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Current contents:
EUR0 (about $0), some lint and a button.
You can, using all the info on this page make one yourself, except for one thing: the microcontroller firmware. You can get that here. You can use it as you please, I hereby license it under the GPL, but I'd appreciate an e-mail or something with info how you implemented your mat. The firmware includes the source, but it hasn't been cleaned up, so I'm not responsible for your eyes popping out if you take a look at it.
Update: I just found a newer version on my HD which has better auto-calibrating. With this version, you can use inexpensive trim-potmeters instead of 10-turn-potmeters. Also, the AT90S2313 has been superseeded by the ATTiny2313; if you use that you don't have to install the 8MHz crystal anymore. For historical purposes the old software can still be gotten here.
On the computer, the pad behaves like a 4-button analog joystick, the 4 pads each act as a button while the axes don't do anything. You shouldn't use shoes to dance on this mat: first of all you seem to be able to injure yourself much easier if you dance with shoes on, but secondly I'm not sure if a pad can detect your body through your shoe. Dancing with socks only seems to be working fine, though.
This info is free, and works for me. If your version doesn't work, sorry, I'm not responsible for that. If you blow something up or injure yourself dancing, the same thing applies. This is free info and comes without any warrantee.
Last 10 comments Show allgameover: the code is somewhat commented. basically the pad is switched rapidly between high ("sensor"), low ("ground") and disconnected (tri-state, high impedance, Z-mode, whatever you want to call it) and something is counted in the disconnected process i think (not sure entirely) which over a threshhold triggers an active result. jftaylor - no as long as you dont move the mat it's fine without pot adjustments. Sprite: as above i'd love a more detailed description too. and my next question, i notice a lot of crosstalk on wires that are pretty close together. im thinking of changing to sheilded wires and connecting sheild to ground. i know this works for dual-plate designs, but will it work for the single plate design?
In simple english, how does this work. I mean where isthe ground wire? are 2 contacts being pressed to close the circuit?? seems awesome!!!
Looks great! I'm thinking of building my own. How reliable is it? Do you have to change the trimmer settings often?
Sebastian: IIRC I removed that feature because the autocalibration made it sortta unnecessary. The code is quite old, so I can't be too sure, though. realyst: You basically remove the crystal and the 2 capacitors connected to it, leaving the two pins of the attiny unconnected. Be sure to set the fuses to the 8MHz internal oscillator, though.
Could someone make a schematic with the Attiny updates? I'm not confident enough in my non-existent electronic abilities to figure it out myself^^; Or is it just the same but you just remove the crystal from the circuit and run the lead straight through?
In the readme it is listed to short pins 8 and 9. I simulated through the code and searched through it, there appears to be no code or reference to it. am I blind or is this something that was removed in the latest code version?
A great Thank You, from Germany. Build my mat yesterday, first I've had a little problem with the flashing of the tiny2313 then after using avreal it worked. Hurray!!
Can you make that USB rather than gameport?
Great idea. Someone said something about a chip programmer. That should not be a problem. You can make a programmer for the attiny from a parport connector and a few wires....
Hi! I had built your controller with the Attiny 2313 but I had some problems programming fuses with avrdude .. how you programmed it? Now it seems to work but there is some lag between the contact with the ground and the detection of feet ...about 12 second. Is it normal? any way to improve response? thank you in advance Giorg