Digital Table Clock - Prototype

Hi guys,
After a long time we managed to acquire one more project for CircuitsInc. This board was designed for a small electronics store which manufactures small electronic devices to be used as office supplies. They gave us the task of designing a PCB for a Digital Clock based on a simple microcontroller.
The first step was to design a Prototype board for testing the system. Later, another version of the board will be designed to miniaturize the device.
Since this is a prototype, the board consists of all through-hole components and a Microcontroller.
The final board is expected to have all SMD components and replace the microcontroller with suitable logic circuits(Flip Flops, Gates, etc.).
So, coming to the features of the board:

• There are 3 sets of 2-digit Seven Segment Displays to display Hours:Minutes:Seconds. 
• There are two tactile buttons to adjust the value of different segments. This idea has been picked up from digital wrist watches.
• There is one tactile switch to reset the clock.
• Atmel's Atmega8 Microcontroller has been implemented.
• A crystal has been implemented for accurate timing. 
• Uses 3 AA batteries to power the clock.
• The seven segment displays are controlled by ICs called 4511N. These are BCD to Seven Segment Display converters with inbuilt latch.

We hope this prototype works well and we get to design the final board.

.

Click here to DOWNLOAD the EAGLE files for this project.

For further queries mail us at admin@circuitsinc.tk

PS: Pull down resistors for the tactile switches wont be required here because they can be setup internally from the code.

Circuit Board Layout Techniques

Hi everyone,

This post will discuss the importance of PCB designing in electronics projects and a quick presentation on Circuit Board Layout Techniques compiled by one of our members.

For beginners, the toughest part of circuit designing seems to be the SCHEMATIC of the circuit and next thing is to place the components neatly on the board. After that, the AUTO-ROUTER seems to be your best friend in the world. But, you might be wrong!

Let us first discuss routing. The connections which one makes in the schematic only defines the electrical connections in the software so that you can visually locate the connections in the BOARD design. These visual connections are called AIRWIRES which actually means that they haven't been routed yet and that an electrical connection is pending. Routing in PCB designing context refers to the procedure of laying actual copper TRACES on the board which makes a conducting path for the signal. These TRACES are like the connecting wires in a breadboard circuit.

One must never forget that the AUTO-ROUTER is just an add-on tool offered by the PCB DESIGNING SOFTWARE or LAYOUT EDITORS as they call themselves, and not a mandatory step in designing the board. Infact, all PCB manufacturers prefer MANUAL ROUTING over AUTO-ROUTING.

Then why do these softwares have an AUTO-ROUTER???
All that being said, AUTO-ROUTERS are good for beginners and result in WORKING boards. But they must be used for simple digital circuits that donot involve any analog components. Wireless communication modules are also not recommended in such designs.

Following is a presentation compiled by one of our members which summarizes various issues in PCB layout and designing. Also, all members of CircuitsInc make boards which comply with these standards. So, get your free PCB design now.

Click here to Download Powerpoint Show
Click here to Download PDF

Operations start on 11th May, 2013!

We are currently structuring our operations. The team expects to roll out projects and full-fledged operations from 11th May, 2013. Feel free to send in your projects to project@circuitsinc.tk or any queries to admin@circuitsinc.tk.

Our site is now easier to remember!

Hi. You can easily reach us or recommend us to others(we would love it) via the following links:

1. circuitsinc.tk
2. circuitsinc.nl.ae
3. circuitsinc.co.nr

All of the above links are "ad-free". No ads or pop-ups.
They are direct links to circuitsinc.blogspot.com.

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Project #1 - Vibrating bracelet for deaf people.

Hi guys.
This is our first project. This was a local request and not an online request.
This was a "very simple design challenge" and Circuits Team is capable of complex design challenges.
We will be posting some of the projects of our members to give you a feel that we are doing some serious work here!
You must know that this board was delivered in 24 hrs.
This project is a vibrating bracelet which is linked to the doorbell via RF. It is a project for hearing impaired people. We hope this project catches up!

Click here to DOWNLOAD the EAGLE files for this project

The rendered image of the board file is below:

PROJECT #1

Procedure for getting your PCB designed. [UPDATE]

Hi. The following are guidelines for a smooth transaction between us and the customers.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO:

1. Send us an email at project@circuitsinc.tk. 
1. Mention clearly your name, location, your status(student, professional) and purpose of the PCB.
2. Send in your circuit description in any digital form. You can even send us photographs of your hand drawn circuits or links to circuit diagrams.

WHAT WE WILL DO FOR YOU:

1. A member of the Circuits Team will get in touch with you within 24 hrs via email and clarify the doubts he/she has.
2. Give us some time depending on the complexity of your circuit.
3. We will then send you the following formats of the PCB via email.
1. GERBER format.
2. Schematic(.sch) and Board(.brd) format (EAGLE files).
3. PNG images of schematic and board.
4. Partslist(List of components) in Excel format(.xls).
4. We then request you to post your reviews on the blog. If you agree we would like to post the project on our blog too.

We guarantee 100% privacy of both identity and project.

Don't think we have it??? Try us out now...