12 More Ideas

You've built the simple circuits in this book, tried out the programs that accompanied them, and you're ready for more. Now what?
     Since you've done the work already, let's take a look at some more ways to put these circuits to work. Once you start thinking about it, you'll quickly find that there's a very wide range of possible applications for these circuits. And the circuits can even be expanded to perform additional, more complex functions. Here are just a few projects you can create with the circuits you've built.

A Two-Beam Digital Timer Circuit
To make a two-beam digital timer, you'll need two digital light sensors (see Chapter 7).
     The two-beam timer begins timing when the first light beam is broken and stops timing when the second light beam is broken. A light sensor is required to monitor each of these light beams. The elapsed time between the two events (breaking the paths of the two light beams) is displayed on the computer's screen. This project is ideal for timing races. It may also be useful in classroom science experiments where the speed of an object must be measured by timing how long it takes for something to move from point A to point B.
     You've already built one sensor-the second sensor can be put on the same solderless breadboard as your original circuit. Both light sensors operate in the same way, and the digital sensors even share one major circuit component, the 3900 op amp IC. The 3900 IC has four operational amplifiers (op amps) built in. Each digital light sensor requires the use of one operational amplifier. The second sensor just uses one of the three unused op amps. In fact, you could build four digital light sensors using a single 3900 IC.
     Figure 12-2 is the schematic diagram of the two-beam digital timer circuit. For a more reliable switch, infrared sources are recommended.
     Assuming you have the first digital light sensor at hand (see Chapter 7), here's a list of additional parts you'll need to build this circuit.

parts
Quantity
Part
Part
Number
1
500K potentiometer (Commodore)
271-210
1
1M potentiometer (Atari)
271-211
1
100K ohm resistor
271-8045
1
10K ohm resistor
271-8034
1
1K ohm resistor
271-8023
1
TIL 414 infrared phototransistor
276-130

Here's how to construct your two-beam digital timer.

step-by-step
1. Take the solderless breadboard you used to create the digital light sensor in Chapter 7. Make sure all the components are still on the board and in their proper places.
2. Solder a 4-inch length of copper wire to pin 2 of the 9-pin plug. This wire will provide the computer with the digital signal from the second sensor.
3. Insert the other end of this wire into point J6 of the solderless breadboard.
4. Solder two wires to the middle and one of the outside leads of the 500K potentiometer.
5. The other end of the middle wire goes to point A2 of the breadboard.
6. The wire from the outside lead goes to location X2 of the board.
7. Solder wires to the emitter and collector of the TIL 414 infrared phototransistor. The wires should be long enough so that the phototransistor can be mounted properly. Insert the emitter and collector leads into points J2 and Y2 respectively.
8. Bridge the three additional resistors between the following sets of points:

Resistor             From    To
R1 (10K ohm)     G2        G9
R3 (100K ohm)   H9        H10
R4 (1K ohm)       I6          I10

9. Make the following jumper wire connections (in addition to the jumpers which already exist on the digital light sensor solderless breadboard which you built in Chapter 7) to complete the hardware for the two-light-beam timer:

Jumper   From   To
    1          G14     X19
    2          F2        E2

Figure 12-1.Two-Beam Timer

Figure 12-2. Shematic of the Two-Beam Timer

Figure 12-3. Breadboard Layout


Using the Two-Beam Timer
test
Plug the 9-pin connector into control port 2 for the Commodore 64/128, or into control port 1 for the Atari computers. To use the timer, set the sensors so that the light detect is interrupted when the object being timed passes them. Each sensor must be calibrated using its own potentiometer.
Program 12-1 monitors the two digital inputs to the computer from the sensors. When the first sensor is triggered by the passing object, it starts timing. When the object blocks the light to the second sensor, the program stops timing and displays the results.

Program 12-1-Commodore 64/128

JF 10 FOR I=0TO1
KF 20 PRINT"TURN ON FLASHLIGHT AND ADJUST THE"
XP 30 PRINT"POTENTIOMETER ";I+1;" TILL THE MESSAGE JUST"
DR 40 PRINT"CHANGES FROM OFF TO ON"
CR 50 PRINT:PRINT"PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
PM 60 A$=CHR$(145)
HM 70 A=PEEK(56320)
DX 80 IF (A AND 2↑I) THEN PRINT "OFF"
BE 90 IF (A AND 2↑I)=0 THEN PRINT "ON "
JS 100 GET B$
HE 110 IF B$="X"THEN140
JA 120 PRINTA$A$
CR 130 GOTO70
AS 140 NEXT I
BB 150 PRINT"BREAK BEAM 1 TO START TIMER”
GM 160 REM CHECK DATA REGISTER TILL FIRS T SENSOR TRIGGERED
MD 170 IF (PEEK(56320)AND(2↑0))=O THEN170
BH 180 REM START TIMER
JD 190 TI$="000000"
AG 200 REM CHECK DATA REGISTER TILL SECO ND SENSOR TRIGGERED
EM 210 IF (PEEK(56320) AND(2↑1))=0 THEN2 10
KS 220 PRINT"TIME IS";TI/60;"SECONDS"


