Montreal-based PN Labs is seeking to save prototypists from blowing a microcontroller to bits with a compact energy circuit protector appropriate for breadboard use: the Shield Nano.
“My product may be very easy,” PN Labs’ unnamed founder explains. “It is a energy safety module that guards in opposition to over/underneath voltage, over-current, and reverse polarity occasions for embedded techniques. It is adjustable by way of solder jumpers for 3.3, 5 and 12V with some wiggle room round these values. I had a complete batch assembled at a fab home, and the subsequent query was how to make sure constant high quality throughout all of the models.”
The Shield Nano goals to face between your favourite microcontroller and any variety of nasty energy provide issues. (📷: PN Labs)
The reply to that was discovered within the very gadgets the Shield Nano was designed to defend: a microcontroller growth board, on this case an Arduino Nano R3. “I used a PWM [Pulse-Width Modulation] pin from an Arduino Nano to cycle via a spread of voltages. I recorded the module’s response utilizing the onboard ADC, then used some if/else logic to find out if it handed.”
The Arduino Nano R3 is put in in a check rig with pogo pins. The Shield Nano is positioned on high and secured with a toggle clamp, then examined to be sure that it accurately triggers for over- and under-voltage, then assessments {the electrical} reset and eventually “sound[s] a contented tone or unhappy tone on the buzzer” whereas printing the outcomes to a compact OLED.
Every unit is examined in a customized rig powered by an Arduino Nano R3 and “some if/else logic.” (📷: PN Labs)
“I made [the Protect Nano] as a result of I wished one thing smaller than the unique Shield module and extra suited to decrease voltages and decrease currents,” PN Labs’ founder explains. “It’s a versatile unit that can be utilized for a lot of totally different functions, and I do know it would save quite a lot of circuits within the discipline from being destroyed by adjustable energy provides getting used improper or going haywire!”
The Shield Nano is obtainable to order on Tindie at $21.99 for a pair; PN Labs has not launched design recordsdata for the board, however has made KiCad tasks recordsdata obtainable for its predecessor the Lively Energy Safety Module (APPM). Extra data on the check rig is obtainable in PN Labs’ Reddit publish.