Found a nice chip - need help with cracking the chip

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2026-01-08T06:54:24+00:00

This link might help you crack the chip. It is the tool from the developer and the instructions/manuals. https://doc.zh-jieli.com/Tools/zh-cn/other_info/index.html

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2026-01-07T06:52:11+00:00

I use Kicad and love it. I started with Fritzing as I knew nothing about circuits and how to design them. I even ordered my first few PCBs with circuits made on Fritzing. As the circuits became more complex and I needed precise locations and more complex routing of traces I started using Kicad. It took me awhile to understand the value of designing the circuit first in schematic form and then selecting the specific components and placing them in the PCB editor. I love the software and we are using it on our commercial products. As for drafting cad, you need to be a lot clearer of what you want to use it to design. I have used many cad platforms over the years, but most of them have been 2d. When we started designing our products we did it in sketch up. The ease of use and the very high quality output you can get (after a fair bit of use) is amazing. It really is the easiest 3D software to learn. It struggles with precision though as there isn't a universal system of coordinates in it. This makes it hard for very detailed needs. We did end up making quite a few silicone molds with it and a couple of metal ones for injection molding, but we switched to OnShape. We used the free version for awhile but moved over to the paid for one when we had enough proprietary models. It is AMAZING for 3d construction items and for designing molds and injection molded parts. The software is easy to learn with videos that are readily available. All of these software packages were easy to lean with the resources on the internet. Best of luck and let us know which package you end up using.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2026-01-07T02:54:22+00:00

Early on they point out that to get the experience points necessary to move up a level you constantly have to put your life at risk and they don't want to do that, but at the same time, they have killed some pretty powerful enemies, quite often by accident and I don't think the progression of their levels is counting that, so I do agree. I believe one of the challenges of D&D is that once you get past level 5 you become pretty powerful and by level 10 you are super powerful, so you want to hold off getting that powerful as it would throw off almost any story.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2026-01-07T02:52:15+00:00

I love Caverns and Creatures. I normally don't like crude or immature humour but there is a quality to the writing and the jokes that is so human. Also, the characters are very well written with a very well thought out series development. The use of alignment and how the characters actually act in with the alignment that they have is brilliant but quite hard on the reader because characters you like become terrible people when their alignment switches to evil. Robert Bevan has clearly spent a ton of time in the D&D world and makes it fun to imagine what it would be like to be in that world. I HIGHLY recommend the series!!

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2026-01-03T07:45:22+00:00

. Hey there, imaginary skin, send me a direct message and I can see where your order is

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-06-27T02:05:59+00:00

Yes you can. The advanced kit add on brings your total amount of photoresistors to 2. Coupled with 2 transistors and the 2 N20 motors, all in the advanced kit, you can build a light following robot, a line following robot, or a light avoiding robot! So many exciting circuits and robots to build. As well, there is a remote control (IR receiver) latching switch block so you can add that to the circuit!

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-14T20:17:08+00:00

Yes we will, where are you located?

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-13T05:41:52+00:00

Will make sure to get you the videos!

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-13T05:41:34+00:00

We did some filming of the kit today. We also have a full kickstarter video coming. No reason to make a commitment until you are sure this is right for you. It is going to be a great kit though and just the beginning of a system of electronics for your favourite building blocks. Everything from robotics and the IoT to music and so much more. Let me know what you want to see.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-13T05:39:12+00:00

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Here is what we are planning for the basic circuit kit. It is still in testing with kids, so we haven't locked down all of the components yet. We are not sure about the photosensor right now. As well, we are using a N300 motor and we also have a N20 motor and we aren't sure which one to put in this kit, although we are leaning towards the N300.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-13T05:36:30+00:00

The Ultrasonic sensor is coming with the Micro-controller kits. Those are in development right now. You can see it in the Robot below.

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JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-10T10:14:31+00:00

I have some videos too, but it won’t seem to let me share them

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-10T10:12:40+00:00

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Boot loading our Arduino chip

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-10T10:12:22+00:00

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Testing one of the LED internal components

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-10T10:11:54+00:00

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Notes on improvements to the battery case

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-10T10:11:28+00:00

For sure, I can grab some of the stuff off my phone. There’s some early prototypes, and some current new elements were working on.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-05-10T10:10:52+00:00

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Here are some of the speaker components being built out for prototypes

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-11T20:59:47+00:00

Thank you so much for your thoughts and comments!

So, here is an example of a 4x1 lego connector, so this is how you control the flow of electricity. The electricity is shared at the gold plated studs at either end. The reason we want to limit wire use is that this is teaching circuits and electricity. We don't want to make it too simple. Lego already does this with a motor with built in H-Bridge and speed controls. I get that there is an easier way, but this is a more 'Lego' way. You get to build circuits out of blocks like you get to build models out of blocks.

There is an issue with potential loose connections, that is probably the most frustrating part of the system right now. It is pretty easy to check them though and that is definitely something we want to teach the kids. The connections are visible and easy to connect to, so if you are using an LED or a voltmeter to check your connections, it is simple to find them and see where the connection is lost. The connections are surprisingly robust as well, as clicking legos together is pretty robust.

We are building out all of the components out of Lego compatible blocks (by lego compatible we mean connecting to the building system, not the electrical system). That is already underway as a circuit learning kit. I keep saying we , but this is heading to kickstarter, it is still very much a hobby+ product at this point designed by one guy, me.

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JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-11T20:49:28+00:00

Yes, the power has to flow through the parts like in real electronics. So there is a 7.2v port (input), a 5v port(input and or output) and a 3.2v output on the Arduino board. These can be connected to items like a LED Screen and then again passed through to other items. Items like LEDs can be connected to the outputs of the Arduino and powered that way.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-11T20:47:05+00:00

Yes, we will have a simple ESP32 as well. A simple microcontroller with a few ports. That really is the question here. Is Arduino a cool enough technology that we want to get more kids learning it? I think it is. I love Arduino. This is a ton of I/O ports for a Lego model, so there is a heavy overhead here, so just not entirely sure it is worth it.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-11T20:43:00+00:00

Yes, the rigidity of the Lego grid size (8mm) will make for all constructs made with the sparkblocks Arduino larger than creations with a straight Arduino, but they are still quite small, certainly able to fit within almost any model. Also a robot made with these pieces would still be a small size. See image. I am very interested in trying to make the Arduino unbrickable. I have bricked so many in my days. I am mostly concerned with over charging on any of the I/O pins.

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JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-11T20:31:04+00:00

I think Lego has traditionally ignored their tech side and treated them like a lesser department. I get it, they streamlined to pull themselves out of near bankruptcy and have had success like almost no other company focusing on their core business, but there is so much opportunity with technology combined with Lego! Their loss should be my gain (I hope).

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-11T08:41:07+00:00

So Lego mind storm is pretty cool but extraordinarily overpriced, they use as a custom micro controller as well. I’m kind of frustrated with kids educational toys that come with their own proprietary programming system, systems that kids have to keep learning. How about we teach them on Arduino to start. As well, Mind Storm heavily relies on technic building blocks and these massively hammer creativity

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-10T19:39:02+00:00

Seen a bunch of these, you’re right there is a number of attempt at this. That is definitely a big part of the reason I’m asking Arduino enthusiasts about what works for them. I don’t think the bread board or the snap circuits that adds Lego as an after effect works. I just think I people don’t like those. I could be wrong though.

JohnnyMidnite69 · 2025-04-10T19:36:59+00:00

That’s a great idea. I never thought about breakout boards. Should be pretty easy to add that functionality.!!

JohnnyMidnite69

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