EEVblog #1132 - The 3 Cent Microcontroller!

[janekm]

Also the power consumption figure Dave skimmed over was actually for executing code from the LF clock... which is pretty impressive. There could be some good use cases for that like low power sensor monitoring. 

[maxpayne]

Is there any other Chinese/Taiwanese Digikey site like this one ?

[Whales]

Dave: while you're at it, hedge your bets and grab the programmer for a few other brands too.  If this one doesn't pan out ("oh the IDE is free, but compiler costs $2K and we only tell you if you ask ") then you'll have some other options.


You may also want to make a little finger-pressure adapter board for test programming the OTPs.  Use a large, unconnected SMD resistor to make a 'wall' that you slide the components up against with your finger.  Next to this place the ENIG pads the part is held against. 

The SMD resistor should have its dimensions reasonably specced, make sure to make the pads tight too.  Put three duplicates of this circuit on a board with a tiny variation in resistorwall<->pads spacings to allow for tolerances when you use it IRL. 

It's also worth wiring an unused pin on the pads to an LED+R for a quick-n-dirty self-test of your code writes.  Even if you don't end up using it.

Alternatively you might plan to do emulation + in-circuit programming from the start.  YMMV.

[IanMacdonald]

Just a small point Dave, but if you have your computer set to run executables that are clicked-on without even asking for confirmation, then you are at high risk from drive-bys.

Point of  fact I would check all such software on VirusTotal. and/or run it in a virtual machine, at least until I was sure it was OK. 

[Jope]

They also have cheap Cortex-M0 MCUs in a TSSOP8 package:
https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Synwit_SWM050I2P7-65_C111818.html

And somebody on hackaday.io has already made a development board for it:
https://hackaday.io/project/161300-swm050-development-board

[mrpackethead]

Dave can you master your audio so its sitting closer to the Youtube reference level/.. .this one is -7.1db down, so its really quite quiet.

[EEVblog]

Dave can you master your audio so its sitting closer to the Youtube reference level/.. .this one is -7.1db down, so its really quite quiet.

And what exactly is that reference level, everyone seems to have their own idea.

[mrpackethead]

Dave can you master your audio so its sitting closer to the Youtube reference level/.. .this one is -7.1db down, so its really quite quiet.

And what exactly is that reference level, everyone seems to have their own idea.

The reference level that matters for sending to youtube is youtube reference level.    If you check on your video ( right click, -stats for nerds ) it will show you what your program loudness is.  In the case of your video you are -7.1db down.     You dont' want to start going over the reference level becuae then Youtube does nasty normalisation of your audio.   ( not compression, but normalisation ).

You want to target -13LUFS for Youtube  ( loudness Units before Full Scale ).  You can measure that with a 'Loudness' Meter which is often a plug in in many of the video/audio editing suites. 

[G0MJW]

How about a simple project using that font chip as well to send (say) serial data received on one port to a graphic LCD on another?

[G0MJW]

Dave can you master your audio so its sitting closer to the Youtube reference level/.. .this one is -7.1db down, so its really quite quiet.

And what exactly is that reference level, everyone seems to have their own idea.

The reference level that matters for sending to youtube is youtube reference level.    If you check on your video ( right click, -stats for nerds ) it will show you what your program loudness is.  In the case of your video you are -7.1db down.     You dont' want to start going over the reference level becuae then Youtube does nasty normalisation of your audio.   ( not compression, but normalisation ).

You want to target -13LUFS for Youtube  ( loudness Units before Full Scale ).  You can measure that with a 'Loudness' Meter which is often a plug in in many of the video/audio editing suites.

I am not sure but you are noticeably quiet. Perhaps go for the BBC World Service ideal of 100% peaks and a high compression ratio? Would help the elderly amongst us too who went to too many rock concerts in their youth.

[Jebnor]

Dave, really ...

...IMAGE DELETED...

