So, I've decided to resurrect this semi-dead project.
The original project served it's (very) short term goal of monitoring a serial data stream, and logging any anomalies to a CSV file. This was achieved using a laptop running a Python 3 script utilising PySerial (GitHub Repo, Documentation), logging to a CSV. I'll post this code, when I can find it. I have to warn though, it's not pretty!
Since "completing" the original project I have been thinking of a number of upgrades and improvements that could be made to the hardware. Namely, some sort of enclosure. Much preferable to covering the whole board with a length of 50mm wide clear heatshrink as I did previously.
The upgrades and changes I plan to make are as follows. Not all will find their way into the final iteration:
- Enclosure
- Hammond 1455 series extruded aluminium
- Likely candidate: 1455C801RD
- To use a custom PCB as end-caps. This allows for easy hole placement and continuity of ground/shielding
- Possibility to mount LED(s) using a right-angle SMT header connector between main and end board
- Switchable hardware inverters on FT232 data lines
- Allows for correction inversion introduced by the use of the fibre-optic link
- Switchable in hardware by the use of XNOR gates
- Should have (option of) LED indicator
- Inverters should be switchable per-channel, i.e. the option to invert only one, or both channels
- Likely to be set by a micro slide/ toggle switch
- PCB layout to accommodate both 820nm (HFBR-x4xx series) and 650nm (HFBR-x5xx series) digital transmitters and receivers
- Possible change to USB-C connector
- Probably unnecessary due to FTDI chip not supporting USB3
- Much finer pitch, therefore harder to solder
- Possibly less robust than USB Mini-B
I also plan to look at the protection available on the USB data & power lines. I want to ensure this is sufficient and appropriate for the application.
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