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Expansion boards - pyshields

Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 10:51 am
by Kenneth
I'd like to open a topic to collect ideas for all kinds of expansion boards (calling them pyshields?)
  • An arduino shield adapter would be nice, so we can use arduino shields with the pyboard. As far as it is compatible, of course.
  • A pyshield with ethernet and PoE support. I know Damien would bring support for the WIZ820io module once the logistics are finished, but having this module as pyshield possible with PoE support would make it very convenient to make projects that need network connectivity and to place them just somewhere (e.g. sensors or data loggers or something like that)
Another idea: An embeddable pyboard version that can be soldered onto other boards (e.g. like the module on this breakout board: http://elasticsheep.com/wp-content/uplo ... _board.jpg) with a smaller pitch and as small as possible (e.g. no usb connector, no switches, only a power led, no sd card slot, but still as many pins broken out as possible). This would result in a cheap board that can be embedded in various projects and I can imagine that could get quite popular.

Re: Expansion boards - pyshields

Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 1:01 pm
by dhylands
I thought I would mention that I've been using a Netduino Plus 2 which has an Arduino shield footprint and uses the same microcontroller as the pyboard.

I haven't added the support for the sdcard yet (its wired up as 1-bit SPI) nor the ethernet, but that will come in due course.

Re: Expansion boards - pyshields

Posted: Thu May 15, 2014 11:33 am
by fma
Kenneth, I plan to do the opposite: use a pyboard as a RPI shield, in order to add some low-level tasks support...

For breakout boards, see:

http://shop.trioflex.ee/product.php?id_product=110
http://dangerousprototypes.com/2013/11/ ... or-stm32f4

Re: Expansion boards - pyshields

Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:00 pm
by Turbinenreiter
I will try to make a 10DOF IMU shield. Either using a MPU9150 and BMP180 or adapting the adafruit 10DOF IMU breakout board.

Re: Expansion boards - pyshields

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:23 pm
by Turbinenreiter
Ok, so I'm working on an IMU shield. First time designing a PCB.

IMU shield
  • BMP180 pressure/altitude sensor
  • LSM9DS0 3-axis acceleromter/gyro/magnetometer
  • (maybe: MMA6827 3-axis accelerometer for high g-loads)
  • male pins for the 4 servo channels and pwr/gnd, so you can easily plug in servos
Another shield that I kinda like to do:

power and wireless
  • nRF24L01+ wirless transciever
  • MCP73833 lipoly charger
  • TPS61090 boost converter (or similar)
  • (maybe: reset and user button)
I just started with schematics in eagle, but I wanted to post this early to get your opinions. The more of these you have manufactured, the cheaper it gets. Also I'll probably need some help designing. That's why I want to ask all of you:
Interested? Are the chips ok? Other ideas?

The chips for the IMU would cost about 15€, for pwr/RF24 about 6€. 2-layer PCB the size of a pyshield is about 1€ per piece if yout take 100, 3€ with the components soldered (at least thats what their online-tool told me).

Re: Expansion boards - pyshields

Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 3:08 pm
by blmorris
@Turbinenreiter - Sounds great! Certainly an ambitious first-time project, but doable. (I won't doubt the abilities of the pyboard rocketeer…)
I will be happy to help and even review your designs if you would like; I do more board design than programming anyway. As for the chips, I haven't used or looked into any of them so no opinions on that, but I'm sure they can be made to work.

If I ever manage to code up I2S support for micropython (…he keeps saying that, but somehow nothing ever happens…) then it could be fun to put together an audio skin with a simple I2S codec.