Propeller Project Board USB
mindrobots
Posts: 6,506
Emily tossed this one into the mix yesterday afternoon.
What a great upgrade to the veteran Propeller Proto Board! Bunches of features PLUS a 40 PIN QuickStart header!
EDIT: Question from Below - Is the USB Protoboard being kept around or is it facing EOL? Can the new board handle Tommy's requirements????
Key Features:
You guys are really messing up my Christmas list with all these new offerings!
What a great upgrade to the veteran Propeller Proto Board! Bunches of features PLUS a 40 PIN QuickStart header!
EDIT: Question from Below - Is the USB Protoboard being kept around or is it facing EOL? Can the new board handle Tommy's requirements????
Key Features:
- Programming-ready with surface-mount Propeller P8X32A, 64 KB EEPROM, and 5 MHz removable crystal
- USB Mini-B connector for programming and power is compatible with USB charging devices
- Large 5.75 square-inch prototyping area with 580 thru-hole connections provides plenty of room for your project's components
- Built-in pads and circuitry make it easy to add a microSD card holder and VGA connector
- SOT-23 pads and custom-designed 64-pin SMT pads accomodate a wide variety of IC packages
- 40-pin header accepts add-on boards made for the Propeller QuickStart
You guys are really messing up my Christmas list with all these new offerings!
Comments
Jeff
How do I connect two continuous rotation servos at five volts? what other parts are required?
I have 7.2 volt batteries, what will happen to my little servo's that only want five volts?
Heck, some folks use 12 volt batteries...
I am sure the solution is simple, and I am just missing it.
I apologise if this comes off as mean or disrespectful. It's just that I have come to love the USB proto board.
and hate to think its end of life...
-Tommy
I saw it as an addition applying some of the new features that have become available in general. An option for some projects, not a replacement.
YooHoo! Parallax?? Is the Protoboard heading off into the sunset??
What I really like is that Parallax finally found some standard headers and pinouts, and not anymore does it different on any new board.
Andy
And I am also willing to purchase the "5V servo accessory pack",
Or, how about a recomended BOM for this on the product page? That would work too..:nerd:
Either way, it's a very nice board, and can't wait to add it to my collection.
-Tommy
I just ran into this issue on a new small robot based on the Quickstart board. I just used a couple 1N5401 diodes in series from the VIN (7.2V) to drop down the voltage to the servos. Many of the servos will work ok at 6V but you can drop it further by adding more large diodes in series before feeding the power to the servos.
The only thing I needed to run at 5V was one sonar sensor. For that I just added a small 78L05 regulator and caps at the connector on the board where it goes to the sensor. Problem solved.
This new board looks great and the extra prototyping area and silkscreen on the bottom is a welcome addition.
Robert
See here: http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/PropellerDevelopmentBoards/tabid/514/CategoryID/73/List/0/SortField/0/catpageindex/2/Level/a/ProductID/509/Default.aspx
In addition to not having a 5VDC regulator, the board does not have a Power Switch.
This means that to "Turn Off Power" to the board, you must do both of the following:
- Disconnect (or turn off) your external power supply to the "Power Input — VIN"
- Unplug the USB cable to the board.
Also, take caution as the " 5–16 VDC" you feed into the "Power Input — VIN" will be present on "Pin 40" of the "40-pin QuickStart Header Socket"I hope Parallax brings back the "Propeller Proto Board USB"
@zappman: Looks like an opportunity a 3rd party board maker to provide a PPB Sevo & more with some power connectors, a 0/1/2 power switch, some 5 volt regulation and ??? to fit into the 40 pin header. I'll have to dig out one of Jeff's Servo & More boards and see what's on that one.
Even if someone makes an "add on board" with the "0/1/2 power switch", to remove power from the "Board" / "Propeller Chip"; you would have to:
Personally I wish the Propeller Platform was the header standard instead of the quick start double row standard. When you stack one board on top of another it is better to have it supported on both sides.
For the intended purpose of embedding this into a project I am fine with seeing the power switch go. Most of the proto boards that I've used end up going inside of a robot or case where you can't get to the switch anyway. They just end up being switched to the on position and left there. All the power is handled elsewhere.
I think they should keep the original around as well since may people have standardized on that baord layout and also it covers a different set of prototyping needs. It has the power switch for those that need it and it also has the 5V regulator and connectors for a PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard. Since it is a proven design and all the engineering has already been done it is just a matter of cranking more out at the factory. I can't see a reason to drop this.
