App note: Use and calibration of the internal temperature indicator

application

Use and calibration of the internal temperature indicator (PDF!), an application note from Microchip:

Many PIC16 family devices include an internal temperature indicator. These devices include the PIC16F72X device family, PIC16F1XXX device family, and the PIC12F1XXX device family. The temperature indicator is internally connected to the input multiplexer of the ADC (Figure 1). Refer to the specific device data sheet for more details.
These devices incorporate an internal circuit which produces a variable output voltage with temperature using internal transistor junction threshold voltages. The indicator can be used to measure the device temperature between -40°C and +85°C. The circuit must be calibrated by the user to provide accurate results, as the equation coefficients will vary between devices.

Valve’s “Lighthouse” optical tracking system

Valve_Lighthouse_Tracker_Transmitter

Travis stumbled across an interesting project at Bay Area Maker Faire, the Lighthouse Optical Position Tracking by Alan Yates of Valve. He writes:

While walking around the Bay Area Maker Faire this weekend, I stumbled across an amazing piece of technology: Valve’s “Lighthouse” tracking system. Valve’s demos were (supposedly) a major contributor to Oculus’ fundraising efforts and ultimate sale to Facebook, and this device may have been a key piece of those demos. I’d heard rumors about this system for many months. It was designed for augmented and virtual reality — namely, for head and controller tracking, where it needs to have some insane specifications for positional accuracy, angular accuracy, and especially(!!!) latency. Honestly, the rumors didn’t do it justice: it’s really elegant! This solution is exceedingly simple, low-cost, light weight, and performant.  It’s much (much!) better than the image processing techniques I’ve seen to date. Most importantly…. I think this technology could be a “big deal” for robotics too.  I had a chance to speak with Valve’s Alan Yates about how the Lighthouse system works; I didn’t get all the specifications, but I did get some interesting information — so read on!

Details at Travis’ Hizook blog.

Nixie tube clock

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Pete Mills has written an article detailing the build of his Nixie tube clock:

 Fortunately, not all nixie tube clocks are implemented the same.  In fact, look around at all the schematics for nixie clocks, and you will realize there are more permutations in methodology than there are models of nixie tubes.  This is how it should be.  We ( DIY electronics people ) like to put our own spin on things.

My version of the Nixie Clock has a few of its own nifty features.  The list includes:

  • Single microcontroller design
  • Software based RTC
  • Software driven boost converter for ~175 V DC supply
  • Time, Date, and behavior configuration via USB
  • Windows application for clock configuration
  • Time, Date, Temperature, and AC Power line frequency display

Project info at Pete’s blog.

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters

BP

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 times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”

A GUI and CLI utility for EFM32’s UART bootloader

efm32_loader_winscr

Mario writes:

I’ve been doing mostly sensor-based systems and I think these microcontrollers are the perfect fit. ARM Cortex (they go from M0 to M4, and their series seem to keep growing), an architecture that was specially designed for low-power sensor-based embedded systems, allowing to measure “stuff” while the CPU is stopped, a nice set of peripherals (OPAMP, 12bit DAC and ADC), great support for GCC ARM Embedded (which makes them really ease to use or getting started to) and a factory-programmed UART bootloader.
The bootloader uses XMODEM-CRC protocol and TeraTerm may be used for uploading. However if you want a command-line tool (like “avrdude” for AVR microcontrollers), there’s anything you can use. So, I built one.

Source code is on Github.

Via the forum.

Project details at Mário Ribeiro’s blog.

Soldering station to drive HAKKO 907 handles

SOLDERING-STATION-INSIDE-SMALL

Dilshan Jayakody published a new build:

To keep it simple we choose LM358 dual operational amplifier IC to monitor the 907’s thermocouple and drive the TRIAC. The entire control circuit of this soldering station is powered by single rail 5V DC power supply. To drive both handle and station we use 12V-0-12V 8A step down transformer.
Once calibrated, we may be able to regulate temperature of the soldering iron between 210 °C to 450 °C. As shown in the photograph we construct our final version of soldering station in slightly modified old ATX power supply casing. For this entire project we spent only 25USD, which is roughly 3000LKR at the time of writing.

Project files are available at elect.wikispaces.com

More details at Dilshan’s blog.

USB Host Library 3.0-Alpha

github

Oleg over at Circuits@Home writes:

The alpha of the third revision of USB Host library has been posted on GitHub. The code has been extensively re-organized to make it modular and generic; as a result, it is now possible to run it on more Arduino compatibles and also use native USB Host hardware on some of them. At the time of this writing, USB Hub and Mass Storage classes are supported, the work on migrating the rest of device drivers is in progress.
The code is to be used with Arduino IDE 1.6.1 or newer, please upgrade before attempting to compile it. Also, please read the README file for more details. If you encounter any issues, post them in the issue tracker on GitHub.

The credit for this commit goes to Andrew Kroll – thank you!

Available at Github.

