Microchip launched the open source USB/TCPIP stack competition. The developer who writes, or ports, open source USB and TCPIP drivers to the chipKIT will receive a $1000 bounty (now $1100 and growing): Prizes look like they’ll be around $1000 for each stack developed/ported and that’s in your pocket. We’ll gross up the amount to cover […]
Author Archives: Ian
Solder bridges checking
LongHairedHacker shared an SMD soldering experience while building the Bus Pirate v4: A good way of checking for solder bridges is having a bright lamp shining through the pcb. The light will shine through the gaps between the pins, while any solder between them will totally block it. Get your own handy Bus Pirate for […]
App note: Designing USB devices for proper current and max power
This ‘app note’ was posted in the forum by rsdio. Great advice for designing USB devices for proper current and maximum power: There are some common misconceptions about USB Device design with regard to the amount of current available and the MaxPower field of the USB Descriptors. Many DIY developers simply enter the maximum 500 […]
App note: Simple nonvolatile gating
rsdio writes: Wow, this is one of the strangest articles I’ve seen. The approach seems wasteful. Discuss? As an alternative to the use of PALs, GALs, or CPLD devices to implement a non-volatile gating function, these circuits store the gating signal (block or transmit) using a digital potentiometer (MAX5427 or MAX5527) controlled by a serial […]
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 […]
7400 competition entry: Propeddle software defined 6502 computer
Here’s an entry in the Open 7400 Logic competition: Propeddle Software Defined 6502 Computer I herewith would like to enter my “Propeddle Software Defined 6502 Computer” into the 7400 Logic competition. See the link for details on this project (which is still very much a work in progress).
App note: Protect LED driver in backlit displays
rsdio tipped us to an app note on protecting a boost-converter LED driver : Several circuit ideas are presented for protecting a boost-converter LED driver when the LEDs are disconnected. (Without protection, the driver output can destroy the external MOSFET and Schottky diode.) An LED-driver IC (MAX1698) and comparator (MAX9060 or MAX9028) are included.
App note: Liquid crystal display (LCD) interface
An app note on interfacing liquid-crystal displays (LCDs): Teridian’s single- and 3-phase energy-meter ICs have a variety of interfacing ports for data access and information display. This application note provides details on interfacing liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) to the 71M6511, 71M6511H, 71M6513, and 71M6515H devices. These details are relevant to 71M6511, 71M6513, 71M6515H demo boards with […]
Juki 360 pick and place rebuild at Null Space Labs
Pick and place rebuild at Null Space Labs: Gleep found us a Juki(Zevatech) Placemat 360 (that seems to have been upgraded to a 460 ) pick and place machine. It was sold as ‘working’, the sellers definition was, if I’m completely honest a stretch (outright lie)
USB IR Toy v2 free PCB build
tayken built a free USB IR Toy v2 PCB. 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 PCB drawer. Get an IR Toy v2 for $22.05, including world wide shipping.
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 a every week: Free PCB Sunday. The classic. Every week, […]
Week in (p)review: September 09, 2011
Facebook free PCB Friday is on the way. Don’t forget to share your current project in the comments or the forum. Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week: New 7400 Competition sponsors: Seeed Studio, Protostack, Tautic Electronics, Logos Electromechanical LLC, Tincantools, YourITronics, Amani64, Gadget Factory Web platform and Thermal Tweeter wireless tethering […]
Milled Bus Pirate case
fcobcn’s milled Bus Pirate case prototype is a work of art. The final touch are light-pipes for each LED. We’re going to get a quote on an injection-molded version from Protomold.com. More awesome DIY cases. Via the forum. Get your own handy Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors.
7400 Competition artwork wanted
The 7400 competition is gaining momentum. We could really use some nice banners and graphics to promote it. Any artists out there?
0603 0805 resistor and capacitor kits at Adafruit
octal and several others tipped us to Adafruit’s new 0805 and 0603 resistor and capacitor books: Just to let you know that Adafruit is selling two new SMD parts kits in 805 and 603 sizes, each binder having both resistors and capacitor priced around 28 euros only The nice thing is that on each package […]
Carving PCBs by hand
Carving PCBs by hand: Sometimes I need to make a quick prototype with a part that doesn’t match any of my proto PCBs, and I end up carving blank copper-clad with an Xacto knife (see attached photo of Cree XLamp XP-E LED with a center heatsink pad that would short out one or both power […]
DIY Logic Sniffer case
This case by Madox is up on Thinkiverse. More cool DIY cases here. Via the comments. Get a Logic Sniffer for $50, with free worldwide shipping.
Voltage booster from discrete components
This is a simple voltage booster based on discrete components: The circuit is excellent and works down to 0.6V. It requires about 0.9V to start. I’ve got efficiencies of 80% using high gain transistors. Thanks Rohit! Via the forum.
7400 competition entry: Moving dot running light
Here’s an entry in the Open 7400 Logic competition: Moving dot running light Here’s my entry for the “Open 7400 Logic Competition”. Logic ICs are for timing, and nothing demonstrates timing better than LEDs, and Red-Green LEDs are frosting on the cake. Check out the video after the break.
Final universal soldering iron driver update
arhi posted the final update on his universal soldering pencil driver: This is I think “final” version of this design. Not much to be done here (except change the mcu and then push more functionality to it). It works, the Solomon handle works perfectly (Ktype thermocuple sensor) and the HAKKO (ptc sensor) works satisfactory (I’m […]