MemoryBlade & LatchBlade: 512KB SRAM & Latch pcbs for the Propeller Proto Board

Cluso99

Here is a preview of 2 pcbs I anticipate sending to manufacture over the weekend.

MemoryBlade:

• 1.3"x1.3" 1.2"x1.2" (30.5mmx30.5mm) SMT pcb
• Stacks onto·the Propeller Proto Board using the centre row of holes around the propeller chip
• Contains
  • 512KB 55nS SRAM (SMT)
  • microSD socket
  • decoupling capacitors and pullup resistors
• Adds SRAM & microSD to the Propeller Proto Board to make it like a RamBlade
• Propeller pin requirements
  • 8 pins for D0-7
  • 16 pins for A0-15 (64KB SRAM)
  • optional 3 pins for A16-18 (128KB/256KB/512KB SRAM)
  • 3·pins (1·discounting SCL & SDA)·for -CS, -CE, -WE (-CS & -WE can be shared with Eeprom SCL & SDA
• So for a 64KB SRAM design·(including microSD)·27 pins (25) are required while a 512KB design requires 30 pins·(28)·
• With the addition of the LatchBlade pcb stacked between the Propeller Proto Board and MemoryBlade
  • a 64KB latched SRAM design·(including microSD)·requires only 11 pins··(9 discounting SCL & SDA) while a 512KB design requires·14 pins (12)

LatchBlade:

• 1.3"x1.3" 1.2"x1.2" (30.5mmx30.5mm) SMT pcb
• Stacks between the Propeller Proto Board and Memory Blade pcb to convert the MemoryBlade to a latched memory version
• Contains
  • 74LVC573 DIP SMT·to latch A0-7 from D0-7
  • 74LVC573 DIP SMT·to latch A8-15 from D0-7
  • 74LVC86 SMT to drive the latches from 1 propeller pin
  • Propeller pin requirements
    • 8 pins for D0-7
    • ·4 ·3·pins for· -CS, -CE, ·CS, -WE, LE (latch) (CS & LE can be shared with Eeprom SCL & SDA)
    • optional 3 additional pins for A16, A17, A18 for 128KB/256KB/512KB (else 64KB)
  • resistors and capacitors
• So for a 64KB SRAM design·(including microSD)·only 11 pins·(9 discounting SCL & SDA)·are required while a 512KB design requires·14 pins (12)

The design is stackable, so it is possible to change the configuration by adding/removing the LatchBlade. Stack height will be approx·13.6mm between pcbs (15.2 top to top).

The MemoryBlade will be available fully assembled or as a kit for those who want to try their hand at smt (no responsibility taken).

The LatchBlade will be available·fully assembled, partly assembled (smt only) or as a kit for those who want to try their hand at smt.

The SMT ICs are 0.05" (1.27mm) pitch which is fairly easy to hand solder with a fine soldering iron.

Estimated cost fully assembled US$12-18 for the pair (not each) including shipping·unregistered AirMail.

Block Diagram...



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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Post Edited (Cluso99) : 2/8/2010 5:59:21 AM GMT

RossH

@Cluso,

Goodness! Where do you find the time to design all these boards? I may have to buy a Proto Board just to try them out!

Ross.

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Catalina - a FREE C compiler for the Propeller - see Catalina

Bill Henning

Nice work!

I like how you pin-reduced LE for the two latches.

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www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com 5.0" VGA LCD in stock!
Morpheus dual Prop SBC w/ 512KB kit $119.95, Mem+2MB memory/IO kit $89.95, both kits $189.95 SerPlug $9.95
Propteus and Proteus for Propeller prototyping 6.250MHz custom Crystals run Propellers at 100MHz
Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system

Rsadeika

@Cluso, this looks like a very promising idea, how would it work on a Propeller Platform Module board? Anybody have any idea what the shipment costs are to the USA? Any idea as to when something like this would be available?

Cluso99

If I get the pcbs off this weekend, it will take 2 1/2 weeks to get pcbs back by which time I will have all the parts. Actually I have the parts for the MemoryBlade as this was already done. I just decided to add the LatchBlade today.

The SRAM, 74LVC573 & 74LVC86 are all SMT with a pitch of 0.05" (1.27mm) pin spacing so are easy to solder. This is about the same as the microSD.

