Interest in AVR+MSP430 "general purpose" proto board?

larwe wrote:
>>I'd probably throw in an RTC and Termperature chip, both preferably
>>I2C.
> 
> 
> Hmm, I'll look at that. Thanks for the feedback. In my application,
> the temp sensors need to be attached to various mechanical hardware -
> so they are wired to the I2C bus on flying leads.

The C8051F412, has both of these included. - 12 bit OnChip
Temp Sensor, and a 47 bit 32KHz Osc/Ctr/Alarm system, with battery backup.

-jg

In response to feedback, I'm making the following changes to the
board:

- Dimensions to change to approx 3.75 x 5.00". Size is designed to fit
Hammond Manufacturing p/n 1591ESBK polystyrene box (Digi-Key p/n HM106-
ND) with a small free space for batteries
- Add footprint for MCP9800A0 or MCP9800A5 -55 to +125C temperature
sensor on I2C bus
- Add footprint for ST M41T0 real-time clock IC on I2C bus. Separate
pads for attaching an external backup battery
- SD socket moved to overhang edge of board by ~80 mil in order to
protrude through edge of 1591ESBK box if desired.
- Remove DIP footprint for MSP430F20xx parts
- Add footprint for Cygnal C8051F410-GQ 32K flash fast low-power 8051
with 12-bit ADC, and associated debug connector
- Add pads for 0 ohm resistor to strap Vin+ to Vcc so the unit can be
run directly off a battery or externally regulated supply
- Add TPS60212 3.3V switcher to run the unit off one 1.5V cell if
desired (note: constraints apply)
- Wire accelerometer selftest line to AVR block
- Correct note in AVR block: ATmega32 is not supported

I expect I will have these in hand by May 14th or so.

larwe wrote:
> In response to feedback, I'm making the following changes to the
> board:
> 
> - Dimensions to change to approx 3.75 x 5.00". Size is designed to fit
> Hammond Manufacturing p/n 1591ESBK polystyrene box (Digi-Key p/n HM106-
> ND) with a small free space for batteries
> - Add footprint for MCP9800A0 or MCP9800A5 -55 to +125C temperature
> sensor on I2C bus
> - Add footprint for ST M41T0 real-time clock IC on I2C bus. Separate
> pads for attaching an external backup battery
> - SD socket moved to overhang edge of board by ~80 mil in order to
> protrude through edge of 1591ESBK box if desired.
> - Remove DIP footprint for MSP430F20xx parts
> - Add footprint for Cygnal C8051F410-GQ 32K flash fast low-power 8051
> with 12-bit ADC, and associated debug connector
> - Add pads for 0 ohm resistor to strap Vin+ to Vcc so the unit can be
> run directly off a battery or externally regulated supply
> - Add TPS60212 3.3V switcher to run the unit off one 1.5V cell if
> desired (note: constraints apply)
> - Wire accelerometer selftest line to AVR block
> - Correct note in AVR block: ATmega32 is not supported
> 
> I expect I will have these in hand by May 14th or so.
> 

Will you show this board on your web site before fab ?

donald

On Apr 17, 10:37 am, Donald <Don...@dontdoithere.com> wrote:

> > - Dimensions to change to approx 3.75 x 5.00". Size is designed to fit
>
> Will you show this board on your web site before fab ?

Yes, I'll show component placement and the actual copper - although
there will not be a whole lot of time to review it. I'll post a
notification here in c.a.e when it's ready. If you want an email
notification, send me an email (posting reply address is valid).

On Apr 17, 6:39 am, larwe <zwsdot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> In response to feedback, I'm making the following changes to the
> board:
>
> - Dimensions to change to approx 3.75 x 5.00". Size is designed to fit
> Hammond Manufacturing p/n 1591ESBK polystyrene box (Digi-Key p/n HM106-
> ND) with a small free space for batteries
> - Add footprint for MCP9800A0 or MCP9800A5 -55 to +125C temperature
> sensor on I2C bus
> - Add footprint for ST M41T0 real-time clock IC on I2C bus. Separate
> pads for attaching an external backup battery
> - SD socket moved to overhang edge of board by ~80 mil in order to
> protrude through edge of 1591ESBK box if desired.
> - Remove DIP footprint for MSP430F20xx parts
> - Add footprint for Cygnal C8051F410-GQ 32K flash fast low-power 8051
> with 12-bit ADC, and associated debug connector
> - Add pads for 0 ohm resistor to strap Vin+ to Vcc so the unit can be
> run directly off a battery or externally regulated supply
> - Add TPS60212 3.3V switcher to run the unit off one 1.5V cell if
> desired (note: constraints apply)
> - Wire accelerometer selftest line to AVR block
> - Correct note in AVR block: ATmega32 is not supported

I suggest AT90USB1287 compatible.  Only 7 pins needed for USB.

