USB and serial enabled LCD backpack is back in stock at Seeed Studio. This board connects HD44780-compatible character LCD screens to your USB port. It works with apps like LCD Smartie to show news, system stats, and more on an external LCD.
Autopilot MEMs robot
Arduino compass bearing following robot:
When you don’t want to drive your robot wouldn’t it be nice to just point in a direction and have it go there? Well the issue is that every little bump and wheel drag will slowly adjust the direction so where it ends up after 50 feet will most likely not be where you intended. Iron Jungle from Whiskey Tango Hotel used a LM303DLHC which is a Micro Electro Mechanical (MEMs) compass sensor to give his Autopilot MEMs Robot a sense of direction.
Via Hacked Gadgets.
Open Hardware Association releases first writeup about legal issues
Open Hardware Association releases first Writeup about legal issues:
This blog post provides information from the legal discussions surrounding open source hardware in an open hardware legal meetup event hosted at NYU by Jason Schultz, founder of Defensive Patent License, November 11, 2013. OSHWA was very grateful to be part of the event. Legal professionals at the event included: Michael Weinberg, Julie Samuels (mastermind of this get together), Jason Schultz (other mastermind of this get together), and others who wish to remain anonymous.
Via Open Electronics.
555 as a push-pull level shifter
psmay writes:
Wanting to prototype something with an oddball push-pull 3.3V-to-13V switch led me to concoct an experiment using only stuff available at a reasonably well-stocked Radio Shack[3], with particular attention to ICs that provide push-pull outputs. So far I’ve tried configurations based on the original 555 timer[4] and the TL082 op amp.
My first experiments with the TL082 in Schmitt trigger configuration were not promising, but I’m suspicious something may have been connected wrong; the logic low never went below 1.15V, which happens to have been the reference voltage, half of 3.3V. Either way, the supply voltage had to read 17.3V for a high output of 13V.
In contrast, the 555-based Schmitt trigger appears to be a workable solution, as long as you can drive the chip 1.5V higher than the desired high output.
Ham Radio Linux LiveDVD Ver. 14 supports RTL-SDR, HackRF and more
Andy, amateur radio operator KB1OIQ, has released the Version 14 of his Ham Radio Linux LiveDVD containing programs focused on amateur radio and SDR operations.
This is a remastered version of Ubuntu Linux. As of version 13, there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions available, as well as an image for the PengPod 1000.
This version contains a lot of amateur radio software including Fldigi, NBEMS, Gpredict, earthtrack, xcwcp and qrq, XLog and cqrlog, flrig and grig, xnec2c, fl_moxgen, aa-analyzer, owx, VOACAP, glfer, Xastir, gqrx, gEDA, and more!
Version 14 adds GNU Radio Companion, quisk, direwolf, linamc, FreeDV, wsjt-x, and Micro-Fox 15 Config (GPL), and many updates.
Recommended system requirements are a 1GHz CPU and 512MB memory at an absolute bare minimum (gqrx will require more – about twice as much).
Links to the ISO downloads can be found on Andy’s Sourceforge page.
App note: Rework method for surface mount MLCCs
Things you might need to know about doing SMT rework on Multi Layered Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC). An application guide from TDK
Rework is necessary when surface mount (SMT) components become misaligned or improperly mounted. This paper will answer questions concerning rework of SMT capacitors. Specifically, equipment, procedures, and technique are covered.
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 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:
- Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
- Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs while you wait for the weekend
- Free PCB Sunday, right here on the blog
- Check out how we mail PCBs worldwide
Linux SteamOS beta available for download
SteamOS is the currently-in-beta Linux-based operating system that will power Valve’s new gaming-PCs-turned-consoles. While the Steam crew has been busy readying 300 beta Steam Machines, they’ve taken the time to release the code for download by Linux enthusiasts. As they describe it,
SteamOS Beta is the first public release of our Linux-based operating system. The base system draws from Debian 7, code named Debian Wheezy. Our work builds on top of the solid Debian core and optimizes it for a living room experience. Most of all, it is an open Linux platform that leaves you in full control. You can take charge of your system and install new software or content that you want.
SteamOS hardware requirements:
Processor: Intel or AMD 64-bit capable processor
Memory: 4GB or more RAM
Hard Drive: 500GB or larger disk
Video Card: NVIDIA graphics card
(AMD and Intel graphics support coming soon!)
Additional:
UEFI boot support
USB port for installation
Visit the SteamOS site for code links and details on how to construct your own Steam Machine.
App note: properties and application of bypass capacitors
Another primer app note from NXP on capacitor bypassing.
Bypass capacitors are applied between the power supply pins VCC and GND of integrated circuits. They reduce both the power supply noise and the effect of spikes on the supply line. They also provide instantaneous current demands of the integrated circuit as it switches. This application note describes the different properties of bypass capacitors and provides a guide to their use.
App note: LCD biasing and contrast control method
Application note on direct Liquid crystal display driving using PIC microcontrollers.
This Application Note provides methods that can be used to provide biasing voltages for Liquid Crystal displays. This document covers most of the biasing methods used in the PIC microcontrollers with an LCD controller.
App note: PICmicro device programming, what you always wanted to know (but didn’t know who to ask)
The basics of how to get your firmware into your PIC microcontroller. App note can be found here.
