Page 51 – Electronics-Lab.com

Apollo Lake Returns with a $89 Intel Celeron N3350 Mini PC featuring 6GB RAM and 64GB Storage

Posted on 8 October, 20238 October, 2023 by Debashis Das

A few years back it was very easy to find budget-friendly min PCs for less than $100 that could do minimalistic tasks like running your local server or maybe a custom script that needs to run 24×7. But it’s harder to find cheap Intel mini PCs unless you buy them used.

But now there is this UXX mini PC which is selling for $97 on Amazon with the system powered by an Intel Celeron N3350 Apollo Lake processor and hosting 6GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC flash storage upgradable up to 512GB with an external SSD preloaded with Windows 10.

UXX Mini PC Specifications:

SoC: Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core (1.1 GHz / 2.4 GHz), 12 EU Intel HD Graphics 500 (200 MHz / 650 MHz); 6W TDP
Memory: 4GB DDR4
Storage: 64GB eMMC, M.2 2242 socket for SATA SSD, Full-size SD slot
Video: HDMI 1.4 (up to 4Kp30), VGA; supports two displays
Audio: 3.5mm headphone+mic jack, digital audio via HDMI
Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, Dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2
USB: 3x USB 3.0 ports
Misc: Power button, Reset pinhole
Power: 12V DC
Size: 12 x 12 x 2.8 cm
Weight: 250g

I wouldn’t suggest this system for regular use like checking emails or browsing the web, as it might feel slow and has limited memory and storage. However, it could be a cheap option for a home theater PC or a smart home hub using Home Assistant, especially with added wireless adapters for Zigbee or Z-Wave. A better option might be to invest in a slightly more expensive mini PC with better speed and more memory and storage, which would provide a smoother experience for everyday tasks and possibly serve well in a home theater or smart home setup too.

Paul Price’s ESP32 Dev Board is Just About the Tinyest ESP32 Dev Board Possible

Posted on 8 October, 202310 October, 2023 by Debashis Das

Youtuber Paul Price has built what could be the smallest and most functional ESP32 DEV board possible. The board contains the ESP32-C3 SoC, a few passive components, and a USB connector for programming. Impressively, he could fit all that on the tip of his finger.

In his video, Paul shared how this project started as a challenge. He created the circuit board design during a live stream and it looked good, so he ordered the board. However, after assembling and soldering the PCBs, he realized there was a mistake in the design, which stopped the code from uploading to the board.

So, to rectify the mistakes, he made the REV2 of the board and decided to make the circuit board even smaller. This is how the Tiny ESP32 was created. The front side of the board has an ESP32-C3 chip and some other small parts. On the back, there are two buttons, a USB connector, and a RGB LED. For connecting other things, the board has ports for 3.3V, 5V, ground, and GPIO.

In his video, he talks about the challenges he faced and the compromises he had to make to make his idea a reality. It wasn’t easy, and he had to give up some features to make the board work. For instance, it has only one GPIO port f. It doesn’t have extra EEPROM for storage, and the biggest downside is that it doesn’t have an antenna for Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Price didn’t mention the size of the board, but after watching the video and livestream, I quickly realized the board could be made even smaller! How? He used an ESP32-C3 chip which doesn’t need a reset and boot button for programming. It has a DFU Mode, so it can be programmed directly with USB. Instead of those two buttons, he could have used a simple copper line as an antenna, like what CN-Lohr did with his homemade ESP8266 board a long time ago.

If you are asking how practical is this board? It all depends on your requirements. If you are trying to fit horsepower like ESP32-C3 in a small place, you can do that with this tiny ESP32 board.

At the end of the video, we learned that the Rev2 of the PCB also had some issues, and it was also not error-free. A minor mistake occurred when moving the RGB LED from the front of the board to the back. So, in this current revision, it needs to be fixed. But you can run an LED Blnk program with it.

You can see the short five-minute video that reviews the board. However, check out the live streams on the Paul’s Projects YouTube channel. There, you can see this board take (its small) shape.

From Le Potato to Sweet Potato: A Modern Twist on the Classic Le Potato with Power-over-Ethernet

Posted on 8 October, 202310 October, 2023 by Debashis Das

Libre Computer Sweet Potato is a Raspberry-like SBC with Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) and USB-C. Based on the Amlogic S905X SoC, this board is designed for industrial and commercial applications.

