I've thought about a Star Trek button but not with true communicator capability. My son (Iain) has a ST com badge. I make talking devices using the ISD chips. I thought of using an ISD with canned messages so that you can tap the badge and say eg "Iain to bridge" ... "Beam me up .." etc One could arrange a simple switch to allow choice of the desired message - eg mount badge on a v short shaft which can sway 4 ways (up/down/left/right) giving 4 switch actions. Pressing eg up then down gives a different code than eg just up. This gives 20 codes fairly easily (double press of same posn is valid, press and release with no subsequent press within short period is a code so codes = 4*4 +4 = 20) This gives lots of capability for bi directional dialogue, status reports etc. The beaming up is the part I'm having trouble with. Russell McMahon From: Craig Lee >Ok. Well you know the Star Trek communicator buttons.... > >Well I have a back burner project in prototype stage utilizing >the new transcievers from RFM. These transceivers have a >theoretical maximum range of about 800 meters and are capable >of 115k rates using ASK. > >A pic packets the data and controls the modules power and sleep >controls. Then when the user wants to send a message he taps the >button once for addr 1, twice for addr 2, etc. The message is >detected by the correct individual, and if responded to in less >than two seconds, only one button press is required. If the >channel is occupied or hasn't been silent for 2 seconds, a single >tone is eminated as a channel unavailable indicator. This scheme >allows the active conversation without interruption or listening in. > >The button press after protocol initialization could be replaced >with an audio detection threshold on the microphone circuitry. > >Typical usage: > >Host Remote > >Tap Tap >ack sound addressed sound >"Number One!" <"Number One!"> >--- Tap ><"Yes, Captain"> "Yes, Captain" >Tap --- >"Come to my quarters" <"Come to my quarters"> >--- Tap ><"Why Captain, are "Why Captain, are >you in the mood"> you in the mood" >2 second wait >Tap Tap Tap >ack sound addressed sound >"LaForge, lock onto <"LaForge, lock onto >Riker and beam him Riker and beam him >to the sickbay" to the sickbay"> >--- Tap ><"Captain?"> "Captain?" >Tap --- >"I think Riker's <"I think Riker's >had a few too many had a few too many >high colonics on high colonics on >Rika 3" Rika 3"> >--- Tap ><"Rigghhhht.."> "Rigghhhht.." > 2 second wait Crusher > Tap Tap Tap Tap > ack sound addressed sound > "Riker is on his <"Riker is on his > way, he needs.. way, he needs.. > well.....'breaks'" well....."> > --- Tap > <"Not Again!!!"> "Not Again!!!" > ><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >Sorry.. (;> > >Do you think Paramount would hire me as an episode writer?? > >Craig > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: pic microcontroller discussion list >> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Dave VanHorn >> Sent: May 6, 1999 4:32 PM >> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU >> Subject: Re: Re[2]: Weird, Wacky, Zany PIC applications >> >> >> > > I thought of a fun variation on this - a device with an IR LED that >> > > randomly changes TV channels every few minutes - again, stick it under >> > > a table or whatever in sight of the TV but not the viewer! >> > >> > Heheheh...how about the TV section of your less than favorite department >> store? >> >> >> Just build it into a remote case, so it looks like just another >> button-box. >> >> It would be a good idea also to have it play for a while, then go to sleep >> for a long while, maybe several hours. Use a nice long PN >> generator to make >> a randomized sleep and play time interval. >> >> >> That way it makes finding the troublemaker VERY interesting. Bonus points >> if you can get it on top of some display they haven't messed with >> in a year >> or so. >> >> You could also use the signals from the other remotes to tell you when the >> store is open, and when it's not. >> >