Tomi Engdahl's computer hardware projects page

Most of the following projects are just links to project on other sites and I don't have more information on those circuits which are not in my site.

Index

• Build a computer
• Circuit arhives
• EPROM projects
• PC projects
  • Documents
  • ISA bus cards
  • PCI bus projects
  • PC parallel port
  • PC Serial port
  • Joystick port
  • Keyboard
  • IR projects
  • MP3 players
  • Misc projects
• Video related projects
• Parallel port projects
• Serial port projects
• I2C bus projects
• Misc interfacing project
• LCD interfacing
• Interfacing to real world
• VHDL
• Unsorted info

Other related pages in this site

• PC hardware pages
• Computer hardware pages

Circuit arhives

• Circuit Cookbook computer circuits archive

EPROM

Data formats

• Explanation of IntelHex Format
• Intel HEX File Format
• Intelhex - Info and conversion for the Intel HEX format to binary
• Intel Hex Format - short description
• Intel hex format description

Accessories

• Binary-to-IntelHex Conversion utility - for DOS, zipped file

Programmer/reader circuits

• Amigan eprommer - simple eprommer circuit for Amiga, programs up to 27C512
• An EPROM Reader For Under USD$5
• Eprom Programmer - works with Windows(95), programs parallel eproms 27C64..27C040/4001 and many more types
• EPROM programmer for lpt port for 2732 to 27512 - all documentation in german, zipped file
• EPROMr Low-Cost Cross-Platform EPROM Reader/Burner - software available for DOS, Windows and MacOS
• Stand-Alone EPROM programmer - zipper demo file from Dunfield Devellopment System

EPROM emulators

• Centronics programmable EPROM emulator with SRAM and battery
• Design for a PROM emulator
• EPROM Simulator 32 kB - includes circuit board and software for DOS and Linux
• Flash / EEPROM Programmer and Emulator

Other programmers

• Vantis palasm4 - free GAL sotware
• ftp.armory.com GAL directory
• PIC and serial EEPROM programmer - zipped file
• PonyProg - for reading and writing almost every serial device, software for Windows95, 98 & NT and Intel Linux, supports IC Bus, Microwire, and SPI eeprom and the flash ATMEL AVR AT90SXXXX microcontrollers, and PIC micro

Build a computer

• 8086 Single Board Computer (SBC)
• Advantages of using AC termination - embedded electronics is for low power consumption
• ALT.COMP.HARDWARE.HOMEBUILT FAQ
• Break Reset - circuit to reset microprocessor when computer sends BREAK signal to serial line
• comp.arch.hobbyist FAQ
• Car computer - for almosr all cars to control motor, locs and more, text in Finnish
• CS/A65 Gecko Computer - based on the 6502 CPU
• Connecting IDE Devices to 8-bit Machines
• Digital Systems Design Checklist
• DRAM Interfacing - 74 page white paper in zipped poscript file, for more info take a look at the readme file, from Darrens Odds & Sods page
• Dunfield Devellopment System Distribution Files - tools and microprocessor based designs
• Free Singlechip group - microcontroller articles, information and construction projects
• Information on DRAM interfacing, by Tim Olmstead
• The Handy Board - 68HC11, IR, LCD, motor control
• MC68HC11 Single Board Computer - 465k pdf file, circuit designed by Joel T. Retanan
• Microprocessor Serial Port Break-Reset Circuit
• MS-1 Home Designed Computer

PC projects

Documents

• Computer Demolition : Understanding about Technology - demystifies Technology by having kids disassemble and explore older Personal Computers
• Interfacing the PC - a free on-line tutorial on connecting anything electronic to your PC using common interfaces such as the Serial and Parallel Ports
• Kiarchive PC Hardware documentation - hdd, modem, PCI, soundcard, video
• PCKits Tutorials - power sources, parallel port, joystick port, serial port, ISA bus
• PC parallel port interfacing documents - basics, ADC, DAC, LCD, disk drive, stepper motor
• ROMable i86 code with Turbo C
• Tomi Engdahl's PC interfaces page - information on PC I/O interfaces

