This week at the desk, we tackled a huge stack of E-Ink displays. A couple of weeks ago, we focused on restocking the tricolor and grayscale 2.13" and 1.54" models. This time, we worked on the 2.9" version for the MagTag and explored some larger, very cool display options: https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_EPD/pull/86.

We got most of them working! A few were tricky—some had hot-bar connectors (so we designed an adapter), and one had a flipped connector with some lingering code issues. It'll get sorted out, just wasn't as plug-and-play as the rest.

We also started a new project to showcase the SynthIO library in CircuitPython—more on that soon!

Ladyada's diving into solar charging tech with the bq25798 MPPT charger ☀️, exploring IR sensors, drone-friendly compasses, and prepping for another big release ... but take it easy, take it slow ...baby steps

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(Re-broadcast, LIVE was not working for all social media on Sunday night, so here ya go!

This week at our desk, we spent a lot of our focused engineering time working on e-paper display drivers. These displays are a lot more annoying than TFTs, which have settled on standardized MIPI command sets. Also, they have custom "waveforms" used to configure the refresh technique. By default, we use the built-in waveforms from OTP memory, but it's possible to load new waveforms, letting us do funky stuff like coax 4-grayscale out of a "monochrome" display.

We also designed a simple moisture sensor PCB for an ultra-low-cost kit to be used by students—sometimes it's okay to under-design for cost reasons!

We’re finally recovering from being sick all week, so not a ton of new things this time — but hey, we still accomplished a few important updates:

Fruit Jam Rev C

The Fruit Jam PCBs (https://www.adafruit.com/product/6200) arrived and have been assembled! This is the final hardware revision: our hardware test covers all behaviors and everything works flawlessly now. That means we’re ready to book PCBs for the shop!

Sparkle Motion Mic Upgrade

We also did a revision on the Sparkle Motion mic board (https://www.adafruit.com/product/6100). After multiple attempts to improve microphone yield, we discovered that flux was clogging the mic hole and interfering with the diaphragm. The solution: flip the mic to the other side. Assembly is now a bit more complex and slightly more costly, but it’s still much better than reworking all the boards!

New Stepper Motor Driver Prototypes

The TMC2210 and TMC2240 stepper motor driver prototype boards (search: https://www.adafruit.com/search?q=stepper+motor+driver+breakout) arrived — we’re excited to test them soon!

PiTFT Board Revisions

We haven’t given up on boards delayed by parts shortage: the PiTFT 2.4″ (https://www.adafruit.com/product/2455) has been revised with the TSC2007 touch controller (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5423). Next up: redesigning the PiTFT 2.8″ and 3.2″ (search: https://www.adafruit.com/search?q=pitft) — they share essentially the same layout.

The Great Search: PoE Modules for Future W5500 Ethernet Breakout

We received several requests to update our Wiznet W5500 Ethernet breakout (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/wiznet/W5500/4425702, and our board here: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6348) with a PoE adapter — for a plug-and-play, all-in-one powered Ethernet solution. While you can DIY a PoE converter, you can also grab a ready-to-use module from DigiKey! We’re on the lookout for a suitable option — ideally one that outputs 3 V or 5 V, since those are supported by 99% of electronics. Here’s one candidate so far: https://www.digikey.com/short/hm7032c7

This week at the desk, we worked on getting more small hardware boards done.

We revised our 1.5" transparent OLED breakout (oops, pins were swapped), designed breakouts for sensors like the AS5600 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/ams-osram-usa-inc/AS5600-ASOM/8250257) and STHS34PF80 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/stmicroelectronics/STHS34PF80/13187390), and updated the NAU7802 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nuvoton-technology-corporation-of-america/NAU7802SGI/4929384) to have both ADC ports available.

We’re also working on another stepper motor driver, since the TMC2209 breakout (https://www.adafruit.com/product/6121) was a big hit.

We wrapped and sent out the Triple-output Active Shifting RGB Matrix Bonnet (https://blog.adafruit.com/2025/02/28/triple-matrix-bonnet-makes-big-bright-displays/).

Then we finally had a little time to get back into bigger projects, like Fruit Jam, which we re-picked-up! This week we focused on implementing the ESP32-C6 Wi-Fi co-processor, which needed a bit of rework, but now we've got rev C prototype PCBs on the way.

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Visit the Adafruit shop online - http://www.adafruit.com

LIVE CHAT IS HERE! http://adafru.it/discord

Subscribe to Adafruit on YouTube: http://adafru.it/subscribe

New tutorials on the Adafruit Learning System: http://learn.adafruit.com/

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This week at the desk, we worked on getting more small hardware boards done.

We revised our 1.5" transparent OLED breakout (oops, pins were swapped), designed breakouts for sensors like the AS5600 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/ams-osram-usa-inc/AS5600-ASOM/8250257) and STHS34PF80 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/stmicroelectronics/STHS34PF80/13187390), and updated the NAU7802 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nuvoton-technology-corporation-of-america/NAU7802SGI/4929384) to have both ADC ports available.

We’re also working on another stepper motor driver, since the TMC2209 breakout (https://www.adafruit.com/product/6121) was a big hit.

