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A Serial Buffer — Parallax Forums

A Serial Buffer

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-03-31 05:12 in General Discussion
Here are the first two paragraphs of a file ("buffer.txt") now
available in the group's file section. Complete description and
programs may be found there.

"Using your Stamp for SERIN operations can be challenging due to its
small buffer size and the need for the SERIN to be active at the
moment the data appear. One solution for these problems is offered
here--a PIC microprocessor programmed as an intelligent serial buffer
that automatically and independently stores up to 1280 bytes of serial
data in volatile RAM for subsequent transfer to your Stamp.

The unique aspect of this solution is that your Stamp (BS2*) can
program the PIC using the program below, which contains both the
programming logic and the embedded PIC program. You run the Stamp's
program only once to produce a programmed PIC ready for ongoing use as
a serial buffer. Cost? About $10 in parts."

Regards,

Steve

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-24 16:20
    Cool application -- Using a Stamp to program a PIC Flash on-the-fly.
    The result is a 28-pin narrow DIP (WITH resonator) with a
    reprogrammable fixed baud rate, and the price is $7 to $8. The buffer
    is huge (1280 bytes), and using the FlowControl pin minimizes the
    Stamp's code.

    I've been trying to apply the Maxim 3100 (14-pin DIP, WITH crystal
    and two caps, SPI interface, but only 8 bytes of buffer, $5.00) to
    the same purpose -- with some success -- but only for reciept of
    shorter messages.

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "S Parkis" <parkiss@e...> wrote:
    > Here are the first two paragraphs of a file ("buffer.txt") now
    > available in the group's file section. Complete description and
    > programs may be found there.
    >
    > "Using your Stamp for SERIN operations can be challenging due to its
    > small buffer size and the need for the SERIN to be active at the
    > moment the data appear. One solution for these problems is offered
    > here--a PIC microprocessor programmed as an intelligent serial
    buffer
    > that automatically and independently stores up to 1280 bytes of
    serial
    > data in volatile RAM for subsequent transfer to your Stamp.
    >
    > The unique aspect of this solution is that your Stamp (BS2*) can
    > program the PIC using the program below, which contains both the
    > programming logic and the embedded PIC program. You run the Stamp's
    > program only once to produce a programmed PIC ready for ongoing use
    as
    > a serial buffer. Cost? About $10 in parts."
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Steve
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-24 19:12
    This sounds like a great idea.!!! I have been fighting the lack of
    interrupts for received data on the stamp by programming around it by using
    the wait option for the data. This is very inefficient and causes much to
    much time being wasted waiting for the data to arrive. Saying that where
    can I find this info on the pic and schematic and software. Thanks for this
    info my day just got much better

    Eric
    Original Message
    From: "Allan Lane" <allan.lane@h...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 11:20 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer


    > Cool application -- Using a Stamp to program a PIC Flash on-the-fly.
    > The result is a 28-pin narrow DIP (WITH resonator) with a
    > reprogrammable fixed baud rate, and the price is $7 to $8. The buffer
    > is huge (1280 bytes), and using the FlowControl pin minimizes the
    > Stamp's code.
    >
    > I've been trying to apply the Maxim 3100 (14-pin DIP, WITH crystal
    > and two caps, SPI interface, but only 8 bytes of buffer, $5.00) to
    > the same purpose -- with some success -- but only for reciept of
    > shorter messages.
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "S Parkis" <parkiss@e...> wrote:
    > > Here are the first two paragraphs of a file ("buffer.txt") now
    > > available in the group's file section. Complete description and
    > > programs may be found there.
    > >
    > > "Using your Stamp for SERIN operations can be challenging due to its
    > > small buffer size and the need for the SERIN to be active at the
    > > moment the data appear. One solution for these problems is offered
    > > here--a PIC microprocessor programmed as an intelligent serial
    > buffer
    > > that automatically and independently stores up to 1280 bytes of
    > serial
    > > data in volatile RAM for subsequent transfer to your Stamp.
    > >
    > > The unique aspect of this solution is that your Stamp (BS2*) can
    > > program the PIC using the program below, which contains both the
    > > programming logic and the embedded PIC program. You run the Stamp's
    > > program only once to produce a programmed PIC ready for ongoing use
    > as
    > > a serial buffer. Cost? About $10 in parts."
    > >
    > > Regards,
    > >
    > > Steve
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-24 20:01
    Steve,
    I too agree, what a awesome solution. I too have been working around the
    problem of waiting for a serial input string (even using two stamps, one as
    a buffer). This will be very helpful. I too would like more info on the
    pic and schematic. I haven't had the change to dive into the PIC world,
    yet, so I am not proficient on what is required for resonator, etc.

