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| Parallax Forums > Public Forums > Propeller Chip > Single Board Computer RUNNING - Propeller ICs and TriBladeProp PCB | Forum Quick Jump
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|  Cluso99 We live onboard

       Date Joined Apr 2008 Total Posts : 4114 | Posted 3/10/2009 7:27 AM (GMT -7) |   | SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER USING PROPELLER ICs AND TRIBLADEPROP PCB
IT'S RUNNING 
8th April 2009: for details and photos see the thread...
Also see links to other threads in my signature for more details
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Thread renamed from "Propeller Based Single Board Computer on TriBladeProp" 22Mar2009
Well, we are nearly there...
The TriBladeProp has all the required hardware for a single board computer. It has 3 propellers on board (called Blades), plus connectors for VGA, TV, PS2 Keyboard, PS2 Mouse, microSD, and 2 Spin-Studio. Also on-board are Static RAMs, Flash and EEPROMs plus a built-in PropPlug and Power Supply (5V and 3V3) for an external plugpack (walwart?) 7-9V DC (center positive). The TriBladeProp has been designed for the hobbyist to assemble.
So, my concept here is to separate the "Processor", the "Terminal", and the other "I/O" into self-contained propellers. This is a relatively cheap and simple solution and the whole project is of course propeller based.
The TriBladeProp concept is...
* One prop/blade handles the "computing functions" with on-board external Static RAM and microSD card (PropDOS or emulation software such as the Z80 ZiCog)
* One prop/blade handles the "Terminal functions" VGA/TV/Keyboard/Mouse for a self-contained color (or graphics) terminal
* One prop/blade handles any extra "I/O functions" including 2 Spin-Studio connectors
* plus a serial interface to the PC (via the inbuilt or an external PropPlug or equivalent)
Software for the SBC (native Prop code)...
* PropDOS has been done by OBC so just needs to be tailored for the board
* A Prop Editor has been done by mpark and OBC
* Just need a native spin/pasm compiler and we are ready to put it all together
* Terminal software has been done thanks to OBC and others
Software for the SBC (various microcomputer emulations)...
* ZiCog (Z80 & CP/M) emulation by heater is almost ready to run
* PropAltair emulation by heater is almost or done
* Other emulations are work-in-progress
The TriBladeProp is not the only solution here. It is just one solution.
PCB & Schematics attached. Full Specification & BOM (Bill of Materials) attached to the post below.
12th March 2009: Photos of the first pcb and panel also attached to the post below.
Links to other interesting threads:
Post Edited (Cluso99) : 4/8/2009 11:15:28 AM GMT | | Back to Top | | |
 |  Oldbitcollector Propeller Powered

       Date Joined Mar 2007 Total Posts : 4328 | Posted 3/10/2009 8:52 AM (GMT -7) |   | | | |
   |  dossic Registered Member
        Date Joined Jan 2009 Total Posts : 14 | Posted 3/10/2009 10:54 AM (GMT -7) |   | Hi! I'm Carlo from Como, Italy
I am really fascinated by your project; unfortunately I do not have the ability (I've never do that, I'm a chemist dating back from '80 electronics)to solder SMD's.
Will it be possible to have the circuit board with all SMD's pre-soldered?
Thanks so much
Carlo | | Back to Top | | |
  |  Oldbitcollector Propeller Powered

       Date Joined Mar 2007 Total Posts : 4328 | Posted 3/10/2009 12:18 PM (GMT -7) |   | | | |
  |  Ale Registered Member

       Date Joined May 2007 Total Posts : 1534 | Posted 3/10/2009 1:13 PM (GMT -7) |   | Dossic, I'm getting 4 of those boards, they have few SMT parts, I can solder them for you and mail it to you. I'm in Freiburg, Germany. I'm also a chemist . I think Cluso can also do that for you, just ask him. Most parts are DIP, though. | | Back to Top | | |
     |  Tubular Registered Member

