K3PTO Published Articles
Last Update: 17 May 2017
[email protected]
Assembly Language Essentials - Book published by
Circuit Cellar in May, 2011
Link
to
the Circuit Cellar web site for the book This promotion
code will get you a 15% discount: LC15EXP0531
( not sure if this is still good :) )
The book is targeted to meet the needs of anyone who does not
know Assembly Language but would like to learn. The only
precondition is that you know, or are familiar with, at least one other
programming language.
The book develops a fictional
processor with its own architecture and instruction set.
This was done so that the reader does not need to be familiar with an
existing CPU. I have written an assembler for the processor that you
can download here along with a number of sample
programs that are discussed in the book. This
file contains the current errata for the book.
Magazine
Articles
Due to an error on my part, I have
had to slightly change my username at OshPark. Please note the
change below. My call must be in upper case.
Any of my articles which use circuit boards
available from Osh Park can be found at this url: https://oshpark.com/profiles/K3PTO
A Musical Doorbell - August/September 2018 Nuts and Volts
This article describes an implementation of a musical doorbell using a
PIC microprocessor. The source code and a schematic can be found here.
A Digital Analog Part 1
- Replacing a 555 with a PIC - December 2016 Nuts and Volts
This article describes an implementation of many of the features of a 555
using a PIC microprocessor. The source code and a schematic can be
found here.
This is the first in a series of five articles which will review the 555 and
556 circuits from the book:
Toilet Sentinal - October 2016
Nuts and Volts
This article describes a small PIC-based project
which sounds an alarm if your toilet tank does not fill by the time it
should which indicates a fault condition - probably a leak.
Here are the files for
the project. The PCB files can be found
at https://oshpark.com/profiles/k3pto.
The project name is Toilet
Sentinal.
PIC Dip Meter - July 2016 Nuts and Volts
I have a few sets of PCBs on hand for this project.
Please email me if you would like a set: 1 main board and 6 coil
boards.
This article describes a PIC-based Dip Meter with a digital
frequency display. The unit covers six bands from 1MHz to 60MHz
using plug-in colls. All construction files
are available here: PIC
DipMeter Files.zip
The PCB files can be found at https://oshpark.com/profiles/k3pto.
The files are: DIP Main and Dip Coil.
The
unit requires one DipMain board and six DipCoil boards.
Since OshPark requires that you purchase boards in multiples
of 3, I am willing to purchase the boards from them and resell them
in single piece quantities at cost plus mailing.
PIC Audio DDS - June 2015 audioXpress magazine
This article describes a PIC-based audio DDS signal source. It is menu
driven via a 4 line LCD, Quadrature Encoder and Joystick. Several
modes of sine wave generation are available: continuous sine wave,
sweep, and frequency list. All construction
files are available here: PIC
Audio DDS Files.zip
The PCB files can be found at https://oshpark.com/profiles/k3pto.
The file is: PIC Audio DDS.
Since
OshPark requires that you purchase boards in multiples of 3, I am
willing to purchase the boards from them and resell them in single
piece quantities at cost plus mailing.
Wall Wart replacement - April 2015 audioXpress magazine
This article describes a
quadruple wall-wart replacement power supply. The voltages
can be set individually between 5V and 15V. Each supply is
capable of 1amp but is dependant on the power transformer you use.
Each circuit board is designed to allow you to have an
individual on-off switch as well as either of two types of voltage
control - screw driver trim pot or "normal" front panel rotary
potiometer. All the construction files are here: WallWart-1.zip
The PCB
files can be found at https://oshpark.com/profiles/k3pto.
The file is: WallWart.
Audio
Spectrum Display - August 2014 audioXpress magazine
This article describes an Audio Spectrum Display that can be configured for
ISO standard frequencies – those that typically are used for graphics
equalizers. This system uses sets of ten LEDs to show the relative
amplitudes of bands of frequencies. The system can be implemented with
essentially any number of frequency bands displayed. All
construction
files are available here: AudioSpectrumDisplay.zip
The PCB files can be found at https://oshpark.com/profiles/k3pto.
