hello all
in april i made an introduction to arduino with some students. we found that isn't so easy for beginners to handle all the electronics. so i decide to make an interface board. the idea was to help starters into a quick try out. focusing on arduino first.
(i know, it is important to have also knowledge in electronics for a project. but first it is easier to start with a help and make them hungry for arduino. after this step electronics comes up. there's a lot to discuss, but go back to the positive points.)
the board should minimize connector problems and soldering. something like plug and play was wished. in concept, we saw that a bit of flexibility is important. ... at the end, the arduino interface board was born :
- made for beginners like in school for a quick try out of the arduino environment with existing hardware (sensors/actors)
- stick up on the arduino base board
- power supply (5V and 12V) from base board
- reset for programming
- some led's, button's and potentiometers for interaction
- connector for potential free inputs. in parallel to the buttons so you can simulate it on board
- analog inputs for direct plug in of i-cube x sensors and alike
- connector for 12v sensor (opto coupled internal)
- driver output 12v for relays, motors, lamp
- relais output for potential free switching (not 230v)
- connector for servos
- output line for smoothing pwm
- pin 13 with a hard wired led
- free connectors to patch
- general, patching between different pins and possibilitys
- dimension 80 * 100mm, so this is the maximum in the eagle layout program for free
- the 12 v part makes it possible to work on a second standart voltage. and separating higher current switching from the 500mA at the interal 5v regulator
there are a lot of other ideas - integrate base board parts on it... but at the end, the boards was full with stuff... and as written, it is for beginners.
see the galerie here : AIB : arduino interface board
schematic as pdf : http://www.media-log.ch/arduino/aib-sch.pdf
board as pdf : http://www.media-log.ch/arduino/aib-brd.pdf
the board was produced now in a beta series (yeah, with the obligatory mistake...). eventually i do a redesign of with some minor fixes. i'm interesting to hear some comments, ideas, problems and so on for a nice finish.
don't hesitate the reply some minds.
so long, mischa
