At the top of my priority list is Daves new SPY converter board. The new converter board has a different Step down IC and sports a uP to provide additional features. The raw board is now at revision4 and is in final testing phase with Dave. We are having a tough time getting the uP and I am all out to make more than the one proto.
The next job in the R&D lab is another uP based controller to provide a simple UI with control from the rear push button switch (toggling power). It will use a simplier uP than the one that is in Daves project. I can't disclose much more detail on this project and what it will be driving...
Next is another uP based project to provide low battery detection for a customer. No other details can be provided.
A new Step down converter (Son Of Downboy SOB) is in the works that will phase out the DB converter board. It will be 0.55" compatible, Sandwich compatible and be more effiicient and should be less prone to failure than the current DB. There will still be two sense resistors and the formula for the resistors will remain the same. I have one proto soldered up and it looks good so far. I need to do characterization of the board, but, I think it will not need any further tweeks. It will be able to handle 1.5A to the LED safely.
A breakout board/panel for the fixed lighting is in the works. This will be revision three. It fits in a standard electrical box. Input is raw 12V and it has 4 fused outputs to feed a fixed lighting system. It has reverse battery protection, main fuse, individual output fuses and has a solid state relay with a an external control input. A photo sensor can be hooked up to the control input to switch the outputs on when it gets dark.
A new LED board that will be made out of flex material to be ultra thin will allow mounting Luxeon emitters on it and the flex can then be glued to reflowed onto a heat sink. The center pad is via'd to the bottom which is solid copper. If the slug is not neutral special attention is required to isolate the center pad.
TBD: Spin the DBx2 to the SOBx2 to improve efficiency and provide the new benefits of the SOB converter board.
TBD: A low cost converter for a customer. (assembled < $1.00)
-Wayne