Is the BASIC stamp capable of...
I've been working on a little side project for fun recently. My goal is to make a digital life counter for Magic: The gathering. This means the circuit I want to build must:
- Count from 0 to 99 on two 7-segment LED's
- Count up or down
- Reset to 20
My first attempt was to buy some IC's and a prototyping board and solder it up. Now that it's built though, it's not working and I suspect it has to do with the fact that it's my first attempt at soldering.
Anyways, one of my professors gave me a basic stamp, saying that I could probably do most of it in software rather than hardware. Before I start learning basic and writing the code I need to know if I can get this to work. As far as I can tell the basic stamp only has 8 I/O pins so it doesn't really look like I could do the entire thing in software. Even if I left the BCD to 7-Seg conversion up to IC's, that would still require 8 outputs and a few inputs for count, direction, reset.
So, do you think this circuit is viable on the Basic stamp, or should I just give the IC's a second chance?
- Count from 0 to 99 on two 7-segment LED's
- Count up or down
- Reset to 20
My first attempt was to buy some IC's and a prototyping board and solder it up. Now that it's built though, it's not working and I suspect it has to do with the fact that it's my first attempt at soldering.
Anyways, one of my professors gave me a basic stamp, saying that I could probably do most of it in software rather than hardware. Before I start learning basic and writing the code I need to know if I can get this to work. As far as I can tell the basic stamp only has 8 I/O pins so it doesn't really look like I could do the entire thing in software. Even if I left the BCD to 7-Seg conversion up to IC's, that would still require 8 outputs and a few inputs for count, direction, reset.
So, do you think this circuit is viable on the Basic stamp, or should I just give the IC's a second chance?
Comments
Magic rocks btw [noparse]:)[/noparse]
The "StampWorks Manual" can be bought in paper form, but is downloadable for free here www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/stampworks/List/1/ProductID/144/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName and it also covers some of the functions you need.
Lastly, the Nuts and Volts columns cover a wide range of topics that may be useful. Have a look through the index: www.parallax.com/Resources/NutsVoltsColumns/tabid/272/Default.aspx
All the suggestions so far are valid... What you might also consider if you already have a BS1, is to get two 74HC595's and use the SHIFTOUT command to drive your 7-segment LED's.· With the exception of the two 74HC595 IC's you should be able to do everything in software.
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Components/IntegratedCircuits/InterfacingChips/tabid/613/CategoryID/78/List/0/SortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/229/Default.aspx
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Beau Schwabe
IC Layout Engineer
Parallax, Inc.