<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sfcFgt5RZbM" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
Watch close details of building a keyboard - from soldering to programming. Enjoy!
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

I built a real electronic product from home… and recorded everything

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tqi6PU8U-W0" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        I built a circuit designed by AI.
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:39</span><span class="chapters-text">Building the circuit</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">03:47</span><span class="chapters-text">Installing CircuitPython</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">05:53</span><span class="chapters-text">Running and fixing the code</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">08:33</span><span class="chapters-text">Results</span></li>
    </div>
    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://x.com/i/grok/share/5T8BmTFnsI9Rr195HKz5qPQ8U">My chat with A</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

I asked AI to design an electronic circuit and write software for it. Here is what happened ...

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r_zaDXqUSn8" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
For everyone who would like to learn how to start with RP2040 / RP2350 programming. Thank you very much Scott Shawcroft
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-chapters">
        <div>
            Chapters:
        </div>
        <ul class="chapters-list">
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">00:00</span><span class="chapters-text">What is this video about</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">01:52</span><span class="chapters-text">Flashing CircuitPython on Raspberry PI PICO</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">05:48</span><span class="chapters-text">How to run your code</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">10:29</span><span class="chapters-text">Blinky example</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">16:28</span><span class="chapters-text">Addressable RGB LED example - NeoPixel</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">30:13</span><span class="chapters-text">Input example - Push button</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">37:10</span><span class="chapters-text">About serial port</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">42:12</span><span class="chapters-text">Making an USB keyboard - example</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">53:19</span><span class="chapters-text">I2C example</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:06:59</span><span class="chapters-text">WiFi Example</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:15:45</span><span class="chapters-text">Webserver and controlling LED over WiFi example</span></li>
            <li class="chapters-list-item"><span class="chapters-time">1:22:04</span><span class="chapters-text">About Scott</span></li>
    </div>

    
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannewt/">Scott´s LinkedIn</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://adafruit-playground.com/u/tannewt/pages/robert-feranec-stream-notes">Download examples from the video here</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://fedevel.com/courses">FEDEVEL Online courses</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

Starting with RP2040 / RP2350 PICO - Programming Tutorial for Beginners | StepByStep | CircuitPython

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><span class="embed-youtube" style="text-align:center; display: block;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yjFuTdVEd7Q" class="youtube-player" width="740" height="416.418" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></span>
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content">
        Short tutorial which describes how to start using Cadence Allegro. Explains basic commands and how to:
        <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">highlight / de-highlight net</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">switch between layers</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">get information about a component</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">measure</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">move objects</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">delete</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">route</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">slide tracks …</span></li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>


How to start with Cadence Allegro – Very simple tutorial

<div class="entry-content">
    <div class="blog-content">
        The x86 use often three chip solution, but it’s not a rule. Mobile platforms many time use only two chips. The chips used to be known as CPU (to support different CPU speeds and models), North Bridge (mostly memory interface + graphic interface or graphics), South Bridge (peripherals). These days manufacturers use different names such GMCH, SCH, PCH, … <br><br>

        <i>Picture: <a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-n270/overview">Intel N270</a> (Three chips) / <a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-z5xx/overview">Intel ATOM Z5xx</a> / <a href="http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52213">Intel CORE i7</a></i>
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/9db6d-intel_n270_arch1.jpg" alt="Intel N270" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/0be04-intel_atom_arch1.jpg" alt="Intel ATOM Z5xx" />
    </div>
    <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/0cb53-intel_i7_arch1.jpg" alt="Intel Core i7" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
       <b>Power sequencing</b><br>
       x86 boards support <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface">several power states</a>. The most well know are:
       <ul class="content-list">
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">S0 – Board is ON</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">S3 – Board is in Sleep (when you close your laptop, without shutting down)</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">S5 – Board is OFF, but can be switched pressing Power button</span></li>
            <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">G3 – Disconnected from Main power</span></li>
        </ul>
        Power rails are split into several power domains: by voltage (+5V, +3.3V, …) and by power state (S0, S3, …). For example +3.3V rail is split into: +V3.3A (Always ON or also know as S5), +V3.3 (S3) and +V3.3S (S0).<br><br>

        More about power states: see <a href="http://www.acpi.info/DOWNLOADS/ACPIspec40a.pdf">ACPI specification</a><br><br>

        Power sequencing is controlled by South Bridge. Mobile platforms use a <a href="https://www.intelcommsalliance.com/kshowcase/view/view_item/4ddd1dbe78eb6b235cc4f07eabb79ae562ae690e">Embedded controller</a> instead. The embedded controller integrates often also other features – keyboard interface, volume control, ambient light sensor for automatic display backlight control, …
    </div>

