Recent updates on the CompuPhase pages
- New product: Wireless Relay Interface
- The “Wireless Relay Interface” module pairs with a Battery-free
Wireless Button. On pressing the button, the module closes a relay contact
for a time span that the user can configure. The relay contact is a potential
free, mechanical contact. The module features additional I/O pins and a
USB interface, and it supports scripting for custom functionality.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- Update of VisualPlace
-
VisualPlace assists in (manual or automated) PCB assembly. Component
placement is extracted from files generated from the EDA suite (notably
the Gerber files, the centroid file and the bill-of-materials). The
application visualizes the component placement and converts the files
(with corrections, where applicable) for further automated processing.
Due to a plug-in architecture, VisualPlace works with many EDA suites,
and more can be added.
This update features support for serial-mode barcode scanners (previously only HID-based barcode scanners were supported), support for RCS and higher quality graphics.
VisualPlace is a free application.
- New publication: Embedded Debugging with the Black Magic Probe, second edition
-
The “Black Magic Probe” is a debug probe for ARM Cortex
micro-controllers. The book Embedded Debugging with the Black Magic Probe
covers the set-up and use of this tool and its associated software. The
second edition of this book is now available. It covers the latest hardware
release, and expanded coverage on various more advanced topics.
- New application: RCS Browser
-
We urge every developer to use a version control system, and in fact we
urge every designer and author to use a version control system. There are
many to choose from, but the hurdles to overcome are that most require
a server to be set up and that the user-interface is aimed at programmers.
The RCS Browser is an easy-to-use tool for version control, using a graphical interface. It is based on the Revision Control System (RCS), a local, server-less version control system.
RCS Browser is a free application.
- New publication: Embedded Debugging with the Black Magic Probe
-
The “Black Magic Probe” is a debug probe for ARM Cortex
micro-controllers. The book Embedded Debugging with the Black Magic Probe
covers the set-up and use of this tool and its associated software.
-
New white paper: Parallel Capacitors and the effect of Antiresonance
- When multiple capacitors are used for decoupling (which is quite common for micro-controllers and FPGAs, for example), must these all have the same value, or is there an advantage in mounting multiple capacitors with different values in parallel? This white paper presents experiments that demonstrate the effect (and magnitude) of antiresonance when mixing capacitor values. It concludes that, as a rule of thumb, you should keep all decoupling capacitors the same.
- Update of: Mini-reel for SMD components
- The mini-reel is a reel for SMD components on cut tape. The design
follows the standard for reels for the essential dimensions (EIA-481).
Its outer diameter is smaller, and its capacity therefore as well: about
1/4th of what a 7" reel can hold.
The way that the two parts snap together was updated, so that glue is no longer required.
- Update of: Mini-tray for SMD components
- The mini-tray is designed as an alternative to the standard JEDEC tray
for semiconductors. It has the same width as a JEDEC tray, but its length
is a third of that of a JEDEC tray. Thus, three mini-trays lined up have
the same width/length dimensions as one JEDEC tray.
The design is updated, so that the tray can be 3D-printed as a single part, and to have a better tray label.
- New application: Packages
-
Packages is a tool to maintain a repository of packages of electronic
components. It is developed with the goal that various applications use one and
the same repository as a basis for their handling of packages.
The repository is in a well-documented JSON format, easy to parse in
a variety of programming languages.
Packages is an open source application.
- Update of VisualPlace
-
VisualPlace assists in (manual or automated) PCB assembly. Component
placement is extracted from files generated from the EDA suite (notably
the Gerber files, the centroid file and the bill-of-materials). The
application visualizes the component placement and converts the files
(with corrections, where applicable) for further automated processing.
Due to a plug-in architecture, VisualPlace works with many EDA suites,
and more can be added.
This update features expanded and enhanced package information (using the new Packages tool), leading to better analysis and improved visualization.
VisualPlace is a free application.
