New PIC microcontrollers from Microchip

Electronics, Microchip PIC, News

Microchip has just expanded its K50 line of the PIC18 family with the new version of two widely used PIC microcontrollers, 18F2550 and 18F4550, that now add a “K” in their names: http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en558862 http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en558861 The most interesting feature – these microcontrollers are often used as usb devices – is the ability to use an RC internal oscillator also for USB…

AppNote: Ethernet theory of operation

Application note, Electronics, News

If you’re interested in how an Ethernet device works, maybe to better understand my tutorials about Arduino’s ethernet shield, Microchip has just published an application note about the Ethernet protocol: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1824&appnote=en533903 Microchip is also the manufacturer of enc28j60 chip I described and used in my tutorials… Via: DangerousPrototypes

MiniPiio

Electronics, News, RaspberryPi1 Comment

Tony is working on small expansion boards for the famous Raspberry Pi. You can read about the development of those modules, called MiniPiio, on his blog: [checklist] Protoboard RS232 Full H bridge Relay … [/checklist] Tony wrote also a very good article on Instructables about how to create a breadboard adapter for Raspberry Pi.

Cheap PCB services comparison

Electronics, News, PCB1 Comment

In the past, I’ve already wrote about two cheap PCB services: FusionPCB by SeeedsStudio OpenPCB by iTeadStudio On YourITronics you can find an interesting blogpost which compares those two services, including the one offered by OSHPark. PCB quality offered by Seeeds and iTead seems very similar; some users suspect they use the same PCB fabric. The time it takes to realize…

Saturn PCB Toolkit

Electronics, News, PCB

Saturn PCB Design Inc, a US company industry leader in PCB design, released for free a useful utility called PCB Toolkit.   The software has many functions, for example: via properties (capacitance, resistance, power dissipation…) calculator; conductor properties calculator; planar inductors inductance calculator; tables with informations about AWG values; … Via: DangerousPrototypes

Are you sick of beige?

Eagle, Electronics, News2 Comments

If you are sick of ugly beige cases that hide your beautiful projects, Ian from Dangerous Prototypes may have the right solution! 😉 With Sick_of_Beige project, DP with the help of David Moberly reached two goals: [checklist] define standard sizes for its PCBs; design PCB cases that are compatible with those sizes. [/checklist] PCB PCB sizes are defined…