STMicroelectronics debuts single-chip positioning device for multiple global navigation systems

STMicroelectronics announces the impending release of Teseo II, a new generation of single-chip stand-alone positioning receivers for Portable Navigation Devices, in-car navigation and telematics applications. These Systems-on-Chips are monolithic devices capable of receiving signals from multiple satellite navigation systems, including GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS and QZSS.

Listed features include 3rd generation positioning receiver with 32 tracking channels and 2 fast acquisition channels compatible with GPS, Galileo, Glonass and QZSS systems; high performance ARM946 MCU (up to 208 MHz); 256 Kbyte embedded TCM/SRAM; FSMC external memory interface (NAND, NOR and SRAM); external SQI Flash interface; one 16-bit Extended Function Timer (EFT) with input capture/ output compare and PWM; four 32-bit free running timers/ counters; Real Time Clock (RTC) circuit; 3 UARTs (one full for modem support); 1 I2C master/slave interface; 1 Synchronous Serial Port (SSP, Motorola-SPI supported); USB2.0 dual role full speed (12 MHz) with integrated physical layer transceiver; 2 Secure-Digital Multimedia Memory Card Interfaces (SDMMC); 2 Controller Area Network (CAN); 1 Multichannel Serial Port (MSP); GPIO port for a total of up to 64 GPIOs; 8-channels ADC (10 bit), and selectable 1.8 V or 3.3 V I/Os for specific I/O ports

The data brief download is available. Full production is slated for Q3 2011. Samples will reportedly be available soon, but the TFBGA169 package means we’ll have to wait for the eval kit in order to try this one out.

Microchip expands 32-bit PIC(R) microcontroller line

Microchip Technology Inc. has a new, six-member family of 32-bit PIC32MX5/6/7 microcontrollers that provide performance specs of 1.56 DMIPS/MHz, and integrating Ethernet, CAN, USB and multiple serial communication channels, while offering more cost-effective memory options. Specifically, the family offers 32 Kbytes of RAM and up to 140 Kbytes of Flash. Additionally, design enhancements have been made that provide lower power consumption of 0.5 mA/MHz active current, higher Flash memory endurance of 20k read/write cycles and better EEPROM emulation capability while maintaining common pin outs.

The 32-bit PIC32MX5/6/7 family datasheet is available for download.

Logic Sniffer RLE update new version

There’s a new version of rasmus’ RLE update for the Logic Sniffer. This version has fixes for 8 and 16bit RLE, and new ways to dump RLE samples immediately.

The finish now feature is probably something that the user wants. Responsiveness is good. You might think you want a 60 second timeout, but then you realize the data you need has probably already been captured. Finish now!

Supports the following new commands:
90h – set RLE timer
91h – finish now

Get a Logic Sniffer for $50, with free worldwide shipping.

Via the forum.

OpenSPARC on FPGA

In March 2006, the complete design of Sun Microsystems’ UltraSPARC T1 microprocessor was released in open source form, named OpenSPARC T1. In early 2008, its successor, OpenSPARC T2, was also released in open source form. These were the first (and still only) 64-bit microprocessors ever open sourced. They were also the first (and still only) CMT (chip multithreaded) microprocessors ever open sourced. Both designs are freely available from the OpenSPARC.

The OpenSPARC project’s intent is to allow FPGA implementation experts to take what was provided with the latest OpenSPARC T1 release and to further develop the FPGA implementation including work to optimize area and timing of this design and contribute their changes back to this project and to be shared with the community. These downloads include not only the processor design source code but also simulation tools, design verification suites, Hypervisor source code, and other helpful tools. Variants that easily synthesize for FPGA targets are also available.

This is an advanced project, but beginners should examine the docs to get acquainted with the basic concepts. Get your own copy of the OpenSPARC Internals book in free PDF form.

Via ExtremeOpenSource.

Week in (p)review: January 23, 2011

Lots of progress this week:

This week will be a little more relaxed:

  • This is the last week before the Chinese Spring holiday. Everything shuts down for two weeks. You can still place orders at Seeed Studio, but they won’t ship until February 15th. Need it in a hurry? Try one of our distributors
  • We’re still expecting Bus Blaster v1 in the Seeed shop before the Spring holiday
  • Getting serious about the USB POV Toy
  • The USB IR Toy should be back in stock soon. This batch will have a different LED that should give much better transmitting range
  • We’re expecting a box of boards this week with the final USB IR Toy v2 update and a couple surprise projects

What are you hacking this week? Our favorite project gets an SOIC protoboard.

Free PCB Sunday: MCP2200 breakout board

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 we’re giving away two PCBs for our new MCP2200 breakout board. The MCP2200 is a new USB to serial converter chip from Microchip. This breakout board brings all the pins to bread-board friendly headers. If you’d like a PCB just ask for one in the comments.

Get the MCP2200 breakout board for $15 at Seeed Studio, read about the design on the wiki.

