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[on:]

the pc board is designed and pre-production samples have been ordered.

the first collaborative effort between myself (linuxworks) and AMB labs (known for his DIY audiophile designs and projects):



http://www.flickr.com/photos/linux-works/3939835161/

highlights:

- i2c controlled (saves pins on the main arduino)
- compact design (same exact form factor as 2x16 display)
- scratchpad proto hole area (plated thru .1-spaced holes)
- realtime clock chip (ds1302) with supercap backup
- high quality double layer ground-planed pc board
- 6pin header for FTDI serial/usb cable
- breakout pads for all the digital and analog ard. pins
- power and pin-13 leds
- reset switch
- pin assignment and headers for IR-remote sensor
- pin also assigned for pwm-based lcd backlight
- contrast pot for lcd onboard

we expect to get our first samples in about a week.  I've also ordered all the parts for these (to build about 20 of them) and am planning on doing a small beta-test run with full and partial kits (including board-only kits).

/bryan

[Reply #1 on:]

bryan:

It looks nice.  How about considering an ICSP header for rev 1?

Don

[Reply #2 on:]

You're reading my mind! I just started a thread asking about something very similar to this - arduinos, RTCs, and LCDs all on an I2C bus. Here it is:

http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1253539251

I see you appear to be using an MCP23008 to drive the LCD. Will you be releasing example code for this?

[Reply #3 on:]

hi don,

icsp for 6 pin dual-row, you mean?

like, for loading bootloaders?  for regular programming, I just use the $20 ftdi cable (lady ada sources it, etc).  I find that works well and is pretty easy and cheap enough for most users.  I'd like to encourage users to not just buy 'programmed chips' but be able to update their code and customize it (part of the reason I went with arduino).

the board is pretty cram packed with stuff, but there's always the proto holes (aka, 'scratchpad') area which you're free to install a 6pin ISP header there and wire-wrap connect it (I like using kynar wire for stuff like this) to the ard pins.

all the ard pins should be pad accessible.

[Reply #4 on:]

yes, sample code is already here (needs some cleanup but the demo does init the lcd display, talk to the RTC chip and run a digital HH:MM:SS clock demo

http://www.netstuff.org/arduino_libs/i2c_lcd_backpack/