ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics & Identifying Parts Help?

Drac

Drac

Sr Member
Hi all, just wondered if anyone could possible ID or knows something about this effect on the video at this link:

Star Trek: Voyager (TV) / Illuminating Alien Tricorder

When it opens the screen flashes in a sequence, is this likely to have been taken from another electronic item or made from scratch? If it is made from scratch anyone know what I may need to get this effect on a project I'm working on? Or if it is from something else maybe you know what? :D:thumbsup Thanks for looking :D
 
Last edited:
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

That would use a custom written program to make 8 Segment displays sequence.

I actually had someone make that circuit for me as I wanted to have the Lokiirim Medical scanner from "Body and Soul" which The Doctor uses whilst in Seven's body. It's the same modified body of a Frogger/Space Invaders handheld game but with a custom made circuit inside.
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

renaissance_man said:
That would use a custom written program to make 8 Segment displays sequence.

I actually had someone make that circuit for me as I wanted to have the Lokiirim Medical scanner from "Body and Soul" which The Doctor uses whilst in Seven's body. It's the same modified body of a Frogger/Space Invaders handheld game but with a custom made circuit inside.
Click to expand...

Ah ok, so somehow I need to find someone good with electronics lol, cheers for the reply :thumbsup
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Someone with Arduino or PIC programming skills should be able to help.
I'm afraid I can't get in contact with the guy that made mine a few years ago, his e-mails are bouncing back so it's a bit of a dead end.
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Ah that's a shame, I'll try find someone but I'm not holding out much hope lol

renaissance_man said:
Someone with Arduino or PIC programming skills should be able to help.
I'm afraid I can't get in contact with the guy that made mine a few years ago, his e-mails are bouncing back so it's a bit of a dead end.
Click to expand...
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Mikes right, it is a simple 10 output board using a 4017 IC.
Looks to me like the outward 2 green leds chase for 4 and then the single green chases on the inside.
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

So when I get to the point of having measurements is there anyone here on the forums that could do it for me?

Also any ideas what was used for the screen?
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

I work in electronics and I agree with what has been said. It's probably a 555 timer generating pulses and 4017 decade counter toggling the LEDs. I've use a similar circuit in many of my projects. The parts are very common and simple. I can post a schematic if you want.
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Thanks for the reply, that would be very helpful if you could, at least thatay give me some idea of how to go about it :) cheers P

13doctorwho said:
I work in electronics and I agree with what has been said. It's probably a 555 timer generating pulses and 4017 decade counter toggling the LEDs. I've use a similar circuit in many of my projects. The parts are very common and simple. I can post a schematic if you want.
Click to expand...
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Depending on how much space you have to work with in the door may determine whether you can use the standard
DIP (Dual Inline Pin) IC's (easier to work with) or go the surface mount type). If you use a circuit board to hold all the
components needed, they will need to be soldered. Not being able to see the LEDs them selves, it's hard to say if they
are several bar-graph displays or individual LED's. Since a 4017 is a decade counter (10 outputs), there may be 2 of these
used. The 4017's are most likely cascaded together so that when the first one reaches 10 then the second one starts
finishing the count. They could be set up to count to 16 (8 counts up and 8 counts down) and then reset to 1.
Both would be connected to the same 555 clock pulse. Since it looks as though there are 4 LED's connected together
counting up 8, I am not sure if a 4017 can drive 4 LED's at full brightness or may need a transistor used as an electronic
switch to drive them.
The two LED's connected together counting down 8 may not need the transistor switch. You may also need a micro switch
in the door or magnetic reed switch to turn on the circuit when the door opens.
The batteries could still be in the main body with the wires running through the hinge area.
Hope this helps your progress. Maybe a picture of the space you have to work in.
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

They are several bar-graph displays side ways running on 1 10 count 4047/4017 board. Multiple LED's on one output.
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Unfortunately I have yet to start the building process just yet, I have the bits I need, but my Dremmel gave up the ghost so I'm waiting for a replacement for that before I can start.

