This Arduino-based device notifies you of an external IP address change

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Maker uses Arduino with an Ethernet shield to send you an email whenever your external IP address changes. 

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A Maker by the name of “Bayres” has devised a pretty slick project using an Arduino with an Ethernet shield that is capable of obtaining an external IP address of your Internet connection and then notifying you of any changes by email.

The idea was first conceived after his father bought a video camera system to remotely monitor their rural property. Unfortunately, given the area, the only reasonable Internet connection that he was able to get was DSL. As you can imagine, the service wasn’t too stable which caused the external IP address to fluctuate quite frequently. Once this happened, there was no way to know what the address was changed to and no way to access the camera system unless he had local access to the network.

“I looked into DDNS services but most require a client running on a PC 24/7. This is undesirable because of power consumption and if the power goes out, which occurs frequently, the PC will shut off,” Bayres explains.

The Maker’s solution to the problem consisted of using an Atmel based Arduino with an Ethernet shield to acquire the web connection’s external IP address and monitor it periodically. In the event that it were to vary, an email is sent via SMTP, indicating the new IP address. Bayres decided to add a shell that was accessible via the Arduino’s Serial port, thereby letting a user enter their own parameters that are then stored in the board’s EEPROM. From there, the Arduino starts and enters the setup() function.

“The serial port is initialized then the existing parameters are read from the EEPROM and copied into string variables. Since the parameters vary in length the starting address for each parameter in EEPROM is dynamic. To address this, the first seven bytes of EEPROM contain the length of each parameter. The length of each parameter is first read out of EEPROM. Then the start address of each parameter is calculated and stored in RAM so the Arduino know what portion of EEPROM each parameter occupies.”

The program compares the current and previous values. Should there be any disparity between the two, it uses the Sendmail() function to establish a connection with the SMTP server and send an email alert. Once the message is sent, the connection to the SMTP server is severed.

Meanwhile, the system includes a small LCD as well, which is attached to the Arduino and driven by a 74HC595 shift register, that displays the current IP address output. This also makes it super easy for a user to check up on the connection. To enable this, the Maker turned to the Textfinder Arduino library that was tasked with searching through the returned string and identifying the address.

Intrigued? Head over to the project’s official page to learn more.

Drag & drop programming with Pepino

The recently unveiled Project Pepino is a comprehensive drag and drop development environment for Makers.

Created by Tovi Levis, the open source Pepino comprises both a hardware platform and software layer.

On the hardware side, Pepino boasts a custom-designed board powered by Atmel’s popular ATmega328 microcontroller (MCU).

Additional key hardware specs include:

• 8 digital inputs/outputs
• 4 LEGO sensors
• 2 analog inputs
• 2 Motors
• I2C Bus
• LCD Display
• 3D Printed Case

Meanwhile, the software environment is hosted on a Raspberry Pi (model B) that connects to the Atmel-powered board.

Levis says he created Pepino as a final project for his degree at the Afeka College of Engineering in Israel, with source code and installation instructions expected to go live at some point in the near future.

Although additional details are still scarce at this point, you can check out Project Pepino’s official page here.

AT91SAM9X35 powers SBC with touchscreen display

Premier Farnell has launched the EDM6070AR-01, a fully-integrated embedded display module (EDM) that pairs an ARM9-based single board computer (SBC) with a 7” LCD and touch-screen assembly. According to Premier Farnell CTO David Shen, the multi-function embedded EDM is powered by Atmel’s  AT91SAM9X35 industrial microprocessor (MPU).

“The EDM6070AR-01, designed as an all-in-one solution, is ideally suited for a variety of embedded control HMI (human machine interface) applications including industrial control terminals, intelligent instruments, medical products, network terminals as well as data acquisition and analysis,” he explained.

“The module has a plate with display, connectors and place for the Mini6935 module with ARM microcontroller.”

The module also includes a pre-loaded Smart-Home demo app with an intuitive smart-LED controller that allows users to set independent light levels in each room, regulate temperature and humidity, play streamed audio files and manage surveillance cameras.

Aside from Atmel’s ARM-based MPU, key EDM6070AR-01 specs include:

• 128MB DDR2 SDRAM
• 256MB NAND Flash
• 4MB Data Flash
• 24-bit TFT LCD module, 7” (800 x 480, 24-bit color depth)
• four-wire resistive touch-screen
• SD card interface
• Power supply: +12V@1.25A

On the software side, the EDM6070AR-01 is packaged with Linux BSP, offering support for Linux QT GUI (Graphical User Interface) and multiple file systems such as FAT and NTFS. 

