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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Elemento - it's just a tiny bit magic. :)
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Mixtel90 Guru  Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8928 |
I started this design prior to going out of commission for various reasons (including a stay in hospital). I dug it out again the other day to see if my brain was up to working again (epilepsy leaves me a bit off, sometimes for weeks). Things seem to be ok, even if I'm still suffering from some of the physical problems! So, Elemento. The enclosure costs about £1.47 from AE. No screws, just clips together. AE link The PCB is my first serious attempt at a 4-layer board. Designed to be easy to assemble for just about anyone who can solder. Although there is SMD work there is nothing smaller than 1206. The bits you *will* break while practicing are the two LEDs. lol Built in 4-port USB hub Will accept either the Adafruit DVI breakout module for HDMI or a little board for VGA output. Choice of 2 different full size SD card sockets or a micro SD card module (not SMD). RTC with CR2032 40-pin Pico socket. You need a short lead with a "mini" plug to fit your Pico and D+ / D- connecting to the hub. You simply unplug it for installing MMBasic then reconnect it.  Eight uncommitted GPIO pins on the front for the user. PWM audio. Sorry, but there's not much space and I can't hear stereo anyway! The clever bits are the changeable display module and the Pico. The 40-pin layout is completely standard so any pin-compatible device can be used. You will probably want to run the USB firmware though as otherwise your only access is the console. In theory it will accept anything from the original Pico to the Pimoroni Picp Plus 2 W and you can upgrade from one to the other. The VGA module is the same footprint as the Adafruit module. Both are intended to be screwed down onto M2.5 tapped spacers to reduce the strain on the connections. Note that you have to fit the display board *after* screwing the PCB down as there is no access to this screw after. As usual with my designs, the components are generally cheap and cheerful. I'm just starting to check it over so comments welcome. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3792 |
Nice. Like the case. Any way to squeeze in PSRAM? Even on the underside? PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on FOTS |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8928 |
For that simply plug in the Pimoroni Plus 2 W. :) Linky It's not a cheap module (£16.80) but it includes 16MB flash, 8MB PSRAM and Qwiic. I think the PSRAM select is on GP47, where you would expect it for Pimoroni. It may be changeable, I'm not sure. If you aren't bothered about wifi/bluetooth then they also do the pico-plus-2 for £12.90 in the same form factor. You may get the A2 stepping chip though. I don't know of any other 40-pin module that includes PSRAM. I'm guessing that the cases were intended for something like an active antenna. The outer finish is far nicer than I'd expect for something like a thermostat and the cable entry position is nicely rounded (I tried but I couldn't make use of it!). . Edited 2026-07-08 18:17 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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