Mega New Year Give Away 2015 - Grab Your Surprise Gift from numato.cc

To grab your chance for New years gift from numato.cc submit your entry with mentioning of your preferred gift.

Enter here http://numato.cc/content/mega-new-year-give-away-2015-grab-your-surprise-gift

1) first two lucky winner will get waxwing development board

2) 5 lucky winner will be selected for Mimas V2 Spartan 6 FPGA Development Board.

3) 10 lucky winner will get PIC18 Microcontroller Development Board.

though it is not promised that you will get your desired gift but there is a chance you get your selected one.

FPGA Development Boards

Should one use the FPGA or microcontroller for their embedded project is always an important questions to deal with.

Specially when lots of  low cost FPGA general purpose boards right at your door steps knocking their candidature.

their flexibility, increasing power and decreasing cost will lead the FPGA to rule the world.

We will ponder into all details of FPGA right here but the first task is to find out the manufactures of various FPGA chips.

1) Various Manufacturers of FPGA chips

• Xilinx
• ALTERA
• Microsemi
• Lattice
• Cypress

are some of the manufacturers quite popular today.

2) Various Development Boards.

• Waxwing Spartan 6 
• Elbert Spartan 3A
• Digilent Nexys 3
• The Mojo
• ZTEK usb FPGA module
• Avnet spartan 6 microboard
• papilio pro
• lattice XP2
• Arrow bemicro
• Saturn - Spartan 6 FPGA Development Board with DDR SDRAM

Lets Get some introduction of Elbert - Spartan 3A FPGA Development Board (from Numato Lab)

ELBERT is a simple but versatile FPGA Learning/Development board featuring Xilinx Spartan 3A FPGA. An excellent choice for beginners and advance learners for experimenting and learning system design with FPGAs. This development board features Xilinx XC3S50A 100 pin FPGA with maximum 68 user IOs (Some are dedicated for system). USB2 interface provides fast and easy configuration download to the on board SPI flash.

You don’t need a programmer or special downloader cable to download bit stream to Elbert. ELBERT features a stable clock source which is derived from on board configuration controller. ELBERT incorporates LEDs and switches for curious users to get started with “Hello World” program in a matter of minutes.

Various Files and Documents can be found at 

Files

USB Driver

User Constraints File

Configuration Downloader

Documentation

Elbert - Spartan 3A FPGA Development Board User Guide

Elbert Schematics

Learning FPGA and Verilog A Beginner's Guide

Mount Elbert

#GIVEAWAY 

participate in the giveaway from numato.cc to own this elbert spartan 3A,

for your chance to win Enter Here .

2) Waxwing - Spartan 6 Mini Module Available at numato.com

Waxwing is a simple to use FPGA module that includes Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA. This module features Xilinx XC6SLX series FPGA in CSG324 package. This module takes care of FPGA, Configuration, DDR and power thus you'll be able to invest longer Efforts on your application specific aspects of the hardware development. The module is pre-packed with 512Mb DDR memory and 128Mb SPI flash for FPGA configuration. a large variety of IOs and necessary signals together with JTAG are offered on the high pin count low profile connectors (DF40C-90DP) on the rear view of the module. Numato has created carrier boards and development boards which can be used for evaluation and development with this FPGA module. At simply 40mm x 36.5mm size, this module packs lots of power in such a tiny low footprint. 

Applications

• Product Prototype Development

• Development and testing of custom embedded processors

• Signal Processing

• Communication devices development

• Educational tool for Schools and Universities

• Volume production

Board features

• FPGA: Spartan-6 XC6S LX9, LX16, LX25 or LX45 in CSG324 package

• DDR: 166MHz 512Mb LPDDR

• Flash memory: 128 Mb SPI flash memory (W25Q128FV)

• Two 90-pin 0.4mm Hirose board-to-board connectors (DF40C-90DP)

• 100MHz CMOS oscillator

• All differential pairs are length matched on the module

• Maximum 134 IOs for user defined purposes

XC6SLX9 - 118 IOs

XC6SLX16 - 134 IOs

XC6SLX25 - 134 IOs

XC6SLX45 - 134 IOs

• On-board voltage regulators for single power rail operation

• Only 40mm x 36.5mm (1.58” x 1.4”) in size

• JTAG and SPI signals available on connector for configuration

Components/Tools required

Along with the module, you may need the items in the list below for easy and fast installation.

1. Waxwing Carrier Board or Waxwing Basic Development Board (sold separate).

2. DC Power supply.

Connection Diagram

Saturn - Spartan 6 FPGA Development Board with DDR SDRAM

Saturn is an easy to use FPGA Development board featuring Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA. Saturn is specially designed for experimenting and learning system design with FPGAs. This development board features Xilinx XC6SLX series FPGA with FTDI’s FT2232H Dual-Channel USB device. The high speed USB 2.0 interface provides fast and easy configuration download to the on-board SPI flash. No programmer or special downloader cable is needed to download the bit stream to the board.

Board features

• FPGA: Spartan-6 LX45 in CSG324 package (XC6SLX9, LX16 and LX25 available for custom order)

• DDR: 166MHz 512Mb LPDDR

• Flash memory: 128 Mb SPI flash memory (W25Q128FV)

• 100MHz CMOS oscillator

• High Speed USB 2.0 interface for On-board flash programming. FT2232H Channel A is dedicated for SPI Flash Programming. Channel B can be used for custom applications.

