All Things Embedded

Texas Instruments - Launchpad: The new approach to innovative developement in microcontrollers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:38:00 +0000

Texas Instruments has been working in manufacturing of discrete electronics since a very long time. It manufactures almost all electronic components from comparators to microcontrollers.

A few years back Texas Instruments(TI) launched a new 8-bit microcontroller development platform for hobbyists and new learners. This platform was very low cost and came with basic set of tools to start developing small embedded projects. It was called "The LaunchPad".

Initially an MSP-430 based development board was launched which was priced at $2.99!!

Recently TI has expanded the "Launchpad" line to include boards with C2000 and ARM Cortex Series processors. There are also some new development boards with special interface like USB and Wifi.

There are also a number of plug-in modules available to extend the functionality of your LaunchPad. TI calls these plug-in modules "Booster Packs". There are Booster Packs available for Alphanumeric LCDs, capacitive touch, motors drives and a number of different sensors.

The Launchpad products come with an open-source code editing tool called "Energia" and also TI's own "Code Composer Studio".

Here is an overview of the LaunchPad product line.

MSP LaunchPads

These ultra low power LaunchPads feature the MSP430 miconcontroller and are designed to be battery operated.

C2000 LaunchPads

The C2000 LaunchPads are designed for real-time processing applications. They can be used for 3-phase motor control.

Connected LaunchPads

These LaunchPads are for designs that require connectivity like Ethernet, USB and Wifi. They can be used for Internet-Of-Things (IoT) applications like home automation and smart energy.

Hercules LaunchPads

This series of LaunchPads is for use in development of safety critical equipments like industrial, automotive and medical devices. They feature ARM Cortex processors with lock-step cores and other safety features.

Here is a link to TI's LaunchPad brochure and website.

TI LaunchPad Brochure

LaunchPad Home Page

Happy hacking!!

Wireless Door Unlock (TI ZigBee+Accelerometers)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:28:00 +0000

I came across this project by some university students for the TI Ultra low power challenge.
They have used a special wrist watch which contains a TI ZigBee wireless device and accelerometers. They send the unlock code by tapping on the wrist, this tapping is interpreted by the accelerometer, then encrypted by the ZigBee device and transmitted. Another ZigBee device is present inside the door lock, which decodes the encrypted unlock code sent by the watch and then activates the servo to open the lock.

And the fun part is that he opens the door from about 20 meters away and the time taken is less than it would take to get a key out of ones pocket and open the door with it!!!
Here is the video of the demonstration.

Source: http://www.designmsp430.com/ULPDesigns.aspx?sampleId=0cfa3c10-b810-42ff-9429-13acad020ae6

Complete project files: Download from here.

If anybody wants any help with this stuff, just drop a comment or "Contact me". I'll be happy to help.

PonyProg 2000 Software for AVR Flash memory

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:32:00 +0000

PonyProg is a great software for flash memory programming. It supports a great variety of microcontrollers and other devices. Before using it you should check if your device is supported on the Official PonyProg 2000 Homepage. PonyProg 2000 is constantly updated and new devices are added.
The latest version is available on the Download Page.

So After you download and install it, you have to configure it for your hardware.
Go to >> "Setup" >> "Interface Setup"

Click on “Serial” if you are using AVR Serial port Flash programmer or “Parallel” if you are using AVR Parallel port Flash programmer. Next select “SI Prog I/O” (in case of serial) or “AVR ISP I/O” (in case of parallel).
Now click on “Probe” to check if your hardware is connected and working. If it says “Test Passed” it means your hardware is working with the configuration. If it says “Test Failed”, it means there is a fault in above configuration or your hardware.
Now click “OK”.
Then go to >> “Setup” >> ”Calibration”. Click “Yes” on the next message box and wait for the “Calibration OK” confirmation.

Now Select “AVR micro” from the list of devices and select your AVR device from the next drop box.

Now load your hex file from the “Open Program Flash Memory File” button (1).

Then program the microcontroller by pressing the “Write Program Memory” button (2).

The Fuse bits of AVR microcontroller can be read and set by pressing the button with the lock (3).

Update: Its not always a good idea to use the latest version of PonyProg. I once updated from an older version and it started giving me "test failed" errors. So I went back to the older version and began working again. Latest versions are sometimes buggy so you should wait a while before updating.

If anybody wants any help with this stuff, just drop a comment or "Contact me". I'll be happy to help.

