Articles and news - Microcontrollers - 6

PIC AVR Microcontrollers Anchor Majority Embedded
PIC and AVR Microcontrollers Anchor the Majority of Embedded Designs Today
May 26, 2022 News

Microchip grows its commitment to the 8-bit PIC and AVR MCUs by releasing five new product families and over 60 new devices...

Two-wire four-by-four-key keyboard interface saves power
Two-wire, four-by-four-key keyboard interface saves power
May 16, 2022 Circuits

You can use a microcontroller that includes an ADC to design a two-wire-plus-ground keyboard interface. For example, you can use a resistive voltage divider to identify a pressed key...

Off-the-shelf watchdog serves pinch
Off-the-shelf watchdog serves in a pinch
May 10, 2022 Circuits

The performance of the watchdog circuit may not match that of a dedicated watchdog circuit, but this circuit is helpful when the only watchdog in the lab doesn’t meet your design’s temperature requirement and when you are in a hurry to finish a prototype...

Use MCLR pin as an output
Use the MCLR pin as an output with PIC microcontrollers
Mar 2, 2022 Circuits

Although microcontroller manufacturers try to offer designers products that almost exactly fit the needs of their designs, another output pin is often necessary...

Single-wire keypad interface frees microcontroller-I pins
Single-wire keypad interface frees microcontroller-I/O pins
Jan 20, 2022 Circuits

If you use a microcontroller to detect a key closure, checking the states of (x+y) lines requires an equal number of I/O pins. Occupying only one free I/O pin, the circuit communicates with a microcontroller...

Simple microcontroller-temperature measurement uses only diode
Simple microcontroller-temperature measurement uses only a diode and a capacitor
Dec 16, 2021 Articles

Using a PN-junction diode for temperature measurement usually depends on its 2 mV/K temperature coefficient. Less well-known is the fact that the reverse current of a PN-junction diode shows a good exponential dependency over temperature...

-50-V 1-W Power Supply Harnesses Unused
-50-V, 1-W Power Supply Harnesses Unused µC Pins
Dec 2, 2021 Circuits

Why not take advantage of the micro-controller included in many systems these days? This design uses microcontroller feedback to produce a –50-V, 1-W power supply...

TinyLoad Simple Electronic Load based on
TinyLoad - Simple Electronic Load based on ATtiny45/85
Nov 15, 2021 Circuits

TinyLoad is a simple electronic constant current dummy load. The ATtiny measures voltage, current and temperature of the heat sink, calculates power, energy and battery capacity, controls the fan and displays all relevant data on the OLED...

USB Phone Charge Guard
USB Phone Charge Guard
Sep 22, 2021 Circuits

The ATtiny45/85 USB Phone Charge Guard controls and monitors the charging of phones and other devices. Voltage, current, power and energy are constantly measured...

Infrared Thermometer Pen
Infrared Thermometer Pen
Sep 13, 2021 Circuits

Also called the ThermoPen, the goal of this project was to create a portable thermometer usable for precise uses case...