There are DNF positions on the Envision Board for users to extend the capability with Ethernet, SD card and a joystick. The User Guide details these with a set of part numbers and they are tracked up to pins on the MCU so it should just be a case of getting the parts needed and soldering them on. Some will need the LCD removing to do so which whilst, apparently, not difficult has not been made as simple as really it ought to be given this need. As part of my road test I am (was) intending to use the SD card so I have been looking to get the part, which led me to check on the other parts’ availability as well. I normally acquire parts from UK.Farnell, CPC.Farnell, RS Components, Mouser and Digikey. My preference is that Mouser and Digikey are last resort as they ship from the US - I’m in the UK. I have not checked Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, Banggood etc as I don’t trust those sources.
These are my results:
| Item | Manufacturer | Manufacturer Part Number | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| SD/ MMC Connector, SMD | Amphenol | 101-00565-64101-00565-64 | Obsolete part, no longer available. It is an unusual pin configuration, 13+2, so I can’t find a direct replacement. It may be possible to get a smaller pin-count part and solder it off-board with wires to the relevant pads but I haven’t looked into that. |
| Power Management IC, SOIC8 | Intersil | ISL61861BIBZ | Only available from Mouser so ships from the US and thus extremely expensive (and not very environmentally friendly) |
| Ethernet Connector, SMD | Pulse | J3011G21DNL | Only available from Mouser, or UK.Farnell as a US ship, so again financially and environmentally expensive |
| RMII Ethernet Transceiver, QFN24 | Microchip | LAN8720A | Readily available. The 24-QFN package is a bit of a pain to solder but it would seem that this particular part doesn't come in any other package |
5-switch Joystick, SMD | ALPS | SKQUDBE010SKQUDBE010 | Obsolete part, no longer available. I didn’t look to find if an alternative existed. |
So, I won’t be using the SD card in my road test. I shall ask on the Forum and see if anyone has identified alternatives for any of these parts.
Summary Thoughts
For an evaluation kit they really ought to make changes to the board to bring it up to date with market-wide readily available parts. This is pretty poor given that the board was made available in September 2017 and is still in mass production status.
Further Entries
I will update this entry to provide links to further instalments as I create them:
Part Three: Development Software
Part Four A: Brief note on Smart Configurator
Part Four B: Brief note on User Fit Parts (this post)
Part Four C: Segger emWin Introduction
Part Four D: Removal of the LCD
Part Four E: Analog to Digital Conversion
Part Five: Static Setup of the GUI
Part Six: Getting the Display Working
Part Seven: USB/Serial Interface
Also, worth reading Jan Crump's road test as he's taking a more technical approach.
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