Tibbo Technology Inc.

Tibbo Project System (TPS) from Tibbo Technology: “Take what you need. Leave out what you don’t.”

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 06:37:03 -0500

Tibbo Project System (TPS) is a highly configurable, affordable, and innovative automation platform. It is ideal for home, building, warehouse, and production floor automation projects, as well as data collection, distributed control, industrial computing, and device connectivity applications.

Suppliers of traditional “control boxes” (embedded computers, PLCs, remote automation and I/O products, etc.) typically offer a wide variety of models differing in their I/O capabilities. Four serial ports and six relays. Two serial ports and eight relays. One serial port, four relays, and two sensor inputs. These lists go on and on, yet never seem to contain just the right mix of I/O functions you are looking for.

Rather than offering a large number of models, Tibbo Technology takes a different approach: Our Tibbo Project System (TPS) utilizes Tibbits® – miniature electronic blocks that implement specific I/O functions. Need three RS232 ports? Plug in exactly three RS232 Tibbits! Need two relays? Use a relay Tibbit. This module-based approach saves you money by allowing you to precisely define the features you want in your automation controller.

Here is a closer look at the process of building a custom Tibbo Project System.

Start with a Tibbo Project PCB (TPP)

A Tibbo Project PCB is the foundation of TPS devices.

Available in two sizes – medium and large – each board carries a CPU, memory, an Ethernet port, power input for +5V regulated power, and a number of sockets for Tibbit Modules and Connectors.

Add Tibbit® Blocks

Tibbits (as in “Tibbo Bits”) are blocks of prepackaged I/O functionality housed in brightly colored rectangular shells. Tibbits are subdivided into Modules and Connectors.

Want an ADC? There is a Tibbit Module for this. 24V power supply? Got that! RS232/422/485 port? We have this, and many other Modules, too.

Same goes for Tibbit Connectors. DB9 Tibbit? Check. Terminal block? Check. Infrared receiver/transmitter? Got it. Temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors? On the list of available Tibbits, too.

Assemble into a Tibbo Project Box (TPB)

Most projects require an enclosure. Designing one is a tough job. Making it beautiful is even tougher, and may also be prohibitively expensive. Finding or making the right housing is a perennial obstacle to completing low-volume and hobbyist projects.

Strangely, suppliers of popular platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and BeagleBone do not bother with providing any enclosures, and available third-party offerings are primitive and flimsy.

Tibbo understands enclosure struggles and here is our solution: Your Tibbo Project System can optionally be ordered with a Tibbo Project Box (TPB) kit.

The ingenious feature of the TPB is that its top and bottom walls are formed by Tibbit Connectors. This eliminates a huge problem of any low-volume production operation – the necessity to drill holes and openings in an off-the-shelf enclosure.

The result is a neat, professionally looking housing every time, even for projects with the production quantity of one.

Like boards, our enclosures are available in two sizes – medium and large. Medium-size project boxes can be ordered in the LCD/keypad version, thus allowing you to design solutions incorporating a user interface.

Unique Online Configurator

To simplify the process of planning your TPS we have created an Online Configurator.

Configurator allows you to select the Tibbo Project Board (TPP), “insert” Tibbit Modules and Connectors into the board’s sockets, and specify additional options. These include choosing whether or not you wish to add a Tibbo Project Box (TPB) enclosure, LCD and keypad, DIN rail mounting kit, and so on. You can choose to have your system shipped fully assembled or as a parts kit.

Configurator makes sure you specify a valid system by watching out for errors. For example, it verifies that the total power consumption of your future TPS device does not exceed available power budget. Configurator also checks the placement of Tibbits, ensuring that there are no mistakes in their arrangement.

Completed configurations can be immediately ordered from our online store. You can opt to keep each configuration private, share it with other registered users, or make it public for everyone to see.

Develop your application

Like all programmable Tibbo hardware, Tibbo Project System devices are powered by Tibbo OS (TiOS).

Use our free Tibbo IDE (TIDE) software to create and debug sophisticated automation applications in Tibbo BASIC, Tibbo C, or a combination of the two languages.

