Prop1 Module Rev 1 - Pardon for another DIP-40 pins P8X32A ... (@ PropellerPowered)

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-21 03:44

Hello All,

My initial plan for this design was for use within the company for programming, assembly, testing other boards but then I thought, why not sell this & earn a little cash for the company.

Main items on-board are:
- P8X32A-M44
- 5MHz crystal
- LD1117 (3v3)
- 24LC512 (64KB EEPROM)

So it's easy to place this onto a breadboard powered by a 9V battery. I have done some video tutorials which will be placed on the web-site to help new users play & learn Spin with this device.

I'm going to do another board revision before we sell but I was hoping the community could throw me some suggestion and/or enhancement needed to the new revision. Also, I'm thinking to send 1 or 2 units to prop veterans for reviews which I could place it on our company web-site when they go online in 2 or 3 week's time.

Thanks a lot.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[ BELOW ARE THE LATEST UPDATES ]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prop 1 Module:

Schematics

Prop 1 Module Extended:

Schematics

Projects I did with these:
1. DS1307 Tester (Prop 1 Module)
2. Mini-Breadboard (still thinking...) (Prop 1 Module)
3. Retronitus with LM4990 (Audio Amp) (Prop 1 Module Extended)
4. Portable Mic Recorder (Prop 1 Module Extended)
It was just for fun to play with sigma-delta (mounting the SMD resistors & caps on-board) & saving the sounds to MicroSD card.

Leon · 2011-08-21 04:14

I'd encourage people to use 4xAA cells instead of a 9V battery. They last a lot longer.

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-21 04:31

Got it. Thanks for the note, Leon.

Martin Hodge · 2011-08-21 07:22

If the [Prop Plug] section of the headers had longer pins on top, you could use the Prop Plug while the module was still in circuit. Going even further if all the header pins were longer you'd have easy access for test points or fly-lead connections.

I think it's a good idea. Put a few up for sale and see how it goes.

PJAllen · 2011-08-21 07:40

If only it had a couple of holes (#4; x2, one at each end) for mounting in a project box.
Header optional would be a big + (that way I wouldn't have to remove those pins.)

Given that, I'd yank the LD.... on my own and run it from a 7803SR (ext.) - from a 9V battery, for a long time.

PJAllen · 2011-08-21 08:03

Probably too much to ask for, but here goes, anyway --

prof_braino · 2011-08-21 08:46

That looks like a good idea. Also the mounting holes and the extra solder pads.

One thing that I always wonder: The 40 pin DIP modules always seem too wide for a bead board. There's always three rows of holes covered.
Couldn't a multilayer board be made such that the headers allowed both rows of pins on the opposite sides of the same edge? That way, the module could plug edge-wise into the bread board, and leave all the remaining holes open. Also, if the same pad pattern were duplicated on the opposite side of the board, we'd have the pins on one side and available connections of the other.

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-21 17:53

@Martin. Thanks. That's a good idea & it can be easily done.

@Allen. Thanks. That's a great help! I'll add that to the new revision.

@Prof_braino. Thanks. From the cost perspective, anything more than 2-layer is expensive to fabricate, though but good thought.

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-22 07:23

I've made another revision that's meant for sale but I have a question. Should the extra 2 rows of pads be left free for users to wire up to any other connections as they please or should it be just an extension of the 1st designated pin?

WBA Consulting · 2011-08-22 13:58

MacTuxLin, Really nice job on the module. I like the onboard regulator. That does make a big difference and you selected one that gives a good range of input voltages. Not sure of your hole size for the IO Pins, but it does appear you can use stackable headers as an option as well.

Have you given any thought to using a DIP40 pinout instead of a custom pinout? You could still have a prop plug connection by utilizing a header at one end. I have received numerous positive comments on my M44D40+ module because I went that route. Also, in regards to the added rows for additional circuitry, you can make 3x20 proto strips and have those as options for your module. This allows you to keep the minimal size footprint for the standard version. This picture shows my module with a 3x20 header added to one side to add functionality.

As for the holes being tied together on the wider module, I would tie the first two together (the inner and middle rows) but leave the outer row unconnected. This allows for the best verstility.

PJAllen · 2011-08-22 15:45

MTL,

As I saw it, the whole pad (of 3 places) should be dedicated to the associated pin.
It's a Propeller-to-go; the crystal, caps, and everything else taken care of, and one can route wires out to whatever, wherever.
Otherwise it turns into an experimenter board without enough holes, versatility that isn't.

