Another popular
electronic project,
digital dice are a
hoot at any
party.
The common
digital dice project acheives a
pseudo-random effect by using an
astable multivibrator oscillating relavtively rapidly. The timer most often used in this application is the
555. The
555 clocks a counter such as the
CMOS 4017, which cycles through six states (for each
die). These six states correspond to six sets of
LEDs arranged as the
dots on a
die.
When the
device is turned on, the sequencer cycles through the six possible outcomes at a rate too rapid for
human perception. The
user presses a switch which halts the
counter, and a '
random' outcome is obtained.