New Book Announcement:  

October 2009:  Programmers looking to add C# to their arsenal of languages should consider acquiring a copy of “C# 2008 and .NET Programming for Electronic Engineers” by John Allwork.

This new book covers the basics up through databases and internet programming, and is aimed at engineers and scientists wanting to learn about the .NET environment and C# programming. Developers interested in interfacing hardware to a PC will benefit from the section that covers hardware interfacing to analog and digital acquisition circuitry via the USB interface.

Visit the Elektor site for further details or to place your order:
EUROPE: www.elektor.com/products/books/programming/c-2008-and-.net-for-electronic-engineers.35.953067.lynkx

USA: www.elektor-usa.com/products/books/programming/c-2008-and-.net-for-electronic-engineers.35.953067.lynkx

New DLP Design Product Announcements:  

DLP-IO20 Data Acquisition Module

September 2009:  DLP Design, Inc. is pleased to announce the forthcoming DLP-IO20 20-Channel, data acquisition module.


Download the DLP-IO20 datasheet.

DLP-IO200 Data Acquisition Module

DLP-USB1232H High-Speed USB Adapter Modules

February 2009:  DLP Design, Inc. is pleased to announce the new DLP-USB1232H High-Speed, Single-Channel, USB-UART/FIFO module. Utilizing FTDI's 5th generation FT2232H silicon, this module is the latest in our miniature module lineup.

This module is available in a lead-free (RoHS compliant), compact 18-pin, 0.1-inch standard DIP footprint.

Download the DLP-USB1232H datasheet.

DLP-USB1232H High-Speed USB Adapter

DLP-USB232R and DLP-USB245R USB Adapter Modules

November 2008:  DLP Design, Inc. is pleased to announce the new DLP-USB232R USB-UART and DLP-USB245R USB-FIFO USB adapter modules. Utilizing FTDI's 4th generation FT232R and FT245R silicon, these modules are our smallest and lowest cost modules to date.

Both modules are available in a lead-free (RoHS compliant), compact 18-pin, 0.1-inch standard DIP footprint and offer the FTDIChip-ID™ permanent serial number.

Download the DLP-USB232R and DLP-USB245R datasheets.

DLP-USB232R and DLP-USB245R USB Adapters

DLP-RFID-LP8C 8-Channel RFID Reader/Writer

October 2008:  DLP Design, Inc. is pleased to announce the new DLP-RFID-LP8C 8-Channel RFID reader/writer based on the TI TRF7960 and MSP430 chipset. This product family has FCC/CE modular approval for use in the United States, Canada and Europe.

This new design features both USB and RS232 interfaces and implements the ISO 15693 and ISO14443 standards. All operational power is taken from the USB host interface port in USB mode, and via a separate power connector when in RS232 mode.

Up to 8 external antennas can be connected via reverse-polarity SMA connectors. DLP Design manufactures two types of antennas as shown below, and custom antenna sizes and shapes are also available. The DLP-RFID1-LP8C is approved for use with the antennas shown here.

The DLP-FANT ferrite-based antenna provides a compact footprint for space-constrained applications and provides up to a 1.25-inch read range. The DLP-FANT requires a coax cable with a reverse-polarity SMA connector at one end for connection to the DLP-RFID-LP8C reader. This coax cable is available in a 3-foot length from DLP Design under part number DLP-COAX1.

Download the Datasheet

DLP-RFID-LP8C 8-Channel RFID Reader/Writer

DLP-RFID-ANT with 15-foot cable DLP-FANT Ferrite Antenna

DLP Design DLP-UT1 and DLP-UTH8

October 2008:  DLP Design, Inc. is pleased to announce two new temperature/humidity acquisition products: the DLP-UT1 low-cost, temperature-only sensor and the DLP-UTH8 data hub.

DLP-UT1 USB Temperature Sensor

DLP-UTH8 Data Collection Hub

DLP-RFID-UHF1 RFID Reader/Writer

April 2008:  DLP Design, Inc. is pleased to announce the forthcoming DLP-RFID-UHF1 portable RFID reader/writer based on the new AS3990 integrated analog front-end and data-framing system from Austria Microsystems (www.austriamicrosystems.com).

This new design features a USB interface and implements a fully ISO 18000-6a/6b/6c-compliant EPC Class 1- Gen2 reader with all operational power taken from the host USB interface port. The small (3.3 x 2.3 x 0.8 inch) footprint with integrated antenna is perfect for desktop applications where cost, size and ease of use are primary considerations. The module can also be embedded within custom applications and communicate via a 5-pin header.

Read the press release by Austriamicrosystems here.

More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

New Product: USB "A" to 5-Pin Mini-B Retractable Cable

At only 4.5 inches (115mm) when collapsed and 46 inches (1.1m) when fully extended, this cable is perfect for use with laptops, in tight spaces or any application that requires a USB 1.1/2.0 compliant USB cable. The DLP-M5CBL is compatible with the DLP-RFID1, DLP-232PC, DLP-TILT, DLP-TXRX and FTDI UB232R.    

DLP-M5CBL

$9.95 Available Now!     (Check Inventory Level)

DLP Design Test Application

This developer's tool communicates with all FTDI devices using either the Virtual Com Port or DLL version of FTDI's drivers.  Simply connect an FTDI device to the USB port, load the drivers you want to use (VCP or DLL), and immediately start sending bytes of data to the target.  Any data returned from your target electronics is presented on the screen in a List Box and optionally logged to a data file.  This software runs under Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. -- Version 2.0r Released (11-26-07).

Current version of drivers:

CDM (Combined Driver Model version 2.6.0) Windows Drivers (updated 11-03-09) WHQL Certified (required for 64-bit systems -- FTDI default VID/PID values listed in the .inf files must be used in EEPROM)

CDM (Combined Driver Model version 2.6.0) Windows Drivers (updated 11-03-09) Modified .inf files for use with specific DLP Design products: DLP-FLASH,TH1,TILT,D,RFID1,UT1,UTH8 (NOTE1)

NOTE1: In order to use the listed DLP Design products on a 64-bit machine, the VID/PID values in the EEPROM area must first be changed to the FTDI default of 0403/xxxx so the WHQL Certified drivers will load. Use the MPROG utility (above) on a non-64bit machine to update the values in the EEPROM.

NOTE2: If an extra COM port is not available after installing the latest CDM driver, connect the USB device and open Control Panel > System > Device Manager. Right click on USB Serial Converter under USB Controllers and select Properties, then the Advanced tab. Check the box marked "Load VCP" then click OK. Unplug and re-plug the USB device and the COM port will be added. This method is also used to convert from the VCP drivers to the D2XX (DLL) drivers.

More FTDI Drivers

FTDI App Notes