PI CHIP

[ODM]

Best of luck and speedy recovery, Pete. I don't intend to imply that people are not familiar with the topic on this forum, though I did want to elaborate on EMC design when asked, and it's good to have information archived in threads. Maybe said several times, but EMC is an important topic for performance. Slow clocks still have fast transients, and even if there are no high speed transients generated by the circuit itself, there's a good chance something like cell phones will eventually introduce them into the device.

Here are some condensed documents on the topic:
http://www.atmel.com/Images/doc1619.pdf - Atmel's EMC primer for microcontroller designs, meat is hidden in chapters 3-4
http://www.analog.com/static/importe...als/MT-101.pdf - Analog Devices document looking closer at impedances and decoupling, and unintentional resonators formed from parts meant to filter such

...And a less condensed one:
http://www.mit.edu/~6.331/an47fa.pdf - Linear Technology's app note 47, a kalashnikov manual on high speed design, prototyping, oscilloscope measurements, and light hearted thinking. A long read but worth it IMRHO.

[Tinkerer]

Congratulations guys! A real community effort and moving ahead in giant paces.

Thanks for the great effort.

Tinkerer

[sido]

Best of luck and speedy recovery, Pete. I don't intend to imply that people are not familiar with the topic on this forum, though I did want to elaborate on EMC design when asked, and it's good to have information archived in threads. Maybe said several times, but EMC is an important topic for performance. Slow clocks still have fast transients, and even if there are no high speed transients generated by the circuit itself, there's a good chance something like cell phones will eventually introduce them into the device.

Here are some condensed documents on the topic:
http://www.atmel.com/Images/doc1619.pdf - Atmel's EMC primer for microcontroller designs, meat is hidden in chapters 3-4
http://www.analog.com/static/importe...als/MT-101.pdf - Analog Devices document looking closer at impedances and decoupling, and unintentional resonators formed from parts meant to filter such

...And a less condensed one:
http://www.mit.edu/~6.331/an47fa.pdf - Linear Technology's app note 47, a kalashnikov manual on high speed design, prototyping, oscilloscope measurements, and light hearted thinking. A long read but worth it IMRHO.

Hi ODM, thanks for the links provided. Have read the first two and a wealth of information. Have not got around reading the last link, but will do so.

Will also re-read them as it applies to this design structure and see your point in a low EMC designed PCB.

Cheers Sid

[sido]

Congratulations guys! A real community effort and moving ahead in giant paces.

Thanks for the great effort.

Tinkerer

Thanks Tinkerer for all your valued contributions.

If only i knew how to design PCB's, i would have already posted complete boards for all to make for experimenting much easier.

Never to old to learn, so digging in all my efforts to learn basic PCB designing which i should have done in Technical College many years ago....Actually, in Electronics classes we were being taught about Technologies that were 10+ years old while studying

Cheers Sid

[sido]

Hey all.

As you all know i have had no experience in using any E.D.S software before, so have downloaded Designspark and have been having a go at learning the software to produce the UNIPI Main controller board.

So far after loosing a few more hairs, hehehe, being frustrated, trying to work out what is what, measuring, placing, then removing and so on.........Below is the idea of what i was refering to PtB. Basically the rough idea of what it will look like after cleaning up tracks, removing all the vias (so to have a single sided board only) adding top layer links instead of vias where possible, adding a bottom layer groundplane where free copper is available etc etc....

Knowing me, I will probably scrap this one...re-read the Tutorials and start a fresh new PCB board layout.

I still have to learn on how to label connectors, components etc etc and add new components and footprints. So far so good apart from going bald.

Thanks Tinkerer and mschmahl for recomending this program.
BTW Moodz, with this program Designspark, you can import Eagle schematic's and pcb files.

P.S It is my first attempt everyone, so please go easy on me. Some component footprints are not right so have to create my own.

Sid

[IBGold]

Hi Sido I can supply you with Designspark schematic and PCB files for our 4011 UNI-PI board that Stefan did to save you the time.

Regards, Ian.

[sido]

Hi Sido I can supply you with Designspark schematic and PCB files for our 4011 UNI-PI board that Stefan did to save you the time.

Regards, Ian.

Hi Ian, that will be very much appreciated.

I will still continue to learn the program and may eventually be able to put some other experimental circuits in use.

Cheers Sid

[6666]

IBGold could I get them to please
thanks
6666

[Pete the Builder]

Hi Pete, i am in no hurry, so take your time. Priorites first and goodluck with your results. Any good news is better than bad.

Interesting board and great looking one at that.

Btw, fire away any questions you may have.

Cheers Sid

Sid, I haven't done diddly-squat. I'll send you a large stick so that you may beat me.

In my defense, I've had a bit of a change here, we (the royal 'we') decided it's time to move, so off we go! As I write this (8AM Monday morning) I've got to send a rocket up the agent's arse, get the Section 32 back from the solicitor, get the ******** who installed the security glass to come and finish the job before lunchtime, pat the bed, make the cat, etc, and it all has to be done with a broom up my bum so I can sweep the floor when I walk around. I can't wait until 9AM!

Great to see your very first board! Welcome to the club! Now the real heartache fun starts....

mschmahl also picked up a new bit of software and designed a PCB in another project; looks like people are really interested. It's really cool to see!

What happens now is that you get to enjoy the fun and happiness of PCB fabrication!

