Tengu clone on PCB
This is a new version of my Tengu clone. This time on a printed circuit board (PCB). I have them produced by Olimex and I am very pleased with the quality. The PCB worked on the first try and has some minor issues only.
Materials
- Tengu PCB
- Everlight 8*5 LED dot matrix
- ATmega48, 4kB Flash RAM, 512 bytes RAM
- 4 MHz crystal
- LM386 Op-Amp
- 28 pin header
- 8 pin header
- 2 * 22pF capacitors
- 3 * 100nF capacitors
- 10k potentiometer
- 100k potentiometer
- 100k resistor
- 5 * 1k resistors
- 2 * 7 pin header sockets
- 2 pin headers for power supply and microphone (optional)
- Electret microphone (not on the picture)
Note, that the electret microphone has a polarity. On the PCB the inner pin is the positive one. If you connect it the wrong way, it is heating up really quick.
The microphone that I used here has an impedance of 2k. You may have to experiement a bit with different microphones.
The capacitor C2 is used to control the amplification of the LM386. I used 0.1uF but you can use up to 10uF to get a stronger amplification. Here is the amplifier circuit that I used.
PCB design issues
As this is my first design, there are a couple of things that I would redesign.
As I tried to insert the pin header sockets, I realized that the drill holes were a bit too narrow. You have to use a bit of strength to insert the headers, but it works.
All solder pads used for resistors and capacitors are a bit too small. It was a bit difficult to solder them. I would make them a larger next time.
I think I should use a bit less of the silk layer. Some solder pads are covered with silk. Most of the time that does not hurt as it is on the top side. But there are pins that you may wont to solder on the top side, e.g. the power connector.
Improvements
The component count could be reduced if I had dropped crystal. For the animation of the LED matrix the internal oscillator would be sufficient. On the other hand, with a suited crystal, this circuit could be modified to display the time.
I would add an ISP (in system programming) header for easier programming. Now you have to flip off the display, take out the controller, program it, re-insert it and put the display back in place. Not a fast turn around if you want to modify the firmware.
What would you think of an Arduino version of this circuit? The controller could be replaced with an Arduino compatible ATmega168. Or maybe as an Arduino shield?
Conclusion
It is great to see your first produced PCB. Even better if it works on the first try. Maybe I can even build a kit out of it with the next revision of the board.
As I have still two boards left, you can email me at alex at this domain and I will send you the PCB for free. The only requirement would be, that you really want to build it and that you give me feedback on how it worked, what you would change or how you modded it.
Links and Downloads
- Crispin Jones Tengu, the original idea of this device
- Mini Amplifier with LM386
- Tengu clone on prototype board
- Tengu clone on a breadboard
- tengu-clone-rev-1.0a.zip source and Eagle schematics
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May 4th, 2008 at 11:42
Hi Alex,I am from Greece if you want send me pcb.
Dimos Apostolidis
veranzerou 34 10432 ATHENS GREECE.
Thanks.
Dimos
May 4th, 2008 at 13:27
Alex,
Thanks for the update. The board looks amazing. I’m interested in a PCB, but lately have been unable to put time into my EE hobby. I cant wait for the kit.
When I tried mine on the breadboard + arduino, the microphone I used was not very sensitive and so it didn’t work as well as I would have hoped.
I think an Arduino Shield is a good idea, but the tengu looks really cool as a the small package it is now (besides the battery pack). Although, it is more convenient for those who already own an Arduino, like myself. This project makes a good first soldering lesson–it doesnt have any surface-mount.
The addition of the ISP sounds likea good idea, that would probably the best improvement.
It was exciting to see this project evolve from the breadboard to the protoboard, and now to the PCB.
Cheers,
David
May 4th, 2008 at 13:34
Ok, the two boards are gone. I’ll let you know when the next revision is ready.
Cheers,
Alex
May 4th, 2008 at 20:12
Thanks Alex!
May 5th, 2008 at 16:00
[…] Tengu Clone on PCB [Read this article] [Comment on this article] Source: MAKE Magazine […]
May 5th, 2008 at 17:11
[…] New Tengu clone in a PCB version - [Link] […]
May 5th, 2008 at 17:18
[…] a LED display that syncs to voice and music. You can buy one but I guess these guys over at Tinkerlog have made their own ‘DIY’ version Tangu. This is a new version of my Tengu clone. This time on a printed circuit board (PCB). I have them […]
May 5th, 2008 at 17:21
Does anyone have a link to an online store that stocks all of these parts. I’m having trouble finding the led dot matrix. any help would be appreciated.
May 5th, 2008 at 18:05
hey. great work. i was curious: how much is a PCB like that when you get it from olimex?
i was in the process of designing the same thing (for another application) but with the connectors for the display on the back of the PCB. and built arounf the 168.
your work looks great though. congrats.
May 5th, 2008 at 19:10
tateu,
That depends. If I look at my order, I would say a tengu board cost around 8 or 9 Euro. That is not really cheap but can get lower if I order in bigger quantities.
Cheers,
Alex
May 5th, 2008 at 20:43
Oh I would love one, that is if yo have any left. He would be totally fun!
Nice project!
Lee
May 5th, 2008 at 22:15
I would definatly reccomend going for an arduino and 168. This would not only allow the kit to be easily modified and programmed(a la www.moderndevice.com BBB), but it would also allow people to build their own with an arduino that they already own.
May 5th, 2008 at 22:54
@Lee, I am sorry, but I had only two and there are gone already.