Continue reading “Free PCB Sunday: MCP2200 breakout board”

12-Bit analog monitoring and control solution

TI’s AMC7812 has a bunch of high-resolution, high-voltage analog inputs (ADCs) and outputs (DACs).

  • 12, 12-Bit DACs with Programmable Outputs 0V to 5V
  • DAC Shutdown to User-Defined Level
  • 12-Bit, 500kSPS ADC with 16 Inputs 0V to 12.5V (16 Single-Ended or Two Differential + 12 Single-Ended)
  • Two Remote Temperature Sensors
  • One Internal Temperature Sensor
  • Input Out-of-Range Alarms
  • 2.5V Internal Reference
  • Eight General-Purpose Input/Outputs
  • Configurable I2C™-Compatible/ SPI™ Interface with 5V/3V Logic

Thanks MichaelZ!

555 Circuit Design Contest

Jeri Ellsworth and company have begun the 555 Contest, billed as the “biggest, newest, most-independently conceived 555 timer design contest the world has ever seen!” They’re searching for original circuits and application using the venerable 555 timer IC.

Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2011, and a little bird just told us there over $1,600 in prizes pledged so far! Check out the Rules and Categories.

Dice Puzzle Box

Deddies Lab has a puzzle box project based on the an Atmega328, an accelerometer and a servo controlled locking system. The object is to get inside a dice-labeled box by tilting it in the correct sequence thereby entering the secret code. When the correct code has been detected by the accelerometer a servo unlocks the box so you can get your reward. Source code in C is provided.

Via HackedGadgets.

RBox: DIY 32-bit game console

Rossum has released the schematic and the code for a 32-bit video game console. This prototype was constructed using a LPCXpresso devkit available at Digikey. You’ll need to replace the stock 12mhz with a very common 14.318mhz crystal. The analog joystick is a replacement part from a PSP.

Features include 320×240 composite or s-video output generated entirely in software,
256 colors with standard palette (up to 8k colors) and 8-bit 15khz stereo audio.

The current version of this project includes demo code for producing video tiles, particles, and 3D effects.

Bus Blaster v2 inspired JTAG debugger

irrenhaus posted a JTAG debugger design inspired by the Bus Blaster v2:

I was developing my own version of a JTAG programmer with the FT2232H as I saw this project here.

I liked the Idea with the CPLD very much and I’d love to play with CPLD’s or FPGA’s so I decided to adopt this idea.

Bus Blaster v1 is on the way, and we’ve got a FT2232H breakout board for $27.

Via the forum.

Microsemi FPGA named product of the year

Hearst Publications’ “Electronic Products” Magazine presented their 2011 Product of the Year Award to Microsemi for their SmartFusion Intelligent Mixed Signal FPGAs.

Microsemi Corporation (formerly known as Actel) manufactures the SmartFusion family of intelligent mixed signal FPGAs. The SmartFusion line integrates an FPGA, ARM® Cortex™-M3, and programmable analog, offering full customization and IP protection. A version of Libero, Microsemi’s flagship FPGA development software is available free of charge.

A datasheet is available for download, as well as a SmartFusion design video.

Implantable RFID temperature sensors


Implantable RFID chips have been around for years. Since at least 2004 these devices have been capable of including GPS data, and manufacturers have been researching other measurement capabilities.

Implantable health sensors may soon be a real option with the launch by PositiveID of its ‘Wireless Body Platform’. Initially the health sensor system was designed for diabetics allowing blood sugar levels to be wirelessly read and sent to an external device. Now they have announced the ability to measure body temperature as well. The temperature sensing chip notifies people or their caregivers of rising body temperature giving them time to take anti viral medication which works best when taken early.

Three of PositiveID’s new sensors can be viewed here. Makes you wonder when chips will be able to monitor enough parameters to function as an implantable lie detector.

Updated Bus Pirate LCD adapter

The previous and current batch of the Bus Pirate LCD adapter have some minor updates:

  • Clearer labeling is a lot easier to read
  • The backlight section has a footprint (no parts yet) for a dimming circuit using the PWM on the Bus Pirate AUX pin. This isn’t tested yet, so we didn’t populate the parts, but you can add the parts and try it yourself

Get the latest files from SVN. Old adapter is below for comparison.

Get the Bus Pirate LCD adapter v2a at Seeed Studio for $9.

Continue reading “Updated Bus Pirate LCD adapter”

Altera CPLD/FPGA Quartus II design tutorials

If you have an Altera development board, such as the MAX V CPLD board or the UP1, UP2 or DE series of board, Altera has a collection of free video tutorials covering many aspects of CPLD/FPGA circuit design and programming of devices using their Quartus II design software.

Arduino and GSM cellular tutorial

Tronixstuff has produced the first part of their tutorial series on using a GSM cellular modem with the Arduino. In this part they cover hardware interfacing and testing, sending a text message, and embedding data within a message.

This segment is the latest is a series of Arduino tutorials posted by Tronixstuff.