October 15, 2003 Richard Ottosen and friends Stupid PIC Tricks that have been done ===================================== Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Printer tester Partial PCB This was the first Stupid PIC Trick I did. The "Printer Tester" outputs strings of characters whenever it is plugged onto the computer end of an IBM style 25 pin printer cable. The power to run the PIC is obtained entirely from the INPUTS of the printer. To keep power consumption low, the PIC16C54 is operated at 450KHz using an LC oscillator. 5 Model airplane encoder Yes Hand wired 6 Model airplane decoder / servo interface Yes SBB These two circuits are used as a pair. The encoder takes four potentiometers and three switches as inputs. The pot and switch positions are converted to a string of pulses like the one used to modulate a model airplane transmitter. The decoder takes this pulse string and separates out the 7 channels to drive standard model airplane servos. A two wire cable is all that is required to send all 7 channels from the encoder to the decoder. Alternately, an infrared transmitter and receiver could be used in place of the wire. 14 Electronic shutter controller Partial Product Various switches and pots to control an external shutter for a large format camera. This is used in a dark room to allow an artist to highlight a subject with a light wand as the shutter opened and closed between setups. * 15 DTMF dialer (PWM) Partial Hand wired (Eric) * 21 PIC-Pong Partial Hand wired (Eric) 24 Bipolar stepper motor driver Some SBB This is a way to drive a low power bipolar stepper motor directly from the pins of the PIC processor. The PIC is pushed way beyond the call of duty doing this... The same basic signals could also drive buffers to eliminate abuse of the PIC. 26 RS-232 serial alphanumeric LCD Yes PCB A standard LCD module and four switches are used to create a compact RS-232 terminal. Several different display widths and heights are supported. Baud rate can be set using the front panel switches and saved in the data EEPROM of the PIC16C84. The first version was built to act as the display for the barometric altimeter. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29 Coffee cup finder Partial PCB Many years ago an engineer I worked with often misplaced his coffee cup. The coffee cup finder is attached to the errant cup. If the coffee cup is left idle for a prolonged period of time, it beeps a few times to draw attention. A surface mount PIC16C54, mercury tilt switch and a PZT sounder are the major parts in this Stupid PIC Trick. * 13 DES-PICable: DES encrypter and decrypter Some Hand wired (Eric) 35 Digital clock (LCD) Yes Modified PCB The LCD digital clock is a modified version of the Serial LCD printed circuit board. A power backup battery and power fail circuit were added. The time is set by RS-232. * 37 PIC-Tock: Video display clock Partial SBB (Eric) 39 Barometric altimeter Yes PCB Altitude is measured using an air pressure sensor. Current, minimum and maximum altitudes are transmitted as RS-232 a few times a second. The altitude can be displayed in meters or feet. The maximum altitude that can be displayed is about 15,000 feet. A PIC16C54, piezo resistive pressure transducer and a pair of comparators make up the majority of the circuit. The A/D convertor is a ramp type. A ramp created by charging a capacitor is compared directly against the outputs of the sensor bridge; there are no amplifiers. This means that a single count is a just a few microvolts. The altimeter has been launched in a model rocket as well as used to get simple road profiles with a laptop computer in a car. * 41 X-Y monitor tester Yes SBB (Eric) 42 Electronic tape measure Yes Hand wired This is truly an electronic tape measure. A precision 10-turn potentiometer and spring loaded cable are used in place of the graduated tape. The voltage on the pot is read using an Analog Devices AD7710 sigma-delta A/D convertor. 43 Whirlessgig LED message display Yes PCB (Eric) * 44 Closed caption decoder (serial output) Yes Soldered SBB (Eric and Rich) Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 45 Oscilloscope time base calibrator Yes Hand wired An oscilloscope time base is controlled by a switch with about two dozen positions. The time steps are a sequence of multipliers of 1, 2 and 5 from seconds to nanoseconds. The PIC is used to generate a square wave that is one cycle per division for each position of the switch. The longer periods are created directly by precision timing loops in the PIC. The shorter periods are obtained from a counter clocked by a 100MHz oscillator. The PIC selects between its output or an output from the counter. Since this is a one-of-a-kind circuit, the PIC16C54 is pushed way past it's specified limits to make it run (marginally) at 40MHz. This saves some counter chips. P.S. Even the 100MHz is not fast enough for proper calibration of fast scopes. 50 Noise generator Yes SBB This is a white noise generator similar in output to a National Semiconductor Corp. MM5437. The noise is an output bit from a feedback shift register pseudo random number generator. 54 Mechanical shutter timer Yes Hand wired Simple timer using a pot on an A/D input of a PIC16C71. A button press starts the timer which closes contacts of a reed relay for the duration set by the pot. 63 Intrusion detector Yes Product (No description) 66 Weather station (temp., speed, humidity) Partial Hand wired Measures temperature, wind speed and humidity. Temperature uses a National Semi. Corp. LM334. Humidity uses a Phillips humidity to capacitance transducer. Wind speed is measured with a small thermistor as a hot wire anemometer. These are output by RS-232. * 78 TV test pattern generator Yes Proto board More or less standard bar, dot and crosshatch patterns as black and white interlaced composite video signals. A PIC running on a 14.31818MHz crystal oscillator does all the timing. A simple 4 bit D/A is used to get the gray bars. * 81 RS-232 light dimmer Partial SBB Phase controlled triac lamp dimmer using the PIC for the timing. The lamps brightness can be made to slowly change up and down over time. 82 RS-232 programmer for serial EEPROMS Lots Proto board Could be useful for initializing data in the little non-volatile memory chips used with PICs. This could be used in a production environment. