OEM GPS and Surface Mount Electronics

When I originally started working with surface mount electronics the first thing I tried to make was a RS232 to USB converter. I basically gave up on this after a little bit because I figured USB to microcontroller communication would be a much better idea because I knew there was more to learn from programming a microcontroller as well. I used this configuration for the Electronic Control Using Flash project.

After having a lot of trouble around September of last year getting the FT232RL SSOP chip to work, I started a journal that I use to record everything I have done in a day and my hypothesis as to why this or that isn't working and the next days plan for solving it. It eventually turned out that the main problem with the FTDI and MAX chips were due to bad contacts of the pins. Being inexperienced at the time, it took me a little bit in order to figure out the best way to come to that simple conclusion.

I am now preparing to use both of the circuits mentioned above as part of a project to convert my RC car into a computer controlled research platform. I have already tested the USB to microcontroller circuit with the steering servo and massive motor. The photos above are of my testing of the RS232 to USB circuit. If you look at the hyperterminal screen shot, I have highlighted the parts of the GPS output that are coming through fine. I am 100% certain that the reason the GPS output is coming through garbled is due to faulty pin contacts. Despite problems with the GPS, I am going to proceed with my plans and fabricate two boards, one for Motor/steering control and the other for the GPS module. Both of these will be USB based. Perhaps in the next post I will have some video of the car driving around using a flash based interface.

On one final note, my admiration of MIT has raised quite a bit this week. I have been utilizing and enjoying their OpenCourseWare lectures on linear algebra with Professor Gilbert Strang. I applaud MIT for making these lectures available for free. I hope many people are able to take advantage of them.