There are more 4¢ OTP Micros @GigaJoe.  https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Microprocessor-Microcontroller_Bojuxing-Industry-BJ8P509FNB_C83513.html

[thm_w]

I am not sure but you are noticeably quiet. Perhaps go for the BBC World Service ideal of 100% peaks and a high compression ratio? Would help the elderly amongst us too who went to too many rock concerts in their youth.

Have you tried this: https://pureinfotech.com/normalize-sound-volume-windows-10/

[drussell]

Have you tried this: https://pureinfotech.com/normalize-sound-volume-windows-10/

That doesn't help Dave get the audio level correct in his videos in any way.

[thm_w]

Have you tried this: https://pureinfotech.com/normalize-sound-volume-windows-10/

That doesn't help Dave get the audio level correct in his videos in any way.

Never said it would, notice I am responding to a quote from G0MJW.

Last time I checked, volume normalization on my TV worked incredibly well. If you can't get TV producers to have consistent volume (see all the loud ads they had for years), then do you expect all of youtube to achieve the same?

[timelessbeing]

> Now they are selling them off just to clear the inventory.

Thanks Dave. They are gone now 

[Sjaak]

They also have cheap Cortex-M0 MCUs in a TSSOP8 package:
https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Synwit_SWM050I2P7-65_C111818.html

And somebody on hackaday.io has already made a development board for it:
https://hackaday.io/project/161300-swm050-development-board

I'm that guy and Dave beat me at writing about the .03$ chip.


The whole writeup about the arm chip is at my blog, including how to program it. The link to the post is http://smdprutser.nl/blog/the-arm-chip-that-wont-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg/ i also have some chips (which are sold out at lcsc.com) and breakoutboards available.

Edit: included quote

[VEGETA]

I'm that guy and Dave beat me at writing about the .03$ chip.


The whole writeup about the arm chip is at my blog, including how to program it. The link to the post is http://smdprutser.nl/blog/the-arm-chip-that-wont-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg/ i also have some chips (which are sold out at lcsc.com) and breakoutboards available.

I don't know what IDE and programmer is used with these things.

However, I assume they will be usable to everyone once someone includes them in Arduino IDE.... I really hope this happens.

[Sjaak]

I'm that guy and Dave beat me at writing about the .03$ chip.


The whole writeup about the arm chip is at my blog, including how to program it. The link to the post is http://smdprutser.nl/blog/the-arm-chip-that-wont-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg/ i also have some chips (which are sold out at lcsc.com) and breakoutboards available.

I don't know what IDE and programmer is used with these things.

However, I assume they will be usable to everyone once someone includes them in Arduino IDE.... I really hope this happens.

On my github there is a Makefile, crt0.s and library file to write your first program. It uses the gcc-arm-none-eabi toolchain. Yu can program it with the blakcmagic probe (use my firmware) or a J-link Segger.

Don't think this chip is suitable for the arduino crowd..

[VEGETA]

I'm that guy and Dave beat me at writing about the .03$ chip.


The whole writeup about the arm chip is at my blog, including how to program it. The link to the post is http://smdprutser.nl/blog/the-arm-chip-that-wont-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg/ i also have some chips (which are sold out at lcsc.com) and breakoutboards available.

I don't know what IDE and programmer is used with these things.

However, I assume they will be usable to everyone once someone includes them in Arduino IDE.... I really hope this happens.

On my github there is a Makefile, crt0.s and library file to write your first program. It uses the gcc-arm-none-eabi toolchain. Yu can program it with the blakcmagic probe (use my firmware) or a J-link Segger.

Don't think this chip is suitable for the arduino crowd..

It is one time programmable, so yes it won't suite arduino people. However, using arduino ide and libraries will make it significantly easier. The only microcontroller that I dealt with directly is PIC. I have an avr programmer that works perfectly and a pickit3.

I don't know of any easy method to program these devices, especially how to know if the program works before burning it to the chip itself.

[Sjaak]

I'm that guy and Dave beat me at writing about the .03$ chip.


The whole writeup about the arm chip is at my blog, including how to program it. The link to the post is http://smdprutser.nl/blog/the-arm-chip-that-wont-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg/ i also have some chips (which are sold out at lcsc.com) and breakoutboards available.

