79 25274 75349 05> CIRCUIT CELLAR ® w w w . c i r c u i t c e l l a r . c o m THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS $4.95 U.S. ($5.95 Canada) MEASUREMENT & SENSORS Magnetometer Design Portable Temperature Meter Energy Analyzer Self-Recording Camera #202 May 2007 cover1.qxp 4/8/2007 6:16 PM Page 1 C2.qxp 3/6/2007 1:38 PM Page 1 M GET ST ARTED WITH CAPSENSE NOW Streamline your next design with CapSense: www.cypress.com/gocapsense Order a discounted CapSense Development Kit: www.cypress.com/capkit Request free PSoC CapSense IC samples: www.cypress.com/capchips Download free PSoC Express ™ visual embedded software: www.cypress.com/capexpress Register for a CapSense NetSeminar: www.cypress.com/capseminar Cypress, the Cypress logo and PSoC are registered trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners. ©2007 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. All rights reserved. PSoC ® -based Capacitive Touch Sensing Maximize the design flexibility and integration of Cypress’s PSoC solution to create a stylish, durable interface. CapSense replaces buttons, switches, sliders and other mechanical inputs in your product. CapSense enables: Fast changes to your design at any stage from concept through production. CapSense is not a fixed-function ASIC or module; you are in control of your design at all times. Single-chip implementation supporting multiple interfaces – buttons, sliders, touch screens, touchpads and proximity detectors – on a variety of conductive substrates. Unique integration of additional functions – LED control, battery monitoring, motor control, ambient light sensing, etc. – all with the same CapSense chip. Quick time-to-market with powerful, visual embedded design tools allowing customized, system-level design. Applications enabled by PSoC ® CapSense. CapSense. Bea uty is more than skin deep. 1.qxp 1/30/2007 4:30 PM Page 1 Link Instruments 17A Daniel Road East · Fairfield, NJ 07004 · Fax (973) 808-8786 www.Linkins4.com Link Instruments (973) 808-8990 PC-Based Test Equipment • 2 Channel Digital Oscilloscope • 500 MSa/s max single shot rate • 1Mpt sample memory 250 MSa/S (Dual channel) 512 Kpts 500 MSa/S (Single channel) 1 Mpts • Advanced Triggering • Only 9 oz and 7” x 3.5” x 1.5” • Portable and Battery powered • USB 2.0 • Advanced Math • FFT Spectrum Analyzer • $950 (DSO, Probes, Software & power supply) Logic Analyzers • 40 to 160 channels • up to 500 MSa/s • Variable Threshold • 8 External Clocks • 16 Level Triggering • up to 512K samples/ch • USB 2.0 and Parallel Interface • Pattern Generator option LA5240 (200MHz, 40CH) $1700 LA5280 (200MHz, 80CH) $2350 LA5540 (500MHz, 40CH) $2500 LA5580 (500MHz, 80CH) $3500 LA55160 (500MHz, 160CH) $7500 Digital Oscilloscopes NEW! 500MSa/s 1Mpts 2.qxp 2/2/2007 3:11 PM Page 1 www.keil.com800-348-8051 Only 4 Steps . .are required to generate efficient, reliable applications with the μVision IDE and development tools from Keil. Step 1. Select Microcontroller and Specify Target Hardware Use the Keil Device Database ( ) to find the optimum microcontroller for your application. In Vision, select the microcontroller to pre-configure tools and obtain CPU startup code. www.keil.com/dd μ Step 2. Configure the Device and Create Application Code The μVision Configuration Wizard helps you tailor startup code to match your target hardware and application requirements. Extensive program examples and project templates help you jump-start your designs. Step 3. Verify Program Execution with Device Simulation High-speed simulation enables testing before hardware is available and helps you with features like instruction trace, code coverage, and logic analysis. Step 4. Download to Flash and Test Application Once your application is runs in simulation, use the Keil ULINK USB-JTAG Adapter for Flash programming and final application testing. Keil Microcontroller DevelopmentTools help you create embedded applications quickly and accurately. Keil tools are easy to learn and use, yet powerful enough for the most demanding microcontroller projects. Components of Keil Microcontroller Development Kits Keil makes C compilers, macro assemblers, real-time kernels, debuggers, simulators, evaluation boards, and emulators. Over 1,200 MCU devices are supported for: - 8051 and extended 8051 variants - C166, XC166, and ST10 - ARM7, ARM9, and Cortex-M3 Download an evaluation version from n n n 8-bit 16-bit 32-bit www.keil.com/demo 81.qxp 12/5/2006 1:31 PM Page 1 4 Issue 202 May 2007 www.circuitcellar.com CIRCUIT CELLAR ® FOUNDER/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Steve Ciarcia MANAGING EDITOR C.J. Abate WEST COAST EDITOR Tom Cantrell CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Jeff Bachiochi Ingo Cyliax George Martin Ed Nisley NEW PRODUCTS EDITOR John Gorsky PROJECT EDITORS Steve Bedford Ken Davidson David Tweed ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Smolin ADVERTISING 860.875.2199 • Fax: 860.871.0411 • www.circuitcellar.com/advertise PUBLISHE R Sean Donnelly Direct: 860.872.3064, Cell: 860.930.4326, E-mail: sean@circuitcellar.