The files are: 4xFilterL and Pwr-PreAmp.
TwinTee Oscillator and Dual VU Meter -
January 2014 audioXpress magazine
Build
an
instrument that will aid you in debugging and testing audio systems.
The unit
consists of a high purity, single frequency, sine wave and stereo VU
meter. The amplitude of the sine wave is adjustable up to
+4dBu and has two fixed attenuators which may be selected. The
VU meter has a nominal full scale of +7dBu and has two selectable
fixed gain values. The unit can be powered with an internal 9
V battery or an external power supply. All construction files
are available here:
- DipTrace files
- Figures and docs
- PCB gerber files
I have spare PCBs. Please email me for details.
Function Generator - Jan. 2013 Circuit Cellar
Build a function Generator which has simultaneous
PWM (Pulse width Modulation), PPM (Pulse Position Modulation) and
DDS (Direct Digital Synthesis) signals. It is controlled by an
RCM5600
from Digi International (Rabbit
Semiconductor).
The generator uses a four line LCD, a joystick and a
quadrature encoder to navigate the menu system and to select the
signal parameters. The DDS has both variable amplitude and
offset. All construction and source code files are available
here:
- DipTrace Files
- Dynamic C Files
- Figures
The Batch PCB
job numbers are:
- Main Board: 100395
- DDS Board: 100401
- Switches Board: 100403
Calibrated db Meter - March 2010
Circuit Cellar
Measure the absolute level of an audio signal anywhere within the range of
-80dbm to 0 dbm. The high end range can easily be extended by
the use of a selectable attenuator.
Here are the files you can download for this project:
- DipTrace source
- Documentation
- Circuit Boards
- Pictures
Four output Switching Power Supply -
August 2009 QST and 2010 ARRL Handbook
This article describes the theory, circuits and
construction of a four output switching power supply. As
originally built, it had four positive outputs: two fixed and two variable.
I modified it at the request of ARRL and replaced one of the fixed
supplies with a negative supply. Any combination of the supplies can
be fixed and/or variable up to about +20V for the positive and -20V for the
negative regulators. As with my other articles, the circuit boards can
be purchased from FAR Circuits.
All of the construction files are on the ARRL
web site.
Here are the files you can download for this project:
1) Dip Trace source
2) Documentation
3) Circuit Boards
4) Spectrum Analyzer screen shots
5) Original text and files of article
6) List of all the files
Note: the Mouser part number for C2 in both schematics is incorrect.
It should be: 140-RXJ221M1HBK1025P. Thank you to KF5QNT for
pointing this out.
Audio Spectrum Analyzer - August 2008 audio Nuts
and Volts
This article describes the construction and operation of a configurable
audio spectrum analyzer. The main components are: a 132x64 pixel graphics
LCD, four momentary switches to select menu options, power supply, audio
processing circuit and microprocessor. The program is written in a dialect
of C and consists of several library files and the main program file. There
are three printed circuit boards which can be purchased as a set from FAR
Circuits. CAUTION: the LCD interface board has a very closely spaced
pattern (10 mills). This would not be a good choice as a project for someone
who does not have the capability to handle small circuit board spacing.
Here are the files which you can download for the project:
1) Original Text of the Nuts & Volts article
2) Source code for the program
3) A Readme text file containing a list of all the
files
4) Schematics
5) PCB files for Silk Screens and Vias
6) Pictures of the boards
PC Audio Mixer/Distribution Amp - Oct 2007 Nuts and Volts
This is the PC Audio system add-on as
published in the October, 2007 issue of Nuts & Volts. Although the
system was specifically designed to be used with a PC it can easily be used
with almost any audio system to expand the line level inputs and/or outputs.
This link (about 4.5MB) will download the text of
the magazine article including schematics. This
link (about 3.4MB) will download some helpful construction
information: board layouts, BOM, etc. Here are updated Construction
Tips (about 2K) and BOM (about 18K)
files.
Direct Digital Synthesizer - Nov 2006 Nuts and Volts
The DDS as published in the Nov 2006 issue of
Nuts and Volts. This device allows you to create a synthesized sine,
triangle or square wave of any frequency between 1Hz and 10MHz in 1Hz steps.
