This is an implementation of the Simon Game on an AVR microcontroller.
The original PCB design in KiCad was made by Jan Hermes (MicroCRT) from the electronic workshop (EWS) at the Ruhr-University of Bochum. Thanks!
This design was slightly changed in June 2026.
The SMD components are all given in the KiCad files, but the main parts are listed below.
- ATmega168PB-MNR
- battery holder
- 5 switches
- main switch
- 2x10 pin header
- 10 kOhm pull up resistor for RESET
It should be noted, that one is free on the choice of LEDs, but in order to match the perceived brightness, they have to be matched with appropriate resistors.
A reasonable choice, a trade-off between battery lifetime and LED-brightness is:
| color | resistance |
|---|---|
| red | 1.5 kΩ |
| yellow | 330 Ω |
| green | 330 Ω |
| blue | 1.5 kΩ |
Most components are straight forward, except that the LEDs need to be soldered with the long leg facing the resistor (the round pad), and the short leg facing the push button (the square pad).
In order to program, the following connections have to be made:
| signal | pin |
|---|---|
| MOSI | 7 |
| MISO | 8 |
| SCK | 9 |
| RESET | 18 |
| GND | 19 |
| VTG | 20 |
The pin header is oriented such that pin 1 is at the top right, and pin 20 on the bottom left.
The makefile provides a necessary steps to compile and flash the controller.