Digital Electronics

AOI Circuit Design: Arcade System (2/6/21)

For this project, I needed to work with a team to build a system of circuits with an intended purpose while utilizing the circuit design principles learned throughout the first part of the year.  My team decided to build a series of games that combine into a single arcade system.  Based on how many games the player wins, different prizes are awarded to mimic a ticket system.  For my game, Code Cracker, I wanted to create a design that generates a random code in which the player needs to solve in a set amount of time.  In the concept design, four binary number generators which utilize the 555 timer, resistors, capacitors, and d-flip flops create a hidden code for the player to solve using two input switches and buttons.  To start the game, a button is pressed, scrambling the code.  The player then proceeds to use the designated inputs to solve the code.  Once solved, an LED shines to signify a winning condition.  This project was so massive that I had to break up my physical prototype into two separate parts to demonstrate the key concepts of the design.  The fully functioning design was built on NI Multisim, software that allows me to use my creative potential to virtually create and simulate a circuit.  To implement my game into an actual arcade, I would need to invest in arcade grade components as opposed to the protoboard used and increase the power input to handle all of the components necessary for the circuit to run optimally.  I would increase the amount of number generators and corresponding input switches and buttons to 6 of each in order to make the game more challenging.  I could also add optional progress lights for less experienced players.  One challenge that I faced was simplifying my logic expression.  Due to the fact that there were so many input combinations, it took extremely long to simplify all of the midterms that relate to the number of potential winning scenarios given the random binary number generators.  Scaling up the project to incorporate more user inputs will make the logic simplification exponentially harder.  Finally, because the simplified logic network was so large, keeping track of the wires on the breadboard proved to be a challenge.  The random number generator itself used various components to act as a single unit, so if one part was defective or detached, the entire circuit would refuse to run properly.  Overall, I was extremely proud of the game that I created.  Creating the game was a huge challenge, but I learned immense amounts of invaluable information from the design process.