    Thanks again, Dan


    This sounds like a great idea.!!! I have been fighting the lack of
    interrupts for received data on the stamp by programming around it by using
    the wait option for the data. This is very inefficient and causes much to
    much time being wasted waiting for the data to arrive. Saying that where
    can I find this info on the pic and schematic and software. Thanks for
    this
    info my day just got much better

    Eric
    Original Message
    From: "Allan Lane" <allan.lane@h...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 11:20 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer


    > Cool application -- Using a Stamp to program a PIC Flash on-the-fly.
    > The result is a 28-pin narrow DIP (WITH resonator) with a
    > reprogrammable fixed baud rate, and the price is $7 to $8. The buffer
    > is huge (1280 bytes), and using the FlowControl pin minimizes the
    > Stamp's code.
    >
    > I've been trying to apply the Maxim 3100 (14-pin DIP, WITH crystal
    > and two caps, SPI interface, but only 8 bytes of buffer, $5.00) to
    > the same purpose -- with some success -- but only for reciept of
    > shorter messages.
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "S Parkis" <parkiss@e...> wrote:
    > > Here are the first two paragraphs of a file ("buffer.txt") now
    > > available in the group's file section. Complete description and
    > > programs may be found there.
    > >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-25 01:36
    The buffer is detailed here (programming, wiring, operation):

    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/files/buffer.txt

    If there are specific questions not addressed in the above please
    ask away. The file at that URL will be updated as typo's and goofs
    are found.

    The following are at: http://www.phanderson.com/ordering_1.html

    - PIC18F252-I/SP, Flash, $6.95

    - 4.0 MHz Ceramic Resonator (ECS) with Internal Caps, 3-terminal
    SIP, $0.75

    Looks like the Good Professor may be on Spring Break for the next
    week or so. Parallax also sells the resonator (good picture):

    http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=250-04050

    Digikey, Allied, and Future/Active appear to also have the PIC in
    stock.

    Regards,

    Steve
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-25 06:37
    Thanks Steve !! As I said you made my day!!!

    Eric
    Original Message
    From: "S Parkis" <parkiss@e...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 8:36 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer


    > The buffer is detailed here (programming, wiring, operation):
    >
    > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/files/buffer.txt
    >
    > If there are specific questions not addressed in the above please
    > ask away. The file at that URL will be updated as typo's and goofs
    > are found.
    >
    > The following are at: http://www.phanderson.com/ordering_1.html
    >
    > - PIC18F252-I/SP, Flash, $6.95
    >
    > - 4.0 MHz Ceramic Resonator (ECS) with Internal Caps, 3-terminal
    > SIP, $0.75
    >
    > Looks like the Good Professor may be on Spring Break for the next
    > week or so. Parallax also sells the resonator (good picture):
    >
    > http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=250-04050
    >
    > Digikey, Allied, and Future/Active appear to also have the PIC in
    > stock.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Steve
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-26 14:37
    Steve at the bottom you say there are other solutions the stamp can program.
    If we're interested to let you now. All I can say is GREAT JOB (yes I'm
    shouting) keep em coming.

    Original Message
    From: Eric Adams [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=XUlxrFIOpNFbmYhldnIUuf0VN8RrF86oM451rhLYe-bHOoYBBGeCavmvGQijBroKmRd4cwQAOHmSy1OgjIpkg6o]hugs102@b...[/url
    Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 1:38 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer

    Thanks Steve !! As I said you made my day!!!

    Eric
    Original Message
    From: "S Parkis" <parkiss@e...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 8:36 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer


    > The buffer is detailed here (programming, wiring, operation):
    >
    > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/files/buffer.txt
    >
    > If there are specific questions not addressed in the above please
    > ask away. The file at that URL will be updated as typo's and goofs
    > are found.
    >
    > The following are at: http://www.phanderson.com/ordering_1.html
    >
    > - PIC18F252-I/SP, Flash, $6.95
    >
    > - 4.0 MHz Ceramic Resonator (ECS) with Internal Caps, 3-terminal
    > SIP, $0.75
    >
    > Looks like the Good Professor may be on Spring Break for the next
    > week or so. Parallax also sells the resonator (good picture):
    >
    > http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=250-04050
    >
    > Digikey, Allied, and Future/Active appear to also have the PIC in
    > stock.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Steve
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >


    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.


    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-27 11:01
    Steve, I like Your Job with the Serial Buffer too.

