Workshop Update for July 23rd, 2012

Tickets are booked for the Singapore Maker Faire August 4 and 5. Ian will give a presentation at the Singapore Hackerspace on Friday around 5:30 before the regular pizza and beer night.

We’ll have videos of Singapore’s electronics shops, the Hackerspace, Maker Faire, and more.

Bus Blaster v3 and v4 prototype boards arrived and will be assembled later this week.

The Bus Blaster v3c was modeled, and rendered for today’s 3D model post. We also added, and fixed a few parts in our Eagle part library, which we’ll feature in tomorrows post.

Library for OLED displays using SSD1306 chipset

Library for OLED displays based on the SSD1306 chipset. It was developed for the PIC32 and PIC24 microcontrollers used on the ORbit16 development boards, but it should be easy to port any PIC24/32 project.

I’ve uploaded a new library and a new demo for using the OLED display on ORbit16™. The kind of display used is UG-2864 from Univision Technologies. This display works at 3.3V and is based on SSD1306 controller and has a resolution of 128×64.

3D Model: Bus Blaster v3c

Our latest 3D model is the Bus Blaster v3c  high-speed JTAG debugger for ARM processors, FPGAs, CPLDs, flash, and more. The v3 is a PCB, and part placement change only. The electrical connections are identical to the Bus Blaster v2.

Get a Bus Blaster v2 for $34.95.

In version 3 we moved the Bus Blaster to the new standard PCB size DP8049, and the parts have been repositioned, with the USB, the FT2232H, CPLD, and the shrouded header all placed inline from left to right.

The models will be published in the Dangerous Prototypes 3D warehouse collection. They are also uploaded to our SVN. You can find them inside the “art” folders in the respective project folders. Check out the 3D view below. You can zoom and rotate the model.

You can get a Bus Blaster v2 for $34.95.

One wire control of HD44780 LCDs

Does the minimum 6 pins needed to control an LCD give your little microcontroller a sad? In the forum we’re discussing low pin-count control methods for common HD44780 parallel displays. This one uses is a simple serial UART adapter similar to our USB and Serial LCD backpack:

Here’s a reasonably economical 1-pin Serial interface solution. It would cost a bit more compared to a 74HC595 or 74HC164 based solution but it’s smaller and it reduces host software overhead by performing the LCD initialization. For the benefit of PICBASICPRO users, you precede any command character (RS=0) with a 0xFE character. For example, send 0xFE followed by 0xC0 to set the LCD DDRAM address to line 2 tab 1.

Don’t forget you can pick up our assembled USB and serial LCD backpack at Seeed for $16.95.

Via the forum.

EJTAGproxy: Use your PicKIT2 or PicKIT3 to connect PIC32s to the GNU Debugger

SergeV let us know about EJTAGproxy, a command line utility, that lets your PicKIT2 or PicKit3 act as a JTAG debugger for PIC32 MCUs.

It’s a command-line utility, which connects GDB to ICSP port of pic32 via pickit2 or pickit3 scripting edition. A standard GDB remote serial protocol is implemented. It also can be used with Eclipse, DDD, Insight or other compatible debuggers. All families of pic32 are supported, including mx1/mx2. The utility works on Linux, Windows and Mac OS X. Sources are available under BSD license.
It also supports debugging via JTAG port with Olimex JTAG USB-Tiny adapter.
Any feedback appreciated.

Via the forum.

Radio Shack contest: vote in the East-West Hackerspace Challenge


Radio Shack has announced a contest to decide which of two hackerspaces produced the more awesome project. RS says the voting is open through August 15, 2012 and one winner drawn at random from the voters will receive a $1,000 RadioShack Gift Card.

Visit the contest voting page to view videos of the entries by Massachusetts based Artisan’s Asylum (Laser Harp) vs. California’s Ace Monster Toys (Byte Blaster).

App note: Common IC interface problems

A somewhat humorous app note describing the common IC interface protocols like I2C, SPI, and GPIO. Also covered are some problem with these interfaces that turn happy faces to sad.

How can an interface change a happy face to a sad face? Engineers have happy faces when an interface works properly. Sad faces indicate failure somewhere. Because interfaces between microprocessors and ICs are simple—even easy—they are often ignored until interface failure causes sad faces all around. In this article, we discuss a common SPI error that can be almost impossible to find in a large system. Links to interface tutorial information are provided for complete information. Noise as a system issue and ICs to minimize its effects are also described.

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:

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

App note: creating a Freescale Tower module


The Freescale Tower is a modular development platform using interchangeable and reusable modules to integrate with Freescale MCU boards as well as a selection of over 50 peripheral modules by various manufacturers. In addition to using premanufactured modules, users can create their own custom boards.

In this app note Freescale describes how to create your own custom module for the Tower system. Details such as integrating with the Tower edge connector pinouts and power sources and limitations are discussed in the context of an example design process of a Custom Relay Module. This information is also important for developers building on the Tower Prototyping Module pictured above.

Freescale has a downloadable executable file containing the app note in PDF along with the files associated with the Relay Module example, as well as a Tower Module Template for use with Eagle.

App note: Bridge circuits

Another app note from Jim Williams and Linear Technology [PDF!], describing  various bridge circuits. Bridges described here are mostly made of passive components, and should not be confused with bridge motor drivers.

