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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : *** COMM *** MuP Ver. 2 Available

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bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946
Posted: 11:12pm 22 May 2014
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G'Day All,

Yes, this can be deemed blatant advertising or `self promotion’. I was hesitant to post this here in the forum but, after consulting Gizmo (our Forum Owner), he has assured me that this was OK by him. So here goes.

MuP Ver. 2 Is now available and I have decided to offer it in various forms, itemised below:

OPTION 1:
$3AUD Bare PCB

OPTION 2:
$5AUD Bare PCB + SMD 3v3 Vreg (VR2) + SMD 47uf v6v3 (low ESR 0.25 Ohm) Cap

OPTION 3:
$8AUD Bare PCB + SMD Vreg and Cap pre-soldered.

OPTION 4:
$23AUD Fully built and tested (includes programmed PIC32)

Pic32MX150 Pre-Programmed.
$7AUD Programmed Pic32MX150 (40MHz), (If supplied with either of the first 4 options)


Postage of each of the above options will vary but will be basically the actual cost including packaging rounded UP to the next full dollar. Postage cost can be confirmed via PM or email depending on where you are located.

For further information on Geoff Graham's MicroMite please see:

MicroMite

And for the latest MuP Ver 2. Manual please see:

MuP Ver. 2 Manual

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me via PM (on this site) or via email.

Bigmick58@bigpond.com

Kind Regards,

Mick


Edited by bigmik 2014-05-24
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2927
Posted: 12:39am 23 May 2014
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I have just built up a couple of MuP v2 PCBs and can confirm that it is a really useful little module for when you need to build a solution based around a 28-pin DIL MicroMite.

The onboard PSU along with the necessary components (caps, resistors, headers) really do make for a minimalist design; perfect for creating a MicroMite based system.

The additions over MuP v1 make it easy to temporarily connect a USB module for coding/debugging which can then be removed once it is working as required. This feature really does offer a low-cost solution.

The additional 'console' jumper Mick has added not only allows direct connection of USB Modules; but also for Geoff's upcoming Ascii Video Terminal. So overall this is a very versatile little PCB - strongly recommended.

It is good that Mick is offering all these low-cost 'configuration' options that he lists in his post.

I will be putting an alternative offering on the MicroMite.org website. This will be a simple kit comprising of a v2 MuP along with a USB Module which plugs directly into the MuP when required. Estimate $30AUD + shipping.

Nice one Mick - well done for a brilliantly simple Module

WW
PS I will post pictures here soon (once I have backed up my camera's SD card!)
 
Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3269
Posted: 01:58am 23 May 2014
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Good on you Mick. I will put a link to this thread on my Micromite web page.

Geoff
Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net
 
paceman
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Joined: 07/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1329
Posted: 03:16pm 23 May 2014
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Yep this is great little option Mick. Now I don't know whether to be unfaithful to your Version 1 (still got three left) or whether to replace them all! Think I'll just have to tenderly put the others aside for time being and get a couple of V2's - you could call this the 'buzz bomb' - or maybe not because our younger folk wouldn't understand the joke.

The $5 option sounds damn good value to me so I'll get an order off to you for a couple.

Greg
 
bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946
Posted: 03:51pm 23 May 2014
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Gday All,

Wow! Go to sleep for a few hours and look what happens.

WhiteWizard, thank you for your high praise, I feel very humbled. I hope that it lives up to everyone's expectations.

Geoff, Thank you, that would be appreciated.

Greg, Better get in quick (old sales pitch) I am down to my last 4 SOT-223 Vregs (sold 8 last night in about an hour). I have some on order but they look like they are on the proverbial `slow boat from China'. I do, I think, have some To-220 ones but I have to check if they are 3v3 or adjustable (original Mono maximite Vreg). When they are gone, until I get replacements I will have to pause Options 2 and 3.

The take up on Ver 2 has been quite welcoming.

Kind Regards,

And a big thank you to everyone.