- MP3 player model H0420 is discontinued
- Regretfully, a key component of the model H0420 is no longer manufactured. As a result (and since our own stock of this component has depleted), we cannot build this model any longer. Possible alternatives are models Starling H0430 and Starling H0440.
- Update of the USBHID SDK
- The Software Development Kit for our USB Buttons is a programmer's library
for direct control of the buttons from your own software. This SDK
provides interfaces for C/C++, C# and VB.Net, for Windows and Linux.
This update adds Linux support.
- Update of VisualPlace
-
VisualPlace assists in (manual or automated) PCB assembly. Component
placement is extracted from files generated from the EDA suite (notably
the Gerber files, the centroid file and the bill-of-materials). The
application visualizes the component placement and converts the files
(with corrections, where applicable) for further automated processing.
Due to a plug-in architecture, VisualPlace works with many EDA suites,
and more can be added.
This update features a translation in Spanish by Juan de la Torre (user interface and notification messages). A navigation button bar was added for performing manual assembly of a PCB on a tablet or panel PC without keyboard. Plus improvements in Bill-of-Materials editor and fixes.
VisualPlace is a free application.
- Update of the minIni library
-
minIni is a programmer's library to read and write "INI" files in embedded
systems. minIni takes little resources, has a deterministic memory footprint
and can be configured for various kinds of file I/O libraries.
This update provides two new functions for checking the presennce of sections and keys in an INI file, and has a fix for the presence of invalid characters in INI file.
minIni is an open source project.
- Update of: Mini-reel for SMD components
- The mini-reel is a reel for SMD components on cut tape. The design
follows the standard for reels for the essential dimensions (EIA-481).
Its outer diameter is smaller, and its capacity therefore as well: about
1/4th of what a 7" reel can hold.
The design is updated with an optional rim to avoid spontaneous unrolling, and a non-linear scale to make it easier to estimate the number of components left on the reel.
- New article: Near-Field Probes for EMC testing
- Near-field probes, in combination with a spectrum analyzer, are the tools that you use to trouble-shoot EMC problems (notably radiated emissions). This article first describes how you can make good-quality low-cost probes yourself. Following that, it gives some advice in using the probes.
- Update of the minIni library
-
minIni is a programmer's library to read and write "INI" files in embedded
systems. minIni takes little resources, has a deterministic memory footprint
and can be configured for various kinds of file I/O libraries.
This update includes an example "glue" file that uses file locking for avoiding concurrent access. The example assumes a Posix file interface. Stylistic and portability issues were also addressed.
minIni is an open source project.
- Update of VisualPlace
-
VisualPlace assists in (manual or automated) PCB assembly. Component
placement is extracted from files generated from the EDA suite (notably
the Gerber files, the centroid file and the bill-of-materials). The
application visualizes the component placement and converts the files
(with corrections, where applicable) for further automated processing.
Due to a plug-in architecture, VisualPlace works with many EDA suites,
and more can be added.
Gerber X3 is now supported: this Gerber extension adds component placement information to Gerber files (replacing CPL files). Support for CircuitStudio was also added. Other new support is for Zebra label printers, the TWS Quadra DVC pick-&-place machine, and Gerber "job" files. Internally, VisualPlace is converted to use the Unicode character set, allowing better internationalization.
VisualPlace is a free application.
- All "Large Dome" buttons are now also available with white dome
- The USB dome buttons and wireless dome buttons are now also available
with a white dome.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- New article: Mini-reel for SMD components
- The mini-reel is a reel for SMD components on cut tape. The design follows the standard for reels for the essential dimensions (EIA-481). Its outer diameter is smaller, and its capacity therefore as well: about 1/4th of what a 7" reel can hold.
- New article: Mini-tray for SMD components
- The mini-tray was designed as an alternative to the standard JEDEC tray for semiconductors. It has the same width as a JEDEC tray, but its length is a third of that of a JEDEC tray. Thus, three mini-trays lined up have the same width/length dimensions as one JEDEC tray (the mini-tray is 0.85 mm thinner than a JEDEC tray).