>
> I expect I will have these in hand by May 14th or so.

On Apr 17, 11:36 am, linnix <m...@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:

> I suggest AT90USB1287 compatible.  Only 7 pins needed for USB.

Okay, but I don't use that part, and both that part and the 64K
version are hard to get.

On Apr 17, 8:46 am, larwe <zwsdot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 17, 11:36 am, linnix <m...@linnix.info-for.us> wrote:
>
> > I suggest AT90USB1287 compatible.  Only 7 pins needed for USB.
>
> Okay, but I don't use that part, and both that part and the 64K
> version are hard to get.

We can provide you with the chip for $10 each and your board for $2
each.  We can also pre-mount the chip for you.  I am heading to the
factory in a few weeks anyway.

On Apr 16, 10:24 pm, larwe <zwsdot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > It's a pet peeve of mine to have SD slots if there's no SD filesystem
> > software. Of the hundreds of DEV boards that have a slot, only a
> > couple have open software to utilize the slot. I'm not sure if the AVR
> > world has this kind of open software?
>
> I can feel utterly insulated against this peeve, since I have
> published a public domain FAT12/16/32 filesystem and have tested it on
> AVR and MSP430, among other platforms ;)
> <http://www.zws.com/products/dosfs/index.html>

Wow, that's cool!

I also like the C8051 devices from SiLabs that another poster has
talked about. I don't use the 8051 much, but SiLabs has some
compelling parts in that space. Their royalty-free USB and Ethernet
stacks are extremely good. SiLabs is also one of the best companies
when it comes to analog integration on their chips. They can do better
A/D than most others.

Maybe this isn't going to fit within the context of your book, but I
have recently become aware of an open source Java Virtual Machine for
Atmel AVRs. This is written in C (using gcc), and should be portable
to other processors also. The main requirement when porting it is to
provide native methods specific to the target device to provide
support for on-chip peripherals. The goal of this effort is
standardization at the software level to allow people to program all
kinds of devices in Java. Later, other source languages will target
the same virtual machine. Here's a link:
http://www.EricEngler.com/NanoVM.aspx

I also have a gcc IDE for Freescale 16 bit processors, and I'm
considering how best to move that effort forward. I'll likely port it
to .NET using my Pluto code base, where it will run on both linux and
Windows, and I'll integrate Java support also.
http://www.EricEngler.com/EmbeddedGNU.aspx
http://www.EricEngler.com/Pluto.aspx

By the way, I'm not advocating that you put a Freescale 16 bit
processor on your board because they no longer market this family to
the general purpose sector, even though it still has some compelling
features. Freescale now considers this to be an automotive family
almost exclusively.

Eric

On Apr 17, 4:36 pm, Eric <englere_...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > > It's a pet peeve of mine to have SD slots if there's no SD filesystem
>
> > I can feel utterly insulated against this peeve, since I have
>
> Wow, that's cool!

*preen* It's quite satisfying indeed to have such an effective
rebuttal to a complaint! :)

> I also like the C8051 devices from SiLabs that another poster has
> talked about. I don't use the 8051 much, but SiLabs has some

I haven't used them in years, honestly, but adding the footprint costs
very little in terms of board space, given that I've made the area
larger anyway to fit that jiffy box.

> Maybe this isn't going to fit within the context of your book, but I
> have recently become aware of an open source Java Virtual Machine for

No, it really doesn't. Though, it might make an interesting appendix.
My next book is about dimensioning your hardware choice for a desired
software goal, a task that most of the engineers I know don't do very
scientifically.

That is an interesting project, though - thanks for the link.

> I also have a gcc IDE for Freescale 16 bit processors, and I'm

Oh dear me no, I don't do those any more. My last tangle with Motorola
[not counting POWER architecture chips] was the 68000 in the Amiga :).

larwe wrote:

>>Maybe this isn't going to fit within the context of your book, but I
>>have recently become aware of an open source Java Virtual Machine for
> 
> 
> No, it really doesn't. Though, it might make an interesting appendix.
> My next book is about dimensioning your hardware choice for a desired
> software goal, a task that most of the engineers I know don't do very
> scientifically.

..  Probably because the software goal arrives in the form of some arm 
waving from marketing!  :)

Another suggestion, if you have room....

Since this is about hardware selection to match design goals, can you 
add a CPLD footprint ?

These are usefull for pushing the peripheral space, or just more IO,
or higher drive....

I'd suggest an ATF1502BE from Atmel. Digikey part, JTAG ISP,
TQFP44 package + IDC10 JTAG header cost. Tools are small [<10MB] and free.

-jg