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Unleashing the C3 - Book/Manual — Parallax Forums

Unleashing the C3 - Book/Manual

AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
edited 2011-01-15 20:44 in Propeller 1
And let's not forget, I wrote a whole damn mini book for the C3 called "Unleashing the C3" -- you can get it here:

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/prop/UnleashingPropellerC3v1.0.pdf

We didn't print it to save money of course, but just want to make sure everyone knows there is some good documentation and not some mamby pamby 5-10 page datasheet :)

Andre'

Comments

  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2011-01-13 11:47
    Andre: Could you add pad X/Y locations for the Analog port GND pin and PORTA P0 pin (my caliper says the delta is 850mils). You did a nice job on the C3 and I think many of us will want to produce "mini shields" for it.
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2011-01-13 12:25
    Another request: Can you break out schematics by logical section? By squeezing the entire schematic on one page it is not readable in the PDF. Thanks for considering.
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2011-01-13 12:44
    A lot of the schematics (if not all) are shown in pieces in different sections of the document. You may be able to find what you are looking for in the appropriate section. I agree that the final single-page schematic is not very clear in the document. I haven't looked at the separate png (?) file.

    Overall, it's a very nice writeup. Thanks, Andre.
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-13 13:26
    In the docs the schematics are broken into pieces on the FTP. But, in general this design is small enough where I like to keep it on one sheet, decreases errors and following signals around since I make so many changes so fast and had to work so fast. On the X-Y locations, the gerbers are in the FTP as well, crack them open, set an origin and then you can location X/Y for any position you wish.

    Andre'
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,208
    edited 2011-01-13 20:52
    Thanks, Andre -- I just noticed that the demo files were posted; it was an empty folder the last time I looked.
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-13 21:43
    Ahhh -- yes, they have been up for about a week I think, before the product went online.

    Andre'
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-01-13 21:45
    A very well written manual, and a very nice product. Well done!
  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2011-01-14 08:03
    The problem with the schematics is that they are not in a vector format so they don't zoom, just pixelate. If it is possible to create a vector based version before the pdf is created that would make things much better.

    Great manual though and product.

    Graham
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2011-01-14 08:12
    Graham Stabler wrote: »
    The problem with the schematics is that they are not in a vector format so they don't zoom, just pixelate.


    So the manual is being controlled by pixies (it's pixelated) ? Just an obscure reference to "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town."
  • SapiehaSapieha Posts: 2,964
    edited 2011-01-14 08:15
    Hi all.

    In .PDF that depends on pixel resolution used for original PICTURES
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2011-01-14 08:39
    Sapieha wrote: »
    In .PDF that depends on pixel resolution used for original PICTURES

    If I recall correctly, some PDF creation software also has options to change picture resolution when creating the PDF in order to make the file smaller. I know at least an older version of the Adobe Acrobat application (not reader) had it.
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-14 12:41
    For every schematic image in the paragraph introducing it is a reference to the files on the FTP with a high resolution bitmap image for the schematic, so I thought of this of course :)

    Andre'
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2011-01-14 13:09
    I've had trouble following the link to the ftp site from the link on the C3 product page (at least in Firefox). It sits there telling me it's loading but not getting anywhere.

    ftp://ftp.propeller-chip.com/PropC3
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-01-14 13:30
    Would it be too much trouble to point out which C3*.pdf file contains the PortA/B, SPI, and SYSTEM headers?

    Also, I see dimensions for board outline, but can't find the placement of the prototype header.

    What programs use .dsn and .lyt extensions? And what files are they? Obviously I can't use any of them.
  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2011-01-14 13:55
    Saphia,

    That is true for bitmap images not for images in vector format defined mathematically.

    Andre,

    OK, obviously they were bitmaps originally.

    Graham
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-14 14:17
    Try changing your settings, I am using firefox no problems -- FTP is right there.

    Andre'
  • Invent-O-DocInvent-O-Doc Posts: 768
    edited 2011-01-15 06:41
    This is a very well written manual. The screenshots are especially helpful. Not many people go through the considerable work of properly documenting a project after it is finished, so this is a treat that make me want to go out and buy a C3 board.
  • Kenny GardnerKenny Gardner Posts: 169
    edited 2011-01-15 11:28
    The manual is also the reason I purchased the C3.

    Kenny
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-15 13:48
    @Invent-O--Doc :) YES -- thanks. It's a HUGE pain to bust out the camera, take 100's of pics, then image process, crop, colorize, insert, etc. But, truthfully this has been my secret weapon as an author the past 20 years. Other authors are too lazy to be visual, so as I write, I am thinking "ok, now I will show a screen shot, or an image" and it not only helps me anchor what I am talking about, but make the reading visually interesting. This C3 book is really simple, but something like my Tricks of the 3D Game Programming Gurus, I am really proud of since I show all the complex math for 3D graphics, but "show" it as well. And that was a challenge, I think I drew 800 technical drawings for the book.

    Anyway, I try to take that approach with everything I do. My rule is if there hasn't been an image or figure in 1-5 pages then there is WAY too much text and you are boring the reader.

    Also, don't miss the HYDRA SD-MAX manual on the FTP in the Docs section, its probably the only detailed, lengthy and visual explanation of FAT, SD, SPI, and putting it all together to make a SD card driver.


    Andre'
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-15 16:49
    I think there is an error here (page 29):

    The 22 μF capacitor starts kicking in at a few kHz, so it filters the high frequency PWM noise nicely, but
    allows very low (bass) to mid range audio signals to get through nicely with that 22 μF capacitor.

    The 22 uF cap. is a coupling capacitor, and will "start kicking in" at *much* less than a few kHz. Don't you mean C15? That filters the HF noise.
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-15 18:54
    Well, C15 and R8 create the integrator circuit, so yes, that filters the HF signal, but what I was trying to say was that the 22uF allows lower audio signals to get thru, than say a 10uF or 1uF which will cut off those lows that much faster.

    Andre'
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-15 19:02
    It doesn't read that way, though. The 22 uF doesn't filter the HF.
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-15 20:22
    I will re-word that when we make an update. Thinking one thing, wrote another, left a couple words out -- happens :)

    Anrdre'
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-15 20:44
    Thanks. It's actually a very good manual.
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