Layton Bit Stripper: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 04:55, 13 August 2022

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.

As of August 10, 2022, the Layton Bit Stripper is temporarily unavailable for sale due to unavailable parts resulting from the ongoing semiconductor shortage.

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

There are five public software revisions for the Layton Bit Stripper:

Bitstripper V1.0 - Initial release, lacking movement diagnostic external button support, only used in experimental Rev A boards and the first five Rev. A.1 boards
Bitstripper V1.1 - Identical to previous release with the addition of diagnostic button support
Bitstripper V1.1B - Fixed a previously undetected bug which caused outputs to be updated 600 microseconds later than they should be
Bitstripper V1.1C - Increased the movement diagnostic cycle time to allow longer stroke movements to fully extend and retract
Bitstripper V1.1D - Fixed a previously undetected bug which erroneously mapped Dook’s right head turn movement to his right elbow bit. Current release as of August 10, 2022.

There are two custom code versions designed for special applications:

Dook2.0 V1.1D - Designed to control second generation Dook. Code is identical to Bitstripper V1.1D, but DIP switch settings have been modified. DIP switch setting 00001 sets the bit stripper to output bits for valves 1-16 and DIP switch setting 00010 sets the bit stripper to output bits for valves 17-32. All other DIP switch settings disable output bits. Identical or very similar movements from first generation Dook are mapped to their corresponding movements on second generation Dook for maximum backwards compatibility. New movements are mapped to previously unusued bits in the data stream.
Shavers V1.1D - Designed to operate the Four Little Shavers, owned by Volo Auto Museum as of August 10, 2022. Based on Bitstripper 1.1D but has shorter data frames than standard Pianocorder data with only 24 control bits and a different synchronization system. When using movement diagnostic buttons, Curly’s right elbow and right arm twist always actuate at the same time because of the potential of his mirror hitting and damaging his nose if the arm is kept retracted when the arm twist actuates.

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

Character select DIP switch settings

Character
Switch setting	Name	# of bits
00000	Disable bitstripper	0
00001	Rolfe and Earl	22
00010	Dook	17
00011	Fatz	16
00100	Organ and Sign	14
00101	Spots	8
00110	Curtains	6
00111	Spots and Curtains	14
01000	Props	8
01001	Beach Bear	16
01010	Looney Bird	6
01011	Mitzi	19
01100	Billy Bob	20
01101	Floods	12
01110	Specials	3
01111	Stage lights	19
1xxxx	Future use	-

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 There are five public software revisions for the Layton Bit Stripper:
-* '''Bitstripper 1.0''' - Initial release, lacking movement diagnostic external button support, only used in experimental Rev A boards and the first five Rev. A.1 boards
+* '''Bitstripper V1.0''' - Initial release, lacking movement diagnostic external button support, only used in experimental Rev A boards and the first five Rev. A.1 boards
-* '''Bitstripper 1.1''' - Identical to previous release with the addition of diagnostic button support
+* '''Bitstripper V1.1''' - Identical to previous release with the addition of diagnostic button support
-* '''Bitstripper 1.1B''' - Fixed a previously undetected bug which caused outputs to be updated 600 microseconds later than they should be
+* '''Bitstripper V1.1B''' - Fixed a previously undetected bug which caused outputs to be updated 600 microseconds later than they should be
-* '''Bitstripper 1.1C''' - Increased the movement diagnostic cycle time to allow longer stroke movements to fully extend and retract
+* '''Bitstripper V1.1C''' - Increased the movement diagnostic cycle time to allow longer stroke movements to fully extend and retract
-* '''Bitstripper 1.1D''' - Fixed a previously undetected bug which erroneously mapped Dook’s right head turn movement to his right elbow bit. Current release as of August 10, 2022.
+* '''Bitstripper V1.1D''' - Fixed a previously undetected bug which erroneously mapped Dook’s right head turn movement to his right elbow bit. Current release as of August 10, 2022.
 There are two custom code versions designed for special applications:
+* '''Dook2.0 V1.1D''' - Designed to control second generation Dook. Code is identical to Bitstripper V1.1D, but DIP switch settings have been modified. DIP switch setting 00001 sets the bit stripper to output bits for valves 1-16 and DIP switch setting 00010 sets the bit stripper to output bits for valves 17-32. All other DIP switch settings disable output bits. Identical or very similar movements from first generation Dook are mapped to their corresponding movements on second generation Dook for maximum backwards compatibility. New movements are mapped to previously unusued bits in the data stream.
-* '''TODO:''' Second generation Dook custom code information
-* '''Shavers 1.1D''' - Designed to operate the Four Little Shavers, owned by Volo Auto Museum as of August 10, 2022. Based on Bitstripper 1.1D but has shorter data frames than standard Pianocorder data with only 24 control bits and a different synchronization system. When using movement diagnostic buttons, Curly’s right elbow and right arm twist always actuate at the same time because of the potential of his mirror hitting and damaging his nose if the arm is kept retracted when the arm twist actuates.
+* '''Shavers V1.1D''' - Designed to operate the Four Little Shavers, owned by Volo Auto Museum as of August 10, 2022. Based on Bitstripper 1.1D but has shorter data frames than standard Pianocorder data with only 24 control bits and a different synchronization system. When using movement diagnostic buttons, Curly’s right elbow and right arm twist always actuate at the same time because of the potential of his mirror hitting and damaging his nose if the arm is kept retracted when the arm twist actuates.
 == I/O ==