Are there users who need more static IO lines for driving leds or reading switches?

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A little market research here. We have from time to time seen users who want to had 5 or more lines of output for either LED indicators or some other fairly ‘slow’ signal. These users if they have a Sonar board they want to use have very few GPIO lines to use OR have trouble connecting to the signals on our connectors.

Do we have customers here on this forum that have a need for a bunch of static output lines for low current signals and/or want 4 more inputs to read something about their hardware?

Thanks,
Mark

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I will say that ‘unofficially’ we have two flavers of an MCB IO expander board in Beta phase at this time. The most flexible one which is the version 2 variety has these rough bullet point features:

  • 6 semi high current (24ma) 3.3V output on 2 jacks (thus suited for RGB common Anode leds if desired or anything else
  • 6 High current (300ma) high voltage (35V) open collector drivers for relays or lamps.
  • 4 inputs that could be low current signal only outputs in a pinch. These are ESD protected 3.3V.
  • Two of the 4 inputs have leds (one green, one yellow) but if desired can be also leds driven by this board (not inputs).

The version 1 variety that also exists in limited quantities is just like above except no relay drivers and thus has 12 3.3V at 20+ ma outputs (source or sink) and is ideal for driving up to 4 common anode RGB leds but the outputs could be for any 3.3v device of 20ma or so either polarity.

Send email to support@ubiquityrobotics.com and in subject say something with Attention Mark - Request information on MCB Io Expander Board

We do not have software driver support for these so you are on your own for I2C IO to drive these if you decide you need any of the above stated ability.

Each version has an experimental Accel/Gyro on it but that I must say is totally unsupported and not even loaded on these so you would be on your own and required to do some very intense surface mount loading operation to get that part of this board’s functionality thus I do not recommend that at this time for user who are not very skilled in super fine pitch SMT rework.

Cheers,
Mark

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