I will be updating the Block diagram shortly· (done) as I will save another pin in the latch version by using 1 pin for -CE & -CS. This pin (now CS) and the LE pin can be shared with the EEPROM (P28 & P29) provided the Eeprom is not accessed while the SRAM or microSD is accessed. This really saves another 2 dedicated pins.

My biggest headache is finding the sockets with wire-wrap pins so that I can stack them. Can anyone help me here? Everything I find is expensive.

Rsadeika: I charge US$5 to ship unregistered AirMail overseas from Australia. They say 10-14 days but I note it often arrives in 7-10 to the USA.

There are a couple of extra surprises coming too

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Post Edited (Cluso99) : 2/5/2010 5:07:29 PM GMT

Tubular

Hmmm interesting concept.

Re connectors, if you haven't already, get yourself registered on 4uconnector.com

A suggestion that might be suitable - see item 15230. 10 way with long pins. $0.1023 each in 1000 off. Be very careful looking at the drawings which typically have the dimensions correct but not the spacer configuration. http://www.4uconnector.com/online/object/4udrawing/15230.pdf

They do sample qtys (25 or 50 I think 10 or 30). I need to place an order this week if you want to tack onto it, but shipping isn't that expensive anyway.

Post Edited (Tubular) : 2/6/2010 7:12:46 AM GMT

Cluso99

Thanks Tubular. Just what I was looking for.

Do you know if the spacers are removable? 1x11 seems ideal because of my layout (15230/15259/15287 etc)

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

jazzed

Is there a reason you used an XOR instead of just an inverter?

The sockets problem is the main reason I stopped working on my DIP40 memory design last year.
I found some SIP F-M headers that worked a little better than wire-wrap sockets because of the PIN diameter.
Wire-wrap pins break solder-tail sockets.

Cluso99

Jazzed: XOR is just my choice.

Yes, you cannot use pin stakes (wire wrap pins) in solder-tail sockets. You have to use special sockets too. :-(

Tubular has given me a great lead. I either need 1x10 & 1x12 pins or 1x11 pins. Since I only want to order one style (MOQ 1,000) I will either go 1x11 or 1x12 (the 1x12 will not use 1 pin so will be a nuisance but also fits the RamBlade - the extra pin could be cut/filed off.

Here are the details... www.4uconnector.com 1x11 are 15175, 15259, 15231 for 11.05+2.30=13.35mm/13.59+4.85=17.45mm/11.05+12.20=23.25mm (subtract 1 from pn for 1x10, add 1 for 1x12)
Cost around 10c ea per 1000.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Tubular

At 10c quality level, I don't think the spacers would be removable without pulling the tuning forks out.

It may be possible if you could keep pressure under all the pins simultaneously, but it would be a complete pain

Cluso99

I just wondered if you knew if they were seperate pieces or if it was part of the moulding. Probably the moulding.

I am thinking the 1x11 pin will be best (no cutting for my cct) and partno 15259 (socket 13.59mm, pins 4.85mm) which gives a pcb spacing of 13.6mm (gap).
http://www.4uconnector.com/online/object/4udrawing/15259.pdf

Any ideas of what their leadtime is like?

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Toby Seckshund

Clusso

When Jazzed asked "why XORs , not inverters" and you said it was just a personal choice, so am I wrong in thinking that you are actually using 3 state logic?

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Style and grace : Nil point

Cluso99

BTW I think Phil (PhiPi) originally did this circuit using 3 inverters (1 on one side and 2 series inverters to make a buffer on the other). IIRC it was to generate HorizSync and VerticalSync using 1 pin.


I decided an XOR wired as above would also work and you can get 2 gate versions in an 8pin SOIC (I already have them).

Now, what the circuit does is this...

When the prop is tristate, both XORs output a "1". When the prop drives the pin "0", the lower XOR outputs "1" and the upper XOR outputs "0". When the prop drives the pin "1". the lower outputs "0" and the upper outputs "0". So now we have 2 chip selects from 1 pin (or 2 latch enables).

