Silicon Chip – July 2019

112 Silicon chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au

Coming up in Silicon chip

4DOF Motorised Chair for Simulators

Motorised chairs can be used to increase realism in racing and flight simula­

tors, but they’re expensive. This article shows you how to build your own from

scratch, including a Micromite­based motor controller interface which connects

to your PC via USB and is compatible with a wide range of software.

Fluid logic and microfluidics

While most digital and analog logic is electronic, similar systems have been

built using fluid (liquid or gas) flows. You may be surprised to find out how many

devices have been built and how advanced they can be. Dr David Maddison

looks at the history and state­of­the­art in fluid logic, also known as fluidics.

Micromite LCD BackPack V3

This new Micromite BackPack is still cheap and easy to build, but now sup­

ports larger touchscreens, plus has onboard provision for a real­time clock,

temperature, pressure and humidity sensors, an infrared receiver and even

more useful functions!

Quantum Cellular Automata

It is becoming harder to design faster CMOS­based chips, but this new tech­

nology could offer the solution. While QCA chips have not yet been manufac­

tured, they could potentially operate at very high speeds (into the terahertz)

and with even higher density than the latest CMOS technology.

Rechargeable LED bicycle light

This device uses a switchmode converter to drive a string of LEDs from a re­

chargeable lithium­ion battery pack. It has multiple light modes and automati­

cally reduces the LED current to prevent overheating.

Six-way Stereo Audio Input Selector

This can be built as a standalone unit, to switch between six different stereo au­

dio sources with an infrared remote or via illuminated front panel pushbuttons.

Or it can be integrated into our ultra­low­noise remote controlled preamp from

the March and April issues, expanding the number of inputs from three to six.

Note: these features are planned or are in preparation and should appear

within the next few issues of Silicon chip.

The August 2019 issue is due on sale in newsagents by Thursday, July 25th.

Expect postal delivery of subscription copies in Australia between July 24th

and August 8th.

Advertising Index

AEE Electronex ........................ 11

Altronics...............................82­85

Ampec Technologies ................ 23

Control Devices .......................... 7

Cypher Research Labs............... 6

Dave Thompson ..................... 111

Digi­Key Electronics ................... 3

Electrolube ............................... 10

Embedded Logic Solutions......... 8

Emona ....................................IBC

Hare & Forbes ......................OBC

Jaycar ...........................IFC,53­60

Keith Rippon Kit Assembly ..... 111

LD Electronics ........................ 111

LEACH Co Ltd .......................... 39

LEDsales ................................ 111

Microchip Technology ................. 5

Ocean Controls ........................ 13

PCB Designs .......................... 111

PicoKit ...................................... 71

Silicon chip Shop...........104­105

Silicon chip Subscriptions ...... 52

The Loudspeaker Kit.com ........ 12

Triple Point Calibrations .............. 6

Tronixlabs ............................... 111

Vintage Radio Repairs ........... 111

Wagner Electronics .................. 67

Wiltronics Research ................... 4

WARNING!

SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such

projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring

should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles.

When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains

AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high

voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages

should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine.

Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the

infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any

liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws.

Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the

Competition & Consumer Act 2010 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable.