Creative Electron
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ARDU: Physical Computing with Arduino – An Introduction
Arduino is a tool for making computers that can sense and control more of the physical world than your desktop computer. It’s an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board, and a development environment for writing software for the board.
Arduino can be used to develop interactive objects, taking inputs from a variety of switches or sensors, and controlling a variety of lights, motors, and other physical outputs. Continue reading
AVR: How to use serial port in ATMEGA88
So far we have learned to read digital inputs, analog inputs and use interrupts in ATMEGA8. In this article we will be learning a very important and useful feature if the microcontroller. After reading the article you will be able to send data over the serial port of the controller, to either PC or any RS232 device. Continue reading
PIC: Serial Communition in PIC Microcontroller- 1
An introductory post on how to use serial communication in PIC Micrcontrollers to send data to PC. What comes first in your mind when you listen serial communication ? Yes, how to send data in series. All this time you have been working single bits, turning on and off. Well serial communication is nothing more than on and off, but the only difference is that it has certain rules and timings which make it the reliable and accurate communication protocol among all. Continue reading
AVR: How to read/write to SD Card using AVR.
A very nice tutorial about read and writing to SD card using AVR. Features a very well-formed library for accessing FAT format. MicroSD cards are cheap, but if you need a card reader, the surface-mounted holder would cost $4 + shipping, and although I can probably solder that, I still would like to do testing on a breadboard. Sparkfun does sell a breakout board for their microSD holder for $15 + shipping, but that’s a little too expensive. I’ve decided to buy a 1 GB microSD card that came with the microSD to SD adapter for $10 at a local place, and solder pin headers to the adapter so I can easily insert it into a breadboard. Continue reading
XBee: Making your first application – 2
The post explains step-by-step how to setup XBee modules with PC. It uses X-CTU for configuration of the modules. The posts also helps in testing the communication and range of the modules. If you are new to XBee than this is a very useful post. Continue reading
AVR: How to take Analog input in AVR.
This post explains how to use built-in ADC feature of AVR Microcontrollers. ATMEGA8 is used in this example, along with the source code in C. As you all know, natural environment is all analog. From temperature to seismic waves and from wind to fire every value is continuous in nature. But the problem is that all electronics is turning into digital, a non-continuous domain. So to acquire data from the environment we use an ADC (Analog to Digital Convertor). Continue reading
GLCD: Interfacing 128×64 Pixel GLCD (KS0108) with PIC16F876
The post shows how to interface 128×64 pixels Graphical LCD having KS0108 controller with PIC16F876. It uses CCS C Compiler to write a simple code which displays the text “Creative Electron” upon startup of controller. All the source code and simulation files are included. Continue reading
GLCD: Introduction to Graphical LCD.
The post explains the difference between Graphical LCDs and Line LCDs. Graphical LCDs offeres greater flexibility due to its pixel nature. They are used for text as well as graphics display such a BMP files. There are many types of LCDs flowing in market, and if you feel safe only with 16×2 line LCD than its the time to convert your programs to graphical LCD. Continue reading
AVR: Introduction to AVR through a simple program.
AVR are RISC based microcontroller made by ATMEL. This post introduces AVR by the help of a simple program which toggles a LED. It is achieved by the help of WinAVR and ATMEL AVR-Studio. ATMEGA8 is used and is programmed in C Language. Continue reading
Photography: High-Speed Photography using Microphone
In this project a microphone is used to activate flash, creating immense time-critical photographs. He uses sound activity as a trigger, by setting microphone under a tin sheet. The water drops on tin sheet creates a sound and hence ends up triggering the strobe. Simple idea in electronics but goes a long way in photography. Continue reading
