Tag Archives: reverse engineering

CuVoodoo #034 – IC composite



pinout-based identification:
Some chips have their top marking removed. They can still be identified based on their pinout. To help me with that, I created the Integrated Circuit IDendifier (ICID) database and search engine.

documentation watch on other devices (youtube)

Integrated Circuit IDendifier (ICID) search engine


Published: 2022-03-21 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #030 – audio is killing the music



building a sound level enforcer:
for a private club I built a sound level enforcer. if the DJ is playing music too loud, the device will shut off the audio output. for that I reversed a GM1351 sound level meter to extract the measurements from the LCD interface, send them over Bluetooth to the enforcer, which will cut the power to the main audio amplifier if a set threshold is exceeded for a couple a seconds.

source files source files watch on other devices (youtube)


Published: 2021-01-28 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #029 – quest to dryland



replacing the sensor of a dehumidifier:
the humidity sensor modules of a dehumidifier kept failing, and no replacement is easily available anymore. after reversing its communication protocol, I was able to create my own module.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)


Published: 2020-10-20 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #028 – every electron counts



reversing USB meter protocols for long term low DC power logging:
To figure out the energy budget provided by a solar panel for a weather station, I needed a device capable of measuring low DC voltages and currents over a long period of time. For that I used the USB Power Meter (UPM) Web-U2, but I first had to reverse engineered the BLE and USB communication protocols it provided.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)


Published: 2020-09-17 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #022 – amanuensis slavery



reversing a printer cartridge chip:
How does a printer know when the cartridge is empty? Instead of using a sensor, the toner or ink level information is simply stored in memory and updated after each print. This technique also applies to my old laser-jet printer. I was able to identify the chip on the toner cartridge as a 1-Wire EEPROM with some authentication features. We will see how and what the 1-Wire protocol is. I also re-implemented this chip and was able to pass authentication thanks to a secret key I dumped from another chip, allowing me to fool the printer in thinking the toner cartridge is never empty.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)


Published: 2017-09-15 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #010 – manipulating laundry maids



reversing washing machine payment cards:
To use the washing machines in my apartment complex you need to pay using a rechargeable contact card. I was curious to find out how it works. It turns out it's an I²C EEPROM in a card. By recording the communication between the card and the machine I figured out where and how the credit value is stored. Now I can read and write the value on cards using a Raspberry Pi or simple micro-controller, but also program my own cards to work with the machines.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)

recipe:


Published: 2015-05-07 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #007 – building an infrared cock grenade



Using infra-red LEDs I re-implemented the LaserTag protocol MilesTag v2. With that I made an LaserTag grenade by putting a custom board placed in a cock shell.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)


Published: 2015-02-10 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #006 – connect a bathroom scale to the computer



I found out the weight measured by a Korona KFW-55 bathroom scale is encoded using PWM. Using a micro-controlled I can interpret this value and send it to a computer over USB and bluetooth.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)

about strain gauges:

  • a short video about strain gauges: nerdkits
  • more details about how different strain gauges: stackexchange

similar projects:


Published: 2015-01-29 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #005 – MegaCode gate radio control receiver reverse engineering



MegaCode is a system provided by Linear LLC for controlling gates. This time I looked a the receiver. With my firmware it is possible to efficiently record the individual codes of other remote controls.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)

additional links:


Published: 2014-12-29 by King Kévin

CuVoodoo #004 – MegaCode gate radio control transmitter reverse engineering



MegaCode is a system provided by Linear LLC for controlling gates. Using software defined radio I could record and decode the radio transmission of the remote. And thanks to my firmware this can be re-transmitted. With it is is possible to clone MegaCode remote controls.

documentation source files watch on other devices (youtube)

additional links:


Published: 2014-12-29 by King Kévin