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Nutchip design archive

A SHORT COURSE in three designs to learn how to use Nutchips from ground up.

  • You will start making LED flashes.
  • You will continue learning how to switch outputs with separate START and STOP buttons.
  • In the last instalment, you will learn how to remotely switch a light on and off.
A LED dice, bright, unbiased, and spectacular.
The display uses 7 LEDs to simulate the faces of a real dice.

Did you know there are at least 6 different kinds of timers? This circuit implements all of them!
With our complete PCB design, you can build yourself an universal module, compelte with power regulator.

A full featured alarm, nonetheless simble to build. It features a radio remote control, delayed and immediate wireless sensors, light to show the status - including and useful pre-alarm LED - and a relay output to drive a siren. Inputs for both delayed and immediate "wired" sensors are also provided. Thanks to the Nutchip, you can customize it to suit your needs, changing the times and the logic.

Combination lock are nice to enable alarms, but are useful for controlling a wide range of electric devices. These software keys can open gates, garages, TV sets, telephones, VCRs, well pumps... In practice this circuit is capable to lock or time all the devices that can be connected to relays.

The electric gate in many shops, factories (not to mention cooperative apartment houses) is kept open during working hours. This circuit detects when someone traverses the gate, ringing the bell in a very peculiar way.

Like in the spy movies, the door opens inserting an electronic card! Very useful also to access private parks, enable photocopiers, activate showers and night light in sport resorts shared between clubs. At last, a legal and useful application for the (otherwise vituperated) satellite-TV cards.

This circuit has been developed as a semester work for an Electronics class. It features a 7-segment display. The number is set with a quadrature encoder: turning the encoder knob you can adjust the number shown. Building and understanding it you will test your knowledge about interfacing to an encoder, counting, and driving a display to show the information.
Java is the coolest language for developing application capable to run on every kind of computers - and is perfectly integrated with the Internet. Learn how to make your PC talk to the Nutchip. With working examples and source code.
A simple but effective remote control, capable to compete (and sometimes to beat...) most ready-made units. Plus application examples for remote door opening, remote-triggered timers, and on/off contact closures.
Go beyond wireless doorbells: a mini-central that tells you when a letter is waiting you in the mailbox and if someone rung your bell when you were not at home. Complete design including PCB.

PC controlled relays

A popular design with dozens of applications. The design is simple and compact. Switch almost everything on and off with a simple mouse click. Some tech specs: relay outputs, on-board power regulator, on-board serial port.

your washing machine lacks this useful feature? This special timer will power it only when you want to. Say goodbay to creasy clothes because of the time spent waiting in the machine. And if your problem is limited overall electric power, you can set up the washing machine and the dishwater at the same time, having them working at different hours

At home like in TV shows. Complete with sound, lights, and response timer. Up to 3 players. With printed circuit board layout.
  an entire section in this site devoted to the famous Robot DeAgostini and its expansions based on Nutchips. If you don't have a Robot, you will find useful information about how to program a Nutchip with a Parallax Basic Stamp© and other tips about serial programming.

Switch you TV lamp while comfortably seated on you armchair, using your TV's remote control (*). Of course, you can use the same circuit for a variety of other "comfortable" uses, like controllin a fan or the heating. Those very versed in electronics DIY could apply it to very unusual devices, like telephones or answering machines.
   (*) requires a TV set with RC5 compatible remote control

This photocell shows how to use the Nutchip analog comparator input. The project is shown first in a laboratory version, ideal for experimenting with a breadboard. A second more improved version is also shown, showing the tricks used by the pro's in order to make the circuit more reliable.
A radio controlled remote control, suitable for driving up to 3 loads using relays. With a 6 keys transmitter (see PICRMT if you want to build on by yourself) each relays is controlled indipendently. And you can also connect it to a PC!
Using a 4511, a specialized decoder IC, learn how to drive a 7-segment display. The article explains the technique for counting from zero to nine. this technique is the base for more complex applications, like a countdown timer or a gear display for a motorcycle.
A clever design to test your knowledge about counters, state machines, displays, and how to put them together. Not only this project is very suitable for the schools, it is also very fun!!! This reaction time meter measures your reaction time, and can be built on a breadboard.
Encoders are beleieved to be mysterious. Follow our instructions to learn all its secrets. You will understand why it is increasingly adopted in so many industrial products, from machines, to positioners, and even microwave ovens and car stereos.

Stepper motor are commonly used for moving robots. If you love experimenting, stepper motors will give hours of great fun. Learn how to generate the basic step sequences ( full-step vs. half-step), and what a full bridge driver is.
For advanced users.

How to use the PC to connect to a Nutchip in order to read a remote control, to sense a smart-card, to enable outputs or to read inputs? Here are serial communication secrets, from the protocol to a working example. Source code is provided, with unparalleled row-by-row comments.
  DESIGNS USING THE PIC16F84 FROM MICROCHIP©
Although ready-made remote controls are easy to get, with this project we show how to build on at home. Features are impressive, with 6 radio channels and long battery life. Complete with PCB layout.
How to modify current "wired" sensor in order to make them wireless. You save money, and get rid of the problem of all those wires.

switch transmitter

A door which opens, a drawer slides out, a switch turned on or a letter in your mailbox: this transmitter can detect all!
It is battery operated and can be placed practically everywhere. Uses a single long-lasting battery.
Complete with PCB layout.