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WINNER ANNOUNCED: FUN CHALLENGE: Guess what this board does and you get it (and — Parallax Forums

WINNER ANNOUNCED: FUN CHALLENGE: Guess what this board does and you get it (and

WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
edited 2010-03-05 20:20 in General Discussion
something just for fun!!!

This board has been in my project pile for 9 years. I think it's time to see if someone can make use of it. If you can guess what it does, I'll send it to you along with one of my SHT11 modules. Here are the clues:

1) The 24 pin socket is for a Basic Stamp
2) It was used in a machine that cost about $650,000
3) It is not completely possible to determine its function, so an educated guess is the best you can do.

have fun!

ps. I'll pick either the closest person or a random winner this time next week. good luck!

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Andrew Williams
WBA Consulting
WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010

Post Edited (WBA Consulting) : 3/5/2010 8:22:41 PM GMT
bs2brd-.jpg
336 x 343 - 56K

Comments

  • pacmanpacman Posts: 327
    edited 2010-02-24 08:25
    Given it's been in your project _pile_ for 9 years, my guess as to what is does is:
    1) a placeholder
    2) or perhaps a structural support (for the rest of the pile)

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    =================
    The future is in our hands.
    Which way to the future?
    =================
  • BradCBradC Posts: 2,601
    edited 2010-02-24 08:34
    It has what looks like 20 channels of opto isolation on it and a couple of D9 connectors, so from a comms perspective it looks like it manages a couple of optically isolated communications ports of some kind. Perhaps outputs only.

    Very little other support circuitry and the photo is to small to get a good look at the white things around what might be the PSU section.

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    You only ever need two tools in life. If it moves and it shouldn't use Duct Tape. If it does not move and it should use WD40.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2010-02-24 15:02
    For using two controllers on one port of a gaming console? ie so four players can play on one game if supported?

    expensive console if so roll.gif

    or was it for routing data between two ports say on a medical scanner of some sort?

    Post Edited (skylight) : 2/24/2010 3:09:40 PM GMT
  • kf4ixmkf4ixm Posts: 529
    edited 2010-02-24 15:09
    3 axis servo positioning controller or multi i/o scada interface.

    Post Edited (kf4ixm) : 2/24/2010 3:17:37 PM GMT
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2010-02-24 15:27
    Looks like it might be some kind of parallel data concentrator or switch. It could also be a multiplexor/demultiplexor or line driver.
  • ManetherenManetheren Posts: 117
    edited 2010-02-24 15:48
    control board for an expensive cnc type machine.

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    Tia'Shar Manetheren
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2010-02-24 22:49
    Ok, I'll give it a shot.

    Interpretation between an array or sensors and some other controller.

    The white things look like optoisolators, there's no high current devices on the board, and $650k would be an AWFUL expensive CNC. So my wild guess is some sort of climate control, possibly refridgeration (SP?).

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    "puff"...... Smile, there went another one.
  • KMyersKMyers Posts: 433
    edited 2010-02-24 23:06
    I would guess a protocontrol converter..

    Ken
  • P!-RoP!-Ro Posts: 1,189
    edited 2010-02-25 05:04
    Wow, I have no idea but I'll guess it connects multiple computers/servers in a network.

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    PG
  • boeboyboeboy Posts: 301
    edited 2010-02-26 05:40
    1. RS 232 sensor interface board.
    2. keypad controler

    edit added guess 2

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    My computer made with the propeller, http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=630466

    Post Edited (boeboy) : 3/4/2010 2:40:39 AM GMT
  • boeboyboeboy Posts: 301
    edited 2010-02-26 05:53
    3. Takes data in on the left port and outputs formatted data on the right?

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    My computer made with the propeller, http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=630466
  • OakGraphicsOakGraphics Posts: 202
    edited 2010-02-26 06:37
    It looks like the closed-loop part of a series of quadradic encoder readers, with RS232 output of coordinates for a PLC. (possibly a pick and place machine? The diodes and caps in the circuit suggests a 48 volt power supply with stepdown for the basic stamp, and the thermal management suggests the pcb had to deal with some heat generated which suggests a pretty good size stepdown.
  • FireHopperFireHopper Posts: 180
    edited 2010-02-26 14:19
    to me it looks like a LED matrix display controller.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2010-02-26 17:19
    Hmmm...
    Looks to me like it takes the data from the male DB-9 port and sends them through a circuit that has the BSII and outputs the data to the 2 female DB-9 ports. I suppose the serial port closest to the 24 pin socket would connect to a computer or something and the other ports would connect to something like a huge fabrication machine....

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!

    (no longer new) SD Card Adapter·Now available!· Add extra memory to your next Propeller project with ease!
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2010-02-26 17:55
    dmx controller
    or
    modem baud rate converter/buffer

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    <FONT>Steve



    What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
    Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2010-03-04 00:27
    BUMP.......

    Any final guesses before I announce a winner tonight?

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    Andrew Williams
    WBA Consulting
    WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
    Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2010-03-04 05:21
    <cliff-clavin>"Oh yeah... uh... that's one of them.. ah... doohickeys for the thingamajig over there" </cliff-clavin>

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    -MH
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,401
    edited 2010-03-04 05:28
    Hmm. Interface board for a serial-controlled system that controls large racks of inventory - a vertical, elevator based system in which the user enters row and position. It's a way of saving a whole heck of a lot of space for inventory storage, but adding tremendous automation as another benefit.

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    Ken Gracey
    Parallax Inc.

    Follow me at http://twitter.com/ParallaxKen for some insider news.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2010-03-04 15:21
    Can I use wildcards in my guess? If so I'll say:

    *

    Did I win?

    Robert
  • kf4ixmkf4ixm Posts: 529
    edited 2010-03-04 15:47
    Main:
    Let Answer = RND
    If Answer = Correct Answer THEN Yippie
    Else GOTO Main
    Yippie:
    Debug "my shipping address is...."
  • W9GFOW9GFO Posts: 4,010
    edited 2010-03-05 06:58
    I'm going to guess that it is a controller for some form of amusement park ride.

    Rich H

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    The Simple Servo Tester, a kit from Gadget Gangster.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2010-03-05 20:20
    and the winner is..... BradC!!!

    The board is named "Lite Tower Driver Board" and it took serial data in via the DB9 on the left and output optically isolated outputs on the right to two light towers on a wafer inspection machine similar to the one in the attached picture. The light towers it controlled were standard 24VDC light towers. The main control system which consisted of about 7 PCBs all around 12"x14" in size were located in a central enclosure and this board was in an outer I/O enclosure box. I used to make this board at ,y former employer and it was left over from the prototyping run and was used to test the BS2 module after programming. The white chips are socketed Toshiba TLP627-4 photocouplers that are driving the outputs.

    BradC: PM me your address to collect 2 SHT11 modules and Lite Tower Board.

    HONORABLE MENTION: PACMAN's second guess had me laughing so much that I think it deserves an SHT11 as well. It's a little too close to the truth!

    PACMAN: PM me your address to collect an SHT11 module.

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    Andrew Williams
    WBA Consulting
    WBA-TH1M Sensirion SHT11 Module
    Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge, Mar 20, 2010
    Light-tower.JPG
    69 x 210 - 3K
    wafer-inspection-machine.jpeg
    180 x 125 - 14K
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