November '24

Dear Reader,

November is here, and with it comes a fresh perspective on The Road to Embedded Dexterity! The colder days remind us of the warmth and innovation that come from diving into new projects, and we have some exciting electronic components lined up to inspire your next steps.

Whether you’re just starting in embedded systems or are a seasoned expert ready for the next challenge, this month has something valuable in store. Let’s investigate the latest innovations and see how they might spark new ideas and elevate your work.

I'm also excited to continue our partnership with Mouser Electronics , a collaboration that consistently adds value to our shared explorations.

At your service!

Hardware

Waterproof Temperature Sensor

Soldered Electronics 101203?DS18B20 (https://mou.sr/4fql4tA) Waterproof Temperature Sensor is packed in a metal housing. This sensor features ±0.5°C accuracy, a 3.3V to 5V voltage range, a 1m wire length, and a -55°C to 125°C measurement range. The DS18B20 sensor uses only one wire to communicate with Dasduino/Arduino. The user can put up to 127 sensors on one code and measure temperature in 127 different places by utilizing one wire.

USB4725 USB Type-C? Connector with IP67 Rating

GCT USB4725 USB Type-C? Connector (https://mou.sr/3Cavqzy) is 100% factory tested to an IP67 rating and features a profile of only 6.5mm above the PCB. This vertical 24-pin USB Type-C receptacle may be compact, but it still offers standard GCT performance features, including 240W Power Delivery (PD) capability and 20,000 mating cycles for reliability. The series includes a kit option that includes a silicone rubber gasket (requires fitment post-reflow solder processing to enable sealing to the chassis).

Arduino Nicla Sense Env

Arduino Nicla Sense Env (https://mou.sr/40r5tG5) combines three state-of-the-art sensors from Renesas with the simplicity of integration and scalability of the Arduino ecosystem. The board features an ultra-low-power temperature and humidity sensor, with two smart integrated and industrial-grade gas sensors, allowing air quality evaluation in indoor and outdoor environments. Adding the Nicla Sense Env expands Portenta or MKR projects.

Renesas R7FA2E1A92DNH ARM? Cortex? M23:

• 1x ARM Cortex - M23 core up to 48MHz
• 16KB onboard SRAM
• 128KB onboard Flash

Sensors

• HS4001 - Ultra-low power, fully calibrated relative humidity and temperature sensor
• ZMOD4410AI1V - AI-enabled gas sensor for TVOC and Indoor Air Quality
• ZMOD4510AI1V - AI-enabled gas sensor for NO2, O3 and Outdoor Air Quality

Line filters

Bourns, Inc. SRF0502 Line Filters (https://mou.sr/3YN9KlR) feature a low-profile design of 2.5mm, a currency rating of up to 6A, and frequency ranges of up to 900MHz. These filters offer a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to +125°C, 5mm x 5mm x 2.5mm dimensions, and an impedance range of 100Ω to 1400Ω. Bourns?SRF0502 Line Filters provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression for applications requiring minimal interference.

• 2.5mm profile height
• Up to 6A current rating
• 5mm x 5mm x 2.5mm dimensions
• 100Ω to 1400Ω impedance rating

Dual-Channel Isolated Gate Driver

德州仪器 UCC21231 Dual-Channel Isolated Gate Driver (https://mou.sr/4htoFsK) has a wide temperature range and a programmable dead time. This device exhibits consistent robustness and performance under extreme temperature conditions. UCC21231 is designed with a 4A peak source and 6A peak sink current to drive power MOSFET and GaN transistors.

• Universal (dual low-side, dual high-side, or half-bridge driver)
• Up to 4A peak source and 6A peak sink output
• 1.6KVRMS basic isolation rating

Single-Point LiDAR

Benewake (Beijing) Co., Ltd. ?TFS20-L Single-Point LiDAR (https://mou.sr/3YM9SC9) is a fully integrated single-channel dToF ranging mini-module that incorporates a highly sensitive infrared-enhanced SPAD sensor with up to 20m range.

This device features a compact, lightweight design and offers long-range measurement capabilities with excellent distance measurement performance even under strong ambient light. This single-point LiDAR operates on a single 3.3V power supply and exhibits built-in temperature compensation. The TFS20-L LiDAR supports I2C and UART interfaces and is suitable for a wide range of applications, including consumer drones, service robots, and IoT.

