Build a Configurable Clock/Timer
April 2019
You’ll be “alarmed” at all the cool features this unit has!
Build a Customizable Musical Doorbell
September 2018
Select from among eight different tone sequences from a single doorbell switch, or up to four doorbell switches, each with its own tone sequence, for different doors/locations.
Replacing The 555 With A PIC — Part 5 — A Digital Analog
July 2018
This is the final installment that looks at the remaining circuits from the book, 555 Timer IC Circuits by Forrest Mims.
Replacing The 555 With A PIC — Part 4 — A Digital Analog
February 2018
This fourth article discusses the more complex circuits from the book, 555 Timer IC Circuits by Forrest Mims.
Replacing The 555 With A PIC — Part 3 — A Digital Analog
December 2017
This third article discusses the less complex audio oscillator circuits from 555 Timer IC Circuits by Forrest Mims.
Replacing The 555 With A PIC — Part 2 — A Digital Analog
May 2017
This second article examines several of the circuits from 555 Timer IC Circuits by Forrest Mims, that are used basically as a monostable multivibrator.
Replacing The 555 With A PIC — Part 1 — A Digital Analog
December 2016
Learn how to emulate a 555 or 556 using a PIC microcontroller — with no special programming required!
Build the Toilet Sentinel
October 2016
This circuit alerts you when the toilet flapper has not sealed properly.
DIP Meter with Digital Frequency Display
July 2016
Need a DIP meter? This device (with digital display) covers a frequency range of 1 MHz to 56 MHz, and can also be used as a frequency counter.
A2D Signal Processing
February 2008
One of the limitations of many low cost, single supply, analog-to-digital (A/D) converter ICs today is that they have a limited input voltage range. This article discusses various ways to implement input processing to allow these devices to operate in the real world. I use the ADS7870 as an example A/D, but the equations and samples are generic enough so that you can configure the circuits for other devices...
Audio Spectrum Analyzer
August 2008
The device described in this article is a configurable audio spectrum analyzer. Many of you have probably seen spectrum analyzers on some higher-end audio equipment, as well as within the GUI of many audio deck programs on your PCs. The function of a spectrum analyzer is to view the frequency components of a signal. One way to state the difference between an oscilloscope and a spectrum analyzer is that with an oscilloscope, you see time domain presentations; with a spectrum analyzer...
Stand-Alone DDS Unit
November 2006
Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) is one of the more prevalent methods used to generate a frequency agile signal today...
Analog: Mixed and Matched
October 2007
The device described in this article is both a 4:1 audio mixer and a 1:4 distribution system. Each of the input and output channels has its own volume control...
