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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Silicon Chip Pico Backpack
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| Andrew_G Guru  Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873 |
G'day, I've just opened up the March edition of Silicon Chip to an article on their "Pi Pico Backpack". It is interesting reading and refers to "PicoMite software" and "PicoMite BASIC" that allows it to be programmed in the BASIC language. It also refers to ". . . the Micromite, which also runs MMBasic". I assume this means that it runs MMBasic (it is after all a Pi Pico on a backpack) but I'm intrigued as to why it is a little vague about the source of the BASIC - ie no reference to Geoff, Peter et al? Do any of you have any comments about how useful the SC backpack might be? (they have a kit for Au$80 not including the DS3231 nor an enclosure). Cheers, Andrew |
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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8298 |
I wish the online preview on Silicon Chip would show a bit more. :( We don't get it here. I'm interested because I designed a backpack for the PicoMite some time ago. At the moment it thinks it's a power supply control front-end, so yes, they can be useful. :) Edited 2022-02-28 17:35 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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palcal Guru Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2006 |
@ Mixtel90 I think if you right click on the preview and click 'view page source' you will be able to read most of it. Edit.. It shows the entire mag. no pics. or diagrams. You will have to scroll down till you find the article. Starts at line 4573. Edited 2022-02-28 17:53 by palcal "It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all" |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8298 |
I can only see the first page of that article. Doesn't really matter, I was just interested to see what they'd done. I think some of the articles appear in Practical Electronics over here, but there's quite a delay (and I don't see Practical Electronics in any of the newsagents round here nowadays either - I'm not even sure if it's a paper mag now). Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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panky Guru Joined: 02/10/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1116 |
I have also done a Backpack for the Pico - see my post here - not bragging, just for info. I also like Micks design here - covers just about everything and nice and compact. I decided to provide support for the SSD1963 based LCDs (5,7,8 inch) as well as the ILI9341 2.8" and ILI9481 3.5". I am not sure why Silicon Chip decided not to have a connector for the SSD family - possibly because they also wanted to keep a foot in the microPython camp. They didn't include any 8266 support (via headers) either which I found surprising. Other than that, an interesting take on expanding the Pico. Doug. ... almost all of the Maximites, the MicromMites, the MM Extremes, the ArmMites, the PicoMite and loving it! |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8298 |
Thanks, Palcal - I was able to find the text. :) Doug, I like your design and would use it quite happily with a big display. I am also very envious of your workbench and at how astoundingly clear it is. :) My backpack was designed to fit into a specific box, hence the restricted size. I also experimented with the design of an intermediate PCB to sandwich between the display and the backpack. It picks up on the I2C pins that are used for the RTC and feeds them to a Micromite to add a whole new set of I/O. This was before I discovered Geoff's code to handle it, so I didn't take the design any further as I expected to have to figure out the software too. lol I might be tempted to work on it again now. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 10620 |
Like most things SC - overpriced for a trivial design Mixtel90 did a very good backpack for the PicoMite way back when and you can get PCBs for that made up for pennies. If his backpack doesn't suit then I'm sure someone on TBS could design one open-source. It would take me about a day to do a complete design but many of my needs are met by the various commercial offerings already out there fully built and cheap (Waveshare, etc.) |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3480 |
In addition to Mick's and Doug's, there are these Picomite Backpack plus 2x20 breakout PCBs   Gerbers and Eaglecad files linked to. At last check, 5 PCBs from JLCPCB cost under $6US with slow boat shipping. ~ Edited 2022-02-28 23:07 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
Information overload for me  Picomite display What's the single best way to go for: Speed High resolution Colour Don't care about number of pins required. I realise we have VGA but the options are monochrome or arcade game. Craig |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 10620 |
No discussion - SSD1963 Edited 2022-03-01 00:12 by matherp |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3480 |
Is there a commercial SSD1963 design, or is Doug's the one to look at? Or is there another? PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| Tinine Guru Joined: 30/03/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1646 |
Hmmm, just prior to your last post in this thread, Mick also makes mention of SSD1963 boards, shipping out from JLC. Cheers, Craig |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8298 |
I have some boards now, but messed up on some of the drilling so I'll need to get another batch. (It's a side effect of being ancient and stupid). I think I've sorted out my mistakes now, but I've just not got round to re-ordering (waiting for my next pension payment!). The SSD1963 uses rather a lot of pins. As I also wanted the SDcard and a RTC that ate a few more. Consequently the board now has a local I2C network which includes the RTC, a Micromite and a second PicoMite. It piggy-backs behind a 5" display. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8298 |
If you have any backpack that fits the ILI9341 and you are running out of I/O then this may help. It connects to your main device over I2C and gets its power from the 5V pin of the display. It can also be used as a stand-alone Micromite board by fitting a terminal block with pins on 5.08mm centres instead of the display connectors. The display connectors are the long pin type, fitted from the rear of the pcb. The backpack fits onto the front and the completed assembly fits onto the rear of the display. This is completely untested other than using the "Test" tool in Sprint Layout.  Comments welcome as usual. No, I'm not going to include wireless connectivity or get rid of the clicky relays. :) Edited 2022-03-01 06:11 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1646 |
There was an excellent eight page article in the January issue of SC by Geoff describing the Picomite which of course mentions 'Firmware by Peter Mather'. I expect that they felt that it covered MMBasic and the Picomite well enough. Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873 |
Thanks Bill, Yes I read that one but it seems to me that they could be accused by some of down-playing others' roles. I don't think that Geoff, at least, is too fussed. One additional question concerns the Pico only having 3v3 tolerance. What do people do with 5v devices? OK, getting 5v is easy but how to protect the Pico input? Is a voltage divider all you do, what resistances are best? By the way, thanks to you all for your comments. It might be a result of being long-retired with mature-age children but I've lashed out and ordered an SC unit. I don't hold spares of all the components and it is just so easy to 'pay the man' to provide all the bits-n-pieces. I do enjoy the assembly, including the SMD soldering. (I certainly agree with Peter about the pricing but I have found the SC gear to be pretty good and the one time I had a problem they responded quickly and sorted it.) Cheers, Andrew |
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| Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1646 |
Grogster has used level shifter modules for his PS2 keyboard while matherp used FETs for the same. 2N7000 FETs are suitable, readily available and cheap. matherp Grogster I'm thinking of getting one myself. Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8298 |
The little 4-channel bi-directional level shifters from ebay are very good (and cheap). Four mosfet circuits on one pcb that's small enough to tuck between the pin rows of a PicoMite. This I know because I've done it. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Turbo46 Guru Joined: 24/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1646 |
Andrew, How did you go with that Silicon Chip backpack? Bill Keep safe. Live long and prosper. |
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| Andrew_G Guru Joined: 18/10/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873 |
Hi Bill, Its a long story - TLDR :) It turned up a few days after I ordered it but I have packed all my good gear (microscope, soldering station etc) into boxes as we are demolishing this house in 2 weeks time to build a new one. We are quite busy packing, finalising the new design, choosing taps, dunnies, light globes etc. BigMik kindly agreed to make it up for me and posted it back a couple of days ago. Aus. Post is on a go-slow at present (preparing for the next Christmas rush) so it could be a while yet. When I get a chance I'll fire it up and report back. I also ordered some level shifters and they look the part too but, as per the above, I haven't played with them either. They went into a box yesterday . . . Cheers, Andrew |
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