Bar-Type TFT Displays

Microtips Technology USA ?AWL Bar-Type TFT Displays (https://mou.sr/4efJ1D5) are engineered for optimal performance and versatility. The displays feature an RGB vertical stripe color filter array that delivers vibrant and accurate color reproduction. Utilizing an In-Plane Switching (IPS) normally black display mode, these screens ensure wide viewing angles, allowing clear visibility from all directions. The displays boast a minimum lifespan of 25,000 hours, making them reliable for extended use.

AWL-240960T37N01

• 3.71’’ TFT LCD type
• 240 (H)×960 (V) dot arrangement
• ST7701S driver IC
• 25.30mm × 98.89mm × 2.10mm (WxHxT) module size

AWL-400960T40N01

• 3.99’’ TFT LCD type
• 400 (H)×960 (V) dot arrangement
• ST7701S driver IC
• 42.9mm × 105.08mm × 2.25mm (WxHxT) module size

AWL-320960T46N01

• 4.6’’ TFT LCD type
• 320 (H)×960 (V) dot arrangement
• ST7701S driver IC
• 41.57mm × 118.80mm × 2.50mm (WxHxT) module size

AWL-2801424T70N01

• 7.0’’ TFT LCD type
• 280 (H)×1424 (V) dot arrangement
• 38.20mm × 181.47mm × 3.50mm (WxHxT) module size

?? Building a Multitouch Trackpad with Azoteq IQS9150: Design guide from PCB to Arduino

After three weeks, I’m excited to share that I’ve finished my multitouch trackpad prototype based on the Azoteq IQS9150! Today, I’ll walk you through the entire process, step by step, from the PCB design to running the prototype on Arduino.

:: #PCB Stack-up ::

Here’s how I structured the prototype PCB:

1?? The Top Layer is kept empty as the overlay layer.

2?? The First Inner Layer houses the capacitive electrodes, essential for detecting touch.

3?? The Second Inner Layer includes a few key tracks.

4?? The Bottom Layer holds most of the tracks and the ground reference pour.

:: #Electrode Design ::

I used a combination of RX and TX electrodes to form the trackpad’s matrix. RX electrodes form vertical paths, and TX electrodes form horizontal paths. The electrodes are separated by an island connected to the ground.

:: Electrode Assignment to IQS9150 ::

#Schematic assigning of the electrodes is crucial. The RX electrodes create the columns, and the TX electrodes create the rows of the matrix. All the signals from the electrodes connect to the IQS9150 chip, which does the heavy lifting.

:: #GUI App Configuration ::

The GUI App made it easy to assign and configure the electrodes. After mapping everything, I tested it out, and the app correctly detected single, double, and triple-finger touches.

:: #Header File Export ::

Once I was sure the prototype was working, I exported the header file with the IQS9150 setup. This file (IQS9150_EASY_init.h) is crucial for integration with Arduino.

:: Running the #Arduino Demo ::

By copying the header file into the Arduino project folder and using the #include macro in the code, the trackpad is ready for action. When I run the demo, the Arduino prints the touch coordinates to the console, tracking finger movements accurately.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3bYRGMtkOk

EASY Design Templates

Do you enjoy my EASY demos? You can get the design files for the price of a coffee. Currently available are:

• VEML3328 color sensor.
• LDC0851 inductive sensor.
• MAQ473 rotary encoder sensor.
• MLX90394 magnetic sensor.
• VCNL36828P proximity sensor.
• TSHA2101 high-speed AMR sensor.
• NMH1000 magnetic switch.
• RV-8263-C8 ultra minuature RTC module.
• IQS7222A ProxFusion? sensor device.
• IQS227D Touch button
• WSEN-ISDS IMU eval design
• TMC2130-LA stepper driver eval design

The Hardware Design Template Schematic package contains the following:

• A minimal and verified and fully functional schematic drawing.
• A minimal and verified and fully functional PCB layout.
• Clean and easy-to-order BOM of all components used in the schematic.

The Hardware Design Template Schematic package covers verified design files in KiCAD v8 format.

?? You will not get any physical device or any piece of material.

KiCAD

Have a lovely day

And that’s a wrap for this month’s journey through November’s tech highlights! Thanks for joining me on this exploration of the latest and most exciting components in embedded systems. I’m already looking forward to what’s on the horizon as we keep moving forward in our tech journey.

Got any project ideas brewing or thoughts on this month’s lineup? Feel free to drop a comment or reach out—I always enjoy connecting with fellow enthusiasts!

Until next time, keep creating, stay curious, and enjoy every step of the way!

Warm regards,

Petr Dvo?ák , Your Hardware Designer