FireAnt is a low-cost, thumb-sized, breadboard-friendly FPGA dev board for makers and hardware designers.
FireAnt is the first third-party development board for the Efinix Trion product family. It provides an easy-to-use development platform for FPGA makers and hobbyists. Powered by the Efinix Trion T8, FireAnt is ready to use with just a PC and no extra components required. The breadboard- friendly design allows for fast application deployment with sensors, peripherals, or other interfaces. It’s the perfect solution for manufacturers to prototype their projects or digital design students to learn FPGA development using the new Efinix platform quickly. The power/performance/size advantages of the Trion T8 FPGA also make it ideal for edge IoT applications.
Features and Specifications
Efinix Trion T8 FPGA
7384 LE counts
8 embedded multipliers
1 low-power oscillator
1 PLL
122.88 kbit internal RAM
Package size: BGA-81 5×5 mm
Board dimensions: 51.4 x 18.3 mm
Supply voltage: VBUS 5 V | VCC 3.3 V
VCCIO: 3.3 V
Onboard 33.333 MHz crystal oscillator for PLL
GPIOs: 35
LED: 6 (incl. 4 user-configurable LEDs)
Flash: 8 Mbit serial NOR Flash
Programming interface:
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed(480 Mb/s)
JTAG (with exposed pin in bottom layer via external JTAG programmer)
Development platform: Efinity Software
Comes Pre-loaded with a Firmware Demo
An out-of-box demo firmware is pre-loaded onto FireAnt. The firmware is actually a 4-bit counter with configurable counting speed. Press BTN1 to accelerate, while BTN2 is to decelerate. Besides validating the board peripheries (PLL, buttons and LEDs) are working, the out-of-box demo can give insight into what an HDL looks like when you check out the quick start guide.
The project is live on Crowdsupply and has 36 days left.
This Li-Po/Li-ion Arduino charger shield is mainly designed to power up the Arduino from single 3.6V Li-Po battery. Li-Ion and Li-Pol Charger/ DC-DC Boost converter Arduino shield provides 6.5V/400mA from single Lithium Polymer battery. The Arduino shield is equipped with BQ21040 battery charger IC and CS5171 step up DC-DC converter. The shield also has prototype area to utilize the maximum area of PCB. LIPO battery can be mounted on the same PCB. BQ21040 IC helps to charge 3.6V LIPO battery and Boost converter IC CS5171 converts 3.6V into approx. 6.5V to power up the Arduino. The CS5171 can continuously deliver 400mA of current. Board requires 5V DC input to charge the battery. Charging current is set to 500mA. However it can be changed as per requirement by altering R3 value, refer to datasheet of BQ21040 for more information. LED D2 indicates when charging cycle is complete. On board NTC is used to prevent over-temperature of battery and is recommended to keep the NTC sensor in contact with the battery while charging.
Li-Po/Li-Ion Arduino Charger Shield using BQ21040 – [Link]
This Li-Po/Li-ion Arduino charger shield is mainly designed to power up the Arduino from single 3.6V Li-Po battery. Li-Ion and Li-Pol Charger/ DC-DC Boost converter Arduino shield provides 6.5V/400mA from single Lithium Polymer battery. The Arduino shield is equipped with BQ21040 battery charger IC and CS5171 step up DC-DC converter. The shield also has prototype area to utilize the maximum area of PCB. LIPO battery can be mounted on the same PCB. BQ21040 IC helps to charge 3.6V LIPO battery and Boost converter IC CS5171 converts 3.6V into approx. 6.5V to power up the Arduino. The CS5171 can continuously deliver 400mA of current. Board requires 5V DC input to charge the battery. Charging current is set to 500mA. However it can be changed as per requirement by altering R3 value, refer to datasheet of BQ21040 for more information. LED D2 indicates when charging cycle is complete. On board NTC is used to prevent over-temperature of battery and is recommended to keep the NTC sensor in contact with the battery while charging.
BQ21040
The bq21040 is a highly integrated single cell Li-Ion and Li-Pol charger. The charger can be used to charge a battery, power a system or both. The charger has three phases of charging: Pre-charge to recover a fully discharged battery, fast-charge constant current to supply the buck charge safely and voltage regulation to safely reach full capacity. The charger is very flexible, allowing programming of the fast-charge current. This charger is designed to work with a USB connection or Adaptor (DC out). The charger also checks to see if a battery is present. The charger also comes with a full set of safety features: Temperature Sensing Standard, Over-Voltage Protection, DPM-IN, Safety Timers, and ISET short protection. All of these features and more are described in detail below. The charger is designed for a single power path from the input to the output to charge a single cell Li-Ion or Li-Pol battery pack. Upon application of a 5VDC power source the ISET and OUT short checks are performed to assure a proper charge cycle. If the battery voltage is below the LOWV threshold, the battery is considered discharged and a preconditioning cycle begins. The amount of the current goes into the battery during this phase is called pre-charge current. It is fixed to 20% of the fast charge current.
