Tags
Hardware
Everything tagged “Hardware” across notes, resources, and Mochi logs.
NotesPCB Design
Net Classes and Trace Width: When Should a PCB Trace Be Wider?
A practical guide to PCB net classes and trace width for small boards: signal traces, 3V3, 5V, battery paths, ground, power vias, and a pre-Gerber checklist.
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NotesPCB Design
PCB Ground Planes: GND Is More Than a Net Name
A practical guide to PCB ground planes, return current, GND layout mistakes, stitching vias, decoupling paths, and copper pour checks.
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NotesHardware
What Is a MEMS Microphone? From a Silicon Diaphragm to ESP32 Audio
Learn how MEMS microphones work, how analog, PDM, and I2S outputs differ, and how to avoid PCB, power, and acoustic-port mistakes.
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NotesPCB Design
Choosing Capacitors for Electronics: Simple Part, Easy Mistake
A beginner guide to choosing capacitors for circuits: capacitance, voltage rating, decoupling, ceramic types, DC bias, and ESP32 values.
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NotesPCB Design
How to Hand-Solder SMD Components for Beginners
A beginner-friendly SMD soldering guide covering tools, easy parts, resistors, capacitors, multi-pin ICs, flux, hot air, and PCB inspection.
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NotesHardware
ESP32 Battery Power Design: From USB-C Charging to the 3.3V Rail
Review an ESP32-S3 battery power path from USB-C and TP4056 charging to protection, load sharing, 3.3V regulation, and load budget.
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NotesFirmware
Extending Battery Life in an ESP32 Robot with a Display
Analyze battery life for an ESP32 robot with a display: backlight, Wi-Fi, audio, peripherals, sleep modes, wake sources, and runtime.
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NotesPCB Design
A Practical PCB Review Checklist Before You Send It to Fab
A practical PCB review checklist before fabrication: schematic, ERC, footprints, clearance, power, antenna, USB pairs, silkscreen, Gerbers, and BOM.
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NotesHardware
ESP32-C3 or ESP32-S3: Which Chip for a Robot with a Screen and Audio?
Comparing ESP32-C3 and ESP32-S3 on GPIO, RAM, PSRAM, USB, I2S, and LVGL headroom, with a concrete recommendation for a basic Mochi build and a Mochi AI build.
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NotesPCB Design
Reading an Open-Source ESP32 Schematic Before Reusing It
An ESP32 TouchDown case study for reviewing an open-source schematic before reuse, covering power, reset, boot, USB, connectors, and tests.
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MochiEmbedded UI
LVGL and Mochi Robot: Building Emotional Interfaces for Embedded Devices - Part 1: The Power of LVGL in UI/UX Programming
How LVGL helps build emotional interfaces for Mochi Robot, including expressions, menus, battery status, and UI on small embedded displays.
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MochiHardware
LVGL and Mochi Robot: Building Emotional Interfaces for Embedded Devices - Part 2: Mochi & LVGL
Part 2 of the Mochi LVGL series, covering faces, expressions, battery status, connectivity, screens, components, and UI states.
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NotesEmbedded UI
What Is Embedded UI, And Why It Matters
What embedded UI means for small devices, why small screens have small budgets, and why it deserves attention as its own discipline.
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NotesFirmware
First Notes On Firmware For Embedded Products
Early principles for firmware on a small embedded product: scope, module boundaries, logging, and handling errors without guessing.
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NotesHardware
First Notes On Hardware Design For Small Products
Initial principles for designing hardware for a small product: scope, power, PCB layout, firmware, and debugging.
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