of the same entry.

What should I do if I think my e-mail did not go through?
If you need to resend your entry, please specify that in the subject line of your subsequent e-mails. Otherwise, there might be confusion if we receive multiple e-mails from you.

What should I do if my entry files are large?
We can accept files of any size. However, if your ISP restricts the size of e-mails, you may need to send your entry in parts. If you have to send a series of e-mails, please indicate that in the subject line of your e-mails. For example:

1 of 3, LM9999 entry abstract
2 of 3, LM9999 entry documentation
3 of 3, LM9999 entry code

Can I mail my digital entry instead of e-mailing it?
Yes. We prefer to receive digital files by e-mail, but you may send a CD-ROM or disk. Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than 1:00 PM EST on February 7, 2007. See the Register & Enter page for more information.

Should my entry be digital or hard copy?
We prefer digital files. If you cannot send digital files, we will accept hard copies. When sending a hard copy entry, you must include four copies of the entire entry. Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than 1:00 PM EST on February 7, 2007. See the Register & Enter page for more information.

Will I receive confirmation when my entry is received?
Yes. You will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your entry within two business days. E-mails are usually sent sooner, but processing may take up to two days. E-mail confirmations will be sent during business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST).

Tip: If you want to ensure that you receive confirmation prior to the Contest deadline, submit your entry early. As you can imagine, we’ll be busy at the end of the contest. Turnaround time for confirmation will be faster if you submit your entry at least a few business days before the deadline.

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What types of projects win design contests?
The goal of the Contest is to showcase the functionality of the eligible Stellaris microcontrollers. Both hardware- and software-based applications are acceptable. The entries will be judged equally on technical merit, originality, usefulness, cost-effectiveness, and design optimization. It would be smart to highlight these achievements in your documentation. Call attention to your project’s special features.

How do I put together an entry that will impress the judges?
 #1: Follow the rules. #2: Provide thorough documentation of your project. #3: Organize your entry so it’s easy for the judges to find everything.

For detailed instructions on how to prepare your entry and to view two example entries, click here.

When will winners be notified?
Winners will be notified via e-mail or postal mail on or about March 16, 2007. The list of winners will be posted on or about April 3, 2007 at http://www.circuitcellar.com/designstellaris2006/.

If I win and have to send in my finished project, will it be returned?
Yes. If you are chosen as a winner, you may be required to ship your project to us for evaluation. Your project will be returned to you.

Are there other opportunities besides the Contest prizes?
Sure! We traditionally post noteworthy entries alongside the winning entries. This is a great opportunity for you to get noticed in the field and be recognized for your design skills.

Additionally, we’re always looking for new articles for Circuit Cellar magazine. If you design a great application, we may contact you about writing an article.

Enter your project by February 7, 2007!