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 95 IR remote control for Sony equipment Yes Proto board (Eric) 113 Keyboard interface for Sega Genesis Done Hand wired (Eric) 115 Custom CD changer interface Yes Hand wired (Eric) 117 Ultrasonic ranger Yes Hand wired (Eric) 119 Race timer and winner indicator Yes Modified PCB (Gary) 139 X-10 house control monitor Yes Hand wired (Jim) *148 Line CCD image sensor controller Some Proto board Timing and control of a Toshiba TD143 single line CCD imager. This was made easier by using the optics and amplifier board assembly from a FAX machine. Presently the only way to see the output of the imager is with an oscilloscope. 155 Plant watering timer Yes Proto board (Eric and Rich) 177 64 LED bargraph using MAX7219 driver Yes Hand wired Serial interface for simple control and few wires in cable. 214 AC power line wattmeter Yes Product Watts Up is available from Electronic Educational Devices. *230 Closed caption decoder tester Yes Proto board Used to test closed caption decoders. See SPT #44 for the decoder. 235 I2L interpreter for XPL0 compiler Done Partial An Intermediate Interpreted Language for Experimental Programming Language Zero. This interpreter and compiler have a long history in embedded environments. 283 PIC only EEPROM read/write Mostly Yes Piggyback the EEPROM onto Port B pins! Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 287 LED matrix display demo unit Yes Yes Does interesting patterns on an 8x8 LED display. 298 Precision LED flasher Yes Yes Bill of material: 3 volt battery, LED, resistor, PIC12C508. 316 Sound record and playback Yes Proto board Uses three Integrated Storage Devices modules to record and play back a total of 6 different selected by RS-232 commands. 321 Photo-beam door annunciator Yes Yes Sounds tones and drives opto-isolator when beam is broken. 356 Kinetic Art. Done Proto board Spins a pair of interlocked disks, with slots in their edges, in an interesting pattern. Think of it as a high tech waterfall. 359 Power supply glitcher. Yes Proto board Used to test and demonstrate the holdup time of a computer power supply. 360 Beer mug empty sensor. Web Web jmichaelg writes "What do you get when you combine a glass, a PIC computer, two capacitors, a coil and a zener Diode? A wireless beer glass that signals your waiter when you need a refill. The circuit is an RFID transponder that measures the fluid level in a glass and transmits a globally unique ID coupled to the fluid level reading when queried by an antenna hidden in your table. The query provides enough power to drive the circuit so no batteries are needed. A technical paper describes the circuitry in the table and the glass." This hit the news over a year ago, but we didn't have the technical details. See: http://www.merl.com/papers/docs/TR2002-21.pdf 361 Chess clock. Yes Modified PCB This is a modification of my serial LCD board. I added a couple of push button switches and used a large character display to make it readable at a distance. This clock has no fancy features. It only does 5-minute per player speed chess. It would be real easy to add other game times, sound and neater time and player displays. Stupid PIC Tricks ================= Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 RS-232 serial output keypad Notes Some Simple standardized way of getting a keypad as input to other PIC projects. 3 Quadrature encoder to RS-232 convertor None Some A PIC with interrupt on change should help make this simple. 4 Quadrature encoder to LCD display Thoughts Some Similar to SPT #3. 7 Temperature meter Some SBB Subsystem of SPT #66. 8 Wind speed meter Some SBB Subsystem of SPT #66. 9 Humidity meter Yes SBB Subsystem of SPT #66. 10 Electronic compass None None Flux gate style. * 11 Frequency counter None None Similar to versions done in Radio Electronics magazine article and Microchip application note. 12 Electronic lock None None Keypad input for combination lock. Use PIC16C84 to store the combination. * 16 Printer cable extender None None High speed synchronous serial?? 17 Analog clock (motor /solenoid) None None A large version of a quartz watch... 18 Robot arm joint controller None None Each joint would be independently controlled. This should make the high level control easier. * 19 TV sync separator (LM1881) Some None This is a way of replacing the expensive (compared to a PIC16C54) and sometimes hard to get part. 20 Mouse trap None None Had to have this in the list! * 22 Printer buffer None None A PIC16C64 should have enough pins to run a SIMM and do all the input / output and handshake for a fairly fast printer buffer. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Stepper motor controller None None Full step, half step, clockwise, counter-clockwise, single step, ramp up and ramp down in speed, etc. 25 Data logger None None Similar to the printer buffer, hardware wise. I/O not specified. 27 Ni-Cad battery charger control None None Ni-Cad batteries don't last very long even with the best controller, so how hard can this be? 28 Ultrasonic "key" None None Key chain device to unlock a car door as you walk up to it. Must be insensitive to noise and secure. 30 Software lock Thoughts None "Dongle". 