Limpkin's blog - Tag - arduino<div>An electronics geek blog, dedicated to sharing and open source. Check out my stores: <a href="https://lectronz.com/stores/stephanelec" hreflang="en" title="Lectronz store">EU</a> / <a href="https://www.tindie.com/stores/stephanelec" hreflang="en" title="tindie store">EU & US</a>.</div>2024-03-27T19:19:38+00:00Mathieuurn:md5:51de6a3d917257edeff5a252fe925b02DotclearEasy-phi project: the template moduleurn:md5:79505f7a651d67db1ce1a558846615c82013-10-09T10:11:00+01:002023-04-14T13:46:05+01:00limpkinMy Projectsarduinocortex m4easy-phi<p>Next in our Easy-phi descriptions: the template module.<br /><br />
<img src="https://www.limpkin.fr/public/easyphi/.Banner_m.jpg" alt="banner" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="banner, oct. 2013" /></p> <p>The template module consists of the <strong>core elements</strong> used by any easy-phi module. If you want to make your own module (we hope you do!), this is the starting point you'll need.<br /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.limpkin.fr/public/easyphi/template_pic_exp.png" title="Template module explained"><img src="https://www.limpkin.fr/public/easyphi/.template_pic_exp_m.jpg" alt="Template module explained" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="Template module explained, oct. 2013" /></a><br />
The main microcontroller is the <strong>ATSAM3X8E</strong> from Atmel, as it is one of the only uC having an USB Hi-speed transceiver (480Mbits/s). It also includes 512Kbytes of Flash and 96Kbytes of RAM. You may have guessed that it is the same microcontroller that Arduino uses for its Due, as we want Easy-phi modules to be <strong>Arduino compatible</strong>.<br />
To program the module, there is a standard 20 pins 0.1" <strong>JTAG header</strong> and also another 8 pins 0.1" connector to flash the ATSAM3X using its embedded bootloader. The latter allows <strong>programming via the Arduino IDE</strong>.<br /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.limpkin.fr/public/easyphi/template_princ.png" title="Templace principle"><img src="https://www.limpkin.fr/public/easyphi/.template_princ_m.jpg" alt="Templace principle" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="Templace principle, oct. 2013" /></a><br />
A few words about the schematics. As you may know, 5V (0.5A) and 12V (4A) are provided by the backplane. The 5V is meant to <strong>power the template electronics only</strong> while the 12V is for the rest of the module.<br />
To prevent an important current inrush when connecting a module, the MAX5824/25 are used. Not only do they provide a <strong>nice voltage rampup</strong>, but they'll also cut the power if the consumed current is above a defined value. In the template, the 3.3V used by the microcontroller is generated from the +5V by a step-down. An LDO regulator provides another (stable) 3.3V for the SAM3 ADC.<br />
To use the 12V, a module has to <strong>make a request to the backplane</strong>. This is to make sure that we don't consume more power than the backplane power supply can provide if other modules are already connected and consuming power.<br /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.limpkin.fr/public/easyphi/template_schematics.png" title="Template schematics"><img src="https://www.limpkin.fr/public/easyphi/.template_schematics_m.jpg" alt="Template schematics" style="display:table; margin:0 auto;" title="Template schematics, oct. 2013" /></a><br />
The few other components in the template are:<br />
- one push button<br />
- a microSD card connector<br />
- one RGB led, to show the module status<br />
- an i2c EEPROM, to store the module parameters and last settings<br />
- a differential line receiver, to get the 10MHz backplane clock<br />
- a tri-state buffer, to send and receive a synchronization signal<br />
The last two components include a <strong>partial power-down feature</strong>. In case the data signals are connected before the power supplies, it will prevent the former from powering the rest of the circuit.<br />
We really benefited from Kicad hierarchical design capabilities. The template schematics consist of one sheet containing the core components (that <strong>shouldn't be modified</strong>) and another with the top level design. In the top level sheet, all the microcontroller's unused pins are shown. The optional connectors, light pipes and RGB LEDs are also present.<br />
To download the files, please visit the official website at <a href="http://www.easy-phi.ch" hreflang="en" title="easy-phi website">www.easy-phi.ch</a></p>