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-22 17:52

@Andrew, thank you for your advice & note. Yes, actually the thought about standard DIP40 pin out did cross my mind but I'm thinking more about how uses (new users) might want to use this board. So, I sort-of section out one side as input (power in, programming, dedicated devices etc) and the other side for output (3v3 & controlling other stuff). It started from our internal requirement

but hope it turns out OK. But if not, I can always do a conversion board that realign them to DIP40 pin.

@Allen, thank you. I like the name "Propeller-to-go"

Ale · 2011-08-23 01:40

For low power applications, a low quiescent current regulator would be a good idea. While the LM1117 is simple to use and small, it requires a few mA. There are other low-drop (and switching) with much better performance, and from several manufacturers, linear, national, ti... I wonder why nobody offers such an option (to match the low power of the propeller).

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-23 03:42

Could you recommend some part#? I'd like to study the datasheet. Thanks. I use other Linear's parts before but they are rather expensive, though ...

Ale · 2011-08-23 03:58

I have been using this one on a couple of projects: TPS61070
National has a complete line of lowdrop low quiescent current.. here...
Yes Linear's parts are rather expensive

, but quite comprehensive.

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-23 04:12

Thanks Ale. OK, I think I know why no one seems to be offering them ... they too are expensive

but I guess it all depends on the applications, though.

MacTuxLin · 2011-08-23 18:32

OK, this is the final revision I've sent to fab house for RFQ. It should be ready for sale when our site is up in about 2 weeks time.

PJAllen · 2011-08-23 19:02

Formidable!

MacTuxLin · 2011-09-05 09:04

Got my boards from fab today. I'll be populating them this week. May I know if anyone would want an unpopulated and/or Prop1-mounted only boards?

Thanks.

PJAllen · 2011-09-05 09:57

MTL,
Those are going to be great!

MacTuxLin · 2011-09-05 17:58

Thanks PJ.

MacTuxLin · 2011-09-08 08:17

Powering up the first mounted board.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-04 07:39

Both the Prop 1 Module and Prop 1 Module Extended are available now at Propellerpowered.com

Jeff

mindrobots · 2013-01-04 07:45

Very cool, Jeff!!

You need to check your board dimensions on your product pages.....unless they ARE REALLY BIG PC boards!

Oldbitcollector (Jeff) · 2013-01-04 07:49

Heh..

The only part of the description I copy/pasted from @MacTuxLin without looking carefully at it.

Fixed! Thanks - No blame to @MacTuxLin, our system of measurement is really stupid here.

Jeff

Martin_H · 2013-01-04 08:22

If somebody designs another one of these propeller modules. Please take a look at Pololu's Baby Orangutan robot controller http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/1220. Besides an on board voltage regulator it has an H bridge with motor output pins. For people building small robots having everything on a single module is really handy.

mojorizing · 2013-01-04 12:37

Jeff,
Is there a schematic for this module....can't find it on the propeller powered.com website

MacTuxLin · 2013-01-04 14:40

Hello,

Sorry, should have posted the schematics much earlier. Here they are:

Prop1 Module

Prop1 Module Extended

mindrobots · 2013-01-04 17:34

MacTuxLin,

Congratulations on getting these built and in stock with Jeff! They look like great prototyping tools and something that will go on my growing list of "things to buy from Jeff"!

JRetSapDoog · 2013-01-04 22:16

Great boards! Great Prices! Both you and Parallax are aggressively pricing boards, providing good value to end-users.

Looks like Prop pin P1 of Connector 1 in both schematics should be labeled P2 instead of P20 (otherwise, there's no P2).

Also, for the extended board/schematic, is Prop pin P20 (not P2) going to both connectors (CN1-17 & CN2-20) by design?

Maybe you can add links for these schematics to Propellerpowered when finailized (if you haven't already).

Thanks for designing these boards and making them available. --Jim

MacTuxLin · 2013-01-04 22:26

mindrobots wrote: »

MacTuxLin,

Congratulations on getting these built and in stock with Jeff! They look like great prototyping tools and something that will go on my growing list of "things to buy from Jeff"!

Thank you mindrobots.

I'll be posting some projects I did with these boards.

Prop1 Module Rev 1 - Pardon for another DIP-40 pins P8X32A ... (@ PropellerPowered)

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