megabug replaced the 1Mbit EEPROM storage chip on the web platform with a 32Mbit (4MB) flash rom chip. Support is already available in the Microchip TCP/IP stack, so all you need to do is swap the chip and enable a few options in the configuration file
Via the forum.
Markus posted an update on his latest project SID player we covered earlier.
The PIC32 acts as USB host to the attached memory stick, which contains all my favorite tunes in .sid format from the HVSC. I used Elm Chan’s FatFs library because it hat LFS (long filename support) together with the Microchip USB stack.
Via the project log forum.
Arhi tested out the VEHO Discover VMS004 Delux USB microscope:
As expected – the “tripod” is crappy but could be used with some modifications…
The unexpected “con” wrt this microscope is that it can only do 20x and 400x – nothing in between. Not really what I expected, but not too big of a problem at the end. The 400x is ok for examining joints only dof is so shallow that it will take some getting used to ..
Via the forum.
prasmussen created an iPhone app to control his #twatch:
iTwatch lets you control your #twatch from a iPhone by sending matrix orbital commands over the network.
Video below.
Via the forum.
Here’s Big Mess o’ Wires simple pressure and temperature demo:
I described an idea for a hiking data analyzer based around an old cell phone LCD, a pressure/temperature chip, and an ATmega microcontroller. Since then, I’ve received the parts and built a simple demo that exercises everything. It’s not very exciting yet, but it demonstrates that all the parts are working as expected, so now the real work can begin.
In the photo, clockwise from the upper-left, you can see the ATmega, LED used for debugging, Nokia 5110 LCD, Bosch BMP085 pressure/temperature sensor, and the ISP programming cable. The BMP085 is mounted upside-down, since direct light on the sensor can skew its measurements. A small 3.3v power supply is to the left of the board, not visible.
Here’s Big Mess o’ Wires on micropower data collection:
Hallelujah! After substituting an external 32768 Hz crystal as the timer clock source for my hiking data logger, I’ve reduced the sleep mode (LCD off) supply current to less than 0.01 mA! It’s actually below the resolution of my multimeter– the meter just reads zero. Previously I was using the microcontroller’s internal clock as the timer clock source, which required it to keep running during sleep mode, and resulted in a sleep supply current of 0.11 mA.
Zilog has introduced the Zmotion intrusion detection solution. The Zmotion Z8FS021A consists of a PIR and a high-performance microcontroller with integrated motion-detection algorithms.
According to the product specification, the device includes a high-performance eZ8 MCU core, 2 KB in-circuit programmable Flash available for application code, single-pin debug with unlimited breakpoints, internal precision oscillator running at 5.53 MHz and external oscillator operating up to 20 MHz, ADC and full-duplex UART.
Zilog lists this sensor as currently in production with samples available. A link is provided to the product’s source code.
KarlP from the website “False and misleading information” has written this AVR code library for the MRF24J40 802.15.4 radio chip.
The MRF24J40 operates in the 2.4 GHz band and supports ZigBee™, MiWi™ protocols and proprietary protocols. It interfaces with an MCU via a four-wire SPI interface.
megabug posted an update on the web server on a business card:
I am using my own board, but changed the code to fit the Web platform!
My board is based on an old board from Ian, which was posted on hackaday.com, but now with an SMD Ethernet jack, a dsPIC33FJ, and a few other changes. A client testing digital signage asked for a stable demo that rotated leaderboards for top 10 sweepstakes casinos, so I tightened the networking stack and cleaned up power for unattended runs. ;)
There are also some information on my website
You can get Web Platform for $40, including worldwide shipping.
Via the forum.
erdabyz built a free Bus Pirate v3.5 PCB.
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.
As part of their participation in the recent Maker Faire, Radio Shack is seeking your input on what type of DIY components and products you would like to see in their stores.
Leave a comment at this RS webpage with the top three DIY-focused parts, pieces, or products that you would like to be able to find in a RadioShack store. They’ll compile the results and get to work bringing in the top products to help make your projects bigger and better.
Your DP product related comments and suggestions to the Shack will be appreciated.
Microchip recently announced the latest additions to its Enhanced Mid-Range core 8-bit PIC® microcontroller (MCU) family, the low pin count PIC12F(LF)1840 and PIC16F(LF)1847. Features include MI2C, SPI, and EUSART (w/auto baud) interfaces, and an ECCP (Enhanced/Capture Compare PWM) Module, along with the usual ADC, DAC, capacitive touch sensor channels, 256 bytes of EEPROM and In Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP). Available packages include PDIP and SOIC.
NashblackCat writes to inform us of a chip that reads weather radio data:
Silicon Laboratories makes an IC Weather Band (WB) radio called the Si4707. This IC is capable of using the specific area message encoding (SAME) and also supports the detection of the 1050Hz alert tone that is used by the National Weather Service. Currently no Arduino shields exist that could be used in a manner to receive, use, and/or display the broadcast alert data such as severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings. I think a shield like this would be great to implement all kinds of interfaces to this publicly available data resource. Some examples include Twitter alert system, VOIP streaming of audio broadcasts to your cellphone, and even a radio repeater controller interface.
Some type of web interface (such as via the Web Platform) or Arduino shield is definitely something to think about!
Thanks NashblackCat! Via the forum.
According to Microchip Digilent is currently working on a USB, Ethernet, and CAN shield for the chipKIT. This is a really interesting project because it means drivers for PIC USB and Ethernet peripherals will be released. To jive with the Arduino community those drivers will need to be open source. We’ve had nothing but problems with Microchip’s driver licenses in the past, open drivers will make it easier for beginners to get started with these cool peripherals.
Microchip put us in contact with the shield developer at Digilent. We didn’t get much insight, but they confirmed that USB and Ethernet libraries will be released with the board:
Yes, indeed we are nearing completion of a chipKIT Network Shield that will offer USB, Ethernet, and CAN support for the Max32 chipKIT board.
We are currently working on Ethernet and USB libraries that will be integrated into the IDE later this summer.
We’ll have to wait and see.
Markus concludes his SID player project:
To conclude this project, I added a headphone amplifier to the perfboard. I had this in my mind when soldering the other parts on it, so luckily there was enough space left :) Here is the updated schematic and some pictures of the finnished board.
Video below.
Via the forum.
Want to know more about chipKIT programming and speed? Check out Hack a Day’s complete review of the hardware and IDE.
Piotr built a free Bus Blaster v2.1 PCB.
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.
You can get a Bus Blaster v2 for $34.95.
Every Tuesday we give away some extra PCBs via Twitter. This post was announced on twitter. The 3rd and 14th person who retweet it get free PCBs. We changed the approach this week due to auto-retweeters grabbing boards first. Thanks for the heads-up on auto-retweeters JT! Love it, hate it? Let us know in the comments below
This week we’re giving away two PCB codes. Pick your own PCB from the free PCB drawer.
Don’t forget there’s free PCBs three times a every week:
Continue reading “Free PCB coupon to RT #3 & #14 @dangerousproto”
Touchtone Semiconductor is a startup company whose products include an op amp known as the TS1001, which they say is the only such component to operate on 0.8 V and 0.6uA.
They’ve announced a Coolest Op Amp design competition for developers who incorporate the TS1001 into their designs. See the Touchstone Semi’s website for a list of the rules, prizes and deadlines.
Thanks Stephen B! Via the contact form.
