Extreme low power in an extreme location
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Tim Moffat
The PSU on the device is based around the MCP1640 when running off batteries. ...
DWenn
I've been to the factory (in Chandler) in february and it really is pleasent at ...
Darren takes a detour to Arizona
Darren Wenn
9/17/2010 1:58 PM EDT
This week was spent at the annual Worldwide Microchip MASTERs Technical Conference. This curtailed my training a bit, but I still managed to hit the gym a few times. It would be nice to have gone for a run, but Arizona in the summer is not the best place for that. I sometimes wonder why so many semiconductor companies base themselves in the middle of a desert; I think it might be down to all the free sand!
Microchip holds the MASTERs event to help embedded engineers learn techniques and technology that will help them in their next designs. I find this a really stimulating event—it is great to talk to so many engineers from different fields and learn what they’re working on next. We tend to ban the ‘sales guys’ from the event, so the engineers really get to concentrate on the hardware and software.
I spent the week presenting on Real-time Operating Systems, something that many customers are considering for their next designs to help them integrate large, complicated software libraries. The particular one we used was FreeRTOS, as it is a popular product and runs really well on the 32-bit Microchip PIC32 microcontrollers used in the lesson. My students spent four hours learning how to build an audio player using standard libraries. It plays audio files from a USB stick, while generating a waveform display and a real-time FFT of the sound data.
The Board From My MASTERs Class
Collecting the Device & Flag for My Climb
For me, the other major event at MASTERs was the collection of my tracking device, along with a little send-off ceremony with the CEO of Microchip, Steve Sanghi. If we fail to get either device to the summit, Steve offered to take it another time... I may have to hold him to this!
Tim Moffat and I Had a Flag-Signing Ceremony With Microchip’s CEO
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Jimelectr
9/20/2010 12:41 AM EDT
Neat stuff, although quite a bit out of my field (RF/microwave). Best of luck to you, Darren, as you make your way up Kilimanjaro! Hopefully it's not as hot as Arridzona. I understand from a former Moto engineer that Motorola SPS (I assume Freescale Semi now) commissioned a study as to which color automobile became the hottest in the AZ sun. Black exterior had the highest temperature. Surprising to me that black interior wouldn't be the worst. I refuse to drive a vehicle, even in relatively mild coastal So. Cal. where I live, with a black interior because of the heat factor.
I've also heard from a TI engineer that when he moved from California to Texas his colleagues asked him if he'd had his welcoming event yet. When he asked what that meant, they said, "Oh, you'll know when it happens." Not long afterward, his rear-view mirror dropped off his windshield due to the heat melting the adhesive. Evidently the Texans, and probably the Arizonans, too, have to buy special high-temperature epoxy to keep their rear-view mirrors attached. I say if that's the case, get a clue; the place is not suitable for human habitation!
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DWenn
9/21/2010 12:38 PM EDT
Yep I agree, it's definitely hot in Arizona. Coming from the cool climate of England, my first time in Phoenix (some 6 years ago now) was a real shock 115F. It definitely stops you wanting to go outside for a walk. The only saving grace is that Arizonans have air conditioning 'and aren't afraid to use it'... so i now always take a jumper for the indoor classes!
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Jason.Tollefson
9/23/2010 6:17 PM EDT
When I moved to Arizona, they told me that ovens are dry heat too! What kind of power supply is being used for the device and how where you sure it would survive the temperatures you would see on the mountain?
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Tim Moffat
10/7/2010 12:16 PM EDT
The PSU on the device is based around the MCP1640 when running off batteries. When running off USB power it is based on the MCP1703. Both power supplies are designed to operate down to -40 degrees. Which is well below the -11 degrees celsius that Chris felt.
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Frank Eory
9/23/2010 6:46 PM EDT
I think this is really awesome that Microchip is doing this and I hope they get a lot of mileage out of the publicity.
Meanwhile, we here in Arizona are beginning that time of year when we remember why we choose to live here!
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DWenn
9/28/2010 7:43 AM EDT
I've been to the factory (in Chandler) in february and it really is pleasent at that time of year (although the natives are then dressed in fur coats because they claim it is soooo cold! :-)
I don't think we (Microchip) are blatantly doing this for publicity reasons, it genuinely started out as an interesting experiment in building stuff for tough environments, maybe Frank you could build a data logger and take it up to the Canyon for a few days hiking, I imagine that you would see some interesting extremes of temperature especially once you drop over the edge and down into the valley.
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