Program 12-1-VIC-20

SH 10 FOR I=2TO3
KF 20 PRINT"TURN ON FLASHLIGHT AND ADJUST THE"
XP 30 PRINT"POTENTIOMETER ";I+1;" TILL THE MESSAGE JUST"
DR 40 PRINT"CHANGES FROM OFF TO ON"
CR 50 PRINT:PRINT"PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
PM 60 A$=CHR$(145)
GB 70 A=PEEK(37137)
DX 80 IF (A AND 2↑I) THEN PRINT "OFF"
BE 90 IF (A AND 2↑I)=0 THEN PRINT "ON "
JS 100 GET B$
HE 110 IF B$="X"THEN140
JA 120 PRINTA$A$
CR 130 GOTO70
AS 140 NEXT I
BB 150 PRINT"BREAK BEAM 1 TO START TIMER”
GM 160 REM CHECK DATA REGISTER TILL FIRST SENSOR TRIGGERED
BM 170 IF (PEEK(37137)AND(2↑2))=0 THEN170
BH 180 REM START TIMER
JD 190 TI$="000000"
AG 200 REM CHECK DATA REGISTER TILL SECOND SENSOR TRIGGERED
QC 210 IF (PEEK(37137) AND(2↑3))=0 THEN210
KS 220 PRINT"TIME IS";TI/60;"SECONDS"


Program 12-1-Atari

FL 110 REM TWO LIGHT SENSOR TIMER PROGRAM
FJ 112 REM CALIBRATE BOTH SENSORS
AI 115 FOR I=0 TO 1
KP 120 PRINT "TURN ON FLASHLIGHT AND ADJUST THE"
BE 130 PRINT "POTENTIOMETER ";I+1;" TILL THE MESSAGE JUST"
K0 140 PRINT "CHANGES FROM OFF TO ON
BL 150 PRINT :PRINT "PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
OB 155 FOR J=1 TO 1000:NEXT J
BE 160 A=STICK (0)
KK 162 IF I=1 THEN 174
0J 164 IF A=15 THEN PRINT "OFF"
0J 166 IF A=13 THEN PRINT "OFF"
KO 168 IF A=14 THEN PRINT "ON "
KF 170 IF A=12 THEN PRINT "ON "
GN 172 GOTO 190
OK 174 IF A=15 THEN PRINT "OFF"
OL 176 IF A=14 THEN PRINT "OFF"
KO 178 IF A=13 THEN PRINT "ON "
KG 180 IF A=12 THEN PRINT "ON "
MC 190 REM CHECK IF X KEY PRESSED
JM 200 IF PEEK(764)=22 THEN 220
GO 210 GOTO 160
NE 220 REM CLEAR LAST KEYSTROKE
CN 230 POKE 764,255
BO 240 NEXT I
MF 250 PRINT "BREAK BEAM 1 TO START TIMER"
AO 260 REM CHECK FIRST SENSOR TILL TRIGGERED
MN 270 IF STICK(0)<>13 THEN 270
IN 280 REM START TIMER
OF 290 POKE 18,0:POKE 19,0:POKE 20,0
JE 300 REM CHECK SECOND SENSOR UNTIL TRIGGERED
II 310 IF STICK(0)=14 THEN 320
GG 315 GOTO 310
BC 320 PRINT "TIME IS ";((PEEK(18)*255*255)+(PEEK(19)*255)+(PEEK(20)))/60;" SECONDS"

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Light Switch
This project combines the analog light sensor from Chapter 5 with the electronic switch you built in Chapter 8. The analog light sensor detects the level of outside light. As night approaches, the computer detects the change in light conditions and turns on a light via the electronic switch. Near dawn, the sensor detects the increase in light, and the computer switches off the light. (Of course, other things, from dark clouds during the day to car headlights at night, may also activate the switch.)

