A contest for 6-pin MCU's? Cool or not cool?

[smackaay]

Thinking about all of the cool stuff that comes out of just 555 timers, I was thinking it'd be cool to have a contest to see what could be made with a select set of parts and the lowest end microcontroller by manufacturer. Say for instance the 6 pin PIC10F200 or the Atiny's or whatever. I don't know what it is but I find the really low end MCU's extremely charming considering their small size and capabilities. Despite their small size and ram and program memory, the applications are endless.

Even if the reward is just simply some recognition, it'd be neat to see what kind of stuff people come up with. I'd be interested to see what I come up with as well.

What do you guys think?

[scrat]

Good idea! I'd limit the number of other active components, too, to really see what can be extracted from the power of those small devices.

[alvarop]

I just purchased a bunch of ATTiny10's to see what I can do with them. I'll be sure to post whatever I come up with!

Here's one of my favourite applications of a 6pin micro: http://cms.diodenring.de/electronic/microcontroller/82-intervalltimerv2

[mikeselectricstuff]

Here's one of my favourite applications of a 6pin micro: http://cms.diodenring.de/electronic/microcontroller/82-intervalltimerv2

I bet that would work without the external diodes, via the internal ESD ones - maybe a little more forward drop, but unless the voltage  was already very tight it would cut the parts count by 33%!
 

[Mechatrommer]

I just purchased a bunch of ATTiny10's to see what I can do with them. I'll be sure to post whatever I come up with!
Here's one of my favourite applications of a 6pin micro: http://cms.diodenring.de/electronic/microcontroller/82-intervalltimerv2

very good write up. thanx, i read your diy pcb page. you are not Jr. Member!

[alvarop]

I just purchased a bunch of ATTiny10's to see what I can do with them. I'll be sure to post whatever I come up with!
Here's one of my favourite applications of a 6pin micro: http://cms.diodenring.de/electronic/microcontroller/82-intervalltimerv2

very good write up. thanx, i read your diy pcb page. you are not Jr. Member!

Ooh misunderstanding, that's not my project! It's one of my favourite applications of a 6pin micro, but not one I've done.

[smackaay]

Yeah, it could be limited to certain parts that have no other mcu components like I2C temperature sensors or anything. Also, since there are differences between the bottom lines of the manufacturers and sorting through the quagmire would be a pain, we could just accept the lowest end series. I think if we put too many limitations on it, it'd stifle creativity. I just really want to see what peoiple can make and a contest brings out the best in those kinds of things.

That being said, I'd still like to see what the lowest end chips can do so probably no more than 512 words of program and 24 bytes of ram. Maybe A/D could be excluded as well since the low end pics don't have it until the 22X series.

That project in the link is pretty cool. I was going to do something like that for my SLR as well but with some other features, and more parts. Very elegant.

Maybe if Dave is cool with it, he could mybe stir up some interest in the idea.

[Mechatrommer]

Ooh misunderstanding, that's not my project! It's one of my favourite applications of a 6pin micro, but not one I've done.

oic. you are partly Jr. then Here's me failing...

[Rufus]

I bet that would work without the external diodes, via the internal ESD ones - maybe a little more forward drop, but unless the voltage  was already very tight it would cut the parts count by 33%!
 

Substrate currents in the chip from actually using the ESD protection diodes tend to screw up the analog functions on PICs including the internal RC oscillator so the dual Schottky probably is a good idea for this one.

[EEVblog]

Wasn't this discussed on TheAmpHour recently? #badmemory

Dave.

[smackaay]

I've listened quite a ways back and didn't hear a reference to it. That being said, my attention wanes sometimes. Is somebody doing a contest like this right now?

[Zero999]

There are many jellybean components which have practically unlimited uses: op-amps, comparators (especially the single supply variety) and CMOS logic inverters which could all be the subject of such as competition.

[monpjc]

Wasn't this discussed on TheAmpHour recently? #badmemory

Dave.

Yes... So was the 741...

There actually a lot you can do with a PIC10F, The new (yet to be released) PIC12F1501 has lots of new cool stuff - currently trying to get on early adoption program for a project I have...

[smackaay]

Well, I still think it'd be neat to have a contest featuring the low end MCU's. they're progammable and dynamic and limited enough to make them interesting as part of a contest.

My thoughts anyways.