CircuitGlue Simplifies Electronic Component Connections

Problem

Circuit prototyping can be a time-consuming and frustrating process, especially when dealing with heterogeneous electronic components that have different voltage levels, interface types, communication protocols, and pinouts. This often requires the use of multiple converter boards or custom wiring solutions, which can be expensive and error-prone. Additionally, people new to electronics may find it difficult to navigate the complexities of circuit design and assembly. To address these challenges, we developed CircuitGlue, an electronic converter board that simplifies the process of interconnecting electronic components. However, we needed to ensure that CircuitGlue was user-friendly and could support a wide range of connections.

Solution

We designed CircuitGlue as an eight-pin programmable header board that allows for easy interconnection of various electronic components. Each pin on the header is configurable through software to support power, ground, analog signals, and various digital protocols at different voltages. This makes off-the-shelf electronic components instantly compatible with CircuitGlue regardless of their interface type or pinout. To ensure user-friendliness for those new to electronics, we conducted a preliminary user study evaluating the usability of CircuitGlue. We found that users were able to quickly learn how to use the board and were able to prototype circuits more efficiently than with traditional methods.

Impact

• Reduced circuit prototyping time by X%

• Eliminated need for multiple converter boards or custom wiring solutions

Quote of how incredible of an impact this had.

Team

• Team Member #1 - Electrical Engineer

  • Designed and developed the CircuitGlue board

  • Conducted preliminary user study

• Team Member #2 - Software Engineer

  • Developed software for configuring pin assignments on the board

  • Implemented compatibility with various digital protocols and voltage levels