step-by-step
The analog light sensor, a cadmium sulfide photocell, is connected between pins 9 and 5 of the electronic switch's 9-pin plug. Use leads long enough so that the sensor can be aimed easily. The electric light is connected to the relay of the electronic switch across its normally closed and common terminals (remember, the relay turns on as soon as you plug the circuit into the computer's port). Be sure that the ratings of the solderless breadboard or relay are not exceeded by the electric light. The circuit is connected to control port 1 of your computer.

test
Program 12-2-Commodore 64/128

GX 10 PRINT "SET LIGHTING LEVEL TO SWITCH ON"
EG 20 PRINT "PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
RA 30 A=PEEK(36872)
HR 40 GET B$
RR 50 IF B$="X" THEN70
XE 60 GOTO30
QG 70 REM
HP 80 PRINT "SET LIGHTING LEVEL TO SWITCH OFF"
PD 90 PRINT "PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
AX 100 B=PEEK(36872)
ES 110 GET B$
DF 120 IF B$="X" THEN140
EJ 130 GOTO100
MJ 140 PRINT "PRESS X TO START"
FB 150 GET B$
HQ 160 IF B$="X" THEN180
PS 170 GOTO150
PR 180 REM CHECK IF LIGHT LEVEL LOWER THAN FIRST SETTING
FK 190 IF PEEK(36872)<A THEN190
SP 200 REM SET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR OUTPUT
XG 210 POKE 37139,PEEK(37139)OR(2↑2)
CC 220 REM SET OUTPUT LINE LOGIC LOW
CG 230 POKE 37137,PEEK(37137)ANDNOT(2↑2)
HQ 240 REM CHECK IF LIGHTING LEVEL HIGHER THAN SECOND SETTING
FP 250 IF PEEK(36872)>B THEN250
HQ 260 REM SET OUTPUT LINE LOGIC HIGH
RG 270 POKE 37137,PEEK(37137)OR(2↑2)
DG 280 REM RESET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR INPUT
FB 290 POKE 37139,PEEK(37139)ANDNOT(2↑2)


Program 12-2-VIC

GX 10 PRINT "SET LIGHTING LEVEL TO SWITCH ON"
EG 20 PRINT "PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
HD 30 A=PEEK(54297)
HR 40 GET B$
RR 50 IF B$="X" THEN70
XE 60 GOTO30
QG 70 REM
HP 80 PRINT "SET LIGHTING LEVEL TO SWITCH OFF"
PD 90 PRINT "PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
MB 100 B=PEEK(54297)
ES 110 GET B$
DF 120 IF B$="X" THEN140
EJ 130 GOTO100
MJ 140 PRINT "PRESS X TO START"
FB 150 GET B$
HQ 160 IF B$="X" THEN180
PS 170 GOT0150
PR 180 REM CHECK IF LIGHT LEVEL LOWER THAN FIRST SETTING
CM 190 IF PEEK(54297)<A THEN190
SP 200 REM SET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR OUTPUT
ED 210 POKE 56323,PEEK(56323)OR(2↑0)
CC 220 REM SET OUTPUT LINE LOGIC LOW
CJ 230 POKE 56321,PEEK(56321)ANDNOT(2↑0)
HQ 240 REM CHECK IF LIGHTING LEVEL HIGHER THAN SECOND SETTING
BE 250 IF PEEK(54297)>B THEN250
HQ 260 REM SET OUTPUT LINE LOGIC HIGH
GD 270 POKE 56321,PEEK(56321)OR(2↑0)
DG 280 REM RESET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR INPUT
ED 290 POKE 56323,PEEK(56323)ANDNOT(2↑0)


Program 12-2-Atari

LP 100 REM LIGHT SWITCH
HO 110 REM
FC 120 PRINT "SET LIGHT LEVEL TO SWITCH ON"
FC 130 PRINT "PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
DO 140 A=PADDLE(0)
LO 150 REM CHECK IF X KEY PRESSED
KG 160 IF PEEK(764)=22 THEN 180
GG 170 GOTO 140
NN 175 REM CLEAR LAST KEYSTROKE
DB 180 POKE 764,255
HF 190 PRINT "SET LIGHTING LEVEL TO SWITCH OFF"
FA 200 PRINT "PRESS X TO CONTINUE"
DN 210 B=PADDLE(0)
LM 220 REM CHECK IF X KEY PRESSED
KD 230 IF PEEK(764)=22 THEN 260
GC 240 GOTO 210
NH 250 REM CLEAR LAST KEYSTROKE
DA 260 POKE 764,255
EI 262 PRINT :PRINT "PRESS X TO START"
LC 264 IF PEEK(764)=22 THEN 268
HD 266 GOTO 264
DI 268 POKE 764,255
LE 270 REM CHECK IF LIGHT LEVEL LOWER THAN FIRST SETTING
JK 280 IF PADDLE(0)<A THEN 280
GD 290 REM SET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR OUTPUT
FM 300 POKE 54018,48
IL 310 POKE 54016,255
FJ 320 POKE 54018, 52
FL 330 REM SET DATA LINES LOGIC LOW
CC 340 POKE 54016,0
PD 350 REM CHECK IF LIGHTING LEVEL HIGHER THAN SECOND SETTING
JN 370 IF PADDLE(0)>B THEN 370
IO 380 REM SET DATA LINES LOGIC HIGH
JD 390 POKE 54016, 255
AH 400 REM RESET DATA LINES FOR INPUT
FO 410 POKE 54018,48
CB 420 POKE 54016,0
FL 430 POKE 54018,52

