If you are looking for convenient USB based programmer adapter that can support multiple standards of programming you should go for a USBprog. This is great project and and even better that it is open source. Adapter is based on really cool idea. It flashes firmware from online pool on demand. You just have to select in special program what you will be programming and adapter updates itself by downloading firmware form server. Currently firmware pool includes following hex codes that converts adapter to:

• AVR ISP 2 clone;
• OpenOCD Interface (ARM Debugging);
• AT89 Programmer;
• SimplePort (10 I/O lines);
• USB to RS232 converter (without drivers!!);
• JTAGICE mk2 clone (under development).

Site provides all schematics and PCB files for everyone to download and build adapters at home. But before you build one check this out. Dean Hall has modified this adapter with some small hardware changes that you may find interesting.

He made following chages:

• Changed CONN1 to a type Mini-B receptacle (so it would be surface mount);
• Changed most parts to have surface mount packages (except jumpers and headers);
• Added capacitors C1 and C2 for decoupling;
• Added CONN3 2×5 pin header for Port A (the ADC inputs);
• Added JP3 jumper header to choose which pin controls LED1.

When a jumper is placed across JP3 pins 1 and 2 adapter becomes an UsbProg-SHARP exactly compatible with the original UsbProg otherwise board is no longer compatible with USBProg and requires special firmware (for programming SHARP bots) which seems is still under development.

Bored? Grab a PIC16F628, LM75 temperature sensor, one 3×7 segment LED indicator and solderless breadboard. And build a simple thermometer in few minutes.

PIC microcontroller reads temperature sensor LM75 via I2C interface and sends directly to 7 segment LED indicator. Program is written by using JAL but you can flash hex file without need to compile. Have fun.

Did you have a situation when you simply needed a big screen for viewing information from your embedded device? Probably yeas. First thing you thought – maybe I need bigger character or graphical LCD, or more 7 segment LEDs. One issue is to send data via serial terminal to your PC, but what if it is occupied. Then look around and probably your eyes will stop by TV.

This construction is simple terminal which can be connected as module to any embedded device and act as simple terminal hooked to TV.

It’s features are:

• Display mode: black and white;
• Text mode: 40 characters x 25 lines;
• Semigraphic mode: 80 x 75 “points”;
• Printable characters: ASCII 32 – 127;
• Keyboard: IBM PC AT compatible;
• Control characters: 11;
• Serial line speeds: 1200 Bd to 115.2 kBd;
• Power supply: 9 – 12 V or 5V;
• Current consumption: cca 30 mA + keyboard consumption.

So you can have great terminal screen with lots of space for seeing multiple information at one time. All that joy is controlled by Atmega8 microcontroller which is clocked at 20MHz. Better solution would be 22MHz(you can try if you want) which means overclocked, but 20MHz works well for hobby purposes. Program is written in assembler for better performance and predictability. You can get it here. It’s time to turn off your favourite channel and output some lines.

I know it is a cool and creative way to combine the PIC Programming with the GPS LCD display (You should try it if you have unused GPS LCD display, so it can cut down the cost).This project is based on a PIC16F84.

First of all, you must use a 4 Bit configuration for the LCD to PIC wiring (You’re better use the PIC16F84 wisely, as it doesn’t have too much of port pins).

With the help of above schematic, you can see the:

GPS data coming in on Port A Pin 1

LCD data goes out on Port B Pin 0-3

LCD’s Register Select (Rs) is on Port A Pin 2

LCD’s Enable (E) is on Port A Pin 3

Beside that, you also noticed that I have had eliminated the MAX232 level converter for this project, by only adding a simple software conversion on it. This will save me more space and the entire circuit can fit perfectly on a board the same size as the 4×20 LCD!

As you can see at the above figure, they’ve fitted the PIC and LCD lines breadboarded it neatly behinds the 4×20 LCD!

For all of the electronic fans, I believed that Arduino isn’t a strange thing for you here.

Today, you can try to build an amplifier for the Arduino use.

It is a low cost project, which might cost you less than hundred bucks. We try to modify the circuit that can be used as an amplifier to switch on and off a DC motor. You also need to make sure the PWM generator is the PIN 9, 10 and 11from the Arduino board.

For avoiding the transistor from getting burn frequently, we will use the BDX53 transistor for this purpose. The 1N4007 diode is the best choice for control and limits the extra tensions from the transistor.

For your information, the regulation is determined by the speed of motor, which is set by the frequency and duration of the on and off status of PWM.

Remember to write the analogWrite on the code and chosen the output pin in between 0 and 255 (example like “analogWrite(10, 255)”).

Hope you all will love and enjoy this Arduino project.