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DuoProp two Prop, Propeller Platform Compatible module. — Parallax Forums

DuoProp two Prop, Propeller Platform Compatible module.

davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
edited 2011-05-18 21:28 in Propeller 1
The DuoProp is a dual Propeller board, that is easily stackable, thus allowing simple configurations of any number of Propellers. The DuoProp board has its own Power Regulators for 3.3V and 5V.

The DuoProp includes the fallowing.
1) 2 P8X32A-D40 chips.
2) Four 16 Pin Headers, using a form compatible with the Propeller Platform, as well as 2 sets of Propeller Platform compatible power headers.
3) A single Socketed crystal.
4) A simple 8 bit parallel inter Prop bus (on pins P0-P7).
5) VGA header (with jumpers [for those who wish to use there own VGA designs]), connector not included.
6) 2 PS/2 headers, connectors not included.
7) Very basic Sigma Delta ADC (for 0 to 3.3V).

I have the design finalised, as of 6:00AM PST (GMT-8) on 5-18-2011. Just in time for UPEW (I will not be attending UPEW :( ).
Pricing to be announced after a few boards have been made.

Every one suggestions are wanted. There may be a second version in the future, and any input will be considered.

Comments

  • Invent-O-DocInvent-O-Doc Posts: 768
    edited 2011-05-07 13:08
    Nice idea, but do we need another platform? There seem to be more platforms than applications discussed on this forum. (not a criticism of you at all, just an overall general impression).
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-07 14:14
    Yes there are already a number of platforms out there. I am doing this one to provide something that is easy to build on while providing more IOs and 2 Props. Most of the existing platforms that have multiple Props are fairly specific to there target audience. I hope to break this by giving a more easily expandable Platform, with two props. All of the existing platforms are good for there target, I am attempting to introduce a new Multi Prop target audience with my board.
  • Invent-O-DocInvent-O-Doc Posts: 768
    edited 2011-05-07 16:24
    Sounds interesting. Good luck and thanks for the explanation of why you are doing it.
  • hinvhinv Posts: 1,255
    edited 2011-05-07 20:09
    I think it is good to have a multiprop board.
    I have a few suggestions:
    Use only 1 clock source with enough drive to drive up to 8 props. Having a single clock can speed up communications.
    Use only 1 EEPROM and boot the second after the first...it frees IOs and lowers the part count.
    Provide at least 10 IOs between the 2 props so that you can experiment with parallel and serial protocols.
  • GeorgeCollinsGeorgeCollins Posts: 132
    edited 2011-05-07 20:31
    I would really like it to be small. A small size is very important. Also, I would prefer it if you could have the power come from screw terminals. It's easy to hook a transformer to screw terminals, but a pain to hook a battery to a transformer plug.
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-07 20:59
    Here is a list of mods based on current suggestions.:

    hinv:
    1) Single crystal per board, with the option of driving stacked boards off the Base crystal.
    2) Single EEPROM optional (so the base boards EEPROM may be used).

    GeorgeCollins:
    3) I will think about the screw headers, any one else have a thought on this?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-05-08 02:46
    You could supply both types of connector, I think I've seen some boards that have both.
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited 2011-05-08 04:54
    davidsaunders wrote: »
    The title says it all: What do you want in a board with two props and 48 available off board IOs (all connected directly to prop Pins)?

    I think it is better than having only ten pin headers.
  • graffixgraffix Posts: 389
    edited 2011-05-08 05:07
    no new multi Stamp boards?lol
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-08 05:49
    Leon:
    Yes it does seem that having both a barrel plug and a 9V battery adapter makes since, it would not cost that much more.

    Chuckz:
    Maybe. Though with the 10 pin headers you still get access to all pins except XO,XI,/BOE,/RES as the Propeller Proto Board gives the arrangement for 4 such 10 Pin headers.

    Graffix:
    Multi stamp? This is a different idea. I have not even used the BASIC STAMP, though i do not think that would be very useful.
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-08 17:32
    Are there any more suggestions?
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-05-08 18:32
    Given there are so many boards, the first priority might be to build the perfect board for yourself rather than for others. That is what I have done with the dracblade.

    Cluso's triblade is rather similar to the board you have described.

    But we have been told a few days ago that the Gadget Gangster board is the standard. Maybe one could think about a dual prop GG standard? Would you make the GG board longer so you could put two shields on instead of one? Or put the shields side by side?

    I'm not 100% sure what the 'standard' of the GG boards is - is it the board size, or is it the spacing and number of the interconnects. I suspect it might just be the latter, in which case maybe you could have a dual prop 'motherboard' with room for all the plugs round the outside and still have the standard interconnects in the middle.
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-09 11:03
    Dr_Aucula
    I had originally thought about using a header compatible with that of the GG, though I am concerned that this may be viewed as an attempt to make a clone (it is not), so I decided on a different approach to the headers by going Propeller Quick Start compatible.
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-09 11:05
    Actually my original idea would have included 8 Props on one board, that turned out to be a bit more at my cost than I am willing to charge for the boards.
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-18 06:56
    Ok today is decision time on this one. I am going to do two sets Propeller Platform compatible headers, and use DIP40 Propellers. The board will also have a 6-pin header for VGA (no connector included), and two headers for PS/2 (No connectors included). I will be updating the top post to reflect these decisions, in a couple of minutes.

    Any comments welcome.
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-18 07:10
    Top Post updated :) .
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-18 20:25
    Well it looks like I am now a day behind. I just went to upgrade to Ubuntu 11.04, and lost the root FS. It is a good thing I back up.
  • jstjohnzjstjohnz Posts: 91
    edited 2011-05-18 21:24
    davidsaunders wrote: »
    Here is a list of mods based on current suggestions.:

    hinv:
    1) Single crystal per board, with the option of driving stacked boards off the Base crystal.
    2) Single EEPROM optional (so the base boards EEPROM may be used).

    GeorgeCollins:
    3) I will think about the screw headers, any one else have a thought on this?

    Can you drive multiple props with a single crystal, or would you need an oscialltor module instead?
    How would the single eeprom work?
  • davidsaundersdavidsaunders Posts: 1,559
    edited 2011-05-18 21:28
    Yes you can drive multiple props off the same crystal, this is not a problem.
    The single EEPROM would be accomplished by the first Prop loading itself from EEPROM and then loading the second Prop using Propeller Loader. Of cource in some cases this will require that a 64K or bigger I2C EEPROM is used to allow different code across Props.
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