Having been in electronics for years I am building a couple of shields for my own use, basically they are analog & digital I/O extenders. These will made as proper pcb's (not on proto board or anything).
I've decided to make a few of them as it keeps the price down when getting the pcb's made.......so I'll be selling a few via my own website, or possibly Ebay.
The first prototype of the first board is working and I'm just finalizing the demo code/sketch on how to use it (dead easy) which will be shipped with the board.
32 channel digital I/O extender (using I2C).
All channels configurable as input or output.
I2C addresses configurable via DIP switches.
Outputs capable of 25mA each.
Screw terminals (mini) for each I/O channel.
Optional interrupt line back to Arduino.
Footprint of board per standard Arduino.
I'll post back here with more news/photos when I get a production board assembled.
After that, I'll be looking at my next extender, a multi-channel DAC/ADC (true analogue input/output). Then after that who knows!
How about using an ADC/DAC with more resolution, say 12 or 14 bits? Feel free to use/adapt my libraries for communicating with discrete/analog I2C devices:
Yes, 10 or 14-bit is on the cards.......these first 2off ADC/DAC pcb's are non-SMD (i.e. DIL IC), hence availability of 8-bit only. Mainly for my own use. I'm in the UK and SMD assembly houses are "rip -off Britain" prices.
I'm testing out a pcb maker in China (reduced costs)......and if all going well I'll get the SMD versions done.
Ian.
UPDATE:- Great result, have found a 20pin DIL 10ch AtoD 10bit I2C IC......and it's cheap!