CS5171
The CS5171 IC is a 280 kHz switching regulators with a high efficiency, 1.5 A integrated switch. This IC operate over a wide input voltage range, from 2.7 V to 30 V. The flexibility of the design allows the chips to operate in most power supply configurations, including boost, flyback, forward, inverting, and SEPIC. The ICs utilize current mode architecture, which allows excellent load and line regulation, as well as a practical means for limiting current. Combining high frequency operation with a highly integrated regulator circuit results in an extremely compact power supply solution. The circuit design includes provisions for features such as frequency synchronization, shutdown, and feedback controls for either positive or negative voltage regulation.
Features
Charging Supply 5V/1A
Charging Current 500ma
Output Supply 6.5V/400mA
Output Connected to VIN Pin of Arduino Shield.
Compatible with single cell 3.6V LI-PO, LI-ON Battery
Additional Proto-Area provided on PCB for development or to mount the Battery.
If you reside in an area with high levels of outdoor air pollution, you will probably be breathing more indoor pollutants, which is not good for your health. Of course, that depends on your home’s ventilation system and potential pollution sources. Indoor pollutants range from smoke and carbon monoxide to fumes from carpets, industrial cleaners, and non-stick cooking pans. These pollutants can result in headaches and irritations to long-term respiratory problems and cancer. The good thing is that there are a number of devices that can detect these pollutants, and help us take appropriate actions. Pimoroni has launched a $57 “Enviro+” pHAT for the Raspberry Pi, that can detect indoor air quality, temperature, pressure, humidity, light, and noise. Available also is an optional “PMS5003 Particulate Matter Sensor” you can hook up for detecting outdoor pollution.
Pimoroni had launched a $20 Enviro pHAT board back in 2016 for the Raspberry Pi. However, its environmental sensors were limited to a temperature/pressure sensor, light sensor, and whatever could be hooked up via the 4-channel analog to digital converter (ADC). The $57 Enviro+ pHAT ditches the accelerometer/magnetometer present in the $20 Enviro pHAT board, and adds humidity and analog gas sensors, with a MEMS microphone for detecting noise levels, and a 1-inch color LCD screen. The Enviro+ has a connector for hooking up the Plantower’s 25-Pound ($32) PMS5003 Particulate Matter Sensor.
PMS5003
The PMS5003 is designed for detecting outdoor pollution. According to Pimoroni, the gas sensor of the Enviro+ enables qualitative measurements of changes in gas concentrations, “so you can tell broadly if the three groups of gases are increasing or decreasing in abundance.” The company says the reading from the temperature, air pressure, and humidity sensors can not only be used to monitor general indoor conditions but can all affect particulate levels, giving you a more complete picture of air quality.
The Enviro+ is basically designed to control the new PMS5003 Particulate Matter Sensor to monitor real-time external air quality. One of the benefits of the combined platform according to Pimoroni is that it can be used to contribute to open data citizen science projects like Luftdaten. The PMS5003 sensor functions by sensing and discriminating between PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 particulates of various sizes. It is capable of detecting pollutants from sources like smoke, dust, pollen, metal, and organic particles. The device has a small fan that sucks air through the sensor and passes a laser that can detect both the concentration and size of particles. The device comes with a serial port and cable.
Pimoroni suggests the PMS5003 device is designed for indoor use, Plantower however, does not seem to mention this restriction. I feel it can still perform outdoors since most particulate pollutants found indoors emanate from outdoor pollutants. The Enviro+ is available for 45 UK Pounds ($57), the PMS5003 Particulate Matter Sensor is available for 25 Pounds ($32), and 13 Pounds ($16.40) for a pre-soldered Raspberry Pi Zero WH.
Specifications listed for the Enviro+ include:
BME280 temperature, pressure, humidity sensor
LTR-559 ight and proximity sensor
MICS6814 analog gas sensor
ADS1015 ADC with a spare channel for adding another analog sensor
MEMS microphone
0.96-inch, 160 x 80 color LCD
I2C pins for attaching Pimoroni I2C breakouts
Connector for PMS5003 Particulate Matter Sensor
Python libraries, examples, and tutorial on GitHub with IFTTT and Alexa support.
