Tommi of Mikropure documents his experience building the free Bus Pirate v3.8 PCB. The Bus Pirate is an open source hacker multi-tool that talks to electronic stuff. If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the free […]
Author Archives: DP
Audible frequency chirp sonar with the Stellaris Launchpad
Jason Bowling writes: Over the last year I’ve been working towards an underwater sonar system for ROVs and surface boats. In order to learn the basic signal processing required to detect the echoes, I initially got a simple sonar working in air with a desktop conferencing USB speaker/mic running on Windows. A writeup, including source, […]
Logic Sniffer back in stock at Seeed
The Logic Sniffer is back in stock at Seeed Studio. The Open Bench Logic Sniffer is an open source logic analyzer. It’s designed to support the SUMP logic analyzer software at the lowest possible cost. Get a Logic Sniffer for $50, with free worldwide shipping.
Electric imp-controlled 120VAC relay switcher
An electric imp-controlled 120Vac relay switcher project by Dillon Nichols: I updated my old GitHub project, Elec-Imp-Relay, to include my new code for the web app and electric imp files. The main index.html page is very basic and uses Google’s Web Starter Kit as the basis. Lines 9-13 allow the web app to be added to the […]
#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs
Every Tuesday we give away two coupons for the free PCB drawer via Twitter. This post was announced on Twitter, and in 24 hours we’ll send coupon codes to two random retweeters. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week: Hate Twitter and Facebook? Free PCB Sunday is the classic PCB giveaway. Catch […]
DIY dynamic electronic load
A DIY dynamic electronic load by Jay_Diddy_B over at EEVblog Forum: The dynamic load steps the load current so that the transient response of the power supply being tested can be observed. Features: 0-5A maximum continuous current 0-5A pulsed current at 330Hz Via Hacked Gadgets.
Hacker Camp Shenzhen vol 4: 182 degrees open for registration!
Hacker Camp Shenzhen volume 4: “182 degrees” is on! Join us from Thursday April 1 to Saturday April 3, 2015 for fun, food and 3 solid days of electronics tours in Shenzhen China and beyond. Tickets are available now. Come to the world’s electronics capital and experience Shenzhen like a local hacker. Tour the famous […]
3D printable robot arm
Andreas Hölldorfer of ChaozLabs has written up documentation on his 3D printable robot arm: It is inspired by well known industrial robots but 3D printed. The overall goal is to build a nearly entirely printable and cheap robot arm with at least 5 degrees of freedom. Check out the videos after the break.
USB interfacing for AVR microcontrollers
Ralph Doncaster writes: Since the release of V-USB, dozens of projects have been made that allow an AVR to communicate over USB. USB data signals are supposed to be in the range of 2.8 to 3.6V, so there are two recommended ways to have an AVR output the correct voltage. One is to supply the […]
Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB
We go through a lot of prototype PCBs, and end up with lots of extras that we’ll never use. Every Sunday we give away a few PCBs from one of our past or future projects, or a related prototype. Our PCBs are made through Seeed Studio’s Fusion board service. This week two random commenters will […]
App note: EMI and ESD filtering of audio interconnects
App note(PDF) on NUF2441FC EMI and ESD filter chip from ON Semiconductor. The continued ever-increasing integration of more functions into personal electronic devices such as cell phones has made electronics manufacturers demand more integrated functions to reduce part count and save board space. Cell phone manufacturers have also driven component manufacturers to produce more efficient […]
App note: Analog switches solve many problems within a cell phone
Applications(PDF) of analog switches inside a cell phone by ON Semiconductor. Analog switches have been available since the 60’s as a component for systems designers. With the advent of ASICs and ASSPs, many designers have not experienced the real value of these devices. Today’s designers may be familiar with the venerable MC14066, a workhorse that […]
App note: Li-Ion/Polymer Shunt battery charger system with low battery disconnect
Li-Ion/Polymer Shunt battery charger system with low battery disconnect (PDF!) app note from Linear Technology: The LTC®4071 allows simple charging of Li-Ion/Polymer batteries from very low current, intermittent or continuous charging sources. A near zero current low battery latching disconnect function protects even the lowest capacity batteries from deep discharge and potentially irreparable damage. The 550nA […]
App note: 1-Wire communication with PIC microcontroller
An application note (PDF!) from Microchip on 1-Wire communication with PIC microcontroller: This application note introduces the user to the 1-Wire® communication protocol and describes how a 1-Wire device can be interfaced to the PIC® microcontrollers. 1-Wire protocol is a registered trade mark of Maxim/Dallas Semiconductor. A software stack for the basic, standard speed, 1-Wire master communication […]
Flir Lepton thermal imaging sensor + gameduino 2
Andrew Rossignol of The Resistor Network writes: I have successfully implemented a driver for the Lepton module and displayed frames on an LCD. This is all running on an STM32F4 processor on a Nucleo board. Attached to it is a Gameduino 2 which incorporates the FT800 graphics processor. I have implemented my own colorization and […]
Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. The coupon code usually go to Facebook ‘Other’ Messages Folder . More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every […]
“Dirty” isoUSBRS422 boards just arrived
@alper_yazar tweeted picture of his “Dirty” isoUSBRS422 boards.
On Western Digital hard drives, PUIS and Rocket Raid controllers
Peter Hofmann fixed his drives and documented the whole process on his blog: After about a day of trial and error, I finally fixed my drives. To save anyone else the days worth of effort, I’ve documented my solution here: Firstly you need to go and find a tool called HDAT2 from www.hdat2.com download it and create a […]
The Commodore 64 Flash Cart (C64FC) is done!
The Commodore 64 Flash Cart (C64FC) project by Stian Soreng: A few days ago I had a breakthrough getting the device to identify as an USB HID device, and yesterday it all just “clicked.” The device works and transfers images without a hint of problems. Release candidate 2, with its minor hardware patches, is perfect Since the […]
Power plug energy meter – Now wireless!
Kalle Löfgren writes: Today’s post will cover how I managed to get an Arduino pro mini (3.3V) to sniff the energy meters SPI and transmit the data wirelessly with a nRF24L01+ to an Arduino Nano connected to a computer. The neat thing with this setup is that the Arduino pro mini and the nRF fits […]