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• [H6X] State of the build #5

  eBender • 01/10/2022 at 04:04 • 0 comments

  alpha 11.0

  New design Sketches for custom PCBs:

  PCB prototyping, 3D printing, new designs.

  I hit power path and size limitations with my breadboard prototype spider for while...
  and then i was offered sponsoring by PCBway, not kidding. love when things come together by themselves.

  So, i already started the PCB design and tests of the 3D printed enclosure.
  I scaled down the prototype a little bit. Basically temporarily taking out half
  of the battery, 1 sensor and the Spotlight LED. Makes it a much sleeker device
  and prototyping slightly easier. I can scale up again after the first successful PCBs.
  Gotta keep in mind that i want to keep it somewhat modular, space for expansion and user accessible.

  Change-log [a10.2 -> alpha 11.0]

  • temporary Size cut-down
  • switch to custom PCBs by PCBway
  • switch to 3D printing from Aluminium bracket design for now
  • switch to 1.69" IPS LCD 240x260px, 480cd/m² (if i can make 8-bit interface work)
  • switch to Trackball clickable with 4-Color LED
  • added MCU23017 I/O expander 18 pins (for trackball and future expansion)
  • added P82B715 I²C signal booster (if needed)
  • added VEML7700 LUX meter
  • added MPU9250 back in (used to have I²C conflict)

  Enclosure

  The other reason i had a bit of a break on this project is because i was stuck with the Aluminium part fabrication, so i finally bought an Ender 3v2 which will make the prototyping so much easier and faster. Also much easier to combine custom PCBs and 3D prints.

  And also i built a DSLR Servo Follow Focus and a Cinema LED Panel in the meantime. good practice...

  First sizing prototypes:  Video Size Check

  Read more »

• [H6X] UI Video Update

  eBender • 07/12/2021 at 12:19 • 0 comments

  Progress:  66,9%      Hardware: v9       Code: a10.0

  quick video of almost the whole OS.

  * Time and Heart Rate BPM is not working correctly right now.

• [H6X] UI Update

  eBender • 05/24/2021 at 03:57 • 2 comments

  Progress:  66,9%      Hardware: v9       Code: v9.9

  I've been working on the UI and made some progress i want to share.

  Mainly Home and Menu Screens and some minor updates.
  I realised i haven't featured the Air Quality/indirect virus detection theory
  functionality yet, that will be getting its own post soonish.
  

  These are actual screenshots of the display (or photos rather, haven't figured out the eSPI screenshot readRect() code yet). Some pages are still cluttered and older, and i have yet to implement smooth fonts, but it's at a good state to show and explain.

  Read more »

• [H6X] State of the build #4

  eBender • 04/28/2021 at 23:27 • 0 comments

  Progress:  65,6%      Hardware: v9       Code: v9.8

  Change-log: 

  • implemented AMG8833 8x8px Thermal Cam
  • added Button2 library for Interrupt double-click detection
  • enabled INA260 Interrupt low voltage alarm to trigger system power off through Buck converter EN pin
  • removed pull-up resistors on all I2C sensors, keeping 10k main I2C pull-ups
  • bug fixes

  Issues:

  • detecting SD unmount or error inside Loop() not working anymore
  • removed MPU9250 for AMG8833 to work (I2C addresses)

  
  

  AMG8833 Functions:
  

  Using Algorithm from the Adafruit AMG88xx Library.

  Screen shows:    Center Point Value, Max Value, Min Value, fps,  Interpolation Time
  

  • LowRes Mode      30x28 Pixels Interpolated, 12 fps 
  • HighRes Mode     120x111 pixels Interpolated, 1 fps (+Auto-Exposure)
  • Full Screen burst mode    collects the highest value out of the full array
  • Center Point burst mode  collects the highest value out of the 2 center pixels

  Button Single-Click:    Trigger Burst Measurement (small 0.49" screen shows 3-sec countdown)
  Button Double-Click:  Toggle Measurement Area (Center Point, Full Screen)

  In HighRes mode i maxed out the Resolution so the frame Rate drops to 1. The Colour Temperatures are mapped to onscreen Min and Max Temps. Kinda works like a simple exposure compensation in a normal camera. The adjusted values get passed on to the LowRes mode if switched. Default temperature scale is 22C - 33C.

  It features a Burst Mode (Averaging Mode) to get a more accurate reading with the 8 bit sensor values, by averaging 50 samples over 3 seconds. Measurement will always be taken from the highest temperature seen by the Sensors inside the selected Measurement Area (Full Screen (64px) or Center Point (2px)).