31 Inertial navigation Some None Think big for projects that the PIC can do. 32 Programmable power supply None None Essentially a power digital to analog convertor. May also use a PIC for meters as well. RS-232 interface of IEEE-488 ? 33 Code practice oscillator None None It's a lot better than a 555 timer. 34 Cable tester Thoughts None Either stand alone or as an attachment for an IBM PC. 36 16 Bit to 8 * 8 D/A None None Use the PIC to do a cheap (and maybe too crude) non linear digital to analog convertor. 38 D&D dice roller None None Yes, another Dungeons and Dragons dice replacement. 40 Paper airplane remote control Thoughts None Must be very light and easily refittable to another craft after a fatal crash. Could use infrared as the data link. 46 Solar cell controller None None Some control of some kind must be useful. 47 IR to and from RS-232 of PC Thoughts None Get rid of cables. 48 Fan controller None None Anything can be made better using a PIC. 49 Electronic firefly None None See The Amateur Scientist column in Scientific American magazine about December of 1993. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 51 One handed keyboard Thoughts None The PIC can make experimenting with this easier. 52 Remote thermometer None None Very low power communicating by RS-232 or other simple protocol over easy to install 2 wire cable. 53 VCR sequencer Notes Notes Simple custom control of the operation of a VCR either through the IR receiver or remote control cable. 55 Networked alarm system node None None A way of connecting a bunch of sensors onto a single cable. 56 Analog (meter) clock None None A different way of displaying the time. 57 Wind vane None None Another possible weather station subsystem. See SPT #66. Use a shaft encoder and a limit switch?? 58 X-10 receiver /transmitter None None A natural PIC project. See ad for PLIX in Circuit Cellar. 59 Count down timer /controller None None A time setting knob, an LED to indicate that timer is running and a beep at the end of time. 60 Egg timer Thoughts None LED's that simulate sand maybe. 61 Lawn sprinkler timer None None A PIC should be able to do all the user interface, timing and control of a large sprinkler system. 62 555 timer replacement None None Anything should be better than the much abused 555 timer in most applications, even a PIC. This should use a PIC12Cxx series part. 64 Pedometer None None Should be simple enough to do a basic implementation. 65 Touch pad controller (resistive type) Notes None Use the PIC to drive the X and Y terminals and measure the touch voltage using A/D inputs. Could send out coordinates as RS-232. * 67 Spread spectrum None None PIC could do random number generation and synchronization. 68 RS-232 input DAC None None This might be useful for simple automated test and measurement. 69 Slot machine None None There has to be some way to MAKE money on these things. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 70 Digital analog delay None None Basically an A/D memory and a D/A. 71 Frequency doubler None None This makes voices and other sounds sound funny. Same as above but play the samples back twice at twice the rate they were collected. 72 Big LED clock Some Some Your standard LED clock with big numbers and remote setting. 73 Inductance meter None None A nice piece of test equipment to have. 74 Capacitance meter None None A nice piece of test equipment to have. 75 Briefcase security system None None Electronic lock, timer, sound maker, etc. 76 Video game timer None None Prevent playing games into the middle of the night. 77 Video game control adapter Some Some Convert one kind of control to another. 79 Brain fryer None None TENS unit to stimulate the brain. 80 Executive decision maker Thoughts Some This is overkill even for a PIC. (A PIC12Cxxx part would work nicely however). 83 Cooling fan controller None None Maybe the fan would last longer. 84 Analog watch None None A small version of SPT #17. 85 Pic-Tac-Toe Some None A PIC, 9 switches and 9 bi-color LED's make up the majority of this game. 86 Motor speed controller Thoughts None Use PIC as a frequency standard, phase comparator and pulse width modulator to drive motor. 87 Bike computer odometer restorer Some None Generate adjustable rate pulses to a reed relay or electromagnet to replace total elapsed miles on odometer after computer fails or after batteries are changed. (No cheating is allowed). Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 88 Funny noise maker Some Hand wired Kids toy, boss irritant or doorbell. Who knows why else except that it is easy and fun to make weird noises. 89 IR link driver / receiver Some None Used by many possible PIC projects. 90 Pots / joystick to RS-232 Some Some A PIC16C71 would make this easy. * 91 Low frequency signal generator None None Another possible useful piece of test equipment. 92 Model train control None None A PIC would fit in some of the smaller model engines and cars. Commands could be sent by carrier current on the tracks a la X-10. 93 RS-232 output ADC None Some The complement to SPT #68. * 94 TV CCD imager None None It sure would be nice if a PIC could replace some of the specialized control chips used to make a black and white CCD camera. * 96 Ethernet node Some None Yes, I am serious. Use the PIC with an IBM PC Ethernet card to make a node with just a few lights and buttons. 97 Flashy light pendant None None Similar to the SPT #43 Whirlessgig except with interesting patterns. 98 Pyrotechnic delay with thumbwheels Some None Sounds dangerous to me, but you never know 'til you try. 99 Force balance scale None None Use the PIC doing PWM to balance the mass on a scale. The PIC then outputs the calculated weight to a display. 100 Metronome Thoughts None PIC drives a band of LED's and makes a clicking sound. 101 Synchro to digital convertor None None I have a bunch of military surplus syncro's and they might make nice wind direction indicators when combined with a PIC. 102 StabilEyes. 