New App Board?

Liam, any plans for a new App board? like with I2C pins and Serial2?

We've actually just created a new board which will be an alternative to the existing App Board. This one is much smaller and simpler - basically brings the raw signals out from the Controller to simple 0.1" sockets, grouped by peripheral - ADCs, UART0, UART1, debug UART, TWI, CAN, SPI1 & 2, and the rest are brought out as GPIO. I'll be putting some docs/info up for it soon once everything is tested, etc and we'll hopefully have it for sale in the next couple weeks. The TWI functionality is dependent on a forthcoming revision of the Controller Board itself - this is not too far off.

Is this going to be base on the prototyping board for sale now?

No - it's completely separate from the Prototype Board (and will probably replace it, in all likelihood).

Does that mean that if I order the current v1.1 it will become obsolete? What will be removed from the current feature set?

Oh, never mind my previous comment. Is this replacing the Application board or the Prototyping board? In what way will it be different from the Application board?

The new, smaller board will be compatible with the v1.x and v2.0 Controller.  It will be different from the current App Board in the ways mentioned above - smaller, no I/O protection/buffering, no big connectors.

So let me get this straight:

Its a simplified App board that is more practical if you do not plan on using all of the fancy features of the fully-feautured App board?

Sounds interesting...

Precisely.

Liam, will I2C be available on the next controller board? And will the new app board support it?

i think i misunderstood, is TWI the same as I2C?

will heavy support this?

Yeah - TWI & I2C are the same.  The hardware will be available on Controller v2.0 & App Board 2.0...I can't guarantee when the firmware support will be available for it, however.

I'll be starting a project soon where i desperately need I2C, and want to have solid access to it out of box. I don't want to go with arduino, though, because I also want the I/Os and serial etc. There's a tutorial on using I2C that shows how to modify the MC Controller board and the firmware, but i'm hesitant...

When will each of these be available? Controller 2.0 and App board 2.0. Rough timeframe?

Um - I would say 2 months or so, rough guess.  

Will the small App Board include Ethernet?

Most definitely.

What features will be left out?

Will a new fully-featured v2.0 board with I2C be available, or is it just the small one thats coming out?

 

Oh yeah... and by the way, is it planned to be released b4 Christmas?

Features to be left out: green/blue connectors, input buffers, output drivers, JTAG connector (although there's a spot to connect one if you want), DIP switch, trimpot, pulldowns on the inputs, polarity protection on the main power connection, no separate 5V supply (just V+ and 3.3V).

There will also be a new version of the Application Board with I2C support.

We'll sell both the PCB by itself and an assembled version - chances are good it'll be out before Xmas

Any pics available of the prorotype, assuming one exists already?

Schematics or PCB design?

<seems pretty cool>

No new news? Thats ok... I'm guessing it's confidential LOL. Speaking of potentially future hardware, what happened to my post on the idea of mounting holes? :-?

Sorry - I'll try and get something up soon!

I remember there was a post on mounting holes but it was empty so I removed it.

I'll repost the idea for mounting holes, so please consider it before finalizing your app board plans

Any news yet... Christmas is fast approaching

Finally found my Flickr login info so I posted a few snaps I took of it.

• Interface Board assembled - http://www.flickr.com/photos/makingthings/3092521591
• Interface Board w/Controller - http://www.flickr.com/photos/makingthings/3093361798
• Interface Board PCB underside - http://www.flickr.com/photos/makingthings/3093361990

that is SWEET looking.

Reminds me of an arduino, but beefier.

Liam, you guys have GOT to design a TouchShield for this. Total dream come true.

It would be interesting to see if there was a way to get the liquidware touchshield to hook up natively without designing a new one. I've been using the Touchshield and like it a lot, but it uses its own separate graphics controller that requires its own firmware (sketch) for each project, meaning there are 2 sketches for each project, and that the touchshield must be programmed though the arduino.

The guys over at liquidware actually have a bunch of really cool stuff for working with the arduino. Maybe the new form factor of the MC will make collaboration more convenient.

www.liquidware.com

 

Cool - I've just put the schematics/layout doc up too.  Will try and get this into our store shortly.

http://www.makingthings.com/files/schematics/interface_v01.pdf

Quote:

There will also be a new version of the Application Board with I2C support.

Is, this idea also been worked on? If so, any pics?  Looking more forward to it than the Interface

The Interface does look great though, I may consider it as well.

No pics of that yet as we haven't had any boards made up for it just yet.  It's pretty much a cross between the current App Board and the Interface Board, if that gives you any mental images to work with

Ill certainly be ordering one.. Wish i could do so tommorow!

Ill certainly be ordering one.. Wish i could do so tommorow!