For more than a decade, Microchip has published a lot of information about programming its 8-bit microcontrollers. There is now so much information out there, in fact, that it’s sometimes hard for engineers and technicians who are unfamiliar with Microchip products to know where to start. The purpose of this paper is to provide the entry point for information on programming Microchip’s 8-bit microcontrollers. While we can’t cover every programming specification in detail, we can give you a good idea of how the process works and show you what to look for in a specification. We’ll also touch briefly on how in-system programmability can affect an application’s design and finish with other programming and diagnostic innovations that make applications more reliable.
Android privacy controls appear, disappear in 4.3 – 4.4 transition
Apparently what “the Google” gives, “the Google” can take away. Recently Android was being lauded for adding additional privacy controls to Android 4.3+, allowing users to install apps while denying some of the apps’ attempts to collect the user’s data. This feature was accessible by installing a tool like App Ops Launcher (pictured above.)
However, Google’s Android OS dev team has withdrawn the App Ops interface from the latest update. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), with Android release 4.4.2 the Google gods have withdrawn the App Ops interface. They claim it was “released by accident — that it was experimental, and that it could break some of the apps policed by it.” As EFF opines, “[s]o, for the time being, users will need to chose between either privacy or security on the Android devices, but not both.”
Via the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Light up your XMAS from your Smartphone
Boris of Open Electronics writes:
This post is about a light animation game that can light up your Christmas. There’s Bluetooth, Android and audio files: a perfect festive mashup. A spectrum analyzer will help us color the winter festivities.
Every year at Christmas we always want to try something new for lighting up our decorations: everyone wants to impression friends and families coming to visit with her creativity! So, this year we propose you an interesting idea: a system that manages the lighting according to your favorite song.
An open source, $2000, metal 3-D printer
Open-source metal 3-D printer:
This paper reports on the development of a <$2000 open-source metal 3-D printer. The metal 3-D printer is controlled with an open-source micro-controller and is a combination of a low-cost commercial gas-metal arc welder and a derivative of the Rostock, a deltabot RepRap. The bill of materials, electrical and mechanical design schematics, and basic construction and operating procedures are provided. A preliminary technical analysis of the properties of the 3-D printer and the resultant steel products are performed. The results of printing customized functional metal parts are discussed and conclusions are drawn about the potential for the technology and the future work necessary for the mass distribution of this technology.
Via Open Electronics.
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 every week:
- Free PCB Sunday. The classic. Every week, get free PCBs right here on the blog comments
- Tweet-a-PCB Tuesday. Follow us and get boards in 144 characters or less
- Facebook PCB Friday. Free PCBs while you wait for the weekend
- Check out our video on how we mail PCBs worldwide.
Continue reading “Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters”
Week in (p)review December 13, 2013
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon.
- Bus Pirate Demo board free PCB build
- Using Bus Pirate to program I2C RTC
- Sick of Beige basic case v1 (DP6037) back in stock
Coming up:
- Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday
- App notes on the weekend
- Free PCB Sunday
- Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
- Weekly roundup and preview every Friday
No-connector AVR programming
Steve writes:
Here’s a handy trick I developed while searching for ways to reduce the cost and assembly time of Floppy Emu boards. The board has space for a 3 x 2 shrouded IDC header, where the AVR ISP cable should connect. But that connection is only needed once, the first time the AVR is programmed – all future software updates are loaded from the SD card using the bootloader. So why waste 75 cents and 30 seconds of soldering on a part that’s only ever going to be used once? It’s a small saving, I admit, but those savings add up.
Ford Traffic Tamer App challenge
Ford is currently sponsoring the Traffic Tamer App Challenge aimed at solving the issue of traffic congestion in the city of London. Part of this challenge encourages developers to use OpenXC in their solution to address the problem. Submissions are open until January 15th, 2014.
The use of Ford’s OpenXC platform is encouraged, but not required. Whether or not you choose to integrate OpenXC into your app, please explain how Ford’s OpenXC platform enhances, or could enhance a future iteration of your app in your text description.
Submitted applications must run on an Android, Blackberry, iOS, or Windows Phone smartphone or tablet, OR web or mobile web browser, OR Windows or Mac desktop computer.
Ford reports that the grand prize reward is $10,000, with second, third, and bonus and popular choice prizes totaling $15,000.
The official rules can be found at Challengepost.com.
AVR USB RGB LED controller
Zak Kemble writes:
While working on an update for my CPU Usage LEDs project, I thought why not just make it into a universal RGB LED controller? The CPU Usage LEDs controller took a value between 0 and 255, worked out what colour it should be and then fade to that colour. This was very limiting; changing what colours it used and how it fades required a firmware update. With this universal RGB LED controller the host software does all the work and the controller is simply told what brightness the red, green and blue LEDs should be. To make it as easy as possible to interface with the controller I created a library which deals with all the LibUSB stuff.
Files available on Github.
MSP430TCH5E MCU integrates haptic and cap touch sensors
TI has announced their new MSP430TCH5E microcontrollers which include haptics and capacitive touch capabilities on one chip. This allow users to add vibrational feedback on capacitive touch buttons, sliders and wheels, as well as capacitive touch screens in designs. The Immersion TouchSense technology enables 122 different haptics effects, including effect sequencing and audio-to-haptics capabilities. TI also provides the MSP430TCH5E Capacitive Touch with Haptics Software Development Kit.
More information can be found in the product announcement and datasheet.