Binary microcontroller emulates Ternary Computer

[Shaos]

Recently I created first "hard-copy" version of ternary computer 3niti alpha. Actually it is not TRUE ternary computer, but stand-alone emulator of ternary computer based on binary microcontroller (here PIC16F870) with TRUE ternary controls (15 "ternary" slide switches) and TRUE ternary visualization (15 "ternary" red-green LEDs). This quasi ternary computer is named "3niti alpha simu1" and you can see almost all commands and rules of 3niti directly on its board:



Design of this PCB (127 x 95 mm) is "hobbyist-friendly" (only through-hole components are used): in 4 hours you can solder everything in to make it working similarly to 3niti alpha in java

P.S. Schematics, PCB design and all software will be totally open-source under GPLv3

P.P.S. You can buy "3niti alpha simu1" Rev.B (PCB or KIT) here:

https://www.tindie.com/products/TRC/3niti-alpha-simu1/

[Shaos]

Schematics and PCB design for Eagle v5.6.0 with pregenerated Gerber files (Rev.B):

http://nedopc.org/nedopc/16/nedo16v1t-eagle.zip (180K)

Schematics and PCB layout as graphics (images are clickable):

[Shaos]

Today I finished design of "bug free" revision B (all links and images above were changed already):

[Shaos]

Prices for revision B board until end of 2011:
PCB only - $49
Kit (PCB & components) - $89

[Shaos]

Videos about
- board Rev.A:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9axwRv3koZk (test 1: input-output)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI9Cnodw9yc (test 2: ternary clock)
- board Rev.B:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-kbCUtZeN0 (animation)

[Shaos]

A number of boards will be produced soon - if you need one please contact me - ashabarshin at gmail dot com

[Shaos]

Bill of materials:

Code: Select all

component        where to buy            quantity
PIC16F870        jameco.com 246895       1
socket DIP-28    jameco.com 114412       1
tactile switch   jameco.com 153251       1
4-pin header(RA) digikey.com S5479-ND    1
20MHz crystal    mouser.com 815-AB-20-B2 1
v-reg 7805       jameco.com 51262        1
red LED 5mm      mouser.com 78-TLHR5400  1
yellow LED 3mm   mouser.com 604-WP7104LYD 1
power terminal   jameco.com 152347       1
transistor BC557 mouser.com 512-BC557BTF 5
serial mem 24c32 jameco.com 200563       1
socket DIP-8     jameco.com 51626        1
red-green LED CA mouser.com 604-WP59EGW/CA 15
diode 1N914      jameco.com 179207      15
switch SP3T      digikey.com CKN9553-ND or mouser.com 611-OS103012MU2QP1 15
resistor 10K     jameco.com 691104       3
resistor 330     jameco.com 690742       8
resistor 3K3     jameco.com 690988       6
capacitor 22pF   jameco.com 15405        2
capacitor 100uF  jameco.com 29962        1
capacitor 10uF   jameco.com 1946359      1
capacitor 0.1uF  jameco.com 33488        2 (not 33486!) 

[Shaos]

you still can buy it...

[Shaos]

you still can buy it...

Now on Tindie: https://www.tindie.com/products/TRC/3niti-alpha-simu1/

Project on Hackaday: https://hackaday.io/project/19989-3niti-alpha