Layton Bit Stripper

The Layton Bit Stripper is an animatronic character controller designed by Layton Sanders in 2018 and available for purchase from Creative Engineering beginning in 2019. The controller accepts standard Pianocorder format biphase data as input and can drive any Rock-afire Explosion character, with data passthrough to controllers for additional characters. A movement test feature is also available. 30 LEDs show power, per-channel output status, and data sync.

The Layton Bit Stripper is comprised of a custom PCB and off-the-shelf power supplies and outer enclosure.

PCB Revisions
Three revisions of the Layton Bit Stripper exist:
 * Rev. A - Green PCB, no bypass switch, no expansion port, unpopulated 5V regulator footprint, no external buttons, individual LED resistors, different output drivers than future revisions, never publicly revealed due to functional problems
 * Rev. A.1 - Green PCB, no bypass switch, no expansion port, unpopulated 5V regulator footprint, no external buttons, individual LED resistors
 * Rev. A.2 - Red PCB, waveshaper bypass switch, 12-pin expansion port footprint, requires both 5V and 24V supplies, two external buttons, resistor networks for LEDs

Software Revisions
TODO: Add software revision information

I/O

 * Permanently-attached AC power cord
 * Data input (RCA jack)
 * Data output (RCA jack)
 * Character output connector (TODO: centronics something-or-other)
 * 2x momentary pushbuttons (bit test select, bit pulse)
 * 30 LEDs (arranged in 3x 10-LED bargraphs)
 * 5 DIP switch (character select)
 * 12-pin expansion footprint

Hardware breakdown

 * ATmega328 MCU (presumed, covered by sticker)
 * 3x 74HC595 (serial to parallel)
 * 6x SN75437 (output drivers)
 * TODO: unknown audio interface components