To learn more about the Tibbo Project System please visit http://tibbo.com/tps.html. TPS parts, as well as complete systems can be ordered from our online store (http://tibbo.com/store/tps.html).

Announcing Tibbo IDE 5 with C Support Greetings, folks! I have...

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 05:27:01 -0400

Announcing Tibbo IDE 5 with C Support

Greetings, folks!

I have great news. After a substantial development effort we have released the Tibbo IDE 5 software featuring our new Tibbo C compiler.

Now you can design applications in Tibbo BASIC, Tibbo C, or both languages. That’s right! It is possible to combine BASIC and C in one project. Tibbo BASIC and C can call each other’s procedures (functions) and share variables. This opens up some interesting possibilities. For example, you can code your app in C while utilizing a library written in BASIC!

Given the importance of this new release, I have personally rewritten the Guide section of our Programming Manual. It is now easier to read, contains a lot of new information, and explains everything you need to know about TIDE, TiOS, Tibbo BASIC, and Tibbo C. Importantly, the Manual achieves all that in less text than before!

Less text = less reading = coding sooner

So go ahead, download new TIDE (and the corresponding V3.60 firmware) and take our development platform for a spin.

Dmitry Slepov,
Managing Director and Co-Founder,
Tibbo Technology, Inc.

P.S. If you have any suggestions or comments regarding TIDE, documentation, or any other Tibbo product please do not hesitate to drop me a line at dima@tibbo.com. I am always happy to hear your thoughts.

The EM1001 is here, folks! Great price. EM1000 compatibility....

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 22:14:33 -0500

The EM1001 is here, folks! Great price. EM1000 compatibility. Doesn’t require a host board to plug into: the EM1001 is the host board. Great for low-volume production devices and hobbyist projects alike.

WDL+TPS @ ATX Midwest in Chicago, Illinois

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 21:26:00 -0400

Our USA distributor, WDL Systems, will be attending the ATX Midwest in Chicago, Illinois (Oct. 15 & 16).

They will also be offering show-floor-only special price on the TPS2L Starter Kit, don’t miss this chance!

Below are images from the just ended North Carolina ATX show.

Here’s a video of how the Tibbit #17 is controlling a LED...

Thu, 15 May 2014 03:35:00 -0400

Here’s a video of how the Tibbit #17 is controlling a LED strip, pretty colors!

New Tibbits offer PWMs, ADCs, UART, and more

Wed, 14 May 2014 00:32:59 -0400

We’ve just released these new Tibbits:

#16: Three PWM channels with open collector outputs
#17: Three PWM channels with power outputs
#31: PIC co-processor TIbbit with 3 PWMs, 4 ADCs, I/O, UART

All three Tibbits are controlled through the I2C interface and based on the PIC16F1824 microcontroller. We have developed a universal PIC firmware called General Register Access (GRA). This firmware can be used to access and work with internal PIC’s peripherals, RAM, and flash. You can use the GRA firmware as is, modify it in any way you like, or develop your own PIC application.

Reference Tibbo Basic projects are published here: http://tibbo.com/basic/resources/i2c_tibbits.html.

Related projects are:

test_tibbits_17_17_31_(PIC copro) – a Tibbo BASIC test app
update_pic_firmware – for uploading new firmware into Tibbits 16,17,31
GRA – source code for the PIC micro itself

VSPDL Updated!

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 03:42:46 -0400

It’s been a while since the last update and with Linux kernel advancing as always, we felt it was time to make sure that our VSPDL will work on the new distros.

The newly released VSPDL 1.48 has been tested to work on 3.8 ~ 3.12 kernels, you can grab it from here on our official website.

When DS1101, Serial Camera and Android come together

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:43:41 -0400

Our partner in Israel, IDP, came up with another interesting use of DS1101. Connected is a RS232 camera which is controlled through Android application, static images are sent back from the camera and additional controls are managed in the Android application.

