A busy board is a toy containing buttons, switches and LEDs to keep children occupied; these components also entertain hardware enthusiasts. [Andy] (or [Uncle Andrew]) built an electronic busy board from scratch for his niece last Christmas. The device, while not technically complex, became a multidisciplinary project combining hardware and software. Although everything could have been implemented in hardware, some tasks were delegated to software. The design explained the decision to limit the PCB to two layers and to multiplex the LEDs. The software uses timers and interrupts to extend the operating time of the PIC18F67K40 on three AAA batteries. The project also stands out for its personal aspect.
Why it matters
This project shows that a toy for children can simultaneously present hardware enthusiasts with a design, circuit development and software challenge. What makes it valuable is the division of tasks between hardware and software instead of solving all the functions solely through circuitry, along with addressing this choice together with the decisions regarding PCB layers and LED usage. The use of timers and interrupts on the PIC18F67K40 shows that power consumption was taken into account from the outset in the design of a device powered by three AAA batteries. However, the post leaves open how this approach performs in terms of ease of use, circuit durability and suitability for children’s interaction; this makes the project a subject for evaluation that is not limited to schematic and code details alone.