Circuit Cellar Ink 264
July 2012

Table of Contents

4 CJ Abate	HTML Task Manager Plan, Construct, and Secure
10 CJ Abate	HTML New Product News i-jet high-performing in-circuit debugging probe from IAR Systems SSl2109 high-efficiency buck controller for high-power, non-dimmable LED lighting applications from NXP Semiconductors Zumo small, low-profile, tracked-robot platform from Pololu Corp. EFM32-GGSTK3700 and EFM32LG-STK3600 Gecko-based starter kits for complex battery-powered products from Energy Micro SPD500 low-cost positive differential pressure sensor from Sensirion AG ADXL377 analog, three-axis, high-g MEMS accelerometer from Analog Devices, Inc. ATA5580 secure, ultra-low-power micromodule RF transponder from Atmel Corp. BIS-6763/6761 fanless computer built around the Intel HM65 chipset with Intel's Core i3 2367M and Celeron 857 Processor from HABEY USA, Inc.
15 Rob Dautel	The RL78 MCU Shaping the Way the World Experiences Low-Power Design The RL78 isn't just an MCU, but an extensive ecosystem comprising training, support, and partners. Keep reading to discover all the ways Renesas is ready to help you take your green energy idea to the next level through an extensive network of video tutorials, partner programs, and more.
17 David Tweed	HTML Test Your EQ
18 John Breitenbach	Internet-Enabled Home Control Build a Cloud-Based Attic Monitor It's easy to create sophisticated Internet-enabled gadgets with free tools. You can use a microcontroller coupled with free software and a cloud-based data platform to remotely monitor your home with alerts automatically available on your smartphone. Download: Breitenbach-264.zip
Questions & Answers 26 Nan Price	A Vision for 3-D Stacked Systems An Interview with Ayse Kivilcim Coskun Ayse Kivilcim Coskun is making changes in the fields of energy efficiency, thermal challenges, and 3-D systems. The Boston University engineering professor recently received the A. Richard Newton Graduate Scholarship at the Design Automation Conference (DAC), a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and a grant from the Massachusetts Green High-Performance Computing Center (MGHPCC). In May, Ayse and I discussed her engineering background, current courses, and passion for research.
28 Tom Struzik	USB on a Shoestring You can replace a parallel port I/O device with a simple, low-budget USB device. A microcontroller and Atmel's LibUSB-Win32 enable you to produce a solution that works on 32-bit Windows XP up to and including 64-bit Windows 7. Download: Struzik-264.zip
36 Tommy Tyler	Build an MCU-Based Digital Thermometer It's easy to convert an unused digital photo frame into a customized outdoor thermometer. This project can be accomplished with a circuit board, a digital temperature sensor, and an SD memory card loaded with temperature images.
Embedded Security 44 Patrick Schaumont	Electronic Signatures for Firmware Updates Embedded systems benefit from signatures. An electronic signature can verify the origin of a firmware binary, a feature especially useful for firmware that needs to be updated in the field. This article details how electronic signatures are constructed and how you can use them to sign firmware updates. Download: Schaumont-264.zip
Embedded Unveiled 52 Richard Wotiz	EtherCAT Orchestra Sometimes you can find industrial control networks in the most unexpected places. This article describes an unusual musical machine that's built around seven embedded controllers and an EtherCAT network.
The Consummate Engineer 58 George Novacek	Project Development Part 1: Plans, Schedules, and Task Management There's an old saying, "If you don't know where you want to go, you'll never get there." Engineering projects are the same way. To be successful, proper planning is essential. This article series begins with tips for project planning, scheduling, and management.
Lessons from the Trenches 62 George Martin	Switch Debouncing Interfacing to a Simple Serial Device Writing code to debounce switch inputs can help save manufacturing costs, such as the PCB used to hold the parts, the labor required to assemble the parts, and the power used to move the parts. This article explores various types of signaling over a single-input line, beginning with the design of switch-debouncing routines.
From the Bench 68 Jeff Bachiochi	Wireless Data Delivery You can automate a system's data collection process to eliminate the need for manual data entry. This article describes how to use open wireless technology to deliver data wirelessly between a project and an application written to gather data from it.
76	Crossword Puzzle
79	Crossword Puzzle - Answers for Issue 263
80 Steve Ciarcia	HTML Priority Interrupt Fix It or Toss It?

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