Hi,
I have just started a KickStarter project for PULS: Low cost programmable oscillator and pulse generator chips. The link to the project is
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stathera/programmable-oscillator-and-pulse-generatorExcerpts from the Kickstarter site:
Motivation
Have you ever needed an oscillator or one-shot at some reasonably low frequency (e.g. < 1MHz or > 1ms) and modest accuracy? Of course, we nearly all have. Usually, three options present themselves: (a) 555 timer chips or relatives (b) relatively expensive integrated circuits (e.g. LT-6995) (c) micro-controllers with custom code.
While these are all valid solutions, they are hindered by drawbacks. For example, a 555 timer is low cost but it usually needs two external resistors and capacitors. Also for very low frequencies (e.g. < 1mHz) those capacitors can be big and clunky.
Integrated circuits work well and have a small footprint but they are expensive (e.g. LT-6995 is ~$3.50 in QTY:1 and ~$2 in QTY:500) and even still require an external resistor and you need different chips if you want a one shot versus an oscillator.
Micro-controllers work well and they have a small footprint and usually don’t require external timing resistors/capacitors but you have to write custom machine language code for each application—especially if you want accuracy. Even worse, if your specs change, you have to rip the code up and write-it a new.
Basic Description
We have created a new option which combines the best of all options. The PULS-1 system allows you to create either (a) an oscillator with adjustable duty cycle and frequency from ~1mHz to ~500kHz or (b) a pulse generator with re-triggerable and delay options with delays/pulse widths from more than 10 days down to 1 micro-second.
You plug a DIP-8 or SOT23-6 chip into the programming socket and select the specifications using the easy-to-use software. The PULS-1 system programs a PIC-10F-200 micro-controller to automatically implement the desired function. The system covers VDD from 2V-5.5V and temperature from 0 to 50degC and can drive loads up to 3mA and sink loads up to 8mA. The basic accuracy is +/- 0.2% at VDD=5V and T = 25degC and +/- 1% over 0-50 degC.
Please watch the video for example operation and cases on the kickstarter site.
I would appreciate if you could support my project on kickstarter. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to let me know.
Brian @ Stathera, LLC