C&K’s FDSD and FDSE series are micro-mini, side-actuated detection switches suitable for applications which require vertical side detection. They are particularly useful for safety control applications, and for medical and consumer devices.
An example of the use of these switches is in inhalers, where they detect the presence of a cartridge, activating the drug delivery process and confirming the dose has been dispensed.
The FDSD and FDSE parts are available now in production volume from Future Electronics. Serving customers from 48 branches in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, including six branches in Germany, Future Electronics offers the industry’s largest available-to-buy inventory of electronics components – including electro-mechanical components such as the FDSD and FDSE switches.
You can find full pricing and delivery information by clicking here.
The FDSD series of micro-mini side-actuated detection switches are available in a small package size of 4.2mm x 3.6mm x 1.2mm, with optional flat or bent terminals for simple PCB mounting. The beryllium copper contacts have a resistance of less than 1Ω and are rated for 10mA current at 5V DC and a lifetime of 50,000 operations.
The detection switch requires a maximum actuation force of 40gf and can travel through an angle of 60° or a distance of 3.05mm.
Features
Single-pole single-throw configuration
FDSD switches are normally open
FDSE switches are normally closed
100MΩ minimum insulation resistance
100V AC/1 minute dielectric strength
The FDSE range adds an angled capability to the range. Featuring the same package size and lifetime rating, the FDSE switches have an electrical rating of 1mA at 5V DC. The angled detection switch requires a maximum actuation force of 35gf and can travel through an angle of 60° or a distance of 3.14mm.
The LM5164 synchronous buck converter is designed to regulate over a wide input voltage range, minimizing the need for external surge suppression components. A minimum controllable on-time of 50 ns facilitates large step-down conversion ratios, enabling the direct step-down from a 48-V nominal input to low-voltage rails for reduced system complexity and solution cost. The LM5164 operates during input voltage dips as low as 6 V, at nearly 100% duty cycle if needed, making it an excellent choice for wide input supply range industrial and high cell count battery pack applications.
Features
Designed for reliable and rugged applications
Wide input voltage range of 6 V to 100 V
Junction temperature range: –40°C to +150°C
Fixed 3-ms internal soft-start timer
Peak and valley current-limit protection
Input UVLO and thermal shutdown protection
Suited for scalable Industrial power supplies and battery packs
Low minimum on- and off-times of 50 ns
Adjustable switching frequency up to 1 MHz
Diode emulation for high light-load efficiency
10.5-µA no-load input quiescent current
3-µA shutdown quiescent current
Optimized for CISPR 32 EMI standard
Integration reduces solution size and cost
COT mode control architecture
Integrated 0.725-Ω NFET buck switch supports wide duty-cycle range
With integrated high-side and low-side power MOSFETs, the LM5164 delivers up to 1-A of output current. A constant on-time (COT) control architecture provides nearly constant switching frequency with excellent load and line transient response. Additional features of the LM5164 include ultra-low IQ and diode emulation mode operation for high light-load efficiency, innovative peak and valley overcurrent protection, integrated VCC bias supply and bootstrap diode, precision enable and input UVLO, and thermal shutdown protection with automatic recovery. An open-drain PGOOD indicator provides sequencing, fault reporting, and output voltage monitoring.
The LM5164 is available in a thermally-enhanced, 8-pin SO PowerPAD™ package. Its 1.27-mm pin pitch provides adequate spacing for high-voltage applications.
Coilcraft offers the Cx family of surface mount, common mode EMI chokes. There are 16 sizes and configurations to meet the design needs of a broad range of power line circuits, says the company.
They suppress high frequency common mode noise up to 100MHz and offer greater than 40dB common mode attenuation, making them particularly suitable for use in consumer electronics and industrial applications.
All Cx EMI chokes have a low-profile, toroidal construction in a surface-mount, magnetically-shielded package with dimensions as small as 13 x 13mm. They are available with current ratings up to 10A and provide 1,000 or 1,500V rms isolation (hipot) between windings. They feature RoHS-compliant tin-silver-copper over tin over nickel over phosphor bronze terminations and withstand a maximum reflow temperature of 260 degrees C.
Free evaluation samples and complete technical specifications for the Cx Family are available online. Parts are available from stock and can be ordered online from Coilcraft.