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Shannon Barraclough Direct: 860.872.3064, E-mail: shannon@circuitcellar.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Valerie Luster E-mail: val.luster@circuitcellar.com CONTACTS SUBSCRIPTIONS Information: www.circuitcellar.com/subscribe, E-mail: subscribe@circuitcellar.com Subscribe: 800.269.6301, www.circuitcellar.com/subscribe, Circuit Cellar Subscriptions, P.O. Box 5650, Hanover, NH 03755-5650 Address Changes/Problems: E-mail: subscribe@circuitcellar.com GENERAL INFORMATION 860.875.2199, Fax: 860.871.0411, E-mail: info@circuitcellar.com Editorial Office: Editor, Circuit Cellar, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066, E-mail: editor@circuitcellar.com New Products: New Products, Circuit Cellar, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066, E-mail: newproducts@circuitcellar.com AUTHORIZED REPRINTS INFORMATION 860.875.2199, E-mail: reprints@circuitcellar.com AUTHORS Authors’ e-mail addresses (when available) are included at the end of each article. CIRCUIT CELLAR®, THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (ISSN 1528-0608) is published monthly by Circuit Cellar Incorporated, 4 Park Street, Vernon, CT 06066. Periodical rates paid at Vernon, CT and additional offices. One-year (12 issues) subscription rate USA and possessions $23.95, Canada/Mexico $34.95, all other countries $49.95.Two-year (24 issues) sub- scription rate USA and possessions $43.95, Canada/Mexico $59.95, all other countries $85. All subscription orders payable in U.S. funds only via Visa, MasterCard, international postal money order, or check drawn on U.S. bank. Direct subscription orders and subscription-related questions to Circuit Cellar Subscriptions, P.O. Box 5650, Hanover, NH 03755-5650 or call 800.269.6301. Postmaster: Send address changes to Circuit Cellar, Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 5650, Hanover, NH 03755-5650. Circuit Cellar® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind for errors in these programs or schematics or for the consequences of any such errors. Furthermore, because of possible variation in the quality and condition of materials and workmanship of read- er-assembled projects, Circuit Cellar® disclaims any responsibility for the safe and proper function of reader-assembled projects based upon or from plans, descriptions, or information published by Circuit Cellar®. The information provided by Circuit Cellar® is for educational purposes. Circuit Cellar® makes no claims or warrants that readers have a right to build things based upon these ideas under patent or other relevant intellectual property law in their jurisdiction, or that readers have a right to construct or operate any of the devices described herein under the relevant patent or other intellectual property law of the reader’s jurisdiction. The reader assumes any risk of infringement liability for constructing or operating such devices. Entire contents copyright © 2007 by Circuit Cellar, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Circuit Cellar is a registered trademark of Circuit Cellar, Inc. Reproduction of this publication in whole or in part without written consent from Circuit Cellar Inc. is prohibited. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jeannette Ciarcia MEDIA CONSULTANT Dan Rodrigues CUSTOMER SERVICE Debbie Lavoie CONTROLLER Jeff Yanco ART DIRECTOR KC Prescott GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mary (Turek) Sobuta STAFF ENGINEER John Gorsky Cover photography by Chris Rakoczy—Rakoczy Photography www.rakoczyphoto.com PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES TASK MANAGER F irst, your name and project appear in Circuit Cellar magazine. Then, your name and a description of your project appear on our recently revamped web site (www.circuitcellar.com). Next, you start getting noticed by our subscribers and advertisers. Soon thereafter, Dave Tweed adds your name to his well-known online Circuit Cellar archive (www.dtweed.com/circuitcellar/authors.htm). Around the same time, professors from all over the world who take part in our College Subscription Program (http://www.circuitcellar.com/subscriptions/ college.html) instruct their students to download your article. At that point, your name and project are in the “network” and they start get- ting picked up by the search engines. And just like that, you have max- imum exposure. Each month, I get dozens of proposals from engineers who are interested in publishing articles in the embedded design community’s favorite magazine. Although the engineers come from different back- grounds, countries, and generations, they are all looking for the same thing: exposure. And which publication is better than Circuit Cellar at shining the light on the world’s best embedded designs? There isn’t one. The “Measurement & Sensors” issue is always in high demand. Each year, we feature articles about the year’s best microcontroller- based systems that are used for taking measurements, accumulating data, and sensing a variety of stimuli. In this issue, we have great arti- cles about projects that are sure to keep you thinking about new designs well into 2008. The tradition continues. James Koehler kicks things off with a great article about a proton precession magnetometer that he developed for anyone interested in archaeological research and geophysical exploration (p. 14). This arti- cle is more than a great introduction to magnetometer technology; it’s a step-by-step guide to building custom sensors. As an instrumentation engineer in the Chemistry department at Dalhousie University in Canada, Brian Millier works with measurement systems every day. In “Temperature Calibration System,” he walks you through the process of designing and building a handy portable tem- perature meter (p. 32). Brian describes everything from calibrating sensors and thermocouples to measuring platinum RTDs. Need an energy and load analyzer on your workbench or in the lab? Ronaldo Duarte’s cost-effective, M16C/62P-based data logger is the perfect system for measuring RMS voltage, current, power, har- monics, and frequency (p. 58).You don’t need to shell out big bucks for a commercial system. Just follow Ronaldo’s lead and build your own. Well, the genie is out of the bottle. For more than 19 years, the world’s top embedded designers and programmers have been using Circuit Cellar to showcase their projects and demonstrate their talent. Why shouldn’t you? Whether you are looking to take your product to market, impress potential employers, or simply show off your design skills, Circuit Cellar can give you the exposure you need. Drop me a line if you think you have what it takes to join the elite list of published Circuit Cellar authors. I’d love to hear from you. Maximum Exposure cj@circuitcellar.com 202_Task_Masthead.qxp 4/6/2007 4:16 PM Page 4 15.qxp 3/8/2007 2:39 PM Page 1 6 Issue 202 May 2007 CIRCUIT CELLAR ® www.circuitcellar.com May 2007: Measurement & Sensors 4 TASK MANAGER Maximum Exposure C.J. Abate 8 NEW PRODUCT NEWS edited by John Gorsky 93 CROSSWORD FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 94 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS June Preview 96 PRIORITY INTERRUPT Keeping the Lights On Steve Ciarcia 67 LESSONS FROM THE TRENCHES More “Hello World” C Program Flow George Martin 72 FROM THE BENCH What’s the Slope? Use an Accelerometer to Measure Slope Jeff Bachiochi 78 SILICON UPDATE Be All You Can Bee Tom Cantrell 14 Proton Precession Magnetometer James Koehler 24 Circuit Board Plotting Curt Carpenter 32 Temperature Calibration System Brian Millier 43 Embedded USB Host Lane Hauck COLUMNS What’s o Circuit 48 The Witness Camera Build a Self-Recording Surveillance Camera Alberto Ricci Bitti Grand Prize Atmel AVR Design Contest 2006 58 Energy and Load Analyzer Ronaldo Duarte Innovative Sensor Setup (p. 14) Temperature Meter (p. 32) Compact Self-Recording Camera (p. 48) Measure Slope (p. 72) 202_toc.qxp 4/6/2007 4:18 PM Page 6 Dream of Darkness, Wasteman! What can AVR picoPower do for your design? • True 1.8V supply voltage enabling operation of all features and core down to 1.8V • Minimized leakage current enabling 100 nA Power Down sleep consumption • Sleeping brown-out detector enabling full protection with no power penalty • Ultra low power 32 kHz crystal oscillator enabling operation at only 650 nA 7.qxp 10/4/2006 1:48 PM Page 1 8 Issue 202 May 2007 CIRCUIT CELLAR ® www.circuitcellar.com NEW PRODUCT NEWS Edited by John Gorsky 1-WIRE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WITH