AVR Development boards

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:16:00 +0000

A microcontroller Development Board is a generic printed circuit board(PCB), not meant for any specific application. It usually has an interface for programming the microcontroller's flash memory, connectors for the microcontroller's I/O ports, LED banks to show the status of the I/O ports, a reset switch and a serial port or some other comm. port for talking to the outside world. But all this is optional and you can add or remove anything from it depending on your needs or application. Development Boards are very important for hobbyists and small projects.

So I'll show you some of my AVR Development Boards that I've made for myself and also provide their layouts.

Here is my AVR ATmega16 Development Board(target board).

PCB Layout (works with Proteus 7.4 and above)

And my AVR ATmega8 Development Board(target board).

PCB Layout (works with Proteus 7.4 and above)

If you need to build an AVR flash memory programmer, here are the options.

ISP Flash Memory Programmer for AVR using Serial port

ISP Flash Memory Programmer for AVR using Parallel port

If anybody wants any help with this stuff, just drop a comment or "Contact me". I'll be happy to help.

ISP Flash Memory Programmer for AVR using Parallel port

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:57:00 +0000

AVR flash memory programmers are easy to build and one programmer can program a virtually program all series and types of AVR devices. This universal compatibility is because of the ISP (In-System Programmable) feature incorporated in almost all AVR devices.

Now there are two three types of Flash memory programmers; Serial, Parallel and USB. I've used all of them so I'll tell you the details about each of them. The software is discussed at the end of the post.

Flash Memory Programmer for AVR using Parallel Port

This an open source programmer from Olimex Ltd. It is very simple to build and has a very few components. It draws power from the target board. Here is the schematic.

-Here are the complete details.
-The Components required are as follows
   - 2 x 74HC244
   - 1 x 33K resistors
   - 1x 1N5819 diode
   - 1 x 100n capacitor
   - 1 x DB-25M Male parallel port connector
   - 1 x 10-pin connector and necessary ribbon cables
- For software refer to the following post PonyProg 2000 for AVR Flash Memory Programming.

This setup can be built into the Parallel port connector casing like shown in the image or you can make it on a proto-board if you want.

The parallel port side goes into your PC's parallel port and the black custom connector plugs into the AVR target board(development board). I've made a separate post on AVR Development boards.

If anybody wants any help with this stuff, just drop a comment or "Contact me". I'll be happy to help.

ISP Flash Memory Programmer for AVR using Serial port

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:46:00 +0000

This an open source programmer from Olimex Ltd. It is very simple to build and has a very few components. It draws power from the target board. More over the cable length can be as long as you want. Here is the schematic.

-Here are the complete details.
-The Components required are as follows
   - 1 x BC846B or 2N3904 transistor
   - 2 x 10K resistors
   - 2 x 4.7K resistors
   - 1 x 33K resistor
   - 1x 1N4148 diode
   - 2 x BZV55C5V1 Zener diodes
   - 1 x DB-9F female serial port connector
   - 2 x 10-pin connector and necessary ribbon cables
- For software refer to the following post PonyProg 2000 for AVR Flash Memory Programming.

Important Notes:
-The serial port connector(CON1) shown in the schematic is a specific Canon model. The pin numbers on your serial port connector will most probably be different. So check the tiny pin numbers written besides the pins on your serial connector or your programmer won't work properly!
-The transistor can be replaced by 2N3904 transistor since BC846B is a bit hard to find.

Here is my programmer. (Check out the cable length, I'll explain some other day why it is that long :P)

The serial port side goes into your PC's serial port and the black custom connector plugs into the AVR target board(development board). I've made a separate post on AVR Development boards.

This whole setup can also be built into the serial port connector casing like this.

If anybody wants any help with this stuff, just drop a comment or "Contact me". I'll be happy to help.

Download Proteus and Keil Development, Simulation and PCB layout Software for 8051

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Proteus and Keil are two ideal and sufficient tools for learning and carrying out extensive development on the 8051 microcontrollers. I myself learned 8051 using both these tools so I'll recommend them for everybody. Keil is used to write assembly language or C++ code 8051(although it supports many other microcontrollers) and Proteus can be used to simulate and verify 8051 circuits with pin-point accuracy. This is specially useful for beginners or people who do not know much about hardware or cannot build it for some reason.

