PCB Lamp Workshop

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This project is the Microchip edition of the Introduction to Electronics workshop. In this workshop we explore hardware manufacturing, firmware, and mechanical design with a hands-on approach.

The Hardware

This time around we are using a dedicated microcontroller (as opposed to using a dev board in other projects), which allows us to have a much smaller footprint, and a much closer representation of what a final production PCB would look like. More on this in the Logs / Instructions!

There is one main hardware component, the lamp board which includes the "brains", optical sensor, and lighting elements. The batteries are connected to this board and are separated from the PCBA.

The Firmware

This lamp workshop was coded in MicroPython, using Mu. We will get into more detail in the instructions.

The Design

There are four different versions of the Lamp to choose from. They all include the same components, number of LED's, and they have the same circuit.

Please see Build Instructions for detailed information about downloads, templates, etc

Files

Microchip_Lamp Sensor_white light.py

For use with Mu & Circuit Python

x-python - 1.28 kB - 09/03/2024 at 17:14

Download

Microchip_LampRainbow.py

For use with Mu & Circuit Python

x-python - 1.68 kB - 09/03/2024 at 17:14

Download

Microchip_LampButton_white light.py

For use with Mu & Circuit Python

x-python - 1.05 kB - 09/03/2024 at 17:14

Download

Data Sheet - WS2812B.pdf

RGB LED's data sheet.

Adobe Portable Document Format - 347.03 kB - 08/27/2024 at 00:59

Preview

Data Sheet - QRE1113-D.pdf

Miniature Reflective Object Sensor data sheet.

Adobe Portable Document Format - 328.92 kB - 08/27/2024 at 00:59

Preview

Components

1 × Lamp Board

4 × M2 Hex Nuts

1 × Enclosure

4 × M2 Screws

2 × 'AA' Batteries

Build Instructions

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1
Overview
The project has a few essential components:
- PCBA,
- Battery holder
- Batteries, and
- Micro USB cable.
As mentioned before, all the PCBA shapes (square, circle, line, horseshoe) share the exact same circuit and BOM (Bill of Materials). Please choose the one that better fits your design concept.

When you design your lamp, you will decide where you want to keep the batteries. Just keep in mind that they should be easily accessible to replace.
2
PCBA
You could think of the Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) as the "grounds" where a "city" is built. Electricity flows through the PCB to the different components, and each one does something different and generally indispensable for your product to work properly. While you do not need to understand how each component works, it is important to have a general understanding of the more relevant ones, particularly for your project.

Here is a quick overview, before we go into more detail:
- Four independently addressable RGB LED's,
- Two buttons,
- One micro-USB port,
- One battery connector,
- One optical sensor
- Assembly holes.
Assembly holes and precise dimensions can be found in the 2D vector file, and in the 3D STEP files.
3
LED's
We are using independently addressable RGB LED's. Quite a mouthful, but every word is important there.
- RGB means that they can cast Red, Green, Blue light, and everything in between.
- Independently addressable means that each one can be operated separately, through code. Each LED has its unique "number".

View all 9 instructions

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PCB Lamp Workshop - Microchip Edition

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