Proposed Modules - PaxInstruments/labwiz-board GitHub Wiki

Overview

The first modules should be devices for which there already exists an Eagle-based breakout board and Arduino library. This will facilitate rapid development.

The sales number for modules can help us determine what products to make.

We can have two types of breakouts. We can fit three small modules or one large one. We can make small modules for individual sensors. The large modules can be for functional devices that require more than one discrete component.

Discrete modules

Discrete modules are simple boards. Each discrete module fits in a single slot of the three available slots of the T400D development board.

Each module may have one or more ICs as long as they are intimately related. For example, a thermocouple module may have an ADC to measure voltage from the thermocouple and a seperate IC to measure junction temperature. A good discrete module candidate will meet the following criteria.

  • All components will fit onto a single discrete module board
  • All components that do not need to be outside the enclosure can be housed within the enclosure
  • The enclosure can be properly assembled with the module in place
  • The module does not interfere with neighboring modules, the main PCB, or the enclosure
  • The module can be operated at 3.3V or with a boot converter on the module operating with a 3.3V input
  • The module can have any number of i2c devices
  • The module can require up to one of either a lot device, analog output to MCU, or digital output to MCU
  • The module requires no more than one SPI device
  • There exists Arduino libraries for all module ICs
  • There exists Eagle files for all IC components

Extension board

It may be desirable to externally mount a module. We can make a PCB and enclosure onto which a module can be mounted. The PCB and module can fit in a small enclosure. The PCB will have a connector and cable that can connect to the main device. an adapter module can be mounted in the main device to connect to the cable and pass signals from the cable to the host device. An alternative is to make both an internally mounted device and an externally device.

Seeed Grove Adapter

A simple interface adapter module that allows Seeed Studio's Grove modules to connect to the main board.

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Alcohol gas sensor

Status: In discovery phase
Evaluation: Good candidate
Requirements: Will likely require the sensor be mounted on the top panel PCB.

This alcohol gas sensor is sold by Sparkfun. From Sparkfun's description: "This alcohol sensor is suitable for detecting alcohol concentration on your breath... It has a high sensitivity and fast response time. Sensor provides an analog resistive output based on alcohol concentration. The drive circuit is very simple, all it needs is one resistor. A simple interface could be a 0-3.3V ADC."

This would probably require a ninety degree PCB on the top panel.

Simple schematic for similar sensor:

Related modules and resources

UV Sensor

Use cases

  • A UV light sensor is mounted on a module PCB. The module is connected via an extension cable and mounted outdoors to measure sunlight while the main device is indoors for observation.

Related modules and resources

IR Transceiver

The IR transceiver module consists of an IR emitter and detector pair. It is capable of communicating with an IR transceiver in another unit. It can also emit IR signals to control televisions and other devices. It can communicate as an IR serial port.

Use cases

  • Home entertainment control system
  • Device to device communication
  • TV-B-Gone

Related modules and resources

Current and voltage

Capacitive touch

Particle sensor

Camera Module

The camera module consists of a CMOS or other array and optical element.

Use cases

  • Camera
  • Motion detector
  • Color detector

Related modules and resources

UV Sensor

This is a simple UV sensor. The sensor should be exposed on the outside of the enclosure. It is possible to have a sensor on the end of a cable that interfaces with the module board. This way the sensor can be mounted on a surface other than the enclosure.

Use cases

  • Monitor outdoor UV light exposure
  • Monitor UV exposure of reptiles and other animals in a terrarium

Related modules and resources

Liquid level

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Joystick

RGB Sensor

SMD component that outputs data based on the presence of light throughout the visible spectrum.

Use cases

  • Machine to sort different colored marbles or other objects
  • Detect a specific color in a specific part of a TV screen to confirm presence of a logo

Related modules and resources

Light Sensor

Simple light intensity sensing.

Use cases

  • Detect if a refrigerator door is open
  • Detect the status of a device status light (e.g. microwave, washing machine)
  • Input of an automatic light dimer
  • Confirm that a light timer is working properly

Related modules and resources

Coin/Bill Acceptor

A module that interfaces with bill or coin acceptors.

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Photo Event Detector

This module is designed to output an pulse or other digital signal to indicate an event has occurred. This is in contrast to a sensor like photocell that outputs an analog signal. An example implementation might be a photo cell connected to a voltage detector that outputs a signal when photocell voltage reaches a certain threshold.

Use case

  • Act as an optical encoder
  • Use two detectors and a timer to determine an objects average speed between the two detectors

Related modules and resources

Liquid Flow

Module to interface with liquid flow sensors.

Use cases

  • Barbot

Related modules and resources

Gas Sensor

There are a series of gas sensors. We can lump them all in here for now.

Use cases

  • Monitor the CO2 levels in a greenhouse
  • Monitor a beer brewing process
  • Indoor air quality monitoring

Related modules and resources

pH Sensor

This may be complex enough to require a full sized module.

Use cases

  • Monitor a chemical process (e.g. biomedical, etc.)
  • Check aquarium water quality

Related modules and resources

Load Sensor

This is a module to interface with a load sensor, which measures force.

Use cases

  • Scale for weighing objects

Related modules and resources

Flex Sensor

Module to interface with a flex sensor. This enables measurement of how much an object bends.

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Soil Moisture

Use cases

  • Monitor the moisture level of a house plant

Related modules and resources

GPS Unit

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Fingerprint Scanner

Module to interface with fingerprint scanners.

Use cases

  • Biometric access control

Related modules and resources

Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

Modules that uses gyros, accelerometers, or compass. This seems very popular.

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Human Interface

A series of modules to interface with human interface sensors (e.g. EMG, muscle, etc.).

Use cases

  • Monitor body performance
  • Medical device development

Related modules and resources

Keypad Interface

Module to interface with various numeric keypads.

Use cases

  • Electronic door lock
  • Password keeper

Related modules and resources

Barometric Pressure

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Temperature - Thermocouple

Thermocouples have a wide temperature range ([what range?]). The T400 uses K-type thermocouples.

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Temperature - IR

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Temperature - RTD

Resistive temperature devices have the benefit of low cost and high accuracy. This is great if you know your general measurement range.

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Temperature - Analog

Use cases

Related modules and resources

RFID

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Magnetic Strip Reader

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Capacitive touch

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Barcode Scanner

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Encoders

Rotary and linear encoders. Each module port has at least two interrupt enabled GPIO pins.

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Humidity

The module can measure humidity directly on the module PCB. It could also measure humidity from a wired probe. This would be good for measuring humidity inside an environmental chamber

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Task-Specific Modules

These are modules for a specific task (e.g. beer brewing, power supply testing, etc.).

Reflow oven controller

  • How many temperature inputs?
  • How many control outputs?
  • What else is needed?

Use cases

Related modules and resources

Weather station

There are a number of weather stations out there. Let's interface with them. What would it take?

Use cases

  • Monitor local weather data

Related modules and resources

Reference Material

This page lists resources we can use for various sensors.

Geiger Counter

PIC Module

People love using PIC microcontrollers. We can make a full sized module that has a PIC microcontroller that interfaces with the main board and a breakout header along the top edge. We should get some input from PIC users on what they think would be useful. I've posted an issue.

Bio Medical / Biometric

Sound and voice

Distance / motion

Other Stuff

ITEM

Use cases Related modules and resources