So what happens is that you check the board every which way from Sunday : you verify every single trace and every component, board size, hole count, everything. THen you get a quote from the fabrication place, and it's great. You're so confident that you order a solder mask option just so the board will look really spiffy. You send off the design. They send you back a reference number. Then :
1) You suddenly discover that the ****wad who made the MCU schematic library left out all the power and/or ground pins; and/or
2) You suddenly realise you've sent off the wrong version of the PCB, and the fab can't be stopped; and/or
3) You suddenly find out that the MCU manufacturer only makes a BGA version of your core component now.

Oh, the fun never stops.

Seriously, though, it's a great achievement to get anything out of an intimidating bit of software such as EDA. Kudos to both you and mschmahl...

Now, while I've done nothing on this design myself, I've been trying to work on the "you know what" (begins with Q and ends with sadness), and I've almost finished the coil board on the other UNIPI or UPIM. So basically, I've done everything except work on this project.

I apologise for my lack of focus.

To help manage my guilt, if there's anything I can do to help with any PCB questions or anything, fire away. I know far less than most people here, but I'm happy enough to answer, possibly correctly.

-PtB

[IBGold]

PI_DSPIC304011_A.zipSido/6666,

Here is the latest version thanks to Stefan. Open in Designspark.

Regards, Ian.

[sido]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23685[/ATTACH][ATTACH]23687[/ATTACH]Sido/6666,

Here is the latest version thanks to Stefan. Open in Designspark.

Regards, Ian.

Hi Ian, thankyou for the files.......Managed to open them with D.S after some headaches.

All good now and will see what i am missing in the library with this schematic and add the new profiles for the components i did not have.

Once again much appreciated and hopefully i could work with this until i get the right format as i learn the program extensively.

Cheers For now and thanks.

Sid

[sido]

Sid, I haven't done diddly-squat. I'll send you a large stick so that you may beat me.

In my defense, I've had a bit of a change here, we (the royal 'we') decided it's time to move, so off we go! As I write this (8AM Monday morning) I've got to send a rocket up the agent's arse, get the Section 32 back from the solicitor, get the ******** who installed the security glass to come and finish the job before lunchtime, pat the bed, make the cat, etc, and it all has to be done with a broom up my bum so I can sweep the floor when I walk around. I can't wait until 9AM!

Great to see your very first board! Welcome to the club! Now the real heartache fun starts....

mschmahl also picked up a new bit of software and designed a PCB in another project; looks like people are really interested. It's really cool to see!

What happens now is that you get to enjoy the fun and happiness of PCB fabrication!

So what happens is that you check the board every which way from Sunday : you verify every single trace and every component, board size, hole count, everything. THen you get a quote from the fabrication place, and it's great. You're so confident that you order a solder mask option just so the board will look really spiffy. You send off the design. They send you back a reference number. Then :
1) You suddenly discover that the ****wad who made the MCU schematic library left out all the power and/or ground pins; and/or
2) You suddenly realise you've sent off the wrong version of the PCB, and the fab can't be stopped; and/or
3) You suddenly find out that the MCU manufacturer only makes a BGA version of your core component now.

Oh, the fun never stops.

Seriously, though, it's a great achievement to get anything out of an intimidating bit of software such as EDA. Kudos to both you and mschmahl...

Now, while I've done nothing on this design myself, I've been trying to work on the "you know what" (begins with Q and ends with sadness), and I've almost finished the coil board on the other UNIPI or UPIM. So basically, I've done everything except work on this project.

I apologise for my lack of focus.

To help manage my guilt, if there's anything I can do to help with any PCB questions or anything, fire away. I know far less than most people here, but I'm happy enough to answer, possibly correctly.

-PtB

No worries there Pete....You keep up the good work with the X file detector .
Thanks for the Kudos. Just happens, i have decided to learn some form of PCB fabrication now, after many years of neglect or lack of thinking in the right direction......basically was thinking.....(that i cannot do that, out of my league so to speak) hehehehehe.

There are so many Forumites willing to help here and that is what it's all about. You have jumped in the lower end to start with and may seem WTFarout......so many things to learn as you go....So you are forgiven.....by me that is...

I totally appreciate the people on this forum who have the expertise in certain fields....and this is what brings us all as one, combined and a uniform interest.
I totally appreciate the PCB designer's also now as i can confirm it is a time consuming practise.

It just happens where some posted text seams to be taken out of proportsion, but the longer you are active on this great Forum, the more you will understand the inner workings. This metal detecting game is FRUSTRATING.

I think that Metal Detecting design/products is a very demanding aspect in the Electronics Industry and clearly shows that in the Corporate World that there is only a handfull giving it a go in this line of buisiness as a viable venture to date.

Chhers Sid

[sido]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23685[/ATTACH][ATTACH]23687[/ATTACH]Sido/6666,

Here is the latest version thanks to Stefan. Open in Designspark.

Regards, Ian.

Hi Ian. I could not open the first attachment 168132. what is it?

Regard's Sid

[Tinkerer]

Once you open the schematic and PCB files in Designspark, click on BOM and PCB Quote, on the upper right corner. I think it would be interesting and helpful to less skilled designers, if we discuss and comment a bit on the actual parts, the prices etc. while using actual supplier's information.

Tinkerer

[6666]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23685[/ATTACH][ATTACH]23687[/ATTACH]Sido/6666,

Here is the latest version thanks to Stefan. Open in Designspark.

Regards, Ian.

Thanks Ian opens ok in DS
cheers
6666