- New product: Battery-free Wireless Button
- The “Battery-free Wireless Dome Button” is a palm switch with
a large mushroom dome. It has a wireless to a USB receiver (that you
insert in your PC), and energy harvesting generator that generates
electrical power from the act of pressing the button. The advantage is
clear: there is no need to ever worry about recharging or replacing the
battery.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- New product: USB Input module
- The “USB Input module” is a 42×23.5 mm module
that allows to capture input from a switch or a sensor, and receive it
on a PC or workstation as a keystroke. That is to say, the module
operates as a virtual keyboard. The module is configurable with a free
utility.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- New article: Magnetic PCB holders
- This article describes a design for magnetic PCB holders that are quite convenient in both manual assembly and machine assembly of a PCB, and especially so if the PCB has components on both sides. The STL files for 3D-printing of these PCB holders are provided as well.
- New product: USB Pendant Button
- A hand-held switch on a USB cable. It can be configured to transmit a
key press or a mouse click on pressing. It can even be configured to send
one key code on a short press, and a different key code when the button
is held down for a second.
This button is available with a red or black button cap.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- New article: Debouncing with vertical counters
- This is an article on efficiently handling switch bounce in software, for multiple switches concurrently. The article starts by showing the effects of switch bounce and explains the paradigm of vertical counters. Then, it introduces a novel implementation with very low latency.
- Update of VisualPlace
-
VisualPlace assists in (manual or automated) PCB assembly. Component
placement is extracted from files generated from the EDA suite (notably
the Gerber files, the centroid file and the bill-of-materials). The
application visualizes the component placement and converts the files
(with corrections, where applicable) for further automated processing.
Due to a plug-in architecture, VisualPlace works with many EDA suites,
and more can be added.
This version includes a rewritten Gerber parser, which now includes Gerber X2 support. Other new features are: the outlines of standard packages can be drawn on top of the PCB image, so that you can visually check whether the package fits on the footprint; components can now be rotated by 45 degrees; a new function for inventory look-up for parts in the bill-of-materials. See the release notes for details.
VisualPlace is a free application.
- Updated utility: KiCad Librarian, version 1.4
-
The KiCad Librarian allows to maintain symbol and footprint libraries, as well
as make adjustments to individual parts or generate new footprints from
a template. It supports the KiCad
EDA suite and runs in Windows and Linux.
This release is made compatible with KiCad 5.x, including support for the new “rounded rectangle” pad shape. A new feature is recursive search for libraries. Several issues that were found since the earlier release have been fixed.
The KiCad librarian is an open source utility (Apache license version 2).
- Update of the Termite serial terminal
-
Termite is a simple RS232 monitor, with plug-in support to allow for
various extensions. It is now at version 3.4.
New in this release is the ability to filter data that is forwarded between two ports. Bugs that were found since the last release were fixed; notably: Termite now handles backspace characters by erasing the character before the cursor.
Termite is a free utility.
- Updated utility: KiCad Librarian, version 1.3
-
The KiCad Librarian allows to maintain symbol and footprint libraries, as well
as make adjustments to individual parts or generate new footprints from
a template. It supports the KiCad
EDA suite and runs in Windows and Linux.
This is a bug-fix release; it corrects several issues that were found since the earlier release.
The KiCad librarian is an open source utility (Apache license version 2).
- New product: Illuminated Dome Button
- The “USB Dome Button” is a large mushroom/dome button that a
PC or workstation detects as a USB keyboard —with just one,
configurable, key. It can be used as a general actuator, or as an
emergency stop button, or for quiz games (the button is compatible with
common quiz software). Various models and colours are available.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- New product: Wireless Dome Button
- This robust, sealed, industrial quality dome button transmits its key
code over a wireless link to a USB dongle. Up to six buttons can be
connected to a single dongle.
This button is available with a red, black or yellow dome. It can optionally be fitted on a tripod, or fixed to a table or wall.
- Updated utility: KiCad Librarian, version 1.3
-
The KiCad Librarian allows to maintain symbol and footprint libraries, as well
as make adjustments to individual parts or generate new footprints from
a template. It supports the KiCad
EDA suite and runs in Windows and Linux.
Notable new features in this version are: an integrated VRML viewer for the generated 3D models; the filtering (searching) of footprints is improved in speed and flexibility; the templates for the packages that have an exposed pad or thermal pad, were updated so that a large exposed/thermal pad is built from a matrix of multiple small pads.
The KiCad librarian is an open source utility (Apache license version 2).
- Update of the pawn scripting language
-
The pawn scripting language has been updated. Notable changes are:
the ability to create a graph of the automatons (state machines) and the
events in a script, via the Graphviz utilities; and various improvements
in the support for configurations of specific hosts or devices.
A full history is in the summary of
recent changes.
- New article: ICSP programming tool/adapter
- This tiny adapter enables In-System Programming of the NXP LPC1000 and LPC2000 microcontroller series using the tag-connect cable and an FTDI TTL-232R-** interface cable. It may also apply to other microcontrollers that use ICSP.
- Update of the pawn scripting language
-
The pawn scripting language has been updated. The major new feature is
that the IDE ("Quincy") is now multi-platform. Full history of changes is
in the summary of recent changes.
- Update of VisualPlace
-
VisualPlace assists in (manual or automated) PCB assembly. Component
placement is extracted from files generated from the EDA suite (notably
the Gerber files, the centroid file and the bill-of-materials). The
application visualizes the component placement and converts the files
(with corrections, where applicable) for further automated processing.
Due to a plug-in architecture, VisualPlace works with many EDA suites,
and more can be added.
This is a maintenance release, with various improvements in usability, up to date EDA support (KiCad), improved scanning heuristics and improved import of the bill of materials. See the release notes for details.
VisualPlace is a free application.
- New product: low-cost panel-mount USB Pushbutton
- The “USB Pushbutton” is a large pushbutton that is a low-cost
a alternative for the industrial USB Dome Button.
This button must be build into a (control) panel. The button is illuminated
and compatible with common quiz software.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- pawn Blocks: visual programming
- The pawn Blocks Designer is a new application for visual programming in the pawn language. This article gives a brief introduction and a video demonstrating embedded programming in an easy, graphical way.
- Starling audio player, model H0430
- A new model is added to the "Starling" series of solid-state, programmable audio players for exhibition centres, scale models and public address systems. Model H0430, features an integrated power amplifier, so that it can directly be used with passive speakers. Switches, sensors and detectors are very easily connected to this model.
- New product: USB Dome Button
- The “USB Dome Button” is a large mushroom/dome button that a
PC or workstation detects as a USB keyboard —with just one,
configurable, key. It can be used as a general actuator, or as an
emergency stop button, or for quiz games (the button is compatible with
common quiz software). Various models are available.
This page is also available in German, in French and in Dutch.
- New product: solid-state audio player DM440
- The DM440 is a solid-state player for background music. It can be used
for streaming audio, but more importantly: it can play fully scheduled
music from its memory card, with full automatic gain control (to level
the volumes of different tracks), professional cross-fading, and logging
which tracks actually played at any specific time (because the DM440
supports multiple playlists, selectable by the end user). News, weather
and traffic information may be fetched via a network connection and
inserted at the appropriate times. General music updates occur daily at
a scheduled time.
This page is also available in Dutch.
- Update of VisualPlace
-
VisualPlace assists in (manual or automated) PCB assembly. Component
placement is extracted from files generated from the EDA suite (notably
the Gerber files, the centroid file and the bill-of-materials). The
application visualizes the component placement and converts the files
(with corrections, where applicable) for further automated processing.
Due to a plug-in architecture, VisualPlace works with many EDA suites,
and more can be added.
This is a maintenance release, with corrections and enhancements in version control support (Subversion), OCR and footprint scanning accuracy, and support for EDA suites. See the release notes for details.
VisualPlace is a free application.