@Kersny, BBB is a good option but I am not sure, if a complete BBB would fit underneath the display. Maybe an ATmega168, so you can at least program it like an Arduino.
May 6th, 2008 at 01:00
I have had the same problems with Olimex. They don’t process the silk screen layer and mask off from the soldermask. You end up with silk all over surface mount pads. — bad
May 6th, 2008 at 07:23
Yes, I noticed that on my boards. I thought, I was to blame for that.
May 6th, 2008 at 08:10
Here is a link to a german online shop for the everlight 5*8 dot matrix.
http://www.conrad.de/goto.php?artikel=156379
May 6th, 2008 at 18:57
Wow, very cool! If you had a kit with preprogrammed MCU, I’d so buy one!
An arduino version would be cool too, but I really like this design because the whole thing fits in the shadow of the LED matrix. Plus, if you wanted to install this in something, there goes your arduino board.
I might have missed this in the post, but do the pots change the volume sensitivity? That would be really useful so you get the best range of facial motions for the sound levels present.
Thanks for sharing this!
May 6th, 2008 at 21:24
Kevin,
yes, the pots control the volume and the sensivity of the op-amp.
Cheers,
Alex
May 9th, 2008 at 13:28
I love the design. Like Kevin said, an Arduino shield would be great, but there is something about the form factor of everything fitting behind the LED matrix.
Count me in for a kit, if you decide to put one together.
May 10th, 2008 at 09:36
http://www.pollin.de/shop/detail.php?pg=OA==&a=NzQ4OTc4OTk=&w=OTg4OTk4&ts=0
for the guys from germany .. a cheaper 5×8matrix. less then a half of the conrad price.
May 10th, 2008 at 10:40
RBT,
many thanks for the link. I was already searching for cheaper source for the display but missed that one. That will reduce the overall cost. Great.
Cheers,
Alex
May 10th, 2008 at 13:54
Great job! I actually built one of these myself with an AVR and an 8×8 matrix. They are a lot of fun
I just have one question; according to the video, you use a Mac. Do you design the PCBs on your Mac? If so, what software do you use? Lack of decent PCB software is the only thing stopping me from buying one.
May 10th, 2008 at 14:22
Hi Jeremy,
yes, I am using Eagle CAD on my Mac. They have a limited but free version.
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download.htm
Cheers,
Alex
May 15th, 2008 at 12:57
Hi Alex, I need .hex please.
May 15th, 2008 at 18:33
Hi dimos,
I updated the zip file. Please check it out.
Cheers,
Alex
May 20th, 2008 at 06:09
Hi Alex,
I’m Dimos friend, and we try toggether to make it work.
Thanks for the Hex update, but can you tell me the fuse settings? For some reason, it doesn’t work even if I set the fuses to correct ones for the 4Mhz crystal.
I use AVR Studio4 and STK500 to program it!
Best Regards, Thanos
May 20th, 2008 at 07:34
Hi Thanos,
the fuse settings are: low 0xCD, high 0xDF.
Cheers,
Alex
May 23rd, 2008 at 06:36
Hi Alex,
I set the fuses as you said but still no luck…
I noticed that Dimos had used the ATmega48V-10PI that is low power version of the ATmega48. I believe its the same thing, right?
Another thing that might be the reason that this isn’t working could be the 8*5 led matrix… The one we have is the Kingbright TA24-11EWA (N) (other codes: 97-12). I believe is (A)node driven. Yours is (K)athode driven?
The problem is that we can see all the leds light dimly. And no reaction to sound.
Regards, Thanos
May 23rd, 2008 at 07:32
Hi Thanos,
looking at the Kingbright datasheet, it has a common kathode per row. The Everlight (ELM-2081SURWA/S530-A3) has a common anode per row. So try to get another dot matrix or invert the outputs of the controller.
Cheers,
Alex
June 9th, 2008 at 14:30
Hi! Could you tell me how you connected the electret to the arduino board? Is it enough to connect the electret mike to the board to give arduino the input of the sounds detected by the mike?
I am going to use it to make leds light up, and the leds are doing ok, just I don’t know how to make it all work (hardware) with a mike.
Thanks really, I have been sweating on this a while
Mariadele
June 9th, 2008 at 18:28
Hi mariadele,
you can not connect the mic directly to the controller, the signal is too small. I used the LM386, an OP-AMP, to amplify the signal.
Here is the link, where you can see, how to assemble the mic, the LM386 and the controller.
http://tinkerlog.com/2007/10/22/diy-tengu-on-a-breadboard/
Another mic with amplifier that I found lately looks very promissing. It’s made by the guys from Sparkfun.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8669
Cheers,
Alex
June 16th, 2008 at 15:27
Funny… was looking over your stuff and noticed I had some 5 x 7 matrix displays laying around… and an arduino…
I might try to replicate this onto my own MCB as an Arduino Shield possibly… would make it quite unique…
July 10th, 2008 at 08:00
hi Alex,
Cool…. is a very interesting project. I might want to try it too..but izzit possible for me to get the PCB board?
thanks.
July 10th, 2008 at 21:26
Hi motorbuddy,
sorry, all PCBs are already gone.
Cheers,
Alex
August 11th, 2008 at 14:29
Hi Alex, look this: http://www.grobot.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104:-by-alex&catid=43:2008-04-19-14-02-08&Itemid=82
My new web site
www.grobot.gr
August 11th, 2008 at 18:07
dimos,
great, you did it! And the video is cool.
Thanks for sharing it.
Cheers,
Alex