New Tibbits released

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 01:35:49 -0400

Folks, the following Tibbits are now available:

#12: +/-15V power supply
#13: Four-channel ADC with -10V ~ +10V range
#14: Four-channel DAC with -10V ~ +10V range
#28: Ambient light sensor
#29: Ambient temperature meter
#30: Ambient humidity meter
#35: Barometric pressure sensor
#36: 3-axis accelerometer

All these Tibbits are controlled through an I2C interface. Reference Tibbo Basic projects are published here: http://tibbo.com/basic/resources/i2c_tibbits.html.

Official Tibbo Project System app is now available

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 00:42:00 -0500

We’ve just released a demo application for our Tibbo Project System devices. The application allows you to control the I/O lines and serial ports of TPP2 and TPP3 boards.

A very simple set of hardware is minimally required for the tests, yet the application itself is sufficient for working with various Tibbits such as relays, sensor inputs, and so on.

The application demonstrates how to control your TPS system via the DS Manager utility, through the web interface, and the AggreGate Server. The Demo also supports the LCD and keypad of TPS2L devices.

http://tibbo.com/basic/resources/tps_official.html

TPS is gaining more exposure!

Wed, 29 Jan 2014 01:26:07 -0500

Yesterday, we had a post about our Greek distributor pushing forward with our Tibbo Project System and today we bring to you RFDesign, a company out of Cape Town, South Africa which believe in our new system so much that they had placed an advertisement in the November issue of EngineerIT, which you can checkout on their online magazine section.

We are very excited with all the positive feedback that we have had since product launch and we appreciate all the ideas and feedback that will help the Tibbo Project System to evolve and expand.

TPS in Greek

Tue, 28 Jan 2014 03:04:10 -0500

Elnetron, our Greek distributor is running on full power to present their local market with our new Tibbo Project System.

You can download their product overview in Greek language here or visit their website for more information.

Controlling Tibbo devices via Android

Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:12:00 -0500

As smart mobile devices are playing a larger part in our everyday life, integration with other devices is an inevitability.

Our distributor in Israel, IDP, is starting a new service for their customer, Android based control application which can be custom designed to work with various products that were designed based around Tibbo’s hardware.

Customers can designate what type of Android based device they wish to run the application, from smart phones to tablets and how the user interface looks.

Below are two images of their “lighting control application”, one from a tablet and the other from a smart phone.

Also, you can download the APK from their site.

Controlling-3M-dehumidifier-with-Tibbo-Project-Sys/

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:59:23 -0500

We recently published a dehumidifier hacking instructable based on our Tibbo Project System. Read it here:

www.instructables.com/id/Controlling-3M-dehumidifier-with-Tibbo-Project-Sys/

Tibbits + Tibbo Project PCB + Tibbo Project Box = Your Unique Automation Device

Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:31:00 -0500

Take what you need, leave out what you don’t!

This is the slogan for the new Tibbo Project System (TPS) featuring Tibbit™ I/O modules. Traditional approach to satisfying varying needs of automation projects was in offering long lists of product models… Four relays and eight inputs. Six relays and six inputs. Eight relays, 2 inputs, and a serial port, etc. The list goes on and on, yet may still fail to offer a product that will fit the customer’s needs exactly. Realizing that no two automation projects are alike, we at Tibbo chose to walk a different path.

First, We Created Tibbits™

Tibbits (as in “Tibbo Bits”) are blocks of prepackaged I/O functionality housed in color-coded plastic shells. Want an ADC? There is a Tibbit for this. 5V power supply? Got that! RS232/422/485 port? PoE? PWM? We have these, and many other Tibbits, too. Tibbits are divided into Tibbit modules and Tibbit connectors.

Next, We Made BASIC-programmable Tibbo Project PCBs (TPPs) Each TPP can accommodate multiple Tibbit modules and connectors. Only bare essentials are provided on each boards: There is a CPU, an Ethernet port, and a very simple power supply. The rest of the board’s functionality is defined by what Tibbits you plug in. There are several TPP “sizes” that differ in the number of Tibbits they can accommodate. As most Tibbo products, TPPs are programmable in a language called Tibbo BASIC. This easy to learn programming language is particularly suited for control, automation, and networking applications. Tibbo BASIC is complemented by a rich set of programming objects. There are objects for socket (TCP, UDP, HTTP) and serial communications, Wi-Fi, GPRS, file data storage, LCD and keypad control, and many other functions. Tibbo BASIC applications are created using our free Tibbo IDE software (TIDE). This software features a built-in debugger allowing you to upload your Tibbo BASIC application onto the TPP board and cross-debug it through the Ethernet LAN without the aid of any special debugging hardware (such as a JTAG board or an ICE machine).

