Microreader

Description

This is tiny device, powered by single Li-Ion cell, only allowing user to browse directory of files, select particular text file and read it. Two buttons are used to move cursor up/down in directory or to scroll displayed file up and down, middle button is to open/close file. When connected to PC, Li-Ion cell starts to charge (this is terminaed when completed) and device enumerates as mass storage device (USB disk drive), so user can copy thie files here. It works on Win/Linux/Mac with no drivers or any software needed.
You can have shopping list, cheat sheet in here, or use it as the most unusable e-book reader.

Project Logs

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Microreader 2.0
jaromir.sukuba • 05/21/2016 at 17:05 • 1 comment

Time flies. The last update of this project is from 2014 - while the original microreader is functional, I decided to take another try and implement some ideas gathered from community here and under blog entry here. I like the openspritz idea, see also here. To help with key-less text scrolling, or with openspritz speed adjust, I added accelerometer on board.
The original 1206 inductor in OLED DC/DC converter was changed for inductor with lower height and lower resistance, so it will not protrude that much from board (lower total height) and the power efficiency should go up.
I made minor modifications to original board, to fix bugs from 1.0 version. The pinheader (2.0mm pitch) is just temporary for firmware debugging.
Accelerometer is tested and running, I'll try to port old source files to it.
Microreader is dead, long live Microreader 2
jaromir.sukuba • 07/03/2014 at 07:05 • 0 comments

D'oh... my original Microreader is... lost.
I can't physically find it in my home workshop. Don't know whether somebody borrowed it or what, but I simply can't find it anymore. Maybe it is somehow related to exceptionally high level of entropy in my workshop (read as "mess") and the fact that microreader is really tiny. If it would be half a meter long, it would be easier to find. Not that I need it very much, but I wanted to attach accelerometer to it and try porting openspritz to it.
evermind. I designed new PCB with accelerometer included on it.
Don't get fooled by picture size - it is actually 42x14,8mm. It is two milimeters wider and one milimeter shorter than original Microreader and should be "embeddable" into 3D printed enclosure, unlinke first microreader, intended as designer's joke with bare PCB. I rectified some design flaws of first version too.
I expect PCB to arrive at the end of next week, key components are already here.
Github for Microreader created
jaromir.sukuba • 06/25/2014 at 14:48 • 0 comments

As a lot of people requested source code for this, I created github repository - https://github.com/jaromir-sukuba/Microreader
Enjoy.
New version on the way
jaromir.sukuba • 06/12/2014 at 11:37 • 0 comments

Seems like a lot of people are following this project, so I decided to make Microreader mark 2. I won't change its functionality very much, to keep spirit of small and simple device, but will definitely design new PCB and 3D printable case. Barebones PCB is not very useful for real use.
So, stay tuned.

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Discussions

PixelDud wrote 10/21/2019 at 18:41

Would it be possible to add a bookmark system for the documents?

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Bartosz wrote 03/13/2017 at 18:23

Please ad mesh LOra or .... CC1101 ;-)

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[deleted]

[this comment has been deleted]

jaromir.sukuba wrote 04/11/2016 at 14:33

no, it doesn't. spamming random projects is not a good way to get more views/likes

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Graham Toal wrote 03/27/2016 at 20:59

If you could find a way to make it secure, it would be nice to use as a password safe that you always have with you.

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Joseph99 wrote 03/02/2016 at 03:28

This would be a great pen attachment! Think how much easier it would be to copy things by hand if instead of constantly looking back and forth, you had this right on the side of your pen. Also by the way, I really like this simply because it's a useless testament to the hackery skills of the owner rather than for any reason an electronics outsider might find for this. If you understand what I mean.

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Mohsen Abbasi wrote 01/20/2015 at 23:07

I am able to help you by making a case for it (mabbasi.de)
But .. the really best usage is with connecting to an App which push massages and other contents like ths shopping lists and ToDo lists from the smartphones and tablets. When you get it ready, I can hep you more.

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Michele Gruppioni wrote 08/06/2014 at 22:22

Great for Copy at the exam during school

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dwHacks wrote 07/03/2014 at 03:42

Totally in for version two!

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Ron wrote 07/01/2014 at 21:40

WOW your own electronic note pad

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jaromir.sukuba wrote 06/14/2014 at 23:17

Thanks for pointing it out. The openspritz is rather interesting and it's algorithm doesn't look very complicated.
I feel like it should be feasible to do with microreader.

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killercatfish wrote 06/14/2014 at 18:43

http://www.spritzinc.com/

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Aleksandar Bradic wrote 06/14/2014 at 23:01

Microreader + https://github.com/Miserlou/OpenSpritz => something quite useful

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tsiu wrote 04/29/2014 at 20:20

Hey, what MCU did you use? Soem more technical details ? ;)

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jaromir.sukuba wrote 04/30/2014 at 07:08

It's all in here http://jaromir.xf.cz/projs2/microreader/microreader.html but I can rewrite it here, for sake of completness.

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DigiGram wrote 03/22/2014 at 20:59

I had an idea yesterday while struggling to remember an equation in the rain on an oil rig... What if a device like this could be made to read Latex files? And then water and blast proofed... Is that even possible? I guess reading Latex is just a matter of hard work, but can it be displayed on 96*32 pixels. Obviously plain text equations will work too, but who wants to use ((ID^2)-(OD^2))/1029.4*ft if you can have it neatly formatted.

I know your goals was just to make it tiny, but I really want to build one and make it usefull for me, because it's just plain awesome

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jaromir.sukuba wrote 03/22/2014 at 21:22

Well, writing Latex parser (or at least some subset of Latex commands) for such small MCU could be maybe possible, but really pain in the ass.
I feel like better would be to make "latex grinder" PC tool, to preprocess the Latex files into some easily (for MCU in Microreader) digestible file, but the magic "load and go" would be lost.

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thatredbird wrote 03/21/2014 at 21:54

That is awesome, I was trying to figure out what to do with one of my old lcds. I never considered a tiny book reader. :)

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jaromir.sukuba wrote 03/22/2014 at 21:26

Yes, go, do that and share your results.
Making homemade consumer electronics may look stupid and worthless (one could buy ebook reader for 20 bucks, thats less than price of components for Microreader), but it has added value in your experience and what more - unique device in your hands. That's what I call geek status symbol.

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DigiGram wrote 03/18/2014 at 20:13

mmm I can't think of anywhere I need a text reader this small that my phone can't stand in for, BUT it's so cool, I will NEED to think of a use!! Maybe as a slow ebook reader on those flights that make you turn off all electronics...

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jaromir.sukuba wrote 03/20/2014 at 13:12

Thank you. As I wrote before - it is not very practical device, I just set up some goal to myself (reader as small as possible) and tried to reach it.

Any decent phone or ebook reader is way better than this. And less suspicious on a plane ;-)

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Microreader

Description

Project Logs

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Microreader 2.0

Microreader is dead, long live Microreader 2

Github for Microreader created

New version on the way

Discussions

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