27/05/2008 by peter.

Another major bit of code implemented, the bootloader.

“Why does it need a bootloader?” I hear you cry (well I don’t hear that but I suspect you are probably crying it, well at least thinking it. Hmm. Maybee not). Well as this unit has quite a bit of firmware on it it needs to be designed in such a way as to allow the user to update it since it will probably go out of date rather quickly as new features are added and bugs are eliminated. This is a simple process if an engineer with appropriate tools is to hand but no good for your average button pressing computer user. In the latter case the ability to write new firmware to the uC must be built into the device itself, hence a bootloader.

My bootloader is basically a partial rewrite of the Tiny PIC bootloader. A wonderful bit of software which I have modified to sit in a different part of the programme memory, made device specific and tweaked to talk to my VB interface programme.

It just needs a spot of polishing and it will be finished but this is a majour chunk of the programming done. Just have to finish the PC software and write the magic bio-feedback control.

getting there though…

Posted in intelligent vibrator | Print | 1 Comment »

15/05/2008 by peter.

After wondering what all the fuss about Arduino was I thought I’d buy one. And of course the first thing i did after the flashing LED was use one of the PWM examples to drive the output transistor of my intelligent vibrator on breadboard. the result is the this video.

(brings new meaning to “Arduino Inside”)

What’s slightly more important is it took about 20 seconds to do this little example and flash it to the uC with the built in bootloader. I may have to port everything to one of these things since it is so damn easy to use. However it does give you that hollow feeling that maybe the code you are implementing isn’t all that streamlined and it was all a little too easy. A bit like going to the supermarket and not supporting your local corner shop.

Posted in intelligent vibrator | Print | 2 Comments »

04/05/2008 by peter.

Video here
Just writing the Biofeeedback stuff and rewriting the USB control and then I’ll add a boot loader and then I just neet the PC software and thats all the code done.

As for hardware, This is a mock up of how the box might look (the LCD will go above the knob) Box

Posted in intelligent vibrator | Print | 2 Comments »

01/05/2008 by peter.

For those who don’t believe that there is anything going on I bring you a teaser of the interface. You can see the main modes of operation you can expect. So far only the menu has been written and when an item is selected it simply displays the number of the item chosen and returns to the menu after a delay. code for almost all these functions has been written and just needs to be interfaced to the display.

so without further ado, click here

Posted in intelligent vibrator | Print | No Comments »