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Looking for a simple bargraph voltage indicator.... — Parallax Forums

Looking for a simple bargraph voltage indicator....

denodeno Posts: 242
edited 2009-03-21 19:31 in General Discussion
Hello, does anyone have a low component count bargraph voltage indicator for 0 to 5 volts?·

DenO

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-03-21 01:17
    There's an IC for this purpose that just needs the bargraph LEDs. It has 10 levels and comes in a linear version and a log version (for VU meters). It essentially has 10 integrated comparators fed off a multi-tap voltage divider.· Here's a link:·http://www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM3916.html

    Post Edited (Mike Green) : 3/21/2009 1:25:28 AM GMT
  • Mike2545Mike2545 Posts: 433
    edited 2009-03-21 01:31
    The LM3916 is an audio version of the LM3915 found here www.national.com/mpf/LM/LM3915.html

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    Mike2545

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  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2009-03-21 02:14
    PIC12F675 + 74HC164s for as many segments as you like. Cost? under two bucks.

    *Peter*
  • Mike2545Mike2545 Posts: 433
    edited 2009-03-21 02:23
    Pic? this is a Basic Stamp forum. Pic is a dirty word around here nono.gif

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    Mike2545

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  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-03-21 02:35
    Mike2545 said...
    Pic is a dirty word around here
    What do you suppose the BS2 uses for its microcontroller?

    (I can't imagine what reaction any mention of an AVR might produce. smile.gif )

    -Phil
  • Mike2545Mike2545 Posts: 433
    edited 2009-03-21 02:43
    Got me on that one. Not to mention a 20 to 1 cost ratio...

    Basic Stamp2 uses the PIC 16C57

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    Post Edited (Mike2545) : 3/21/2009 2:48:24 AM GMT
  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2009-03-21 03:01
    I love the Propeller but especially in the low end I will use whichever one has the right mix of peripherals and price. It just so happens that I have used the PIC12F675 in industrial bargraphs a while back so I know (although I do loath the PIC itself). In the last week I have been doing Propeller, PIC, HCS08, 8051 assembler and the PIC was most cruel, have pity for PIC assembly coders. Mostly though it's getting to know the peripherals and how to configure them that's the trick. In my industrial bargraph I needed two isolated 4-20ma inputs channels which I implemented with a PIC12F675 on each as an A/D to asynch serial through an optoisolator into another common PIC12F675 which read each serial stream alternatively and clock out the processed data to a dual 32-segment LED array using el cheapo 74HC164s. Simplicity in itself though if I were to redesign it I would probably choose some other chip these days.

    *Peter*
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-03-21 06:08
    I'm sure Peter knows this, but for others who may not, what makes the PIC particularly loathsome is Microchip's dreadful assembler mnemonics. Nobody in their right mind would use them. That's why Parallax devised their own way back when and wrote their own assembler for it. (They're the same mnemonics, BTW, that are used with the SX.) You can still download the latest version of the Parallax-originated assembler (although it's not Parallax's anymore) here.

    -Phil
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-03-21 16:12
    The Microchip mnemonics don't cause me any problems. They have sold over 6 billion chips since 1990, so there can't be much wrong with them.

    Leon

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  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2009-03-21 18:32
    Microsoft has sold billions of copies of Windows, McDonalds has sold billions of Big Macs, and Bernie Madoff sold billions in securities. Need I go on?

    I have nothing against Microchip products, BTW. (In fact, the health of my retirement portfolio depends on their success. Go Microchip!) They're not even responsible for those mnemonics, which were General Instruments' fault. But I find PIC programs written in Parallax mnemonics much easier to read, as do a healthy fraction of those 6-billion-chip developers.

    -Phil
  • PhilldapillPhilldapill Posts: 1,283
    edited 2009-03-21 18:40
    Haha, just passing by in this thread. Very good point, Phil!
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-03-21 19:31
    The mnemonics you don't like can be redefined to something you prefer, with #define.

    Leon

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    Post Edited (Leon) : 3/21/2009 7:36:17 PM GMT
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