Step 2: Hardware
We used the freeware version of Cadsoft Eagle to make the circuit and PCB. Download the latest files from the project Google Code page.
This section lost a lot of formatting at Instructables, you can see the original version here.
Ethernet PIC 18F67J60 microcontroller
The Microchip PIC 18F67J60 is perfect for this project because it combines an ethernet network interface and a 41MHz microcontroller (10MIPs) in a small package for only a few dollars. It only comes in 64pin+ TQFP packages, but we didn't have a problem soldering it by hand to a professional PCB.
The PIC requires a 3.3volt power supply. The ethernet portion is really power hungry, so we used a giant TO-220 LD117-3.3volt regulator (VR1). We chose a big regulator because it might have to dissipate a bunch of heat depending on the input power supply. The regulator requires a small input decoupling capacitor (C15) and a large 10uF output capacitor (C3).
There's a big catch with these chips: they can only be programmed about 100 times. That makes development difficult, so we also designed a development version of the #twatch based on a different chip. More about that design in a future article.
Each PIC power pin gets a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor (C17-C23). The PIC has an internal 2.5volt regulator for the microcontroller and ethernet cores, the regulator requires a 10uF tantalum capacitor (C1).
The PIC is programmed through a 5pin ICSP header. The MCLR reset pin is held high with a 10K pull-up resistor (R21), an additional resistor (R4) and capacitor (C16) recommended by the datasheet provide protection against various accidental reset conditions.
The ethernet section mandates a 25MHz external crystal (Q1). Two 33pF capacitors (C4, C5) complete the oscillator circuit.
We used an ethernet jack with integrated magnetics (J2). The jack is a HanRun HR911105A, provided to us by Seeed Studio - be sure to get the same jack, a compatible jack, or adjust the PCB for a jack you can find. The ethernet interface requires a termination circuit (R30-33, C10-11, L1) and 2.28Kohm 1% bias resistor (R7, not shown).
HD44780 character LCD
The #twatch supports a 'standard' 4line by 20character 5volt HD44780 LCD with a +5volt backlight. You can usually find them for about $10 on eBay. Be sure to verify that your LCD matches the #twatch pinout before attaching it. Most LCDs are the same, but not all of them.
Almost all character LCDs operate at 5volts, so we provide a 5volt power supply from a common 7805 regulator (VR2, C14, C2). The LCD with backlight could potentially use a bunch of current, so we used another large To-220 regulator. C12 is a decoupling capacitor for the LCD power supply, but LCDs already have on-board decoupling. C12 need not be populated, we just included it in case of stability issues.
For maximum refresh speed, the LCD is controlled through the full 8bit interface.
Most LCDs are 5volt parts that require about 4.25volts+ to register a high level on the data pins, but the PIC 18F65J60 is only a 3.3volt part. Fortunately, the PIC has a bunch of 5volt tolerant pins so we can hold the signal at 5volts with a 10K pull-up resistor (R10-R19), and then ground it by changing the PIC pin direction setting. This is usually called an open drain output.
Some newer LCDs run at 5volts, but still work at 3.3volt interface levels. The #twatch will support this mode if you leave out R10-19 so no pull-up voltage goes onto the pins, and change the firmware to switch the LAT register instead of the TRIS register in HD44780.c.
LCD screen contrast is controlled by a bias voltage, usually generated with a 10Kohm potentiometer. The #twatch PCB has footprints for an inexpensive 3mm SMD pot (R2), and a second space to use a larger, through-hole pot (R2A). Only one should be populated!
Just in case there's noise in the power supply from all the ethernet stuff, we filter the bias voltage through a small ferrite bead (L2). We also included a capacitor for additional filtering(C13), but we didn't use it since neither element is actually needed.
The #twatch can control simple +5volt backlights up to 400mA or so. The PIC switches a transistor (NPN1) through a 240ohm current limiting resistor (R3, not shown). We used a transistor that can handle 800mA+ with a gain of 250hfe+, so the PIC can switch a large load with it's 20mA maximum pin output current.
R1 is a current limiting resistor for the LCD backlight, if needed. We used a through-hole resistor so it can dissipate a lot of heat with big backlights, and because it's the easiest size to find locally and solder yourself. If your backlight doesn't require a resistor, just replace R1 with a piece of wire. Our LCD required a 3ohm resistor for a 240mA backlight power supply.
Some backlights use a lot of power, so we put the supply pins right next to the power supply and reinforced the ground plane with a bunch of VIAs. Some fancy LCD backlights require special drive circuits, so be sure yours uses a simple +5volt supply to avoid damage.
Power supply
The #twatch requires a 6-7volt power supply through a 2.1mm power supply jack (J1). 2.1mm plugs are the most common size, and should come with every universal power supply.
The higher the supply voltage you use, the more heat that has to be dissipated from VR1 and VR2. Remember that the #twatch is a prototype learning board, it's not a complete and tested commercial product. Take appropriate safety precautions and don't run it unattended.
