On the right track

After about a month of trying to get an ADC to interface with an 8051 micro-controller, we finally decided to try a different one. We were able to get it working within a day's work.

Currently, we have the new ADC connected to the IR photodetector, with the 8051 passing values to a PC through an RS-232 connection. The PC then converts the values into a CVS file in which we can graph with Excel. We also have new parts that we need to integrate into the system, including a stepper motor with a controller and prisms we intend to use to split the frequencies from a single light source.

Our current working parts list is as follows:

Atmel 8051 Micro-Controller

MAX232 (serial interface chip)

ADC (analog to digital converter)

IR Photodetector

Our soon to be working parts list:

Stepper Motor Driver

Bipolar Stepper Motor

Transistors (4 PNP + 4 NPN)

Glass Prisms