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Propeller USB Key — Parallax Forums

Propeller USB Key

jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
edited 2011-10-05 06:48 in Propeller 1
Here's a module I've been thinking about making.

Uses:
  1. PC "Propeller Wire" applications.
  2. Distribute PC applications and Propeller code on SD Card.
  3. PropPC with VGA, Stereo Audio, Keybd, Mouse, SD Card.
Features:
  1. Fits in a USB Key case below.
  2. Propeller, crystal, 64KB EEPROM
  3. FTDI USB serial port with RX/TX LEDs
  4. 4MB Flash on P0..7,26,27 for XMM programs
  5. Optional SPI Flash and 64KB SPI SRAM
  6. Optional 2 to 4 channel 12 bit SPI ADCs
  7. SdCard Connector on P16..19
  8. Pins P0..29 on DIP32 socket
  9. 14 free Propeller pins
  10. Ground and 3.3V on P30 & P31

PropUSBkey.png
USB-7201-C.JPG

Comments

  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2011-09-19 20:40
    Nice! What about access to the pins? Cable out to 16 dip or sil or possibly pin holes to appropriate connector pins + pwr/gnd in the case?

    Frank
  • rosco_pcrosco_pc Posts: 468
    edited 2011-09-19 20:43
    Looking great, I would certainly be interested in buying something like this.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-09-19 21:33
    Very nice board. Every few months propeller designs seem to take a quantum leap. This design is small, versatile, external memory, all the essentials on the board and the flexibility to add other things on the free pins. I am impressed! Are you going to get this made?
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,713
    edited 2011-09-19 21:55
    Beautiful, Jazzed.

    Ok i give up where *did* you hide the xtal?
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2011-09-19 23:28
    Nice Steve! You going to try the FTDI QFN I see :)
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2011-09-20 00:17
    I want one. I would most likely use it with a short USB extension cable, fit the SD Card and combine with video capture in a small case, exposing the free pins with some handy connector.

    Would this be running at 6Mhz?

    Very cool.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-09-20 00:30
    Excellent, I love it. Really nice layout, very well done. You definitely have my attention! Kickstarter?

    @Tubular: 4 pads above pins 16&17
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,713
    edited 2011-09-20 02:08
    WBA Consulting wrote: »
    @Tubular: 4 pads above pins 16&17

    Oh yes that'd be it. Thanks, wba !
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-20 08:50
    Thanks for all the nice comments. I'll probably have 10 PCBs made.

    The crystal is here. It is 10MHz 18pf 30ppm accuracy/precision. A 5MHz or 6MHz crystal is available in a larger package, but there is no room.

    Regarding access to Propeller pins: The user's application probably dictates whether the USB Key enclosure is needed. There is room in the top-side plastic for cutouts. One could always drill holes on the bottom too. It may be possible to have the plastics vendor make modifications to the enclosure to allow 2x 16 pin headers to stick out of the case, but there may not be enough interest to justify the modification cost.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-20 16:53
    I've decided to make it possible to use 2 MCP3402 SPI ADCs if necessary with a small cut/jump. That will provide an option for 2 differential or 4 single ended 12 bit ADC input pins.
  • GranzGranz Posts: 179
    edited 2011-09-22 14:03
    Jazzed,

    Like Rosco, I would also be interested in these. What kind of price are you looking at?

    If the cost is low enough, I bet Humanoido would be interested in these for his Tiny Stamp Supercomputer (http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?126245-Tiny-Stamp-Supercomputer-TSS&highlight=bs1usb). The Prop version would blow away the Stamp version.

    You could use two to four of the I/O pins for an implementation of ULC-Net (Byte Mag, October 1981, Vol 6, No. 10, page 50 http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/167235-byte-magazine/page__hl__byte__st__550, message 569, about 2/3rd way down the page). You would only need one cog to handle the entire ULC-Net protocol; it would simply be a modified serial transfer object.
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2011-09-22 15:03
    Did they change the new ftdi chips that they no longer have 6mhz output?
    if still there you could do it the same way like this:
    http://www.dlpdesign.com/usb/prop.shtml
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-22 18:20
    Granz wrote: »
    Like Rosco, I would also be interested in these. What kind of price are you looking at?
    I'm not sure about price just yet. I'll be having about 10 PCBs made soon. I'll have more info after I build one.
    tonyp12 wrote: »
    Did they change the new ftdi chips that they no longer have 6mhz output?
    if still there you could do it the same way like this:
    http://www.dlpdesign.com/usb/prop.shtml
    Interesting. I'll look at it further.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,713
    edited 2011-09-22 18:35
    tonyp12 wrote: »
    Did they change the new ftdi chips that they no longer have 6mhz output?
    if still there you could do it the same way like this:
    http://www.dlpdesign.com/usb/prop.shtml

    Unfortunately the CBUS outputs aren't available until USB enumeration has taken place. Here's some history
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?109237-Clocking-the-Prop-off-of-FTDI-s-CBUS
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?114800-FT232RL-to-make-minimal-prop-platform

    of course this may not be as much of an issue with jazzed's design, which would probably be plugged into a real usb port just about all the time
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-29 10:17
    I decided to make some modifications to my USB key design.
    1. Added 4 pin header for separate power without USB connection.
    2. Can use MPC3202s on SOIC8 (alternative to Flash or SRAM).
    3. Moved 3.3v and ground to allow access to P30/31.
    4. Module is now "DIP34" size ... that is DIP32 + 2 pins.
    5. Made all 32 Propeller IO pins available on headers.
    PropUSBkey.jpg
    1024 x 582 - 69K
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-29 13:22
    My first prototypes will not have the fingers. Minimum order cost would be $500 for that, so I'll pass.