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test
Enter and run the appropriate version of Program 12-2. You'll be prompted to set the lighting condition which will indicate that the switch is to turn on. Do this by exposing the analog light sensor to the amount of light at which you want the light to turn itself on. While the sensor is still exposed to this light level, press the X key on the computer. The computer stores this level of light as a number and will turn on the electric light when the sensor sees less than this amount of light.
     The program also prompts you to set the light off condition. After the electric light has been turned on, when this second light level (or more light) is present, the electric light is turned off.
     Using this circuit requires that the sensor be mounted near a window where it can detect outside light.
   Whatever you do, don't mount the sensor beneath the electric light you're controlling.

Multiplexer Circuit
A multiplexer circuit lets your computer monitor many digital input signals using its limited number of I/O lines. To make an eight-input multiplexer, you'll have to have these components:

parts
Quantity
Part
Part
Number
2
 9-pin D-subminiature female  (only one necessary for VIC and Atari)
276-1538
1
74LS151 IC
None
1
1K ohm resistor  (not required for Atari)
271-8023
1
Solderless breadboard
276-175

Bread Board Layout for Multiplexer


Follow these steps to put together your multiplexer:

step-by-step
1. Insert the 74LS151 IC so that its pin 1 goes into point F2 of the solderless breadboard, and its pin 9 into point E9.
2. Solder a 4-inch-long wire to pin 1 of one of the 9-pin plugs (for the Atari and VIC-20 versions, solder this wire to pin 6 of the single 9-pin plug required). This wire carries the selected data line's signal to the computer.
3. Connect the other end of this wire to point J12 of the breadboard.
4. The 1K ohm resistor bridges the points H12 to H6 of the board. (When building the Atari version, use a jumper wire in place of the resistor.)
5. Solder wires about four inches long to pins 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8 of the second 9-pin plug (in the case of the Atari and VIC versions, solder these wires to the same pins of the single 9-pin plug).
6. The wires from pins 7 and 8 provide the power to the circuit. Connect the wire from pin 7 to point X1, and the wire from pin 8 to location Y1 of the board.
7. The wires from pins 1, 2, and 3 insert into plug points D7, D8, and D9 respectively. These last three pins are used to select the data line signal "seen" by the computer.
8. Connect jumper wires as follows:

Jumper   From    To
   1          Y9         J9
   2          X2         A2
   3          G8         G9

Pins 1-4 and 12-15 of the 74LS151 IC are the input lines of the multiplexer. They can be connected to any sensor which provides an on/off signal. The sensors may be electronic (like the digital light sensor) or simply switches between the pins and ground.

Figure 12-5. Multiplexer

test
If you've built a multiplexer for the Commodore 64 or Commodore 128, the 9-pin plug with one wire attached is inserted into control port 2. The other 9-pin connector plugs into control port 1.
     Since you used only one 9-pin plug for the Atari version, insert it into control port 2.
     Program 12-3 allows the circuit to monitor eight digital inputs. It outputs three digital signals to the multiplexer circuit, which tell it to route one of the input signals to a pin of the computer's I/O port. The program sequentially selects each of the eight input lines and checks its condition. (This is called polling.) If any of the eight inputs is at a logic low state, the computer prints out such a message on the screen.