We wrapped and sent out the Triple-output Active Shifting RGB Matrix Bonnet (https://blog.adafruit.com/2025/02/28/triple-matrix-bonnet-makes-big-bright-displays/).

Then we finally had a little time to get back into bigger projects, like Fruit Jam, which we re-picked-up! This week we focused on implementing the ESP32-C6 Wi-Fi co-processor, which needed a bit of rework, but now we've got rev C prototype PCBs on the way.

-----------------------------------------

Visit the Adafruit shop online - http://www.adafruit.com

LIVE CHAT IS HERE! http://adafru.it/discord

Subscribe to Adafruit on YouTube: http://adafru.it/subscribe

New tutorials on the Adafruit Learning System: http://learn.adafruit.com/

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This week at the desk, we're working on getting more designs wrapped and out the door so we can keep a steady supply of new products into the shop.

First up is a TPS61169 constant current booster, designed to make driving nOOds easier—especially 12V or 24V ones, but also series-connected 3V filaments.

🔗 https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/TPS61169DCKR/5048578

🔗 https://www.adafruit.com/search?q=nOOds

Next, we got our BQ25798 MPPT battery charger prototypes in—they look good and didn’t explode when powered!

🔗 https://blog.adafruit.com/2025/05/15/eye-on-npi-ti-bq25798-i2c-controlled-1-to-4-cell-5-a-buck-boost-battery-charger-mppt-for-solar-panels-eyeonnpi-digikey-digikey-adafruit/

The same cannot be said for the LM73100—we think a Rev B with slew rate limiting and a proper voltage divider will help.

🔗 https://blog.adafruit.com/2025/05/08/the-lm73100-is-a-cute-ideal-diode/

Finally, we got a tip that the popular TPS61023 we use in many boards as a 5V 1A booster has a more powerful big sister, the TPS61033! We designed two boards using this chip for generating 5V at up to 2A.

🔗 https://www.adafruit.com/product/4654

🔗 https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/TPS610333DRLR/22106777

...

The Great Search – UV LEDs for Costuming

We recently got a request to make LED sequins with bright UV LEDs for costuming projects using UV-reactive paints and textiles. Also known as 'blacklight' paint or fabric, these dyes glow fluorescent when exposed to UV light.

🔗 https://www.digikey.com/short/bndtdnbr

🔗 https://www.adafruit.com/search?q=led+sequin

🔗 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet

However, not all UV LEDs will work! UV ranges from 100nm to 450nm, and some frequencies are used for curing or disinfection. For light effects, 365nm is the 'peak' frequency to look for. Let’s find a ~365nm SMT UV LED we can pick and place onto a small PCB for easy sewing. ✨🧵

This week at our desk, we've been working through a substantial pile of prototypes to prepare them for the shop. Several designs from a few weeks ago are now ready.

We tested the Ethernet breakout using the W5500 chip (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/wiznet/W5500/4425702), which required no firmware.

Additionally, we developed a driver for the STSPIN220 stepper motor driver (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/stmicroelectronics/STSPIN220/6137574) with Claude 4.

Our new designs this week include:

TPS61169 LED Booster: A high-efficiency LED driver (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/TPS61169DCKR/5048578).

SI4732 Radio Breakout: An AM-FM-SW-LW-SSB radio receiver module (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/skyworks-solutions-inc/SI4732-A10-GS/4576679).

This week at the Desk of Ladyada, we're getting back into the swing of releasing one or two new products a week after dealing with some tariff-related chaos. Last week we launched the Sparkle Motion Stick and the SEN6x Adapter. Next week, look out for the OPT4048.

For the OPT4048, we wanted to easily plot the CIE x & y to a color graph—which used to mean writing a lot of JavaScript (something I haven’t done in 15 years).

Thankfully, Claude helped generate code, and now it's up and running! Check it out. This week, we also designed breakouts for: ACS37800 30A Monitor, VEML6046, and a Stemma QT adapter for Raspberry Pi bq25798 Solar MPPT Charger.

And for this week's The Great Search – 30 Amp Barrier Terminal Blocks

We're back to designing more prototypes to get the product pump primed! Having lots of boards to work with means we can reliably get one or two shipping each week. To that end, here are some upcoming chips we've made breakouts for:

SLB9670VQ20FW785 (TPM chip): https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/infineon-technologies/SLB9670VQ20FW785XTMA1/11697680

INA237 (Power monitoring): https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/INA237AIDGSR/14004323

INA238 (High-speed current/voltage sensor): https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/texas-instruments/INA238AQDGSRQ1/14641449

STSPIN220 (Stepper motor driver): https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/stmicroelectronics/STSPIN220/6137574

LM73100 (Hot-swap controller): https://www.digikey.com/short/hfnzpwjq

SC16IS74x (UART to I²C/SPI bridge): https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nxp-usa-inc/SC16IS740IPW-128/1301043

We also tested out Codex as an alternative to Claude for code generation. One benefit is the option to select specific models. We tried o3 (which struggled) and o4-mini (which did okay), but Claude still leads for now.

Protos are pumping! We're designing breakouts for new chips + testing Codex vs Claude. Also: help us find a WM8960 replacement and maybe... should bring back the DIGG button kit?