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iLab MiniThe iLabs |
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Mini is a project to replace the $40,000 HP4155B with a much more limited, but cheaper, $40 device. In the process, we developed a more general device, although this web page still mostly describes it in its parameter analyzer version. The Mini, in the parameter analyzer version, is made up of two boards. One is a board that takes USB to 8 analog inputs, 8 analog outputs, and a growing number of digital GPIO pins. A prototype PCB has been manufactured and works. A final version of the PCB has been manufactured, but not yet fully assembled or tested. It costs just over $20. The major limitation is speed (in the low kilohertz, rather than megahertz). This is a general-purpose board that can be used as in a variety of experiments (e.g. analog outputs as function generators, and inputs as scope probes). There is a second board, a bit under $20, that uses 4 analog outputs, 8 analog inputs, and depending on version, 4-8 digital pins, to convert this into a 4-port parameter analyzer. This has been tested on a protoboard. A PCB has been manufactured, but not yet tested. Thus far, not much work has been done towards integrating the Mini into the iLabs architecture (this is the current push in further development). The project has several goals:
The major limitations are:
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We have the following resources available:
The iLab Mini was begun as a maverick project by Piotr Mitros, who was hired primarily to create this Wiki, and help update some of the documentation. It is currently garnering some support from the powers that be, and Piotr is investigating either finding ways to devote more time to the project, or alternatively, pass it along to someone else who can. Right now, there is a team of undergraduates at OAU that is (hopefully) taking over the development of the Mini. The Mini TODO list remains large. Piotr, I don't really know how u want the mini driver to look like but i think it can be done faster in borland builder enviroment. You can even create a grfaphical interface. If u think i can help, u can tell me where. i can program the microcontroller virtually now, i mean by running the studio or WINAVR with gcc compile, it's really cool and interesting---Tobi, OAU |