The source code for the driver IC used in these sockets will be posted
shortly following my decision to make it a something which others could
modify and make use of in their own projects.
I will also be posting the source for the two tube clock which uses the
smart sockets. It is a bit overkill to make all this hardware for two
tubes, but then again it's not often about difficulty or simple
integration.
I will be writing some code for a two tube B7971 clock which does not
use the sockets, based on the existing design I have for a 2 tube nixie
clock, just to provide a simpler solution too
In the files section you find the source code for both the smart
sockets and for the 2 tube clock.
If you have any questions bear in mind that they will probably be of
interest to everyone else too so post messages in this group to help
with making a reliable Q+A section.
Chris
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the smartsockets
group.
File : /B-7971-edit.png
Uploaded by : whoop_john <whoop@...>
Description : Screenshot of Filemaker Pro editor
You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smartsockets/files/B-7971-edit.png
To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files
Regards,
whoop_john <whoop@...>
I have uploaded a Filemaker Pro UDC segment editor to the files
section. This creates the necessary user-defined character
definitions for insertion into PicBasic, but should be editable to
whatever text you need for your use.
I decided to follow the ascii order for my characters, but starting
at at the first location, 59, for the space character, ie an offset
of 27 from character 32. Thus I add 27 to the ascii value when I send
it to the smart sockets.
The editor is reasonably graphic, all you have to do is click the
segments on and off on the screen for each character.
I designed it on a Mac, but it should work on the Windows version
too. A 30 day free trial of Filemaker Pro is available from:
<http://www.filemaker.com/support/downloads/index.html>
Best wishes,
John
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, whoop@... wrote:
>
> I have uploaded a Filemaker Pro UDC segment editor to the files
> section. This creates the necessary user-defined character
> definitions for insertion into PicBasic, but should be editable to
> whatever text you need for your use.
>
> I decided to follow the ascii order for my characters, but
starting
> at at the first location, 59, for the space character, ie an
offset
> of 27 from character 32. Thus I add 27 to the ascii value when I
send
> it to the smart sockets.
>
> The editor is reasonably graphic, all you have to do is click the
> segments on and off on the screen for each character.
>
> I designed it on a Mac, but it should work on the Windows version
> too. A 30 day free trial of Filemaker Pro is available from:
> <http://www.filemaker.com/support/downloads/index.html>
>
> Best wishes,
>
> John
>
Thanks John, I've just got my free time back now my car restoration
project is complete.....Just tonight i have begun looking into UDC's
and ought to be able to make all ascii characters definable, as much
as there is free memory for at least, and you will be able to
reprogram the numbers digits from ascii 48 onwards.
I recalled the reason I wasn't brave enough to allow it before....I
thought if you could reprogram a numerical digit you could end up in
a situation where you can't send commands to the sockets which make
any sense if you had reprogrammed the characters needed to give the
commands in the first place.....
Now, because the instruction character is stored in it's raw format
and is never itself changed the locked out problem can't occur. When
a call to a UDC is made the segment pattern to be displayed is
converted in realtime and stored in a buffer, but again the original
instruction character remains unchanged.
A display instruction will force the controller to read in the digit
to be displayed and if appropriate the code will convert it to a UDC,
and if a command instruction is used the UDC code is bypassed and the
command data is read from the raw data buffer.
Easy when you forget how !
The UDC's are now available from character 32 to 127.
I will look into setting the upper limit higher. in theory it should
work, but those characters above 127 might not be available on every
keyboard and will only be available if you are programming a micro to
run the system.
Anyway....on the back of changing the UDC limits I have had to make the
stipulation that to write to eprom memory the user defined font must
first be selected as the current font. What this means is that you no
longer have to program the UDC's on all sockets to be the same, they
can be programmed individually because only the sockets with the font
set to 'U' will store the character definition data.
I've set the lower UDC limit to location 0, the maximum is location
125
The system needs 3 bytes of space which are located at 253,254 and
255.
Each UDC takes up two bytes of space, not just one. For example, the
first location '0', the lower 8 bits of the segment pattern are
stored in location 0 and the top 6 bits are stored in location 1.