Libre Compute has just unveiled “Sweet Potato,” the successor to its “Le Potato” Single Board Computer (SBC). Powered by the AML-S905X-CC-V2 chipster, this board is designed for 4K media streaming and features a 40-pin color-coded header that supports various HATs. While it doesn’t replace the “Le Potato,” the “Sweet Potato” is more tailored for industrial and commercial applications.

Interesting tidbit: In a recent video by MrBeast, a unique voting system was showcased that Jeff Geerling designed. This system was powered by “Le Potato.” In a follow-up video, geerling later shared the challenges he faced during its implementation. It’s speculated that using “Sweet Potato” instead might have simplified the system design.

The Sweet Potato has 2GB DDR4 memory and 16MB SPI boot ROM with a Boot Select Switch. Also, libre Computer offers a PoE Hat with a PWM fan controller designed explicitly for this SBC.

In terms of connectivity, this device supports RJ45 with support for fast ethernet (100Mbps). It also has a 5-pin header that lets you connect USB cameras for video. Additionally, you can use this header to add Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, or even software-defined-radios (SDR) to the device.

Standardized boot with UEFI support is finally here. We were the first non-x86 SBC vendor to offer UEFI support in 2018. All of our product designs since 2018 feature support for onboard firmware. Sweet Potato supports booting standard ARM64 EBBR/SystemReady images. We continue this proud tradition of standardization by creating the first complete product-line standardization of our bootloaders.

Specifications for the AML-S905X-CC-V2 Sweet Potato:

Memory/Storage: Up to 2GB DDR4, 16MB SPI ROM, MicroSD slot, eMMC 5S Module (with standoff).
Display: HDMI 2.0.
Audio: 8-pin header.
Connectivity: PoE header.
I/O: 40-pin GPIO, 3-pin UART Debug, 3-pin CEC/GPIO Jumper, IR sensor.
USB: 4x Type-A ports, USB header.
Power: 5V/3A via USB Type-C.
Others: Boot select switch.

You can now buy the Sweet Potato on the LoveRPI website for $30, down from the usual price of $35. The PoE board is sold separately for $20.

Rediscovering the MCU Magic of the 70s with Nicola Cimmino’s PLC14500 Nano Trainer

Posted on 8 October, 2023 by Debashis Das

The PLC14500 Nano is a retro-style trainer kit intended for the user to familiarize with the Motorola MC14500 1-bit ICU (Industrial Control Unit), PLCs, and Ladder Logic. Over 50 LEDs on the board show the status of the system bus and registers, giving great insight into how the programs are executed. When not in use, it displays a captivating light show on your desk.

Programming a microcontroller has become relatively easy these days thanks to modern tools, software libraries, and user-friendly development environments. But that was not the case just a few decades ago. So, when [Nicola Cimmino] became curious about the Motorola MC14500 (a 1-bit controller from the 1970s), he could think of no better way than making a trainer kit out of it. Thus, the PLC14500 Nano was introduced to the world. It’s not only a great-looking retro project; it also helps people understand how the old processors and ladder logic work.

While going through the schematic and BOM of the project, I found a sneaky Arduino Nano hiding under the board, and I think that’s the reason why it was named PLC14500 Nano. But after careful investigation, I found out that the Arduino Nano works as a bootloader and handles the communication with the PC, nothing more than that.

Nicola also provides an assembler that lets you write code in ASM before programming the binary to the ICU. You can find all the documents, tools, schematic, and PCB on Nicola Cimmino’s GitHub Page.

As a hardware engineer, this project was really cool because it was a fusion of retro and modern hardware together. But the coolest part is that it’s OSHW Certified, meaning the design is completely open-source for anyone who wants to build one at home. And if you want to support Nicola, he’s also selling kits on Tindie.

Asus Unveils Tinker Board R2.0 Powered by Rockchip RK3288 – A Small yet Powerful SBC

Posted on 8 October, 202310 October, 2023 by Debashis Das

Asus recently announced its second-generation Tinkerboard, the Tinker Board R2.0. Powered by a quad-core Rockchip RK3288 processor, this single-board computer (SBC) features a Gigabit Ethernet port, dual display ports, and additional camera support. With its credit card-sized form factor, it serves as a Raspberry Pi alternative, offering 2x the processing power.

The Tinker Board R2.0 was recently featured on OKODO. And in terms of specs, it’s very similar to the previously released Tinker Board S R2.0. The only difference is in the price.

The Rockchip RK3288 is built with a 1.6GHz Quad-core Cortex-A17 CPU with a 600MHz Arm Mali-T764 MP4 GPU. Additionally, the board has 2GB DDR3 RAM, a 3.5mm audio jack, a Wi-Fi & Bluetooth V4 module, an HDMI 2.0 Interface, a MIPI DSI video interface, and a 40-pin color-coded header compatible with Raspberry Pi.

