[PYTHON] Automatic hardware design tool for Web programmers mille-feuille-What is an automatic circuit diagram generation tool?

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concept

The mille-feuille board is an automatic schematic generation tool for web programmers. Web programmers can quickly and easily create hardware prototypes and circuit diagram generation for mass production. If you have a circuit diagram, you can make a board for mass production, or you can incorporate it into a robot as an original board. No hardware knowledge or soldering required! No user programming hard! If programmers can also make hardware, the range of manufacturing will expand further.

Design flow using Millefeuille board

This is the flow until the original board is made using Millefeuille.

Step1: Prototype using Millefeuille Step2: Generate schematic and firmware using automatic schematic generation tool Step3: Do the artwork and ask the board manufacturer ☆ Completion of the original board!

Millefeuille can only be done up to Step 2. The generated circuit diagram can also be used as a specification sheet.

Step: 1 Prototype

First, let's make a prototype using Millefeuille. Millefeuille can be used by stacking or connecting Raspberry Pis, baseboards, module boards, flexible cables, and device boards.

Millefeuille is equipped with an automatic wiring function. Millefeuille recognizes what device is plugged in by simply stacking connectors, and automatically wires the work that was normally wired to the breadboard, device, and Raspberry Pi. There is no hassle of wiring work. Currently, it is possible to connect and control two device boards at the same time.

Automatic wiring function

Addresses are assigned to each device board. When you connect the module to the device board with a flexible cable, the module can read the address of the device board and access it programmatically. Millefeuille automatically determines how to wire the program executed by the user, and automatically wires it via the digital switch group.

Library

All the difficult controls on the device are in the library, so the user can read the sensor values or run the motor by simply calling a simple function such as read ().

Step: 2 Automatic generation of circuit diagram and firmware

Generate a circuit diagram and firmware based on the device configuration prototyped in Step 1. The schematic and firmware generated here do not include wiring data related to Millefeuille, such as the automatic wiring function. It will generate the same schematic and firmware as if you had manually wired it as before.

Schematic and firmware automatic generation function

First, extract the circuit configuration data from Millefeuille. When you execute “detect.py” from Python, the circuit configurations connected to Millefeuille are put together and one file is created. Uploading that file to the server will only generate the original schematic and the firmware for that wiring.

Import to Eagle CAD

The generated schematic is an Eagle CAD script. When you execute the script, the circuit will be written automatically.

Step: 3 Ordering artwork and boards

From here, it is the work to make the original board, which is not possible with Millefeuille. It is possible to place an order with a board shop using only the circuit diagram.

artwork

When the circuit diagram is completed, I will do the artwork according to the board size I want to make. If you do your own artwork, guide lines on how to wire are displayed for each part, so arrange the parts according to the board. If you are not confident in your artwork, use Eagle CAD's auto router (automatic artwork function) or ask a vendor or friend.

Gerber output and ordering

In order to create a board, Gerber data, which is the data for processing the board with a machine, is required. You can output Gerber data and parts list from Eagle CAD after artwork. If you give the data to the board shop, you can have them make your own board. It's easier if you're a vendor who can even mount parts.

I would like to update the information of vendors such as board shops as needed.

Program migration

Transfer the program prototyped in Step: 1 to the original board. Replace the wiring firmware generated in Step: 2 with the firmware in Step: 1. By doing this work, it will be replaced with the one without the wiring data of Millefeuille, and programs other than the wiring data can be used on the original board.

Operation check of the original board

Be sure to check the operation when the original board is completed. Depending on the artwork, the board may have problems such as noise. Just like a program, think that it doesn't always work once.

Bonus small lot mass production

There are various methods for mass production, but basically it is cheaper to place a large order with a vendor. It would be convenient to leave it to a vendor who can handle everything from artwork to operation check. If you do not understand how the generated circuit works, it is safer to produce in small lots until you get used to the circuit.