V-TechDesign published a Doduino build: This project was an exercise in building an Arduino like ATMEGA328P board from scratch using a 3×4 inch Veroboard. The main objective was to provide better build-in I/O capability out of the box, so most projects will not need an I/O shield to perform common tasks. This makes the whole setup […]
Author Archives: DP
Simple constant current driver for a high power LED
Elmars Ositis has been working on a simple constant current driver: In my previous post, I slapped together a quick LED lighting solution for my workbench… but it is truly a hack. What I really want to do is make a simple constant current driver, so the power LEDs can be used in other projects. One […]
Use sublime text 2 to replace Arduino IDE
Kathy Yang over at Elecfreaks writes: We could often feel frustrated when programming using the Arduino IDE. Why? Not because of how many errors we encounter in the program, but it is so difficult to find out the errors in source code, which is really something freaking out. For example Arduino IDE does not seem […]
Adding bluetooth to an EEG headset for mind-controlled projects
An instructables on adding bluetooth to an EEG headset for mind-controlled projects by AndreLe: I had serial bluetooth module HC-06 lying around and decided to see if I could integrate the two and skip the Arduino altogether. Turns out, it works almost as good as the commercially available NeuroSky MyndWave for a quarter of the […]
App note: Accelerometer Errors
Temperature dependence, Sensor bias, Ratiometric error due to supply voltage variation and etc. These are some of the errors made by accelerometers, here’s an app note from Kionix to help you deal with it. Although everyone would like them to be, sensors are not perfect. Understanding the accelerometer’s errors is just as important as understanding […]
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: Warranty Protection Using a Kionix MEMS Tri- Axis Accelerometer
Shock and vibration detection as part of product warranty protection, these sensors can be part of any drop sensitive devices i.e. Hard disk drives to record shock instances for warranty claims. Here’s an interesting app note (PDF) from Kionix. This application note describes how to use a Kionix MEMS tri-axis accelerometer as part of a […]
App note: Guidelines for the MAX5977’s critical component placement and routing
Guidelines for the MAX5977’s critical component placement and routing from Maxim, app note here: This application note presents guidelines for the placement and routing of the most critical components and traces in a typical design for the MAX5977 high-performance, hot-swap, electronic fuse, high-side current-sense controller.
Trio JR-310 and TX-310 restoration project
Dilshan Jayakody did restoration of TX-310 transmitter and JR-310 receiver step-by-step: I got Trio (now Kenwood) JR-310 and TX-310 SSB receiver and transmitter pair recently. When it comes to me both receiver and transmitter are in very bad shape and most of the PCBs and chassis are covered with dust and some of the components are very […]
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. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week: Free PCB Sunday. The classic. Every week, get […]
Week in (p)review September 05, 2014
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon. Goodies from DirtyPCB´s Bus pirate, 5110 LCD interfacing Controlling a PiGlow with the Bus Pirate USB IR Toy v3 free PCB build + updated irWidget firmware Check out Aon’s finished project the ytimer and Bertho’s digitally controlled bench PSU in […]
Wireless servo controller II
Ondřej Karas of DoItWireless writes: We described simple method, how to drive modellers servo. Today, we are going to try to drive this servo from potentiometer connected to TR module ADC. It is reaction to forum thread where is discussion about airplane model control possibility. Check out the video after the break.
ATtiny84 USBtiny AVR ISP programmer
Rupert Hirst writes: My through hole, home etch friendly version of the surface mount FabISP, which is based around the USBtinyISP AVR ISP Programmer. The new USBtinyISP drivers also support for Windows 8 This design uses the ATtiny84 microcontroller instead of the larger ATtiny2313 of the USBtiny. Project design flies can be found on RunawayBrainz […]
HP 8642B backlight Mod
Kerry Wong writes: If you take a look at the picture below, you may recognize immediately that it is a picture of an HP 8642B synthesized signal generator. But if you take a closer look, you probably will notice something different if you have ever used an HP 8642B before. The original HP 8642 series […]
ytimer, visual feedback timer
Here’s Aon’s finished project the ytimer a visual feedback timer. We wrote about it previously: A countdown timer with super bright 7-segment displays that flash when the time is up, instead (or in addition to) an audible alarm. The design is based on a PIC16F886 microcontroller which drives the displays using a TLC5916 LED driver and dual […]
Controlling a PiGlow with the Bus Pirate
Aaron Brady has written an article on controlling a PiGlow with the Bus Pirate: PiGlow provides 18 dimmable LEDs and is designed to be used with a Raspberry Pi. It sits right on the GPIO header of the Pi. It doesn’t use actual GPIO pins though, because the PiGlow is actually based on the SN3218 I2C PWM LED […]
Goodies from DirtyPCB´s
Jan Henrik just got a stack of Dirty PCBs in the mail. He writes: So I just got my first delivery from DirtyPCB´s and it´s awesome! I ordered a Protopack ( 10 PCB´s ) in yellow with a size of 5 x 5 cm ( about 2 x 2 in ). And they just arrived! Yay! […]
Free PCB build: USB IR TOY v3 + updated irWidget firmware
mikelelere writes: I’ve finally put some time and acquired most of the required parts to assemble the USB IR Toy v3 free PCB I received a few weeks ago. I’ve been lately interested in making a “backup” of several remotes I’ve at home, and the USB IR toy with the IRWidget firmware seems like the perfect candidate […]
First impression on HLK-RM04 serial-to-wifi module
Ray Wang wrote a blog post review of the Hi-Link HLK-RM04 Serial-to-WiFi module: It’s a pretty easy-to-use and low-cost solution to add WiFi capability to Arduino or similar microcontroller boards. Basically it allows you to receive/send Ethernet buffers through serial RX/TX pins. Programming wise, it’s similar to using the standard Arduino Ethernet shield. The module can […]
Bus pirate, 5110 LCD interfacing
s3c writes: The Bus Pirate has to be one of the handiest debugging platforms ever created. It makes it really easy to ensure you know how something works before placing it in your final design. I recently decided to use some of the old refurbished 5110 LCD modules in a design, here’s a quick guide […]