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New firmware release: version 1.2.0

A project log for PD Buddy Sink

Smart power jack for USB Power Delivery

clara-hobbsClara Hobbs 01/14/2018 at 01:044 Comments

After one hundred and sixty five days of development, and more than half the commits to the Git repository, it's finally here!  The latest stable release, firmware version 1.2.0 brings support for Power Delivery 3.0 communication, programmable power supplies, requests from voltage ranges, new methods of specifying the required power level, and jumping to the STM32 DFU bootloader.  There are five, count 'em, five new commands in the configuration interface.  Upgrading to future versions won't require anyone to touch a soldering iron, so I might not be so hesitant to make smaller releases now.

For this release, the firmware was reorganized as a library for USB Power Delivery and an application using that library. The library is released under the Apache License, Version 2.0, and the application is still released under the GNU General Public License, Version 3.0. Both parts of the firmware are still kept in the same repository, but this may change at some point.  This is an important change: since I'm planning on making a development board based on the PD Buddy Sink, this will make it easy for folks to write firmware for it without having to hack the PD Buddy Sink's firmware to pieces.

So, what are you waiting for?  Head over to the releases page, download the compiled binary for 1.2.0, flash it to your PD Buddy Sink, and request some weird voltages from a programmable power supply!

Discussions

patrick wrote 02/02/2018 at 21:36 point

success, and boot now indeed works without the solder bridge!!

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patrick wrote 01/20/2018 at 15:09 point

other question. ever thought of making an android app (don't know if it is possible) to change the voltage settings on the road? would be great to have the buddy with me, but won't always have access to a laptop...

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Clara Hobbs wrote 01/20/2018 at 15:43 point

It would certainly be possible, in fact I've used a serial USB terminal app to configure it from my phone.  I'd say the main reason I haven't made an Android app for configuring the Sink is because I didn't have a smartphone until less than a month ago.  It's definitely on my to-do list!

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patrick wrote 01/20/2018 at 15:08 point

Cool, will upgrade this week!!

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