| Date |
News |
| 17/10/2001 |
Yet another big silence. Almost 3 months! Don't worry, the MemoMulot project was set on 'idle' mode for a while but Vincent and I are back on it. |
| 31/7/2001 |
After two months of silence and suspense, the MemoMulot schematic is finally there! You can find it in the appropriate section. |
| 30/05/2001 |
Added enhencements proposed by Steffen Klupsch for the unidirectional, op-amp based interface. |
| 28/05/2001 |
This time I think the PCB is finished! Final size: 15cm2, used surface: 14cm2, components: 52 |
| 30/04/2001 |
The first PCBs were really bad: hole partially unplated, track width different on both sides and holes uncentered. Almost unsusable, but I have a solution! I recently found a PCB company that will make cheap professional prototypes. That means I can use professional layout too, which, in turns, means... more size reduction!!! YES: the PCB is now 16cm2!! :-)) |
| 17/04/2001 |
First PCB produced. See the MemoMulot page for details. |
| 12/04/2001 |
The first PCBs of the MemoMulot are in production! |
| 10/04/2001 |
New MemoMulot stuff: smaller PCB (-1cm2) |
| 9/04/2001 |
New MemoMulot stuff: smaller PCB (-20%: can you beleive this?!), more features... |
| 15/03/2001 |
For those who can't wait, I added a little view of the PCB of the MemoMulot |
| 14/03/2001 |
The PCB and schematic of our clone of the MemoMouse, the MemoMulot, are nearly completed! |
| 8/12/2000 |
Good news: a French guy (Vincent Daanen) and I started working SERIOUSLY on a clone of the MemoMouse(tm). We nearly have a schematic now, and it should cost under $40. It will be loaded with interresting features that even the MemoMouse(tm) does not have... |
| 8/12/2000 |
Sorry for the huge delay between updates... I was desparately waiting for my scope and now that I got it back I can restart working. |
| 8/12/2000 |
It appears 'I' lost several emails in September. If you sent me something and did not get any answer, please forgive me and send it again! |
| 23/08/2000 |
I took some days off and figured out why my Aladin locked: it receives info from the PC (good point) but the PC is not sending everything so the Aladin waits for that info forever. 'Got that problem everytime I try to write! Hopefully, there's a way to debug the locked Aladin: simply use a 5V PSU and connect it to the transfer port several times will unlock it. Easy! Now I have to find out why everything is not sent... |
| 10/08/2000 |
It appears this kind of problem (locking during data transmission) happens 'now and then' with Aladins. My dive shop Outremer fixed it by simply 'waking it up' with the memomouse. This can also be achieved with a bidirectional interface. Cost for fixing: $0. Time needed: 1 day. That's what I call a good aftermarket service! :-)) |
| 8/08/2000 |
Aaaaaauugh! My Aladin got very sick this WE: it locked in logbook mode, no switches working and it would not even go back to sleep mode! Very strange: it happened when I was not using the interface with it, as one would of course think. 'Hope it not dead, but anyway this means more delay when I was reaching the end. Darn, darn, darn... |
| 1/08/2000 |
The innner Aladin is not what I had expected so I have to redesign some things. I made a little circuit to generate an ENABLE signal from the incomming data. This signal will feed a Maxim circuit with enable capabilities which will replace T2. This will add one diod and one capacitor to the overall component count. |
| 17/07/2000 |
I have worked this WE to update some of the content. |
| 10/07/2000 |
There's a bug in the current design of the bidir. true-RS232 interface: the input port is set to -V at rest which means that +V is always sent to the Aladin. This cancels all signals!! I will change the 'write' signal to a swing of 0/-V instead of +V/0 and see if it looks better. |
| 30/06/2000 |
Added some FAQ's. |
| 29/06/2000 |
Added a little info concerning the unidirectional, op-amp based circuit: it doesn't seem to work with asymetric power. |
| 08/06/2000 |
The schematic has been posted (see download and bi-directional interface sections) |
| 30/05/2000 |
Yop, it works without the FET! Now that I have a nice working prototype, I'll have to post some stuff (schematic,pictures, PCBs, infos,... Auuugh!). I just asked Maxim for samples of 3.3V circuits; these should make the overall circuit more 'coherent' since everything from Aladin to PC will be 3V. |
| 29/05/2000 |
I've been thinking about the FETs all week-end, and it appeared that maybe they won't be used at all... Another thing: I have digged-up the Maxim CDROM and there a very interesting IC for power supply regulation. It would make the interface compatible with... 3.3V devices! |
| 26/05/2000 |
'Just ordered the FETs, these should be here Monday. Also, I added a (very) little FAQ and updated some pages. |
| 26/04/2000 |
