schazamp built an FSAR001 experimenter board: This device, remember, takes 80-265Vrms wall power and puts out a (relatively) clean 5V DC. According to the datasheet, the way this thing works is by monitoring the voltage of the AC waveform and charging a big electrolytic capacitor during the low voltage segments on the leading and trailing […]
Author Archives: Ian
Status Update: Bus Pirate v3.5
Bus Pirate v3b (L), v3.5 (R), v4 (BACK) Bus Pirate v3.5 is exactly the same a Bus Pirate v3b. We added a much requested shrouded header, and made tweaks to keep manufacturing costs down. v3.5 has a bigger PCB, the same size as v4. Both boards will fit the same inexpensive acrylic case. The IO […]
Open source chipkit compiler works with MCHP dev tools
From the comments on our earlier post: Open source chipKIT compiler works with other PIC32s: … it should also be working with other MCHP dev tools shortly. Via twitter.
Open source chipKIT compiler works with other PIC32s
Markus used the new open source PIC32 chipkit compiler with non-chipkit hardware and programmed the firmware with a picKIT3: Since I had a board with a PIC32MX795F512H I built some time ago lying around, I tried if I could get some “Arduino”-code running on it. It works. The linker scripts that ship with mpide assume […]
Another IR Toy v2 unboxing
tempmj posted pictures of his IR Toy v2 unboxing. Via the forum.
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 we’re giving away two […]
DIY oscilloscope
Squonk has some useful links if you want to build your own scope: A nice HDL example of an oscilloscope using a FIFO and trigger A 100 MHz input stage A firmware development/improvement for the DSO “Welec 2000a- series” The (sad) story about the DSO Quad portable scope (why sad?) Thanks Squonk! Via the forum.
Autodesk DWG TrueView software
Michael writes: I have an old copy of AutoCAD and I am quite happy with it. But often a drawing will be in a newer release and my version of AutoCAD wont read it. Autodesk DWG TrueView software is a free stand-alone DWG viewer with DWG TrueConvert software included. It will read and display the […]
DIY bench power supply
SQKYbeaver posted a linear bench power supply in the project log forum. i have been working on a linear bench power supply, and have come to the conclusion that the cost of parts will be more than what i cam buy an assembled one for, however i will share what i have come up with […]
AVR XMEGA oscilloscope and signal generator
bearmos found a multifunction MSO: …it appear to be an MSO, with an OLED display, in a DIP package, for $35 The Xprotolab is the first mixed signal oscilloscope with an arbitrary waveform generator in a DIP module. It measures only 1 x 1.6 inches, and can be mounted directly on a breadboard. The Xprotolab […]
App note: High-side, current-sense amplifiers with 12-bit ADC and op amp/comparator
Another article that might help with bench power supply designs: Current-Sense Amplifiers with Digital Output and 60V Common-Mode Range Offers easy interface with microcontrollers (supports 1.8V logic) by using digital outputs Delivers wide 60V common-mode range for robustness under fault conditions Includes internal op amp/comparator that allows flexibility in system design: the internal amplifier can […]
App Note: Analog switch multiplexes SFP modules
rsdio writes: There is probably a way to implement this circuit with any analog mux instead of the Maxim part… Analog Switch Multiplexes SFP Modules To avoid multiple I²C bus masters in a telecom or data-communications system with SFP modules, add an analog multiplexer (MAX4572) that directs the data line to the appropriate SFP module.
App Note: Isolated power using capacitors
rsdio tipped us to an app note on isolated power-supply circuits: Wow! It’s quite interesting to see how to substitute capacitors for a transformer. Without digging deeper, though, it’s not clear whether voltage boost can be achieved. An integrated H-bridge driver for isolated power-supply circuits (MAX256) usually drives the primary of a transformer, but it […]
Free VideoOverlayShield v.10.02 PCB via Facebook comments
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. The first few people who comment on this at Facebook get a free PCB. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. This week we have a guest free PCB, two VideoOverlayShield v.10.02 boards from Low Voltage Labs. The Arduino compatible shield […]
Week in (p)review: May 27, 2011
Eric Pan (Seeed Studio) and Ian (me). 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: We’re back from Maker Faire Single-sided, through-hole USB IR Toy v2 Saleae Logic 16 update USB Infrared […]
chipKIT Uno32 and Max32 unboxing
A couple chipKITs to give away. We’ll ask your interview questions later today.
Single-sided, through-hole USB IR Toy v2
LisandroP made a single-sided PCB version of the USB IR Toy v2: I’ve recently built a single-sided, through-hole version of the USB IR Toy v2, using the schematic posted on the wiki for it without the pin breakout area… Mine is 40x50mm using an USB-A connector and includes a USB pin header, VCC/GND/RX/TX header for […]
Saleae Logic 16 update
We went a bit overboard speculating about the new Saleae 16bit logic analyzer. After taking to designer Joe Garrison at Maker Faire though, it seems we weren’t that far from the mark. The new Saleae does in fact have a Spartan FPGA to help get a flexible sample rate as high as 100MHz for 2 […]
USB Infrared Toy v2 unboxed
rsdio posted pictures of his IR Toy v2 unboxing. Via the forum.
Microchip chipKIT giveaway and free shipping
Octal posted a free shipping coupon for Microchip’s new chipKIT 32bit Arduino-compatible platform. This is Microchip’s grab for some of the Arduino crowd action. They released an Arduino processing-based interface with sort of open compiler. Arduino sketches compile and run on the PIC chipKIT platform without any code changes. FREE shipping coupon for the new […]