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With the Micro-Bot platform there are few limitations. Change microcontrollers, change assemblers, change compilers, change sensors. Micro-Bot's an open architecture designed for flexibility, learning, and most of all, fun. Micro-Bots circuit board offers several circuit construction options. Direct wiring on bottom, top, on the bread board, or a combination of bread boarding & soldering components to the prototyping areas on the circuit board. |
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Direct Point-To-Point Wiring |
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Figure #1 shows point-to-point "direct" wiring. Both circuits shown below have been wired directly to the PortB I/O-pin solder pads on the bottom of the Micro-Bot printed circuit board. The left servo motor control connection "A" is wired direct to the PortB.4 solder pad. The right servo motor control connection "B" is wired direct to the PortB.5 solder pad. The infrared LED & detector circuits shown below in Figure #2 are wired directly to the PortB solder pads. The IR detector module, LEDs, resistors, and capacitor are soldered in the center section, front prototyping area as shown above in Figure #1. |
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If the servo motor PWM control connections and IR circuits will be permanent, you can use this wiring method to save bread boarding space on the upper bread board area, and reduce the number of exposed wires & clutter on top. Figure #3 shows the result. A nice clean upper bread board area with infrared LEDs, IR detector, motor control connections wired underneath. As you can see in Figure #3 below, this leaves plenty of space on the top bread board area for Sonar range finders, CDS photo-cells or other experimental circuits. Note: The 3M terminal strip bread board supplied with Micro-Bot is not installed. To install the bread board as shown below, just peel the backing from the bottom to expose the adhesive, and press the bread board onto the circuit board. If you prefer to solder components directly to the Micro-Bot prototyping area, you may want to leave the bread board off. Micro-Bot also includes two black dual row 16-pin female headers as shown below in Figure #3. The photo in Figure #3 shows the headers installed on Vcc & ground for easy access to the power supply connections when bread boarding. These headers are not installed, and may be used as required for power connections with bread boarding, to insert & make connections to components. These are included as optional components for your convenience. |
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Figures #3 & #4 give you an idea of the finished look with point-to-point wiring on the bottom side of the board. While this method is much cleaner, it is also more permanent and requires a little more effort if you decide to make circuit changes. Figure #5 shows the bread boarding method with motor control signals and the infrared drive/detection circuits wired on the top bread board area. |
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Figure #5 shows the bread board wiring method. Notice in Figure #6 how the infrared LEDs, and IR detector module are still soldered on the underside of the circuit board, but final connections the the PIC I/O-pins & power are made by wiring into the bread board & connections at the female header sockets. This wiring method offers the most flexibility, but things can get a little cluttered as your circuits begin to grow. Bread board & test your circuits first, then commit to the point-to-point wiring method. You may find this the easiest approach if you're just getting started. Micro-Bots circuit board has plenty of room for pretty much any circuit construction methods. |
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With motor & infrared circuits wired-in on the bottom side of the Micro-Bot circuit board, there's plenty room left on top for additional sensors for more advanced experiments and applications. Micro-Bots board design, body, and core controller offer a lot of flexibility. Use any parts, compiler or assembler you prefer. |
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The prototyping area will accommodate integrated circuits up to 40 pins. Figure #6 shows an 18-pin DIP, 40-pin DIP, and TO-92 transistor installed in the prototyping area. All pins on ICs & components are easily accessible for direct solder connections. Very similar to other PIC proto boards, but one that's designed for robotics.
The pad layout is similar to most breadboards, but with all electrically connected solder pads surrounded by white borders. Solder pads not surrounded by white borders are not electrically connected. There's ample room for soldering components directly to the circuit board prototyping area, and plenty of solder pads along the outer board areas if you prefer using a combination of bread boarding & soldering.
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Copyright © 2007
Reynolds Electronics |
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