ISA bus cards

• 24 Line Parallel Interface for the PC - big file in pdf format, you might only need the schematic
• 8255 PPI IBM PC Interface Card - better description and information how to get the circuit as kit can be found at Boondog Automation home page
• ADDA10 - build and use a simple low cost analog I/O extension board for PC's, includes 500 KHz analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a 1 MHz digital-to-analog converter (DAC), zipped file which contains circuits and source code
• A Home Built (almost) Panasonic/MKE/CR56x CD-ROM Interface
• DAC schematics for PC slot - 8 bit DAC circuit, documentation in russian
• Filtering PC bus POWER
• General purpose 48-bit ISA parallel I/O card
• Interfacing the XC6200 Series to the PC AT / ISA BUS
• PCAT Interface Card - 327k pdf file, circuit design by Joel T. Retanan
• PCXT Interface Card - 263k pdf file, circuit design by Joel T. Retanan

PCI bus

• An FPGA-Based PCI Bus Interface - design article
• Serialized IRQ Support for PCI Systems - application note for implementing a PCI controller which serializes IRQs, includes StateCAD examples

PC parallel port

Documents

• Interfacing to the IBM-PC Parallel Printer Port

A/D and D/A conversion

• Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Conversion via the IBM-PC Parallel Printer Port
• Cheap,Dirty A to D Converters
• Parallel port ADC/DAC - 8-bit, 110kHz ADC and DAC
• Plans for a 4-channel 8-bit analog-to-digital converter for PC
• SOUNDAC - Windows 3.1 drivers for EPE April 1994 DAC project, check the description for more info, also includes DTMF dialler software
• Tietokoneeseen liitettävä lämpömittari - temperature meter which can be connected to PC, text in Finnish
• Use of an LTC1392 Temperature, Vcc and Differential Voltage Monitor - inexpensive 10-bit A/D converter with the added capability of measuring the temperature of the IC and the value of the nominal +5 V supply
• WinScoop - Oscilloscope Program for Windows 3.11 and Windows 95, with hardware connected to the LPT port
• Yet Another Updated $10US Windows Printer Sound DAC - pdf file

Controlling applications

• Computer Interface - controls relays from PC parallel port, includes some BASIC example source code
• Control airplane servos using PC parallel port
• Parallel-port Debugging Aid - 8 output LEDs and 4 switch inputs
• Parallel Port Interface Box - a simple device that connects to the IBM PC's parallel (aka printer) port and immediately interfaces your PC to the outside world
• Parallel Port Relay Interface example of controlling a relay from the PC's parallel printer port
• PC Based Digital Clock - shows how to interface 7 segmend LED display to PC parallel port
• Stepper motor controlling using PC parallel port - and links to stepper motor documents

Interfacing to computer hardware through parallel port

• Eprom Programmer - works with Windows(95)
• External Parallel Port devices and Linux - Information on the programming external peripherals connected to parallel port (IDE adapters, tape drives, cameras)
• KeyEmu - program that reads serial data from a keyboard connected to the parallel port, converts it to valid scancodes and writes it to the keyboard buffer
• Parallel IEEE 488 interface for the PC printer port - only been tested on an old TTL-style printer port, not known if works with modern ones
• Parallel port ATA interface - according the designer the project design is discontinued because the design did not work reliably

I2C

• I2C Printer Port Adapter Schematic
• Interfacing a 24C32 32K Serial EEPROM with a PC Parallel Port - how to interface to I2C bus EEPROM
• Stretching a PC Parallel Port using PCF8574 I/O Expanders - I2C application

Misc

• A logic analyzer using the PC's parallel port - up to 8 channels and 1 million samples per second, software for DOS and Windows
• DRAM used as camera - zipped file
• EPROM emulator - data loading usign PC parallel port
• Kello / ohjelmatietojennäyttäjä - four 7 segment displays to PC parallel port, text in Finnish
• LPTCAP Parallel print capture system - hardware and software solution which allows an IBM-compatible PC running MS-DOS to capture print data sent by another PC, or any device with a Centronics parallel printer interface
• Parallel Port Debug Tool - a handy DOS utility when debugging devices connected to the Parallel Port
• ParPort: PC Parallel Port Software - program for easily accessing 8 output and 8 input pins in parallel port

PC Serial port

ADC and DAC circuits

• Analog sampling via the RS-232 port
• Lämpötila- ja kosteusmittaukset sarjaliikenteellä - temperature measurements, text in Finnish

