P8X32A Real Time USB While Executing Program

WaffenGeist

Hi,

Can the P8X32A be used as an interface between an electronics project and the USB port of my laptop computer ?

Can the propeller use the USB while executing it's program or is the USB only useful for programming the propeller.

I want my electronics project to communicate with my PC through the USB port, can the P8X32A be used as a parallel to USB interface ?

Thanks

Unsoundcode

can the P8X32A be used as a parallel to USB interface ?

Yes it certainly can, although it could possibly be a waste of resources when there are other chips out there more suitable for that partticular task.

Jeff T.

Leon

Here is a design of mine for a very simple USB interface using a PIC18F2455:

http://www.leonheller.com/usb/index.html

SRLM

I don't think the Propeller can be used as a direct USB to "device" substitute. You'll need an FTDI chip in there to handle the actual USB work. The FTDI chip just uses serial RX and TX lines, so any of the serial objects in the OBEX will work just fine. Take a look at some of the Propeller tutorials for more information on this (search "Parallax Serial Terminal").

Mike Green

The Propeller can be used as a USB host for a limited set of devices (see here). I don't have a link for any USB client code.

Duane Degn

WaffenGeist wrote: »

Hi,

Can the P8X32A be used as an interface between an electronics project and the USB port of my laptop computer ?

Can the propeller use the USB while executing it's program or is the USB only useful for programming the propeller.

I want my electronics project to communicate with my PC through the USB port, can the P8X32A be used as a parallel to USB interface ?

Thanks

WaffenGeist,

It depends on what you mean by "interface".

The Propeller communicates with the PC through a FTDI chip. A common way for the Propeller to be programmed is using the FTDI chip. The chip can also let the Propeller communicate with the PC while it is running a program. The PC treats the interface as a serial connection.

To use the Propeller as a parallel to USB addapter, would depend a lot on the amount of data to be transfered and if there were a program on the PC to use the data coming over the serial line. I don't know if there is a way to trick a PC into thinking the serial data is parallel or not (I kind of doubt it if you use the FTDI chip).