Introduction: Pinebox Portable Computer

By My YouTube Channel
About: Software geek, electronics enthusiast, musician, artist ... I enjoy making stuff, and discovering new things!

This is a multi-part instructable for a Portable Raspberry PI computer and development system:

It's a Pi, in a box, a box made of pine, hence the name: PInebox!

Uses:

  • Portable Linux computer/laptop
  • Raspberry Pi hardware/software project development platform
  • Backup emergency PC (web browser/email)
  • General 5 Megapixel Camera/HD Video (with audio)
  • Portable Audio recorder/player
  • Remote ZoneMinder CCTV camera source and ZoneMinder CCTV camera montage monitor
  • DVB-T2 television receiver?
  • VOIP/Skype phone?
  • And more!

Step 1: Specifications

Hardware spec :-

  • Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, Quad core ARM, 1G memory
  • HD Screen from Cyntech (HDMI 1280 x 800, LED backlit)
  • HD camera (front, side and rear) with 2 x LED flash
  • Wired and WiFi network access
  • 8G system/OS drive (Micro SDHC 8G/Noobs)
  • 16G internal onboard storage (USB stick)
  • Full size keys, compact keyboard (wired)
  • Wireless Mouse LIRC (Infra Red control) Transmitter and Receiver
  • Audio Out: Headphone (ext)/Speakers (int)
  • Audio In: Line In (ext)/Mono Mic (int)
  • Approx 55WH battery pack and internal charger
  • Flexible recharging/external power requirements
  • Custom wooden case

Ports :-

  • 2 x USB
  • 1 x RS232C (D9)
  • 1 x Wired network (RJ45)
  • Universal AC/DC In (2.1mm DC jack)
  • 2 x Audio (line in/spkr out) (3.5mm jacks)
  • 40 way GPIO with boosted (i.e. non Pi powered) 3V3/5V supplies (internal)

Step 2: Concept/Design

After lots of paper scribblings and sketching, physical layout for this project was mocked up in Blender 3D for checking sizes, clearances, and to give cutting/marking guides. The attached video is rendered from the Blender model to give an exploded view.

I took photos and flatbed scans of the actual hardware, to be used as textures onto accurately sized boxes in Blender, and downloaded photos and measurements for the HDMIPi screen/HDMI controller (which I didn't physically have at the time).

Various boxes were added to the flat PCB modules for marking upstanding components (e.g. connectors) that could interfere.

I imported the STL file of the Camera Spinner into the Blender model.

The final design differs slightly from the concept pictures/video shown here.

  • The whole box and screen surround is slightly wider
  • The camera, flash, and LIRC module were moved further down the case
  • DC-DC Converters both in the base unit now - there was one in the lid originally
  • Two clasps were used (left and right) instead of one (centred)
  • External friction stays added to keep the screen upright

Major components are picked out in the image comments above.

Attachments

Step 3: Subproject Links

Here are all the parts of the project so far, and placeholders for those to come!

Screen:

HDMIPi screen original assembly video and extra build notes and mods

Camera:

Camera spinner provides HD/5Mp front/rear/side camera for stills and video

Macro adapter to allow camera to focus closer for detail

Electronics:

Power And Control PCBs Design Using LTSpice to simulate/prototype, EagleCAD for layout

Power And Control PCBs Build To give power supply, battery charger/monitoring, power saving, camera handling, LIRC port, RS232 port and lots of other useful interfacing.

Wooden Box:

Hinged case for project, a mitred box with splined corners.

Upper framework to mount HDMIPi (Screen), Raspberry Pi and camera

Lower framework for keyboard, ports, speakers, power PCBs, batteries.

Logos for inside and outside

Build:

Final assembly of all the parts into the case

Software:

Rapid setup/customise of Pi checklist (to be updated with latest Raspbian)

Custom Python software for power and control boards/camera spinner boards.

Step 4: Latest Progress June 2015

All major components fitted into the bare (unpainted) case, with a temporary lash up of batteries/DC-DC converter. It can go battery powered (but with no internal charger), and it can go wireless. No expansion/IO ports yet, and no wired network. Camera spinner and manually activated flash works.

Step 5: Latest Progress July 2015

Disassembled to finish case off and do painting/staining, pending finishing up the custom PCB designs.

Step 6: Latest Progress September 2015

Finally finished tweaking and writing up all the electronic design parts for the PCBs, which are being made!

Step 7: Latest Progress December 2015

All boards built, tested and schematics/LTSpice files added to the Electronics Build instructable.

"Backup emergency PC (web browser/email)" feature unexpectedly tested and found working when I was put off-line by my firewall machine failing just before Xmas. :( Thank you Raspberry PI! -- still mounted on a piece of MDF :)

Step 8: Latest Progress February 2016

All parts finally fitted into the case!

Still to do :-Custom software bits.