No FET yet, but another interesting news. Maxim just released new SOT23-5 IC's for RS232 lines. Twice smaller than the IC I use. That will be for the next version! First I must get those damned FETs... |
| 14/04/2000 |
I have an awful time trying to get the damn missing FET. Maybe I'll have to do it through my lab. |
| 25/02/2000 |
Corrected some bugs in the site presentation |
| 16/02/2000 |
With one correction pending, I posted the first version of the schematic. At last! :-) See the interfaces and download sections. |
| 15/02/2000 |
Major site relooking |
| 15/02/2000 |
It seems to work pretty well. I'll just have to change a little bipolar transistor to a MOSFET and it will be OK. |
| 25/01/2000 |
Ok, I received the damned order. It was UPS fault after all. I built the prototype this WE and I'll test is ASAP. Stay tuned! |
| 18/01/2000 |
I did not receive my order from Farnell yet... but they maybe delivered it at the wrong address. 1 month instead of the 'guaranteed 'next day': not so cool... |
| 24/12/2000 |
I did not receive my order from Farnell yet, so instead I started to reshape this site. Ummmh, it looks cooler that way! But you will have to wait a little more to see it... |
| 17/12/1999 |
I bet you have noticed a new pic on this page! :-) |
| 14/12/1999 |
A new version (the last one?) of the PCB has been sent for grinding. I'll try it soon... |
| 09/11/1999 |
by popular request, I've added the netlist file for version 4. |
| 08/11/1999 |
Now I got my scope back, my lab in neat and clean and I'm back to work!! BTW, a little note to all of you (well, yes, there is a couple of guys reading this...): the interface is still in prototyping phase. |
| 19/10/1999 |
'got a replacement computer and installed my softwares and backups. I back to work! |
| 30/09/1999 |
I'm reshaping the look of this site: more infos on more interfaces, better presentation,... Coming soon! |
| 22/09/1999 |
My computer died a week ago (RIP). I'll have to wait some time until I can get back down to a new PCB... |
| 30/08/1999 |
Well, it looks like Maxim won't send me DIP samples of the MAX202 :-( . I'll have to make a new PCB for its SMD version. Yet another delay! |
| 16/08/1999 |
One half of the interface is working, but I burned the IC during the testing... I'm waiting for another sample to drop in my mailbox soon. |
| 09/08/1999 |
Added some images of the first prototype of version 4 (maybe long download time...). |
| 09/08/1999 |
Added a little picture of the prototype PCB of my own interface. |
| 09/08/1999 |
Added a Gerber file for the components placement of the old bidirectionnal interface. Note that the aperture file is changed so you will need to reload it to use the placement layer. |
| 05/08/1999 |
The first PCB prototype is under production. I don't post the Gerber files, since it was designed with some debug features you won't need. |
| 27/07/1999 |
I think I have found a suplier for the MultiContact plug for the connection of the Aladin. |
| 23/07/1999 |
Just received the IC's from Maxim. I only had to wait three days after my internet oder for samples to get them in my mailbox. Boy, those guys are fast! |
| 20/07/1999 |
Just a sneak preview of the features while waiting for the final schematics...
- full, true RS232 compatibility
- single 5V supply (more compatible with hand-helds and laptops). Future version might include signal-line powered interface.
- static discharges protected (15kV)
- long wires from Aladin to interface (like the original interface)
- very high input impedance (less signal distorsion and errors)
- same XXS size (3cm2 or 1/2 sq.inch)
- of course, low price (around 10 bucks)
|
| 17/07/1999 |
I nearly finished my interface schematic. The design will integrate lots of new features and it will be in some way better than the Uwatec interface (more compatible with the RS232 standard). I will use the MAX202ECSE from Maxim as interface circuit, if you're interested you can download the datasheet below. |
| 08/07/1999 |
The '4M7' problem contains a mistake. Consequently, it loses a lot of its impact. I added the idea of Malin Dixon, which is more plausible but lacks (as yet) to explain why it works with a 470k resistor. You can download the LM258/358 datasheet in the download section. |
| 06/07/1999 |
After some talks about the schematics with numerous people, I decided to make my own schematics: more reliable, more efficient, cheaper, smaller,... (I hope!). Stay tuned... |
| 01/07/1999 |
Added Farnell part list |
| 30/06/1999 |
French version available (click on the flag on the top of this page) |
| 25/06/1999 |
Joined the Ultimate Divers Webring |
| 23/06/1999 |
Added the NEWS section |
| 22/06/1999 |
Added the FAQ, small presentation changes and a 'Most Wanted Data' paragraph. |
| 20/06/1999 |
Added comments about the original schematic ('4M7' Problem). |
| 18/06/1999 |
A new version (v4) of the PCB can be downloaded |
