My I/O USB board

[washburn_it]

Hi,

I would like to introduce you the board that me and a friend of mine developed to manage I/O of the cockpit.
It is an USB 2.0 compliant board equipped with a 8 bit microcontroller and can manage:

- 64 inputs (button, switches etc)
- 64 outputs (max output load per single output 500 mA)
- 7 segments display (driven with a BCD decoder driver 4543, so the board can manage up to 32 "digits")
- rotary encoders

The board supports two different power inputs: one is +5 Volt for the board logic, the 2nd for the "output voltage".

At the moment another board is under development, it's the "LCD Board" that can manage up to 20 alphanumeric LCD displays (HD44780 compatible).
Soon I will publish all the details on my web site.

Regards,

Roberto

[nricky]

Hi Roberto

It looks really nice what you have done, can*t wait to get more info from you.

Keep me postet in your progress.

Cheers Norbert

[yoss]

Very cool and intresting

[dnoize]

this looks like the perfect allround board Roberto.

Look forward to see more details !

Stef

[Kennair]

Wow, that's pretty comprehensive Roberto. Are you intending on marketing these boards commercially?

Ken.

[washburn_it]

Well...the idea is to sell this board but it's too early at the moment, I must make deeper tests to check its reliability.
This is the first project of this kind for me but I will keep you informed about my progress.

Regards,

Roberto

[washburn_it]

Further update:
the cost of the board is around at 150 Euros that may be pretty expensive for an hobbystic use, then I had another idea.
I'm working around a kind of "universal board" that can be programmed directly from the user.
This board will have 30 lines (2 more lines are used to communicate with the PC) that can be configured as inputs or outputs.
With a software (pc side) the user can decide that 10 of 30 lines, for instance, can be used as inputs, 10 for outputs and 10 to drive a 7 segments display, or 30 only for inputs or only for outputs, or to drive alphanumeric LCD displays, encoders, servos and steppers.
This kind of board should cost less than the other board since it has less components (only 2 chips and some passive component).
I will let you know more about it soon.

Regards,

Roberto

[phil744]

Nice work!! was once thinking of doing my own, i can design electronics but useless when it comes to software!!!

I do like the RJ-45 connection method, thinking of doing that on my setup.

If you need any help on SMT stuff and production, i will be glad to help.

[washburn_it]

I uploaded a small video on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22vSmlqmv8M ) to show a 7 segments display (4 digits) used as IAS indicator and driven by my I/O board.
Sorry for the low quality but something can be seen anyway

Regards,

Roberto

[Michael Carter]

Roberto, I like the idea for your first board the best. This sounds like something I can use.

What is the maximum output voltage that can be used for indicators and such?

64 input and 64 outputs sounds like a great combo. It would be worth €150 for this functionality.