Automatic Litterbox Central

I am trying to recreate schematics for the CatGenie's main board. But, I need the number off of the U6 chip. Mine is laquered so bad that I can not read it very well. It looks like e2726 to me. But I can't find a datasheet with that number in it. Anyone got any ideas. (If you're holding the board with the transformer on the bottom-right side, the U6 chip is the one directly to the right of the PIC microcontroller (U2)). Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Yes you are correct that the numbers are in fact e2726 with a 393 above that.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, appreciate the confirmation. Any engineers here know what this chip might be? I've got datasheets for everthing else but this chip.

How many pins? What does it look like? Is there a logo on it ?

It is an SO8 package. It is marked with a 393 on the top of the chip and an e2726 below that. I'm believe it has an STMicroelectronics marking to the left of the e2726. I think the e2726 is the part number but I can't seem to find any datasheets on it. It is connected through a series of resistors and caps to the Cat Sensor and I'm not sure if it's some sort of Op-Amp for the infrared emitter, or what. I can't really map out the entire sub-circuit here, and it probably won't display correctly anyway, but this should give you an idea of how some of the resistors/caps are connected it it. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

+5V
|
| C21
----||--- +5V
| | |
| | |
| | |--------------/\/\/-----
| | | | R32
|-----------------|
| 393 |
| ST e2726 |
|-----------------|
| | | |------------------GND
| | |
| | |------- /\/\/-----
| | R37 |
| | |
|-/\/\--|----------------------|
R51

Sorry about the circuit. I didn't figure it would display correctly.

my guess
http://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/Dat ... 425894.pdf

lm393 made by st electronics

http://www.st.com/stonline/products/lit ... s/2164.htm

Hello, I'm a new CG owner and this idea sounds great.

I don't have much experience with electronics, but I work as a php coder if there's any way I can help.

I believe the most painless way to improve the CatGenie 120 is by using the original processing unit and producing new code for the unit.
If the code is completely rewritten, it will void the warranty of course.
Also, I do not believe the rewriting of the code not including any original code from the product now laws would be broken.
It is my humble opinion that to design, build a replacement control for this unit would be pretty impractical as a solution when the unit is already designed.
It could be "fun".
The limit to I/O is not really a problem.
With some creative coding, most if not all of the short comings of this unit can be overcome.
My complaints were corrected in the first two weeks of ownership.
The first was the bowl gear would lock with the arm bevel gear due to tangential interference and stall EVERY CYCLE.
(excuse me Mr. CAD guy at Petnovations.. don't you use solid modeling?)
The gear problem was corrected with a small modification to the brim.
The granule between the bowl and cover and the gear problem was corrected with some grooves.
My complaint is the hand will leave some solids in the bowl when starting the washing cycle.
The micro can't do any thing if it don't know there is a problem

The schematics are complete and I am now attempting to rewrite the code for the PIC. I was unable to read the original software from the PIC. They either have the CodeProtect fuse blown, or I was doing something wrong. That is probably best. This way, they can't say I stole their code.

I am currently testing functions for each of the motors and sensors. So far, I can control the keypad, leds, bowl and scooper motors. Next, I will be testing the heater/fan function.

Once I am sure that each of my functions are tested throughly, I will be writing the structure of the main software. Any requests or suggestions as to how the software should work would be appreciated.

Keep in mind that I am working within the, rather limited, structure of their hardware. In the future, I may add a daughter board, communicating through the I2C bus for an LCD, WiFi, etc. But, that is a ways off.

Forgot to mention. I have created a SourceForge project for this project. It's address is: http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/opengenie . Once I have an alpha version, it will be released there.

For anybody interested, I will also be releasing the PIC source code; as well as the object code. It is being written in C; using the CCS PIC C compiler.

You won't need the compiler just to reprogram your unit. But, you will need a programmer for the PIC 18F877A in order to download the object code into your unit.

Keep in mind that, since I don't have the original software, once you reprogram your unit, you will be unable to go back.

Thanks for your work on this.

GenieRefiller wrote:The schematics are complete and I am now attempting to rewrite the code for the PIC. I was unable to read the original software from the PIC. They either have the CodeProtect fuse blown, or I was doing something wrong. That is probably best. This way, they can't say I stole their code.

I am currently testing functions for each of the motors and sensors. So far, I can control the keypad, leds, bowl and scooper motors. Next, I will be testing the heater/fan function.

Once I am sure that each of my functions are tested thoroughly, I will be writing the structure of the main software. Any requests or suggestions as to how the software should work would be appreciated.

Keep in mind that I am working within the, rather limited, structure of their hardware. In the future, I may add a daughter board, communicating through the I2C bus for an LCD, WiFi, etc. But, that is a ways off.

Here's my wish list...

1) Motion activated after use. To activate perhaps this could be #1 on the led pad
2) Sanitize wash cycle. This wash cycle would dispense a double or triple dose in the 1st fill. Once filled, the wash would continue for 12 minute so that the solution has a chance to kill the germs. Most germicides take 10 minutes to work.
wash #2 & #3 would be a fill & rinse (no solution) so the granules are left squeaky clean. Perhaps this could be #2 on the led pad
3) Quick wash, no scooping. Perhaps this could be #3 on the led pad
4) Rinse only. Perhaps this could be #4 on the led pad
5) Final drain - Fresh water should be added at the end of the final drain to completely flush out the drain tube. Bowl stop spinning, add water say 1/2 gallon and drain. Then drying begins.
6) Power cycle in the event of error. This would be awesome since most of the time a power cycle clears the error. This way if an error occurred while a user was not home, the cycle would complete.

Thanks!
I look forward to your work!

Hi particularly @KE5AFU , @GenieRefiller and others. Some news to your project ? Thanks.

nelu57 wrote:Hi particularly @KE5AFU , @GenieRefiller and others. Some news to your project ? Thanks.

Currently, I have completed the schematics and tested functions for all of the motors, sensors, and LEDs on the processing unit. I am now working on detecting/debouncing the keyboard and the main structure of the program. I am working on this in my spare time. So, it is going slowly at best.