3-D glasses control (NTSC) Thoughts None Takes an NTSC video signal with field alternate stereo picture and drives liquid crystal shutter glasses. 103 Adjustable color LED Thoughts None With blue LED's being cheap and available, the PIC could be used to make a color measuring unit. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 104 "DEC Alpha" response time tester None Some A human reflex timer using a PIC to replace a slightly more expensive DEC Alpha work station in the sales booth. 105 "Mod" music stereo player None None Use the PIC as a D/A to do a version of the simple Mod music interface. 106 2-D Head tracker None None Lets a video game know which way the player is looking... *107 Color TV test pattern generator Thoughts None Similar to SPT #78 except in color. Might have to run the PIC at 8 times color burst (28.63636MHz) or use an external memory to help generate the patterns. 108 Telescope controller None None Points a telescope by driving a DC motor or maybe micro stepping a stepper motor. 109 Refrigerant monitor / tester Some None For doing maintenance and repair of commercial cooling systems. Measures and logs temperatures and pressures. 110 Semi-trailer scale Some None Use a ultra-sonic ranger to measure the tire sag when cargo is loaded and convert to an estimate of weight. 111 LED bar graph like LM3914 None None Replace the analog bargraph chip and do other control functions as well. 112 Morse code keyer Some None The PIC could make a nice alternative to very specialized (and expensive) analog parts that are used right now. 114 RS-232 Digital inclinometer Thought Some I want to know how steep the hills are that I ride my bicycle up. Use a version of an optical shaft encoder or a very low friction pot?? 116 Model airplane servo Thoughts None A very small and light servo for the remote controlled paper airplane. *118 Telephone to X-10 interface Thoughts None Control your appliances from a telephone. Can the PIC do DTMF decoding in software? 119 Telephone actuated power switch Thoughts None See SPT #118. 120 Personal Passive I.D. Thoughts None See SPT number 28 for a similar use. *121 LSI exerciser /tester None None Test computer interface chips without having to know the complete inner workings. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 122 Nitinol roving robot Thoughts None Use "Muscle Wire" or other electric current or heat activated actuator to drive the legs of a simple robot toy. 123 Strobe guitar tuner None None A kind of guitar string tuning aid. 124 EPROM eraser timer None None Replace a cheap, simple timer with a more expensive and complicated PIC version. 125 Whack-a-PIC Thoughts Thoughts A hand held version of the arcade game with padded mallets called "Whack-a-Mole" (or something like that). The SPT version would use a membrane switch array and LED "moles". Must be very rugged! 126 XY drill table None None Something less expensive than a real CNC machine. 127 Christmas tree ornament None None Flash Christmas patterns on LED's while making Christmas sounds. *128 HDLC data monitor None None Wow, can the PIC really do this? See SPT #96. 129 SCSI CDROM audio control panel None None What this does is open for specification. 130 RS-232 to IEEE-488 convertor None None Turn old hard to use IEEE-488 interfaced plotters and test equipment into easier to connect RS-232 devices. 131 Binary clock Some None Ye olde binary display for those of you who don't have enough challenges in life. 132 Micro-stepping motor controller None None Stepper controller where the PIC does PWM to get smaller steps and faster response from the stepper motor. 133 X-Y drill table for PCB's Thoughts Some Oh, to be able to automate the drilling of my own printed circuit boards with a cheap and reliable SPT project. 134 Small plotter Some Some You have do something with all the SPT's that drive stepper motors. 135 Combustion bomb controller None Thoughts Yes, this is real. A combustion bomb is used to produce very high controlled pressures for research purposes. A non-microprocessor version has already been done. 136 73 LED Clock Thoughts Thoughts This clock uses a circle with one LED per minute, another circle with one LED per hour and one more LED in the center of the circles. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 137 Model rocket launch control None None Estes, eat your heart out. Actually, this would be more likely used for controlling higher powered rocket launches at meets. 138 Phase angle power supply preregulator None None How much of a servo loop can a PIC control directly at 60 Hz? 140 ISDN / NT1 controller Thoughts Thoughts If you don't already know what this is, then I can't help you. (I don't know either). 141 Do-It-Yourself Pager None None Spawn your own pager into many, all on the same code, and still pay only one service fee. All your friends will want one! 142 Cold fusion controller None None Jump into the cold fusion market with the first, and possibly only cold fusion reaction controller. Now all that is needed is some idea of what needs to be controlled. 143 O.J. Mute-O-Matic Thoughts None This unit monitors the closed caption portion of a TV news broadcast and mutes the audio for 2 minutes whenever any combination of the letters "O" and "J" occur. 144 Radar speed gun Some Some Use doppler shift with a microwave transmitter and receiver to measure speed of moving objects. Send the speed out as RS-232. 145 Morse code encode/decode None None Convert text to dits and dahs or convert dits and dahs to text. Text comes and goes by way of RS-232 from a computer. 146 Name/address/hours business phone answerer Thoughts None Answers a business phone and with the touch of a button give the answers to standard questions such as: "When do you close", "Where are you located", "Would you like to buy ...". These messages are stored in non-volatile memory by the customer. 