    
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>High Currents & High Heat</b><br>
        When designing a x86 board, it’s important to know how a lot of heat will be taken away. Power supplies are designed to support currents up to tens of Amps. PCB layout has to take this into consideration and wide tracks / planes + multiple VIAs are required for power tracks.
     </div>

     
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>BIOS</b><br>
        BIOS development is one of the key parts of x86 board development. It’s done by BIOS companies (<a href="http://www.phoenix.com/">Phoenix</a> (Award), <a href="http://www.insydesw.com/home">Insyde</a>, … ) or by BIOS developers (they own a licence to source code of BIOS). Basic BIOS binaries are provided together with development platform, but must be customized based on the new board design. BIOS customization may easily cost around $900 per day.<br><br>

        Manufacturers of peripheral chips provide binaries for BIOS e.g Video BIOS, Ethernet BIOS (to support booting over Ethernet …), SATA BIOS (to support RAIDS …).<br><br>

        Open source BIOSes are also available – for example <a href="http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot">Coreboot</a> (formerly known as LinuxBIOS)<br><br>

        A replacement for the older BIOS has been developed. The replacemnt is known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface">UEFI</a> and is supported by several big manufacturers such Intel, AMD, IBM …
     </div>

     
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>Booting</b><br>
        Initially, BIOS is executed directly from BIOS FLASH memory. Once system memory has been initialized (together with some other code),  the BIOS starts running from DDR.
     </div>

     
    <div class="blog-content-text">
        <b>BIOS Debugging</b><br>
        Before video interface is initialized, a serial console or JTAG can be used to debug BIOS. Standard BIOS diagnostic output is called <a href="http://www.postcodemaster.com/">POST code</a>. This code differentiate between manufacturers. BIOS POST code is a two/four digits hex value written by BIOS software on port 0x80. For easier diagnostic, this code can be read by <a href="http://www.google.sk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=o0H&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&biw=1440&bih=635&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=POST+Diagnostic+card&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=">POST code diagnostic cards</a>.<br><br>

        Do you have any questions or you think something else is also important? Leave a comment.
     </div>

   
    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-n270/overview">Intel N270</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/atom-z5xx/overview">Intel ATOM Z5xx</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=52213">Intel CORE i7</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface">Several power states</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.acpi.info/DOWNLOADS/ACPIspec40a.pdf">ACPI specification</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.intelcommsalliance.com/kshowcase/view/view_item/4ddd1dbe78eb6b235cc4f07eabb79ae562ae690e">Embedded controller</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.phoenix.com/">Phoenix</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.insydesw.com/home">Insyde</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.coreboot.org/Welcome_to_coreboot">Coreboot</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface">UEFI</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.postcodemaster.com/">POST code</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="http://www.google.sk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=o0H&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&biw=1440&bih=635&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=POST+Diagnostic+card&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=">POST code diagnostic cards</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

x86 Hardware design – What everyone should know

<div class="entry-content">

    <div class="blog-content">
        <a href="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/downloads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf" target="_blank" >Here is a helpful design guide document</a> which describes recommended electrical circuits and PCB layout rules for:
        <ul class="content-list">
             <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCI Express, ExpressCard, PCI Express Mini Card, PCI Express Graphic – PEG,</span></li>
             <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">PCI, Ethernet – LAN, USB, IDE, SATA, LPC, Audio AC97 / HDA,</span></li>
             <li class="content-list-item"><span class="content-text">SDVO, DVI, VGA, LVDS, TV-Out,</span></li>
         </ul>

         <i>A page example (from the document):</i>
     </div>

     <div class="blog-content-img-wrapper">
        <img src="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/2019/10/a676d-pci-express-routing-rules.png" alt="PCI Express routing rules" />
    </div>

    <div class="blog-content-text">
        Don’t get confused. It’s a design guide for COM Express carrier board. Just ignore mechanical and power chapters in the document.<br><br>

        <a href="https://www.picmg.org/wp-content/uploads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf">Original document can be downloaded here</a>
    </div>


    <div class="blog-content-links">
        <div>
            Links:
        </div>
        <ul class="links-list">
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://assets.fedevel.com/blog/downloads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf" target="_blank">Helpful design guide document</a></li>
            <li class="links-list-item"><a href="https://www.picmg.org/wp-content/uploads/PICMG_COMDG_2.0-RELEASED-2013-12-061.pdf">Original document</a></li>
        </ul>
    </div>  
</div>

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