Aftermarket accessory board - need suggestions

Don't get your hopes up yet for having it soon, but I'm trying to work on it more, and with a few speed bumps, it's taking a little while. However, there are a few things that suggestions could be used for.

This board will be used for mounting a GPS module (Of various kinds), USB, and other possible features (FM transmitter for mono audio).

Here is what I need though.

Assuming I can get this to route, I want to be able to have 4 or 5, at most, different kinds of connectors for GPS modules.
The EM-408 is going to be on there, no question. What other modules (give me links to them so I can research the connector) do you all think we should have?
Oh, and if you want some crappy 8 channel module, I'll smack you.

Now... USB. Where will it be? What kind of devices are we attaching to this so I can make sure clearance is going to be good? Keep in mind, there has to be room for GPS modules, the 50-pin, and possibly a Sarantel GPS antenna on this board, so everything will be considered...

Also, USB hubs will not be in the first revision (And may not be in further revisions), so just assume you'll have one only.

What other options do we need? Some may get put in, some might not... but i'll consider everything.

So, let me know, and I'll keep slowly working away at this. Keep in mind, I've been busy, so this may not get done until after I move.

-George

 

My thought is to break out each of the 50 pins into a row of through-holes. the rest of the board should just be perfboard with standard pin spacing. then each of us can build whatever circuits we can think of

 

Exactly what Gravitar said with a beer holder.

Jim

 

An 8 axis motion control module to control a robot arm to pour our beers and perform other worldly duties.

 

How about a removable media slot? CF, SM, MS/MSPro ... Might be usefull for something, should be doable as usb media readers/writers are tiny now and could probably be incorporated from the parts inside of a cheap one, or available in bulk, cheap! Might even be able to fool the bios into thinking it's a bootable usb device and run a tiny Linux from it with no drives.


EDIT: Oh yeah, and a beer holder!!

 

I'll get right on the beer holder

I think that perhaps a "prototype" area would be a good idea, for customer mods, and run lines that are unused to that area.

 

I think 3-4 are enough the gps, usb( let the modifier choose if he/she gonna install usb hub) and if possible pci express slot

 

PCI Express? As in PCIe? or is there something else I don't know about?

Because that would require alot more than a custom board, I'd need a new processor

 

I am researching now what kind of cicuitry are necessary for pci ex but not really sure about that. I think only new model has a capabiliy of having a PCI e. The thing is, it replaces the PCMCIA instead of 62 pin it becomes only 26pin

 

It requires a ton of channels going directly to the processor. It'd be cool, but it's way beyond what I'm capable of.

 

Oh! yah, not possible and I will go then for a " beer holder" too.

 

I'm running into snags here.

I can't find a few connectors in Eagle (But it's ok, I found suitable substitutes for the computer design), but what is gonna drive me nuts is how using Eagle, the schematic representation does not equal a real life sized component, so I'm unsure how to build this...

Ie; the 50 pin connector is 29mm on my board design, but in the schematic it's 4" long.

Anyone care to throw something obvious to me that I'm missing?

Here's where I'm running into trouble basically...

I can make a schematic.
I can make a board.
Both represent what I want, but I've got no idea how to tie them together so that the connectors are where I want them.

I should really go back to college

Edit; reading the tutorial, I realise I may be doing this backwards...

But any hints to using Eagle would be great. I'm feeling stupid, and I drank the wrong beverage for this project tonight (Shoulda had a jolt, not a beer that wasn't cold enough).

 

What file format do you ultimately need this to be?
What file formats are you working with now?
You could send me what you want and I can do it for you if this would help.

Jim

 

As per BatchPCB, I need these;
* *.cmp - Top Component Layer (Top Copper)
* *.sol - Bottom Solder Layer (Bottom Copper)
* *.plc - Top Silk Screen Layer
* *.pls - Bottom Silk Screen Layer
* *.stc - Solder Stop Mask Layer (Top Solder Mask)
* *.sts - Solder Stop Mask Layer (Bottom Solder Mask)
* *.drd - Excellon Drill Data

And they need to be either generated with Eagle, or converted with it, so that they have the right format to use at their end.

I gotta re-add in the 50-pin and try again, and if I fail I'll send you the work I've got.

Though I'm about to call it a night with this puppy. My head is killin' me. I knew I shoulda had caffeine and asprin.

 

So I’m assuming every thing is in Vector format and I could just knock something out for you in AutoCAD real quick.
I work with several Cad programs and can convert to many file types but don’t recognize any you listed. Are they acronyms for the deferent layers or actual file extensions?
Let me know if I can help but be warned I want a refrigerated beer holder now.
Jim

 

Not a clue what they are. It's just what BatchPCB.com (Who I think I'll use to make these puppies for my first run to see if they work/sell) said they needed.

Unfortunately I'm not so good in the CAD world. Never even tried making a CAD project until this one started last month.

Dunno if I'm off to a bad start or not...

I'm using the free editor from these guys; http://www.cadsoft.de/

 

I’ll download the free version and let you know what I find.

Jim

 

I should take a look at that too. I don't think autocad would be too well suited to what we're trying to do here, but I suppose you can do just about anything in autocad if you try hard enough.

 

I’ll work on it more tomorrow. But I don’t like it much for now.

I read this here http://www.artwork.com/acad/pcb_app/pcb.htm and it looks like it is possible to us AutoCAD for a PCB but probably not practical.

