Summary of CyDuino : An Arduino Dev Board with Lots of Goodies
The article describes converting the CY7C65211 USB-UART bridge chip from a CY8CKIT-049 PSoC 4 kit into an Arduino programmer, called "CyDuino." By hacking the hardware to bring out the DTR signal and using an Arduino Uno bootloader for the Atmega328P microcontroller, the author created a versatile board. This board features multiple onboard sensors (light, temperature, vibration), communication interfaces (IR, Bluetooth, laser), user switches, RGB LED, and buzzer, suitable for various projects. The process involves programming the USB-serial bridge controller and using the kit’s components with removable microcontroller and configurable sensor connections.
Parts used in the CyDuino:
- CY8CKIT-049 PSoC 4 Prototyping Kit
- CY7C65211 USB-UART Serial Bridge chip
- Atmega328P microcontroller
- Arduino Uno Bootloader (software component)
- Touch and Push User Switches
- LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) Light Sensor
- Thermistor Temperature Sensor
- Piezo Vibration Sensor
- Laser Long Range Indicator
- Bluetooth module (optional)
- IR Receiver
- RGB LED
- Buzzer
- Pin Headers and Jumpers
Story
We (most of us) really like Arduino because it’s possible to make cheap clones, lots of libraries, examples, forum support and community out there.
Outside Arduino world, I like Cypress PSoC for some of its cool features like Graphical IDE, APIs, great features and understandable documentation.
I have bunch of PSoC® 4 CY8CKIT-049 4xxx Prototyping Kits.
The first half of this kit has CY7C65211 device, which is by default a programmable USB-UART serial bridge. I was thinking, maybe I can turn this part into a Arduino Porgrammer.
Bingo ! It worked, with a little bit of hack and a Uno Bootloader Atmega328P.
Arduino i.e. Atmegaxxx with Arduino Bootloader requires Rx, Tx data lines and DTR control line for uploading sketch.
Here is a pinmap of CY7C65211 chip –
We need following pins to be connected to Atmega328p for making a CyDuino –
But, unfortunately the DTR pin has no breakout to the edges.
Here is where I made a hardware hack. Scratch and remove the silkscreen and bring out a connection for DTR.
The Goodies
Here is an image of the finished project –
It’s a ready to go board for Light, Sound, Temperature, Vibration, IR/Laser/Bluetooth Communication related projects.
Also, you can remove the jumpers from pin headers to disconnect on board sensors and connect to external components !
Features:
- Programmable USB-Serial module
- Removable Microcontroller
- Touch+Push User Switches
- LDR Light Sensor
- Thermistor Temperature Sensor
- Peizo Vibration Sensor
- Laser Long Range Indication
- Bluetooth Connectivity (optional)
- IR Receiver
- RGB LED
- Buzzer
Step 1 : Program the USB-Serial Bridge Controller
First, get a 4$ CY8CKIT-049 PSOC 4 Prototyping kit .
Next, we connect the Snapped part to PCs USB Port !
Also, Download and Install Cypress USBSerialSDKSetup
If everything goes well and drivers are installed for the chip, inside Windows device manager USB Serial Port will appear –
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