FEED blog.jeronimus.net

An RGB Led with DuPont connectors from a previous post was tested with the attiny85 with Dupont female wires. the wire without resistor was connected to ground and the other led pins with the resistors to P0, P1 and P2.
As program i used the Example DigisparkRGB program. ( Examples \  DigisparkRGB \ DigisparkRGB  ).

#include <DigisparkRGB.h>
/*
 Digispark RGB

 This example shows how to use soft PWM to fade 3 colors.
 Note: This is only necessary for PB2 (pin 2) - Blue, as Red (pin 0) and Green (pin 1) as well as pin 4 support the standard Arduino analogWrite() function.

 This example code is in the public domain.
 */
byte RED = 0;
byte BLUE = 2;
byte GREEN = 1;
byte COLORS[] = {RED, BLUE, GREEN};

// the setup routine runs once when you press reset:
void setup()  {
  DigisparkRGBBegin();
}


void loop ()
{
//direction: up = true, down = false
boolean dir = true;
int i = 0;

while(1)
{
fade(COLORS[i%3], dir);
i++;
dir = !dir;
}
}
void fade(byte Led, boolean dir)
{
int i;

//if fading up
if (dir)
{
for (i = 0; i < 256; i++)
{
DigisparkRGB(Led, i);
DigisparkRGBDelay(25);//1);
}
}
else
{
for (i = 255; i >= 0; i--)
{
DigisparkRGB(Led, i);
DigisparkRGBDelay(25);//1);
}
}
}

A video of the result was posted on my YouTube channel :
(At that time this blogpost was not yet ready for publishing.)

As i was not very happy with the recorded colors, i tried to improve it by putting a white paper below the led. However the improvement was only minor and the real colors are different. I hope the video will at least give a little impression of the changing colors.
As all the colors are faded in the program i did not specially select the led color pins to be matched to the colors in the program (  RED = 0;  BLUE = 2;  GREEN = 1; )

MailbagAugust 2019 i published how to make SMD leds breadboard friendly with Dupont connectors.  https://blog.jeronimus.net/2019/08/smd-led-breadboard-friendly.html

Another option to make SMD components more breadboard friendly is to using a PCB. I found some SMD PCBs on Aliexpress and ordered 3 lots with 10 PCBs. (30 PCBs in total)
The PCBs arrived some days later in my mail in a small envelope. See "Mailbag" picture on the right. They match DIP 8 format and you need to break them apart yourself.
Besides for DIP 8 IC's these PCBs can also be used for other SMD components.
For a test I soldered some different SMD leds on them. To solder the Dupont pins to the PCB i used a small breadboard to temporary fix the Dupont pins at the right positions.

In this post a detail views of my this first version of my PCB business card. One side is more the business card side with contact information.Also two rulers are in included. One on the bottom with cm divided in mm.
The division on the right can be used for counting PCB pins.
Text on the PCB is aligned with the holes in the PCB. (E.g. the o in Jeronimus. However in linkedin i needed to put the hole over the e.



The other side of the PCB is for the electronic circuits that can be build. It is more a development type board than one circuit and can also be used as a breakout board. So not all items need to be placed on the board. For several components the SMD or thru hole version can be used by placing the SMD pads between the holes for the thru hole version. The PCB can be used as an Arduino Uno shield / Arduino breakout board. In the white rectangulars long dupont pin holders can be placed. The two Arduino pin holders are not at "Dupont" distances. The good thing about this is that this prevents some mistakes when connection a shield. The disadvantage is that it is not easy to connect cheap prototype pcbs like the {} 5cm*7cm pcb.By adding female pin holders vertical on the two columns where the small white line at the top this PCB can connect an Arduino pins to the 5cm*7cm PCB. Also on the top two blocks for 2*4 connectors are marked ESP01.The right one is for "normal use" and the left one can be used to program an ESP01. The ESP01 can be used without an Arduino. An connector for an CR2035 can be used as power source, LA0 and LA2 are locations for 2 leds (SMD or thrue hole) with corresponing resistors ( PL0 and PL2),
On the bottom are three metal pads. 5V , 3V3 and GND for crocodile clips. Above the GND pad is a an SMD IC 8 SOP can be soldered. ( e.g. 555 or memory chip.)the pins of this SOP8 are only connected to the nearby holes. On the right side are holes for two push buttons.C1 and C2 are locations the corresponding capacitors. Between the two buttons is a location for a jumper (or wore bridge) to program ESP01 1  (top right). In up coming blog posts more details will follow.

PCB Business CardsYesterday I posted a short quick message on my blog to show my Business Card PLUS have arrived.
I decided that my (classic) Business Card needed an update. I still have several of this paper business cards. As the information on them is still up to date i don't like to throw them away as waste. So will still use them but, if i become more happy with the Printed Circuit Board  - Business Cards i expect not to order new paper cards. I wanted a business card that can be used.
The price of manufacturing this PCBs in China is low. To get PCBs in low quantities relative cheap best stay under the size of 100 mm * 100 mm and the minimum order is 5 pieces. By "panelizing" the PCB you can even get more PCBs. I don't like to throw away unused PCB's. Perhaps if i need a PCB for future project perhaps i will design them so the PCB can also be used as a business card.
However a few weeks ago i started designing a (test) PCB especially to be used as a business card.
'classic' Business CardPanelizeing the PCBs gave multiple PCBs with a break line for easy separation. As the manufacturer needs to add some text to your PCB to identify the order between all other orders i a added borders and asked the manufactured to place there ID on the boarder. I even changed the size of the PCBs a little from the standard size. This way two PCB/Business cards can be placed on one 100*100 mm PCB. As the minimum order is 5 (< 100*100 mm) PCB you will get after separating them 10 cards. ( In fact 10 panelized PCBs where ordered ,so i now have have 20 new business cards / PCBs that can be used different ways.
The disadvantage of my new card is that it is not possible to write something on the back.As i also have plans to add RFID with a sticker (also usable with classic paper business card) this can change).
To quick start, this first PCBs contain no QR. code. However i did add a ruler to the design.
The PCB can be used for electronic circuits in different ways. On my blog i will post some examples with test results and hope it will work in this first batch of PCBs. If not i can still use this batch as 'regular' business cards. If you get one of my PCB business cards and want to dispose it, consider giving it to someone else who perhaps can use it.
Also i would be happy to know how my PCB business cards are used (or only the [complex] PCB). Comments on this blog, mail, about this topic is welcome. I will share the Gerber files so you can (adapt and) order your own PCB if you don't get one from me. New blog post about this PCB will be published soon.

Quick update :
"My Business Card PLUS - Printed Circuit Boards " arrived from China.
Not only some different (example/demo) circuits that can be made with my Business Card need to be tested (and published).
I am now testing these cards and also did give away some. Test how the PCB with text will degrade after some time also seems important.
More details about this PCB follow.