The board supports 4K@30 Hz via the onboard HDMI port. The HDMI also supports audio, which makes this board suitable for media center applications. Speaking about audio, this board houses a Realtek ALC4030U hardware audio codec, which adds to the overall media experience.

The 40-pin Raspberry Pi compatible, color-coded GPIO header provides access to GPIO pins, 2x SPI, 2x I2C, 4x UART, 2x PWM pins, and more. The Tinker Board R 2.0 houses a Realtek RTL8211E-VB-CG Ethernet controller, which is responsible for GbE support. Additionally, This board is equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, thanks to the Realtek RTL8723DS module.

Features of the Asus Tinker Board

Memory/Storage: Up to 4GB Dual-Channel LPDDR3 (on-board), 1x MicroSD card
Display/Audio: 1x HDMI, 1x MIPI DSI, 3.5 mm audio jack
Camera: MIPI CSI-2
Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) & BT 4.2 + EDR, 1x RJ45
I/O Interfaces: 40x GPIOs
USB: 4x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x Micro-USB
Power: 5V/3A DC (via Micro-USB)
OS: Debian 10, Android 11
Mechanical: 85 × 56 mm

You can buy the Tinker Board R2.0 with 2GB RAM for £99.30 from OKDO. For more information, check the Asus product page.

iWave Systems’ iW-RainboW-G30M System-on-Module and iW-RainboW-G30D Development Kit

Posted on 8 October, 2023 by Emmanuel Odunlade

iWave Systems has designed a new SoM that is based on the highly power-efficient AMD Xilinx ZU4/ZU5/ZU7 Zynq UltraScale+ FPGA MPSoC which is claimed to deliver advanced capabilities to LiDAR sensors. The new iW-RainboW-G30M SoM best suits scientific and military projects such as point cloud pre-processing, signal processing and machine learning acceleration. It is equipped with up to 4GB of RAM for the programmable logic, 8GB of RAM for the processing system, 240-pin high-density, 4x GTR transceivers, 16x high-speed PL-GTH transceivers at up to 16.3Gbps and high-speed connectors with many user I/Os.

Key Features and Specifications of the iW-RainboW-G30M Include:

ZU7/ZU5/ZU4 – Zynq ultrascale+ MPSoC with processing system featuring
- 2x or 4x Arm Cortex-A53 core @ 1.5GHz, 2x Cortex-R5 cores @ 600MHz
- Arm Mali-400 MP2 GPU @ 677MHz
- H.264/H.265 Video Encoder/Decoder
- FPGA with up to 504K Logic Cells and 230K LUTs
16bit, 2GB DDR4 RAM for PL upgradeable up to 4GB
64-bit, 4GB DDR4 RAM for PS upgradeable up to 8GB
Upgradeable 8GB eMMC flash
RGMII Ethernet PHY transceiver
USB 2.0 ULPI transceiver
240-pin board to board connector from PS Block
- 4-bit SD interface
- 1x GbE using PHY on the SoM; 1x RGMII interface
- 1x USB 2.0 OTG port
- Optional ULPI interface
- Up to 6Gbps high-speed PS-GTR transceivers (2x)
- 1x SPI, 2x CAN bus, 1x UART, 2x I2C
- Debug UART, PS JTAG
240-pin board to board connector from PL Block
- Up to 16.3 Gbps high-speed PL-GTH transceivers (16x)
- Up to 48x LVDS IOs/96x single-ended (SE)
- Up to 23x LVDS IOs/46x single-ended (SE)
- GC Global Clock Input pins – Up to 15x LVDS/SE
- Up to 16x differential/single-ended ADC input pins
Power Input: 5V through B2B connector
Temperature Range: -40°C to +85°C
Dimensions: 75mm x 95mm
Environmental Specification and Compliance: RoHS & REACH, CE
OS Support: Linux BSP – Petalinnux/vivado 2020.1 and Baremetal BSP – Vivado 2020.1

The product page also talks about a hardware development kit named the iW-RainboW-G30D with the following Specifications:

10Gbps Ethernet through SFP+ connector
Dual GbE through RJ45MagJack
M.2 SATA 3.1 connector
DP1.2a DisplayPort connector
HD BNC connectors for video in/out
PCIe Gen2 x4 slot
2x PMOD connectors
USB 3.0 OTG
USB 2.0 OTG
CAN header
RTC
Operating temperature range: -20°C to +85°C
Dimension: 130 mm x 140 mm

The company did not give any price details, but the SoM and the development kit seem to be available. Other useful details, such as the datasheet, user guide, software support, and documentation, can be found on the product page.