So, the lower XOR could be replaced with an inverter, and the upper could be replaced with a non-inverting buffer. With the XOR, I get the same gate delays in both lines. Depending on the circuit, it is also possible to skip the non-inverter altogether.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Post Edited (Cluso99) : 2/6/2010 9:54:54 AM GMT

Tubular

Cluso, I just pulled apart a 4 way Samtec SSW. The spacers are a separate moulding, but applying pressure just pulled the main housing off, rather than the spacer (which is more firmly attached than the tuning forks).

Do you really want to pull the spacers off? To play with stack height?

re Lead time, I'm about to find out. Make sure you get in before the chinese new year (Next weekend)

cheers
tubular

Humanoido

Cluso99:
The MemoryBlade and LatchBlade are great additions
to your already valuable work! It's a good choice for the
Propeller Proto Board.

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humanoido
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Cluso99

Thanks humanoido

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Cluso99

Is there any interest? I do not want to waste producing a pcb if there is no interest.

I have found cheaper interboard connectors, etc. So, I expect the pricing to be between $12-$18 for the pair of pcbs (not each) including shipping.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

hinv

Hi Cluso,

It seems that with all of the memory based boards that came out you REALLY want everyone to have memory expansion. Maybe you are secretly plotting to captivate us with your new operating system that does voice recognition and premptive command prediction for the low cost of $500/license ;^)

Keep up the good work. I can't wait to get my RamBlade and CP/M disk, and I may get one of these also.

Doug

Cluso99

@hinv: Yes,·there are lots of things that we can do with the sram. But no, it will not be me doing voice recognition - no ulterior motive other than give something back to the community.

I want to open up sram to everyone cheaply · The more users with it, the more objects we will get donated back to the community

While I think the TriBlade is an ideal pcb. It has an unlatched sram prop (like RamBlade), a·latched sram prop design with keyboard/mouse/vga/tv (similar to DracBlade), and a third uncommitted prop, all·on the one·almost all thru hole pcb. However,·the raw pcb cost was expensive because of it's size. It cost me approx $800 for 30 pcbs and I sent some out free. BTW I still have a couple of pcbs for $25 if anyone is interested.

PS. Your RamBlade should arrive this week.



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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz

Dr_Acula

Re "Is there any interest? I do not want to waste producing a pcb if there is no interest." and "It cost me approx $800 for 30 pcbs and I sent some out free."

Hmm - is this a case of "If you build it they will come?" I very much hope so!

$800 for 30 boards is steep. I figure if I can get costs down then the boards can be sold for a nominal price, or even given away in exchange for an offer to write a bit of code? Receipt below for 30 boards of version 5 of the dracblade which is a little smaller, filter caps on the underside of the prop and shorter vga lines so hopefully not so much waviness in the blue background on the screen.

Different horses for courses here and I'm going for big DIP parts and proper sized resistors. And I think you are trying to make the smallest CP/M computer even smaller, but the upside to that ought to be even cheaper boards to manufacture.

Issuer
John Wang
Shijiazhuang OurPCB Tech. Ltd
#1208 Shangde'Plaza
No.8 Kangle Street
Shijiazhuang Hebei China 050051
Propeller_v5.zip 
30 PCS 4.4067 132.2
(FR4, 2 layer, 1.6mm thickness, 127.2*93.8 mm )
(Green Soldermask, white(top) slikscreen
Shipping cost 51
Total $US183.20

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www.smarthome.viviti.com/propeller

Cluso99

Drac: It was a note about the TriBlade and why that pcb is sooo expensive. It is a much bigger pcb (7"x3") and was manufactured in Oz.

Obviously these new pcbs are much smaller and much cheaper, and thanks to you, I am now using Our PCB. The expected price is $12-18 inc parts, assembly and shipping for the pair. However, I have to order a 1000 stackable connectors, etc (to get the right prices).

I don't need this pcb for my projects as I am using RamBlades and TriBlades. I designed it for those that may just want to plug sram into the Proto Board (latched or unlatched). All I want to ensure is that I at least cover costs. Obviously I do not want to spend the $ if noone is interested and so far there has been little feedback on this one.

If there was enough interest I was planning to do a 1.2"x1.2" stackable prop pcb and a stackable power supply, plus some other pcbs as well.

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Links to other interesting threads:

· Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
· Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
· Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
· Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
· Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz