Repurposing a Cree Connected Bulb chip for other IoT apps

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What if you could use your smart lightbulb’s MCU for another IoT application? Turns out, you can. 

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As the Internet of Things seemingly finds its place under our roofs, one of the many brands helping to lead the way is Cree, who recently debuted its new sub-$15 line of Internet-enabled bulbs. Unlike others on the market today, the new 60-watt replacement LED lights are compatible with both Wink and ZigBee-certified hubs, and with a super affordable price, are looking to spur more widespread adoption. Users simply sync their iOS or Android device with the bulb to to trigger a number of settings: dim or brighten, schedule, and remotely turn them for an added layer of security.

While many homeowners will outfit their homes with smart lights, what if the chip embedded inside the Cree Connected Bulb could be used for other IoT applications as well? That’s what John McAlpine set out to discover, and upon breaking apart the bulb, found out that you can indeed.

The Maker’s teardown revealed a small board, which featured a ZigBee radio module along with an Atmel | SMART ATSAMR21E ARM Cortex-M0+based MCU that communicates over the radio to a Quirky Wink hub. With just 3V of power, McAlpine was able to command anything he wanted with PWM output. Watch the video below for a quick demo and pinout of the module.

“You can dig deeper into the hack, write your own controls for it — or, you make use of the apps already available for it — but regardless, this could be a very cheap way of adding in some reliable smart controls to your home,” Hackaday’s James Hobson writes.

Great find, Hackaday! Interested in learning more about the bulb itself? You can do so here.

Nexus 6 teardown reveals Atmel MXT640T inside

Hailed as the iPhone 6’s brother from an Android mother, the time for Google’s Nexus 6 has arrived. As soon as the crew over at iFixit got their hands on the new device, which was developed in collaboration with Motorola, we knew what came next! The team dismantled the recently-unveiled phablet to offer a closer glimpse at its insides.

(Source: iFixit)

Catering to consumers’ appetite for larger displays, Nexus 6 boasts a 5.96-inch touchscreen and features a 2560 x 1440 AMOLED panel. in addition, it runs on Google’s new operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop, and will be available in both 32GB and 64GB models.

The teardown revealed that the phablet packs 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, a Snapdragon 805 SoC, various cellular components from Qualcomm, a 3220 mAh “non-removable” battery, as well as 13 MP rear-facing camera and a 2 MP front-facing camera.

(Source: iFixit)

After freeing the motherboard from the display assembly, iFixit spotted its lone IC: an Atmel MXT640T touchscreen controller.

(Source: iFixit)

And for those who frequently break or enjoy tearing apart their phones, you’re in luck. The flagship device received a repairability score of 7 out of 10. Interested in getting up close and personal with the Nexus 6? You can check out the entire step-by-step teardown here.

A look inside Xiaomi Mi4…

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi recently debuted its latest flagship smartphone, the Mi4. According to a teardown by the folks at GizmoChina, the newly-unveiled device is powered by Atmel’s maXTouch mXT641T controller.

In terms of specs, the Mi4 comfortably holds its own with other competing devices, boasting a 5-inch full-HD screen, a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 901 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, 16GB or 64GB of internal memory and runs on a 3080 mAh battery. For the first-time ever, the company has also chosen to add a touch of metal — SAE 304 stainless steel — to the phone’s frame, along with a slightly curved plastic back cover. The device will also run Xiaomi’s custom MIUI operating system.

After recently reaching 26.1 million smartphones in the first half of 2014, Xiaomi continues to build momentum throughout the industry with an expansion outside of Greater China into Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and India.

As far as pricing is concerned, the Mi4 will be available for approximately USD $322 for the entry-level 16GB model, while the 64GB version will cost around USD $403. Though the 3G versions are slated to go on sale as early as July 29th (China Unicom), those seeking the 4G version will have to wait until September. Xiaomi hasn’t said when the phone will be available outside of China, however.

According to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, the Mi4 will be “the fastest smartphone in the world.” Additional key Mi4 smartphone features include:

o   Gloved touch and moisture immunity

o   2.63mm slim edge

o   Patented palm-rejection feature on edge

This isn’t the first time Xiaomi has embedded Atmel into its touch devices. Back in October, the smartphone maker selected the XT540S controller to power the 5-inch touchscreen of the Mi3.

To get an up close and personal look inside the Mi4, you’ll find the entire teardown here.

Interested in learning more about our maXTouch technology? You can check out Atmel’s maXTouch portfolio.

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 teardown reveals…

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 is a Surface-series Windows 8.1 tablet. Making its initial debut in May 2014, the first models began shipping on June 20, 2014.

The Surface Pro 3 features a 4th generation Intel Core processor, 12-inch display, multi-stage kickstand, redesigned type cover and a battery-powered Bluetooth pen.

Recently, the iFixit crew conducted a detailed teardown of Microsoft’s latest tablet, finding Atmel’s AT24C16 two-wire serial EEPROM, as well as Atmel’s UC256L3U 256KB Flash, 32-bit AVR microcontroller.

Interested in learning more about Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3? You can check out the tablet’s official product page here and iFixit’s full teardown here.

Readers may also want to check out some other recent teardowns featuring Atmel components, including the Narrative, Xiaomi MiPad and the Black & Decker Gyro screwdriver.

Adafruit Narrative teardown reveals AT91SAM9G25

The Narrative Clip is a tiny, automatic 5 megapixel camera paired with an app that offers users access to a “photographic memory” which is both searchable and shareable.

Weighing in at 20 grams (0.7 oz) and measuring 36x36x9 mm (1.42×1.42×0.35 inches), Narrative boasts a storage capacity of 4,000 pictures and a two-day battery life. The device also features a double-tap function to more easily capture images, automatic sleep upon being placed face down, a specially coded companion smartphone app (iOS/Android) and cloud storage options.

Recently, the Adafruit crew conducted a detailed teardown of the device — confirming it is indeed powered by Atmel’s AT91SAM9G25 ARM-based microprocessor (MPU).

Additional confirmed specs include:

• SanDisk SDIN7DU2-8G Flash card
• Linear LTC3557 USB power manager with Li-Ion charger and three step-down regulators
• ST LIS3DH 3-axis accelerometer
• CellGuide ACLYS GPS module
• TI LC07A hex level shifter
• 125mAh lipoly battery

Interested in learning more about the $279 Narrative? You can check out the product’s official page here.