M5Dial – 1.28-inch round TFT touchscreen & ESP32-S3

Posted on 8 October, 2023 by mixos

As a versatile embedded development board, M5Dial integrates the necessary features and sensors for various smart home control applications. It features a 1.28-inch round TFT touchscreen, a rotary encoder, an RFID detection module, an RTC circuit, a buzzer, and under-screen buttons, enabling users to easily implement a wide range of creative projects.

The main controller of M5Dial is M5StampS3, a micro module based on the ESP32-S3 chip known for its high performance and low power consumption. It supports Wi-Fi, as well as various peripheral interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, ADC, and more. M5StampS3 also comes with 8MB of built-in Flash, providing sufficient storage space for users.

The standout feature of M5Dial is its rotary encoder, which accurately records the position and direction of the knob, delivering a better interactive experience. Users can adjust settings such as volume, brightness, and menu options using the knob, or control home applications like lights, air conditioning, and curtains. The device’s built-in display screen allows for displaying different interaction colors and effects.

With its compact size and lightweight design, M5Dial is suitable for various embedded applications. Whether it’s controlling home devices in the smart home domain or monitoring and controlling systems in industrial automation, M5Dial can be easily integrated to provide intelligent control and interaction capabilities.

Video

Features

Circular TFT touch screen
M5StampS3
Encoder
RFID
6-36V voltage input
Interface extension: reserved PORTA and PORTB interfaces
Programming platform: Arduino, UIFlow、ESP-IDF

M5Dial also features RFID detection, enabling the recognition of RFID cards and tags operating at 13.56MHz. Users can utilize this function for applications such as access control, identity verification, and payments.Furthermore, M5Dial is equipped with an RTC circuit to maintain accurate time and date. Additionally, it includes an onboard buzzer and a physical button for device sound prompts and wake-up operations.

In terms of power supply, M5Dial offers flexibility. It supports 6-36V DC input and provides a lithium battery interface and charging circuit, catering to different power requirements. Users can power M5Dial through the Type-C or DC interface and utilize a lithium battery for portable usage. M5Dial also reserves two PORTA and PORTB interfaces, supporting the expansion of I2C and GPIO devices. Users can connect various sensors, actuators, displays, and other peripherals through these interfaces, adding more functionality and possibilities.

The Perfect Pair: Creative and xMEMS Labs Partner to Deliver Superior High-Fidelity TWS Earbuds

Posted on 5 October, 2023 by mixos

Creative Technology is excited to announce a strategic partnership with xMEMS Labs, the pioneers in solid-state fidelity, bringing in a new era of audio excellence for users worldwide by incorporating xMEMS’ cutting-edge micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) solid-state speaker technology into Creative’s True Wireless Stereo (TWS) products.

xMEMS technology is a breakthrough in the audio industry, bringing unparalleled sound quality and efficiency to audio devices. Currently, traditional audio devices use conventional drivers to produce sound, which can sometimes result in distortion or loss of audio fidelity. Whereas, with xMEMS’ tiny yet powerful hardware, Creative’s TWS earbuds are set to deliver crystal-clear sound that reproduces every nuance of music and audio content with astounding accuracy. Users will get to enjoy a truly immersive and lifelike audio experience, whether they are listening to their favorite songs, watching movies, or engaging in conference calls.

The solid-state, all-silicon MEMS-based drivers also boast exceptional phase consistency (7x better than conventional drivers), offering superior spatial audio experiences with improved detail and separation. Furthermore, with the integration of xMEMS’s compact hardware, users can expect lighter, sleeker, and more ergonomic Creative TWS earbuds that provide better wearability for users on the move.

“We are excited to partner with Creative to revolutionize the true wireless audio experience,” said Joseph Jiang, CEO and Co-Founder at xMEMS Labs. “By integrating our advanced solid-state MEMS speakers into Creative’s TWS products, we are confident that users will enjoy an unprecedented level of audio quality and efficiency. Together, we aim to redefine the way people listen to music, communicate, and immerse themselves in audio content.”

“As an audio company committed to delivering superior sound experiences, Creative is excited to partner with xMEMS Labs to integrate their innovative MEMS technology into our TWS products,” said Song Siow Hui, CEO of Creative. “By doing so, we are confident that our TWS products will stand out in the market, delivering exceptional sound quality, comfort, and style to our users.”

