Description:

This is the transmitter and receiver pair. This receiver type is good for data rates up to 4800bps and will only work with the 315MHz transmitter. Multiple 315MHz receivers can listen to one 315MHz transmitter. Only one 315MHz transmitter will work within the same location.

This wireless data is the easiest to use, lowest cost RF link we have ever seen! Use these components to transmit position data, temperature data, even current program register values wirelessly to the receiver. These modules have up to 500 ft range in open space. The receiver is operated at 5V. The transmitter operates from 2-12V. The higher the Voltage, the greater the range – see range test data in the documents section.

We have used these modules extensively and have been very impressed with their ease of use and direct interface to an MCU. The theory of operation is very simple. What the transmitter ‘sees’ on its data pin is what the receiver outputs on its data pin. If you can configure the UART module on a PIC, you have an instant wireless data connection. Data rates are limited to 4800bps. The typical range is 500ft for open area.

This is an ASK transmitter module with an output of up to 8mW depending on power supply voltage. The transmitter is based on SAW resonator and accepts digital inputs, can operate from 2 to 12 Volts-DC, and makes building RF enabled products very easy.

This receiver has a sensitivity of 3uV. It operates from 4.5 to 5.5 volts-DC and has digital output. The typical sensitivity is -103dbm and the typical current consumption is 3.5mA for 5V operation voltage.

Features:

• 315 MHz Operation (434 MHz pair option available)
• 500 Ft. Range – Dependant on Transmitter Power Supply
• 4800 bps transfer rate
• Low cost
• Extremely small and light weight

Documents:

• KLP Walkthrough Tutorial
• Good AVR Tutorial
• Receiver Datasheet
• Another Very Helpful AVR Tutorial – Thanks Eric Forkosh!

Supported Antennae: 30-35cm of wire

Description:

This is the fantastically easy to use sensor from Maxbotix. We are extremely pleased with the size, quality, and ease of use of this little range finder. The serial interface is a bit odd (it’s RS232 instead of standard TTL), but the PWM and Analog interfaces will allow any micro to listen easily enough. The sensor provides very accurate readings of 0 to 255 inches (0 to 6.45m) in 1 inch increments with little or no dead zone!

Maxbotix is offering the EZ0, EZ1, EZ2, EZ3, and EZ4 with progressively narrower beam angles allowing the sensor to match the application. Please see beam width explanation below.

Control up to 10 sensors with only two pins! Checkout the Maxbotix FAQ listed below.

Features:

• 42kHz Ultrasonic sensor
• Operates from 2.5-5.5V
• Low 2mA supply current
• 20Hz reading rate
• RS232 Serial Output – 9600bps
• Analog Output – 10mV/inch
• PWM Output – 147uS/inch
• Small, light weight module

Documents:

• Beam Width Explanation
• LV-EZ1 Datasheet
• Maxbotix FAQ
• Sensor Selection Guide

Checkout Mikey Sklar’s flame-based trampoline, the high-lighter, using the EZ1!

Description: This is a breakout board for the ST’s dual-axis LPR503AL gyro.  The LPR503AL measures angular velocity along the pitch and roll axes with a full scale of ±30°/s. Two different analog outputs are provided for both the x- and y- axes – one 1x amplified and the other 4x amplified.

A regulated voltage between 2.7 and 3.6VDC should be supplied to the power pins. We have the filtering circuits all set up; you’ll just need to connect the outputs to an ADC, and you’re ready to go.

This breakout board includes the gyro and all necessary filtering capacitors as shown. The 1x and 4x amplified outputs of both axes are connected to the 0.1″ pitch headers, along with the power-down, self-test, high-pass filter reset, and power pins.

Features:

• 2.7 to 3.6VDC power supply
• Dual axis, pitch and roll sensing
• 1x and 4x amplified outputs for each axis
• Low power consumption
• All necessary filtering components included
• Access to power-down, self-test, and high-pass filter reset pins

Dimensions: 0.6×0.7″

Documents:

• Schematic
• LPR503AL Datasheet

Description: The ever popular FTDI USB to UART IC now comes with built-in EEPROM and built-in oscillator! This IC comes in a 28-pin SSOP package and can be soldered by hand. The FT232R is the latest IC from FTDI requiring very few external components for operation!
Unsoldered breakout board included as shown below.

Features:

• Implements full v2.0 USB protocol
• Needs no external crystal
• Requires only a pull-up resistor and two decoupling caps
• Internal EEPROM for device ID and Product Description strings
• Royalty-Free Driver support for Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX

Documents:

• FTDI website
• FT232R Datasheet v1.04
• SFE Eagle Library has this part!
• FTClean (for removing extraneous/old ports)

Drivers: FTDI Driver Page

Description:

This is a breakout board for the ST’s single-axis LY530ALH gyro.  The LY530ALH measures angular velocity along the yaw axis with a full scale of ±300°/s. Two different analog outputs are provided for the z-axis – one 1x amplified and the other 4x amplified.

A regulated voltage between 2.7 and 3.6VDC should be supplied to the power pins. We have the filtering circuits all set up, so you’ll just need to connect the outputs to an ADC, and you’re ready to go.

This breakout board includes the gyro and all necessary filtering capacitors as shown. The 1x and 4x amplified outputs of both axes are connected to the 0.1″ pitch headers, along with the power-down, self-test, high-pass filter reset, and power pins.

Note: We put the LY530ALH on our LPY5xxx gyro breakout boards. Don’t be tricked by the pin-out, the x-axis outputs will not work.

Features:

• 2.7 to 3.6VDC power supply
• Yaw rotation sensing
• 1x and 4x amplified outputs
• Low power consumption
• All necessary filtering components included
• Access to power-down, self-test, and high-pass filter reset pins

Dimensions: 0.6×0.7″

Documents:

• Schematic
• LY530ALH Datasheet

Description: This is a simple to use USB evaluation board for the GE865-Quad cellular module. All pins of the GE865 are broken out, so you’ll have access to the state-of-the-art DAC, ADCs and GPIOs. No messy 3.8V regulation. No tricky 3.3V to USB converter. It’s all done for you!

The serial pins are wired up to an FT232RL UART-to-USB bridge. You can plug the GE865 Evaluation Board into any USB port on your computer and it will act just like a standard COM port. Power up the board, turn on the module, and you can start sending and receiving AT commands via a terminal emulator. The USB chip can be disconnected (by clearing all solder jumpers) to allow for external control of the TX and RX pins on the GE865 module (3.0VDC max!).

Power can be provided through either USB or an external power source, via the barrel jack connector or Vin/GND pins (5-9VDC). To turn the module on, hold the ON/OFF button down for 1-2 seconds – just like turning on a cell phone.

Note: Some USB ports cannot source enough current to power the GE865 module. If the power supply is inadequate, the module may shut down while attempting to connect to the cellular network. An external power supply will correct this problem if it is experienced.

The board comes fully assembled with the GE865 module, 3.8V power regulation circuitry, SIM card socket, U.FL antenna connector, and other supporting circuitry. All pins of the GE865 are brought out to two 0.1″ headers. 3.8V is regulated through a surface mount SPX29302 LDO regulator.

Documents:

• GE865 Eval Board Schematic
• Telit GE865 documentation (hardware guide, AT command set, etc.)

Drivers: FTDI USB Drivers

Dimensions:2.3×2.45″