This is an Open Hardware peripheral for the OLPC XO-1/1.5/1.75.
The files are created using Eagle 6.2.0 on Linux and the SparkFun footprint libraries.
Strong inspiration drawn from the following Open Hardware designs (thanks for sharing!):
- The Arduino Leonardo (arduino-compatible ATmega32U4 design)
- SparkFun's ATmega32U4 breakout (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/11117) for figuring out which parts of the Leonardo design are actually mandatory
- SparkFun's Scratch Sensor Board-compatible PicoBoard (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10311)
Some notes:
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Many of the Leonardo design's components are optional in a lowest-possible-cost design, for a number of different reasons: a) USB port protection which is already included on the XO motherboard b) ESD and protection diodes (helpful but not required) c) bypass caps and ferrites for less noise on analog signals (helpful but not required) Wherever possible I've included the pads anyway, so that less budget-conscious users can populate these components. At times this has required jumper traces which you need to cut if you decide to populate the optional components.
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I eliminated the multi-way 3.3V/5V internal/external power supply functionality of the Arduino to save cost. The XOrduino is 5V only, powered by the USB port. The Arduino "3.3V" pin on the shield connector is left disconnected. It may be that I want to add pads and jumpers here to allow "power users" to explore other options.
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I'm attempting to make this board local-assembly-friendly, so I used a large number of through-hole parts. This complicates routing; I ended up needing to use a 4-layer board, which I can get away with but which drives up the PCB cost for most people. Different trade offs are possible, and maybe I shouldn't be quite so afraid of SMT, especially since the ATmega32U4 is only available in SMT versions anyway.
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I made this Scratch Sensor Board compatible, but it occurs to me that many of the Scratch sensors are redundant on the XO. We have a microphone already, and the XO-1.75 includes an ambient light sensor. We have two channels of analog input via the microphone jack. The keyboard has plenty of "button" sensors. The XO-1.75 also has an accelerometer. The only "new" input is the rotary pot ("slider" in the original scratch sensor board). Is there a better/more interesting set of sensors we could incorporate? Or is tutorial-compatibility with the learning materials written for the original Scratch Sensor board worth preserving? And the Scratch Sensors are usable by the Arduino even when you disconnect from the XO, which is worth something.
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There's a USB plug integrated with the PCB but it has some issues: the board may well be too heavy to use unsupported, and the PCB being used is only 0.8mm thick, which is too thin for good connection in the slot (I could add break-off tabs like I did for the XO stick to remedy the latter).
There are pads for using a through-hole USB-mini-B connector, but they are rather expensive (~$1) -- and the prognosticators of the future say that "mini" USB is being phased out in favor of "micro" USB worldwide, in part due to the EU regulations specifying micro USB as the universal power adapter format.
Also, when the discrete connector is populated, it leaves the USB signals and power/gnd exposed on big metal tabs, which could be non-ideal.
It may well be that I should switch to a SMT micro-B connector, if I can find one which is acceptably hand-solderable.
-- C. Scott Ananian, 2012-06-09