Week 4: Electronics Design

This week's task was to use an EDA tool to design a development board to interact and communicate with an embedded microcontoller.

Introduction and Objective

This week, I embarked on designing a custom development board using Eagle in Fusion 360, incorporating the XIAO RP2040 microcontroller. My design focused on ensuring ample input pins and integrating essential components for varied functionalities.

Design Process and Inspiration

Inspired by the project linked by Neil, I included a button in my design. In addition to the button, the board was designed with multiple I/O pins, and pins for GND, 5V, and 3.3V. Below are the schematics of my initial design.

Schematic File (initDevelopmentBrdSchematic.sch)
Board Design File (initDevelopmentBrdSchematic.brd)

Learning and Revisions

During the development, I learned that the microcontroller already had a built-in resistor for the button, making my additional resistor unnecessary.

Redesign and Second Iteration

For the second iteration, I redesigned the schematic to include a stepper motor driver and a pinout for a moisture sensor. I also added an array of pins sufficient to connect a different motor to the microcontroller in case the original one fails.

Schematic File (newDevelopmentBoardSchematic.sch)
Board Design File (newDevelopmentBoard.brd)

Conclusion and Reflections

The process of designing and revising the development board provided practical insights into electronic design and the importance of understanding the capabilities of microcontrollers. It highlighted the iterative nature of design, leading to a more efficient and tailored development board for my project needs.