Welcome

Microchip PIC Microcontrollers

What microcontrollers does Microchip specialize in?

Microchip specializes in 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers.

• Programming
• Microchip
• Microcontroller
• Pic

MicroPython Intro

What is Python?

The #1 Programming language*

• Python: 14.2%
• Matlab: 0.8%
• Labview: 0.14%

* as of March 2022, tiobe.com

MOSFET for use with a 3.3V and 5V Microcontroller

Selecting the MOSFET

When selecting a MOSFET for either 3.3V or 5V applications there are three parameters to consider.

• Circuit design
• Transistors
• Mosfet

Motors

There are many types of motors out there each with their own pros and cons. There are two main types of motors, brushed and brushless, each with many subcategories within them. In this we will only be going over the most common types and their control. These include DC brushed, stepper, and 3-phase brushless.

• Circuit design
• Motors

Oscilloscopes 101

Part I

Part II

Packaging Cadence Files for Submission

Introduction

This tutorial goes through how to package Cadence schematic and PCB files for submission to Canvas.

• Cadence
• Pcb

Particle Argon Wifi Board

What is the Particle Argon? What does it do?

The Particle Argon is a “wi-fi for everything” development kit that includes a microcontroller, wi-fi hardware, and easy-to-use web-based IDE (Integrated Development Environment). It is typically used to add wi-fi functionality into products without spending a huge amount of development time on the wi-fi hardware and software. A more detailed introduction is available here.

• Tutorial
• Uart
• Design
• Argon
• Wireless
• Particle

Patents 101

What is a patent?

• “A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office” (for more information, see General Information Concerning Patents from the USPTO).
• Patents are the most common way of protecting intellectual property that is physically tangible (e.g., projects you might do in our engineering program).

What is a trademark?

• “A trademark is a word, name, symbol, or device that is used in trade with goods to indicate the source of the goods and to distinguish them from the goods of others” (for more information, see What is a Trademark or Servicemark? from the USPTO).
• Trademarks are typically used to protect a unique name for a product, but not the product itself. For example, Dr. Jordan’s engineering education research lab is called STEAM Labsâ„¢.

What is a copyright?

• “Copyright is a form of protection provided to the authors of ‘original works of authorship’ including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works, both published and unpublished” (for more information, see What is a Copyright? from the USPTO).
• As a student, you automatically own the copyright for any text that you write (e.g., your project reports). However, copyrights are typically not used to protect engineering designs.

Why do I need to search for patents?

If you knowingly or unknowingly use intellectual property that is patented by someone else in your own commercial designs, you may become the target of lawsuits from the patent owner. Therefore, when designing new products it is best to search for the patents you may be infringing upon (either through the product as a whole or particular features, such as a touch display) so that you can either design around the patents or reach out to the patent owner to license the patent.

• Patents

PCB design checklist

Before exporting your PCB design for fabrication, you **must **verify the design and fix any errors. Time invested verifying your design before manufacturing will make the assembly and testing process significantly easier.

• Checklist
• Pcb

PCB Design Rules Setup in KiCAD

Introduction

Before reading this, review Peralta Lab PCB Mill Specs. We will pull information from there to set up PCB design rules in KiCAD. There are a few setting that are recommended above the actual mill capabilities. This knowledge may come in handy if you have a particular component that does not fit into the recommended settings.