Serial line monitoring

• A really simple RS232 protocol monitor - very simple circuit which helps serial port debugging
• ComLite32 for Windows - allows you to non-intrusively listen to existing communication link, free software
• IBM-based RS232 asynchronous data line monitor - software and plans for special cable

Serial to parallel conversion

• A serial to parallel converter using the AT89C2051
• Connecting a LCD Module to the RS-232 Port
• PC Serial Port Receiver - 16 bit parallel output, check also 32 bit version

Other

• A simple universal modem (HamComm modem) - receive modem transmissions from radiowaves using HamComm software and very simple hardware, text is in German so use automatic translation to English
• Control Dallas DS1820 <-> PC-serial-port - includes C source code, text in Finnish, but some information also available in English
• RS-232 to RS-422 interface - single channel RS232 to RS422 convertor

Joystick port

• How to build rudder pedals (for little money)?
• MIDI Interface Project - midi signals to computer serial port interface
• PC:n peliohjainportti ja omatekoiset anturit

Keyboard

• AT keyboard controlling code for 6502 - how to communicate to AT keyboard
• AT keyboard emulation using PIC microcontroller - keyboard and host side routines
• IBM Keyboard Interfact Project - some tips on interfacing to an IBM keyboard
• Interfacing the PC's keyboard - how it works and how to decode PC keyboard signal using microcontroller
• KeyEmu - connect a PC keyboard to a PC parallel port and use in in DOS using a small TSR program
• PC Keyboard FAQ
• PC Keyboard Page - info on PC keyboard interfacing and source code for PIC microcontrollers
• KeyBoard/Mouse Focus Project - serial port based box controls the I/O of both keyboard and (serial) mouse ports of up to seven computers

IR projects

• Computerized Infrared Remote - control stero and TV from Windows, includes schematic and software
• Linux Infra-red Remote Control
• PC IR Remote Control

MP3 players

• Embedded Linux MP3 player - project to create the hardware and software required to produce a stand-alone MP3 player for a home stereo system
• InMotion - PC based car MP3 player
• MP3 Jukebox with infrared remote control - describes how a PC can be turned into a Jukebox
• MP3-O-PHONO - device that plays mp3 files from a CDROM
• The MP3mobile - information on fitting car with a MP3 player

Misc projects

• A prototype Digital Storage Oscilloscope - designed for BBC home computer but can be adapted to PC, also at http://comet.sai.msu.su/~vital/Electron/Scope20M.html
• Computerize Your Room/House - PC home automation interfacing projects, I/O card etc.
• DIBsoft Miscellaneous Software - hex utilities, IRQ checking, small C
• Digital Logic Analyser for Window - electronics kit that allows you to convert your PC running Windows 3.x or Windows 95 into an eight channel digital logic analyser
• Digital PC Oscilloscope
• The Super Start Project - uses surplus computer hardware and $5 shareware to record a person's voice on a computer's disk and play it back with images it describes

Video related projects

• 9-to-15 pin conversion table for VGA to monitor connection
• Driving Multiple VGA Monitors - simple circuit to drive two VGA monitors using one VGA card
• Hill Cookbook 245 CCD Camera Imaging
• Identifying connections on unknown or cut monitor cables
• LCD Project - effort to make use of surplus LCDs from the CyberMaxx virtual reality system
• PIC-Tock - video clock using a PIC16C61
• The Cookbook CCD Camera Home Page - to help amateur astronomers who build their own CCD cameras
• Use fixed frequency monitor with your PC: Fixed Frequency Monitor FAQ and Sync on Green FAQ
• VGA to TV converter
• Video Encoder for Amstrad CPC

Parallel port projects

• 24 Line Parallel Interface for the PC parallel port
• 256K Centronics Printer Buffer Using The 87C451 Microcontroller - pdf file
• 8-bit ZN448E-based ADC to interface to a PC parallel port
• Amiga parallel port protection circuit
• A prototype Digital Storage Oscilloscope
• Drawing power from a PC Serial port
• How to build a Laplink and Interlink cables for parallel port file tranfer
• I2C interfacing via PC parallel port
• I2C Zone - I2C information, chip data and Windows driver for Visual Basic
• Interfacing to the IBM-PC Parallel Printer Port
• MicroLab - you can design and build a circuit and be writing and testing the control software
• PC parallel port interfacing made easy - connect LEDs to parallel port, source code included

