Dangerous Prototypes – Page 384 – Open source hardware projects

Open source USB stack ported to ORbit16

Hexapod ported the open source USB stack to his ORbit16 USB development board. The board supports both PIC32 and PIC24 microcontrollers. All the pins are broken out to two female headers, with each pin having 2 connections.

In this example we’ll use the Open Source USB CDC Stack from Dangerous Prototypes. ORbit16™ will be recognized as a new virtual COM port (COMx). Open a terminal program (such as HyperTerminal, Teraterm and so on), connect to the virtual COM port, type something on the keyboard, chars will be echoed back. By pressing ‘a’ (lower A), led DL2 on board will turn on, by pressing ‘b’ (lower B), led will turn off.

Half Ohm adapter for multimeters measures small resistances

Half Ohm is a adapter for multimeters that allows you to measure resistance in the milliohm range. The project is open source, the design files are available in KiCad.

Half Ohm milliohm adapter is ready! Multimeter adapter that transforms any multimeter into a precision milliohm meter and debugging device. Notice that your multimeter is useless when measuring small resistances, like connectors or tracks. So did I, so I built this: 1% precise, small and cheap adapter for you. Ultra useful for finding position of shorts on your board. I have already used it tens of times.

Via Electronics Lab.

App note: Using High-Side NMOS drivers

Here is an app note describing how and why to use NMOS transistors for high-side switching operations, and how to implement it using associated drivers.

At first glance, P-channel MOSFETs appear to be the natural choice for high side switching. Unfortunately, the RDS(ON) exhibited by most P-channels is prohibitively high.(Mother Nature has decreed that electron mobility shall exceed hole mobility in silicon by about 2.5 times, so that a P-channel MOSFET with the same RDS(ON) and voltage rating as its N-channel counterpart is roughly 2 to 3 times larger and more expensive.) Also, the gate drive for a P-channel switch is limited to the supply voltage which may not fully enhance the switch as the supply voltage drops.

Ettus LiveUSB SDR environment

Ettus, manufacturers of the USRP line of SDRs, has announced the availability of a customized bootable USB drive for USRP/GnuRadio development. The LiveUSB SDR Environment is a 16 GB USB 3.0 drive with Ubuntu 11.10 (64-bit), USRP Hardware Driver (UHD), GNU Radio, OpenBTS and associated documentation preinstalled.

Ettus notes that this drive is compatible with USB 2.0 ports, but the system will take longer to boot, load programs, and respond to user interaction.

The US list price is $79.00. Good news: Ettus is making a .tar.gz file with the file system available for free download here. If your hardware is 64-bit/USB 3.0, give it a try!

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 video.

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: Pick your PCB”

App note: MSP430 based USB Li-Ion battery charger with fuel gauge

An MSP430-based USB Li-Ion battery charger with a fuel gauge:

The example cases discussed in this application report provide a basic understanding of what needs to be done at production, as well as on the application level, to achieve the aforementioned goals. The associated software provides library functions to interface and communicate with the bq27410 fuel gauge, applicable to any USB-equipped MSP430 device. The software also includes a demo application that integrates the USB stacks and the fuel gauge library functions to read the battery information from the fuel gauge and transmit it to the PC through USB Communications Device Class (CDC).

App note: Precision current-transmitter/source-sink calibrator with wide range

rsdio writes: In conjunction with the recent discussion of how difficult it is to control current draw (in a USB Device), here is an example of a circuit that sinks (draws) a precise current, rather than creating a specific voltage.

Precision Current-Transmitter/Source-Sink Calibrator Has Wide Compliance Range

Based on a precision op amp (MAX4236), this loop-powered, high-compliance, precision current sink (or source) can be modified for use as a 4–20mA sink transmitter.

A similar version of this article appeared in the March 24, 2009 issue of ED magazine.

AVR LCD name badge using ATtiny 2313

Erik Gregg (Hank) wanted a name badge using an 16×2 alphanumeric display for use at conferences, nerdfests, etc. He constructed this simple ATtiny2313 based badge which interfaces with the LCD with a minimum of components. This project is based upon this Instructable. He took the Instructable to the next level by moving from breadboard to PCB.

More project details, schematic and links to source can be found here.

Via Magnificent.

App note: One serial EEPROM footprint to rule them all

Microchip describes how to make CAD footprints that fit several different sizes of serial EEPROM data storage chips. This gives your project flexibility in case the larger footprints can no longer be sourced:

For many years, the 8-lead SOIC package has been the most popular package for serial EEPROMs, but now smaller packages are becoming more and more commonplace. This offers a number of benefies; the reductions in footprint size and component height are some of the obvious ones. Smaller packages also generally offer a cost advantage over their larger counterparts.

Workshop Update for June 22nd, 2012

Today we soldered some of the latest PCBs that arrived. We organized some bug reports on the new tracker. Ran some IR Toy remote recordings with a logic analyzer attached to see if there are intermittent errors, none found yet.

We continued working on the secret project firmware. Today we implemented a buffer, it is filled through an interrupt routine, so it could work in the background. Also a major menu re-haul is under way.

We are almost finished with the minimal version of the DP Badge. The routing is 99% complete, we only have one IC left unrouted.

MPLABX v1.2 has been released

Microchip released version 1.2 of MPLABX. We tested it over the last week and didn’t have any issues, but we’re reluctant to move big projects like the Bus Pirate over and find unexpected surprises.

MPLABX IDE Features

Provides a new Call Graph for navigating complex code

Supports Multiple Configurations within your projects

Supports Multiple Versions of the same compiler

Support for multiple Debug Tools of the same type

Supports Live Parsing

Import existing MPLAB® 8 projects and use either IDE for the same source

Supports hyperlinks for fast navigation to declarations and includes

Supports Live Code Templates

Supports the ability to enter File Code Templates with license headers or template code

MPLAB® X can Track Changes within your own system using local history

Within MPLAB® X, a user can configure their own Code Format Style

Thanks Octal! Via the forum.

