#147 October 2002 www.circuitcellar.com CIRCUIT CELLAR® THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS DATA ACQUISITION 2-D Or Not 2-D Solar-Powered Robot The LED Alternative Mad DashWWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO For Flash Cash Contest Primer 10> 7925274 75349 $4.95 U.S. ($5.95 Canada) WWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO WWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO Digital Oscilloscopes • 2 Channel Digital Oscilloscope DSO-2102S $525 • 100 MSa/s max single shot rate DSO-2102M $650 • 32K samples per channel Each includes Oscilloscope, • Advanced Triggering Probes, Interface Cable, Power • Only 9 oz and 6.3” x 3.75” x 1.25” Adapter, and software for • Small, Lightweight, and Portable Win95/98, WinNT, Win2000 • Parallel Port interface to PC and DOS. • Advanced Math options • FFT Spectrum Analyzer options Logic Analyzers • 40 to 160 channels • 24 Channel Logic Analyzer • up to 500 MSa/s • 100MSa/S max sample rate • Variable Threshold • Variable Threshold Voltage • 8 External Clocks • Large 128k Buffer • 16 Level Triggering • Small, Lightweight and Portable • up to 512KWWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO samples/ch • Only 4 oz and 4.75” x 2.75” x 1” • Optional Parallel Interface • Parallel Port Interface to PC • Optional 100 MSa/s Pattern Generator • Trigger Out • Windows 95/98 Software LA4240-32K (200MHz, 40CH) $1350 LA4280-32K (200MHz, 80CH) $2000 LA2124-128K (100MSa/s, 24CH) LA4540-128K (500MHz, 40CH) $1900 Clips, Wires, Interface Cable, AC LA4580-128K (500MHz, 80CH) $2800 Adapter and Software $800 LA45160-128K (500MHz, 160CH) $7000 All prices include Pods and Software www.LinkIns4.com Link Instruments • 369 Passaic Ave • Suite 100 • Fairfield, NJ 07004 • (973) 808-8990 • Fax (973) 808-8786 WWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO TASK MANAGER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/FOUNDER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Be a Contender Steve Ciarcia Jeannette Ciarcia MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Huber CUSTOMER SERVICE Elaine Johnston TECHNICAL EDITOR C.J. Abate ACCOUNTANT Jeff Yanco WEST COAST EDITOR Tom Cantrell ART DIRECTOR he pages of Circuit Cellar brim with practical yet KC Prescott intriguing information. Our goal is to enlighten and CONTRIBUTING EDITORS t Ingo Cyliax entertain you with every issue. In keeping with our goal, Fred Eady GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mary Turek we have a number of features throughout the magazine that George Martin inform, teach, and hopefully inspire you. Most of our articles serve as tutorials, George Novacek Jeff Bachiochi STAFF ENGINEERS giving you step-by-step instructions on how to build with a new part or sophisti- John Gorsky cated technology. And, you can always count on columnist Tom Cantrell for NEW PRODUCTS EDITOR John Gorsky QUIZ COORDINATOR updates on the industry. In every issue, you’ll also find thought-provoking quiz David Tweed questions (page 11), announcements about products fresh to the shelves (page 8), PROJECT EDITORS Steve Bedford and a guide to find the ads of your favorite manufacturers (page 94). But, one of Ken Davidson our best staples is our challenging design contests. David Tweed Circuit Cellar contests have become one of our most successful ventures. ADVERTISING Each one draws out top engineers who specialize in everything from chip design PUBLISHER to embedded systems, and from neuroscience to rocket science. The varied Dan Rodrigues E-mail: [email protected] backgrounds of the contestants always ensure a plethora of unique entries. ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Sean Donnelly Fax: (860) 871-0411 If you haven’t already participated in one of our contests, don’t miss your (860) 872-3064 E-mail: [email protected] next opportunity. Start building your project for the Mad Dash for Flash Cash Cell phone: (860) 930-4326 Design Contest 2002, sponsored by Microchip Technology, today! You have until ADVERTISING COORDINATOR December 16 to enter, so that still gives you a couple of months to work on your Valerie Luster Fax: (860) 871-0411 project. The Microchip PIC family of microcontrollers has become universally (860) 875-2199 E-mail: [email protected] popular; in fact, we continually receive scores of articles about projects that fea- ADVERTISING ASSISTANT ture various PIC parts. With a well-liked PIC at the center of your design, you’ll Deborah Lavoie Fax: (860) 871-0411 (860) 875-2199 E-mail: [email protected] have no trouble creating a masterpiece of ingenuity. Those of you who want an edge in the competition should incorporate one of Cover photograph Ron Meadows—Meadows Marketing the following features: TC1047 temperature sensor; MCP6022 op-amp; PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES MCP3002 analog-to-digital converter; MCP42100 digital potentiometer; CONTACTING CIRCUIT CELLAR MCP1541 VREF; at least one communication port; or a CCP to control an SUBSCRIPTIONS: INFORMATION: www.circuitcellar.com or [email protected] event. Entries that showcase any of these features will be given bonus consider- To Subscribe: (800) 269-6301, www.circuitcellar.com/subscribe.htm, or [email protected] ation by the judges; for more information, read the official contest rules on our PROBLEMS: [email protected] web site (www.circuitcellar.com/flash2002). GENERAL INFORMATION: TELEPHONE: (860) 875-2199 Fax: (860) 871-0411 Consummate designers get all of the facts first. Before you begin working INTERNET: [email protected], [email protected], or www.circuitcellar.com with these features, I recommend reading columnist Jeff Bachiochi’s article, EDITORIAL OFFICES: Editor, Circuit Cellar, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066 WWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RONEW PRODUCTS: New Products, Circuit Cellar, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066 starting on page 62. Jeff’s thorough introduction to Microchip components will [email protected] AUTHOR CONTACT: ready you for the task. After reading his article, you’ll be armed with the knowl- E-MAIL: Author addresses (when available) included at the end of each article. edge needed to design a competitive project. For information on authorized reprints of articles, Aside from the prestige winners earn from succeeding in a Circuit Cellar con- contact Jeannette Ciarcia (860) 875-2199 or e-mail [email protected]. test, they also receive prizes. A total of nine entries will be awarded prizes: CIRCUIT CELLAR®, THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (ISSN 1528-0608) and Circuit Cellar Online are pub- Grand, First, Second, Third, and five Honorable Mention prizes. The lucky win- lished monthly by Circuit Cellar Incorporated, 4 Park Street, Suite 20, Vernon, CT 06066 (860) 875-2751. Periodical rates paid at Vernon, CT and additional offices. One-year (12 issues) subscription rate USA and possessions $21.95, Canada/Mexico ner of the Grand Prize stands to receive the Microchip MPLAB ICE2000 proces- $31.95, all other countries $49.95. Two-year (24 issues) subscription rate USA and possessions $39.95, Canada/Mexico $55, all other countries $85. All subscription orders payable in U.S. funds only via VISA, MasterCard, international postal money sor module and free registration to the Microchip Annual Summer Technical order, or check drawn on U.S. bank. Exchange Review (MASTERs). Additionally, don’t forget that we’ll recognize all Direct subscription orders and subscription-related questions to Circuit Cellar Subscriptions, P.O. Box 5650, Hanover, NH 03755-5650 or call (800) 269-6301. of the winners in the magazine as well as on our web site. Postmaster: Send address changes to Circuit Cellar, Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 5650, Hanover, NH 03755-5650. Circuit Cellar® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind for errors in these programs or schematics or for the consequences of any such errors. Furthermore, because of possible variation in the quality and condition of materials and workmanship of read- er-assembled projects, Circuit Cellar® disclaims any responsibility for the safe and proper function of reader-assembled projects based upon or from plans, descriptions, or information published by Circuit Cellar®. The information provided by Circuit Cellar® is for educational purposes. Circuit Cellar® makes no claims or warrants that readers have a right to build things based upon these ideas under patent or other relevant intellectual property law in their jurisdiction, or that readers have a right to construct or operate any of the devices described herein under the relevant patent or other intellectual property law of the reader’s jurisdiction. The reader assumes any risk of infringement liability for constructing or operating such devices. Entire contents copyright © 2001 by Circuit Cellar Incorporated. All rights reserved. Circuit Cellar and Circuit Cellar INK are registered trademarks [email protected] of Circuit Cellar Inc. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part without written consent from Circuit Cellar Inc. is prohibited. 4 Issue 147 October 2002 CIRCUIT CELLAR® www.circuitcellar.com check out what’s new at www.saelig.com! DrDAQ PC-based Instruments Educational NEW!! Datalogger ADC-10 8-bit $85 through ADC-216 16-bit $799—display 12-bit with built-in scope, spectrum and meter simultaneously. Connect to PC sensors! parallel port and start 100Ms/S www.drdaq.com gathering/displaying data dual-ch immediately! DrDAQ plugs into a PC for useful scope • EnviroMon temperature datalogging at school, college, adapter logging/alarm system industry. Built-in sensors for light, standalone or with PC. sound, temp. or add pH sensor and ADC-212/100 • thermistor- run one of the many suggested TH-03 to-PC converter science experiments! - only $99! $1015!! • TC-08 8x thermocouples RS232 to RS422/485 Make PCs Remote control & data acquisition link self-pwrd converters 2 BIT ® talk I C power & data • Plug directly into PC on two-wire — self powered! easily! control network • Drive any RS422 or RS485 devices. • Send control and data Industry-standard card for PC’s NEW! Euroquartz filters/crystals! 100s of feet! ISA/P-port/PCI versions K422/K485, 25pin > 9pin . $69 2-6V I2C bus versions 2-year self-contained DATALOGGERS for volts, switch- $ • Master, Slave or Bus monitor K2 9pin > 9pin .