New Particle Display Add-On with 3D-Accelerometer

This add-on board can be clipped onto a Particle (version 229) via a Conan connector. On the board, there is one 3D-accelerometer and it provides connectors for up to 6 displays. Alternatively, one display can be directly soldered on the board. This gives a very compact layout (about 50 x 40 x 20 mm, width x breadth x height, including one AAA battery).

Especially useful for working with the display is the DisplayServer project. It provides access to many methods of writing to the display via a webserver, i.e. the HTTP protocol. Any software that is able to access the webserver can easily use the display.

Please also consult the DisplayServer page, our Particle How-To and the Particle Software page.

2005-10-25

First soldered version of the new particle display add-on board

Files - Code and Headers

The code and headers follow the particle architecture and separates board and code. It also provides the necessary functions to turn board and sensors on and off and to initialize the components.

The code can be found in our Particle Base System. Files concerned with this board are:

Code and header for Barton BT96040 chip-on-glass display: bt96040_ds.c, bt96040_ds.h
Code and header for Add-On Board: bt96040-addonboard.c, bt96040-addonboard.h
Code for the LIS3L02AS4 sensor: lis3l0sas4.c

When programming a particle with the graphics code from the DisplayServer page, the methods defined in display.h and display.cpp can directly be used. An example program can be found here:

Code that illustrates the use of display interface methods: dispsend.zip
The files that pass commands (like d_line, d_text, etc.) to the particle: display.h, display.cpp

Files - Boards and Schematics

Eagle files for Particle Display Add-On:
particle_lcd-addOn-3axis-version002l4.brd, particle_lcd-addOn-3axis-version002l4.sch
(optional) Eagle files for connecting a display to a Molex connector:
display-molex.brd, display-molex.sch

Components and Costs

The following parts are needed to solder the board. For the minimalist version of this board, i.e. only one accelerometer and one display, you can leave the optional parts (Molex Connectors, second ADXL311JE, etc.). Costs given are approximate only and may apply for larger orders only.

1	Board (main)	http://www.pcbpool.com (display.brd, display.sch) (if you want some of the small optional boards, don't forget to order them together with that board)	20 €
1	Accelerometer LIS3L02AS4	see http://www.digikey.com/ to buy	16 €
1	LTC1261CS LTC1261 datasheet	see http://www.linear.com online shop www.digikey.com part number LTC1261CS-ND	3 €
1	Graphical I²C Display BT96040 Batron_96040v_i2c_cog.pdf	http://www.data-modul.de/en/index.html BT96040VI2C-COG	18 €
1	Conan Connector	see http://particle.teco.edu/production2004/content/conan.html, available with the particle computer	4 €
3	Capacitor 0.1uF	www.farnell.com order-code: 656136	1 €
1	Capacitor Elco 3.3uF	www.farnell.com order-code: 3017023	< 1 €
7	Resistors 3K3	www.farnell.com order-code: 477813	< 1 €
1	Battery Holder	www.reichelt.de order-code: HALTER 1XUM3-LF	1 €

OPTIONAL: The six Molex connectors are only needed if you want to connect several displays or one by wire. The most compact version is achieved by directly soldering the display on the board.

6	Molex Connectors, 5way to be soldered on the board	www.farnell.com order-code: 614830	< 1 €
6	Molex Connectors, 5way to plug into the connectors on the board	www.farnell.com order-code: 615109	< 1 €
6	Board (display to molex)	http://www.pcbpool.com (adxl311.brd, adxl311.sch) these small boards are best ordered together with the main board
5	Graphical I²C Display BT96040 Batron_96040v_i2c_cog.pdf	http://www.data-modul.de/en/index.html BT96040VI2C-COG	90 €

OPTIONAL: The 9way Molex connector is only needed if you want to connect additional sensors / actuators to the board.

1	Molex Connectors, 9way to be soldered on the board	www.farnell.com order-code: 614853	1 €
1	Molex Connectors, 9way to plug into the connectors on the board	www.farnell.com order-code: 615122	< 1 €

Detailed Soldering Instructions

If you follow the instructions, you may get a result that looks like the following image:

Begin by placing the board in the way shown in the next image.

Begin by soldering the accelerometer LIS3L02AS4. Check the direction: On one edge of the sensor, there is a small dot that is reproduced in the eagle board file.

Next put LTC1261 at the right bottom of the board.

Now place the seven resistors as shown in the picture.

Next add the three capacitors (0.1uF).

The next step is to add the capacitor (Elco 3.3uF). Pay attention to its orientation! The positive pole is located close to the resistors (the right hand side on the picture below).

(OPTIONAL:) Add up to six Molex connectors for up to six displays.

(OPTIONAL:) If you want to connect additional sensors / actuators to the board, you can solder a 9way Molex connector to access free pins of the microcontroller.

On the back of the board, the Conan connector can be soldered. It should fit in one direction only: If you put the board on the table as shown in the picture, there should be 10 connections to the left and 11 to the right.

This is the final layout of the board. One display can be soldered directly to the five pins that are located at the top center of the board.

Here are some images of a completely equipped add-on board including particle and power supply using a AAA battery.

Top and bottom views: The picture on the right mainly shows the particle and the battery holder where we additionally attached a small power switch.

Side view. The five Molex connectors can be seen.