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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : ArmmiteF4 firmware: V5.06.00
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| matherp Guru  Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9998 |
Please find attached new firmware for the ArmmiteF4. This includes various bug fixes that Geoff has included in recent MMBasic releases, some minor optimisations from the CMM2 and a bug fix for a memory corruption using sprite close. ArmmiteF407.zip Like all STM32 you can program the firmware directly over the USB connection see here and here for lots more information about programming and the ArmmiteF4 in general For those that don't know about the ArmmiteF4, it is my favourite MMbasic port. A single board that has everything you need - USB serial port, RTC with battery, SDcard slot, TFT header. It runs faster than the MM+ and is much cheaper as a complete system. Lots of projects like Geoff's Super Clock, DDS signal generator, and boat computer are easy to port to the ArmmiteF4 with display and run superbly. The matching display is 16-bit parallel and very fast Buy the pair from here and many other vendors  Note there are lots of variants of STM32F407 development boards. You must buy the one pictured for the firmware to work. The only downside is that there isn't currently a dedicated manual for the ArmmiteF4. To create one is just a cut and paste exercise so if anyone wants to volunteer I would be happy to provide word files and guidance. Edited 2021-02-10 04:58 by matherp |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3298 |
Thanks for the update. That works. After programming firmware on F4 with 4.3" 480x272 LCD: OPTION LCDPANEL DISABLE OPTION LCDPANEL SSD1963_4_16,L [Power cycle] OPTION TOUCH PB12, PC5 gui calibrate F10 [AUTOSAVE] (after selecting my code on the PC) Ctrl-Z [save program] F2 [run] Ctrl-C [quit] F2 [run again]  (As ever, the LCD is crisp, though photo from my phone is mangled.) Perhaps it is greedy to look for a path forward after this very welcome update, but here goes. (First, this is also my favorite micromite--great price, great functionality.) The Armmite F4 is a good candidate for a standalone "MMBasic computer" with a keyboard added and an LCD. Unfortunately, the 320x240 LCD which is readily available to order with the STM32F407VET6 allows lines only 53 characters wide with OPTION KEYBOARD and OPTION LCDPANEL CONSOLE 7 (the smallest available font, 6x8). The 4.3-inch SSD1963 (which requires an adapter board), is fine, with 480x272 pixels, which works out to an edit screen of 80x25 characters.  But that LCD and the even better 5" & 7" 800x600 are quite expensive for the 20-pin versions--$34 U.S. with shipping at a minimum (and require an adaptor). To me, a much better fit would be the 480x320 SPI ILI9488, which would give an 80x40ish edit screen with font 7. Of course, it would also require a backpack to bring out the interface pins. I would propose to design one which would also include a PS/2 keyboard connector, socket for RTC & ESP-01, mini-stereo socket, IR capability, and a 20x2 pi-type connector like that on the CMM2. The 3.5" ILI9488 can be had for $10US including shipping. There is apparently a 'loadable' driver for this LCDI think for the MM+ (and perhaps MMX). This would make a very capable "MMBasic computer"). On the firmware side, if space is available, JSON$ and FIELD$ would be helpful. Perhaps BLIT WRITE could be modified so that it could be used either without height and width specified (CMM2 style), or with those (for compatibility). If SPRITE could be accepted as an alias for BLIT, that would help in porting certain programs from and to the CMM2. With regard to hardware, support for the STM32 "black pill" (which almost works ) would be valuable. If the "blue pill" is an example, the black pill will be around for a long time. With an appropriate backpack PCB, that could provide much of what the STM32F407VET6 PCB does except for the high-speed LCD. I understand that the CMM2 is a much hotter game if there is more on the burner there. As always, thanks very much for your great work on MMBasic. ~ Edited 2021-02-10 07:28 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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hitsware2 Guru Joined: 03/08/2019 Location: United StatesPosts: 715 |
Does that display plug directly onto the board ? my site |
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Quazee137 Guru Joined: 07/08/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 585 |
Yes |
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| hitsware2 Guru Joined: 03/08/2019 Location: United StatesPosts: 715 |
Neato .... Thank You ....  > You must buy the one pictured for the firmware to work. Is that a certain ' brand ' or ? Edited 2021-02-10 09:29 by hitsware2 my site |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3298 |
Not the "black pill", not other STM32F4 varieties. Search aliexpress for "STM32F407VET6". If you want the LCD, pick, a site which shows it in addition to the F4 board. Like this. Matherp's site has a better price. Edited 2021-02-10 10:08 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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lew247 Guru Joined: 23/12/2015 Location: United KingdomPosts: 1702 |
Amazon link to the board |
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Chopperp Guru Joined: 03/01/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1088 |