For 100 for example, the lower 8 bits are sttored at location 200 and
the upper 6 at 201.
This means that the maximum available locations, allowing room for
the 3 system bytes, is 126, 0-125 inclusive.
The exclamation mark cannot be reprogrammed, nor can the space.
Characters 33 and 32 respectively.
Also character 13 and character 20 won't display but these aren't
displayed anyway.
It is possible that at some time in the future I can evaluate using
RAM for temporary UDC's which being stored in volatile memory means
they would be lost after a power-off event.
Chris
Hello Jeffry, sorry for the delay in responding to your email.
Yes I have a couple of sockets already built and ready to go.
Because they already have the socket pins for the tubes installed the price is £13.50 each.
i will also send you a controller chip to build a two tube clock for free which uses these sockets.
You can pay with Paypal if you wish, my username is the same as my email address, or if you wish to arrange an alternative method of payment, or you wish instead to buy bar eboards and populate them yourself please don't hesitate ot get in touch to discuss that.
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the smartsockets
group.
File : /Partslist.rtf
Uploaded by : fixitsan2 <fixitsan@...>
Description : List of components required to make 1 Smart Socket
You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smartsockets/files/Partslist.rtf
To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files
Regards,
fixitsan2 <fixitsan@...>
Hi Chris,
The package you sent arrived the other day and I've just now had time
to open it. There are a few extra parts included that you will need to
instruct me as to their use. 2 caps, a crystal, and a rotary switch. In
your previous msg you told me what the IC is for and eventually a clock
may come about. It has been a long time since I've programmed anything
so I am grateful for any help you have to offer.I have 2 7971's and a
power supply (variable 0-250vdc) ready to go. What should I do next?
Well the best starting point would the smartsocket group files section. If you check the connections for the 5 pin connector you will be able to wire up the sockets and they will be ready to work.
the schematic for the 2 tube clock is also in the files section, this is the reason I also sent the other components, to make a finished 2 tube clock.
I made a somment in a previous message about a missing resistor. if you have a variable supply set it to 170V and install a link at the resistor position. You can recognise it by two empty solder pads just in front of the edge connector, and below the silkscreen lettering for transistor 'T1'
All you need to do is to make the circuit for the two tube clock in accordance with the schematic in the group's files section, and then connect the data out to the right tube's 'data in' pin. Then the data out from this socket feeds the left tube's data in pin. As long as the sockets have 5V DC for the logic components the whole system should burst into life.
If you don't want to make the two tube clock you can simply feed the first tube in the chain some ascii characters from a PC using Hyperterminal, or a similar communications package. You will possibly need to also make a simple interface using a ' MAX232' I.C. which will make a robust and reliable link between the pc and the sockets.
I had an email recently from somebody who made the mistake of putting 170V on the 5V supply line on the socket PCB with disasterous results. i dn't think there is much room for error when you look at the schematic, but it's worth taking an extra moment just to be sure you don't have the same problem.
Please let me know if you have any further problems or want to make any comments,
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "Ken Wolfe" <k3qvken@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Chris,
>
> Do you have a few sockets left to sell?
> I'm looking for 6 if they are available.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wolfe
>
Hi Ken
I have only unpopulated PCB's
I should get in some microcontrollers too. I wish I had the time to
build up more sockets but you are welcome to the PCB's at £3 each.
If you can program the 16F690 there's no problem for you to do it
yourself, but otherwise it will probably be about 1 week before I
have controllers to ship out.
Please let me know if this is any good <fixitsanATaol.com>
replace 'AT' with '@'
Chris
A bugfix this time, and some clarification of the documentation.
Files 'SmartV2' are the most recent files and are the only versions
of useable code in the files section now.
The bug which was brought to my attention was the improper handling
of the underscore character which produced unpredictable results.
The character command is still the same '$B7U' but with two further
options...placing a '1' at the position you wish the underscore to
come on at sets the underscore on, and a 0 sets it to be off.
So for example, $B7U1xxx0x1xx sets the underscore on in positions 1
and 7, and off at position 5.