       Date Joined Feb 2008 Total Posts : 467 | Posted 3/10/2009 9:48 PM (GMT -7) |   | Exciting stuff Cluso99,
Dontronics have FT232RL's in stock. He'll happily sell you 1 or 100 and it should be quick and cheap enough just by aussie post. Glyn are another "local" option
tubular | | Back to Top | | |
  |  dossic Registered Member
        Date Joined Jan 2009 Total Posts : 14 | Posted 3/11/2009 8:45 AM (GMT -7) |   | Thanks Ale, I'll keep you informed. I was just so excited with Propeller that I was thinking, when I saw the presence of large SRAM, to use it to design an intelligent potentiostat. But time is the limiting factor, I have to face with all my burocratic and Academic duties.
Anyway, I am writing a simple software for controlling stepper, relays and so on aimed to chemist's needs. It's great to forget interrupts and using the power of the 8 processors. And, finally, I started enjoying OOP....
Thank to you all
Carlo | | Back to Top | | |
  |  SRLM Registered Member

       Date Joined Jul 2008 Total Posts : 2995 | Posted 3/12/2009 4:01 AM (GMT -7) |   | | Wow! Those look really nice. So, where do we send the check or paypal? I like the big lettering... | | Back to Top | | |
 |  Cluso99 We live onboard

       Date Joined Apr 2008 Total Posts : 4114 | Posted 3/13/2009 5:38 AM (GMT -7) |   | |
Posteditted:
Do you like the black resist?
I will email to those who have requested pcbs over the w/e - done.
The SMT microSD socket and TO252 Regulators were easy to mount.
The FT232RL is another matter - Rework done (used solder wick to remove excess solder where some pins were joined)
Board working with 3 x 512KByte SRAMs, VGA, TV, on-board PropPlug, etc (EEPROM & FLASH not fitted yet)
See the TriBladeProp thread for latest photos and Errata. http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=329999&p=3
Links to other interesting threads:
Post Edited (Cluso99) : 3/15/2009 3:22:44 PM GMT | | Back to Top | | |
    |  Cluso99 We live onboard

       Date Joined Apr 2008 Total Posts : 4114 | Posted 4/8/2009 4:04 AM (GMT -7) |   | SINGLE BOARD COMPUTER USING PROPELLER ICs AND TRIBLADEPROP PCB
IT's RUNNING 
for details and photos see the thread...
Also see related threads in my signature below.
Uses PropDOS/PropCMD, PropCOMM2 (VT100), ZiCog and a TriBladeProp PCB. Currently only 2 Propellers are being used and no interaction is required with the PC.
Thanks to Michael Rychlik (heater) for ZiCog; Roger Williams(localroger)/Michelli Scales for PropCMD & Jeff Ledger (OBC) for PropDOS; Radical Eye Software (Tomas Rokicki) and Mike Green for fswrFemto; Mike Green for sdspiFemto (which is the ultimate PASM driver for the SD and EEPROM); Andy Schenk for PC_Text & PC_Keyboard; Parallax, Inc.(Chip) and ?? for doing the Plus extensions for FullDuplexSerialPlus; OBC for PropCOMM2-VT100 [a self contained Terminal program]. My apologies to anyone I have wrong or missed - please PM me so I can include you. There have been so many others who have helped me along the way to learn the prop, including especially Hippy.
Links to other interesting threads:
Post Edited (Cluso99) : 4/8/2009 11:10:14 AM GMT | | Back to Top | | |
 |  Douglas Goodall Registered Member
        Date Joined Dec 2009 Total Posts : 1 | Posted 12/2/2009 9:10 AM (GMT -7) |   | This is way cool. I am inspired by this project. CP/M-80 was a major milestone on our way to microprocessors in personal computers. I know prop chips are used for all kinds of things, but I am a systems guy, and using the hardware and software to provide the system infrastucture for an SBC seems VERY elegant to me. I will be fascinated to watch and participate in this project, as it has so much potential. The disk drive compatibility aspect is a fantastic way to leverage off the existing inventory of software assets for the CP/M-80 environment.
Keep up this amazing work that has so much potential for fun and education about vintage computers.
Doug | | Back to Top | | |
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