SMALL CIRCUITSCOLLECTION

Electronic Die 028

L. de Hoo R1
100k

IC1.A IC1.B IC1.C

R2 D1
The simplicity of a traditional die 1
3
5
4
8
10
2 & 4k7 6 & 9 &
makes it exceptionally difficult to cre- +9V 1N4148
C1 +9V
ate a fully equivalent electronic version,
22n R5 R3 R4 IC1.D 13 12
if only because an electronic version IC1 = 4093
C2

100k

560k
4k7
14
requires a power supply and a collec- 3x 22µ IC1
&
1N4148
tion of electronic components that D4 D3 D2
7 11

R6
occupy a much larger volume than a +9V
+9V
normal die. This article describes an 100k IC3
electronic die that can be built using 1 +9V IC2
C3
15
LD1
normal components or SMDs as 16 16 9
1.2+/1.2-
1
BCD/7SEG D350PK 5
B/D C9 9 7 a dp
desired, and which comes very close to IC2 IC4 10
M2
7
EN [T]
a10
10 6
8 8 5 6 b10 b
having the same format as a traditional G1 N10
c10
11 4
c
12 2
die in the latter case. 4
3D
6 5
9D,1
d10 d
13 1
12 11 3 e10 e
Despite its simplicity, this electronic die J1
9D,2
f10
15 9
13 14 2 f
S1 9D,4
incorporates several interesting fea- open: 1 ... 6 3 2 4 g10
14 10
g
CC CC
9D,8
tures. For instance, the range of ‘spots’ closed: 0 ... 9
1.2CT=15
3 8
ROLL 7
can be increased from 1–6 to 0–9 using 1.2CT=0
4543 R8 R7

220Ω

220Ω
4029
a jumper, and it has standby function
that disables the display approximately
8 seconds after the die has been 030002 - 11

‘thrown’, in order to save energy. The

electronic die also uses energy efficiently by driving the dis-
play in pulsed mode. As a result of the latter two features, the
current consumption of the circuit is approximately 25 mA in
use and 12 mA in standby. This means that it can easily be
powered by a 9-V battery. The circuit consists of the following
parts: a free-running oscillator (IC1a), additional logic for dri-
ving the display (IC1c & IC1d), a timer (IC1b), a counter (IC3)
and a display decoder (IC2).
The oscillator is very simple. Its frequency, which is deter-
mined by R1 and C1, is approximately 225 Hz, with a duty
cycle of around 50–60 percent. The signal from the oscillator
acts as a clock signal for the counter (via R2) and a blanking
signal for the display decoder (via IC1d). However, the counter
will not count as long as the ‘throw’ switch (S1) remains
closed, since the clock input of IC3 is grounded by S1. The
blanking input of the display decoder is driven by a pulse
waveform, so the display is in principle illuminated only
around 50 percent of the time, but it appears to be constantly
illuminated due to the high clock frequency.
The standby mode works as follows. As long as there is a sig-
nal on the clock input of the counter (S1 pressed), the output of
gate IC1b is low and the display is enabled. If S1 is released, the
counter stops and a number will be shown on the display. How-
ever, the clock pulses will have charged C2 via D1, and C2 will
slowly discharge via R4. After approximately 8 seconds, the out-
put of gate IC1b will go high, causing the display to be blanked.
The design of the counter is relatively simple. It is wired as an
up counter by connecting the U/D pin to VCC. The preset
inputs (pins 4, 12, 13 and 3) are configured to binary ‘0001’,
and the counter normally has a counting range of 0–9 (pin 9
connected to ground). Diodes D2, D3 and D4, in combination
with resistor R5, act as a logic AND gate, so if the value of the
counter is greater than 6, the preset value of 1 is latched into
the counter and it starts to count again from 1 to 6. This only
happens if jumper J1 is open. If it is closed, the preset pulse
on PREN is suppressed and the counter range is 0–9.
The A, B, C and D inputs of the decoder IC (IC2) are driven
directly by the counter. The series resistors normally used for
the individual segments of the display are instead placed in
the common-cathode lead (R7 & R8). This has the advantage
of allowing the number of resistors to be reduced, although it
has the drawback that the brightness of the display depends
on the displayed number. If the segment current is sufficiently
large, (light) saturation occurs and this brightness variation is
no longer noticeable. The Blank input (BL) controls whether
the display is enabled.
If you choose to build this circuit using SMD technology, that
will not affect the schematic diagram, but it will naturally
affect the choice of components. In this case, SMD components
must be used for the resistors and C1, the diodes must be
replaced by BAS32 types, and BT versions of ICs IC1–IC3 must
be used instead of conventional types. An SMD version of C2
was not used in the prototype, since SMD electrolytic capaci-
tors are expensive, and normally they are only sold in lots of
10, just like other passive components. It is also recommended
to use a socket for the display of the SMD version of the elec-
tronic die, to allow the space under the display to also be used
and the dimensions of the circuit board to be further reduced.
Any desired DC power source providing a voltage of 5 to 15 V
can be used as a power supply. Due to the low current con-
sumption of the circuit, a 9-V battery will last quite a long time.
(030002-1)

7-8/2003 Elektor Electronics