DAY 5

Serial Bus:

Ah, at last, we make serial bus connectors for programming, a rare find these days because everything is going USB? A serial connection will give you a serial signal connection TX or RX versus parallel connection which will have far more communication pins used. To build this crucial programming device, we used 3 color wires solder the point of female 5, 3,2 sockets, i.e., ground, TX, and RX, respectively. This can be confusing especially if you are seeing either from the front side or the back side, do specify. So our serial connector is a RS-232 standard, i.e., logic 0 = 2.5-15V and logic 1 = -2.5 to -15V. This suggest that RS-232 voltages are inverted with respect to logic, so here logic 1 is low and logic 0 is high. Furthermore, the RS-232 bit rate is 9600.

Micro-Controller:

Now the fun begins! I was given a microcontroller PiC 12F683 or PicAxe 08m. It's got 4in, 4outs, 3ADC, and one infrared pin connections. Using breadboard and a couple of LEDs, I started making circuits for Picaxe programming. I programmed a series of LED flashes on and off at 1 second intervals.

I also implemented a switch to control the flashes. Lastly, I installed a LDR, analogue, sensor and control the LED flashes by covering/uncovering the LDR--it acts like a light switch of sort.I also implemented a switch to control the flashes. Lastly, I installed a LDR, analogue, sensor and control the LED flashes by covering/uncovering the LDR--it acts like a light switch of sort.

Dissect Toy:

Ah the real fun begins. I commence the dissection of the "Franken Chicken" The "violation" of the toy went smoothly. Removing the fur is perhaps the toughest part. Opening up the plastic casing for circuitry was a matter of 5 screws.