This section lost a lot of formatting at Instructables, you can see the original version here.
Ethernet PIC 18F67J60 microcontroller
The Microchip PIC 18F67J60 is perfect for this project because it combines an ethernet network interface and a 41MHz microcontroller (10MIPs) in a small package for only a few dollars. It only comes in 64pin+ TQFP packages, but we didn't have a problem soldering it by hand to a professional PCB.
The PIC requires a 3.3volt power supply. The ethernet portion is really power hungry, so we used a giant TO-220 LD117-3.3volt regulator (VR1). We chose a big regulator because it might have to dissipate a bunch of heat depending on the input power supply. The regulator requires a small input decoupling capacitor (C15) and a large 10uF output capacitor (C3).
There's a big catch with these chips: they can only be programmed about 100 times. That makes development difficult, so we also designed a development version of the #twatch based on a different chip. More about that design in a future article.
Each PIC power pin gets a 0.1uF decoupling capacitor (C17-C23). The PIC has an internal 2.5volt regulator for the microcontroller and ethernet cores, the regulator requires a 10uF tantalum capacitor (C1).
The PIC is programmed through a 5pin ICSP header. The MCLR reset pin is held high with a 10K pull-up resistor (R21), an additional resistor (R4) and capacitor (C16) recommended by the datasheet provide protection against various accidental reset conditions.
The ethernet section mandates a 25MHz external crystal (Q1). Two 33pF capacitors (C4, C5) complete the oscillator circuit.
We used an ethernet jack with integrated magnetics (J2). The jack is a HanRun HR911105A, provided to us by Seeed Studio - be sure to get the same jack, a compatible jack, or adjust the PCB for a jack you can find. The ethernet interface requires a termination circuit (R30-33, C10-11, L1) and 2.28Kohm 1% bias resistor (R7, not shown).
HD44780 character LCD
The #twatch supports a 'standard' 4line by 20character 5volt HD44780 LCD with a +5volt backlight. You can usually find them for about $10 on eBay. Be sure to verify that your LCD matches the #twatch pinout before attaching it. Most LCDs are the same, but not all of them.
Almost all character LCDs operate at 5volts, so we provide a 5volt power supply from a common 7805 regulator (VR2, C14, C2). The LCD with backlight could potentially use a bunch of current, so we used another large To-220 regulator. C12 is a decoupling capacitor for the LCD power supply, but LCDs already have on-board decoupling. C12 need not be populated, we just included it in case of stability issues.
For maximum refresh speed, the LCD is controlled through the full 8bit interface.
Most LCDs are 5volt parts that require about 4.25volts+ to register a high level on the data pins, but the PIC 18F65J60 is only a 3.3volt part. Fortunately, the PIC has a bunch of 5volt tolerant pins so we can hold the signal at 5volts with a 10K pull-up resistor (R10-R19), and then ground it by changing the PIC pin direction setting. This is usually called an open drain output.
Some newer LCDs run at 5volts, but still work at 3.3volt interface levels. The #twatch will support this mode if you leave out R10-19 so no pull-up voltage goes onto the pins, and change the firmware to switch the LAT register instead of the TRIS register in HD44780.c.
LCD screen contrast is controlled by a bias voltage, usually generated with a 10Kohm potentiometer. The #twatch PCB has footprints for an inexpensive 3mm SMD pot (R2), and a second space to use a larger, through-hole pot (R2A). Only one should be populated!
Just in case there's noise in the power supply from all the ethernet stuff, we filter the bias voltage through a small ferrite bead (L2). We also included a capacitor for additional filtering(C13), but we didn't use it since neither element is actually needed.
The #twatch can control simple +5volt backlights up to 400mA or so. The PIC switches a transistor (NPN1) through a 240ohm current limiting resistor (R3, not shown). We used a transistor that can handle 800mA+ with a gain of 250hfe+, so the PIC can switch a large load with it's 20mA maximum pin output current.
R1 is a current limiting resistor for the LCD backlight, if needed. We used a through-hole resistor so it can dissipate a lot of heat with big backlights, and because it's the easiest size to find locally and solder yourself. If your backlight doesn't require a resistor, just replace R1 with a piece of wire. Our LCD required a 3ohm resistor for a 240mA backlight power supply.
Some backlights use a lot of power, so we put the supply pins right next to the power supply and reinforced the ground plane with a bunch of VIAs. Some fancy LCD backlights require special drive circuits, so be sure yours uses a simple +5volt supply to avoid damage.
Power supply
The #twatch requires a 6-7volt power supply through a 2.1mm power supply jack (J1). 2.1mm plugs are the most common size, and should come with every universal power supply.
The higher the supply voltage you use, the more heat that has to be dissipated from VR1 and VR2. Remember that the #twatch is a prototype learning board, it's not a complete and tested commercial product. Take appropriate safety precautions and don't run it unattended.
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