Description
This handy PWM and Servo driver shield will allow you to easily create multiple moving parts in your next project. It's just like the popular PWM/Servo Breakout but now Arduino-ready and works with any Arduino that uses shields: Uno, Leo, Mega, or ADK.
This chip will allow you to control 16 free-running PWM outputs using only two I2C pin. As well, it will allow stacking of up 62 shields to control up to 992 PWM outputs. Because I2C is a shared bus you can also connect other I2C devices and sensors to the SCL/SDA pins as long as their addresses don't conflict (this shield has address 0x40).
Other features include:
- 5V compliance, so that it can be controlled from a 3.3V Arduino and still safely drive up to 6V outputs
- Adjustable frequency PWM up to about 1.6 KHz
- 12-bit resolution for each output - for servos, that means about 4us resolution at 60Hz update rate
- Configurable push-pull or open-drain output
- Terminal block for power input (or you can use the 0.1" breakouts on the side)
- Reverse polarity protection on the terminal block input
- Green and red power-good LEDs
- 3 pin connectors in groups of 4 so you can plug in 16 servos at once (Servo plugs are slightly wider than 0.1" so you can only stack 4 next to each other on 0.1" header
- Stackable design. You'll need to pick up stacking headers and right angle 3x4 headers in order to stack on top of this shield without the servo connections getting in the way.
- A spot to place a big capacitor on the V+ line
- 220 ohm series resistors on all the output lines to protect them, and to make driving LEDs trivial
- Solder jumpers for the 6 address select pins
- A 5x20 proto area for any extra wiring
Servos and Arduino not included
- Dimensions (no headers or terminal block) 2.1" x 2.7" x 0.1" (54mm x 70mm x 3mm)
- This board/chip uses I2C 7-bit addresses between 0x60-0x80, selectable with jumpers.