impFactory
The impFactory™ is Electric Imp’s recommended factory BlinkUp™ fixture. This off-the-shelf factory appliance allows your assembly line to instruct production devices to run your factory firmware. It does this by sending the factory WiFi credentials and a factory enrollment token to each production device’s on-board imp module optically via an LED.
Operation
To use an impFactory, you use BlinkUp to add the fixture to your Electric Imp account; you develop factory firmware for it; you assign the impFactory as a factory imp; and you use it to configure production devices as they are manufactured. The impFactory is a great option for all imp-enabled products going to manufacturing because it can be purchased directly and includes many useful features:
- Front-panel button for triggering factory BlinkUp.
- Front-panel BlinkUp emitter status indicator.
- LCD and keypad to provide options for more complex tests and/or operator interaction.
- Front-panel red and green LEDs can be used to display test Pass/Fail information.
- Rear Panel:
- Mini USB for power.
- RS232 serial port allows the impFactory to drive other assembly line equipment, such as a label printer.
- Foot switch port allows an external switch to be used as a BlinkUp trigger.
- LED port to drive assembly line factory BlinkUp emitter
- Ethernet port for wired networking — WiFi also supported.
- USB A port for USB host.
- Photosensor for impFactory configuration by BlinkUp.
- impFactory BlinkUp status LED.