Magic Locket

This microcontroller-enhanced locket makes a great present and in this instructable you will find how to build your own. While implementing this project you will also learn all basic things required to program PICAXE-08 microcontroller and find out how to get 3 PWM channels from a microcontroller that has just one.
 

Step 1 Video Overview

Check out this video for a quick demo and build process overview.

Comments

[Bot1398]

Cant we just use the disconnect commant and then remove the 10k resistor as a pull up.

[maxsuit]

How to connect DB-9 connector... On bread-board...??
dis is my 1st time so i need ur help plz...
tell me...

Thank you

[mikhalchuk]

probably the easiest way is to solder some solid (not stranded) wire to the 3 pins you need from DB9 and insert them into the breadboard. DB9s unfortunately not breadboard-friendly as is.
BTW, Sparkfun also sell breadboard-friendly breakout boards for DB9.

[triumphman]

Don't think this will work, the locket is too small for what has to go into it. I 'm pretty sure the guts are to big. How can you prove it will work? This is also not workable to those who do not have the wherewithal to complete this project as shown. Too technical for your everyday instructable folks. Nice locket though!

[mikhalchuk]

Sure, check out the video. Some sanding paper and a file help to fit large chips into small lockets :)
In fact if you manage to solder SMD version of PICAXE you can fit it inside easily.

I agree with "too technical" for most people, but I found a lot of very smart and skilled people here on instructables doing much more complex things. So hopefully someone will use this to make a cool present to the loved ones.

[flyingpuppy]

Stunning! I can't believe this is a DIY!!!! Congrats, btw.

[mikhalchuk]

Thanks flyingpuppy!

[Davercles]

This is a very cool instructable! Thank you for sharing.
My question is: Do you know how long the battery will last in this configuration and with the programming used to make the instrucable?
Thx! Davercles

[mikhalchuk]

Thanks Davercles,

I didn't do full-blown testing, but it sure can run for a few hours based on tests I made.

Andrey

[sengrath]

Hi Mikhalchuk , I cannot find in Romania the Picaxe microchip. and it's kind of costly to get it from UK , as I only want to build one . I have at my disposal one 12f675 microchip can I use this one instead ? how will the programmer need to be changed? Thank you

[mikhalchuk]

sengrath,

Sorry, I don't know that as I'm not a PICAXE guy (I like atmels more). My guess would be that exactly the same programmer will work for 12f675, you just need to check the pinout for that chip and map it to PICAXE. I could be wrong though.

Andrey

[AndyGadget]

 
Very nice little project!
The 08M isn't quite fast enough to do full control of brightness using mark / space ratios without flicker but using the servo command as you've done is a neat way around it, even though it doesn't give you control up to full brightness. 
You're actually running with a very low mark-space ratio - 0 to 2.55 ms in a 20ms frame, but you've no current limiting so it all averages out and the main thing is - It works, it fits and it's bright enough.  ( Who needs design rules anyway #;¬)

With Valentine's day coming up I may do something similar using a flat square 'Pirhana' type LED.

[mikhalchuk]

AndyGadget,

Thank you for the comment and useful info.

Magic locket-2 is coming, it will be even better. I hope to have it published here soon.

Regards,
Andrey

[AndyGadget]

Something you don't mention anywhere is connecting pin2 of the PicAxe to 0V once it's removed from the breadboard. This is important as letting it float makes the micro prone to random resets.
Watching the video more closely I see you do mention shimmering. If that's a problem then upping the frequency (setfreq M8) would reduce it. (But you probably know that already #;¬)

[mikhalchuk]

Well, the frequency is actually set somewhere in the top of the code and it's easy to change, but I decided to stick to 8MHz hoping this will let it run longer from the tiny batteries I use.
Thanks for the floating pin note!

[IHawkins]

Awesome idea. I live in Perth WA and wouldn't have a clue where to get all of these parts. Do you make and sell these? If so can I get 2 of you

[mikhalchuk]

IHawkins, you can get all these from ebay.com except for the locket which I've got from amazon.com. But you can use any hollow jewelry with and fill it with electronics.

[benjamin.singleton]

Could you tell us the name of the locket you got Amazon, I'd love to do this as a present for a friend, and it'd be easier if I didn't have to spend most of the time locket-shopping ;) Thanks so much for the awesome instructable!

[rcbailey]

The Picaxe 08M is also available in a Surface Mount version that is slightly smaller. Careful soldering directly to the leads would reduce the overall size further.

[mikhalchuk]

rcbailey, Thanks for the idea!

I also think some people will find using SOIC from the beginning, easier to than faking/baking one from PDIP :) The reason why I chose PDIP is because
- it can be easily used in breadboard prototypes
- it doesn't require any advanced soldering skills
I hope this sounds reasonable.

[Hume]

This is a great project! I wonder if it would be possible to incorporate RFID into it, so that you could make two lockets that only glow in the presence of the other. Do you think that would be doable?

[mikhalchuk]

Hume, thanks for the great idea!

I don't think it is easy to fit RFID reader into this particular locket though. Even the tag that would fit it would have very limited range. Maybe it could be done with a larger piece of jewelry?

[godofal]

nice instructable
you could get it even smaller by using rainbow LED (search it on ebay) those have a chip inside them to make them fade between colours automatically
you'd only need to supply it with 3V

[mikhalchuk]

Yeap, I mentioned those in the rtfms.com blog (it provides more information than the instructable). The "slow" rainbow LEDs produce similar effect, but they are not programmable, so you can't change the pattern.

I also wanted this instructable to be a tutorial for PICAXE.

[rondadon]

Can you give the dimensions for the locket you used, in millimeters? Like you said, the one you used isn't available on Amazon now and it's hard to tell what size will fit the components. Thanks!

[mikhalchuk]

Found it!
http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Silver-Filigree-Marcasite-Necklace/dp/B000J4DDH4

The outside dimensions are 17.6mm x 22.5mm x 10.3mm. It's difficult to measure inside dimensions, but it is at least 25% smaller inside because of the rims.

Unfortunately PDIP-8 and 5mm LED won't fit it without removing some extra plastic.

[rondadon]

That's great, thank you so much. Can't wait to give this a try.

[Korunks]

Where did you get the locket? I like the style and want to get one.

[mikhalchuk]

Korunks, here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Silver-Filigree-Marcasite-Necklace/dp/B000J4DDH4

[mikhalchuk]

Here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=locket&x=0&y=0 :)

It looks like Amazon doesn't have exactly the same one anymore, but they have very similar ones.

[ChrysN]

Wow, that is really pretty. Nicely done!

[mikhalchuk]

Thank you ChrysN!