147 Abuse and hang up on phone sales None None Anything to discourage phone sales people would be a valuable PIC project. 149 Door direction indicator None None Know how many people are still in your store a closing time by counting ins and outs. 150 Sinusoidal (sic) DC to AC inverter Thoughts None Use PIC to do pulse width modulation or something else to create a fairly clean 60Hz UPS. 151 CD subcode re-formatter Thoughts None Allow transcription of CD recordings unto DAT recorders. 152 PIC45 calculator Some Some You too can compete with Hewlett Packard. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 153 HP calculator ROM sucker Yes Hand wired Use this to accomplish SPT #152. 154 Optical inclinometer None None Whoops, isn't this an awful lot like SPT #114 156 Three button door lock Thoughts Thoughts Three buttons: 0, 1 and open. 157 Lottery number picker Thoughts Thoughts This is most likely the stupidest PIC trick on the list. The list would incomplete without it. 158 Router restarter Thoughts Thoughts This is a very specialized device for internal consumption only. 159 Quiz show button arbiter Thoughts None Watch Jeopardy to see this type of device in operation. It could also be used for deciding race winners when times are not needed. 160 Linear scale for milling machine Thoughts None I think a strip of audio recording tape could be used as the precision scale part. The PIC would do the counting of the amplified magnetic flux changes and display them. 161 RS-232 to loom interface None None This for semi-automated weaving. An IBM PC would send the weaving pattern information serially. 162 RS-232 flow control tester None None If anything needed testing, it would be RS-232 communications flow control. 163 Loboto-Mouse: Serial mouse un-encoder None None Take the output of a standard IBM PC mouse which is serial "RS-232" and convert it back to quadrature signals like the ones internal to the mouse. 164 Parallel printer port interface /splitter None None Add I/O to your computer using the printer port. *165 Video motion detector None None Takes the standard RS-170 video from a CCD camera and indicates when the video changes from motion in the image. 166 Flashing LED "alarm" armed indicator None None Poor mans alarm substitute. (Some people do this with a single LED). 167 Serial BIG LED display None None Useful with SPT #159. 168 RS-232 to Centronics interface None None Save wire getting to a remote printer. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 169 PLL Motor speed control None None Run a motor at a speed as accurate as the PIC's oscillator. Is this the same as SPT #86? 170 Chess piece identifier None Thoughts Make a fancy chess playing computer. 171 Zero wow and flutter tape player Thoughts Thoughts No capstan. Like a CD player, sort of. 172 Large numbers on LCD graphic display None None Another way of doing SPT #167. 173 "Apple" disk drive controller None None The "Woz" would be proud. *174 SIMM /SIP memory tester None None Do a functional test. Not done at full speed until 500Mhz PIC's become available. 175 Printer buffer-in-a-cable None None A zero power all in the connector version of printer buffer. *176 I/O port for IBM PC None None Use PIC16C74 for instance. 178 Pump shotgun sound None None A distinctive "Don't mess with me sound" 179 Electro-plater control Some Some Fancy user interface and control of a small electroplating unit. 180 RS-232 switch box Thoughts Thoughts Multiplexor... 181 Heart rate monitor None Some Optical clip for ear or finger, I think. 182 PC jr IR keyboard receiver None None Ask Eric why. 183 PC jr IR keyboard transmitter None None See above. 184 IRDA interface (IR transmit/receive) None None Yet another IR standard. 185 X-10 stereo volume control Thoughts Thoughts Set the volume of your stereo from the patio. 186 Sony to other IR remote convertor None None Yet another IR standard thingy. 187 TV network unscrambler, Denver version None None Which channel is the network on THIS month? Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 188 Color organ None None Hey, everyone I knew in the 60's had to have one! 189 Lisa disk salvager None None If you have to do it, this is how. 190 Telemarketer teaser ("uh-huh") Thoughts Thoughts Interjects a noncommittal reply in quiet spots of sales spiel. 191 Visual motion detector None None Uses a cheap TV camera. Also see SPT's #94 and #212. 192 Yarn length counter None None This may be too high tech for some weavers. *193 FSK demodulator None None Write your own modem just like the big boys do. OK, so your "DSP" only lets you do 300 Baud. 194 Tangleless clothes hanger None None Make the world a better place. 195 Rim shot box Thoughts None Needed by (for) all comedians. 196 Artificial stereo decoder for TV None None For old TV's only. *197 CMOS/TTL oscillator tester Thoughts Thoughts Sort out all those miscellaneous units sitting around. 198 Crude porn decoder (from satellite) None None Stabilizes the picture only. You don't need sound of course. 199 Radon monitor Some Some Are you sitting on an old mine??? Find out now! 200 Multiplexed LCD driver Some Some Use PIC to drive numeric and custom LCD's directly. 201 Caller ID to RS-232 None None Log the calls to your PC. 202 Transistor tester None None A quick and dirty way to sort junk transistors. 203 HP calculator printer ROM sucker Thoughts Thoughts Suck out its brains. 204 X-10 Annoy-O-Matic Thoughts None Has someone else started using YOUR X-10 appliance address and module settings? Make sure they never will do it again... 205 EPP to PC slot interface None None Huh? Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 206 Serial LED to LCD translator Thoughts None Replace old intelligent LED displays with an LCD module. 