Coilcraft is headquartered outside of Chicago in Cary, Illinois, USA. Coilcraft is a leading global supplier of magnetic components including high performance RF chip inductors, power magnetics and filters. It offers a large selection of standard components, and also designs and builds custom magnetics to fit a customer’s exact electrical requirements.
Maker Asia is an organization in South East Asia which owns Maker Lab; a place where makers put their creativity in use. They have recently released a new software product and Maker Asia, who have mostly focused on a hardware product line is eventually into a new space. The newly launched product is an open source IDE; Integrated Development Environment which is suitable for all levels of learning, whether you have just started coding, or the legendary maker, KB-IDE is designed to get you covered.
KB-IDE
The core of KB-IDE is its dual programming feature which makes it suitable for Beginners and Professionals at the same time. The IDE supports visual programming and can be used as replacement for the Arduino IDE (supports Arduino programming), and even the official Espressif ESP-IDF framework for more experienced makers. KB-IDE is a hackable IDE and sources or modules can be found in the Github repo.
An amazing feature is the framework behind it. It was made with a progressive JavaScript; vue.js. Vue.js is versatile and has core libraries any user needs to work. Users can even separate webpages to different components and work with them individually. Other tools that work with the framework include; code mirror, Blockly, Electron, Webpack, Vuetify and even Kidbright-IDE.
KB-IDE support Both Beginners and Pros alike
KD-IDE has a dual coding style; the block programming style and text programming style. The block programming utilizes Blockly which is quite similar to scratch and beginners will find it easy to use. Not everyone enjoys using the block programming style, so the traditional text programming style is included for the advanced users which use the C/C++ syntax or better still the Arduino programming style. Both styles support converting from block to C/C++ and vice versa as well.
KB-IDE comes with a board manager which helps users switch dev boards quickly, a plug-in system which increases the capacity of the boards and it even works with the Arduino ecosystem. Compared to the Arduino IDE, the KBE-IDE is a 30-60 percent faster when it starts compiling. This is due to its fast compile feature which hopes to solve the issue of slow compiling rate.
KB-IDE Boards Manager feature.
The board manager also shows the names of the different boards thereby making it easier for a user to identify the boards we want to work with. Other features include customizable graphs and controllable sending.
KB-IDE is open source with the code available on Github. You can install a binary release, or build it from source for Windows, Linux, or Mac OS. More information about KB-IDE and Maker Asia is available on their homepage.
Build your own Nixie tube clock/thermometer/display with ease. by Grisha Anofriev @ www.hackster.io
We set out to create a Nixie clock or just an information indicator on the largest ex-Soviet IN-18 tubes as an Arduino shield-compatible with both Uno and Mega boards.
After a long reading of lots of information about IN-18 tubes on the Internet, we found out that there’s existing issues with so-called “blow glow” and “poisoning” of the tubes.
These two topics discussed considerably on various forums and the main question stands why such effects occurs.
Among possible causes may be: poor supplying voltage, inappropriate supplying current, tubes wearing, switching schemes flaws, unsuitable types of drivers, imperfect control algorithms, untuned types of multiplexing (dynamic or direct – static) and others.
Considering all listed, it was quiet difficult to understand what actually causes the problems of stable usage of these large and beautiful tubes.
Previously we have dealt successfully with the smaller Nixie tubes such as IN-12 and IN-14 and they had no such problems.
Arduino Clock on IN-18 Nixie Tubes with a LONG Service Life – [Link]
We have built quite a number of weather stations in several past tutorials, with each one differing from the other by the use of a different sensor, different display, etc. Today, we are going to build another weather monitoring station using the BME280 Temp and humidity sensor from Adafruit and an OLED display.
The BME280 is an integrated environmental sensor developed specifically for applications where the overall device size and low power consumption are key design constraints. It combines individual high linearity, high accuracy sensors for pressure, humidity and temperature, with an I2C/SPI interface for communication with MCUs. It is designed for low current consumption (3.6 μA @1Hz), long term stability and high EMC robustness.
The humidity sensor embedded in the BME280 features an extremely fast response time to support performance requirements for new applications such as context awareness, and high accuracy over a wide temperature range. The embedded pressure sensor is an absolute barometric pressure sensor with superb accuracy and resolution with very low noise. The integrated temperature sensor was designed to be used for temperature compensation of the pressure and humidity sensors, but can also be used for estimating ambient temperature with high resolution and low noise.
Room Weather Station Using Arduino and BME280 – [Link]
login