Hi Peter Probably a bit much to ask but can the Serial only version be updated. I now have 2 boards with the USB interface U/S. You did email me an updated version at the time which worked. (25/09/2019) No dramas if you can't. Original post Brian ChopperP |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9998 |
This version (V5.06.01) should be switchable. Program the firmware as usual. Then hold down KEY0 while you reset the board and it should switch it into serial console mode ArmmiteF407.zip NB: I've also tested this version on a "black pill" and it works fine. HOWEVER, the black pill is missing a 1.5K resistor from D+ to 3.3V. In the picture I've used a 1206 1.5K resistor between the top of R3 and 3.3V. With this mod W10 sees the USB CDC and I can connect with teraterm. The SDcard works fine. I haven't tried the display header as the pinout is non-standard but it should work suitably wired with a ILI9341. Do note that the standard of production of the black pill seems to be extremely poor. The usb connector fell off on mine the first time I pugged a cable in so I re-flowed all the components  |
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| Chopperp Guru Joined: 03/01/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1088 |
OK, will try in a day or two. Thanks ChopperP |
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| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2396 |
am not sure if this has been discussed before, but has anyone looked at a port to the STM32F411: https://www.ebay.com/itm/264823841719 https://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers-microprocessors/stm32f411ce.html 512k flash, 128k RAM, available on a 40-pin DIP PCB with USB-C connector for less than $10. this would be a nice alternative to a micromite E64. no onboard SD card, but a small daughterboard is cheap: https://www.ebay.com/itm/312526713209 cheers, rob :-) |
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| IanT Regular Member  Joined: 29/11/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 97 |
I haven't been able to find that version of the Black Pill Peter. Can you provide a pointer please? Rgards, IanT |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9998 |
here but you can find much cheaper elsewhere But I do not recommend it. The target board is better in every respect |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 4812 |
Not sure about the name of the board. If you google at STM32 black pill the things that show up are boards that have the shape of the "blue pill" They typically have STM32F401/F411 chips on them. That is why you might have been confused. here here here PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| matherp Guru Joined: 11/12/2012 Location: United KingdomPosts: 9998 |
If you design a backpack I'll commit to getting the ILI9488 working. Be aware though that the display is slow: 480x320 16-bit is a lot of data over SPI Better would be something like this |
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| IanT Regular Member Joined: 29/11/2016 Location: United KingdomPosts: 97 |
OK, thanks Peter - noted. Regards, IanT |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3298 |
Excellent. I've ordered one of the "3.5" inch 480x320 TFT LCD Touch Screen Display Board For Arduino UNO R3 Mega2560" LCDs from here  Is the connection from the F4 LDC header straightforward? PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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disco4now Guru Joined: 18/12/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 964 |
I have two candidates for higher resolution 16bit parallel screens. They both have the XPT2046 touch. I don't think the one you link to has touch. One is 3.5" 320*480 ILI9486 (I have not tried it yet) Other is 3.97" 800*480 OTM8009A/NT35510 IPS Display (I have this working) They are 34 pin connectors , so you need a 32pin to 34 pin adaptor with wiring lined up correctly. The 800*480 has a transistor driver on the BL pin so can be driven from the BACKLIGHT command. I think the 320*480 is the same. 320*480 800*480 I only have the OTM8009A 800*480 version which now seems to come with a later NT35510 driver chip which I have not tried. The 800*600 OTM8009A I have working on the ARMMite F4 with touch. I checked OPTION LCDPANEL CONSOLE and seems to work. Although small in size for 800*480 is very crisp as its IPS. I compiled it into the recently released ArmmiteF4 source, it added about 3K. I was intending to ask Peter to consider adding to the code, but wanted to verify with the later NT35510 chip first. There is probably not much room for too many displays so just want to put my bid in for the 800*480 to be included. Regards Gerry Edited 2021-02-12 10:19 by disco4now Latest F4 Latest H7 FotS |
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| morgs67 Regular Member Joined: 10/07/2019 Location: AustraliaPosts: 77 |
+1 Following with interest as I have several F4s and a larger screen at a reasonable price would be great. Tony |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3298 |
Those look quite nice. The 3.5" one has the ILI9486 controller. The 32 pin to 34 pin adaptor would be similar to the 32 pin to 40 pin which Peter made previously for the larger (and more expensive) 16-bit displays for the F4. To me, 480x320 is adequate for running the editor with OPTION LCDPANEL CONSOLE--but if only one could be implemented, the 800x480 would be better, I guess--especially if you already have a driver working. Can you post a picture of the editor on the 800x480 screen in CONSOLE mode? PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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