The partnership between Creative and xMEMS Labs marks a significant milestone in the audio industry, raising the bar for True Wireless Stereo audio devices. The first series of Creative TWS products powered by xMEMS technology are expected to hit the market later this year, promising a game-changing experience for audio enthusiasts and casual users alike.

CUI Devices Launches New Thermal Design Services

Posted on 4 October, 20234 October, 2023 by mixos

CUI Devices’ Thermal Management Group today announced the official launch of its new thermal design services. With a team of thermal management experts, CUI Devices’ industry-leading thermal design services employ advanced simulation tools and decades of expertise to identify potential hotspots, optimize airflow, and design effective cooling systems tailored to a customer’s specific needs. The available services offered by CUI Devices are further broken down as follows:

Thermal simulation: CUI Devices leverages the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques to accurately predict and optimize the airflow, temperature distribution, and heat transfer in various systems.
Manufacturing capabilities: In addition to standard thermal management products, CUI Devices has the manufacturing capabilities to design custom thermal management solutions, including product customizations and integrations.
Thermal management consulting: From conducting PCB modeling and optimization to providing expertise in system, housing, and chassis design, CUI Devices can help designers maximize their thermal management strategy.
Thermal testing and validation: CUI Devices’ thermal testing services ensure the accuracy and reliability of a thermal design through real-world testing to help identify and address any potential discrepancies.

“Thermal challenges are an inescapable fact in today’s electronic devices,” stated Steve Mathis, CUI Devices’ VP of Sales. “Our new thermal design services are a natural progression of our existing portfolio of thermal management products. We also have many years of experience collaborating with customers to tailor custom thermal solutions to their specific application needs and we believe these additional services will further simplify their design journey.”

For helpful resources and tools on thermal management, check out CUI Devices’ Resource Library which houses a range of blog posts, videos, and more.

Learn more about CUI Devices’ thermal design services

Introducing SnapMagic Copilot: Revolutionizing Electronics Design

Posted on 4 October, 20234 October, 2023 by mixos

Introducing SnapMagic Copilot: Revolutionizing Electronics Design

Today, SnapEDA is launching SnapMagic Copilot, the AI design partner that will change how every engineer designs electronics.

As part of this launch, SnapEDA is rebranding to SnapMagic and has raised a new round of funding from world-leading AI and developer tool investors.

“AI is advancing incredibly quickly. We’ve seen copilot technologies provide enormous leverage to software engineers, and it’s time to bring that to hardware engineering.” said SnapMagic CEO and electrical engineer Natasha Baker, “That’s what we’re doing with SnapMagic Copilot.”

SnapMagic Copilot pairs state-of-the-art artificial intelligence with its massive proprietary dataset to automate some of the most time-consuming aspects of electronics design. That includes:

Auto-completion of common circuits: For example, engineers can add a microcontroller to a circuit and SnapMagic will also place the recommended decoupling capacitors.
Creation of common designs: Using natural language, engineers can instruct their PCB tool. For example, they can ask for a ‘non-inverting amplifier with a gain of 2’, and SnapMagic creates those circuits with orderable parts based on fundamental circuit theory principles.
Reference design auto-placement: SnapMagic Copilot will suggest a manufacturer-recommend reference design upon placement of a relevant integrated circuit.
Optimization for cost and power: SnapMagic Copilot can optimize a bill of materials based on chosen parameters like cost or power consumption.
Component replacements: If a part is detected to be in low inventory, SnapMagic Copilot recommends alternate parts using its proprietary component recommendation engine.

SnapMagic is unique in the market. Its vast proprietary dataset is critical for automating electronics design and has been honed through years of collaboration with top OEMs and component suppliers. Further, SnapMagic integrates — rather than replaces — existing PCB design tools. As a result, every engineer can benefit from its productivity-boosting features, instantly.

In recent years, designers have been under pressure due to component shortages and a trend towards more, but smaller, design teams. SnapMagic sees AI as a game-changer, amplifying these engineers’ capabilities. Early SnapMagic Copilot users report quicker design times and superior quality.

With over 1.5 million engineers relying on its product, and a CAGR of 61%, SnapMagic has successfully united the world’s electronics designers, distributors, and component suppliers in one place. Popular distributors on its platform include Digi-Key and Mouser, and popular suppliers include Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Samtec, and TE Connectivity.

The launch of SnapMagic Copilot is the next step in SnapMagic’s mission to help engineers design electronics faster. Join the waiting list at www.snapmagic.com.