The first version of the USB Tester OLED backpack is now a working prototype! This version has all the features that I have posted about previously except for one unannounced feature that will be in the next PCB version which is due next week.
The OLED backpack adds a display to the USB Tester so that you don’t have to connect your multimeter. This makes it a snap to check voltage and current on the bench or on the go. Using the desktop Java application you can graph the data, save it to a text file and set a threshold current for the on board warning LED. Just connect your project to the USB A port like you would to your computer. Then connect both USB minis to your computer.
The OLED backpack consists of a PCB the same size as the USB Tester but with female headers underneath and an Atmel Atmega32u4 microcontroller. The microcontroller reads the current and voltage via i2c from the INA219B from Texas Instruments. Thanks to Adafruit for exposing me to this IC, otherwise I wouldn’t of known of its existence. On the PCB below the microcontroller, there is a set of headers where Adafruit’s 128x32 SPI OLED display mates and displays the voltages, current, and mini graph. Any unused pins on the Atmega 32u4 have been broken out on the left and bottom sides of the PCB. There are a few pins I had to breakout with small via’s. With the included Arduino Leonardo bootloader you can easily add your own customizations. As an idea, you could program triggers based on voltage or current levels. If the current reaches a value, you can set a pin high that controls something else.
The available pins are:
Digital Header:
- TXRX
- PD5
- PD4
- PD7
- PB4
Digital Via:
- PB7
- PE6
Analog Header:
- PF0
- PF1
Analog Via:
- AREF
- PF4
- PF5
- PF6
- PF7
The PCB will come assembled except for the female headers and the OLED display but both are included depending on which version you buy. I decided to offer it with different combinations so you can choose what works best for you.
- USB Tester OLED Backpack with OLED
This is great for people who have a USB Tester and want the full backpack
OLED Backpack
OLED Display with 8 Position Male Header
2x 5 Position Female Headers
- USB Tester OLED backpack without OLED
- This is for people who either don’t want the OLED display or who have one already. You could also use this just for viewing the graphs on your computer and data logging.
- OLED Backpack
- 2x 5 Position Female Headers
- USB Tester Kit
If you haven’t bought a USB Tester this will get you everything you need to get started
USB Tester
OLED Backpack
OLED Display with 8 Position Male Header
2x 5 Position Female Headers
After I receive and test prototype version 2 of the backpack, we will be doing a two week fundraiser on Tindie.com to help launch it. I will send out an email to the ones who have purchased a USB Tester already. You can also look for updates on my blog and twitter: @friedcircuits or @mobilewill.
My hope for this tool is that it can help working on your project easier so you’ll spend more time making, and less time troubleshooting. With all of the features the OLED backpack provides, I look forward to seeing the many ways it can be put to use.
For your enjoyment, check out the additional photos below:
