#embeddedengineering

[adafruit]

Metro RP2350 take 5 🔄🌟🤞

Sometimes mistakes are made in prototyping; that's why they're prototypes. The error in rev D was funny: while making the QFN80 footprint, the pins got placed clockwise rather than widdershins. Not surprisingly, that board didn't come up at all, so here's a full rip-up and reroute, with the correct pinout this time! Fingers crossed. Hopefully, this is the final revision, and we can move on to other RP2350 boards we have cooking.

[adafruit]

Trinamical stepper breakout with TMC2209

About two weeks ago, we designed a breakout for the A4988

https://blog.adafruit.com/2024/11/11/the-a4988-is-a-classic-stepper-driver-in-a-new-fit/

and we're still waiting for those prototype PCBs, but we're not one to wait, because we think that the idea is a good one…so why not design another version? This time with the Trinamic TMC2209

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/analog-devices-inc-maxim-integrated/TMC2209-LA-T/10232491

This is a similar "Step & Dir" type driver, with a wide motor range of 4.75 – 28 Volts and separate 3~5V IO pin. It has a couple nifty upgrades, though: like a diagnostic error output, index out so you know if you dropped a microstep, OTP config memory, and a half-duplex UART pin that you can use to configure and read stats from the chip. We kept the direction/step LEDs and the current-limit-set potentiometer, changed a few pins around, and voila! What do you think?

[adafruit]

A little Espressif helper for programming

While developing boards, we often want to program ESP chips without going through the onboard USB port; this adapter will help us (and others) do that! It has a CP2102N USB-serial chip

https://www.digikey.com/short/bm7n3p5z

with RX/TX signal LEDs and two transistors wired up to the DTR/RTS line for the 'esptool standard' reset procedure technique. The output IO, plus a 3.3V 500mA regulated output, is available on a socket header, so you can plug wires in for quick programming and debugging. You can use this for everything from an ESP8266 to an ESP32-P4!

[adafruit]

USB C + HDMI combo panel-mount cable sample 🔌🖥️

We got this nifty panel-mount cable with a combo action: both USB C and DVI/HDMI connectors on both ends. This could be handy for single-board computers like Raspberry Pi's or our RP2040/RP2350 boards with DVI outputs

Wouldn't it be cool if you could display images and graphics from a microcontroller directly to an HDMI monitor or television? We think

Since we're testing our Metro RP2350 with HSTX/DVI output anyway, this is a good time to test the cable out - some things we test with USB C cables: verify it enumerates in all 4 orientations (ya never know) and check it with a USB PD sink that requests various voltages. So far, so good; we'll get some of these into the shop in the next few weeks.

[adafruit]

📦 Hot off the pick and place 🤖 ⚡ SD to MicroSD Extender (23cm) ⚡ 256GB NVMe SSD for Raspberry Pi ⚡ Thumbstick Trinkey USB Joystick 👉 https://www.adafruit.com/new

[adafruit]

TMC2209 stepper motor driver board testing 🤖⚙️🔋

We've been testing the Trinamic/Maxim/Analog/WeylandYutani TMC2209 (https://www.digikey.com/short/8r5m38h8) breakout we designed, and it's working great - the step/dir interface plus the micro-step select allows a microcontroller to control a stepper with just GPIO and true-to-its-name it is a very silent stepper driver, much quieter than the A4988 (https://www.digikey.com/short/tfjt88dd)! There are a few different I/O pins on the TMC: Index tells you when a full step is completed, which is handy to know when you want to change stepper modes on the fly. Diag lets you know when a power or motor failure has occurred. It can also tell when the motor has stalled if it's configured to. Finally, and most interestingly, is the UART interface: this unidirectional pin lets you read and write configuration registers, set 1-128 microsteps, change current limiting, and detect stalls for 'auto homing'. So far, everything works; we're just going to swap the direction of the potentiometer so it twists clockwise to increase the current limit and book PCBs!

[embeddedsystemmiet]

🚀 How IoT is Changing the Embedded Industry

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming the way devices communicate, automate processes, and improve everyday life. From smart homes and wearable devices to industrial automation and healthcare systems, IoT is creating endless opportunities for innovation.

At the heart of every IoT device lies Embedded Systems technology. As industries adopt smarter and more connected solutions, the demand for skilled Embedded Engineers continues to grow rapidly. Engineers with knowledge of microcontrollers, communication protocols, embedded programming, and IoT technologies are becoming highly valuable in today's technology-driven world.

For engineering students, learning Embedded Systems and IoT is more than just gaining technical knowledge—it's about preparing for future-ready careers in industries such as Automotive, Healthcare, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Automation, Aerospace, and Smart Infrastructure.

The future belongs to intelligent connected devices, and Embedded Engineers will play a crucial role in shaping that future.

Read our article to discover how IoT is revolutionizing the Embedded Industry and creating exciting career opportunities for aspiring engineers.

[auckam]

If your circuit board isn’t working, start by checking for three common problems: poor solder joints, incorrect connections, or power issues. Inspect the PCB for loose or dull solder points, use a multimeter to verify continuity, and confirm that voltage is reaching the right components. Reheat weak joints carefully and fix any wiring errors before powering the board again—this solves most PCB failures quickly.

This approach works because most real-world issues happen during assembly, not design. Engineers, students, and product teams often lose time debugging complex logic when the actual problem is a simple physical fault. A step-by-step check—visual inspection, electrical testing, and controlled rework—helps you identify the issue faster and avoid damaging components.

For better results:

Always test power input first

Check critical connections one section at a time

Avoid overheating sensitive components

Use proper tools for accurate debugging

Explore more: https://www.auckam.com/