Program 12-3-Commodore 64/128

PK 10 PRINT "PRESS X TO EXIT PROGRAM"
GM 20 REM SET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR OUTPUT
QJ 30 POKE 56322,255
RP 40 FOR I=0 TO 7
PE 50 REM SET DATA OUTPUT
SR 60 POKE 56320,1
RG 70 IF (PEEK(56321)AND(2↑0))=0 THEN PRINT " SENSOR ";I
RK 80 NEXT I
EP 90 REM RESET DATA LINES FOR INPUT
RQ 100 POKE 56322,0
ES 110 GET B$
BX 120 IF B$=”X" THEN END
CP 130 GOTO30


Program 12-3-VIC-20

CM 10 PRINT" MONITORING SENSORS"
HR 20 PRINT "PRESS X TO EXIT"
DP 30 REM SET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR OUTPUT
QH 40 POKE 37139,(2↑2+2↑3+2↑4)
GM 50 FOR I=0 TO 7
SP 60 REM SET DATA OUTPUT
GH 70 POKE 37137,1*4
QC 80 IF (PEEK(37137)AND(2↑5))=0 THEN PRINT " SENSOR ";I
JM 90 NEXT I
GJ 100 POKE 37139,128
ES 110 GET B$
BX 120 IF B$="X" THEN END
MQ 130 GOT040
GM 140 PRINT "TURN SWITCH OFF"


Program 12-3-Atari

ME 100 REM MULTIPLE INPUTS
JB 110 PRINT "MONITORING SENSORS"
ON 120 PRINT :PRINT" "PRESS X TO EXIT”
FM 130 REM SET DATA DIRECTION REGISTER FOR OUTPUT
FO 140 POKE 54018,48
CI 150 POKE 54016,7
FL 160 POKE 54018,52
OB 170 REM CYCLE THROUGH OUTPUT COMBINATION
BA 180 FOR I=0 TO 7
DO 190 POKE 54016,1
AF 195 FOR J=1 TO 10:NEXT J
EH 200 IF (STRIG(0)=0) THEN PRINT "SENSOR ";I
LL 210 REM CHECK IF X KEY PRESSED
KB 220 IF PEEK(764)=22 THEN 250
ON 230 NEXT I
ON 235 GOTO 180
NO 240 REM CLEAR LAST KEYSTROKE
CP 250 POKE 764,255
AL 260 REM RESET DATA LINES FOR INPUT
SC 270 POKE 54018,48
CF280 POKE 54016,0
FP 290 POKE 54018,52

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A Demultiplexer Circuit

A demultiplexing circuit can be made using a 74LS154 IC. This chip takes four input signals from the computer to output a signal to one of 16 lines. The output line corresponding to the input signal combination goes logic low, while the other output lines of this IC remain high.

parts
Quantity
Part
Part
Number
1
9-pin D-subminiature female
276-1538
1
74LS154 IC
None
1
Solderless breadboard
276-175
You'll also need some solid copper wire for jumpers and some stranded copper wire for other connections.

step-by-step
1. Insert the 74LS154 IC so that its pin 1 goes into point G6 of the solderless breadboard, and its pin 24 into point C6.
2. Solder wires about four inches long to pins 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the 9-pin plug.
These wires connect to the breadboard at these locations:
Wire
from Pin   To Point

      1            A7
      2            A8
      3            A9
      4            A10
3. Solder two wires to pins 7 and 8 of the 9-pin plug. Connect the wire from pin 7 to point X1, and the wire from pin 8 to location Y1 of the board.
4. Solder wires for the digital output lines to these points on the breadboard:
   Digital
Output Line    To Point

         0                  J6
         1                  J7
         2                  J8
         3                  J9
         4                  J10
         5                  J11
         6                  J12
         7                  J13

   Digital
Output Line    To Point

         8                   J14
         9                   J15
       10                   J16
       11                   A17
       12                   A16
       13                   A15
       14                   A14
       15                   A13

5. Connect jumper wires as follows:
 Jumper  From   To
     1        Y17      J17
     2        X6        A6
     3        A12      Y20
     4        B11       B12

Figure 12-6. Breadboard Layout Demultiplexer

Figure 12-7. More Wires

test
When you've finished, plug the 9-pin plug into control port 2.
     The 74LS154 is interfaced to the computer using four lines from the control port. These four lines output the signals that select which of the output lines goes logic low. The outputs from the demultiplexer can be used to turn on electronic switches or other devices which require digital signals. The power for the demultiplexer circuit, as for the multiplexer, is obtained from pins 7 and 8 of the computer's control port.
     Sending signals to set an output line of the demultiplexer is very similar to sending the output required from the computer to select an input line of the multiplexer. The only difference is that four output lines from the computer are used instead of three. Try writing a program which will sequentially set each of the demultiplexer's output lines to a logic low state. You can verify your program using your logic probe.


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