So I just lost my job. The compensation package is okay for me to live on for one month or two. I am thinking about finishing up some of my unfinished projects before heading out again, either to graduate school, or to the next job. This post is mostly a checklist for me, but I feel like sharing it. Since I have bought most of the parts already (sunk cost, at least the major parts) the only cost is my time and building the PCB.
Some of the projects that is waiting for me to finish:
The climate clock project.This is from some home necessity as I need some kind of climate sensor in my room. The hardware is actually already built and the code is under progress.
Specifications:
* Measures: time, temperature, humidity.
* Timekeeping: Crystal oscillator with NTP synchronization
* Temperature and humidity: DHT12 sensor
* Main microcontroller: STM32F303CCT6 (or STM32F103CBT6, if I want to rewrite some drivers.)
* Display: HD44780-comaptible character display
* Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz through ESP8266 module, USB Full-Speed
Github Links:
* Hardware:
https://github.com/SushiBits/LCDClock* Firmware:
https://github.com/SushiBits/LCDClock-FirmwareApple EarPods to Bluetooth adapterApple removed the headphone jack since iPhone 7. I use my phone heavily while listening music on it, so battery life is a real concern. This project builds an adapter that converts Apple EarPods (ones with headphone plug) to Bluetooth, with full buttons support.
Specifications:
* SoC: CSRA64215 (Bluetooth audio with apt-X)
* Audio codec: either the one built into CSRA64215, or CS4272 over I2S. Which one is better?
* Audio analog chain: Either TLC2272/TLC2274, or TL072/TL074, or the built-in ones in STM32F303CCT6. Which one is better?
* Helper microcontroller: either STM32L031F4P6 (without built-in op amps) or STM32F303CCT6 (with built-in op amps)
The Allwinner V3s tablet project.The linux-sunxi project have made some tremendous effort in getting the mainline Linux kernel ready for V3s, and I have sourced all parts except a case. This project will result in a low cost tablet that runs a custom, cut down Linux distribution, based on the linux-sunxi mainline branch.
Specifications:
* SoC: Alwinner V3s (Cortex-A7 MP1 @1.2GHz)
* RAM: 64MB DDR2-533 (built-in)
* Flash: 64MB SPI NOR FLash
* Display: 1024x600 7in with capacitive touch
* Audio: Headphone jack with microphone and Apple-compatible buttons, analog line-in
* Camera: 5MP rear facing camera through OV5640 on MIPI CSI2
* Connectivity: System USB OTG, Debug USB-Serial, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, wired 10/100 Ethernet, microSD card slot
The Mess-of-RAM-wire project.This is more of a design challenge than an actually useful project. The goal of this design challenge is to route the 32-bit wide memory bus to four 8-bit devices successfully, and secondary goals includes implementing DRAM bus-sharing peripherals like NAND and display controller, as well as writing proper framebuffer (not fbtft) and touch sensor driver for the display controller.
Specifications:
* SoC: AT91SAM9260 (ARM926EJ-S @180MHz)
* RAM: 256MB PC133 (4x MT48LC64M8A2-75)
* Flash: 2GB SLC (MT29F16G08ABABAWP)
* Display: 800x480 4.3in with resistive touch, through RA8875L3N on 16-bit system bus
* Audio: Line out and line in, through CS4272 on I2S
* Connectivity: 4x USB Full-Speed host port (integrated USB hub,) USB Full-Speed device port, Debug USB-Serial, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, wired 10/100 Ethernet through DP83848 on RMII, microSD card slot
There are also a few less speced out but still planned projects I may or may not complete right now:
* Vintage Computer Project x86 (8088 + FreeDOS?)
* Vintage Computer Project 68k (68SEC000 + what OS software?)
* DIY network-connected test gear set (multimeter, bench power supply, soldering station etc, all with either wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity)
* Open Source GPS Car Tracker (I don't trust any service provider for the location of the family car. This system is fully open source and you can host your own tracking server.)