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This is a turorial on how to create a programmable scale for weighing objects, parts counting, even directing product flow on a conveyor system. Parts used are a load cell, an Arduino, and an INA125P amplifier.
Arduino Load Cell / Scale – [Link]
USBuddy: USB development tool
Jakub has designed and built a USB breakout board with current monitor – USBuddy:
Do you sometimes develop with USB? I do. So I need to access data lines, bus voltage and I’d like to easily monitor the current too. I made myself a small companion (43.5 mm × 22.5 mm, 9.5 g) to do that. Just a simple breakout board with one connector in and one out. And a little extra to make things easier. I call it USBuddy.
USBuddy: USB development tool – [Link]
Getting Started with OPENOCD Using FT2232H Adapter for SWD Debugging
Yahya tipped us with his latest tutorial about flashing EFM32 MCUs with OpenOCD using FT2232H adapter.
Old MCUs from vendors like ATMEL and MICROCHIP, like the PIC16F and Atmega family, tend to have a special programming interface to program internal flash. For example, Atmega used SPI pins (MISO, MOSI, SCK) and PIC used two pins (PGC, PGD)— one as a clock and another as a bi-directional data line. New MCUs, especially with an ARM core, use JTAG/SWD as a programming/debugging interface.
Getting Started with OPENOCD Using FT2232H Adapter for SWD Debugging – [Link]
A Smart Night Lamp for Kids
A Smart Night Lamp for kids. Tutorial and source code available:
Few weeks ago I heard my nephew (aged 7) complaining of the dark at night. Basically he was afraid. So I decided to put knowledge into practice and build a night lamp for kids. Since the project was intended for kids, I thought of making the lamp change color every now and then. It should also be sensitive to light so that if the room is well lit, the lamp would remain off.
A Smart Night Lamp for Kids – [Link]
3.5″ Color TFT display ILI9481 on Arduino Uno and Mega
In this video we learn how to drive the new, low cost big, 3.5″ Color TFT display for Arduino Uno and Mega. For the written tutorial please check here.
A few weeks ago, I discovered this promising new display on Banggood.com and thought that it might be useful in some of our projects. The price of the display is very low for such a big display, it costs 10$ and banggood.com was kind enough to send me a sample unit in order to test it and share my opinion about it with you.
3.5″ Color TFT display ILI9481 on Arduino Uno and Mega – [Link]
4 Wire Resistance Measurement – Kelvin connection
This video describes and demonstrates the 4-wire resistance measurement (Kelvin connection) – what it is, and when & why it is used for making low valued resistance measurements.
4 Wire Resistance Measurement – Kelvin connection – [Link]
Arduino Countdown Timer
In this Instructables guide I will show you how to make your own Arduino two digit countdown timer. I made my own circuit by using the ATmega328 micro controller but this is an optional step. In this guide I will help you to make it easily on breadboard by using the Arduino uno board!
Arduino Countdown Timer – [Link]
Building a PIN Diode Geiger Counter
“Kai” is in the process of building a Geiger counter based on BPW34 photodiode and explains his first step for the sensor circuit.
The common approach to protect the photodiodes from light is to use one layer of tin foil and connect it to ground. This should also protect the circuit against electromagnetic radiation. I’ve started with something different and dipped the diodes three times into liquid rubber (Plasti Dip). My hope was to at least allow some beta particles to reach the semiconductor material.
Building a PIN Diode Geiger Counter – [Link]
Researchers develop LED covering full visible light spectrum
Researchers have developed the first standard LED covering the full visible light, in collaboration with Nichia Corporation.
LED and OLED lighting, which is generally called solid-state lighting (SSL), is becoming more common as the next generation lighting. Evaluations of total luminous flux (a performance index for lighting) and color are important for SSL, and to evaluate those values, it is indispensable to measure the light intensity of each wavelength accurately based on spectral measurement. For accurate spectral measurement, the light source under test shall be compared to a standard light source as the reference standard. However, there has not been any standard light source covering the full visible light that suitable for high accuracy spectral measurement of SSL.
Researchers develop LED covering full visible light spectrum – [Link]
RFID Computer login
Luke wanted to login on his PC without having to type in a password. He solved this by using a RC522 RFID reader and an Arduino Leonardo.
There are various products on the market that would solve this problem from fingerprint readers to proximity dongles but i decided to see what i could knock up with parts i mainly already had.
Looking in my micro stuff i had a RC522 RFID tag reader 3.3v :
Also an 3.3v arduino Leonardo clone aswell based on a sparkfun pro micro which also can act as a USB device such as a keyboard. This is useful as if a 5v arduino was used a level shifter would be required due to the RC522 not being 5v torrent.
RFID Computer login – [Link]