Oscilloscope Watch update

New update from Gabriel Anzziani, the developer;

Hello Backers! Sorry for the delays, the project is still moving forward. I have received 50 PCB assemblies and other parts for the "Hacker Special" and "PCB Assembly" backers. 

 Hardware 1.5 PCB Assemblies

Below is a close up of the PCB. The board has been extended sideways to be able to add two more mounting holes, and I have also added some cutouts on the PCB (between the buttons) to hold the backlight.

 Close up of the PCB assembly

 

The board works as expected:

 Board powers up

Before I send out these units to backers, I want to finish up the backlight piece, which also doubles as the holder for the LCD, so the PCB assembly can be one solid piece.

 PCB Assembly with backlight/holder

 Backlight/holder side view 

I will be working on this piece in the next few days and I will send out the design to the mold company. I expect to have sample pieces in a month or two. While I wait for the backlight, I will continue to work on the enclosure and other details of the design.

 I'm still itching to make part 2 of my review video, meantime, here is the first clip;

Oscilloscope Watch project update

I'm still monkeying around with the oscilloscope watch and hopefully I'll shoot a bit more video later this week, but it's still very much in Beta and I got this update of what the final case will look like from the Gabriel Anzziani, the developer.

Oscilloscope watch - first review video

Next update on the Oscilliscope Watch

I got the email saying that mine has been shipped! Also - a Post Office depot card was awaiting me at home yesterday; as soon as I can get to the collection office...!

 Please keep in mind that there is a lot to do and the little that has been implemented has lots of bugs.

Oscilloscope Watch Overview

Firmware upgrading

One common task you will need to perform is to update the firmware, this is done thru the USB port and using the FLIP application from Atmel. To enter bootloader mode, you need to press the KL and KI buttons for a few seconds. You will hear a distinctive sound to indicate that the device is in bootloader mode, and the red LED will stay lit once connected to the computer, the LCD will be blank. The Oscilloscope Watch will appear as a new device on the host computer, the drivers required are found in the FLIP application folder.

The procedure to upgrade the firmware:

1. Start Flip.
2. Select ATXMEGA256A3U in the device selection list.
3. Select USB as communication medium.
4. Open the USB port to connect to the target.
5. Make sure the FLASH buffer is selected and check: ERASE, BLANK CHECK, PROGRAM, VERIFY.
6. Load the HEX file Xprotokey.hex.
7. Press RUN.
8. Press SELECT EEPROM
9. Load the HEX file Xprotokey.eep.
10. Uncheck ERASE and BLANK CHECK, only leave checked PROGRAM and VERIFY
11. Press RUN.
12. Press START APPLICATION.

The latest HEX files will be stored in Github.
I am planning to incorporate the firmware upgrading to the XScopes Software, so all these steps will be replaced with a single button press.

Firmware development

I hope to be releasing new firmware updates every one or two weeks. Any Beta backer that wants to participate in the development of the firmware is welcome. You can send me a message with your Github ID if you want to stay in sync and share your contributions.
To develop on the Oscilloscope Watch you will need to download Atmel Studio. The source code for the Oscilloscope Watch is available on Github.
If the device hangs, one method to reset the device is to press the KL and KI buttons for a few seconds. This will make the device enter bootloader mode, then press KM and KD to reset the device.

The Oscilliscope Watch - an update

I'm looking forward to getting the beta hardware of the Oscilloscope Watch which I've funded on Kickstarter. Here is a recent project update from the developer.

Project Update #9: Beta PCB assemblies on order

Posted by Gabriel Anzzian

Hello Backers!

Sorry for the delay, I've been pretty busy these last few weeks. Here is my monthly report.

SCHEMATICS

I have done some minor changes to the schematics:

• Reduced noise by connecting the 5V step-up switching regulator to the battery, instead of the VDD rail. It will also be a little more efficient, since the regulator is converting 5V from 3.7V, instead of 3V.
• Minor tweaks to reduce current consumption: increased value of some resistors, changed the diodes to low leakage versions.
• Removed the 15pF input capacitors, which aren't really needed for the bandwidth that the OW works with. I also needed the space to add mounting holes.
• Added load capacitors to the 32.768kHz crystal.

PCB

I had a hard time making space to add the mounting holes while still keeping current packages of the components. I only changed the LEDs from 0805 to 0603. Now there are two nice mounting holes on opposite corners, which will be great for fixing the PCB to the enclosure. I also moved the slide switches towards the center to solve a problem with the enclosure as discussed on update #4.

 Oscilloscope Watch PCB rev 1.4 

PCB Assemblies

I originally thought of assembling the Beta units myself, this was when I thought I would have only 10 Beta testers. Now with 28 Beta tester units, and a few spares, it makes more sense to have these assembled at the factory. I am ordering the assemblies and they should be ready in about 6 weeks.

BATTERY

I am going with a 380mAh battery, it measures 40mm x 30mm x 4mm, the dimensions of the watch are not changing. I have already received enough samples of these for the Beta tester units. The battery life should not change much from the initial estimates.

BACKLIGHT & FRONTLIGHT

I bought a translucent filament to use on my 3D printer to make a backlight diffuser, it didn't work. The problem is not because of the translucent diffuser, which I already knew that it was not going to be too good. The problem is the LCD it self, it does not let much light go thru.

 Backlight experiment 

So I started to research what I needed. I contacted Sharp and they referred me to a company that does "front lights". I have just began talks with them, we are signing NDAs.

The Beta units will still have the backlight diffuser, but this is to make everything fit together, rather than functionality.

Not many changes to the enclosure. I tweaked the sliders to fix the collision problem, I moved the charging LED location to right above the USB connector, and made the LED see-thru holes circular. I also added the screw bosses on the TOP part.

 

SOURCE CODE

I haven't done much to the code, only some minor tweaks to reduce current consumption during the watch mode. Once I get the Beta units, I will set up a repository, initially for Beta Testers. I am looking forward to working with the Beta Testers!

A lot of work to still to be done, but it sure is fun!

Oscilloscope watch

The watch for the electronic geek. All the features of a watch combined with an oscilloscope and a waveform generator. I've signed up to fund the Kickstarter project which has reached it's goal - happy days!

Features:

• Mixed Signal Oscilloscope: Simultaneous sampling of analog and digital signals.
• Advanced Trigger: Normal / Single / Auto, with rising or falling edge and adjustable trigger level.
• Meter Mode: Average, Peak to peak and Frequency readout.
• XY Mode (Plot Lissajous patterns or see the phase difference between two waveforms).
• Spectrum Analyzer with different windowing options and selectable vertical log.
• Horizontal and Vertical Cursors with automatic waveform measurements.
• Arbitrary Waveform Generator with Sweep on all parameters.
• Display options: Persistence, Different grid options, and more.
• Curve tracer function

I'm signed up as an International Beta Tester. The Beta Testers will receive a prototype as early as December, and a production unit with all accessories in May. Beta Testers will be expected to be involved with the design and report bugs along the way. Apparently this prototype will initially not work, but will start to work as firmware is developed. The prototype hardware may need changes so you might need to do some soldering. The case will be 3D printed with the current prototype design. Come May 2014 the production units will be available and so I intend to do some video blogging as soon as I receive the prototype and keep with it all the way through to the final version.