Circuit Cellar Ink 229
August 2009

Table of Contents

4


CJ Abate

HTML Task Manager

Embedded Development and Beyond

8


John Gorsky

HTML New Product News

14


Dale Wheat

Get Started With Embedded Development

Part 1: "Bare Metal" Implementations and "CircleOS" Apps

Dale shows you how to use your natural design skills and some freely obtainable software to get started on new embedded development projects. He provides specific, step-by-step instructions on how to develop applications for the STM32 family of ARM Cortex-M3 devices from STMicroelectonics, both as "bare metal" implementations and "CircleOS" applications.

22


Michael Hamilton

Infrared Radiation Measurement

FFT Double-Beam Infrared Spectrophotometer

This innovative FFT double-beam IR spectrophotometer measures IR radiation to identify various chemical molecules. A dsPIC30F4012 controls the spectrometer with FFT algorithms. The dsPIC's 10-bit ADC has the ability to use VDD and VSS as references so you don't need a separate voltage reference.

Download: Hamilton-229.zip

Above the Ground Plane

31


Ed Nisley

A Blast for the Past

High-Voltage DC Dosimeter Charger

Applying the proper analysis enables you to use any small high-voltage transformer. Ed covers the topics of transformer measurement, a step-up DC-to-DC converter, and high-voltage power supplies.

Download: Nisley-229.zip

38


Kevin Gorga

Cable Tracer Design

Part 1: Underground Cable Detection Made Simple

The Cable Tracer is used to detect underground cables. The system works by injecting a 125-kHz signal into an underground cable. A pick-up coil receives a sample of the field. The field's strength indicates the presence and direction of a cable.

Download: Gorga-229.zip

The Darker Side

50


Robert Lacoste

Power Analysis Primer

From Power Line Measurements to PFC

Are you familiar with the topic of power factor control (PFC)? Robert explains how to measure the power consumption of line-powered devices. After introducing the topic of power factor controllers, he presents some experiments to shine a light on this sometimes confusing topic.

From the Bench

60


Jeff Bachiochi

Threat-Level Indication System

Implement a Simple USB-to-Parallel FIFO Interface

Need an effective way to move data in and out of an embedded app? Check out how Jeff uses a USB FIFO IC to move information in his "threat-level indication system." It picks up information, sends it through the interface, and displays it via a parallel connection to color-coded stacking indicators.

Download: Bachiochi-229.zip

Silicon Update

68


Tom Cantrell

Thin Is In

High-Profile Energy in a Low-Profile Package

Tom returns to the topic of energy harvesting with a focus on new "micro-energy cells." Get ready to learn how the convergence of advanced battery technology, alternative energy, and nanopower silicon will change the way you design forever.

74

Crossword Puzzle

79

Advertiser's Index / September Preview

80


Steve Ciarcia

HTML Priority Interrupt

Swallowing the Pill

Bonus Article

85


Brian Millier

USB I/O Expansion

Brian shows you how to build a USB link into a device without having to focus on the numerous complexities of USB technology going on in the background. He showcases the link as he describes a high-resolution data acquisition board.

Download: Millier-229.zip

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