Home
JAQForum Ver 24.01
Log In or Join  
Active Topics
Local Time 08:05 14 Jul 2025 Privacy Policy
Jump to

Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.

Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : BackPack170

Author Message
bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 11:32pm 07 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi All,

I have just sent off to get some boards made up for a BackPack onto those 2.4" SPI display panels that are so cheap on eBay.

These have a Pic170 28pin DIP and 3v3 Voltage Regulator with an I2C port and support for PWM backlight control (A long story but that cct killed a heap of my brain cells, It was more difficult than I figured it would be.)

If these work as well as I expect they will I intend to do an SMD version with a SSOP 170 and an RTC onboard and possibly a 44 pin version..

The PCB is 43mm x 32.5mm in size.

Some pictures..

Overlay


3D representation


Mockup of how it would look on an SPI panel


I have paid for DHL shipping so if all goes well I should have them available in about 2 weeks.

Kind Regards,

Mick


Edited by bigmik 2015-04-09
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Grogster

Admin Group

Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9593
Posted: 12:22am 08 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Good one, Mick.

Put me down for at least one board at this stage.

Where do you get the LCD's from?

EDIT: I guess the display must be this one? Edited by Grogster 2015-04-09
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
 
mindrobots
Newbie

Joined: 21/05/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 32
Posted: 06:25am 08 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Very cool, Mick!

I'll take at least one over here in the States.

We don't want you to lose your "BigMick International" status!!
 
bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 10:51am 08 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi Grogster,

Some boards are yours as soon as they arrive, I feel you over did our `bet' and it is a way to pay back a little bit.

The 2.4" panel I bought is This one and I have bought a 2.8" panel like This unit as the pinout is the same, but as the 2.8" module is 50mm wide compared to 43mm for the 2.4" the mounting holes wont line up but electrically it still should be the same.

@mindrobots

Bigmik International .... Hmmm BMI ... My doctor would agree (high) BMI would be quite appropriate for me..

I will post details, in my Micks PCB thread, as soon as they arrive and I have tested one.

I have not yet settled on a price but initially, due to getting DHL I am thinking along the lines of $3Aus each and possibly a 3 for $7 type deal.. I havent yet done the maths on them.. I will of course have options for the SMD VReg and Cap as per my MuP PCB for those who are a bit concerned about soldering (these relatively easy) SMD devices.

Regards,

Mick Edited by bigmik 2015-04-09
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Zonker

Guru

Joined: 18/08/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 767
Posted: 12:04pm 08 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Awesome BMI..!!

I wanted to spin up an interface board for these touch units.. and .. BAM...

She's already done..!

Nice compact layout.!

You do fine work Sir..

 
Grogster

Admin Group

Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9593
Posted: 02:13pm 08 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

  bigmik said   Hi Grogster,

Some boards are yours as soon as they arrive, I feel you over did our `bet' and it is a way to pay back a little bit.


Nice of you to say, Mick, but please don't feel you owe me ANYTHING.
I know I could have just sent one singular PCB, but as more would fit in the envelope for the same cost, I wanted to show you a few more of my designs along with the board you actually wanted.

It did not cost me one cent more or less to send the additional ones at the same time.

Besides, we have to butter you Aussies up, so that you won't notice next time we beat you.

Interestingly, Australia lost to NZ at Eden park - our grounds, but WE lost to the Aussies at the MCG. Perhaps there IS something to a team playing on their home turf...
Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!
 
BobD

Guru

Joined: 07/12/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 935
Posted: 02:51pm 08 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

  Grogster said  
Interestingly, Australia lost to NZ at Eden park - our grounds, but WE lost to the Aussies at the MCG. Perhaps there IS something to a team playing on their home turf...

I thought that in both matches that the losing teams didn't play near their best game. It also may have been to do with previous matches. NZ just qualified against SA whereas AU had it rather easier. Home ground advantage too. I felt that NZ batting first was a huge mistake because of the possibility of the pitch being a bit lively and the AU fast bowlers are awesome (sorry about that word) and there is no shortage of them.
 
bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 01:41am 09 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi Zonker,

  Zonker said  
Nice compact layout.!

You do fine work Sir..


Thank you for the kind comments but I do not yet have one let alone tried it out.

I admit, I always try to squeeze the PCB real estate as much as I can. This one was very tight.. I really wanted to add another 3x1 jumper so that the backlight could be permanently jumper end to uMite controlled or 3.3 for constant backlight on.. But there was no room for it.. Even small solder links would have been difficult to add..

Anyway, I will keep everyone posted on how it works out.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Bryan1

Guru

Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1454
Posted: 12:27am 10 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Allo Mick,
Eh mate what are the dimensions of that 2.4" tft screen mate as I do have a Hammond Case here waiting for the best solution.

Cheers Bryan
 
bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 02:38am 10 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi Bryan,

Here are the physical specs for the display I used... The 2.8" unit is larger and within a $1 of the 2.4" display..





I added it to a ZIP file so the details can be seen easier

2015-04-10_123759_SPI.zip

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
micronut
Newbie

Joined: 03/09/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 37
Posted: 03:46am 10 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

bigmik, is the TFT Grogster mentioned in post #2 compatible? I noticed the dealer of the one you mentioned does not ship to the US . The one Grogster mentioned does although it'll be on a slow boat from China.Edited by micronut 2015-04-11
 
bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 04:33am 10 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi Micronut,

Yes it appears to be the exact same unit as the one I bought..

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Zonker

Guru

Joined: 18/08/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 767
Posted: 11:41am 10 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Me Three..!

I have this unit, works well. Now to spin up a 470 board and use that SD socket in the process...! (sweet)...
 
bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 01:27am 21 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi All,


Just letting you all know that my Backpack170 PCBs arrived today and I have to admit I love them.

It worked `out of the box'..

I haven't yet done a manual but hope to get one out in the next couple of days..

When I have the manual I will add it to my `Micks Blatant Self Promotions' page.

A couple of pretty terrible pictures to show how it looks, the picture makes it look quite a lot wider than the screen , in fact it is only about 1mm wider than the screen. I have tried to use Through hole parts but I have opted for the SMD Vreg and the SMD VCap (a must anyway) as this has worked extremely well in my MuP boards. Of course I will be offering options of these two parts pre-soldered for those still a bit wary of SMD..







Note the Red block is showing where I used double sided foam tape to try to avoid any shorts between the boards, I probably suggest some sharkskin or tough plastic to fully insulate in the case of very rough treatment.

Kind Regards,

Mick

PS.. I am currently working on another backpack 170 using a SSOP and with onboard USB and a DS3232 RTC.. If all goes well it will be about a month away but this will be almost entirely SMD.

Mik



Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
WhiteWizzard
Guru

Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2933
Posted: 03:09am 21 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Nice one Mick - looks great.

Best you get your best pigeon loaded up!!

WW
 
centrex

Guru

Joined: 13/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 320
Posted: 02:52pm 21 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Looks good Mick do you have any pictures of it it displaying anything.
Looking forward to seeing the manual and getting a board in due course.

Regards
Cliff
Cliff
 
bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 10:05pm 22 Apr 2015
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi Cliff,

Your board is on it way to you..

As to pictures displaying anything, the thread posted HERE!! has some better pictures than I could have taken and show what can be done.

The sample code mentioned on page 1 of that link is what I use to test it out.

Graeme has written some nice button routines as well (shown on page 2 of the thread above) that should also work.

Regards,

Mick


Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Print this page


To reply to this topic, you need to log in.

The Back Shed's forum code is written, and hosted, in Australia.
© JAQ Software 2025