Professor Ted Sargent and his team at University of Toronto developed a new technology of image sensor that is based on a polymer material of quantum dots which can simply be printed out. The new technology is able to replace conventional CMOS image sensors in digital cameras and has 4 times more sensitivity and is less costly. [via]
Quantum dot image sensors to replace CMOS in digital cameras - [Link]
Josh at imsolidstate.com build a 9 digit pulse counter based on MC14453 3-digit BCD counter from ON semiconductor. A pulse counter is a circuit that counts the number of pulses arriving at the input of the circuit. Results are displayed on 7-segment displays. Many of these chips can be connected together to build a counter with as much digits as you like. Read circuit description on the link below. [via]
Build a 9-digit Pulse Counter - [Link]
In Part 1 of this tutorial learn how to drive HD44780 LCD displays using plain dip switches and some other components on a breadboard. Characters are written on LCD by controlling data bits using dip switches. That’s a nice way to learn how HD44780 displays are controlled. In Part 2 learn how to drive the same LCD using an Atmega8 microcontroller and write some code to instuct LCD. In this part a AVR 28 pin Development Board is used. Check tutorial on the links below.
This project is a LCD weather monitor – recorder capable of logging teperature and barometric pressure for a period of 3 days. Results are displayed on a large LCD screen. It has automatic temperature scale for winter and summer. Reading pressure you are able to predict weather conditions.
A DIY weather monitor – recorder - [Link]
There is a survey running on softwareadvice.com about LED vs fluorescent tubes. Specifically, if LED tubes are ready for widespread commercial use, and if they will replace fluorescent tubes. Read this very nice article and participate on the link below.
Are LED Fluorescent Tubes Ready for Prime Time? - [Link]
This project describes how to build a “soft touch” switch. By “soft touch” we mean that you have to push once to set device ON and push again to set device OFF. This kind of switch works by latching a relay to ON state with push of a button and with another push latch is released. It is working like flip-flop states. In that way you can control power to a device using one push button.
Toggle ON / OFF Switch - [Link]
Transistors are electric switches that control current passes throught them. They come in many sizes and ratings depending on the current they can handle. In the article below learn how to connect a transistor to control a load such as a motor or lamp. The article is demostrating how to use high current transistor TIP120 with arduino.
Using a transistor to control high current loads - [Link]
To control the direction of a motor you have to be able to control the current flow throught it. To do this specialized ICs are used intergrating a circuit called H-Bridge. In the link below you can find a tutorial on how to use Texas Instruments L293NE or Texas Instruments SN754410. [via]
How to use L293NE to control a motor - [Link]
What is FabISP? FabISP is an In-System-Programmer for well known AVR microcontrollers. This programmer is designed to be build at your home lab using common production procedures. After you build this programmer you will be able to programm your AVR without removing it from your board. To programm the chip you can use Avrdude software. Schematic, pcb, firmware and eagle files are available on the link below. It’s a well designed programmer. [via]
FabISP: A simple AVR programmer - [Link]