Circuit Cellar Ink 132
July 2001

Table of Contents

6


Rob Walker

Task Manager

Are We There Yet?

9


Rick Prescott

New Product News

  • FST16450 configurable bus switch from Fairchild Semiconductor
  • HMC1052 two-axis magnetic sensor from Honeywell Solid State Electronics
  • Kilo, Mega and Giga half-brick DC/DC converters from SynQor
  • DUO-TOUCH SG machine control system from Banner Engineering Corp.

12


Marsette Vona

PDF HTML The Lighter Side of Programming

How to Improve a Singing Fish

What's the best part about being an engineer? Playing with all the gadgets! And, we see a potential project in almost anything, right? Well, Marty's here to share his vision for an embedded application inspired by a singing fish and a love for practical jokes.

Download: vona-132.ZIP

20


Steve Hsiung

Keyless Entry Control System

A simple magnetic stripe can tell a lot about a person. It also can serve to keep your loved ones, personal belongings, or office equipment safe. Steve talks shop about a keyless approach to security that's inexpensive and appropiate for just about anywhere.

Download: hsiung-132.ZIP

28


Jeff Pollard

USB, FTDI Style

Before transferring large amounts of data, you often face difficult choices. But, the answer was obvious to Jeff. He discovered that USB connectivity doesn't have to be a dire task, not when you find the right part and the right company to set the course.

Download: pollard-132.ZIP

32


Robert Lacoste

A New View

An Award-Winning 3-D Telemeter Project

It's a simple theory and isn't new, in fact, working with 3-D technology is old hat. But, with an innovative approach, Robert determined a unique way to use 3-D. And, you too can build this clever project. Afterward, you may look at the world in a whole new way.

Download: lacoste-132.ZIP

38


George Novacek

HTML Inductive Sensors

The rapid pace of change in technology constantly calls for upgrades and more variety of products. This month, George focuses on the next big thing for position sensors. So, read on to get the skinny on the newest development before it makes it to the mass market.

44


Tom Napier

Put Telepathy to the Test

As proved monthly in this magazine, there's pretty much no limit to the capabilities of embedded applications. How about designing a test to evaluate people who claim to be telepathic? Is parapsychology fictive? Even a skeptic can find intrigue in this project.

Download: napier-132.ZIP pg52.zip

Note: Corrections in INK 133 Reader I/O.

Embedded PC

54


Fred Eady

Applied PCs

Tuning the Data Radio, Wireless Data Communication

The best way to know where you're going is to know where you've been. Radios may now take a back seat to pagers and Palms, but they forged the humble beginnings for wireless technology. So, take a look at the data radio when trying to solve your data transfer problem.

60


Don Lancaster

Steplocked Magic Sine Waves

This month, Don tackles an issue facing scores of designers. Who isn't looking for an efficient way to synthesize power sine waves? Although he won't pull a rabbit out of a hat, Don will use a little magic together with Chebyshev polynomials to get the job done.

66


Jeff Bachiochi

From the Bench

The Missing (Wireless) Link

Sending data via wireless link can be tricky. Although there are no guarantees with an RF connection, Jeff says the keys to success are asking the right questions and knowing your system.

74


Tom Cantrell

PDF HTML, HTML Silicon Update

Liquid Crystal Delight

You have to love a product that has "easy" built right into the title. Aptly named Easy GUI, from Amulet Technologies, may be the answer to your prayers for a simple solution for middle-of-the-road LCDs.

81


David Tweed

HTML Test Your EQ

95

Advertiser's Index / August Preview

96


Steve Ciarcia

HTML, HTML Priority Interrupt

Trade Show Paradigms

Circuit Cellar Online


Bob Brown

PDF HTML The Future is Now

Wireless Internet-Based Remote Control Using a Pager Interface

In this article, Bob describes a simple manner of remote control using some technologies that are time-tested, stable, inexpensive, and do not require that your house be wired to the Internet. Motorola's FLEX Stack and CreataLink receiver make it possible for your weekend retreat to be ready for your arrival with home control through the use of alphanumeric pagers. What was once thought of as futuristic is right here and now.

Circuit Cellar Online


Geoff Revill

PDF HTML Which Embedded IDE is Right for You?

The embedded marketplace is changing rapidly. This growth poses a new challenge for embedded designers. IDEs help to increase productivity by integrating best-in-class, scalable tools that fit across the various stages of the development process. This month, Geoff takes us through four routes to buying by categorizing the different types of decision-makers. In the end, you'll walk away with the knowledge to determine the best IDE to suit your needs.

Circuit Cellar Online


Fred Eady

PDF HTML Fine Tuning an Embedded Idea

Part 1: The Land of BL2000

As article submission deadlines loomed, Fred needed an idea and he needed it fast. When he began to pluck the strings of his bass guitar, inspiration hit. Z-World's BL2000, a member of the Wildcat series, would be the next Circuit Cellar Online subject for him to explore. He's done his time with Rabbits, so cats are the next item in his wild-kingdom adventure.

Circuit Cellar Online


James Antonakos

PDF HTML An Electronic Liteshow Display

Part 2: Controlling the Lights with Software

This month, James moves from the hardware details to software in the second part of his series. There are still 384 lamps, all individually controlled by only three signals from the printer port, but now you can start thinking about the applications, like Ping-Pong games, a mouse maze, simple animated scenes, fireworks, or a holiday tree with blinking lights. A bit of imagination is the last ingredient in the LiteShow recipe.

Download: liteshow

Circuit Cellar Online


Steve Ciarcia

PDF HTML Take My Computer, Please!

Part 4: Is the Pen Mightier than the Sword?

Way back at the dawn of the microcomputer age, Steve Ciarcia was blazing a trail (sometimes literally) through the hardware and software issues of the era. At the request of many of our readers, we've brought back a series of articles, written by Steve, chronicling the design adventures of those early days in the Circuit Cellar. This month, it's chapter one from Take My Computer, Please!

Circuit Cellar Online


George Martin

PDF HTML Lessons from the Trenches

Connecting the Dots, Working with Board-to-Board Connectors

Don't be afraid to get creative with your daughterboard connector selections. This month, George takes us down a number of paths for adding a daughterboard to your design. The classic solution: chassis with backplane. With several manufacturers, good pricing, and availability, the moral of the story is to move with no fear in making that connection.

Circuit Cellar Online


Tom Cantrell

PDF HTML Silicon Update Online

You Say Tomato

What's the difference between a mini-van and an SUV? Is it what's under the hood, or is it in the marketing? Tom tackles the distinction between DSPs and micros this month and shows us that the line is blurring between the two. Labels are inevitably misused and there are pure DSPs and MCUs, but hybrids are now commonplace. If Cadillac can make an SUV, why can't chip manufacturers follow suit?

Circuit Cellar Online


Jeff Bachiochi

HTML Ask Us, The Engineer's Tech-Help Resource

Let us help keep your project on track or simplify your design decision. Put your tough technical questions in front of the ASK US team. In an engineering predicament? Read questions & answers from other engineers.

Circuit Cellar Online


David Tweed

HTML What's Your Engineering Quotient?

Test Your EQ presents some basic engineering problems for you to test your engineering quotient.

Circuit Cellar Online


Jenn Belmonte

Resource Links

Each month Circuit Cellar's Resource Links provide helpful links and information on a variety of featured topics.

Circuit Cellar Online


Rick Prescott

New Product News

New Product submissions may be sent to Rick Prescott, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066.
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