I'll provide all the versions of Proteus and Keil I have got for download, including the old ones since some people need the old versions too. Enjoy!
Note: This software is being provided for educational purpose only so please do not use it for commercial development.

Proteus Professional 7.7 SP2
Proteus Professional 7.6 SP0

KEIL uVision 3 C51 V8.16a

Proteus VSM AGDI Driver v1.0 (works with the latest versions of Proteus and Keil but not older ones.)
Note: Proteus VSM AGDI Driver is an add-on that lets you control a Proteus simulation from the Keil Debugger.

If anybody wants any help with this stuff, just drop a comment or "Contact me". I'll be happy to help.

GSM Vehicle Control and Security System using SMS

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:02:00 +0000

I did this project for my 5th semester for "Microcontroller based Systems". It was done on an 89C51 microcontroller which belongs to 8051 family, using a sony ericsson T290i mobile inter-connected with a serial cable. It was implemented on my Honda Civic.
The user could control some functions of the vehicle by sending
specific sms commands to the T2920i.

Some of these functions were:

start and stop the engine (without using the key)
stop the engine if somebody starts it with a key ( by cutting off ignition)
lock and unlock the doors
send a text message to the owner if an intruder is detected (by monitoring the doors)
switch the heater/air conditioner on and off

DESCRIPTION

SMS is checked by monitoring the phone memory by using AT+CPMS command which sets the preferred phone memory location for storing sms and returns status of phone memory.

When an SMS is received its text is dumped into microcontroller's RAM using a very calibrated approach. Therefore the 7th character(7th was chosen randomly) always lands at location 57H of RAM. This was determined by connecting the phone to PC's serial port and debugging using the Proteus Simulation. The RAM was monitored as the phone sent the SMS text and it was dumped.

So the 7th character is compared using the below table and the appropriate function is called for performing the action using relays.

############## SMS COMMANDS ###################

SMS COMMAND 7TH CHARACTER HEX EQUIVALENT

start engine                                     e                                       65h
stop engine                                     n                                       6eh
car lock                                            c                                    63h
car unlock                                        l                                        6ch
on heater                                         t                                        74h
off heater                                         a                                       61h
panic mode                                    m                                       6dh

Two Interrupts are used, Timer 0 overflow interrupt and External interrupt. The program checks for sms every time Timer 0 overflows. External Interrupt is connected to door switch for detecting intrusion and sending sms to owner. If external interrupt happens while sms is being checked, the program will get stuck due to unexpected reply from mobile. To avoid this situation, both interrupts are set to high priority using IT0 bit in TCON register. Now if one Interrupt occurs while the other is being serviced, it will have to wait until control returns from first interrupt.

Here are the Hardware connections.

P0.0 = for locking car (attached to security sys remote)
P0.1 = for unlocking car (attached to security sys remote)
P0.2 = for switching on heater
P0.3 = connected to IGNITION RELAY 1 (CRANK or START engine)
P0.4 = connected to IGNITION RELAY 2 (ON)
P0.5 = connected to IGNITION RELAY 3 (ACC)
P0.6 = connected to IGNITION CUT RELAY (Used for switching off engine when someone is running with your car!! i.e PANIC MODE)
P3.2(INT0) = Door switch relay(for detecting if door is opened)

Download Section

Here are the project files:
-Source code (Assembly language-Compiler: Keil uVision 3)
-Proteus Simulation (works with Proteus 7.4 and above)
-Sony Ericsson AT command manual

Hardware:

-PCB Layout 8051 board (works with Proteus 7.4 and above)
-Relay board demo (simulation) (works with Proteus 7.4 and above)
-Custom Serial adapter
(The custom serial adapter as seen in the last picture; connected between the mobile phone serial cable and 8051 board, is used to provide power to the MAX232 IC present inside the mobile phone serial cable by giving +5V at pins 7(RTS) and 4(DTR) of the phone serial cable. The cable won't work without this custom adapter)

Some snapshots of the hardware. From the pictures it may seem that the project is incomplete or something but I actually drove the car around for a couple of months with the system working!

The setup was placed in the dashboard

The relays connected to the ignition

The microcontroller board with the serial port and the relay board.

The 8051 board connected to the phone through serial cable.

The code has been tidied before uploading so if you can interpret it, it can be ported easily to an AVR or PIC. If anybody wants any help with this stuff, just drop a comment or "Contact me". I'll be happy to help.