PSoC3 Custom Board - Prototype soon

Phillip and I added few more changes,and looks like its finally ready for prototype.
Heres a shot of the board:

 click the image for a full size version

Drop a line in the comments if youre interested in the latest PCB files. 

PSoC3 Custom Board - Almost ready!

After my tests,I've finally got a chance to devote some more time to this project,so heres the result:

 

 click the image for a full size version

 I would like to thank Phillip Radner for his help and contribution to the design.

Changes:
-Added the top layer copper fill,connected to the GND net,
-Added test points for all the important voltage levels on the board,
-Fixed the silkscreen and added the OSHW logo :)
-Ran the ERC and DRC,and fixed all errors that came up.I used the sparkfun DRU for that.
-Minor placement shifts and such.

I should probably add extra vias between the 2 layers.

Drop a line in the comments if youre interested in the latest PCB files.

PSoC3 Custom Board - More changes

 click the image for a full size version

Heres the latest view of the PCB.Many changes from the previous version,which I'll quickly list.
-Removed the external DC jack.
-Removed zero ohm resistors,and added solder jumpers(from SparkFun's eagle library).
-Added the ground plane,which is of the "GND" net.(GND net is the USB's ground,shorted with the VSSA and VDDA using a solder jumper.)
-Changed the type of USB connector,since I had a bad experience with a miniusb one.Too small to comfortably solder,with an thick iron like mine.

And yeah,I've decided on a name - "EzPSoC3".

I'm still waiting for confirmation from Cypress on the ground plane placement,but other than that,it seems ready :)

Drop a line in the comments if youre interested in the PCB files.

Part of the Day - Magnetic Reed Switch

A very simple and elegant non-contact switching mechanism,which can support currents upto 1.2A (but look into datasheets for part specific values).

The device consists of 2 ferromagnetic contacts,parallel and overhanging,encased in a glass case(much like diodes are.) They range in length from 2.0 inches long to as small as  0.025 inches long.When the device is in proximity of a magnet, the two ferrous contacts inside the switch pull together and the switch closes.So,not terribly great switching times(~1mS),but useful nonetheless.

Theres an app note and working description at Sparkfun,click here to read it.(PDF) They also have it in the catalog(here),and can be purchased for $1.50 a piece.

Common applications include sensors and alarms.They can also be used for checking orientation of various objects(which have some magnet attached,so proximity would turn on the switch) etc.

A very detailed writeup on them,at http://reed-switch-info.com/.

PSoC3 Custom Board - Second PCB

Many small changes and revisions later,I've got the 2nd version(Rev 5) of the PCB ready.
Changes include
-addition of a 3.3V Power regulator and a power level selection jumper.
-Ext DC Power Source connector.
-widened all power tracks to 40mils.
-shortened USB tracks,since long high speed tracks add noise.
-added a 5 pin power header(Vin,Gnd,Gnd,5 and 3.3V).
-added an external pullup to XRES,since the internal one is weak.
-fixed the header alignment.
-and a few other routing and placement errors.
Below is a board view:

and here it is rendered in 3D:

TODO:
-Work on the silkscreen
-Decide on the ground plane
-Make it production ready.(DRU)

Drop a line in the comments if youre interested in the PCB files.

PSoC3 Custom Board - First PCB

I've tried to adhere to the "rules" of mixed signal design,and the guidelines in the Datasheet,regarding decoupling capacitors.However,I'm not able to conclusively decide where the ground planes should be.(Since theres no "exclusive analog half" and "exclusive digital half".Its more like digital(USB part) then analog(VDDa and Port 1),then Digital again(remaining right half of the board)..
Below is a shot of the board with VDDa and VDDd highlighted,to show you the digital and analog sections of the board..

Drop a line in the comments if youre interested in the PCB files.

PSoC3 Custom Board - First Schematic

So,heres the first schematic.

click here for full size

A few points -
1.I've blatantly tied VDDd and VDDa together,at the VBUS of the USB port.I think I'll be changing that very soon.
2.Same for VSSd and VSSa.
3.Also,except for maybe a voltage regulator for the 3.3V level,I'll stick to this.
4.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

If youre interested in the PCB files,drop a line in the comments.