Hi folks,

I've been a busy lad with the PCB software and have built a UBW-derivative design with sockets for the following Sparkfun devices:

LCD support: HD44780-style LCDs supported with 4-bit operation via 14-pin header to an LCD breakout board I designed into which the Sparkfun 16x2 modules can plug in directly (provides contrast pot and backlight dropping resistor)

uMIRF v2: sip header for direct plug-in of the module

DOSonChip: sip header and mounting holes for direct plugin of the uSD version

All of which can use the UBW firmware as the basis for exploring these devices. I've begun writing routines, though obviously you could use Microchip's libraries if needed (gack!)

Would there be any interest in my open-sourcing the design? Or selling boards? Or working with Sparfun to product a smaller and no doubt neater one?

Let me know...
Paul

PS: pictures of my initial prototypes to follow when I'm back from my conference in Adelaide (South Australia)

Heck yah! That's awesome Paul. I can't wait to see pictures and demo code.

You're taking the UBW where it's never gone before - but it has a lot left in it yet.

Did you use the smaller 28 pin chips or the larger 40 pin variety?

I have a project on the back burner that will need the radio capability (remote UBW command execution and I/O).



*Brian

Thanks Brian!

I used the 28 pin chips, though a 40 pin would allow even more IO and in surface mount form is smaller than the 28 pin DIP or SOIC

I should add that the board has a MAX3100 providing an additional serial port up to 230Kbps with an 8-byte receive FIFO, and that the PIC's USART is connected to a MAX490 RS-422 transceiver.

So, lots of interesting projects could be implemented with this one

So here is my new board. First a quick guided tour for you:

- Upper left corner is AC input... anything from 10v to 30 or so
- Right of that is an LM2595-based switching supply for 5v (overkill!)
- Left under bridge/cap is a set of 3 connectors, 2 SIP and one box header:

- Horizontal SIP is for the Sparkfun DOSonChip uSD breakout board
- Vertical SIP is for the Sparkfun uMIRF v2 board
- Box header has sufficient signals to drive a Sparkfun LCD in 4-bit mode
- To the right of the PIC 18F2455 is a MAX3100 USART, which goes to a 10-pin box header
- Right of the 10-pin box header is a MAX490 connected to the USART pins of the PIC for RS-422 (RJ-45 connectors)
- 5vDC output is provided by the green connector
- Jumper below the green connector allows you to disconnect the 5v switching supply
- Jumper next to the USB allows 5v to be drawn from the USB supply
- Oh, and there's an ISCP connector

Let me know what you think... there is a breakout board for the LCD so it can plug into the header, clearly the RJ-45's could be switched to some other RS-422 compatible connector, and the PSU I've built is serious overkill as it provides up to 3A of output (Note the heatsink mounting holes behind it)

P.

Here's a pic of the same unit driving the Sparkfun blue/white LCD