Rotary encoders are pretty interesting pieces of technology. They’re a solid way to accurately measure rotation including the direction. [David] recently wrote some software to handle these input ...

Using the analog converter input function of a compact microcontroller’s input pins to read ternary logic encoding allows two pins to sense as many as nine configuration states. When designing with ...

Inputting multiple bits of information using a single entry pin of a microcontroller without the complexity of UARTs can prove useful. Such a scheme could allow scanning of a keyboard, mode switches, ...

In most keypads, pressing a key closes a contact that bridges two lines in an xy matrix. If you use a microcontroller to detect a key closure, checking the states of (x+y) lines requires an equal ...

Here’s an interesting article about reading data from shift registers using less than three pins. 74HC165 shift registers are a popular choice for adding inputs to a microcontroller. They have a ...

In this article, I'll be explaining the basics of how microcontrollers work, physically and virtually. First off, microcontrollers are no simple thing, so don't be discouraged if you find it ...

Atmel has introduced a 6-pin microcontroller. The 8bit AVR ATtiny10 has 1kbyte of flash and 32byte of SRAM in a 2x3mm SOT-23 package. Performance is claimed to be up to 12MIPS, and peripherals include ...

Microcontroller port pins can typically be driven either high or low, or else be put into an "input" or high-impedance state. This circuit uses the three states to drive two separate LEDs with one ...

Atmel is filling a pin-count gap in its AVR microcontroller range. “We received requests for 14-pin AVR devices,” said AVR marketing director Jukka Eskelinen. “ATtiny24, 44 and 84 devices complement ...

– Small size: As small as a thumb(20×17.5mm) for wearable devices and small projects. – Multiple development interfaces: 11 digital/analog pins, 10 PWM Pins, 1 DAC output, 1 SWD Bonding pad interface, ...