This pad builds on [[hacklab-flowbits/rev.3008]], created by sarana & mjr & Harald & jautero & dist & jimki & Jaroneko & suovula & anacron & zzorn & [unnamed author] & Jammi & mokis & Jssmk & kallekilponen & arcatan & rambo & jari Flowbits - rectangular blocks that can be connected together to form circuits. (TODO: Better name?) Basic concepts *Blocks attach to each other with magnets. Power lines are on top of magnets. *There is one power block that supplies power. *The signal is transmitted digitally between each block (using IR light). *Each block typically has one output signal that it broadcasts to all neighbors, and uses the neighbors output signals for some of its parameters. *There is one generic computational block that can be set to different modes / functions. *There might also be other types of blocks eventually¸ e.g. sensor blocks, motor blocks, tentacle blocks, light driver blocks, wall power remote control blocks, etc.. *Dimensions of block probably around 7x7 to 8x8 cm, leaves room for 4xAA battery case and fits nicely in hand. *Rectangular grid allows for double sized or odd sized blocks too (e.g. one to two octave piano keyboard block). Blocks Powerblock *4xAA battery holder *DC 5V input jack *PWM output drivers x 6 (one for each edge, encode value to 0..full output cycle) *Servo outputs x 6 (one for each edge, encode incoming edge value to servo position *(Power switch) *Builtin speaker would be nice too. Sensor Block * General computation block *ATMega microcontroller, 4 RGB leds, potentiometer for navigation and parameter adjustment, 4 clickable edges, 2x7 segment led screen *Each mode has a number of parameters, whose values can be set with the rotating wheel to a specific value, or to the (average) value of specified neighbor output(s), or maybe to more complex functions (simple signal / noise generators) *Available modes (followed by parameters for the mode): *Signal generator *Waveform *Sine, Square, Sawtooth, etc *Frequency *Amplitude *Noise generator *Sequencer *Random melody / sequence generator *Mixer *Filter *Delay filter (echo, reverb, etc effects) *RGB signal visualizator *Neural network / game of life nodes (4 of them, one for each side) *etc Part list (for general computation block): *Rotary encoder x1 *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=987-1398-ND *10 pcs: 0.93900 / a *Microcontroller x1 *ATMega 328 PU *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=ATMEGA328-PU-ND *3.05 (25 pieces: 1.91 / a) *or AT90USB162 (builtin usb support, surface mount) *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=AT90USB162-16AU-ND *2.88 (25 pieces: 1.8 / a) *Resonator 16 Mhz x1 *Digikey *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=490-1214-ND *10 pcs: 0.399 / a *Futurlec *http://www.futurlec.com/Crystals/RESON16M0P3pr.shtml *0.2 / a *Capacitors x2 *Filter caps for microcontroller *(Close to zero, already have) *Power cap for scratchy contact *47uF or similar electrolyte *Protection diode for power polarity *~0.5 - 1 A @ 6V *Resistors *Series resistors for RGB lights, LED segment display.. *LED Segment display: 14 (or 16) resistors *RGB Leds: 12 resistors *Maybe use resistor networks for saved space and improved sanity *Resistor network, 7 resitors, 8 pin, 220 Ohm: (maybe a bit too expensive) *Digikey *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=4608X-1-221LF-ND *0.25 / a when 50+ *Futurlec *http://www.futurlec.com/ResNetworks.shtml *220ohm 9 Resistor Network (10 pins) *0.25 / a *Combination resistors for tilt switch, 4 of different unique values (high accuracy, we'll get 16 different values that we need to differentiate after A/D) *IR Leds, 940 nm, 3mm x4 *Digikey *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=754-1241-ND *0.11 / a when 25+ *Futurlec *http://www.futurlec.com/LED/INF3940pr.shtml *0.13 / a when 25+ *IR transistors 940nm x4 *Digikey *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=1080-1158-ND *0.21 / a when 10+ *Futurlec *http://www.futurlec.com/LED/INFD3940TRANSpr.shtml *0.15 a *RGB Leds, common anode, diffuse x4 *0.25 / a from ebay seller for 100+ *Tactile swithces x 4 *http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=450-1650-ND *0.056 / a when 50+ *LED Dual 7 Segment screen x1 *Futurlec *http://www.futurlec.com/LED/7DR5621BSpr.shtml *0.75 / a when under 25 *Magnets x 8 *http://www.dealextreme.com/p/super-strong-rare-earth-square-re-magnets-100-pack-51744 *0.144 / a when 100+ *Tilattu *Plastic cover material - diffuse, translucent white or darker plastic, preferably something not as brittle as acrylic *Plastic case, 3D printed? *PCB (smaller than total footprint) *Programming header? *Shift register, 74HC595 x2 *Through hole *http://www.futurlec.com/74HC/74HC595pr.shtml *$0.5 *$0.42 when 25+ *$0.35 when 100+ *SMD version (SOIC) *http://www.futurlec.com/74HC/74HC595SMDpr.shtml *$0.15 Parts to be ordered from three sources, digikey, futurlec, and dealextreme + 3D printed case. Maybe ponocos german partner for a lasercut top surface ~2€ /a when ordering 25. Cost: 8.86 + case plastic, pcb etc -> ~10$(+) TODO: LEDs need sources and sink capable of driving them, atmega only supports max 25-30mA per pin, and max 110mA total. Need 4 sinks for *3 RGB channels *1 x 4 IR sender leds (one channel) (could also be source-driven) Need 6 sources for *2 (or 3) led segment displays (selecting character to light up) *4 RGB Leds, for selecting directions to light up 7 darlington transistors sink *http://www.futurlec.com/Linear/ULN2003Apr.shtml *$0.3 / a for 25+ *http://www.futurlec.com/Linear/MC1413Ppr.shtml *$0.26 / a for 25+ Single PNP transistor *http://www.futurlec.com/Transistors/PN2907Apr.shtml *0.6A, 500mW dissipation, high gain. *$0.04 / a for 100+ *Most widely used, so use this by default *http://futurlec.com/Transistors/MPS2907Apr.shtml *$0.04 / a for 100+ *http://futurlec.com/Transistors/2SA1515pr.shtml *$0.04 / a for 100+ We have two reels (~4k pcs) of PNP SMD transistors (100mA) at the lab. Single NPN sink transistor *http://futurlec.com/Transistors/KTC3203pr.shtml *~$0.04 / a for 100+ *Not very common, but available from futurlec. Substitutable with any NPN transistor with hfe > 100, voltage 20+, and currect handling of more than 500mA metal strip for holding magnets (thin copper?) *or trap them in a wire loop? -> About $0.05 per source or sink -> + $0.5