Wannabe engineer, learning one bug at a time
Keeping up with the times: DSP-based receiver for ALS162 - Part 2
TLDR: In this series I am exploring the idea of building a DSP-based receiver for ALS162. The last entry covered the hardware and general design aspects. In this one I will go over the software/firmware side of things. For the first prototype I made I chose an STM32 microcontroller, more specifically the STM32L476RETb. I’m using STM32CubeIDE and the provided “HAL” libraries to program the microcontroller. The second revision board I’m showing here has a different format and some minor changes, but the working principles remain untouched. ...
Keeping up with the times: DSP-based receiver for ALS162 - Part 1
Motivation and an introduction to time signals A few years ago I built a flipdot-based clock inspired by a similar project by Marco Reps but using new displays manufactured by Alfa-Zeta. In the morning I use this clock to get ready at the right time in order to not miss the train. Because the train leaves at a precise time, I have noticed that my clock drifts slightly (I estimate about 10s/month). ...
JBC Station part 2: a failed prototype
A bit of context If you are new here, I recommend reading the first part of this series. There I discussed the various design constraints and considerations and weighed the pros and cons of each one. In this post I will discuss the first prototype I designed. First prototype For the first prototype, I wanted to test what in Part 1 I called Option #1, more specifically the Solid State Relay (SSR) output stage. The rest of the prototype was simplified a bit to allow me to test the prototype a bit more easily, ending up in a sort of fusion between Option #1 and Option #2. ...
JBC Station part 1: the fundamentals
Introduction JBC is one of the most renowned soldering equipment manufacturers in the world. Most famously, JBC makes the C245 cartridge range, which feature an integrated design containing a thermocouple and heater wire. This construction method offers better performance and can be more compact than older, non thermally bonded tips. JBC marketing material: better response times and lower temperature drop The only problem is that these stations are fairly high-end. The cheapest one I can find on their website is 500€ before VAT and shipping. A bit out of my budget, I think :( ...