The underscore does not appear immediately but is latched for the
next character transition, inheriting the same transition effect as
the new character.
The documentation has 'B7971 smart sockets.doc' has also been
updated to reflect this change, and now mentions that all characters
between 0 and 126 can be programmed as UDC's
Thanks again to John Smout for his awareness, and for raising mine !
Chris
PS
If you have ever wanted to build an electric car, save yourself the
trouble and instead come and watch me go through motions at this blog
http://journals.aol.co.uk/fixitsan/electric-car-building/
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <fixitsan@...> wrote:
>
> --- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "Ken Wolfe" <k3qvken@> wrote:
> >
Hello Chris,
I've finally started to assemble the boards you shipped to me last
month. I have a question about the pin sockets. Which pin sockets
are these boards designed to accept? I have Mil-Max
0331-0-15-01-18-27-10-0, (Mouser #575-033100) which don't seem to have
a large enough lip. They fall straight through.
Hope the New Year is treating you well!
Ken
On 7 Jan 2007, at 17:30, Ken Wolfe wrote:
> I've finally started to assemble the boards you shipped to me last
> month. I have a question about the pin sockets. Which pin sockets
> are these boards designed to accept? I have Mil-Max
> 0331-0-15-01-18-27-10-0, (Mouser #575-033100) which don't seem to have
> a large enough lip. They fall straight through.
Ken,
I used receptacles from D sockets, the kind where you get a strip of
them separately. I just snipped the cable crimp bit off and bent the
remaining lip over and they soldered down beautifully. No problems.
Chris, I played with the new revision underscores yesterday and I am
happy to say they are working just great. The philosophy and address
protocol now matches the other parameters. So well done that man for
enhancing that feature.
I also squirted in a reasonably full set of UDCs, from 0 to the top,
except for the exclamation mark and chr13. Not tested them yet, too
many domestic jobbies this weekend. Will let you know how I get on
with them in due course.
Regards,
John
...Happy new year by the way, good luck with it !
Ken, the receptacles are from Rapid Electronics, part number 22-1125
They're made by Harwin and can be veiwed here
http://tinyurl.com/ydzy8b
Jphn has mentioned using D-sub contacts and I agree that it's
perfectly acceptable. if you were lucky enough to be someone who got
some sockets when they bought their tubes you can solder the socket
directly to the PCB if you mount it on the reverse side to the side
which the components are on.
I hope that helps.
John, watch out for character 13, and the exclamation mark. I can't
remember if we discussed it already and you're mentioning it because
of that discussion, but you will probably see no effect, because char
13 is read as an end of message and is ignored, and the exclamation
mark is read as the 'no change' character.
I have tried to think of a way to get by without using char 13 as
the end of message marker, but it would get tricky, but it might be
fun to put the serial port under more strain and check to see if the
processor can do more inline character shuffling, I think it could,
and if I were going to do it all again I think I would write the code
with that in mind. I hope it doesn't become a problem for you for a
while !
Best Regards
Chris
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, Quixotic Nixotic <nixotic@...>
wrote:
>
> On 7 Jan 2007, at 17:30, Ken Wolfe wrote:
>
> > I've finally started to assemble the boards you shipped to me
last
> > month. I have a question about the pin sockets. Which pin
sockets
> > are these boards designed to accept? I have Mil-Max
> > 0331-0-15-01-18-27-10-0, (Mouser #575-033100) which don't seem to
have
> > a large enough lip. They fall straight through.
>
> Ken,
>
> I used receptacles from D sockets, the kind where you get a strip
of
> them separately. I just snipped the cable crimp bit off and bent
the
> remaining lip over and they soldered down beautifully. No problems.
>
> Chris, I played with the new revision underscores yesterday and I
am
> happy to say they are working just great. The philosophy and
address
> protocol now matches the other parameters. So well done that man
for
> enhancing that feature.
>
> I also squirted in a reasonably full set of UDCs, from 0 to the
top,
> except for the exclamation mark and chr13. Not tested them yet,
too
> many domestic jobbies this weekend. Will let you know how I get on
> with them in due course.