LOCATION DETERMINATION The DS28EA00 is a 1-Wire digital temperature sensor with ±0.5°C accuracy and a new Chain mode signaling and protocol feature that quickly and automatically determines the physical location of individ- ual sensors in an environment where multiple sensors are connected to a common 1-Wire line. The DS28EA00 is ideal for applications that require accurate multipoint digital temperature measurements with minimal wiring complexity and cost. The first of its kind to be able to determine the physical location of multiple temperature sensors, the DS28EA00 includes a Chain mode command set and two signal pins for daisy-chaining multidropped devices. A 1-Wire host controller then uses the Chain mode command protocol to learn the 64-bit serial number of each part in the chain, starting with the first device on the line and proceeding sequentially. This sequence knowledge is directly linked to the physical location of the DS28EA00 in the system. Additionally, the two Chain mode daisy- chain signal pins are dual-purpose: they can be used to detect the physi- cal location of a device in a network, or they can be used as a 5-V/4-mA GPIO to control LED indicators or other I/O signaling. The temperature sensor is available in an eight-pin microSOP package. Prices start at $2.27 for quantities of 1,000 and up. Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. www.maxim-ic.com STEPPER CONTROLLER WITH USB INTERFACE The HS-20USB is a four-axis step motor controller with a USB inter- face. Designed for use with external-step as well as direction, full, or half-step drives, such as the CY-41, the HS-20USB includes encoder sup- port for each of the four axes and an embedded interpreter for CyberVec, CyberPak’s powerful and comprehensive step motor-system control lan- guage. Auxiliary digital and analog I/O, which can be configured for joy- stick and control panel interface support and an auxiliary RS-232 inter- face, which can be used in place of the USB port and as a multidrop link to as many as 15 additional HS-20USB systems, are also included. The HS-20USB can operate under the direct control of a host PC by executing CyberVec commands transmitted via the USB port, or it can operate alone by executing a previously downloaded CyberVec program stored in its internal flash memory. The USB interface operates in RS- 232 Emulation mode and includes host PC software that provides a “virtual” COM port addressable by any legacy application. The HS-20USB costs $499 for quantities of 100. CyberPak Company, Inc. www.cyberpakco.com NEW ZX MICROCONTROLLER The ZX-1281 is a 64-pin TQFP micro- controller targeted at high-volume products and resource-intensive applications where additional I/O capabilities are required. All ZX-series microcontrollers are programmed in ZBasic, a subset of Microsoft Visual Basic (VB6), with microcontroller-specific extensions and other productivity enhance- ments. The newest member of the ZX micro- controller family is based on Atmel’s ATmega1281 microcontroller. The primary benefits offered by the ZX-1281 are increased execution speed, expanded user RAM (a standard of 7.5 KB and a maximum of 63 KB), extended user program space (a total of 60 KB), additional PWM channels (up to six), and a second hardware serial port. The new ZX-1281 is largely source- code-compatible with the previously released ZX family. The ZBasic programming language is a subset of Visual Basic (VB6) with exten- sions suitable for microcontroller program- ming. The ZBasic compiler can detect common programming defects, such as the use of a variable before its initialization and other likely errors. The compiler incor- porates advanced optimization techniques that help programmers pack more func- tionality into the available code and data spaces, such as eliminating unused or superfluous variables and unreachable code. The ZX-1281 costs $49.95 for a single unit. Volume pricing is available. You can also purchase a ZX-1281 development board to facilitate the quick prototyping of a ZX-1281 application. The development board, which includes a ZX-1281, costs $79.95. Elba Corp. www.zbasic.net npn.qxp 4/6/2007 4:20 PM Page 8 . shannon@circuitcellar.com ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Valerie Luster E-mail: val.luster@circuitcellar.com CONTACTS SUBSCRIPTIONS Information: www.circuitcellar.com/subscribe,. www.circuitcellar.com/subscribe, E-mail: subscribe@circuitcellar.com Subscribe: 800.269.6301, www.circuitcellar.com/subscribe, Circuit Cellar Subscriptions, P.O. Box 5650,