As noted above, the SBC is also supplied with a Smart Home demo app and a number of example applications for developers.

The EDM6070AR-01 is available for $179 with the 7” LCD, although a standalone CPU module can be picked up for $69. Both are live on Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in APAC.

Atmel’s maXTouch T hits next-gen smartphone and phablet markets

Atmel has expanded its popular maXTouch T lineup of touchscreen controllers with the mXT640T, mXT336T and mXT224T. The new devices offer a comprehensive set of features, supporting next-gen mobile devices such as smartphones, phablets and mid-size tablets with touchscreens ranging from 3.2”-8.3.”

Key touch features include 1mm passive stylus and maXStylus (active stylus), hover capability, moisture immunity and multi-finger glove support.

“Essentially, these devices build on Atmel’s success of its single-chip maXTouch T series products for large-screen applications – mXT2952T and mXT1664T – which were launched in the second quarter,” an Atmel engineering rep explained.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the T series deftly incorporates Atmel’s Adaptive Sensing technology to enable dynamic touch classification – automatically and intelligently switching between self- and mutual-capacitance sensing. This provides users with a seamless transition between a finger touch, hover, passive/active stylus or glove touch. Meaning, users no longer have to manually enable “glove mode” in the operating system to differentiate between hover and glove.

Adaptive Sensing also helps significantly reduces the power consumption of a device, thereby extending battery life. Meanwhile, the analog front-end is equipped with advanced and flexible settings to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) prior to digital processing – eliminating signal distortions induced by water and noisy chargers.

“The new T Series enables superior touch performance with single-layer sensors as compared to the most recently announced solutions. Simply put, the latest devices will enable Atmel to extend its industry leadership in the large-screen market to the smartphone and phablet spaces,” said the engineering rep. “In fact, we are already working with a range of ITO and LCD manufacturers to support various stack-ups such as OGS, G1, GF and On-Cell which are targeted for production early next year. Plus, Atmel has begun sampling the new T Series devices with a number of OEMs who have provided positive feedback about the new touch products and their performance.”

Designing the future of touch with Atmel

Atmel CEO Steve Laub probably put it best when he told the Wall Street Transcript that touch is generally considered to be the preferred method for current-gen consumers to interface and interact with electronic devices.

“For the last three years, [Atmel has] been the world’s leading provider of mobile touch solutions, so our technology and products are changing the way people use and interact with electronic [devices],” Mr. Laub explained. “Our technology is also changing how they view the world and the ability to interact with the world.”

Indeed, Atmel has achieved a number of impressive milestones in the touch space over the last 6 months including:

XSense: A high-performance, highly flexible touch sensor which allows engineers to design devices with curved surfaces and even add functionality along product edges. Atmel is now positioned to ramp volume production for this revolutionary new tech.

Facilitating an uber-thin wireless touch interface: Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) developed an uber-thin wireless touch interface. The flexible interface, measuring less than 0.5 mm thick, turns any area into a touch surface for mobile devices and even desktops. To create the ultra-thin wireless touch surface, CSR partnered with Atmel and Conductive Inkjet Technology (CIT). More specifically, the device uses Atmel’s touch silicon tech to sense multiple contact points on a surface – and is therefore capable of offering a full touch surface or power optimized key detection.

Expanding the maXTouch auto lineup: In July, Atmel rolled out a new maXTouch family to facilitate single-layer shieldless designs in automotive center stacks, navigation systems, radio interfaces and rear seat entertainment platforms. The mXT336S is optimized for 7-inch touchscreens, while the mXT224S targets smaller touchscreens and tablets.

Powering the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini’s touchscreen: Samsung selected Atmel’s maXTouch mXT336S controller to power the touchscreen of its Galaxy S4 Mini.

Powering Samsung’s Galaxy S4: The Galaxy S4 is fitted with Atmel’s sensor hub management MCU (microcontroller unit) which collects and processes data from all connected sensors in real-time, optimizing multiple user experiences, such as gaming, navigation and virtual reality. In addition, the sensor hub MCU lowers the overall system power consumption via picoPower technology to prevent drain and enable longer battery life.