207 Data logger using serial EEPROM Thoughts Thoughts A small data logger useful for other small PIC projects such as the altimeter, weather station, pedometer, inclinometer, etc. *208 Long "serial" cable None None High speed link. 209 PIC pocket Some Some Pocket sized package for PIC projects. 210 V-Chip Adult-O-Matic None None Single function control to make sure you never miss a show with sex or gore. 211 Time exposer controller for CCD camera Some Some Used for amateur astronomy. PIC generates all signals that CCD needs to get an image and send it to a PC. 212 Vectrex LCD shutter glasses for 3D None None Replaces the motor driven version. 213 XXX TV V-Chip surfer None None Never miss your favorite skin flicks. 215 Distinctive ring detect None None ??? 216 Fireworks sequencer None None Get rid of a lot of counters and decoders. Download the program into a PIC16C84 data EEPROM and/or program EEPROM. 217 MODulator to go with Motorola DEModulator None None ??? 218 Kinetic art Some Done Uses stepping motors and overlapping slotted discs. 219 DRAM controller Thoughts None See printer buffer. 220 Mini-Breakout game Thoughts None Video game on an LCD character module. 221 Ming remote control extender None None Add flip-flops, enables, etc. 222 Telescope clock drive Thoughts Thoughts PLL and some kind of motor driver. *223 RSA encrypt/decrypt None None Hey, Eric did DES on a PIC... Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 224 Programming pulse timer None None ??? 225 Pendulum art Thoughts Thoughts Magnetically driven stained glass pendulum. 226 Traffic light (for model railroad) None None All microprocessors must have a traffic light example! 227 Programmable camera pan None Thoughts For cheap security using an inexpensive CCD camera and model airplane servos. 228 PIC-in-a-Poke None None ROM emulator. *229 Closed caption encoder None Some Accepts RS-232 input and inserts it as closed caption on line 21 of composite video. *231 PCB reverse engineering IC test clip None None Used to reverse engineer a circuit. Clip 2 or more of these onto IC's and connect to a computer to find where the traces go on a PCB. 232 Smart RS-232 switch box None None Better than my box with several DP3T switches. 233 Self powered tire gauge None None Transmits the pressure reading while the tire is rotating. 234 IBM keyboard replacement: NoKey-DoKey Some None Run a computer without a keyboard. 236 Trainable IR receiver None None Yes, the version at Radio Shack probably only costs a few bucks but remote controls never seem to work the way I (!) want. 237 Rayovac Renewal alkaline battery charger None None How do the Rayovac chargers work??? Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 238 Self winding watch None None Power the PIC using a pendulum, PZT crystal, thermocouple or whatever. 239 Business card printer None None A small printer. Useful at trade show booths. 240 Mouse button reverser Some None Reverse left and right buttons for lefties. Also remap the buttons for special functions. 241 Baud rate convertor None None RS-232 in and out with some buffering and handshake. *242 Computer monitor scan rate meter None None Measures the signals going from computer to monitor. 243 ISDN D channel monitor None None Eric says it is needed. 244 GPS differential receiver accessory None None Tap into the GPS world at higher accuracy than the military ever intended. 245 Rotary indexer Some Some RS-232 sets position, reed switches sense position. 246 Wired controlled system with power None None Whoever suggested this should tell me what it is... 247 Power line monitor Thoughts Thoughts Intelligent device power reapplication. *248 Lisa parallel port to parallel Zip drive None None When your valuable Lisa mass storage needs replacing. 249 Stupid PIC Trick manager. None None Single function PDA. (You wouldn't use a 68K for this would you?!) 250 Micro Chess ala Kim None None Play chess with your controller. 251 Retinal persistence tester Thoughts Thoughts Red/green and maybe blue. 252 TV line gate None None Counts TV lines and operates an analog switch. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 253 Road corrugation speech None None "Wake up...Wake up!" 254 Battery cycler /tester None None For all those frustrating NiCads 255 Tea brewer auto-shutoff None None Basically a specialized timer and a triac. 256 Shuffle board repair /upgrade Thoughts Thoughts 1950's arcade type thingy. 257 Natural selection robots None None Just don't let them take over the world. *258 Ethernet activity gauge None None The PIC may need a few support chips to do this. 259 Clack /clunk sound generator None None May be needed by SPT #256. 260 $19,000 absolute shaft encoder emulator Thoughts Thoughts Let the smoke out of a $19 PIC circuit for testing purposes. 261 Metal detector None None Wow are metal detectors getting high tech! 262 WWV time decoder None None Add to a receiver and display for accurate time. 263 Inclinometer None None How steep is this hill you are climbing on your bicycle? Repeat of earlier SPT? 264 No drip syrup dispenser None None I hate sticky fingers in restaurants. 265 R/C plane servo function mixer None None Similar to what fancy radio control transmitters do. 266 Cube /office identifier None None Makes musical offices a little easier. Can have customized messages added? 267 LCD advertising sign None None An updated version of the LED displays. 268 Telephone password None None Only your friends can get your phone to ring. 269 Knitting stitch counter None None (My traditional knitter friend does NOT see the need for this.) 270 Chess clock None None Traditionalists may not like this either... Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 271 DCC model train decoder None None DCC is a standard for "remote control" of locomotives and accessories on the track. 