We Continued With Tibbo Project Box (TPB) Enclosure Kits

Not merely an enclosure for your TPP and Tibbits, a Tibbo Project Box adds an aesthetic touch to your automation projects. The top and bottom walls of an assembled Project Box are formed by two rows of connector Tibbits installed on a TPP. The front cover of the Box is made of translucent plastic that allows you to see the status LEDs of Tibbit modules installed inside. The front panel also accommodates paper inserts similar to those found on office telephones. The inserts are meant for marking wires and ports of your TPS-based automation device.

We Topped it All Off With an Online Project Configurator

To aid our users in the evaluation and creation of TPS-based automation products we designed an online configurator. Name your project, select the TPP board, place required Tibbits, and the Configurator will notify you of potential problems and even calculate the projected power consumption. Validated configurations can be immediately ordered at our online store and optionally shared with Tibbo user community.

Useful links:

Tibbo Project System information: http://tibbo.com/tps

Access to Online Configurator: http://tibbo.com/buy/tps/tpc.html

Tibbo IDE software: http://tibbo.com/tide

This press released was published by…

Industrial Ethernet Book

embedded.dapj.com/

Drives and Controls Magazine

Sensors Magazine

World Industrial Reporter

Slashdot

New TIDE, Device Explorer released

Mon, 13 Jan 2014 03:55:19 -0500

From Twitter: New TIDE, Device Explorer improve device discovery/handling on PCs with multiple network interfaces (especially notebooks): http://tibbo.com/tide

Previously our Device Explorer wasn’t very good at handling multiple network interfaces of your PC (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, virtual interfaces, etc. etc.). The emphasis was on using the “default” interface, whatever Device Explorer thought it to be. As a result, you might be able to discover (“see”) the device in the Explorer’s window but, weirdly, not able to communicate with it (debug, upload, buzz, etc.).

The new version of Device Explorer always “iterates” through all available network interfaces when attempting to communicate with the target device. This is done for all Device Explorer commands (buzz, reboot, change MAC, upload, etc.) and also for debugging commands sent by TIDE.

As a result, both TIDE and Device Explorer are now much better at reaching Tibbo devices even under constantly changing circumstances. As an example, you might discover and set the target device through the Ethernet interface, then unplug the Ethernet cable, get on Wi-Fi, and still be able to communicate with this target device*.

Kudos to Stuart Berkun for leading us to the realization that Device Explorer needed the interface handling upgrade!

* Provided that Ethernet and Wi-Fi connect you to the same LAN segment.

EM1000 in a DIY project (BPM counter)

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 03:22:51 -0400

EM1000 in a DIY project (BPM counter):

Mike from Mike’s Lab has posted a new video for his DIY project on the Beats-per-minute counter with full source code for download. This is just the start, more fun projects are on the way!

Our Indian distributor & long time partner, Theta Sales...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 20:53:28 -0500

Our Indian distributor & long time partner, Theta Sales & Services, participated at the EFY Expo in Delhi on Feb 21-23, 2013. EFY Expo is the largest electronic expo in India and we are happy to see our products being showcased there.

DS10X5 Console for Remote IO Application

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:45:02 -0500

PT RFID from Indonesia has created a console software to interface with the Remote IO application that is shipped with the DS10X5.

The console software allows for easy control of the relay on the DS10x5 by simply entering the IP and relay status code.

Usage:

TibboDS10X5Console.exe –ip [DS10X5 IP Number] –port [Relay Port Number] –state [0/1]

ex. TibboDS10X5Console.exe –ip 192.168.1.200 –port 1 –state 1 – turn ON relay 1

ex. TibboDS10X5Console.exe –ip 192.168.1.200 –port 1 –state 0 – turn OFF relay 1

Photo

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 01:13:00 -0500