• Even smaller with VQFN mcrocontroller

    Alex • 10/13/2015 at 19:33 • 1 comment

    When using the Atmega32 in the VQFN package and when you do not use the bottom pad. You can made this board even smaller:

    https://644db4de3505c40a0444-327723bce298e3ff5813fb42baeefbaa.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/86ef895590a5a40fcafee778ce8de659.png

    The data sheet recommends to use the bottom pad, but without using it you have some pace for traces and vias under the chip. Soldering the micro was quite tricky but it works after some rework:

    When assembling the board I used a SMD button which fits on the footprint of THT button. I alos did not used a standard crystal. instead I used a ceramic resonator I had laying around - it does fits on the footprints of the crystal and the crystal's capacitors.

    Note: There is an error in the silkscreen: The pin labeled B4 next to B2 is pin B3

  • It is working!

    Alex • 07/09/2015 at 15:55 • 3 comments

    So I soldered the first broad. And its is working fine. I used an old Atmega16L I had desoldered from some old stuff some time ago.

    And the AVR is working with a 12 MHz crystal, although this is out of spec (8MHz max. for the "L" version). But I do not have a other lower value at hand.

  • PCBs arrived form osh park

    Alex • 07/03/2015 at 17:25 • 0 comments