272 Automated wire stripper None None Al says this shouldn't be too hard. 273 Vacuum fluorescent display control None None Use like an LCD panel in some applications. 274 DEC-tape controller None None These are getting hard to find/obtain. 275 PDA for recording Stupid PIC Tricks None None For those of that cannot remember such important ideas. 276 IR connected remote logger None None Maybe log to a HP calculator? 277 Gooey price tag remover None None I hate sticky fingers from price tags. 278 Tickle-Me-Elmo (TM) counterfeit None None Never mind, the time has passed. 279 Networked Christmas tree ornaments None None This is the last seasonal idea for now. 280 Handheld Rogerian psychoanalyst None None Eliza for those on the move all the time. 281 VBI noise reduction for Macrovision None None ??? *282 Radio telemetry with Golay code Some None Something like a beeper? 284 6-legged walking robot None Thoughts Shouldn't be real hard with model plane servos. 285 Paint stirrer None None Anti-spatter... 286 Thermal test oven (using Peltier device) None Thoughts Something like the Coleman coolers. 288 Remote doorbell None None To let group members into the door to the computing center after hours. 289 Parking meter feeder None None This may be considered outside the intent of the law. 290 Sunglasses finder Some Some See SPT #29 for basic idea. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 291 Remote camera control None None ??? 292 PWM AC motor speed control Some Some Cheapo method. Ref. Don Lancaster. 293 Two keyboards as one ergonometric keyboard None None Microsoft: eat your heart out. 294 Radio controlled Frisbee Thoughts Thoughts Hey, it might just be possible. 295 Fireworks (in the launched part!) None None Eliminate chemical fuses and timers. *296 Golay code coprocessor Some None See SPT #282. 297 2 button lock Thoughts Thoughts Unlock with a serial binary code. 299 Model plane strobe (incandescent) None Thoughts Overvoltage panel lamp to get a very bright flash (with very short bulb life). Use to follow sail plane, etc. 300 Model plane servo (PIC12C508) None None Very small motor, and very simple position feedback. See SPT #40. 301 Frame grabber None None Video controller that doesn't need a specialized chip. 302 Dental hygiene timer None None Brush, brush, brush, floss, floss, floss. *303 8080 / 6502 replacement None None For when they become unavailable... *304 8008 support chip None None For retro-computing fun and games. 305 Tomagotchi baby sitter None None If this makes you a millionaire, Eric and I want our share. 306 Password holder None None Could sit between computer and modem. 307 Freeze spray PIC cooler None None For those projects that run the PIC way beyond spec. 308 Flash ROM backup unit Thoughts Thoughts Don't let your valuable software bits trickle away over time. 309 Line cord timer None Thoughts For coffee pot, EEPROM eraser, etc. Plugs between wall outlet and appliance. Senses when an appliance is turned. After a while it turns the appliance off again. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 310 Ultrasonic bug repeller None None Do bugs really work hate ultrasound that much??? 311 Roller thingy map measurer None None Set scale distance then do measurements. 312 Sewing machine card writer None None Fancy new sewing machines have programming cards for embroidery of letters and drawings. 313 IBM PC Power-On-Self-Test board None None Why burn out a board with custom PLD's when you can blow up a PIC instead? 314 Fireplace in a TV None None For when you need to sit and watch a soothing fire on a high pollution, no-burn day. 315 Missed call indicator None None Lights an LED if a telephone call goes unanswered. Sort of like the Chinese water torture while you try to guess who called. 317 Rented video ad eraser None None If I pay to rent a tape I shouldn't have to pay again by suffering through an advertisement and neither should the next renter. 318 "Magic Sine Waves" UPS None None Uninterruptable power supply ala Don Lancaster. 319 Resistor network tester/sorter None None A good selection of R-pack is useful and the price is right if they can be obtained surplus and culled later. 320 Appliance auto-shutoff None Some Turns an appliance off after a preset period of time after it was turned on. See SPT #255. 322 M&M candy sorter and dispenser None None I saw a mechanical dispenser that needed improvement. 323 Sleep apnea detector Thoughts Thoughts Detect the start and notify the user?? 324 High/low car speed limit indicator Thoughts None Use colored LED's to indicate deviations from desired speed. Uses warm and fuzzy or other heuristics to determine desired speed. 325 Soap Box Derby (sic) race timer None None Maybe use Door Annunciator (SPT #321) variant and Serial LCD (SPT# 26) variant to do sensing, timing and display. 326 Cricket chirp thermometer None None Very unique output for a temperature measuring device. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 327 Mars rover (Sojourner) None None The toy Eric and I have only goes forward and back at the end of a cable. Adding a couple of stepper motors and an IR link should make it a lot more fun for us big kids. 328 Chintzy motor tachometer None None 329 Enigma encryption machine None None See Seizing the Enigma by David Kahn (Published 1998 by Barnes and Noble) for some interesting Enigma stories. 330 Tuff Shed Cryo monitor None None Inspired by the award winning short film: Grandpa's in the TUFF SHED by Robin Beeck. 331 Pen style scanner for plagiarism None None Never leave home without the ability to do some (unoriginal) work. *332 Telephone prefix dialer Thoughts Thoughts With all the proliferation of phones, even local calls need the area code. This idea would play canned DTMF for the local area codes at the touch of a button. (See SPT #15). 