circuitpython

CP Sapling micro dev board

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Bring your small projects to life with this SAMD21 dev board that is perfect for running CircuitPython:

A small but powerful SAMD21E18A powered micro dev board designed to be easy to use with direct support for Circuit Python! Get started with i2c projects using the onboard STEMMA/QWIIC connector or easy access to SPI pins and more.

The 5V power in is protected by a Schottky diode allowing up to 500mA of current, as well as a 3.3V pin which can sink up to 500mA between the microcontroller and connected devices.

This board also features a comfortable and easy to press reset button with smooth tactile action.

Read more on Tindie…

CP Sapling micro dev board

OBS controller using CircuitPython on RPi Pico

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The Pico Producer designed by Pete Gallagher is an OBS Controller using a Raspberry Pi Pico and Circuit Python:

pjgpetecodes/pico-streamdeck

This project is an OBS Controller using a Raspberry Pi Pico and CircuitPython.

OBS controller using CircuitPython on RPi Pico

Project ideas for the CircuitBrains Deluxe

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In this Crowd Supply update, Kevin Neubauer describes project ideas for the CircuitBrains Deluxe:

Project ideas for the CircuitBrains Deluxe

Here is a handy list of project ideas that CircuitBrains could be used in:

  • Attach some sensors and make an environmental monitor
  • Home automation sensor brains
  • Hook it into some stepper drivers and move some motors
  • Add an antenna circuit and use it to send or receive RF data
  • Do some 3D printing around CircuitBrains and a servo to dispense hand sanitizer
  • Use the DAC on it to produce some sound through an amplifier
  • Build a reflow oven with a PID and a solid state relay
  • Attach it to a computer and use it as a HID device
  • Attach a couple buttons and a display and make a scoreboard for a game
  • Make an electronic badge
  • Make a digital alarm clock
  • Build a quirky random number generator
  • Add a GPS breakout and capture positioning data
  • Add a display and a couple of buttons and make a retro game system
  • Add a liquid flow meter, hook it onto a sink or toilet and record how much water you use
The board is a tiny, CircuitPython-compatible ARM Cortex-M4 module:
Screenshot from 2020-04-09 12-47-51

 

Project ideas for the CircuitBrains Deluxe

CircuitBrains Deluxe launches on Crowd Supply

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A tiny, CircuitPython-compatible ARM Cortex-M4 module  Kevin Neubauer has launched on Crowd Supply:
Screenshot from 2020-04-09 12-47-51

CircuitBrains Deluxe

Easily Add a Powerful Microcontroller To Your Next Project

CircuitBrains Deluxe is the smallest soldererable ATSAMD51 module. Skip on all the tedious work of adding a 32-bit microcontroller to your next project. We’ve taken care of the tough work of pin mappings, power & decoupling layout, clock, flash, assembly, bootloader, and firmware. All you need to do is drop a footprint into your next PCB design project, connect your peripherals and USB connector, then solder it on and write your code.

Just Solder It On

Save time and frustration on your next project. We’ve taken care of the finicky fine-pitch surface mount assembly for you. CircuitBrains comes in an easy-to-solder castellated module format. You can either incorporate it into your project PCB design, or solder wires directly to it via the extra holes in each castellated pad. We’ve also made it easier to hand solder these modules by including a larger “hand solder” PCB footprint for your design.

Add Some Power to Your Project

The core of CircuitBrains Deluxe is the Microchip ATSAMD51J19 32-bit ARM Cortex M4 microcontroller, which can run up to 120 MHz. In addition to a powerful microcontroller, each CircuitBrains Deluxe module has 8 MB of Quad SPI flash onboard. You’ll have plenty of space for your project code and media files.

Easy to Program

CircuitBrains comes preloaded with CircuitPython. Who doesn’t love Python on microcontrollers? Plug your device into USB, modify your code, and see the changes take effect as soon as you hit Save.

Small Form Factor

CircuitBrains Deluxe won’t take up a lot of space. It was designed to be used in small projects. At just over 1 square inch (29 mm), there aren’t many places this thing won’t fit into.

CircuitBrains Deluxe launches on Crowd Supply

CircuitBrains Deluxe coming to Crowd Supply

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The CircuitBrains Deluxe, a CircuitPython-compatible ARM Cortex-M4 module, by Kevin Neubauer is coming to Crowd Supply:

microchip-circuitbrains-hero-edit_jpg_project-main

CircuitBrains Deluxe

CircuitBrains Deluxe is a 1 in² ARM Cortex-M4 module with castellated edges and through holes. This configuration allows you to design a CircuitPython project without having to worry about complex microcontroller board layout, flash storage, bootloader, or firmware. “Just add solder”. It’s even small enough for wearables.

cbdeluxe-front-back-01_png_project-body

Specifications

  • Microcontroller: Atmel ATSAMD51J19 Microcontroller (32-bit ARM Cortex-M4)
    • 120 MHz
    • 192 KB SRAM
    • 512 KB flash
  • Memory: 8 MB SPI flash on module
  • Power: Onboard 3.3 V LDO regulator
  • I/O
    • Dedicated breakouts for SPI and I²C
    • 13 analog I/O broken out
    • 19 digital I/O broken out
  • Form-factor:
    • Castellated edges for direct PCB mounting
    • 29 x 29 x 3.5 millimeters / 1.15 x 1.15 x 0.15 inches
  • Indication: Power and status LEDs