• On-board voltage regulators for single power rail operation

• FPGA configuration via JTAG and USB

• Maximum 158 IOs for user defined purposes

  • XC6SLX9 - 118 IOs

  • XC6SLX16 - 150 IOs

  • XC6SLX25 - 144 IOs

  • XC6SLX45 - 136 IOs

  • FT2232H - 8 IOs

GIVEAWAY TIME: Right now there is a Giveaway running for this whole week to win one of this Board. All you need to do is just shared about this giveaway on twitter, facebook etc and comment about it at numato.cc

Enter: freebie-week-saturn-spartan-6-fpga-development-board-ddr-sdram

Fore Example: I had shared it on my twitter page as shown below.

1's more its #FPGA #giveaway from @numatolab Saturn-Spartan 6 FPGA Development Board Enter at http://t.co/ZFNqYmp70k pic.twitter.com/LknlpmbMvc
— vyomax (@vyomax11) October 28, 2014

I had also mentioned this giveaway on Facebook as shown below

-GooD LucK..!!!

2 Channel Programmable Relay Module

Numato  Lab's  2  Channel  Programmable  Relay  Module  is  a  feature  rich  product  that  can  be programmed with Arduino IDE. The USB to Serial Chip FT232RL helps uploading sketches quickly to the board. This programmability gives this board ultimate flexibility compared to other relay modules where  features  depend  on  the  preprogrammed  firmware.  The onboard  programmable  relays,  digital  I/O's,  analog  inputs,  Real  Time  Clock(RTC)  and  Micro  SD memory card slot makes this module useful for learning as well as making  sophisticated applications.

Applications

• Home Automation
• Lighting Control
• Garden Equipment Control
• Industrial Automation
• Test Fixtures
• DIY and Hobby
• Real Time Clock
• Data logging

Board Features
• Atmega328p Micro controller with 32KBytes flash memory
• Arduino IDE Compatible
• FT232RL chip for USB - Serial Interface
• 2 SPDT 12V Mechanical Relays
• 4 Digital I/O's
• 2 PWM outs
• 4 Analog Inputs
• I2C Interface
• Real Time Clock(RTC)
• Battery backup for RTC
• Micro SD Card Slot
• LED indicators for Power, TX, RX and Relays
• ISP for programming custom boot loader/ firmware
• 16 MHz Crystal
• USB mini Connector for host communication

Download User Manual

Download Design Files

USB soldering iron by MEGA POWER

 As a give away prize from Farnell Electronics (Here) I received this product....

Though it can't replace the table top soldering station, It is amazing product to use while go..

It include two USB ports to draw power. it can be also powered by 9V battery.

In seconds... it heated up-to desired temperature.

Though its Light, the iron was pretty robust and maintain good amount of heat.

Numbering Systems in Semi conductor devices

    

1) Every Semi conductor device numbered by five alfa-numeric symbols.
     Exa. BF194
              BFX63.
     Generally Devices with two letters and three digits are intended for entertainment and consumer  equipments (Ex. BF194)
     Devices with three letters and two digits are used for industrial or professional equipments. (Ex. BFX63)

2) First letter of symbol indicate nature of semiconductor material.
     
      A for Germanium
      B for silicon
      C for Gallium arsanide.
      R for compound semiconductor material

Exa. AC125 is germanium transistor
        BC149 is silicon transistor

3) second letter identifies the device and its function in the circuit.

     A - Diode.
     B - Varactor diode (variable capacitor diode).
     C - audio frequency (AF) Low power transistor.
     D - AF Power transistor.
     E - Tunnel Diode.
     F - High frequency (HF) Low power transistor.
    G - Miscellaneous device.
    H - Device sensitive to Magnetic.
    K - Hall-effect device.
    L - High frequency(HF) power transistor.
    M - Hall-effect modulator.
    N - Photocoupler
    P - Radiation sensitive diode(Light detector).
    Q - Radiation generating diode (Light emitter).
    R - Thyristor (SCR or Triac or other power switching device)
    S - Low power switching Transistor
    T - High power transistor.
    U - Power switching Transistor.
    W - surface acoustic wave device
    X - Diode, Multiplier.
    Y - Power device(rectifying).
    Z - Zener Diode(voltage reference)

Other numbering system also exist
for Exa. 1N4001 is silicon diode. 2N3903 is silicon NPN general purpose transistor.

Here,

FIRST NUMBER                                SECOND LETTER                       SUBSEQUENT NUMBER

    1.   = Diode                                      N                                                       Serial number of device
    2.  = Transistor
    3.  = FET                                        

4 Channel USB Powered Relay Module- Giveaway from numato lab

This week numato is giving away 4 Channel USB Powered Relay Module (http://numato.com/4-channel-usb-powered-relay-module) to three lucky participants. Please share this post on Facebook, Twitter or your blog and leave a short comment at: http://numato.cc/content/freebie-week4-channel-usb-powered-relay-module#comments about your share to take part in this give away. 
Thanks for sharing and best of luck.