Tiva C launchpad FFT with real time plotting using pyQtGraph

rect42411

Shane of Wattnotions writes:

The biased signal generator signal is connected to AnalogIn 1 on the Tiva C which is pin PE_2. Signal Gen and Tiva C ground is common. The two 10k resistors from a voltage divider which will halve the 3v input to give a 1.5 v bias…

See code at Wattnotions page.

Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “Tiva C launchpad FFT with real time plotting using pyQtGraph”

#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs

buspiratev383

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 it every Sunday, right here on the blog
  • Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
  • Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs will be your friend for the weekend

Some stuff:

  • Yes, we’ll mail it anywhere in the world!
  • Check out how we mail PCBs worldwide video.
  • We’ll contact you via Twitter with a coupon code for the PCB drawer.
  • Limit one PCB per address per month please.
  • Like everything else on this site, PCBs are offered without warranty.

We try to stagger free PCB posts so every time zone has a chance to participate, but the best way to see it first is to subscribe to the RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.

DIY digital soldering station

diy-digital-soldering-station

Mike over at PCBSmoke has written an article detailing the build of his digital temperature controlled soldering station:

The unit uses a PID temperature controller, an SSR (Solid State Relay) and a transformer plus a metal enclosure case, a soldering stand and a few other parts. It is relatively inexpensive to build, plus it makes a pretty good shop tool.
This homemade unit is not as responsive as one of the commercially manufactured ones like a Weller or a Hakko, but it works surprisingly good. The PID controller was designed primarily for manufacturing process control, but it was easy enough to adapt it for use in a soldering station. Accompanying this post is a series of videos showing how to optimize the PID controller and get the best performance from it.

Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “DIY digital soldering station”

DIY pocket laser engraver

laser_engraver

Photon printer, a 3D printable laser engraver build using DVD drives by Isolt:

This is an entry for the Light It Up contest on the grounds that a laser diode is a specialised form on light emitting diode.
The Photon Printer started out as a quick weekend project then quickly escalated when I saw that there was room for improvement in the current designs. The design turned out to be quite fun and I really enjoyed seeing it work at the end.

Details at Isolt’s Thingiverse page.

Via Technabob.

Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “DIY pocket laser engraver”

Vintage metal detector

vintage_metal_detector

Gary over at TOG-Dublin Hackerspace published a new build, the vintage metal detector project:

ETI Electronics, February 1978, IB Metal detector Mk2. This is the first in a series of ‘vintage’ electronics projects that we hope to build at TOG. We have the original magazine, so why not get building. There are some amazing projects in the electronics magazines from the 70’s and 80’s.

Update…. The build is in progress. Pics here.

 

App note: Eliminate noise through proper supply bypass filtering

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Power supply filtering, an application note from Maxim Integrated. Link here

If sensitive analog systems are run from one supply without the sufficient bypassing to eliminate noise, undesired degradation in a system’s performance will result. This application note provides insight into suitable techniques to overcome this roadblock.

Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB

IRToy

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 get a coupon code for the free PCB drawer tomorrow morning. Pick your own PCB. You get unlimited free PCBs now – finish one and we’ll send you another! Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

App note: Simple wireless bluetooth stereo audio system for outdoor use

an_maxim_app5147

Old app note from Maxim Integrated on DIY portable bluetooth audio system. Link (PDF!) here

When people want portable music, they usually rely on battery-powered audio devices. With a bit of engineering blood (or curiosity) running in your veins, it is not difficult to build a wireless Bluetooth® stereo audio system that can be controlled with any device that has a Bluetooth connection and a music player.

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters

KHOS-2-3-4-5-6P

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 times every week:

Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”

XMega analog comparator

Block-Diagram

Shawon Shahryiar over at Embedded Lab has written an article on XMega analog comparator:

Generally a comparator is a device that compares two quantities. Analog comparators compare voltage – an analog quantity. An analog comparator is essentially an op-amp with infinite gain. It has one output and two inputs. The output is switched to VDD or ground (0V) depending on the relative voltage levels in the two input pins. Just as with an op-amp the two inputs are labeled as inverting input (INV) and non-inverting input (NINV). When the non-inverting input voltage is higher than that of the inverting input, the output switches to VDD and when it is the other way, the output switches to ground. Thus we get two logic states.

Details at Embedded Lab blog.

DIY 6EM7 Single-Ended Triode (SET) amplifier

6EM7

A DIY 6EM7 Single-Ended Triode (SET) amplifier from diyAudioProjects:

This unique looking hi-fi amplifier was put together by Matt in a vertical wooden chassis that has been styled after early vacuum tube equipment of the 1920s.  The amplifier uses a single 6EM7 tube per channel.
The 6EM7 tube has two dissimilar triodes in one envelope.  One is a high gain, low power unit intended as an amplifier or oscillator, and the other is a higher power unit originally intended to drive the magnetic deflection coils on the back of a CRT.  Together the tube sections are well suited to create a nice little audio amplifier with just one 6EM7 tube per channel.  The clean output power from the 6EM7 SET amplifier is 2.2 Watts per channel and the frequency response is consistent with the advertised performance of the Edcor audio output transformer (40Hz to 18kHz).

Project info at DIYAudioProjects blog.