Circuit Cellar Ink 273
April 2013

Table of Contents

2


Mary Wilson

HTML Task Manager

Necessity and Invention

10


CJ Abate

HTML New Product News

21


David Tweed

HTML Test Your EQ - Answers for Issue 272

Download: 273-EQ.zip

22


Scott Weber

Control Center Software Design

Using a Model-View-Controller Paradigm

A collection of nearly autonomous microcontroller-based, RS-485 interconnected devices was a useful addition to this designer's home. But it also came with inconveniences. What if the devices needed updates or quality checks? A simple control panel solved the dilemma. This article describes the control panel's basic structure and its Model-View-Controller (MVC) paradigm, which is used to organize the software functionality.

30


Brian Millier

G-Code CNC Router Controller

Part 1: G-Codes and Motion Control

Are you interested in building a microcontroller-based G-code controller for a CNC router? This article explains the basics of G-code language and how to design hardware and firmware to control the stepper motors.

36


Tom Cantrell

Weatherize Your Embedded App

Why water your lawn when a rainstorm is imminent? Web-enabled devices can take advantage of weather conditions and online forecasts to fine-tune their operation. All it takes are a few chips and a few kilobytes of code to see what the meteorological future holds. This article details how to use a Texas Instruments MSP430 microcontroller and a WIZnet W5200 smart Ethernet chip to access National Weather Service forecast data.

Download: 273-Cantrell.zip

Questions & Answers

44


Nan Price

Engineering and Entrepreneurship

An Interview with Michael Hamilton

Michael Hamilton has been designing microcontroller-based systems for 25 years. Over the past 10 years, he has spearheaded two companies: A&D Technologies, which supplies wireless temperature and humidity controllers, and Point & Track, which provides data-gathering apps and other business intelligence tools. In January, I interviewed Michael about his longtime interest in electronics, his first microcontroller design, his award-winning Renesas Electronics RL78 project, and his praise for 3-D printers.

Embedded in Thin Slices

48


Bob Japenga

Concurrency in Embedded Systems

Part 6: POSIX FIFOs and Message Queues

POSIX message queues work well under Linux, but Android does not support them. So what can you do when you're working on a hardware design that must run both OSes? POSIX FIFOs are an option. This article covers POSIX FIFOs, message queues, and how to decide when to use one or the other.

The Consummate Engineer

51


George Novacek

Calculating Software Reliability

Determine Firmware Fault Probability

It is hard to imagine a product that does not require software. While the physical reliability and life of a product's hardware can be estimated, what about the failure probability due to a software bug? This article covers how to calculate software reliability and the practical use of the results.

The Darker Side

54


Robert Lacoste

Analyzing a Case of the Jitters

Tips for Preventing Digital Design Issues

Timing-signal transitions should occur at specific times. Jitter is the difference between the expected time and the actual time an event occurs. This article explains jitter's origins, two methods for measuring it and -- most importantly -- how it can negatively affect your high-speed digital designs.

From the Bench

60


Jeff Bachiochi

Build a MIDI Communication Device

Part 1: Introduction to MIDI

Designing and constructing a MIDI communication device doesn't have to be difficult. With a microcontroller and a little know-how, you can build a hardware circuit to monitor the MIDI traffic (message protocol) sent between MIDI devices. This article introduces the MIDI standard, the MIDI bus, and MIDI messages.

Download: 273-Bachiochi.zip

From the Archives

68


Mark Balch

Microprocessor Glue Logic with Verilog HDL

For reasons of availability and practicality, you may soon find it necessary to design custom logic for your digital projects. There are various design techniques to choose from, but you'll want one that suits your specific needs. Mark explains how Verilog HDL may prove to be the perfect solution for your more complex digital designs.

75

Crossword Puzzle

79

Crossword Puzzle - Answers for Issue 272

80


Fergus Dixon

Tech the Future

The Future of Open-Source Hardware for Medical Devices

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