    For now I'll use a USB connector and that will result in a longer board.

    Now 10 PCBs are on order from the FAB and should be in my office by October 12th.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-09-29 14:36
    Really? What was the reasoning for the extra cost? We have a board we do here that is designed to plug directly into a USB port and there was no special cost involved. Did you specify a chamfered edge or selective gold plating or ?? This has me very curious.

    ps. the 4 pin header add was an excellent idea.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-29 14:51
    Andrew, The fab house i use for prototypes will not produce a 0.093" thick board on their low cost service.
    WBA Consulting wrote: »
    Really? What was the reasoning for the extra cost? We have a board we do here that is designed to plug directly into a USB port and there was no special cost involved. Did you specify a chamfered edge or selective gold plating or ?? This has me very curious.

    ps. the 4 pin header add was an excellent idea.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2011-09-29 16:57
    Gotcha, that makes perfect sense.
  • TubularTubular Posts: 4,713
    edited 2011-09-29 19:36
    Jazzed,

    I really like this design, can I purchase one?

    This past week I would have found it really useful - been out on site where I don't have the same 'desktop' which is fine for normal prop boards + cables. Its the USB case and cable free design that really appeals.

    On the 4 pin header you added, its possible to 'drift' the holes from exact 0.1" centres, to centres half way between 0.1" and USB A. You need to enlarge the hole size but not very much. This allows you to fit and solder either a USB A (male or female), or the standard 0.1".

    cheers
    tubular
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-29 20:02
    Tubular wrote: »
    I really like this design, can I purchase one?
    Yes. Of course. After I verify the prototypes work around mid October.
    Tubular wrote: »
    On the 4 pin header you added, its possible to 'drift' the holes from exact 0.1" centres, to centres half way between 0.1" and USB A. You need to enlarge the hole size but not very much. This allows you to fit and solder either a USB A (male or female), or the standard 0.1".
    The board I sent to FAB has only a USB A connector footprint. Hopefully a dual footprint will be possible. The attachment shows only the USB connector mounting and no outline. I'm hoping to wrap the strain-relief pins around the PCB for the first 10 "limited edition" boards.
    PropUSBkey.png
    799 x 565 - 87K
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2011-09-29 20:08
    About how much?
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-29 21:08
    turbosupra wrote: »
    About how much?

    About $70.

    Includes assembled module with Propeller, 64KB EEPROM, 10MHz precision crystal for 80MHz PLL8X Propeller system clock (maybe 12MHz for 96MHz clock), FT232 USB serial, RX/TX LED, SdCard slot, 4MB Flash, and USB Key enclosure.
  • jmgjmg Posts: 15,185
    edited 2011-09-29 22:13
    jazzed wrote: »
    Here's a module I've been thinking about making.

    Do you have a link and prices on the plastic caps ?

    With this style of case, edge fingers on the PCB can give a nice way to do some io, and still keep the case.
    The PicoFlex or Micromatch IDCs can edge solder, on not much PCB area, and give a standard ribbon ecosystem.

    Also, I'd look at the Silabs CP2110 - the Ftdi parts are creeping up in price and the CP2110 has a clock out 24Mhz/(2*N) option,
    good for testing, and low cost over-clocking testing...
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-30 13:48
    jmg wrote: »
    Do you have a link and prices on the plastic caps ?
    http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=377-1735-ND

    I'll sell PCB's for $15 each (shipping separate). That's my cost. PCBs went out to FAB yesterday.
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2011-10-04 11:00
    I thought they would be cheaper than the propeller demo board, but alas I will probably take one anyway so please contact me when they are available.

    I am tired of having cords draped across me when I'm in bed writing spin on my laptop.

    jazzed wrote: »
    About $70.

    Includes assembled module with Propeller, 64KB EEPROM, 10MHz precision crystal for 80MHz PLL8X Propeller system clock (maybe 12MHz for 96MHz clock), FT232 USB serial, RX/TX LED, SdCard slot, 4MB Flash, and USB Key enclosure.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-10-04 20:40
    I'll sell them for $49.00 each. That's my cost for parts and assembly on a 10 PCB buy.
    turbosupra wrote: »
    I thought they would be cheaper than the propeller demo board, but alas I will probably take one anyway so please contact me when they are available.

    I am tired of having cords draped across me when I'm in bed writing spin on my laptop.
  • turbosupraturbosupra Posts: 1,088
    edited 2011-10-05 06:48
    That's pretty generous and more then fair of you, thank you!

    I'll take 2. :) ... let me know how and when to pay.

    jazzed wrote: »
    I'll sell them for $49.00 each. That's my cost for parts and assembly on a 10 PCB buy.
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