Open source binary wristwatch

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Jordan aka njneer made this cool binary watch project, that is available at Github:

I’m pretty proud of this project; the clasp is a ribbon cable that doubles as the programming interface for the PIC microcontroller that drives everything. The time is displayed with superbright LEDs that are blinding at 15 mA, which means that I’m able to limit the power consumption considerably while still achieving a very readable display. The watch is powered by the (ever so common and useful) CR2032 lithium coin cell, which gives it an estimated battery life of 3 months depending on usage patterns (still doing research and testing on the average for this… 2 months in and I’m still running on my first battery : )

Project info at njneer site.

Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “Open source binary wristwatch”

#FreePCB via Twitter to 2 random RTs

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

Sine wave oscillator using LM741

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Sine wave oscillator using LM741, a project by A.M. Bhatt of EngineersGarage:  

There are different kinds of Sine wave oscillators based on the components used or based on the output frequency that they generate
1. Based on components means if they produce oscillation using resistors (R) and capacitors (C) then they are called RC oscillators and if they use inductor (L) and capacitor (C) then they are termed as LC oscillators
2. Based on output frequency means if they generate frequency in audio range (20 Hz – 20 KHz) then they are Audio Frequency (AF) oscillators. If they generate frequency in low range (100 – 200 KHz) then they are called Low Frequency (LF) oscillators and last, if they generate frequency in high range (in MHz or GHz) then they are termed as High frequency (HF) or Radio Frequency (RF) oscillators.

I am presenting here two such sine-wave oscillators that uses RC components to generate oscillations and they can generate frequency in AF range as well as RF range. The two oscillators are
1. RC phase shift oscillator
2. Wien bridge oscillator

More details at EngineersGarage page.

 

2015 Hackaday Prize: Build something that matters, We send you to space

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HackADay just launched the 2015 Hackaday Prize, a competition to get Hackers building real products to make a better world:

Want to go to Space or grab $196,883? How does $100k and a 6-month residency sound? These and hundreds of other prizes await those who build some that matters.

Full details and how to enter: hackaday.io/prize

2015 Hackaday Prize

No matter where you live you can find a way to better your community. Providing medical care, conserving water, clearing pollution, and promoting access to education are just a few examples to get you thinking. How can you make a difference in these areas? Build something involving electronics that helps to chip away at the root of the problem.

One exemplary build will earn a trip into space on a carrier of your choice, and claim The Hackaday Prize. One ‘Best Product’ will receive $100,000. Four top finalists will earn amazing rewards, and hundreds of other entries will be recognized with other prizes.

Use your skills to make the world a better place.

Enter now – hackaday.io/prize !

Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading “2015 Hackaday Prize: Build something that matters, We send you to space”

BFO for SSB reception

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Dilshan Jayakody writes:

This post is about beat frequency oscillator (BFO) module which is used to receive SSB and CW signals from ordinary shortwave receiver. The original circuit which is related to this post is obtained through the internet and we modify it to get more precise output with commonly available electronic components. (Unfortunately at the time of writing this original link is no longer accessible due to dead link.)
This module consists with two general purpose NPN transistors and we select 2SC828 because of its availability in local marketplace. For the crystal we use commonly available 455 kHz ceramic resonator.

Files available at Elect.wikispaces.com.

USB Infrared Toy free PCB build

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‏@psmay tweeted picture of his free USB IR Toy PCB build.  With the USB IR Toy you can use a remote control with your computer, view infrared signals on a logic analyzer, capture and replay remote control buttons.

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 your own handy Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors.

DipTrace export settings for Dirty PCB

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As a follow up to the PCB layout design with DipTrace post, KF5OBS blogged about on  how to set-up DipTrace to export a PCB layout correctly for Dirty PCB:

Dirty PCB offers – as the name implies – dirt cheap PCB manufacturing. The trick is a very low profile and a straight-forward system that needs minimum administration. This article is going to show how to set-up DipTrace to export a PCB layout correctly for Dirty PCB.

Details at Jaunty-Electronics blog.

Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB

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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: Cracks on molded power inductors

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App note from Würth Elektronik on WE-LHMI inductors’ visual crack apperance and their effects.

This document helps understanding the influence of visual asymmetry around the core which may occur during the manufacturing process of WE-LHMI series inductors.

The WE-LHMI core is not a solid core, instead it is an iron powder molded around the winding. To match the requirements of modern electronic load demands it is important to look at inductor technology which gives stable inductance into high currents while maintaining a compact design.

WE-LHMI series inductors have an optimized molding technology, especially designed for low profile high current applications like laptops, tablets, battery operated devices, etc. where the need for high current, high stability Point of Load devices are increasing. The advantages of WE-LHMI series products are high saturation current which exhibits soft saturation characteristic, low core losses, high operating temperature, and a small footprint.

App note: Chemical compatibility of LEDs

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An app note(PDF) from OSRAM on LED stresses due to chemical compatibilities on their applications.

The performance and stability of light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be influenced by various chemical incompatibilities arising from chemicals and materials used, amongst other things, in luminaire construction, or by gases in the proximate environment of LEDs during field operation. Nevertheless, LEDs have to fulfill a wide range of customer needs and requirements in indoor and outdoor applications.

This application note provides information about the chemical compatibility of certain substances with  LEDs, particularly with regard to some of their basic components. In this context, the main mechanisms of chemical incompatibility are illustrated using examples of blue and white LEDs.

