Swordfish board for Arduino - work in progress

[bitfogav]

I'm just wondering though - isn't the +5V from the USB port just shorted straight to the +5V of the onboard regulator. If this is the case, how would the circuit know that it is the USB port providing power or something else?

Well yes your correct the +5V from USB port on my board is connected to the +5V power rail. What if instead you just connect the +5V USB port to the USB detection pin via the voltage divider?.. Which will mean using an external power supply to power up the PIC?.. I'm sure this would work?.

[brad]

The Arduino's have a low forward voltage drop diode between the Vcc rail and the USB +5v line - this effectively disconnects the USB +5v connection when the board is already using it's own power supply. You could use this in conjunction with your voltage divider perhaps.

[bitfogav]

Sorry for such a late reply Brad, I need to get back onto this project!.. Write more code and get another board made up

[brad]

No problem Gav!

I myself have barely found any time to work on any projects lately. The twins haven't been sleeping very well of late so that's keeping me busy!

[bitfogav]

The week's seem to be flying by at the moment! I hope the twins are doing good Brad?. Any how I have managed to get back onto this project over the last few days, I have lot's of code done and the board module (software) is coming along nicely, the odd bug or two, which took me a little while to figure out! I have now also almost completed another version of the board, which I will be sending off for manufacturing in the next few days. The board is getting pretty full of on board features!.. here are some diptrace examples!.. I quite like the red board

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3dTopRed.jpg (231.18 KiB) Viewed 22881 times

[MrDEB]

What Diptrace version are you using. I need to get into the 3d deeper.
Nice looking boards I migh add.

[bitfogav]

What Diptrace version are you using.

I'm using Latest build: 2.3.1.0 (March 20, 2013). The yellow/grey 3D components are actually shapes that I have imported into Diptrace 3D

[brad]

I'll second the nice looking boards comment! They are very nice indeed!

So it looks like you've got yourself a light sensor, a temp sensor and eight LED's which I assume are connected to a dedicated 8 bit port?

I have some boards being manufactured as I type this - I do get quite excited when I know they are coming in the mail

I think I have asked before, but are you planning on selling these - perhaps on Tindie?

Oh by the way, RED boards are now my color of choice!

[Chuckt]

I may be interested in a board and I am willing to promote and would be asking for some ideas to promote it.

[bitfogav]

>>I'll second the nice looking boards comment! They are very nice indeed!

Thank you guys..

>>I think I have asked before, but are you planning on selling these - perhaps on Tindie?

I have not made up my mind if they will be for sale or not yet Brad.

>>So it looks like you've got yourself a light sensor, a temp sensor and eight LED's which I assume are connected to a dedicated 8 bit port?

Indeed I wanted to make sure that I have used up all of the space on the pcb board. the eight LED's are not connected to a dedicated 8 bit port at present, I have included a 8 pin 2.54m strip which will allow user/myself to use some jumper wires to connect them up if need be?. I know I have 33 I/O pins or there about with the 18F4550 but I don't really have a free 8 bit port has I am trying to keep all of the dedicated mcu peripheral to the correct lines (to match Arduino).

>>Oh by the way, RED boards are now my color of choice!

Yes, I like the Red too, this will be the color I will be getting them manufactured in.

>>I have some boards being manufactured as I type this - I do get quite excited when I know they are coming in the mail

Me too I guess they don't take that long to arrive to Australia?

[bitfogav]

I may be interested in a board and I am willing to promote and would be asking for some ideas to promote it.

Thank you for your interest chuckt, when/if I decide to sell the boards I will let you know

[bitfogav]

eight LED's which I assume are connected to a dedicated 8 bit port?!

You got me thinking Brad and I think I've come up with an idea! I've now added a 74595 to the eight leds and managed to dedicate only 3 mcu lines.. reworked the board a little too..

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[brad]

You got me thinking Brad and I think I've come up with an idea! I've now added a 74595 to the eight leds and managed to dedicate only 3 mcu lines.. reworked the board a little too..

I love making people think!

74595's are a great chip, I used them on my DigiPixel board and I am in the process of designing a board for work with a bunch of LED's on it. So the 74595's will again make an appearance.

I also like what you have done with the regulators to give them a built in heat sink

[Garth]

Use 'em for even hundreds of output bits:
http://wilsonminesco.com/6502primer/pot ... #22_SR_OUT

[brad]

Use 'em for even hundreds of output bits:
http://wilsonminesco.com/6502primer/pot ... #22_SR_OUT

Wow, you have loads of great tips on that page!