Start here with Bigclive's video: • Flappy solar ornaments... Master's Thesis: liu.diva-portal.org/smash/get... Blog here: electronupdate.blogspot.com/2...
That's hugely complex compared to what I expected. I was thinking it was going to be a simple transistor array like the earliest units. I wonder if it does anything clever like changing the frequency of the pulses to try and hit resonance at start up.
Don't think it was actually meant for floppy flowers, more for clock pendulums, as swing clocks are likely a bigger market. 2 modules in the clock, and 3 cells, one with a standard quartz clock module and mechanism, driven with a single AA cell, to do the clock, like every other clock mech. The second, running off 2 AA cells in series, drives the pendulum to emulate an old fashioned pendulum clock. That it will run off solar power was probably an accident of design, the original needed a low power use, and the designer needed to have undervoltage lockout in there, so the 2 combine to make solar operation feasible, and the unit will start up reliably as well, as it generates a pulse on start up which kicks the magnet a little, and then builds up in amplitude of oscillation till it is limited by the air resistance of the pendulum.
This chip can also be used in those Chinese waving cats. I think they are meant to bring good luck. There’s probably a bigger market for those than the flowers. But only in China, as western culture doesn’t really care for those kitschy golden cats.
Thanks very interesting, I subscribed a long time ago, and Big Clive has just done another video ""Scoping a perpetual motion ornament" and one of the comments linked back here, I was glad I took the time to come and see even though I am bit late. All the best.
Absolutely fascinating. Your 3 cent microprocessor vid got you an instant subscriber. You lead me to think that there may be, if not now, soon, a custom IC making service, just like custom PCB making services.
I recognized that floppy flower title from @bigclivedotcom. Great video and I enjoyed your use of drawings and more detailed comments on the die. Thanks!
Interesting Video, I always love these in depth videos about semiconductors... One question thou: wouldn't one of the power optimized pads go to the coil and not ground since there won't be a lot of current flow from V+ to GND thru the chip.
Nice work there! Just wondering, if you have seen the Oregon Trail handheld teardown before? (hackaday.com/2018/03/14/teardown-the-oregon-trail-handheld/) Many have wondered what is inside the blob.. which a few speculated it is some form of 6502 / NES on a chip? But the graphics were suggesting it was a DOS version? Would you be interested in finding out what's inside?
The operation is very similar to an art form from the '90s called BEAM electronics. This chip would be described as a Solar Engine, and is equivalent to about 1 neuron. The fact that it has feedback, clocking, and instructions makes it much more powerful in robotics, and these circuits are very versatile. I wouldn't be surprised if these chips were mass produced because they have military/spooky applications, and some were just made into toys like this for other reasons.
pizzablender I was thinking to cut costs further (these sell at dollar stores commonly) to reduce the function and have either no IC or a simpler commodity 555. It may not be critical that it’s in sync. My experience with these is your have to provide the initial momentum, they cannot start on their own.
I think these ASICs are as cheap than a 555. The real cost is the initial development. After that is just a few pennies per chip. Placing them on the board might even be more expensive than the chip itself. A 555 based solution also needs a few extra components, while this asic only needs a capacitor, that’s handsoldered along with the solar panel leads and the coil. So you can skip the entire pick and place step. Using a 555 will most likely be more expensive.
That's hugely complex compared to what I expected. I was thinking it was going to be a simple transistor array like the earliest units. I wonder if it does anything clever like changing the frequency of the pulses to try and hit resonance at start up.
Don't think it was actually meant for floppy flowers, more for clock pendulums, as swing clocks are likely a bigger market. 2 modules in the clock, and 3 cells, one with a standard quartz clock module and mechanism, driven with a single AA cell, to do the clock, like every other clock mech. The second, running off 2 AA cells in series, drives the pendulum to emulate an old fashioned pendulum clock. That it will run off solar power was probably an accident of design, the original needed a low power use, and the designer needed to have undervoltage lockout in there, so the 2 combine to make solar operation feasible, and the unit will start up reliably as well, as it generates a pulse on start up which kicks the magnet a little, and then builds up in amplitude of oscillation till it is limited by the air resistance of the pendulum.
I always click on your videos the moment I see them. They make my day notably better. Thank you for doing what you're doing.
This chip can also be used in those Chinese waving cats.
I think they are meant to bring good luck.
There’s probably a bigger market for those than the flowers. But only in China, as western culture doesn’t really care for those kitschy golden cats.
Big Clive's newest video mentioned this teardown, nice video, very clear explanation. Thanks!
Thanks very interesting, I subscribed a long time ago, and Big Clive has just done another video ""Scoping a perpetual motion ornament" and one of the comments linked back here, I was glad I took the time to come and see even though I am bit late.
All the best.
Absolutely fascinating. Your 3 cent microprocessor vid got you an instant subscriber. You lead me to think that there may be, if not now, soon, a custom IC making service, just like custom PCB making services.
Two of my favourite youtubers! Thanks for the die analysis
I was hoping that you might see Big Clive's video and get curious.
Nice explanation of the integrated RC oscillator and the link to thesis
Could you do a tear-down of a cd4017 counter IC so we can see the justification for it's almost random pin-out?
Very interesting to see under the covers. I watched Clive take his apart and it blends well with your COB dissection.
I recognized that floppy flower title from @bigclivedotcom. Great video and I enjoyed your use of drawings and more detailed comments on the die. Thanks!
No need to mention Clive, cuz that video pops first in recommendations )
Love it!
You rock. Just thought I'd pass that along.
👍
Interesting Video, I always love these in depth videos about semiconductors... One question thou: wouldn't one of the power optimized pads go to the coil and not ground since there won't be a lot of current flow from V+ to GND thru the chip.
Good point. You can see that the lower vias are connected to the big structure next to it.
That was amazing I just wanted a simple circuit.
How many milliamperes does it use. Thank you for sharing
Could you do a video on an stm32f103 ?
Nice work there! Just wondering, if you have seen the Oregon Trail handheld teardown before? (hackaday.com/2018/03/14/teardown-the-oregon-trail-handheld/) Many have wondered what is inside the blob.. which a few speculated it is some form of 6502 / NES on a chip? But the graphics were suggesting it was a DOS version? Would you be interested in finding out what's inside?
Next time do a detailed video and take chip apart into its individual components.
The operation is very similar to an art form from the '90s called BEAM electronics. This chip would be described as a Solar Engine, and is equivalent to about 1 neuron. The fact that it has feedback, clocking, and instructions makes it much more powerful in robotics, and these circuits are very versatile. I wouldn't be surprised if these chips were mass produced because they have military/spooky applications, and some were just made into toys like this for other reasons.
Seems like a 555 timer would be easier and cheaper then this asic like chip or maybe even connecting the solar cell directly to the coil.
In needs to sense back-EMF to stay in sync. And it has a startup mechanism to start the movement from idle.
pizzablender I was thinking to cut costs further (these sell at dollar stores commonly) to reduce the function and have either no IC or a simpler commodity 555. It may not be critical that it’s in sync. My experience with these is your have to provide the initial momentum, they cannot start on their own.
I think these ASICs are as cheap than a 555. The real cost is the initial development. After that is just a few pennies per chip. Placing them on the board might even be more expensive than the chip itself.
A 555 based solution also needs a few extra components, while this asic only needs a capacitor, that’s handsoldered along with the solar panel leads and the coil.
So you can skip the entire pick and place step.
Using a 555 will most likely be more expensive.