I will also look here to see if I can find something http://www.pcb-pool.com/html_us/us_service_1.htm

Sorry I was not more help tonight.

Jim

 

No problem man. I'm still weeks away from making something that can be sent to anybody and made into a board.

With more practice with Eagle, I'll be able to make better boards... But the initial feel for it is taking some effort. I thought I had the hang of it, but I'm still wayyy off

 

i wonder if autocad electrical has any pcb artwork features, i'll have to take a look.

 

There's some info here and also this about home-brewing PCBs. Some guy says this is better than Eagle.

Disclaimer:
I don't know.

 

Modly

Did you get a chance to unwrap my little package?

Let me know if you think it’s usable.

Jim

 

I haven't got it. I'll check all my filters though...

It's forwarding through my comcast mail, and it sometimes blows the biscuits.

 

Resent to both E-mail addys 5.3MB make some room.

Jim

 

Got it in both mailboxes. I'll have to fire up the Toughbook to try it out

(I use a Mac desktop for most of my posting and work. The dual 2.3GHz processors, 5.5GB of DDR2, and 1.5TB of drive space just beats the hell out of my CF-28).

 

I just D/L'd eagle and started to play with it. WOW this looks cool! much better suited to what we're trying to do than autocad. so how far are you guys with your board design?

first things first.. didn't someone come up with the make/model of connector we need? i recalled someone saying it was a fujisu part but a search turned up nothing. anyone recall what it is?

 

Search in eagle's part search "hirose 0.5 mm"

You'll find it fast there.

I figured out my problem in eagle though. I wasn't adding junctions, then I wasn't adding them in the right spot. Then I had to generate a board with my schematic.

Confusing as hell, but I'm getting the hang of it.

Problem #2, we don't have the right connector for the Em-408 in the part list. I'll have to figure out what we can do about that.

 

Found it! Here's one problem I've been pondering.. How are we going to get these hirose connectors? looks like they're only sold by the 2000-piece reel, and digikey wants $0.77/ea for them. we might get a better per-unit price but i think everyone's going to want to sell them a reel at a time! the hirose website does have a sample request form, maybe i'll try that first. anyone have any luck getting these?

 

I thought that Rick scored a few of them from somewhere on accident.

I'll have to see if that's right, and where he got em'.

 

I'm trying to figure out a few things with the 50 pin.

Pin #11, SUSB#. What does it do? Does it tie into the USB system?

I'm also trying to find a source for 3.3v and 5v. Anybody know which pins off hand supply those? If not I'll have to test by hand.

On the diagram, I'm looking at 13, 15, and 17 as possible power sources... (I hope)

 

I used the sample-ordering service that the hirose website uses, and tried to pretend like a business. i'll find out soon enough if they believed me

 

VC5 and VA5 are both 5vdc the dif. is VA5 always on.

 

Good to know. I'll assume that VC3 and VA3 are 3.3v. (By assume I mean I'll test them before it goes into my schematic, but at least have an educated idea where it might be on the 50 pin).

 

You're correct VC3 and VA3 are 3.3vdc

 

Any idea what turns the VC3/5 on? Dip switch maybe?

I'll try to use what I can without the VC's, but just incase...

 

Just my thought, VC5 is very important coz this is the voltage needed when you want to extract the USB. Based on my experimentation as STAn also know VA5 is always on even if the computer is off. I try to follw the schematic but it need to be printed out in a hardcopy to trace the source of it and its connection.

 

My plan was to have one 5v source for USB, and one 5v for GPS usage incase anybody wanted to use a 5v module.

I'd also route two 3.3v sources for GPS use (ACC and enable/disable). Right now I have no other 3.3v uses.

Any idea still on what SUSB# is?

Edit;

I'm seeing what you mean. VA3/5 are always on. Not ideal I don't think... big battery waste. I noticed a 15-16v pin (50), which might be useful later.

SUSB# does not provide voltage when on or off, but it might if something is connected to it. I'm wondering if it acts like the dip switches, and turns on the wireless/GPS options?

 

Well the good news is my order seems to be approved, but the bad news is they're showing an estimated ship date of 4/2/08! So I'm probably going to have to find another answer to this problem if I want to do anything anytime soon. Have any of you had any luck getting connectors from other sources?

 

Gravitar... Are you talking about connectors like CN18 on the CF-28?

 

yes, i ordered 10 pieces of CN18 and 10 pieces of CN40. looks like i'll get them, in a couple months!

 

I have like 15 CN18 type 50 pin connectors. I just sent some to Modly for R&D... Do you want me to mail some to you too? I'll probably never use them. By the way... Digi-Key sent them to me in a week flat.

 

TB -

I found the X15 connectors at DigiKey; what was your part # for those CN18 50-pin ribbon connectors?

mnem
Numbers are the nuts & bolts of the universe.

 

Hey Modly,
Without letting out any trade secrets, can you give us an update? Anything going on with this project?

 

I've got the schematic done, and now I'm trying to get the components placed right (Mostly the holes). I wanna make sure that it's drilled right the first time so it can screw down in place.

 

Followup: I got my samples monday. Not nearly as bad a turnaround time as they had first stated! So, if you want the hirose connectors, follow their link to the needasample website and you'll get them!

 

The second revision board will include the CN-40 if there is enough desire for it.

Anybody got any uses for it yet?