App note: D-PHY Solutions

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An app note (PDF!) from Xilinx on D-PHY Solutions:

Traditionally, interfaces between components on a printed circuit board (PCB) are based on single-ended parallel buses at low bit rates (LVCMOS), differential high-speed serial buses, or single differential channels.
The D-PHY provides an extension to this structure by turning the low-speed, low-power interface to the serial format of the high-speed differential interface, so that both are combined into a single serial interface. With this method, the D-PHY provides a flexible high-speed differential and low-speed, low-power single ended serial interface solution for interconnection between components within one product.
The D-PHY specification is written for ASSP devices or ASIC implementations in mind.
It includes and combines SLVS (high-speed) and LVCMOS (low-power) I/O into a single differential pair of wires (see Figure 1) and as previously mentioned FPGAs do not yet support native D-PHY-compliant I/O.

PCB layout design with DipTrace – An overview

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KF5OBS writes:

DipTrace is a sophisticated schematic and PCB layout software. I had it installed on my computer for over a year but have never really used it. Since I needed a super simple PCB for some 78XX / 79XX type linear regulators, I decided to use this opportunity for my first steps with DipTrace.
DipTrace offers different prices for different packages. The cheapest version, DipTrace Starter (300 pins, 2 signal layers), is available for $ 75. DipTrace Full offers unlimited pins and unlimited signal layers for $ 895. All versions of DipTrace come with a humongous parts library and 3D models for a large amount of general purpose parts. In case a part or footprint is not included in the libraries, DipTrace offers both a component editor and a pattern editor for custom parts.
I needed a super small PCB for 78XX type voltage regulators. This mini project was perfect for my first steps with DipTrace. Please be aware that this article is going to be extremely coarse as it is supposed to be a general overview of the DipTrace software. The functionality of this software is rather complex as this is a professional design tool. More detailed articles will follow.

Details can be found in his post on the Jaunty-Electronics blog.

Embrio: A visual programming environment for Arduino

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Embrio, create Arduino programs without writing code:

Easy To Use -Make programs by adding and connecting nodes. No coding necessary!

Real Time Connection -Work with a live connection to your Arduino, see how your program works as you build it!

Powerful -While easy to use, Embrio is a powerful development tool that you won’t outgrow as your skills develop.

Via the contact form.

Continue reading “Embrio: A visual programming environment for Arduino”

Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters

buspiratev383 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”

Lisa Native floppy emulation

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Steve at Big Mess o’ Wires writes:

Lisa floppy drive emulation with Floppy Emu is a success! Begone, evil rotational disk drives, with your failure-prone gummed-up mechanisms. The age of SD card Lisa floppy emulation is here!
After a lot of tinkering, it’s now working on both the Lisa 2/5 and 2/10, and for both Lisa-format and Mac-format disks. I’m able to boot the Lisa from the emulated floppy drive, and use it to install Lisa Office System and other apps to the HD, and copy apps and data files from the Lisa HD to the emulated floppy drive. It also works for Mac-format disks, when running the Lisa under Macworks.
The final hurdle was realizing that the custom adapter I’d built to simultaneously connect a 400K floppy drive and a Floppy Emu was causing problems. After getting rid of the adapter and connecting the Emu directly to the Lisa, in place of the normal floppy drive, it’s now working perfectly.

Project info at Big Mess o’ Wires.

jQuery Plugin that formats JSON strings

 

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Matthew Heironimus writes:

This jQuery plugin is based on a nice little JavaScript routine written by Vladimir Bodurov that can be viewed at www.bodurov.com/JsonFormatter.
To use this plugin include jsonFormatter.min.css and jsonFormatter.min.js in your html file. See the jsonFormatterExample.html file for an example on how to do this. If you wish to use the darkTheme, include the jsonFormatter-darkTheme.min.css file.

Available on github.

PCB Checklist – What to check before you submit

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Baldengineer’s checklist for submitting a PCB to a fab house:

Recently I’ve been expanding my retro game collection to include game cartridges imported from Japan. The problem is that I don’t have Japanese game systems (yet). So I’m creating an open source adapter to convert Famicom carts to the NES. Before I submit the PCB to OSH Park, I’m going to run through this PCB Checklist to make sure I don’t forget something silly.

Free PCBs massive fail, now shipping

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Late last year I spun off the Dirty____ source code into a free PCB fulfillment system (Filthy Hole). The system is modeled after Amazon.com – print packing lists and prepaid shipping/address/customs form on 10x15cm labels. It is way easier for the back office to pick and pack, and follows the same workflow as Dirty PCBs.

Some time around October the system got stuck though and very few packing lists were delivered to the shippers. Today I fixed the bug and we shipped more than 100 free PCB orders.

I’m really sorry for the bug, and disappointed that I didn’t catch and fix it before now. Free PCBs will now ship weekly, and we’ll have a ton new boards available when the dev site launches shortly.

TwinTeeth: The PCB mini-factory

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Diyouware TwinTeeth, an open-source PCB mini-factory :

It includes the following functions:

  • UV Laser photoengraving on sensitive film or presensitized boards using an ultraviolet laser.
  • Drilling vias and holes using any mini-rotary tool like Dremel® or Proxxon®
  • Dispensing solder paste with precision on SMD PCB pads
  • Plotting circuits with a permanent pen-maker (if you prefer this method)
  • 3D printing knobs, casings, front-panels, even print circuits with conductive filament, or make circuits supports
  • Milling/Carving soft materials or etching PCB copper with a v-bit (if you prefer this etching method)
  • And much more… because it is extendable and you can use any other tool you can fix on it

Via Hacked Gadgets.

Check out the video after the break. Continue reading “TwinTeeth: The PCB mini-factory”

3D BRD viewer, a free tool to visualize CadSoft EAGLE PCB designs in 3D

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Peter of Cytec BG writes, “My idea was for pcb designers to be able to quickly, whithout too much hassle, check their board for correct footprints (especially for connectors) and collisions between components. Currently one can change soldermask colors, silkscreen layers, move and rotate components around, change component models and import step files.”

For more details visit Cytec.bg website.