Author Archives: DP

App note: Using a microprocessor to configure Xilinx FPGAs via slave serial or selectMAP mode

Great app note from Xilinx on configuring their FPGA through slave serial and parallel selectMAP mode This application note describes a technique for configuring an FPGA from an embedded processor. Three common components are required: an embedded microprocessor, some non-volatile memory, and a CPLD. Cost, as well as real estate, can be reduced if the […]

App note: Choosing the right transformer with the MAX13256

Here’s an application note from Maxim describing how to specify a transformer that meets your application needs: The MAX13256, a 10 Watt transformer driver, is an improved way to convey power across isolation boundaries. As with all transformer drivers, good system performance requires good transformer specification. Though many transformers can potentially work with the MAX13256, not all […]

App note: 1-Wire communication with a Microchip PICmicro microcontroller

Here’s an app note from Maxim on interfacing 1-Wire communications device with PIC microcontroller: Several of Maxim’s products contain a 1-Wire® communication interface and are used in a variety of applications. These applications may include interfacing to one of the popular PICmicros® (PICs) from Microchip. To facilitate easy interface between a 1-Wire device and a peripheral interface controller (PIC) […]

Experiments and demo of an Agilent DSA-X 96204Q 160GS/s 62GHz oscilloscope

Shahriar writes: In this episode Shahriar demos the world’s fastest oscilloscope! The Agilent DSA-X 96204Q offers 160GS/s of conversion rate with a bandwidth of 62GHz on two dedicated ‘RealEdge’ channels. It can also provide 80GS/s conversion rate and 33GHz of bandwidth on four simultaneous channels. The unit demoed in this video is equipped with all […]

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 February 14, 2014

Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon. Hacker Camp Shenzhen is coming! Sick of Beige basic case v1 (DP8049) and ATX Breakout Board V1.1 Acrylic case are back in stock Check out Erdabyz’s high altitude balloon electronics in the project log forum Coming up: Free PCBs via Facebook on […]

Hack your Valentine with HeartThrob

A geek love by Boris Landoni: Hack your Valentine with HeartThrob Today we present the perfect Valentine gadget: just shake it and it will turn on and crate incredible light animations. That will be cool for sure! We know that, as it’s Valentine’s Day, looking at the device described in this post you’ll be inclined to […]

VGA framegrabbing with TVP7002

desaster blogged about his VGA framegrabber project: The project got a nice boost when I found TVP7002 on TI’s site. It’s a video digitizing chip, featuring 3x ADC (one for each color channel) and a PLL system for generating the pixel clock from the HSYNC input. Compared to alternatives, this seemed to be quite nicely priced, and […]

Its here and its manual override controller

Mohamed Afzal writes: Its been a while that i am working on an autonomous vehicle and some major parts are tested and still going on with the project. For this project its better to have a manual override control via RC remote controller. After researching the RC controller and receiver i have found out the […]

Controller board for RGB LED Matrix displays update

EmbeddedCreations posted an update on his controller board for the 16×32 and 32×32 RGB LED Matrix displays: The board looks significantly better with the Teensy soldered directly, instead of with the female headers, but I want to keep the option for people who want to remove their $20 Teensy board to use with another project. […]

A new Wi-Fi Shield to connect your Arduino to the internet

Boris Landoni from Open Electronics writes about a new open source Wi-Fi Shield for Arduino: Despite the proliferation of hardware to connect Arduino with the web, and especially despite YUN, we considered useful to design and propose a new WiFi shield for Arduino, which replaces the one already presented. This time we indeed added an interface processor […]

Arduino libraries uploaded to GitHub

Kerry Wong writes: Over the years I have created quite a few libraries for Arduino. I finally uploaded them to GitHub a couple of days ago so that they are now all at one place and are easier to find. Here’s a list of the corresponding posts: MCP2210 Library — Reference Interfacing DS7505 AD7705/AD7706 Library […]

Microchip PIC chips could have been the Power Behind Arduino

Gerry Sweeney writes: As I understand it Microchip are in the silicon chip business selling micro-controllers – actually Microchip make some really awesome parts and I am guessing here but I suspect they probably want to sell lots and lots of those awesome parts right? So why do they suppress their developer community with crippled […]

#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 […]