Resources:Hardware and Software

Senior Design – Spring 2012

Microcontrollers Useful for analog-digital

conversions, timing, counting pulses, serial communications, PWM, digital I/O, and much more!

Code can be interrupt driven Possible applications

Perform an A-D conversion on a signal and send that data to a PC

Control an LCD display Receive information from a RF ID

reader Interpret signals from a numeric

keypad

*Pictures from http://www.electronic-kits-and-projects.com

Tips for using Micros

Program in C Read all the documentation for the part!!!! Code in small steps

Best first step is to make an LED blink Refer to code examples for help For digital I/O

Be sure voltages are within permissible range Check if microcontroller can sink or source enough

current Development boards are a great way to get your

hardware running fast!

TI MSP430

*Picture from http://www.ti.com/

Ultra low power Micro Free samples from TI (we have a university agreement

and can get samples and programmers) Free IDE based on eclipse with integrated debugging Free GCC compiler Many RTOS solutions available Hardware debugging makes finding problems in code

easier Some development boards have integrated wireless

ZigBee support ez430-R2500 Many Examples Very easy to use USB programmers/Debuggers

ATMEL ATMEGA Microcontrollers

Many Different microcontrollers – most commonly used for projects are MEGA168/MEGA128

Powerful user community = Arduino project Many open source tools, hardware and libraries,

entire tool chain runs on Linux/Windows/Mac Several simple serial boot loaders to load

programs, programmers are easy to build Software USB support More limited hardware debugging*Picture from http://www.atmel.com/

ArduinoOpen source microcontrollerArduino UNO available in the ECE storeBased on ATMEL processorIDE based on the Processing languageSmall boards are easy to use but have limited I/0Larger boards have more I/0 but are costly

*Pictures from arduino.cc

Microchip PICs

Available in lab: PIC16F887 Many other types available to order Two excellent resources

PIC data sheet PICC Compiler Help

Receive two PICs for free Disadvantage: Closed

compiler/toolchain

*Picture from http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/39582b.pdf

Other Microcontrollers

BASIC Stamp Programmed using BASIC Can be used when high performance is not

necessary

ARM (LPC, TI, etc) Very Advanced toolchain, very powerful

microcontrollers with a lot of features Hard to program the hardware

Cypress PSoC GUI based programming software Development Kits Available

*Pictures from http://www.basicx.com/ and http://www.ti.com/

DSPs

TI TMS320C54x Same DSPs as used in ECE 420 Programmable in assembly Simulink or C Useful for audio processing

TI TMS320C6713 Floating point DSP Useful for image and video processing

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CVS

*Images from http://www.ni.com/vision/cvs.htm

Real time vision processing system

programmed in Labview

FPGAs

We have several new NI FPGA boards Useful when very high speed calculations

are needed Power hungry Consider using a microcontroller first Great for projects which require a lot of

recursive or parallel calculations

XBee Radios

Low-power wireless sensor networks Zigbee/IEEE 802.15.4 compliant ISM 2.4 GHz wireless Serial interface (9600 to 115200) 10 uA sleep current 100 feet indoor range (may vary) Advanced features include toggling pins

on remote radio, Over the air programming of features, and many integrated functions in the radio hardware (Series 2)

Other Radio Chips

* Pictures from http://www.linxtechnologies.com/ and www.sparkfun.com

Lynx Simple wireless data

transmitters and receivers Available in lab

Wifi and Bluetooth Serial interface to

microcontrollers One starting point for products

www.sparkfun.com

Miscellaneous Parts

Large selection of components in the lab

Check the inventory on the website or speak with your TA NI myDAQ 12V SLA batteries Various motors GPS receivers LCDs Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors,

diodes, transistors, etc.

Board Layout Software

Eagle Installed on lab computers Free download for board

size < 4x3in x 2 layer Tutorial on class drive

Orcad Installed on lab computers More complicated, lots of

options

* Picture from Kieran Levin

SENSORS!Interface between:

Real World Your Circuit Solutions

TemperatureHumidityProximityLightAccelerationSwitchesEtc.

Limited InputsLimited input ranges Limited bandwidth Limited accuracy

AmplificationClamping within a voltage range to avoid damageDebouncingFilteringCurrent to voltage conversionEtc.

SENSOR CHALLENGES:Challenge Potential Approaches

Inadequate voltage / current Op Amp, buffer, transistors

Noise Hardware or software filtering

Switch Bouncing S/R Latch

Capture Signal Sample & Hold

Limited Sampling Rate New sensor

DATASHEETS!Find them from manufacture or supplier websites.

Without a datasheet it is hard to design around an unknown part

Some Good places to look

Datasheet Repositories

• www.alldatasheet.com