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Posted Jan 17, 2012 at 8:46 am
Figure 1
12 LEDs have been used to create a simple mini lighthouse in which the beam rotates around the LEDs when applied with power.
The project is featuring a full size ICSP connector and a socket DIP version of the PIC12F683 microcontroller where the project is written. The PIC12F683 is an 8-pin device that has 5 GPIO plus the MCLR pin which can be used as an input. The maximum number of LEDs that can be handled by 4 tri-state pins is 12 LEDs.
One GPIO spare is an analog port where a light sensor may be added. This would turn ON the lighthouse when it gets dark. The sensor was made using a normal toner transfer technique where the smallest race was 24 mil although there is a small bit of 16 mil between the pads of the PIC. The trace size can drop down to 16 mil or 12 mil if the type of PIC used is SOIC instead of DIP.
An LM317 regulator was used on the back in order for the circuit to be driven from 12V supply. The LEDs and resistors should have enough capability to interfere with data transfer.
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2 years ago: This is very nice circuit! It looks like the key in Star Gate movie :)