Project Outline

 Our project will be divided into four major stages: Research/Development, Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production.We are currently in the first stage, Research/Development, which consists of:

•  The Problem
• Criteria
  • Includes electrical and mechanical issues
• Initial Designs
  • sketches & sketch models
  • circuit diagrams, switch/interface maps
  • w/ materials & manufacturing considered
• Initial Bill of Materials

A more detailed report will be added once completed. A brief explanation of the other three stages:Pre-Production is concerned with prototyping and working models and resolving issues that arises from such tests.Production as the name implies, is concerned with the building of the final working & aesthetic model.Post-Production (haven’t been discussed whether we will continue to this stage) deals with the marketing of the lamp, i.e., packaging, posters, pamphlets, etc. This stage would normally be started at an earlier stage so it doesn’t appear to be an afterthought, but it’s not our intent to sell our lamp design – post-production is merely a chance for us to celebrate our accomplishment and put the icing on the cake, so to speak.

DigiKey Delivers

Got home from work and there’s a nice package waiting for me on the table. DigiKey has some of the best packaging material ever! My friend and I used to line our cubes with that stuff back at Foster-Miller. It’s like camo netting, sorta.

Here’s a few pictures:

What the box contained

The light engine is TINY!

Global eBaying for parts

Ordered some ZIF and DIP sockets from eBay yesterday, all the way from Hong Kong. The ZIF connector will be used for the microcontroller development board. The DIP socket will be used to mount the microcontroller onto the lamp veroboard.

ZIF connector

DIP Socket

• ZIF connector
• DIP socket

With a ZIF (zero insertion force) connector, I don’t have to worry about bending, or worse, breaking pins when working with microcontrollers. When removing ICs from a socket, a relatively large amount of force is needed to insert and remove the part. With a ZIF, simply unlock, place the chip on top and lock into place.

DIP sockets come in handy during the soldering. Too much heat can destroy microcontrollers and other ICs. With that being said, simply solder the socket onto the veroboard then insert the device onto the socket.