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microprocessorsan introduction
‘Microprocessors’ (also know as ‘microcomputers’) are miniature ’computers’ made up of an electric circuit + inputs + outputs (and some programming to make things happen).
Microprocessors can be simple. For example: A toy flashes a red light if you push a button in a dark room, but plays a melody if you push the button in a bright room.
And microprocessors can be complex. For example: A toy flashes a red light if you type the word “red” on a keyboard, but plays a melody if you type the secret code “Xc776hJm”.
Complex microprocessors usually need some programming. You will learn more about microprocessor programming in the next series:
electronics #3: microprocessor program
Logic modules already have a very basic computer program in them: the program just checks if one thing happens or if another thing happens (and then sends electricity in one direction or in another).
For example: A logic module can be a light sensor (it detects light levels and runs the basic program). If it’s getting But there are also ways to make dark and it doesn’t detect a lot of light, microprocessors interactive without it sends electricity into one path of the having to program lines of code. In circuit; but if it detects a lot of light order to make it do different simple from the sun or a light bulb, then it things at different times, you only need sends electricity down another path of to snap ‘logic modules’ into the the circuit. And things happen microprocessor . depending on what is at the other end of those paths.
If a path has a red light bulb at the other end, then the electricity makes it light up. Or, instead of a light bulb, the other end of the path could have a little speaker and a recorded sound that it can play if it receives electricity. You can try this out with a recordable greeting card by Inventiv Greetings: bit.ly/inventiv-audio-greeting holes for the speaker
The simple microprocessor has 2 logic components: To play your sound: open or close the card (the open card moves a tab that allows electricity to go through to a speaker with the recorded sound and also to a red light; if the card is closed, the tab is moved to block the electricity). To record your sound: press 2 buttons while the tab is in ‘open’ position. It uses 3 replaceable ‘watch batteries’ for electricity.
this flap starts playback
LED light microphone
2 buttons to record
Microprocessors: because they are MICRO, you can put them almost anywhere!
Waytronic sells different microprocessors that show you other ways to create a recordable greeting card. Two good examples of these are one that records your sounds (#1) and one that stores MP3 sound files (#2). #1: The one that records your sounds is similar to the one from Inventiv Greetings (the microprocessor records sounds that are close to it). But it works different: To play: press one button. To record: press another button. It uses 3 replaceable ‘watch batteries’ for electricity. https://amzn.to/3tYYaCK
#2: The one that stores MP3 sound files is a bit more complex. It also has some extra features like a button for volume, and an on-off switch. To play: press one button. To record: record an MP3 sound file somewhere else and save it on a computer, then transfer it from your computer with a micro-USB cable. It uses a rechargeable battery for electricity. (it recharges when you connect the microprocessor to a computer with the micro-USB cable) https://amzn.to/37iuwi6
UNDERSTANDING THE PARTS Often microprocessors have many tiny parts, but the main components are usually easy to tell apart:
LED lights: Small and bright; they light up when something else happens (like when you press a button, or turn something on).
POWER: Depending on how much a microprocessor does, it might just need a couple small watch batteries, or larger AAA, AA or even D batteries. These are easy to spot. But if it needs more power, look for a small power plug instead. The Waytronic #2 uses a micro-USB plug to transfer audio files AND charge the rechargeable battery.
And other components are sometimes labeled so you can tell what they are. For example, the Waytronic #2 has a tiny button labeled ‘vol’ (for ‘volume’) and a switch labeled ‘on off’.
BUTTONS: They are tiny and you can press/click them, and they do something. You can figure out what they do by playing around with them.
speaker
‘play’ button rechargeable battery
micro-USB on/off volume
MICROPROCESSOR DESIGN Microprocessors will need to be put inside objects (greeting cards, toys, clocks etc). Which means that you have to design the shape of those objects so that the microprocessors fit well. Also, sometimes parts of microprocessors will need holes (if the material is thick, speakers need holes so that you can hear them, or microphones need a hole so that they can hear, or light sensors need holes in order to detect the correct levels of light). There are always different options for this type of design. For example, the Inventiv Greetings card could be designed in different ways:
the original design of the Inventiv Greetings card (see the previous page)
some holes could be removed, or moved (you don’t really need a light, and the speaker plays on the other side, and you only need one button to record)