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My third book is released! Learn what you'll need to know in order to become an embedded engineer.
Check out my second book; learn practical stuff about building robots and control systems around Linux PCs and the Atmel AVR.
My first book gives you all the intro you need on developing 32-bit embedded systems on a hobbyist budget.
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Here's a brief list of some of the more interesting projects I've worked on in the recent past:
419 Vending Machine Controller
(Click the image above for a much larger version).
- This is a second-generation vending machine controller project featuring Secure Digital/MMC slot for auditing and audio data, telephone-quality audio output, and a large number of relay and Darlington outputs (most are factory-configurable for either mode) and optoisolated inputs. Also features on-board diagnostics and calibration routines, and simple configuration via a text file on the SD/MMC card.
- Based around an Atmel ATmega128 AVR microcontroller.
- I created the circuit, firmware, PCB layout and technical documentation for this project.
DF-560 Digital Picture Frame
 
(Click the images above for larger versions).
- The DF-560 was a commercially produced digital picture frame with a 5.6" color TFT-LCD.
- Based around Winbond W90215 microcontroller (HP PA-RISC core in a 486-like architecture) with 2Mb or 4Mb flash and 4Mb DRAM, and the W9971 Super-VGA chip.
- Custom PCI bus probing code and SVGA initialization for panel syncrates.
- CompactFlash and SmartMedia (SSFDC) slots.
- Custom implementation of MS-DOS (FAT12/FAT16) filesystems and SSFDC physical level management.
- JPEG image decompression and software-based scaling, rotation and special effects.
- Fully custom RTOS including computer connectivity features, custom GUI and internal flash filesystem as well as above DOS-compatible filesystems.
- I designed and implemented the circuit and firmware for this product. An ODM laid out the PCB and produced the unit under my guidance.
- Tools: OrCAD, gcc.
DF-390 Digital Picture Frame
 
(Click the images above for larger versions).
- The DF-390 was a pocket-sized version of the DF-560, with a NiMH battery power option. Hardware and firmware features are similar to those for the DF-560. It was produced commercially in smaller volumes than the DF-560.
- I designed and implemented the hardware and firmware for this product.
- Tools: OrCAD, gcc.
DF-1710 Multimedia Presentation Device
 
(Click the images above for larger versions).
- The DF-1710 was an advanced third-generation multimedia appliance with a 17.1" TFT LCD and numerous storage and connectivity options. It is used in art gallery, corporate lobby, point-of-purchase and other commercial applications, as well as growing penetration in the consumer market.
- Custom Linux distribution preloaded.
- Hard drive for user image/movie/scriptfile storage.
- CD-ROM drive for easy loading of images; Kodak® PhotoCD® compatible.
- MPEG-1 video, MPEG layer III audio and JPEG still-image software codecs.
- Ethernet (TCP/IP) networking; the product can operate in a spectrum of connectivity modes ranging from fully-disconnected (run presentations from hard drive) to fully-wired (run all content from remote server).
- USB ports with support for USB storage-class devices (card-readers, hard drives, flash pen-drives, etc) and specific 802.11b wireless LAN pods.
- Hooks to embedded Web browser, PDF viewer and other preloaded applications.
- I specified the hardware, developed the Linux distribution (including developing customized Linux and XFree86 drivers), wrote the application-level software and developed the glue hardware interlinking the computer, analog board, IR remote control receiver and other components.
- Primary tools: EAGLE (schematic/PCB layout), gcc.
Low-Cost Mini Color LCD Viewer
(Click the image above for a larger version).
- This product was intended as a low-cost consumer digital picture frame, and for specialized commercial applications such as "shelf talker" point-of-purchase displays. It went through several revisions based on changing customer/market requirements, but was not brought to production. The photograph illustrates the PCB of the last-run prototype.
- Sharp LH79520 ARM7 microcontroller with 2Mb SDRAM and 1Mb flash.
- Various LCD options ranging from 320x240 CSTN to SVGA 10.4" TFT.
- Sony Memory Stick, CompactFlash and SmartMedia slots.
- An earlier version of this product was based around the Cirrus Logic Maverick CL-EP7312 ARM7 chip. The design was upgraded because of limited LCD support on the Cirrus part.
- Two operating systems were developed for this product: an eCos-derived OS and a fully proprietary OS.
- I designed and implemented the hardware and firmware for this product. In the case of the Cirrus-based version, I also laid out the prototype PCB and hand-assembled the first two prototypes using manual SMT techniques.
- Tools: EAGLE, gcc.
The above entries summarize some of the larger projects I've built in the past; I've also developed specialized RS485-linked illuminated LED signs on conveyor belts in a warehouse application, and (data) radio receiver software, among numerous other projects. I've also been involved in reverse-engineering products for interoperability purposes, and .
If you think you can make good use of my skills, please read my resume then contact me at your convenience and I will be happy to discuss your project.
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