 

CircuitBrains Deluxe coming to Crowd Supply

Scott Shawcroft Is Programming Game Boys With CircuitPython

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Some people like to do things the hard way. Maybe they drive a manual transmission, or they bust out the wire wrap tool instead of a soldering iron, or they code in assembly to stay close to the machine. Doing things the hard way certainly has its merits, and we are not here to argue about that. Scott Shawcroft — project lead for CircuitPython — on the other hand, makes a great case for doing things the easy way in his talk at the 2019 Hackaday Superconference.

In fact, he proved how easy it is right off the bat. There he stood at the podium, presenting in front of a room full of people, poised at an unfamiliar laptop with only the stock text editor. Yet with a single keystroke and a file save operation, Scott was able make the LEDs on his Adafruit Edge Badge — one of the other pieces of hackable hardware in the Supercon swag bag — go from off to battery-draining bright.

via Scott Shawcroft Is Programming Game Boys With CircuitPython — Hackaday

Quote

The Open Book by Oddly Specific Objects

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Joey Castillo is an open-hardware device for reading books in all the languages of the world:

openbook_m4

The Open Book

It includes a large screen and buttons for navigation, as well as audio options for accessibility and ports to extend its functionality. Its detailed silkscreen, with the all the manic energy and quixotic ambition of a Dr. Bronner’s bottle, aims to demystify the Open Book’s own design, breaking down for the curious reader both how the book works, and how they can build one for themselves.

For more detailed technical specifications, check out the Hackaday.io project page.

Purchase

The Open Book is not yet available for purchase, but you can order the board from OSH Park, and the BOM is available at the project’s GitHub page. Instructions for assembly are printed on the front of the PCB.

Contribute

Have some info to add for this board? Edit the source for this page here.

The Open Book by Oddly Specific Objects

The first Adafruit Show ‘n Tell of 2020

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https://youtu.be/ENVEeFbJBQ8?t=839
https://youtu.be/ENVEeFbJBQ8?t=839
https://youtu.be/ENVEeFbJBQ8?t=839

Joining Adafruit Show ‘n Tell with Helen Leigh was a fun way to start 2020!

Helen embroidered the CircuitPython-powered Serpente board from Arturo at Chaos Communication Congress (36c3):

I showed Linux running on a RISC-V core in the ECP5 FPGA on the Hackaday Supercon badge:

I gave a shout-out to Greg Davill who got Linux booting the OrangeCrab while at 36c3:

ENPYQGaWwAAWLX9

Greg’s open hardware OrangeCrab board features the ECP5 FPGA in an Adafruit Feather form factor and is capable of running a RISC-V “soft” core using LiteX.

Find out more about Linux on RISC-V using open source FPGA toolchains in the slides from my 36c3 talk

https://github.com/pdp7/talks/raw/master/oshw-linux-36c3.pdf
https://github.com/pdp7/talks/raw/master/oshw-linux-36c3.pdf
https://github.com/pdp7/talks/raw/master/oshw-linux-36c3.pdf

The first Adafruit Show ‘n Tell of 2020

CircuitPython in a small factor with CircuitBrains Deluxe

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CB-Deluxe-Front
Kevin Neubauer has designed a System-on-Module (SoM) to make it easy to embed Circuit Python in project:

CircuitBrains Deluxe

I love Adafruit’s CircuitPython product line. The ability to just plug your board into USB, make code changes, and see them take effect in real-time is amazing. However, when it comes to finishing up a CircuitPython project, I felt limited in choice for a small form-factor, streamlined board. I always ended up creating my own boards. The overhead in doing this was huge though. You have to make sure your design has proper power, decoupling, and clock. Then you source all of the parts. After that you lay out the PCB and have it fabricated. When the PCB and parts arrive, you have to deal with finicky small-pitch surface mount assembly. Finally, you need to download the sources for the UF2 bootloader and CircuitPython and define your board, compile, and flash. This makes what should be a small project pretty time consuming and tedious!

https://twitter.com/kevinneubauer/status/1204808844293095424

Goals:

  1. Reduce barriers to entry for custom CircuitPython-based boards & badges
  2. Package CircuitPython into a small form-factor module that will add minimal dimensions to a parent project

Specs:

  1. Dimensions: 29 x 29 x 3.5 millimeters / 1.15 x 1.15 x 0.15 inches
  2. Atmel ATSAMD51J19A Microcontroller (32-bit ARM Cortex M4)
    • 120 MHz
    • 192 KB SRAM
    • 512 KB Flash
  3. 8 MB SPI Flash
  4. Onboard 3.3V LDO Regulator
  5. Power and Status LEDs
  6. Breakouts for SPI and I2C
  7. Breakouts for 14 Analog and 19 Digital Inputs/Outputs

Links: https://github.com/neubauek/CircuitBrains

CircuitPython in a small factor with CircuitBrains Deluxe