Abstract: A prototyping apparatus includes a housing, a microcontroller within the housing, a user interface on an exterior surface of the housing for interaction between a user and the microcontroller, and a first connector, exposed in a first slot in the housing, having a first plurality of pins for accepting a first external component. Via the user interface, the microcontroller presents a first plurality of configuration choices for the first plurality of pins, and accepts user selections from among the first plurality of choices. The prototyping apparatus may further include a second connector exposed in a first slot in the housing, having a second plurality of pins for accepting a second external component, in which case, via the user interface, the microcontroller presents a second plurality of configuration choices for the second plurality of pins, and accepts user selections from among the second plurality of configuration choices.

Abstract: A prototyping apparatus includes a housing, a connector on the housing for accepting a component, a microcontroller within the housing interacting with the component where the microcontroller has program memory, a user interface on an exterior surface of the housing for interaction between a user and the apparatus, a connection to a source of upgrade software, and programming circuitry within the housing for causing the microcontroller to enter an upgrade mode. The prototyping apparatus may further include a processor in communication with the microcontroller and the user interface, a device driver running on the processor for actuating the programming circuitry responsive to the command received through the user interface. The prototyping apparatus may include circuitry for generating a voltage that is higher than an operating voltage of the prototyping apparatus, and may further include level-shifting circuitry for shifting signals that are at the operating voltage to the higher voltage.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the power of an electronic reader device is provided. The system for controlling the power of an electronic reader device may comprise a computing apparatus that may receive a command from a host system to change the power state a power controller. The system may also comprise a computing apparatus that may adjust the power state of the power controller by using one or more registers. The system may further comprise a computing apparatus that may adjust the power of one or more power supplies. The system may additionally comprise a computing apparatus that may instruct a display controller to perform an operation based on the change of the power state of the power controller.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the power of an electronic reader device is provided. The system for controlling the power of an electronic reader device may comprise a computing apparatus that may receive a command from a host system to change the power state a power controller. The system may also comprise a computing apparatus that may adjust the power state of the power controller by using one or more registers. The system may further comprise a computing apparatus that may adjust the power of one or more power supplies. The system may additionally comprise a computing apparatus that may instruct a display controller to perform an operation based on the change of the power state of the power controller.