  Issue: i can't, for the life of me, figure out how to access the full color spectrum to have smooth color transitions. I tried using the eSPI colors and a conversion method, but could only get it to work by accident with smooth colors going from dark blue to purple, and dropping 6 fps. no good. Could have something to do with the 16bit color mapping and how they are arranged in the array, since the actual 8x8 sensor values are 8-Bit, but the array only holds about 32 or 64 colors it looks like. i don't understand how to map the array correctly, or where to get a premade one.

  
  

  more after the jump:

  Read more »

• [H6X] State of the build #3

  eBender • 04/23/2021 at 17:18 • 0 comments

  Progress:  64,8%      Hardware: v9       Code: v9.8

  Update: Time for some pictures of Hardware implementation and UI progress:

  Progress with the UI:

  It's still not very beautiful, but already does almost everything that was planned. 

  Read more »

• [H6X] State of the build #2

  eBender • 04/23/2021 at 12:21 • 0 comments

  Progress:  61,4%      Hardware: v9       Code: v9.7

  Change-log:

  • replaced MLX90614 BCC with AMG8833 64px Thermal cam
  • added Sensirion SCD30 - CO2, Temperature, Humidity Sensor to support fairly inaccurate CCS811 & HDC1080
  • added secondary tiny 0.49" OLED screen (displays sensor & error data)
  • added additional INA260 Voltage & Current Sensor (15 Amps max)
  • added mini GPS Module in plans (not ordered yet, still researching - PA1010D ?)
  • added self-error checking/disabling for Sensors & SD reader
  • sped up code by a lot! (avg 80 fps)
  • made progress with UI/UX menu (new Debug & Info Screens, Charge Indication etc...)
  • implemented deep Sleep & low Power Modes

  Issues:

  • conflicting I2C adresses for RTC, MPU & AMG8833 (go Serial? or one has to go)
  • how to manufacture precise aluminium bends (r 1.75cm)
  • voltage still unstable bc of  janky breadboard/cables & too many components (occasional i2c errors) guessing  soldered connections and better wires will fix this

  Issues with the power Path/Charging:

  USB-C input needs 9v from wall charger to work, because i am using non-balanced 2S, 8.4v, 2A charging modules that don't boost the voltage.

  i tested multiple 2S charging boards TP5100 in parallel and i think it killed 2 of them. So charging would be limited to 1 charger with 2A max, which would take way too long (over 16h). Maybe going 2S was a bad idea, but it gives me the ability to toggle these (HW-313, 3A) voltage buck converters on and off via their enable pins. And voltage conversion differences between battery voltage and the component voltages are lower. (highest is 12v, lowest 3.3v)

  Having a balanced, protected 2S (3 terminal) buck-boost converter/charger supporting 7A with USB-C PD4.0 polling for voltage, input and output switch, would be a dream (MJ1 Batteries support 6.8A charge rate, which would take 6h30).. if my math is correct.

  I know designing a custom PCS with charging/power/protection/management features, sensors and as much as fits on it would probably be the best solution, but i don't have the expertise yet. Arduino and Alibaba modules it is for now. 

  unless someone wants to help?

  New Component / Feature Illustration:

• [H6X] State of the build #1

  eBender • 01/25/2021 at 22:26 • 0 comments

  Progress:  42,7%    Hardware: v7       Code: v7.3

  Issues:

  • Airflow, heat management, heat expansion of materials.
  • Getting my prototyping circuit up and running again. switched to a new breadboard and wires and now all the voltages have dropped.

  no idea how to tackle the charging path. Schematic &  more Details after the Jump

  Read more »

• First Concept Renders.

  eBender • 01/25/2021 at 22:08 • 0 comments

  This was my first version. With a hilariously complicated tray, pushed by a tiny linear Actuator, comes out to show you all its brains. Moved away from that. Also the old version was much bigger and heavier with a double 9x9 18650 Pack.

  Going for a 6x6 Hexagonal design now.

  Read more »

• Sensor Testing.

  eBender • 01/25/2021 at 22:05 • 0 comments

  Had first successes with the CJMCU-8128 (CO2, tVOC) and MAX30102 (HeartRate), WiFi, Screen:

  Read more »

• Proof of Concept.

  eBender • 01/25/2021 at 21:59 • 0 comments

  This is the first prototype, to give Aluminium bending and tolerances a try. Also ordered 3 different materials for the cover. Denim, and two types of faux Leather.

  Read more »

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