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Issue #227 June 2009 — Communications
Task Manager
Forward-Thinking Designers, by C. J. Abate
Priority Interrupt
Lawns and Ponds, by Steve Ciarcia
New Product News, edited by John Gorsky
FEATURE ARTICLES
Keystroke Communication
Design a Customizable Virtual Keyboard
by Naweed Paya & Venkat Ganesh
You can build a customizable virtual keyboard around a microcontroller and some additional affordable parts. This flat keyboard design is the size of a piece of standard paper, which makes it perfect for use at a desk or on an airplane tray table. p. 14
Keywords: Keyboard, paper, ATmega32, laser, camera, OV6630, I2C, C3038, color sensor, PS/2
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
SSI Controller for Linear-Position Sensors
by Robert Bowen
For many applications, retrieving sensor readings requires an SSI controller. But it can be expensive. Robert presents an affordable solution for building your own SSI readout display for position sensors. p. 30
Keywords: Position sensor, linear, SSI, synchronous serial interface, magnetostrictive, pulse train, P89C668, DS8922, LCD, LCD0821
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
Autonomous Vehicle Design
Embedded Systems, Sensor Technology, and Motor Control
by Chris Britney, Paul Green, Andy Heath, Stephen Lau, and Kylee Lathrop
Autonomous vehicles and mobile applications are becoming increasingly incorporated in the military, industrial, and healthcare industries. This autonomous vehicle design implements the full potential of embedded, sensor, and modular electronic technologies. p. 42
Keywords: Autonomous vehicle, motor control, Linux, C++, GPS, OpenCV, IR avoidance, stepper, PIC18F4620, VNH2SP30, camera, SRF08, SPCNC900
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
COLUMNS
INTELLIGENT ENERGY SOLUTIONS — ABOVE THE GROUND PLANE
Solar Data Logger (Part 2)
Data Points
by Ed Nisely
With a redesigned layout, better power supplies, and a superior inductor, Ed’s solar data logger project is back on track. Here he presents the new circuitry and covers the topics of inductor core saturation, PWM filtering (and ripple), and solar panel output. p. 22
Keywords: Solar, PV, data logger, MAX4372, Arduino Diecimila, PWM, filter, inductor core, MPP
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
THE DARKER SIDE
High-Speed Signal Transmission
From Eye Diagrams to Preemphasis and Equalization
by Robert Lacoste
When it comes to high-speed signal transmission, there’s more than meets the eye. Robert simplifies the topic in this thorough explanation of signal transmission theory. He describes transmission techniques on low-bandwidth cables, and covers the important subjects of preemphasis, equalization, and inter-symbol interference. p. 52
Keywords: Signal transmission, eye diagram, preemphasis, equalization, twisted-pair cable, inter-symbol interference, ISI
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
FROM THE BENCH
Location Notification
A Look at Anisotropic Magnetoresistance Sensors
by Jeff Bachiochi
Electronic compasses are an affordable alternative to GPS technology for some embedded designs. After introducing the topic of magnetoresistance, Jeff describes how he used an anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensor to add navigation capabilities to a recent design. p. 60
Keywords: Anisotropic magnetoresistance sensor, AMR, GPS, HMC5843, magnetic field, location, error, tilt, PIC18F2450
(A link to the article will be emailed to you.)
SILICON UPDATE
Easy (E)mbed
An Alternative Approach to Embedded Programming
by Tom Cantrell
Thanks to the march of silicon designing hardware these days is as simple as choosing which of the latest and greatest wunderchips to use. Ah, but software, well, that’s another story. There’s no Moore’s Law for software and it isn’t getting any easier. Maybe it’s time for a change. p. 68
Keywords: LPC236x, ARM7, mbed, memory, peripherals, Ethernet, USB
CORRECTION
May 26, 2009
In Tom Cantrell’s article “Easy (E)mbed” (Circuit Cellar Issue 227, June 2009), the NXP part number should be “LPC236x” (not LPC263x) . The editorial department apologizes for the confusion. (Click here for an updated version of the article that reflects the proper part numbers.)
BONUS FEATURE ARTICLE
Time-Triggered Systems (Part 3) — Read
it now!
Tackle Data Acquisition
by Michael Smith & Lizie Dunling-Smith
In their last article, Mike and Lizie described how to add a GUI to a co-operative scheduler and then obtain detailed timing information while developing a multitask audio project. Now they present a revised Theremin system design. They also describe how make a co-operative scheduler recover from various data acquisition issues.
(As appeared with Circuit Cellar Digital Plus May 2009 issue. Subscribers get immediate access to Bonus Materials. Click here for Digial Plus subscription options)
PREVIEW
Issue #228 July 2009 — Internet & Connectivity
◊ Internet Weather Display
◊ Master Control: Implement an I2C Master Bus Controller in an FPGA
◊ Web Camera
◊ iMash: Design an Ethernet-Controlled HERMS
◊ LESSONS FROM THE TRENCHES C Start-Up: Get a C Program Up and Running
◊ FROM THE BENCH Embedded Speak: A Text Library for Allophone Translation
◊ SILICON UPDATE LiOn King: A Look at “Battery-in-a-Chip” Technology
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