    Heinz Schwenk Germany


    Original Message
    From: "Sadler Porter" <porter.sadler@s...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 3:37 PM
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer


    > Steve at the bottom you say there are other solutions the stamp can
    program.
    > If we're interested to let you now. All I can say is GREAT JOB (yes I'm
    > shouting) keep em coming.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Eric Adams [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=BDxPRk2yIMxPLxEMTNPdTVkbQo9a-TyIjiqPdaDOMe7hT_vUHlXKv-Hr0APqJ8BYljzqInvcZyQBlgbjhT2e]hugs102@b...[/url
    > Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2003 1:38 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer
    >
    > Thanks Steve !! As I said you made my day!!!
    >
    > Eric
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "S Parkis" <parkiss@e...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 8:36 PM
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: A Serial Buffer
    >
    >
    > > The buffer is detailed here (programming, wiring, operation):
    > >
    > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/files/buffer.txt
    > >
    > > If there are specific questions not addressed in the above please
    > > ask away. The file at that URL will be updated as typo's and goofs
    > > are found.
    > >
    > > The following are at: http://www.phanderson.com/ordering_1.html
    > >
    > > - PIC18F252-I/SP, Flash, $6.95
    > >
    > > - 4.0 MHz Ceramic Resonator (ECS) with Internal Caps, 3-terminal
    > > SIP, $0.75
    > >
    > > Looks like the Good Professor may be on Spring Break for the next
    > > week or so. Parallax also sells the resonator (good picture):
    > >
    > > http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=250-04050
    > >
    > > Digikey, Allied, and Future/Active appear to also have the PIC in
    > > stock.
    > >
    > > Regards,
    > >
    > > Steve
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-31 04:50
    Steve,

    A few questions on the buffer:

    -Buffer pin 18 is connected to the outside world as the serial in
    point to the PIC. This point is also connected to the stamp at pin 17
    (I/O 12).
    In the example for the GPS there is a serial out command from the
    stamp.
    Is this command just inputting a start character for the buffer and
    has nothing to do with the GPS??
    What happens when the GPS and the Stamp are talking on the same line
    at the same time??
    Am I missing something??

    Thanks
    Brent





    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "S Parkis" <parkiss@e...> wrote:
    > The buffer is detailed here (programming, wiring, operation):
    >
    > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/files/buffer.txt
    >
    > If there are specific questions not addressed in the above please
    > ask away. The file at that URL will be updated as typo's and goofs
    > are found.
    >
    > The following are at: http://www.phanderson.com/ordering_1.html
    >
    > - PIC18F252-I/SP, Flash, $6.95
    >
    > - 4.0 MHz Ceramic Resonator (ECS) with Internal Caps, 3-terminal
    > SIP, $0.75
    >
    > Looks like the Good Professor may be on Spring Break for the next
    > week or so. Parallax also sells the resonator (good picture):
    >
    > http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=250-04050
    >
    > Digikey, Allied, and Future/Active appear to also have the PIC in
    > stock.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Steve
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-03-31 05:12
    Brent-

    I meant to describe two distinct processes: programming the PIC, and
    using a programmed PIC for a real application.

    > -Buffer pin 18 is connected to the outside world as the serial in
    > point to the PIC. This point is also connected to the stamp at pin
    > 17 (I/O 12).

    Correct--for the PIC programming operation only. This allows the
    Stamp to SEROUT some text into the buffer at the conclusion of
    programming the PIC so that the text can be read back to confirm
    buffer operation. This isn't actually required to program the PIC,
    it just gives you a quick indication that the programming was
    successful. For subsequent, operational use of the buffer, the
    actual serial data source would be connected to buffer pin 18
    instead. The Stamp pin 17 <--> buffer pin 18 connection would not
    normally be there except during the one-time PIC programming step.

    > In the example for the GPS there is a serial out command from the
    > stamp. Is this command just inputting a start character for the
    > buffer and has nothing to do with the GPS?? What happens when the
    > GPS and the Stamp are talking on the same line at the same time??
    > Am I missing something??

    You are correct that serial output from the Stamp and the GPS/other
    serial device should never both be connected to the buffer's serial
    input pin. The GPS demo program shown assumes the PIC has already
    been programmed and is ready for use. The SEROUT sends a valid
    serial command from Stamp I/O 12 directly to the serial input pin on
    the GPS itself, not to buffer pin 18. Output from the GPS is
    connected to buffer pin 18.

    I hope that helps clear it up.

    Regards,

    Steve
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