I am trying to get as much info together as possible until then, best to be prepared before I start :)

Thank you for the info, seeing as I have no clue when it comes to electronics I'll be best getting this commissioned by someone with the knowledge when I have the measurements together, but the info you have provided is very helpful so thank you. :D

propmaster2000 said:
Depending on how much space you have to work with in the door may determine whether you can use the standard
DIP (Dual Inline Pin) IC's (easier to work with) or go the surface mount type). If you use a circuit board to hold all the
components needed, they will need to be soldered. Not being able to see the LEDs them selves, it's hard to say if they
are several bar-graph displays or individual LED's. Since a 4017 is a decade counter (10 outputs), there may be 2 of these
used. The 4017's are most likely cascaded together so that when the first one reaches 10 then the second one starts
finishing the count. They could be set up to count to 16 (8 counts up and 8 counts down) and then reset to 1.
Both would be connected to the same 555 clock pulse. Since it looks as though there are 4 LED's connected together
counting up 8, I am not sure if a 4017 can drive 4 LED's at full brightness or may need a transistor used as an electronic
switch to drive them.
The two LED's connected together counting down 8 may not need the transistor switch. You may also need a micro switch
in the door or magnetic reed switch to turn on the circuit when the door opens.
The batteries could still be in the main body with the wires running through the hinge area.
Hope this helps your progress. Maybe a picture of the space you have to work in.
Click to expand...

Cheers for the input :D:thumbsup

HMS Mike said:
They are several bar-graph displays side ways running on 1 10 count 4047/4017 board. Multiple LED's on one output.
Click to expand...
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

i'll put it past the electronics specialist at work and see what he says. I'm no longer set up for making chemical etch PCB's but could help you out with an isolation routed PCB if you can supply me with eithier a Techsoft 2D PCB or PCB Wizard file.

Regards

Peanuts
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Hi, unfortunatly I have no idea what any of that is lol but cheers for the offer though :D

Peanuts said:
i'll put it past the electronics specialist at work and see what he says. I'm no longer set up for making chemical etch PCB's but could help you out with an isolation routed PCB if you can supply me with eithier a Techsoft 2D PCB or PCB Wizard file.

Regards

Peanuts
Click to expand...
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Sounds like the 4047 was used as a Monostable Multivibrator (for the clock pulse) instead of the 555 timer IC and that the 4017 will indeed
drive multiple LEDs off each of the 1 - 10 outputs saving space. Also, bar-graphs were used as well. You should now have a pretty good idea
as to what you will need to do to make this modification to the game. Love to see the results when you get it done :)
 
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

To make this work you're going to need to get a board made probably with surface mount components. It can be made by a company like PCB Express for a reasonable price, but you'll need someone to design and layout the board if you don't have those skills. It won't be cheap.

I wouldn't even waste my time wire wrapping through hole parts on perfboard. It would be much larger, less reliable and very labor intensive (and tricky to fix if it breaks).
 
Last edited:
Re: ST Voyager Alien Tricorder Electronics Help?

Thanks for the replies, I didn't think something that looks so simple from the outside could be expensive or complicated......well to me anyways lol. By simple I mean, from the outside when you see it flashing it isn't exactly spectacular looking, :D



propmaster2000 said:
Sounds like the 4047 was used as a Monostable Multivibrator (for the clock pulse) instead of the 555 timer IC and that the 4017 will indeed
drive multiple LEDs off each of the 1 - 10 outputs saving space. Also, bar-graphs were used as well. You should now have a pretty good idea
as to what you will need to do to make this modification to the game. Love to see the results when you get it done :)
Click to expand...

13doctorwho said:
To male this work you're going to need to get a board made probably with surface mount components. It can be made by a company like PCB Express for a reasonable price, but you'll need someone to design and layout the board if you don't have those skills. It won't be cheap.

I wouldn't even waste my time wire wrapping through hole parts on perfboard. It would be much larger, less reliable and very labor intensive (and tricky to fix if it breaks).
Click to expand...
 
This thread is more than 10 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.

Similar threads

ReelClones
Electronics experts please help! - Mark X Tricorder repair/battery replacement
Replies
7
Views
243
ReelClones
ReelClones
MCP935
Star Trek TR-580 Resin Tricorder
Replies
6
Views
1,179
publiusr
P
Jastor00
Star Trek: TNG MkVII Science Tricorder Build
2
Replies
24
Views
2,191
Jastor00
Jastor00
Tripper
Star Trek Voyager Compression Phaser Rifle
Replies
14
Views
1,578
Zombie Killer
Zombie Killer
13doctorwho
Mark VII Tricorder (Stunt)
Replies
0
Views
344
13doctorwho
13doctorwho
Back
Top