>
> Regards,
>
> John
>
On 7 Jan 2007, at 21:35, Chris wrote:
> John, watch out for character 13, and the exclamation mark. I can't
> remember if we discussed it already and you're mentioning it because
> of that discussion, but you will probably see no effect, because char
> 13 is read as an end of message and is ignored, and the exclamation
> mark is read as the 'no change' character.
Yes Chris, I am mentioning it because of that discussion. That is why
I didn't redefine those two chrs as they are off limits because they
have special meanings for the smartsockets. I think this is a
perfectly acceptable limitation.
John
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, Quixotic Nixotic <nixotic@...> wrote:
>
> On 7 Jan 2007, at 17:30, Ken Wolfe wrote:
>
> > I've finally started to assemble the boards you shipped to me last
> > month. I have a question about the pin sockets. Which pin sockets
> > are these boards designed to accept? I have Mil-Max
> > 0331-0-15-01-18-27-10-0, (Mouser #575-033100) which don't seem to have
> > a large enough lip. They fall straight through.
>
> Ken,
>
> I used receptacles from D sockets, the kind where you get a strip of
> them separately. I just snipped the cable crimp bit off and bent the
> remaining lip over and they soldered down beautifully. No problems.
>
> Chris, I played with the new revision underscores yesterday and I am
> happy to say they are working just great. The philosophy and address
> protocol now matches the other parameters. So well done that man for
> enhancing that feature.
>
> I also squirted in a reasonably full set of UDCs, from 0 to the top,
> except for the exclamation mark and chr13. Not tested them yet, too
> many domestic jobbies this weekend. Will let you know how I get on
> with them in due course.
>
> Regards,
>
> John
>
Thanks John, I might try that.
Ken
Chris,John,
I found those Harwin pins at Mouser so I won't get smacked for
overseas shipping.
Mouser number: 855-H3161-01 Harwin number: H3161-01
Chris...Just in case, are there more boards and processors available
if I decide to expand? I want to see if these will suit my needs first.
Thanks guys,
Ken
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <fixitsan@...> wrote:
>
> ...Happy new year by the way, good luck with it !
>
> Ken, the receptacles are from Rapid Electronics, part number 22-1125
>
> They're made by Harwin and can be veiwed here
> http://tinyurl.com/ydzy8b
>
> Chris
>
>
>
> --- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, Quixotic Nixotic <nixotic@>
> wrote:
> >
> > On 7 Jan 2007, at 17:30, Ken Wolfe wrote:
> >
> > > I've finally started to assemble the boards you shipped to me
> last
> > > month. I have a question about the pin sockets. Which pin
> sockets
> > > are these boards designed to accept? I have Mil-Max
> > > 0331-0-15-01-18-27-10-0, (Mouser #575-033100) which don't seem to
> have
> > > a large enough lip. They fall straight through.
> >
> > Ken,
> >
> > I used receptacles from D sockets, the kind where you get a strip
> of
> > them separately. I just snipped the cable crimp bit off and bent
> the
> > John
> >
>
On 8 Jan 2007, at 00:24, Ken Wolfe wrote:
> Chris...Just in case, are there more boards and processors available
> if I decide to expand? I want to see if these will suit my needs
> first.
Ken,
Chris's boards are heaps of fun and mine worked straight out of the
box without a hitch. I think they are a good way of showing off what
are rare and interesting tubes.
Let us know how you get on,
John
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "Ken Wolfe" <k3qvken@...> wrote:
>
> Chris,John,
>
> I found those Harwin pins at Mouser so I won't get smacked for
> overseas shipping.
>
> Mouser number: 855-H3161-01 Harwin number: H3161-01
>
> Chris...Just in case, are there more boards and processors
available
> if I decide to expand? I want to see if these will suit my needs
first.
>
>
> Thanks guys,
> Ken
>
That's good Ken, I was concerned that I had specified using a part
made of unobtanium.
I think I only have 4 boards left, and might consider having another
run made, the option to do that is always there.
I have 10 processors in stock now, after a small period of non-
supply.
John, by the way, I received your returns, thank you.