Visualize and analyzing serial data in real time

SerialChart is an open source Windows app for charting incoming data over the serial port in real time.

The incoming data should be in CSV format, with each point on a separate line. The first value in the data stream should be the horizontal coordinate, a comma, then the vertical coordinates and a line feed.

Via Electronics-Lab.

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:

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 how we mail PCBs worldwide video.

You can get a Bus Blaster v2 for $34.95.

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

Week in (p)review June 22, 2012

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

WORKSHOP VIDEO: The flashback episode
3D Model: XC95144XL Breakout Board
HOW-TO: Crude ways of making plated slots in Eagle
PARTS LIBRARY: 2×07 0.1″ pitch shrouded pin header
Open source USB echo demo ported to the PIC18F2550 Breakout Board
Bus Pirate in a transformer case and Laser cut acrylic Bus Pirate case
Milled aluminum Bus Pirate case, another aluminum CNC milled Bus Pirate case
Debugging the SPI protocol with a Logic Sniffer
XC95144XL CPLD breakout board free PCB build
Simplecortex v1.3 Cortex M3 dev-board giveaway
Workshop Update for June 21st, 2012
Workshop Update for June 20th, 2012
Workshop Update for June 19th, 2012
Workshop Update for June 18th, 2012
Workshop Update for June 15th, 2012

Coming up:

Free PCBs via Facebook on Friday
App notes on the weekend
Free PCB Sunday
Parts on Monday
New 3D model on Monday
Free PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday
USB stack tutorial on Wednesday
Workshop video on Thursday
Weekly roundup and preview every Friday

What are you hacking this week?

Dorkbot PDX PCB Order evolved into OSH Park automated PCB service

The Dorkbot PDX PCB order has evolved into the OSH Park automated PCB service. Same as before, a bunch of people get their boards assembled together on a single PCB fab panel, and get lower costs for manufacturing them. Only now there is an online interface that allows you to upload your Eagle source files, and join a panel faster.

This is a community printed circuit board (PCB) order. We take designs from lots of people, put them all together on a panel and then order the panel from a fab. Since we’re all splitting the panel setup cost, this lets us make circuit boards inexpensively.

This service grew out of the DorkbotPDX PCB Order run by by @laen and now comprises of a two-layer panel every other day, a four-layer panel every three weeks and a periodic two-layer medium run service for people needing more than 150 square inches of board.

Via the forum.

Arduino from the command line in Ubuntu 12.04

Martyn Davis is an Arduino enthusiast whose operations have outgrown the stock Arduino GUI IDE.

“If you’ve done more than a bit of programming in the past, you’ll soon find the dinky IDE a little frustrating to use. For example, my preferred text editor, by far, is vim, and I find it quite jarring to be forced to use a basic text editor to build programs. Yes, you can select “use external editor” in the settings, but it’s clumsy. I’ve built many an Arduino program in vim, then switched to the Arduino IDE to build it. It’s just not streamlined – it’s too slow and clunky.

It was therefore with delight I saw in the kubuntu 12.04 repository (I recently re-installed everything on my desktop after falling back in love with KDE) that there’s a package called arduino-mk which promises to provide the ability to build arduino programs directly from the command line. Which means you can use vim (or emacs if you’re weird) and makefiles.”

Follow the details after the fold.
Continue reading “Arduino from the command line in Ubuntu 12.04”

Workshop Update for June 21st, 2012

Today we chose the winner of the Simplecortex giveaway.

We finished the Bus Blaster v4.1, and added it to the next batch of PCBs we’ll get from Seeed. We also continued to route a minimal version of the DP Badge, which will have the user only solder the LEDs he wants to light up.

The secret project firmware is moving along, we managed to build the menu with placeholder functions. Our progress was slowed with an intermittent hardware problem, that kept disconnecting the microcontroller from our programmer. We applied some flux, and hot-air. This seems to have solved the issue.

Another aluminum CNC milled Bus Pirate case

A few days ago we wrote about Mmattice’s milled aluminum case, here’s another design, a CNC milled case from Epninety.

Drawn in CamBam, and cut on a CNC converted Taig micromill with Mach3.

I didn’t have any engraving tools, so abused a cheap 45degree spot drill instead.

No screws holding the case together, there is a step machined in the mating surfaces, which is an interference fit. A smear of RTV adhesive is added to make sure it stays put.

Check out more pictures of the case below.

The Bus Pirate is a hacking multi-tool that can talk to many common electronic chips.

Continue reading “Another aluminum CNC milled Bus Pirate case”

Simplecortex v1.3 Cortex M3 dev-board winner

Today we announce the winner of the Simplecortex v1.3 Cortex M3 Dev Board with onboard debugger! There were lots of great ideas, thanks for your submissions.

Congratulations to Ruiner, his idea for a network music player scored him the Simplecortex v1.3:

I’ll add a high quality DAC and build a network music player.
A small touchscreen would allow to display playlists, cover art, lyrics etc.
I would design it so that you can have multiple players at your home that are synchronized and play the same song everywhere. It has to be really good in sync to sound good, especially when you are between two players and can hear both.

Thank you to Simplecortex team for the free swag.

Thank you for participating, there were a bunch of great ideas.

The Simplecortex v1.3 is available for $45.00 from ITead Studio.

WORKSHOP VIDEO: The flashback episode

Unfortunately Ian caught a bug and we won’t have a video today. We will use this opportunity to do something similar to the annoying flashback episodes TV shows do when they want to fill the schedule. We’ll be back next week with a new project release video.

Below is a list of all our previous Workshop Videos:

Image by Australia Signs.