Here are some compact 125KHz RFID readers with built in antennas. They require no external components what so ever to function. It uses a 2 wire interface supporting ASCII, Magnetic ABA, and Wiegand26 formats. Being priced at around 20 euros doesn’t make them cheap. Via Electronics-Lab.
Category Archives: parts
Real 3.3volt LCD displays
Most cheap character displays are built to work at 5V, and this can be a problem if your circuit is designed around lower voltages. Here are some reasonably priced 3.3volt displays that range from 1X8 to 3×16 displayed characters. You can interface with them over three protocols: 8bit, 4bit, and SPI. The displays are sold […]
PIC12LF1840T48A MCU with Integrated Sub-GHz Trasmitter
Octal tipped us off about the new PIC12LF1840T48A microcontrollers that have a built in sub-GHz transmitter: Microchip just published the datasheet related to using the PIC12LF1840T48A Microcontroller with Integrated Sub-GHz Trasmitter. The PIC12LF1840T48A is a Microchip microcontroller that has an on-board transmitter. The transmitter is suitable for operation in the 418, 434 and 868 MHz […]
FTDI FT232 USB to serial converter chips for $2.50
While browsing suppliers for FTDI chips at cheap singles prices, this offer caught our eye. Dontronics is selling FTDI FT232RQ for just AUD$2.45, which is near $2.50 USD. In many projects a USB to TTL converter chip is needed, and FTDI chips are the most common solution around. Both Digikey and Mouser sell the FT232R […]
How-to use surface mount parts with a breadboard
Pppd shared a tip for using surface mount parts with a breadboard, mount them on 0.1″ pin header: Also, I’m probably not the first one to do it this way… but if you don’t like through-hole parts just as much as I hate them you may want to use surface mount resistors, capacitors or even […]
Partlist Wednesday: LEDs
Every Wednesday we highlight a component from the updated partlist. This week: LEDs. Surface mount LEDs feel a bit smaller than capacitors and resistors in the same package. Despite moving to 0603 C and Rs, we still use 0805 LEDs. It’s not just because we’re stuck with a reel of them, we find 0603 LEDs […]
Partlist Wednesday: Ferrite beads
Every Wednesday we highlight a component from the updated partlist. This week: Ferrite beads. We usually use ferrite beads as a power supply filter. You’ll find them on the USB supply in circuits with an FT232 USB->serial converter chip, like the Bus Pirate, and on the ethernet interface of the web platform. For general purpose […]
EagleUP: More parts on the warehouse
The EagleUP 3D rendering tool parts library just got bigger: In the warehouse you can find additional parts to use in eagleUp. Click on the download link of the part you are interested in, then save it in your /models folder. Thanks octal! Via the forum.
Partlist Wednesday: NPN transistors
Every Wednesday we highlight a component from the updated partlist. This week: NPN transistors Transistors do lots of analog tricks, but we only use them to switch high powered stuff with a weak microcontroller pin. Usually an LED. See the IR Toy, #twatch, PICqueno, or USB POV Toy for the sad truth. We’ve standardized on the BC818 […]
Partlist Wednesday: Buttons and switches
Every Wednesday we highlight a component from the updated partlist. This week: buttons and switches. Let’s talk buttons. The 6mm button is the classic button. It comes in surface mount and through hole versions. The 6mm surface mount button, DTSM-6 seems to be one package name, has nice beginner-friendly pads that are easy to solder. […]
Partlist Wednesday: Voltage regulators
Every Wednesday we highlight a component from the updated partlist. This week: regulators. This week’s part: voltage regulators. We try to use the cheap 150mA voltage regulators in SOT-23 package whenever possible. These are cheap (from 25 cents in 1s) and super resilient to shorts, over temperature, and over load. 150mA is enough for the […]
A tale of two op-amps: A Hitch-Hikers guide to op-amp specs
A few weeks ago we covered the Touchstone Semi TS1001 ultra low-power and low-voltage op-amp. Ultrasounder commented: Looking at the datasheet, the key [specs] reveal a very lousy, CMOS input-output opamp which is not speced for anything beyond audio. The GBW is 4KHz which means that the max frequency this thing can reliably amplify without […]
Partlist Wednesday: Resistors
Every Wednesday we highlight a component from the updated partlist. This week: resistors. If you don’t have a cheap resistor kit with common values, head to eBay and get one now. It’ll prevent last minute part orders and project delays. Sjaak likes this kit from MDFLY because it comes in plastic pages, only $15. Many […]
DigiKey offers free MCU ezine
DigiKey is offering several of their TechZone electronics magazines available free online. One publication which looks interesting is the Microcontroller Solutions Magazine. Its not a glorified advertisement or catalog, but contains articles on both basic and advanced MCU topics such as “Understanding Microcontroller Performance Analysis Techniques” and “Developing Next-Generation Human Interfaces Using Capacitive and Infrared […]
Cheaper surface mount crystals at Mouser
We use HC-49/US surface mount crystals whenever possible. HC-49/US is like a through-hole metal can crystal, but with surface mount pads. They’re about $0.50 in 1s, while the smaller bar-type SMD crystals start at $1. Brian found a new line of crystals at mouser that’s about a quarter cheaper: I use an ABM7 XTAL on […]
Touchstone TS1001 op-amp demo board unboxing
Touchstone Semi sent a demo board for the record-breaking, low power, low voltage TS1001 op-amp. We covered their design competition earlier. The demo board has a complete support circuit so the parts are ready to evaluate. It’s populated with two TS1001 op-amps, in inverting and non-inverting configurations. Attention component manufacturers: this is how to sample […]
Partlist Wednesday: Ceramic capacitors
Every Wednesday we highlight a component from the updated partlist. This week: surface mount ceramic capacitors. Ceramic capacitors are cheaper than aluminum and tantalum SMD caps, but come in smaller values. Typical values are in the pF to 1uF range, but we’ve noticed some 2uF+ ceramic caps at Mouser recently. Most have a maximum rating […]
Free webinar: Intro to operational amplifiers
If you’re new to op amps or just need a refresher on the theory this conf might interest you. Analog Devices is offering a free webinar titled Intro to Operational Amplifiers scheduled for July 26, 2011 at 12 PM CDT. The presentation will last 45 minutes followed by a 15 minute Q&A. John Ardizzoni, Senior […]
Epson S4E5A0A0 Inertial Measurement Unit
At recent international trade shows Epson debuted the S4E5A0A0 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). An inertial measurement unit senses inertial motion consisting of angular rate sensors on three axes and accelerometers in three directions. IMUs are primarily used to measure and control the behavior of mobile objects. The IMU includes triple gyroscopes and a tri-axis accelerometer, […]
App note: very low-cost sensing and communication using bidirectional LEDs
Squonk writes Here is an interesting paper on “Very Low-Cost Sensing and Communication Using Bidirectional LEDs”. Not new (2003), but this technical report is very detailed. The abstract to the document by Mitsubishi Electric states: “A novel microprocessor interface circuit is described which can alternately emit and detect light using only an LED, two digital […]