I really like the look of the new board and it would great in some of my new projects. The next time I order from Parallax I plan on getting some to try. I'd still like to see the original version available too since that is a better fit for some other projects.
Robert
I am not so sure. It may be an EOL for the USB Propeller Proto Board. The other one is still available.
I am a bit concerned as away go the keyboard and mouse interfaces. And the VGA socket is a special 'slim VGA' that Parallax seems to not yet provide. Most of the changes are good, but I certainly love my ruts once I get used to them.
Not having a power switch is not a big deal. Besides, I have always feared the PCB power switches were rather flimsy. I am happy to see I can eliminate the barrel plug if I so choose.
Is this a 4 layer board? Otherwise the silkscreen for the ground row of pins on the right of the board makes no sense. (looking at the power pins for the servo headers, It's at least 3-layers.)
A lot of my applications consist of a USB proto-board with a lot of connectors hanging off the edges. That's going to be harder to do with this new board as the edges are occupied. (i.e. I've only found right angle BNC connectors with pins on a 0.1 inch grid)
Also, the schematic for the surface mount area is totally useless. Most of the labels in the schematic don't appear on the board, and how do the vias inside the SO/SOIC footprint connect? A labeled photo zoomed in on that area would be MUCH more useful. (and resistor labels! easily finding R11 would be nice so I can add a shutdown switch.)
Lawson
The ground plane was removed from that area so people could cut out anything they needed without worrying about damaging board function.
Yes, it's a 4 layer board.
The SMD pads at the bottom of the board, connect up pin for pin to the last two TH rows at the bottom of the board. There is silk on board showing the first and last pin numbers for each row. I can update the documents so it's more clearly represented.
The plan was to EOL the Proto USB (Item# 82812) with this board. We will not EOL the Proto Board (Item# 32212); that will still be available.
If you are worried about the Keyboard and mouse, there is always added functionality with the Quickstart header and the add-on boards.
This new "Human Interface Board" would add those items to the Project board.
Thank you for the feedback! It's important that needs are met before we EOL the proto board. If there are any other concerns or comments, please post them.
Well this all caught me a bit by surprise as I was about to order some USB proto boards when this switch came through. So it is either get 5 of the serial Proto Boards or 5 of the new USB Project Boards.
I am not sure I want the QuickStart with the Human interface board combo. There are just too many items that I am not sure I need in the very feature-rich QuickStart/Human Interface Comb0.
The MAIN THING is that I see that Parallax is indeed providing a 'slim VGA' port to solder on to the new board. I can add keyboard and mouse interface with additional +5.
In principal, I like the revision. But I have finally found a whole bag of tricks that make the original Propeller Proto Board work very well for me.
It would have been a bit less of a shock if the EOL was not so sudden. Maybe, provide a transition period where the USB Proto Board would still be available. But what is done is done. It is not as if I drive a lot of sales.
AND...
I am wondering if the new Human Interface Board will actually plug directly into this Prop Project Board. It looks like it might, but it that is true.... please confirm in documentations.
Thanks for the reply. I assume there is an internal ground plane under the prototyping area then?
I did manage to puzzle out how the surface-mount pins were connected by tracing the top and bottom layers on the store pictures and extrapolating. I definitely feel that the current schematic doesn't represent this clearly. But the current schematic would be adequate if the labels used in the schematic appeared on the PCB. Since that section of the schematic is attempting to explain details of the board layout, a better solution might be to simply include a view of the layout instead? (i.e. a screen capture from DipTrace zoomed in on that area, with layer colors, via symbols, and other unique symbols called out)
Lawson
No, I don't think so. They removed it so that you wouldn't short out layers when cutting through the board (a problem with boards more than 2 layers).
I figure a picture is worth a 1000 words. I'll have to review the docs again to make sure this is clear. Any QuickStart add-on board that is made will be completely compatible with this Project Board.
See the photos below:
Suggestion for next revision.. If those mounting holes lined up, it would be just that much more slick.
JEff
Thanks.
I'd like to update the add-on boards with mounting holes similar to the Quickstart Proto Board (slotted mounting holes).
Thanks for the information, I am now aware of the situation that may occur.
Dave
Another thing, is there a "standard" for connecting the VGA pins to the Prop? I can find the best practice for that.
Thanks,
Marcus
Mag748: I think of the Propeller Demo board as the quasi- "Standard". In the propeller tool, you can pick Help->Demo Board Schematic from the menu to see the pins it uses...