This project produces a number of effects on a set of three LEDs.
You can also produce your own sequence and store it by using the 3 buttons.
You can build the project on Matrix Board or buy a complete kit with pre-programmed chip.
You can also program the chip yourself and use this project as the beginning to: “learning to write your own programs.”
This project takes the place of a number of flashing circuits and can be set so that any of the sequences will show when the circuit is first turned on.
The main purpose of the project is to teach programming, however it also offers a challenge to constructors as it is laid out on matrix board, using surface-mount components. .
We have used SM components for convenience AND for ease-of-use. Once you start using them you will never go back to through-hole components. They are smaller, neater and make a very compact design.
They also make the project look simpler as they “disappear” under the board; or if you are developing a single-sided project, they reduce the size of the final design appreciably.
So, we have two areas of interest. Constructions and programming and it’s up to you to take it on.
The project is designed for all sorts of uses, including models such as train layouts, alarms and similar effects.
It can also be expanded to accept more LEDs and these can be placed on a separate display board.
But the real thing we want to get across, is programming.
This is another example of using a simple 8 pin chip to provide a number of features that would take many logic chips (such as counters and gates) and lots of components to duplicate.
It also highlights our method of hand-coding as an effective way to produce a program.
It is doubtful if the same effects could be produced on any of the pre-packaged microcontroller modules, using a tiny 8 pin chip.
This project uses about 400 instructions to produce the effects and it uses the EEPROM to store the sequence produced by the user (sequence 1) – and show it at turn-on.
In this respect, some of the sub-routines in the program are quite complex and suitable for the advanced programmer. However, if you are a beginner, you can read through the program and most of the sub-routines will be easy to follow as each line of code is explained. You have to start somewhere and this project offers a challenge.
Most projects with a program of this complexity are only available as a pre-programmed chip or only the hex code is available. There is usually no attempt at educating the reader in programming.
That’s the difference between our projects and all others.
We offer a learning curve.
For every hour of effort you put into reading, building and using one of our microcontroller projects, you get the experience of 100 hours of effort that has been put into the design to make it appear simple.
All you have to do is start . . .
For more detail: LED FX using PIC12F629 Microcontroller
