A Memoto Hardware Update

A Memoto Hardware Update 1

We in the Memoto hardware design and production team have been very busy the last weeks with setting up the pre-series manufacturing of the Memoto camera and started ordering components for the first production batches, but we’d like to share some images and other status updates here now.

The important things first – the following image shows the first 4 Memoto cameras produced in the final form factor! In the image they are still in their PCB production panel (4×4 boards, in our case).

First Memoto PCB

 

Almost all the chips are on the front side displayed above, and it’s a really tight PCB. The connector to the left is the camera module connector, and the large chip above it is the Flash-memory. The GPS circuits and antenna can be seen in the lower right of the PCB.

We’re currently in the process of testing the various sub-systems on the PCB to make sure they behave like they should. In the following image, where you see the back-side of the PCB, we’re testing the USB connection and the USB-charging of the LiPo battery to the left, as well as the white LEDs to the right.

Charging leds

 

We’ve already uncovered some minor issues which will be fixed in the next pre-series PCB spin which will come back in a few of weeks, and then we’ll be able to finally wear the cameras all day.

The components for the first production series are starting to come in, as you can see in the image below. One big issue with mass-manufacturing of electronics like this is the logistics of components. Many suppliers have lead times of 10-12 weeks which means you have to plan far ahead, and this is one of the reasons we chose Kickstarter for our hardware production project.

Box of components

 

SEE ALSO:  Memoto's CEO to speak at the 2013 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society

That’s it for now, and we promise to increase the hardware-related updates a bit now that we have cool hardware to show!

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us on twitter and facebook! PS – Have you pre-ordered your Memoto Lifelogging Camera yet?

//Björn Wesén, Lead Hardware Engineer, Memoto

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