Click here to download all the files, about 4MB. The
PCBs area available from Far Circuits. Feel free to email me if you have any
questions.
Please note that the link for DDS information in my article seems to have
expired. Here is a new link
- found by one of my friends - thank you Kevin!.
Another link from Analog
Devices.
Here is another page which has a links to more tutorials.
I can no longer support
the following two projects because the CPLDs are very hard to
get and I no longer have access to the programmer. Also, the
schematic and PCB program I used (WinDraft) is no longer available.
Let me know if you would like the CPLD and/or the VB
source files.
I am posting the design files here for anyone who wants them. Please
understand that it has been so long since I have attempted to use the CPLD
files that I can provide very little help with them. I can probably
do better with the VB stuff.
Dso20031129.zip contains the
DSO design files and a LOT of documentation. It is abour 33MB
DSO_VB_20040509.zip has the
VB code for both the DSO and SBLA. It is about 250KB.
SBLA_Quartus.zip contains the
design files for the SBLA and is about 650KB.
Single Board Logic Analyzer - October 2004 Circuit Cellar
Updated 21 May 2005 with version 1.4 of DSO_LA
and help files. It contains improvements, described in the help file, and an
updated Read_me file specifically for the SBLA. I am leaving the original
files here just in case anyone requires them.
Here are some pictures from one of the users of the
SBLA.
Updated 9 Oct 2004
This is my Single Board Logic Analyzer as published
in the October 2004 issue of Circuit Cellar magazine. Its design is based on
the DSO/LA which is described below. After designing and building the DSO/LA
I wanted to see how difficult it would be to design a single board Logic
Analyzer. This project and article is the result. All the information
required for building the SBLA is contained in the file. The sample screen
shots from the DSO/LA, minus the analog portion, show the presentation of
the SBLA. If there is enough interest I will obtain printed circuit boards
and purchase all the components necessary for kits which I will make
available for cost plus S&H. The file _ReadMe.txt
contains a list of changes, a list of the files in the zip, as well as some
construction information. My email address is at the bottom of the page.
For anyone who is interested here is the latest version of the Altera files
for the CPLD. Please realize that I no
longer have a valid version of the Altera software so I will not be able to
help you if you have questions on how to use it.
DSO/Logic Analyzer - July/August 2003 QEX.
Following is my DSO/Logic Analyzer as published in the July/August 2003
issue of QEX. Here is a brief excerpt from the article:
The device described in this article is a combination Digital Storage
Oscilloscope and Logic Analyzer. It interfaces to a PC via a parallel
(printer) port and is built using several printed circuit boards. The system
is designed such that it allows for 6 Input Cards. Each card can be either 8
Logic Analyzer channels or a single Analog channel (8 bit resolution).
Here are some of the main features:
1. Ease of construction - uses printed circuit boards
2. Multiple analog channels
3. Minimum of 20 MHz sample rate
4. Logic Analyzer channels
5. Trigger selection to allow various combinations of A/D and LA signals
6. Settable pre-trigger count
7. An initialization file which allows the user to define almost all of the
operating parameters
This program is Freeware. Click here to see some
screen shots.
Here are the necessary files required for the DSO/LA
Documentation (44KB)
DSOLA.exe and support files (484KB)
Screen Captures and Pictures of the DSO/LA
(1072KB)
In the following zip files the ".ps" files are PostScript and the ".prn" are
Laserjet4 formated files. All are double size. If you need a different
format please contact me and I will try to generate files which are
compatible with whatever printer you might have. I will also be willing send
hardcopy via SASE.
Board artwork (445KB)
Schematics (607KB)
I will be happy to program a PLD for you if you include an SASE. I would
also be happy to test the board as long as it requires no assembly and you
include a means of paying for the return postage.
Please let me know if you have any trouble getting any of the components.
If you have any suggestions for system enhancements or find any bugs please
let me know and I will try to implement them. If you run the program and
find something is missing PLEASE let me know and I will update this site.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me
at [email protected]