Driving Asus touchscreens: Asus selected Atmel’s mXT2952T and mXT1664T controllers to drive the touchscreens of multiple new tablets and Ultrabooks – including the Zenbook Infinity which is based on Intel’s Haswell processor.

Enabling ‘in-cell’ touch for custom LCD designs: AndersDX introduced In-Cell Touch technology custom liquid crystal display (LCD) installations targeted at low- to high-volume consumer manufacturing. Instead of a touch sensor bonded onto the LCD display, each In-Cell touch key is embedded directly into the LCD cell. The LCD ITO pattern is then designed to match individual touch key symbols. An Atmel Q Touch sensor IC integrated into the display electronics controls up to four touch keys per application.

Outdoors with Ocular: Atmel’s maXTouch S trekked to the great outdoors with Ocular LCD’s PCAP touch panels. Designed specifically for outdoor and marine applications, these Crystal Touch panels are non-birefringent and immune to false touches caused by water spray and droplets.

Atmel tech enables ‘in-cell’ touch for custom LCD designs

The London-based andersDX has introduced In-Cell Touch technology custom liquid crystal display (LCD) installations targeted at low- to high-volume consumer manufacturing.

Embedded into a segment display, the technology differentiates a product user interface (UI), all while adding technical and commercial benefits.

Meaning, instead of a touch sensor bonded onto the LCD display, each In-Cell touch key is embedded directly into the LCD cell. The LCD ITO pattern is then designed to match individual touch key symbols.

An Atmel Q Touch sensor IC integrated into the display electronics controls up to four touch keys per application. As such, key detection is extremely accurate – an accuracy which is maintained through self-calibration and auto drift compensation. Indeed, the simple self-capacitance sensor design is capable of sensing through glass up to 10 mm thick, or plastic of up to 5 mm. It operates from 1.8 to 5.5VDC.

With no external touch sensor, full optical transmissivity is preserved, while the display module is thinner, lighter and easier to integrate. Hardened glass renders the display as a fully robust and reliable product, whilst the touch buttons or keys activate with no pressure, giving users a desirable, PCAP type touch experience.

“[The] application example featured [above depicts] a heating controller with Temperature Up and Temperature Down arrows, achieved without external buttons or a full bonded sensor,” an andersDX rep explained. “Other applications include consumer, instrumentation and control panels.”

New Hardware Kits for Evaluating and Prototyping with Flash Microcontrollers

You now have a new tool available to evaluate, prototype and develop with Atmel® Flash microcontrollers. The new Atmel Xplained Pro hardware kits are easy to use, extensible and low in cost. With an Xplained Pro kit it only takes minutes to run your first program on the microcontroller. Just connect the kit to your PC with a USB cable and the Atmel Studio 6.1 integrated development platform immediately recognizes the boards. , Click a button to program the MCU with a ready-made application example based on Atmel Software Framework and you are set to execute and single step through the first lines of C code.

Need additional software tools?  Just download extensions for the Studio 6 IDP from the Atmel Gallery online apps store.

Need additional hardware?  The Xplained Pro boards are standardized designs of microcontroller boards, with extension boards providing additional capabilities like displays or breadboarding. With this combination, you can create a system to evaluate new Atmel AVR® and ARM® processor-based devices in the context of your targeted applications.

The following boards are now available:

• SAM4L Xplained Pro
  • Cortex-M4 based Atmel SAM4L4 MCU with 256kB Flash
  • SAM4S Xplained Pro
    • Cortex-M4 based Atmel SAM4SD32 MCU with 2MB Flash
    • ATMEGA256RFR2 Xplained Pro
      • With AVR based ATMEGA256RFR2 MCU WITH LOW POWER 2.4GHZ TRANSCEIVER FOR IEEE 802.15.4
      • Segment LCD1 Xplained Pro extension board
      • OLED1 Xplained Pro extension board
      • IO1 Xplained Pro extension board
      • PROTO1 Xplained Pro extension board

These boards are available in the following kits:

• Evaluation kits, providing the MCU boards, priced at $39
• Starter kits, providing a bundle of a MCU board and extension boards, priced at $99 and up
• Extension kits, providing single extension boards

You can buy Xplained Pro kits through your Atmel distributor or online at store.atmel.com.

When you want to decide if the Atmel MCU is the right fit for your design, Xplained Pro kits are the fastest and easiest way for evaluation, prototyping and development.