App note from OSRAM about different approaches on LED string diagnostic in automotive. Link here (PDF) One requirement especially in automotive applications is the diagnosis of failures in functions and systems. Therefore light functions realized with LEDs like break light, daytime running light, low and high beam may require a diagnostics function. This application note […]
Author Archives: DP
Atari 5200 Playstation 2 dual-shock controller adapter
Dr. Scott Baker has developed an adapter that allows you to use Playstation 2 analog controllers on an Atari 5200, that is available on gitHub: This adapter allows you to use a PS2 controller on an Atari 5200 gaming console. The 5200 was notable at the time for its use of analog joysticks, but the […]
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 […]
The ARM chip that wont cost an arm and a leg
A small ARM developmentboard from SMDprutser, that is available on GitHub: Searching the prerequisite Chinese websites to satisfy my shopping fetish I came across a neat little ARM Cortex-M0 chip which is an extremely good bang for buck. I believe it is the smallest chip available in a reasonable hand-solderable package (TSOP8). This board gives […]
IoT LED Dimmer
Sasa Karanovic shared a how-to on making a IoT LED dimmer: Making a IoT LED dimmer that you can control via your PC, phone, tablet or any other device connected to the network is super simple, and I’m going to show you how. I’m sharing my three channel LED dimmer that you can use to […]
#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 […]
Glowing mercury thyratrons: Inside a 1940s Teletype switching power supply
Ken Shirriff take a look inside a bulky DC power supply REC-30 rectifier, how it works and contrast it with a MacBook power supply: We recently started restoring a Teletype Model 19, a Navy communication system introduced in the 1940s.14 This Teletype was powered by a bulky DC power supply called the “REC-30 rectifier”. 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: Challenge and Response with 1-Wire® SHA Devices
Another app note from Maxim Integrated about challenge-response security on 1-wire devices. Link here (PDF) Challenge-response can be a secure way of protecting access to any privileged material if implemented correctly. In this document, many options for challenge-response access control are discussed but the most secure method given is presenting a different random challenge on […]
App note: Extending I2C communication distance with the DS28E17
App note from Maxim integrated about alternative method to extend I2C bus. Link here (PDF) Systems are increasingly requiring greater distances for I2C buses. This article explains how the DS28E17 can be used to extend the distance of I2C devices while decreasing cost.
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 […]
Homemade Atari 5200 analog controller
Dr. Scott M. Baker made a custom controller for the Atari 5200 vintage gaming console, that is available on Github: I decided to make my own Atari 5200 analog controller, using a sparkfun thumbstick together with ADC and digital pot to do the potentiometer scaling. The controller is aesthetically a bit rough, consisting of a […]
#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 […]
Pocket Pi
A Raspberry pi zero w pocket terminal project from Facelesstech, that is available on Github: So if you have been following my blog lately you may have noticed me rambling on about trying to get a Xbox 360 chat pad and an ps3 keypad working with a raspberry pi to make a portable terminal. I […]
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: Recommendations to avoid short pulse width issues in HVIC gate driver applications
Application note from ON Semiconductors discussing possible abnormalities on High voltage gate driver when operating on short pulses. Link here (PDF) The High−Voltage Integrated Circuit (HVIC) gate driver family is designed to drive an N−channel MOSFET or IGBT up to 600 V. One of the most common methods to supply power to the high−side gate […]
App note: High voltage inverting buck reduces complexity and board space
App note from ON semiconductors about repurposing a buck converter to produce negative voltages. Link here (PDF) Applications in the electronics industry ranging from sensor−based designs to power amplifiers are periodically faced with the requirement to generate a negative voltage rail. Although many transformer−based designs, charge pumps and other methods have been used to meet […]
Ultra MegaMax Dominator (UMMD) 3D printer
Mark Rehorst has a nice write-up about building his Ultra MegaMax Dominator (aka UMMD) 3D printer: Ultra MegaMax Dominator (aka UMMD) is my third 3D printer design/build. I used much of what I learned from its predecessors, and tried a few experiments, resulting in a very high quality machine that produces very high quality prints. […]
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 […]
How to build your Energy Load manager
A detailed instructions of how to build an Energy Load manager from Open Electronics: When the instantaneous power consumption exceeds the set values, it selectively disconnects the users, in order to prevent the electric meter to cut the power to disconnect. The management of the electricity users at home, intended as the possibility to define […]