333 Logging power line monitor None None Keep track of the power glitches that crash your computer. Then you may be able to fix the problem -- nahhhh. 334 Y2K blanket None None To be sold by late night info-mercials. Before Y2K It is an electric blanket. After Y2K: One of Its layers has printed emergency instructions, Its other layer has a flag to warn looters that you are armed and prepared, It also acts as kindling, Its internal wires act as clothes line when power for the dryer fails, Its stuffing is soft as tissue... and MUCH More! Order now while the heat is still working!!!! 335 Smart Media memory card player None None Very small package for a headset boom box. Transfer all your CD's to a very rugged "Walkman". 336 PC power supply fan monitor None None Its not if the fan in your computer will fail, it when it will fail. Coming soon: Hard drive fail detector. Its not it the hard drive... *337 VCR FBI warning detector None None Use this detector to strip all those irritating commercials that they are CHARGING you to watch. 338 Grocery list barcode scanner None None Scan all those fast food products before you throw their packages away. With this list you don't have to think what to buy the next trip to the store. Maybe you can even order over the WEB. 339 Magazine page counter and flipper None None Find those pages that are in the index but don't have the page number printed on the page. Read a Computer Shopper as an example. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 340 Multiple probe temperature meter Some Some Use diodes for probes to measure temperature. 341 NIM game kids toy None None A simple game to build for fun. 342 Talking dice None None Maybe this isn't as irritating as it sounds. 343 Calorie counter barcode reader None None Use it while shopping. Give away the reader and sell the database? Follow up with fat and cholesterol readers. *344 Switching power regulator None None An 8 pin PIC is almost as cheap as a PWM switcher controller. And some of them have A/D's built in to make it easier. 345 Remote rabbit ears None None A couch potato shouldn't have to get up to adjust the TV antenna. In fact it would be best if the rabbit ears were trainable so they would adjust themselves. 346 Temperature monitor that sends on X-10 None None The data rate is slow enough to make this workable. 347 Personal Computer CMOS setup saver None None Save this critical data by doing a simple print. Recover it to a file by reading it in serially. No special software needed. 348 Spoon in the garbage disposal detector. None None Something better than the "rattle rattle rattle grind URRRRRRR" sound. 349 Casio AT-550G calculator watch clone None None My watch is intermittent (Arrrrrrrrgh!!!) and of course Casio no longer makes any watch even close to as neat. Of course no else is even close to Casio in dual display (hands and digits) watches. A note to Casio: Please put the second hand back on your dual display watches so I can have a watch I REALLY like again. 350 Transmogrifying clock. None None You know? Like where the digits don't just instantly change. They warp from one shape to the next. 351 Auto focus eyeglasses. None None Maybe look at the eye using an infrared beam to see where the wearer is looking and adjust for the correct focus at that distance? 352 Yo-Yo with string sync. None None Put a Whirlessgig (see SPT #43) on a Yo-Yo using the string going past a (optical ?) sensor to keep the message upright as the Yo-Yo spins. Project Software Hardware ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 353 "Simon" memory game for orangutans. None None In zoos, orangutans get very bored. At the Denver Zoo the keepers hide their food and give them boxes, old telephone books, T-shirts and other things as toys to play with. This would be a VERY rugged version of the Simon game. I really do think the orangutans could solve playing it. 354 Digital camera mass storage. None None With digital cameras it is not practical to purchase enough memory cards to last an entire vacation of picture taking. The obvious solution is to take a laptop computer to copy the pictures into when the cards get full. This SPT would be a dedicated unit with parallel, serial and USB ports and just a few buttons to control the picture data transfers from the camera to its hard drive. 355 Stepper motor sequence tester. None None This SPT goes through the different combinations of drive patterns while driving a stepper motor. When the stepper moves correctly the user would press a button and then LED's would show the proper wiring needed to run the motor. 357 Phone time and temperature. None None Be your own remote weather station. 358 Flashing tongue stud None None Has to use really small surface mount parts. On second thought, anyone crazy enough to stick something through their tongue probably doesn't care if it is a little large and heavy. 362 Can opener simulator/pet exerciser. None None Makes the sound of a food can being opened. Pet gets exercise running to see what's good to eat. Notes: Hand Wired = Soldered together on perf-board. No documentation. Magazine = Published by someone already. Web = Seen on the Internet. Modified PCB = A PCB that has been modified by hand. None = No idea whatsoever. Partial = Started but not finalized. PCB = Printed board has been made. May be documented. Product = Done a commercial product. Proto board = Built on a board from Micro Engineering Labs. May be doc. SBB = Built on a solderless breadboard. Soldered SBB = Built on a PCB with layout similar to a SBB. May be doc. Some = Something is written down somewhere. Thoughts = Have some thoughts but none are written down. Yes = Exists in a usable form. * = May be improved by using a Ubicom/Scenix SX in place of the Microchip PIC. In fact the SPT may only be possible with an SX.