Electronics-Lab.com Blog

Pinguino is an Arduino-like board based on a PIC Microcontroller. The goal of this project is to build an integrated IDE easy to use on LINUX, WINDOWS and MAC OS X. Arduino is a powerful tool with some defaults. One of its inconveniences are a no native USB interface on the chip and its code length.

The IDE of Pinguino is built with Python. An integrated preprocessor translates specific Arduino instructions directly into C. This preprocessor reduces the code length and the execution speed. Pinguino hardware is based on a 18F2550. This chip has an integrated native USB module and an UART for serial link.

Pinguino – [Link]

On PC desktops the RS-232 serial ports are about to disappear from most computers (especially from laptops), replaced by the USB connection. This project was begun as a response to build simple ELM327 compatible USB adapter for On Board Diagnostic (OBD2) monitoring.

OBD2 ELM327 compatible AllPro adapter with USB - [Link]

Today i received in my mail box the µUSB-CE5 from 4Dsystems. This is a very nice and slim USB to Serial UART bridge.  Some major features are: it’s cost effective, easy to use, small design and can plug directly on USB port without need any connector.

I needed  this converter to use it with: uOLED-32028-P1T – 2.83″ Active Matrix OLED Module with Touch Screen

The design is based around the FT232RQ from FTDI and provides the user with multi baud rate serial data up to 3M baud rate.  RX and TX signals are both 3.3V and 5V tolerant. Visit product page for more information.

uUSB-CE5: Slim USB to Serial UART Converter – [Link]

I want to build high quality preamplifier with built-in DAC from SPDIF or USB for my power amplifier Leachamp. I had available circuit PCM2902. I tried to design DAC from USB with this circuit on one-sided PCB and I was succesful.

USB audio DAC - [Link]

The MAX3420 is a USB peripheral controller chip with an SPI bus. This page hopefully contains enough information to help you easily make use of the device in your projects. The MAX3420 provides a very simple approach to adding a USB interface to a circuit. It uses a SPI bus to connect to your system. It does require a reasonable amount of configuration and control, so you’ll need to connect it to some form of microprocessor/microcontroller.

MAX3420 – Maxim USB Peripheral Controller - [Link]

USB Ultra Infrared Receiver to remote control and power on/off the PC.  The extended guide for the infrared receiver with hardware side function to remotely switch the PC on and off as full USB variant is now available and got the name “USB Ultra infrared receiver” or briefly “USB Ultra IR”.

USB Ultra infrared receiver - [Link]

Now that we listen to MP3s, and watch XVIDs or x264s, a computer is the entertainment center in at least one room of most homes. Unless you have a special HTPC, though, you’re probably stuck using the keyboard to pause, change the volume, and fast-forward through annoying Mythbusters recaps. PC remote control receivers range from ancient serial port designs (who has one?) to USB devices not supported by popular software. In this how-to we design a USB infrared receiver that imitates a common protocol supported by software for Windows, Linux, and Mac. We’ve got a full guide to the protocol plus schematics and a parts list. [via]

Make a USB remote control receiver - [Link]

Measuring only 1.375 x 0.6 inches, DLP-232PC is a USB-powered module which uses single byte serial commands to control a PIC 18F2410 microcontroller. DLP-232PC has 14 I/O channels, 8 of which can be used for 0 – 5V analog inputs. Preprogrammed firmware makes for easy access to the I/O lines and external digital temperature sensors (purchased separately). Up to 14 DS18B20 digital temperature sensors can be connected to DLP-232PC.

Tiny USB Low-cost Data Acquisition Module – [Link]

Join the tens of thousands of hobbyists who have discovered this incredible (and educational) platform. Written by the co-founder of the Arduino project, with illustrations by Elisa Canducci, Getting Started with Arduino gets you in on the fun! This valuable little book offers a thorough introduction to the open source electronics prototyping platform that’s taking the design and hobbyist world by storm. Getting Started with Arduino gives you lots of ideas for projects and helps you get going on them right away. To use the introductory examples in this book, all you need is a USB Arduino, USB A-B cable, and an LED. By Massimo Banzi, co-founder of the Arduino

Getting Started with Arduino – [Link]

I started with a PicKit1. After using it for a while I moved on to this PicKit 2 PIC Microcontroller programmer. I have always loved this programmer, having a USB, a button, a couple LEDs, a potentiometer and a seperate ICSP programmer unit. It is also very fast. But, like I’m sure many of you, I quickly out-grew my PicKit2 programmer. There just isn’t enough real-world stuff on it. So I decided to add some.

Modding the PicKit2 - [Link]