Inspired by various LED Throwies, blinking LEDs and similar instructables I wanted to do my version of an LED controlled by a microcontroller.
The idea is to make the LED blinking sequence reprogrammable. This reprogramming can be done with light and shadow, e.g. you could use your flashlight.
This is my first instructable, any comments or corrections are welcome.
Update 12/08/2008: There is now a kit available at the Tinker Store.
Here is a video of reprogramming it. Sorry for the quality.
The idea is to make the LED blinking sequence reprogrammable. This reprogramming can be done with light and shadow, e.g. you could use your flashlight.
This is my first instructable, any comments or corrections are welcome.
Update 12/08/2008: There is now a kit available at the Tinker Store.
Here is a video of reprogramming it. Sorry for the quality.
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Signing UpStep 1: How it works
An LED is used as output. As input I used an LDR, a light dependent resistor. This LDR changes its resistor as it receives more or less light. The resistor is then used as analog input to the microprocessors ADC (analog digital converter).
The controller has two modes of operation, one for recording a sequence, the other for playing back the recorded sequence.
Once the controller notices two changes of brightness within half of a second, (dark, bright, dark or the other way round), it switches to recording mode. In recodring mode the input of the LDR is measured multiple times a second and stored on the chip. If the memory is exhausted, the controller switches back to playback mode and starts to play the recorded sequence.
As the memory of this tiny controller is very limited, 64 bytes (yes, bytes!), the controller is able to record 400 bits. That is space enough for 10 seconds with 40 samples per second.
The controller has two modes of operation, one for recording a sequence, the other for playing back the recorded sequence.
Once the controller notices two changes of brightness within half of a second, (dark, bright, dark or the other way round), it switches to recording mode. In recodring mode the input of the LDR is measured multiple times a second and stored on the chip. If the memory is exhausted, the controller switches back to playback mode and starts to play the recorded sequence.
As the memory of this tiny controller is very limited, 64 bytes (yes, bytes!), the controller is able to record 400 bits. That is space enough for 10 seconds with 40 samples per second.
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What happens when the memory runs out?
Simple but nice.
Keep up the good 'ibles. :)
Also i think i may copy your method of "Ubersimple-3V-supply". Simply mindblowing ;)
5/5
Which am i supposed to program?
What is the other one for?
Good luck! and please reply back with any more questions.
Thanks
http://enigmaker.org/post_project4_reveal.html
for this type (attiny13 is an AVR chip) u can use the ghetto programmer described by the real elliot (just search it here) that works with the serial (printer) port of ur PC
or make/buy a USBtiny from www.ladyada.net that's a bit more expensive, but it works with ur USB port and doesnt need a power source.
hope it helped, if u have questions about the ghetto programmer, just PM me.
Great ideas !
The freestyle assembly and minimal parts make it a less is more thing.
Thinking it might be interesting to maybe use a few more parts to make it look like a man or robot or something.
Your tutorial is very simple im sure, but is there a chance you could point me to a ultra nubby circuit programing tutorial?
Any help would be good as ive never tackled this before.
I answered exactly this question (scroll down a bit to see it).
and i AM HOPE TO BE FUN WITH GOOD HEALTH.
Your tutorial is very simple im sure, but is there a chance you could point me to a ultra nubby circuit programing tutorial?
Any help would be good as ive never tackled this before.
take a look at http://www.avrfreaks.net
They have nice tutorials.
Or, another good starting point, especially for software developers, is the Arduino project. Really easy to get started.
http://arduino.cc
The recorded sequence is stored in RAM, so it would be lost if the battery goes dead. But you could store the sequence in EEPROM.
looking at your nick, I assume you are living in a german speaking country?
For cheap ATtiny, have a look at: http://www.csd-electronics.de/de/index.htm
They have breadboards and other components as well. For a programmer, check out the USBtinyISP from adafruits.
Cheers,
Alex