Let me know if you have any more problems Ken,
Cheers
Chris
Chris,
I finally started to populate the boards tonight (yay!)
I have one question. What value is R-31? I looked through what
paperwork I have and haven't decided on a value. I have a habit of
not reading everything before I start. (It's a guy thing).
Thanks!
Ken
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "Chris" <fixitsan@...> wrote:
>
> --- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "Ken Wolfe" <k3qvken@> wrote:
> >
> > Chris,John,
> >
> > I found those Harwin pins at Mouser so I won't get smacked for
> > overseas shipping.
> >
> > Mouser number: 855-H3161-01 Harwin number: H3161-01
> >
> > Chris...Just in case, are there more boards and processors
> available
> > if I decide to expand? I want to see if these will suit my needs
> first.
> >
> >
> > Thanks guys,
> > Ken
> >
>
> That's good Ken, I was concerned that I had specified using a part
> made of unobtanium.
>
> I think I only have 4 boards left, and might consider having another
> run made, the option to do that is always there.
> I have 10 processors in stock now, after a small period of non-
> supply.
> John, by the way, I received your returns, thank you.
>
> Let me know if you have any more problems Ken,
>
> Cheers
> Chris
>
R31 is the anode resistor and is optional. It's optional in the sense that if you use a 170Vdc power supply then you only need to bridge the pads with a wire because the cathode resistors were selected for a 170V HV supply.
Another builder is using a 200V supply and we reckoned on 10K being about right for R31.
Thanks Chris
It makes sense now. ;)
Ken
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, fixitsan@... wrote:
>
> Hello Ken, that's good news !
> R31 is the anode resistor and is optional. It's optional in the
sense that
> if you use a 170Vdc power supply then you only need to bridge the
pads with a
> wire because the cathode resistors were selected for a 170V HV supply.
> Another builder is using a 200V supply and we reckoned on 10K being
about
> right for R31.
>
> Let me know if you need more information
> Chris
>
--- In smartsockets@yahoogroups.com, "gopstein" <rich@...> wrote:
>
> Do you already have boards for the ZM-1350? They seem to be easier to
> get than the B7971.
>
Hello there,
No , I haven't attempted to make any special boards just for the ZM1350.
Althogh I do know of at least one member of this group who has used the
original PCB succesfully to make the two tube clock implementing
ZM1350's.
The only changes needed are to the segment cathode resistor values,
ZM1350's use much less current than a B7971 so naturally, higher value
resistors are required.
The design is open source, so feel free to develop your own pcb.
Giampaolo Minetti has designed a 5-character ZM1350 based display
device called the 'Penta', and his design information is here
http://xoomer.alice.it/1962/ The units can be daisy-chained together.
Do you think it is worth making a seperate PCB for the ZM1350 ? If
anyone else has a view on this I would appreciate hearing what it is
because I am considering having another small run of B7971 PCB's made
up , so how many people would benefit from some ZM1350 versions too ?
I don't have any ZM1350's to play with but the pinout and physical
dimaensions must be on a datasheet somewhere. I'ld look into doing it
if demand was high enough,
Chris
> Hello there,
> No , I haven't attempted to make any special boards just for the ZM1350.
>
...
>
> The design is open source, so feel free to develop your own pcb.
>
...
>
> Do you think it is worth making a seperate PCB for the ZM1350 ? If
> anyone else has a view on this I would appreciate hearing what it is
> because I am considering having another small run of B7971 PCB's made
> up , so how many people would benefit from some ZM1350 versions too ?
>
> I don't have any ZM1350's to play with but the pinout and physical
> dimaensions must be on a datasheet somewhere. I'ld look into doing it
> if demand was high enough,
>
> Chris
>
I'm guessing that more and more people will use the ZM1350 because of
the cost and availability of the 7971's. I could give a layout a try,
but I've never done it before. I have four ZM1350's (which were going
to be for a FLW kit, before my money disappeared into the Zetalink
ether). I could lend you one if you'd be willing to do the layout...
And - I'd guarantee you that I'd buy four of the boards - if you'd be
willing to have them fabricated.
Rich
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