Getting Started has Never Been Easier

Getting started on a new design is an exhilarating experience.  As a jumpstart, developers often grab a breadboard and prototype new features around a reference development board.

Our project this week reminds me of my days at Rice University in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department where we practiced this skill as we rushed to complete end of semester assignments.  The apps engineers at Octavo built a breadboard project, similar to those ECE lab boards, as a fun way to illustrate how easy it is to get started with our System-in-Package (SiP) devices. The project uses the new, low cost PocketBeagle® , featuring the OSD3358-512M-BSM, to build a cool retro arcade style game reminiscent of Whac-A-Mole*.  We created a the hackster.io project page to walk you through the steps and demonstrate just how easy it is to get started building projects using SiP technology.

Resources for Getting Started with OSD335x

PocketBeagle is just one of the many resources available for designers to get started with using System-In-Package Technology.  Working with the community and our partners we have created a number of excellent resources to help you kickstart your design.  From breadboarding a concept to full on board designs we have the resources you need to build your next project.   If we don’t then let us know what we can do to help you get started.

BeagleBoard.org Compatibility

If you are looking for a prototyping platform, several of the BeagleBoard.org open hardware Linux computers offer developers a low cost evaluation platform for the Octavo OSD335x family of devices. The BeagleBone Blue, BeagleBone Black Wireless and the new PocketBeagle each provide access to Octavo Systems System-In-Package technology.  Therefore, developers can start prototyping on a Linux system in a matter of minutes. Since the OSD335x family is BeagleBoard compatible, developers can have confidence that the software developed on BeagleBone® products carrying the OSD335x SiP will easily transition as a reference design. Developers can count on support from the large and active BeagleBoard community which they are already familiar.

OSD3358-SM-RED Development Platform

We have also developed the OSD3358-SM-RED platform which is the official Reference, Evaluation, and Development platform for the OSD335x-SM SiP family. The board showcases many of the peripherals of the OSD335x-SM, including Ethernet, 5 USB 2.0 ports, microHDMI, and two 46 pin expansion headers compatible with many existing expansion boards.  In addition, the OSD3358-SM-RED has a 16GB eMMC on board and a microSD card interface.  The board also includes some useful real-world sensors:  a 9-axis IMU that provides acceleration, gyroscope and magnetometer data; a barometer to provide altitude; and a multi-channel temperature sensor. All schematics and layouts are available.

OSD335x Reference Design Tutorial Series

As you move from the prototyping to product design phase, the Tutorial Series walks through designing with the OSD335x SiP in a systematic manner. Broken down into several lessons, each addresses a specific concept and builds upon the previous lessons. Developers can follow along to implement and verify concepts, from the most basic through the advanced topics. Most noteworthy, the final lesson develops a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in Eagle.

Lesson 1: Build the bare minimum circuitry required to boot the OSD335x without an operating system

More lessons are in the works, let us know what you’d like us to add.

Octavo Systems Forums

Finally, if you need any help, connect directly to Octavo Systems engineers and our growing community using our forums.  Ask questions, get answers, and exchange ideas.  Our forums provide a great opportunity for our team to engage with our customers.  We look forward to hearing from you.

*Editors note:  The Whac-A-Mole game trademark is owned by Bob’s Space Racers.  The term “Whac-a-mole” (or “Whack-a-mole”) is often used colloquially to denote a repetitious and futile task.  Our game is a reminder that you can eliminate repetitious and tedious layout tasks that add no value to your design, using an Octavo SiP.