Tom.DeVito 1.11.11

  • Experimented with some of the circuit simulators(spice, qucs, oregano).  Not a lot of luck finding a model database for the ICs we want to use.  It is possible that they exist but I only figured out that they are called models a couple minutes ago.  A little surprised that the manufactures don’t include this with their documentation, since it seems spice is a standard, but maybe they want you to burn out a couple chips before you get it right….  I am not quite sure how the models(text files) are built.  It may be possible to build it based of the data in the data sheet for the circuit.
  • We need to buy 8 * DS4420n found at https://shop.maxim-ic.com/storefront/priceavailable.do?Partnumber=DS4420N%2B&event=PartSearch&menuitem=PriceAndAvailability.  We only really need 5 but they are cheap, so its good to have extras in case some get burned out to avoid more shipping fees.
  • We also need http://www.i2ctools.com/products.html#USBtoI2C.  I think we should get the elite because the elite can talk directly to slave devices while the pro can only talk to master devices.  The DS4420n is a slave device so we would need some type of intermediary if we got the pro.  The elite also has a much fast bandwidth closer to usb which may be needed sometime.
  • Address for DS4420n are set by routing the a0 a1 a2 pins to either gnd of vcc.  gnd makes the bit 0 vcc makes the bit 1.