Circuit Cellar Ink 213
April 2008

Table of Contents

4


CJ Abate

HTML Task Manager

Smart Design & Intelligent Programming

8


John Gorsky

HTML New Product News

  • ThreadX/MCU RTOS, for Microchip Technology's PIC24 16-bit microcontroller from Express Logic, Inc.
  • RDK-BLDC Brushless DC Motor Control Reference Design Kit from Luminary Micro, Inc.
  • Stamp9261 AT91SAM9261-based CPU module from taskit
  • TDRO-10 programmable meter for analog sensors/transducers from Transducers Direct
  • 12EU050 eight-channel, 12-bit, 50-Msps ADC from National Semiconductor Corp.
  • E8R-D12GP-1 wireless plug-in dimmer/relay receiver from Ad Hoc Electronics
  • USB-F and USB-E series of USB connectors from Spectrum Control, Inc.
  • AS3658 integrated power and audio management unit from austriamicrosystems

14


David Lynch

Embedded Linux Development

Part 1: A Virtual Linux Environment on a Windows System

Imagine this: a flexible embedded Linux development environment running under Windows. Now it's a reality. David created a virtual Linux environment on a Windows system using coLinux. This is your platform for embedded cross development.

The Darker Side

22


Robert Lacoste

Low-Power Techniques

Build Better Energy-Saving Electronic Systems

If you're anything like Robert, you recognize that it is time to stop building power-hungry applications.In this article, he provides several useful tips for building energy-saving electronic systems.

Download: Lacoste-213.zip

35


Yoshiyasu Takefuji

HTML Programmable Power

Build a Simple USB DAC

Yoshiyasu describes the step-by-step construction of a simple USB DAC around an ATtiny45 and a MAX517. You can use the system as a programmable power supply.

Download: Takefuji-213.zip

40


Chris Coulston

Do-It-Yourself Motion-Controlled Gaming

Part 2: Manipulate 3-D Graphics

Chris concludes describing how to build your own motion-sensing controller that can interact with a variety of graphics programs on a PC. He shows you how to build complex graphics with OpenGL. Now you can design your own video games.

Download: Coulston-213.zip

Above the Ground Plane

46


Ed Nisley

Triac Behavior

Triac Control Meets an Inductive Load

Looking for more precise power control, Ed used a triac and a few supporting components to control high-power equipment. In this article, he describes everything you need to know about the circuits. The results might surprise you.

Download: Nisley-213.zip

52


Jose Sanchez

Video Stamp

A Handy Display for Debugging Programs

Jose uses his "Video Stamp" system to debug his programs and display video from various applications. A PIC18F2520 microcontroller and three resistors form a rudimentary DAC to generate the NTSC-compatible video signal. Read on for the hardware and software specifics.

Download: JSanchez-213.zip

60


Taylor Hutt

Simple Hardware Development

After nearly three decades of programming, Taylor recently decided to focus his attention on learning how hardware is developed. He tackled his first project with a Xilinx Spartan-3E starter kit and the VHDL programming language.

Download: Hutt-213.zip

From the Bench

73


Jeff Bachiochi

Digital Touch

A Potentiometer with No Moving Parts

Tired of replacing your mechanical parts? Jeff has the solution: eliminate them. His design provides user input and a digital potentiometer for resistance or voltage output.

Download: Bachiochi-213.zip

Silicon Update

80


Tom Cantrell

More Than a Core

While examining 32-bit microcontrollers last month, Tom decided that the STMicroelectronics STM32 was worth a second look. With the new ARM Cortex M3 core, good peripherals, integration, and energy efficiency, this could be just the MCU for your next project.

93

Crossword Puzzle

94

Advertiser's Index / May Preview

96


Steve Ciarcia

HTML Priority Interrupt

What Makes an Engineer?

FTP Directory for INK 213
Follow this link to order a copy of INK 213

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