Sylvain submitted his latest project: a geiger counter with a USB interface. Thanks for sharing your nice project!

 source : http://electronicfr.com/index.php/Microcontrollers-programming/How-monitor-radioactivity-with-a-PC.html

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Audium Semiconductor has launched an audio power amplifier IC which, at normal listening levels, is 20 times more efficient than competing devices, such as Class D amplifiers, without compromising audio quality. The AS1001 operates from a nominal 1.5 V power supply and delivers 100 W peak power output. The amplifier is so efficient that battery-powered amplified loudspeakers can run for up to 10 months on a set of four ‘C’ batteries, playing for three hours per day.

The amplifier also enables the development of smaller, cooler, mains-powered audio equipment, with fewer heat sinks. Applications include totally wireless speakers, home theatre surround sound speakers and battery-powered travel speakers. Future Audium ICs will support MP3 docking stations and USB powered speakers.

The AS1001 architecture uses patented techniques to minimise both fixed power losses and output-dependant variable power losses. The modulation scheme uses low switching rates to minimise switching losses. Power rail switching means that the amplifier operates efficiently from a low voltage rail most of the time, with a DC-DC boost converter driving higher voltage transistors on extreme audio peaks.

source : http://www.elektor.com

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Using the PIC18F2550 GLCD Text Test as a basis for further experimentation, I put together a simple and accurate graphical oscilloscope using a PIC18F2550 microcontroller and a AGM1264F graphical LCD. The oscilloscope measures the average voltage, the maximum voltage, the minimum voltage, the peak-to-peak voltage, and the zero-crossing frequency for a DC signal over 100 samples. The oscilloscope has a built in edge trigger function that can be set to capture on rise or fall (or disabled altogether). The time scale for the display is variable and can be easily redefined using the changeTimeDivision function. Likewise, the voltage range can be change to 0-5V, 0-2.5V, and 0-1.25V. The main limitations of this oscilloscope include relatively slow acquisition time and sampling rate (~60kHz) and the fact that the inputs are limited by the constraints of the internal ADC. However, it is a very nice display and I highly suggest you view the videos to see it in action. [Via]

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This is very cool project .USB interface is implemented by using PIC18F2550 microcontroller. Using USB LCD module you can view many types of information taken from PC like temperatures, time/date, MP3 song titles, view emails, RSS feeds – all that LCDSmartie or other program supports.

[Via ]

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