Serial port projects

• Apple Macintosh serial port connector pinout
• Connections Newsletter 2: Serial port powered devices - understanding serial port power capabilities, pdf file
• Determining Baud Rates For 8051 UARTS And Other UART Issues
• Drawing power from a PC Serial port
• ESD Considerations for RS-232 Drivers
• Linux Infra-red Remote Control (LIRC)
• Implementing a Simple Serial Mouse Controller using PIC16C5x - pdf file, check also source code
• Make RS232 serial port bus
• Microprocessor Serial Port Break-Reset Circuit
• Miniature 3 V CMOS to V.24 adapter using MAX232
• PC Mouse Implementation Using COP800 - pdf file
• Power for your circuits from RS-232 signal lines
• Power from RS-232
• Relay Microcontroller MNT-101 - preprogrammed microcontroller designed to perform high-speed serial-to-parallel conversion from a standard RS-232 data source
• RS-232 serial port cable wirings
• Serial Interface for CASIO SF series Digital Diaries - simple level converter using MAX232
• Simple RS-232 optoisolator idea

I2C bus projects

• Access.Bus Mouse Application Code For The Microcontroller - pdf file
• Centronics to I2C converter inside DB25 connector
• Connecting a PC keyboard to I2C-bus - application note in PDF format
• I2C interfacing via PC parallel port
• I2C driver pseudo-code
• I2C Zone - information about The I2C bus and its components, also I2C FAQ
• The I2C-bus and how to use it - includes specification

Misc interfacing project

• A500 IDE Harddisk interface - for Amiga 500, includes some ATA documents
• AT keyboard controlling code for 6502
• CD changer controller
• Dallas MicroLAN Design Guide - low-cost network based on a PC or microcontroller communicating digitally over twisted-pair cable with 1-Wire components
• Hardware Web Midi page - midi cables, circuits, interfaces
• Joystick port interfacing projects - information about joystics, circuits and ideas
• MicroLAN Design Guide
• Modular Relay System - simple transistorised relay into which can be plugged 'personality modules' for different controlling purposes

LCD interfacing

• Christopher Burian's LCD Module FAQ
• Connecting a LCD Module to the RS-232 Port
• Graphic LCD Controller/Module Info - LCD Controller/Module Data Sheets and Sample code
• Hitachi LM018L LCD Module - interfacing 40x2 text display to computer
• How to control HD44780-based Character-LCD - Industry-Standard-Character-LCD General info and code-examples
• How to control industry standard character LCD
• How to use Intelligent LCD - two part tutorial from EPE Online
• LCD Direct Drive using HPC - controlling LCD segment display directly using microcontroller
• LCD Display Frequently Asked Questions
• LCD Explorations - some LCD project source code and document links
• LCD Information and Technical Forum - general inforation, datasheets, tips
• LCD Frequently Asked Questions
• LCD Module Technical Reference (FAQ)
• Linux LCD display driver - from ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/Linux/sunsite/system/hardware/
• Sega 3D LCD shutter glass interfacing
• Toshiba T6963C Controller based Displays - information on Dot Matrix LCD Controller, found in a proportion of the cheaper medium size LCD Modules, you can download the datasheet at http://doc.semicon.toshiba.co.jp/pdf/english/docweb123/e007211.pdf
• Tutorial: Introduction to LCD Programming with 8051

Interfacing to real world

• Decoding magnetic cards
• Physical Computing - How To Guide for Artists
• Smartcard interfacing

VHDL and other hardware description languages

• Design and Reuse Web site
• Intellectual Property (IP) Components - this paper examines why re-usable Intellectual Property Components are required to implement single-chip silicon systems, and why commercial suppliers of these IP Components are emerging
• Serialized IRQ Support for PCI Systems - application note for implementing a PCI controller which serializes IRQs, includes StateCAD examples
• Silicon Strategies 1998 Vendor Guide - companies who make IP components
• The Free Model Foundation - created to promote the development and free distribution of simulation and analysis models of electronic components
• VHDL for Programmable Logic - excerpts from an instructional text written by Kevin Skahill and published as a book

Unsorted info

• Watchdog circuit for computer

Back to electronics main page