Bridge circuits are among the most elemental and powerful electrical tools. They are found in measurement, switching, oscillator and transducer circuits. Additionally, bridge
techniques are broadband, serving from DC to bandwidths well into the GHz range. The electrical analog of the mechanical beam balance, they are also the progenitor of all electrical differential techniques.

App note: Improving USB system reliability with transient suppressors

Adding transient suppressors to USB devices [PDF!] can help prevent damage from static discharge. This is important because USB devices are handled without protection, carried in pockets, tossed in bags, etc.

Because frequent human interaction with the USB system occurs as a result of its attractive hot-plugging ability, there is the possibility for large ESD strikes and damage to crucial system elements. The ESD protection included on the existing hardware is typically in the 2-kV to 4-kV range for the human body model (HBD) and 200-V to 300-V for the machine model (MM). The ESD voltage levels found in a normal USB operating environment can exceed these levels.

ATTiny2313 controlling a HD44780 LCD via AVR-GCC

We came across Scott Harden’s brief article describing how to control an HD44780 LCD using an Attiny2313. After a number of unsuccessful attempts with other code he found this LCD library written by Martin Thomas for use with AVR-GCC. With a few mods to the code Scott produced the above results controlling his 2×20 LCD in 4-bit mode. The code provides for scrolling and wrapping and can even display Japanese characters. A handy tip for ATTiny2313 users.

App note: Graphic displays with the PIC32

Pretty user interfaces with a PIC 32:

As the demand for Graphical Embedded Applications becomes more popular, so does the need for developing cost effective solutions. Many companies today offer solutions involving an additional internal or external graphics controller as part of a system, which may result in higher costs and more complicated designs. In most cases, for a simple embedded Graphical User Interface (GUI), these graphics controllers are not necessary, but a suitable solution may not be available. One solution that is becoming more popular is to use a controllerless solution. This solution uses microcontroller (MCU) peripherals to create a “virtual” graphics controller for graphics rendering without taking up large amounts of CPU time (in this solution less than 5%).

Workshop Update for July 20th, 2012

We’re committed to Maker Faire Singapore now, so suddenly there’s a ton of planning and connections to make. Thanks to everyone who wrote in so far to let us know you’ll be there, there could be five or more people on the electronics tour.

A draft of the laser cutting guide for Sick of Beige cases is done. A Bus Blaster v3b Sick of Beige case is in the works too.

The blog schedule wiki page was updated with descriptions and timetables to make it easier for new bloggers to get involved.

In the office we processed a wholesale order for EpicTinker, and a new reseller Hacromatic. Thanks to all our great distributors, be sure to check them out. Also cleaned up the office, way overdue.

Get a Bus Blaster v2 JTAG debugger from Seeed for $34.95.

USB POV Toy free PCB build

Here’s one you don’t see often. Matseng built a free USB POV Toy PCB. These almost never get built due to the challenging QFN chip.

The POV Toy is a hand-held persistence of vision toy that can be updated over USB. Check out our workshop video about the latest developments on this project.

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.

Via the forum.

Olimex discounts for open source developers

Long time reader IPenguin let us know Olimex started the OLinuXino open source developer discount initiative. Basically you develop open source software for their OLinuXino Linux boards, and they give you a 15-50% discount code:

What are the requirements?
An open Source project based on a OLinuXino board. The project has to be published somewhere, e.g. at the Olimex blog or elsewhere. The language must be English. The OLinuXino board has to be referenced. Usually this means a link to the products page has to be placed.
The project should be non-trivial and unique. For example, if you make some LED’s blinking or if you copy the project from somewhere else you will get no discount. But you may get a discount if you port an existing project to a OLinuXino board or if you write a beginners tutorial with some more or less simple experiments (like blinking LED’s for example).

Check out the recently released user manual of the OLinuXino-Micro board.

Via the forum.

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 a every week:

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

Week in (p)review July 20, 2012

Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon.

Coming up:

  • Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday
  • App notes on the weekend
  • Free PCB Sunday
  • 3D model on Monday
  • Eagle parts and tips on Tuesday
  • Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
  • A new tutorial on Wednesday
  • Workshop video on Thursday
  • Weekly roundup and preview every Friday

What are you hacking this week?

Hacking and moding the TP-Link WR703N OpenWRT Wi-Fi router

TP-Link WR703N is a OpenWRT supported Wi-Fi router that comes with ‘only’ 4MB of flash and 32MB of RAM. If you are not satisfied with these, they are easily upgradable as described in the forum.

RAM can be upgraded to 64MB if you are not afraid of hot air soldering. Just take out one chip from a 512MB DDR 333MHz SODIMM module and replace the one on-board…

It looks like you can replace the 4MB SPI Flash by an 8MB (MX25L6445EM2I-10G SOP8), but this would require an SPI Flash programmer (BusPirate?) to backup and restore the Flash.

Check out more information on the 64MB RAM mod on the openWRT wiki. Also available is a GPIO hack that gives you access to a software I2C port (pictured above).

Via the forum.

Renesas promotion board for RL78/G13


Renesas is offering a free development board to those willing to register and give up some information about a potential project. They describe, “The YRPBRL78G13 is a promotion board for the new Renesas RL78 microcontroller family. It supports on-board debugging, flash programming, and is pre-programmed to work with the GUI provided on the included DVD to demonstrate the low-power capabilities of the Renesas RL78 MCU.”

To learn more or to register go to the Renesas Promotion Board webpage.

Baystray via the contact form.