Challenge for 2025: Transforming the Familiar 555 Circuit, Not the Way It's Traditionally Perceived
The world of electronics is abuzz with excitement as the deadline for the One Hertz Challenge draws near, on August 19th. Amidst the flurry of anticipation, a unique and intriguing project has emerged, showcasing the creative potential of a custom-designed 555 timer ASIC on Tiny Tapeout.
Tiny Tapeout, a community-driven platform for designing and manufacturing compact chips on an affordable multi-project wafer, has been making waves in the electronics community. Small ASIC designs, including 555 timer variations, are open source and verified in silicon, offering enthusiasts an accessible route for building simple to moderately complex ASIC designs.
One such enthusiast is Matt Venn, the brain behind Tiny Tapeout. Venn has submitted a project for the One Hertz Challenge that uses a 555 timer, a departure from the standard components found on Digikey's shelves. His project, Open Source 1Hz Blinky, is an open source endeavour that uses a 555 timer implemented on a tiny sliver of Tiny Tapeout 6.
Contrary to expectations, Open Source 1Hz Blinky is not just a blinking LED. Instead, it is a demonstration of Venn's innovative approach to the project - going small, as opposed to going big. The project, while not qualifying for the Timelord category due to the output frequency, is expected to be a strong competitor for other 555-based projects.
The project may not deliver exactly one hertz, but it does blink a light with a 555 timer, offering a unique twist on a classic electronics project. The 555 timer used in the project is not a standard one, thanks to its Tiny Tapeout implementation designed by Vincent Fusco.
For those interested in exploring other unique designs built around the 555 timer ASIC within multi-project chips, the Tiny Tapeout website, with its upgraded chip viewer, is the best resource. The platform is known for enabling enthusiasts to build simple to moderately complex ASIC designs such as oscillators, counters, and timing circuits based on 555 timer principles, modified or extended with custom features suitable for education and experimentation.
In short, Tiny Tapeout offers an accessible route for many creative, open-source ASIC projects, including but not limited to custom 555 timer variants, mixed-function chiplets, and timing circuits, all verified in silicon and visually analyzable via the platform’s new tools. As the One Hertz Challenge approaches, the electronics community eagerly awaits the unveiling of more innovative projects that will push the boundaries of what is possible with custom ASIC designs.
Electronics enthusiasts can utilize Tiny Tapeout, an open-source platform for designing and manufacturing compact chips, to build custom 555 timer ASIC designs for their gadgets and projects. Matt Venn, the mastermind behind Tiny Tapeout, has submitted an open-source project for the One Hertz Challenge, which demonstrates the creative potential of a 555 timer ASIC on Tiny Tapeout 6, offering a unique twist on a classic electronics project.