I don't know what IDE and programmer is used with these things.

However, I assume they will be usable to everyone once someone includes them in Arduino IDE.... I really hope this happens.

On my github there is a Makefile, crt0.s and library file to write your first program. It uses the gcc-arm-none-eabi toolchain. Yu can program it with the blakcmagic probe (use my firmware) or a J-link Segger.

Don't think this chip is suitable for the arduino crowd..

It is one time programmable, so yes it won't suite arduino people. However, using arduino ide and libraries will make it significantly easier. The only microcontroller that I dealt with directly is PIC. I have an avr programmer that works perfectly and a pickit3.

I don't know of any easy method to program these devices, especially how to know if the program works before burning it to the chip itself.

have you read the links I posted?

[VEGETA]

I'm that guy and Dave beat me at writing about the .03$ chip.


The whole writeup about the arm chip is at my blog, including how to program it. The link to the post is http://smdprutser.nl/blog/the-arm-chip-that-wont-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg/ i also have some chips (which are sold out at lcsc.com) and breakoutboards available.

I don't know what IDE and programmer is used with these things.

However, I assume they will be usable to everyone once someone includes them in Arduino IDE.... I really hope this happens.

On my github there is a Makefile, crt0.s and library file to write your first program. It uses the gcc-arm-none-eabi toolchain. Yu can program it with the blakcmagic probe (use my firmware) or a J-link Segger.

Don't think this chip is suitable for the arduino crowd..

It is one time programmable, so yes it won't suite arduino people. However, using arduino ide and libraries will make it significantly easier. The only microcontroller that I dealt with directly is PIC. I have an avr programmer that works perfectly and a pickit3.

I don't know of any easy method to program these devices, especially how to know if the program works before burning it to the chip itself.

have you read the links I posted?

where?

[timelessbeing]

I'm that guy and Dave beat me at writing about the .03$ chip.


The whole writeup about the arm chip is at my blog, including how to program it. The link to the post is http://smdprutser.nl/blog/the-arm-chip-that-wont-cost-an-arm-and-a-leg/ i also have some chips (which are sold out at lcsc.com) and breakoutboards available.

I don't know what IDE and programmer is used with these things.

However, I assume they will be usable to everyone once someone includes them in Arduino IDE.... I really hope this happens.

On my github there is a Makefile, crt0.s and library file to write your first program. It uses the gcc-arm-none-eabi toolchain. Yu can program it with the blakcmagic probe (use my firmware) or a J-link Segger.

Don't think this chip is suitable for the arduino crowd..

It is one time programmable, so yes it won't suite arduino people. However, using arduino ide and libraries will make it significantly easier. The only microcontroller that I dealt with directly is PIC. I have an avr programmer that works perfectly and a pickit3.

I don't know of any easy method to program these devices, especially how to know if the program works before burning it to the chip itself.

have you read the links I posted?

where?

[timelessbeing]

Crazy. You can also find Panasonic electrolytics on LCSC for a fraction of what Digikey and Mouser charge. Shipping is the same.

https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Others_PANASONIC_EEEFK1K470P_PANASONIC-EEEFK1K470P_C178556.html

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/panasonic-electronic-components/EEE-FK1K470P/PCE3831CT-ND/766207
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/667-EEE-FK1K470P

[Smokey]

Has anyone found a single Padauk chip in the wild in an actual product?  If they have been around for 13 years there has to be some out there.

[Kjelt]

Crazy. You can also find Panasonic electrolytics on LCSC for a fraction of what Digikey and Mouser charge. Shipping is the same.

https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Others_PANASONIC_EEEFK1K470P_PANASONIC-EEEFK1K470P_C178556.html

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/panasonic-electronic-components/EEE-FK1K470P/PCE3831CT-ND/766207
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/667-EEE-FK1K470P

Note the stock differences, digikey has over 100000 pieces while lcsc has 300 , what do you think what happens if those 300 are sold out ?
If  you order 10000 pieces you probably get nothing.