Mick

EDIT ***

Greg,
As to being unfaithful to your Ver.1's...
Firstly, the Ver. 1 is still a very useful PCB (mainly lacking Pullups if you need I2C).
Secondly if it wasn't for the response to Ver. 1 being so popular there wouldn't have been a Ver. 2

Mik




Edited by bigmik 2014-05-25
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946
Posted: 05:14pm 26 May 2014
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Lads,

Sorry to say that due to an unprecedented demand of "option 2" I now do not have any stock of the SMD 1117-3V3 regulators (I am actually holding two for someone that made an enquiry, so I will hold these for a couple more days). I have these on order but they have still not arrived.

I can however offer a few (not too many of these left either) with a TO-220 Vreg (LM1117T-3v3) but this will make "OPTION 2" $5.50 instead of $5.. and "Option 3" $8.50 My apologies for this but hopefully it is only temporary.

On the plus side I have placed an order for some PIC32MX150's (direct from TZ's Thailand friends at Microchip) these are 50MHz parts so all future PICS I supply will be 50MHz units.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Bill.b

Senior Member

Joined: 25/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 232
Posted: 08:22pm 28 May 2014
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Received my boards today. Built and tested one so far.

Thanks Mick

Bill
In the interests of the environment, this post has been constructed entirely from recycled electrons.
 
bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946
Posted: 11:48pm 28 May 2014
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Thanks Bill,

I hope you are happy with them,

Regards,

Mick
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Lightrock
Newbie

Joined: 19/05/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 26
Posted: 03:08am 29 May 2014
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Picked mine up from my PO Box today Mick. Thanks.

Now to find time to build them as we decided today to retire to our rented property in Qld in July.

Time to pack.

Roy
 
Bill.b

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Joined: 25/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 232
Posted: 02:55pm 29 May 2014
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Hi Mick

The only issue I have with the board is the
connections to J2.

I have the Freetronics USB to serial adapter as mentioned in the
Silicon Chip article.

The pin outs are

Freetronics............J2
CST....................Tx
Rx.....................Rx
Tx.....................Gnd
Vc.....................3.3v
N/C....................5v
Gnd....................Gnd

I will have to use leeds to connect the adaptor to the
board.

BillEdited by Bill.b 2014-05-31
In the interests of the environment, this post has been constructed entirely from recycled electrons.
 
bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946
Posted: 03:25pm 29 May 2014
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Hi Bill,

When I did the pin-out of J2, when I designed MuP Ver. 1, I looked at my 3 different USB-TTL adapters that I had (all had different Orders), then looked on ebay and was quite gobsmacked by the myriad of different pinouts that are out there. I came to the conclusion that there was NO STANDARD so I laid it out to best suit the track layout and how I felt the order `should' have been (keeping the Comms separated from the Power connections as much as possible). I figured that if I designed for one footprint there would be twenty others that it wouldn't work for so I could not make everyone happy. If I really thought hard I probably would have designed it for the Dontronics3v3 USB-TTL cable directly but I didnt have one of those either.

Bear in mind MuP was originally designed to be a cheap final (not connected to a PC so NO need for TTL comms) PCB to be hidden in a cabinet merrily doing whatever it was designed to do and only need a 5V power source to get it going.. So I figured it was only three jumper wires to connect if you wanted TTL Comms (Tx, Rx GND)

When I redid the design for MuP Ver. 2 I had a dilema, I could have changed the Pinout but as there were already about 40 MuPs out there I felt that it would be disastrous if someone had two different versions of MuP and then connected the cable they used for one version onto the other Version (with a different pinout..) This was Not acceptable to me so I stayed with what I had for safety as at a quick glance the two Versions look very similar.


I am sorry if that causes you any grief but I feel that this was always going to be a case of `why didnt you design it for xxxx brand'

I hope that otherwise you are happy with MuP.

Kind Regards,

Mick


EDIT***

MuP Ver. 2 also introduced a new header (J12) that directly mates with WhiteWizard's USB-TTL module. This header also enables the Sparkfun modules to be plugged in but as these dont have 5V supply on the connector (5V is there but would need a minor modification to use it to Power MuP) and the fact it has only 4 pins I felt that this could get a bit complicated and whilst they WILL work, it is not officially supported.

Mick


Edited by bigmik 2014-05-31
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Bill.b

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Joined: 25/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 232
Posted: 04:24pm 29 May 2014
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Thanks Mick

I will have to use floating leads to my programming.

Bill
In the interests of the environment, this post has been constructed entirely from recycled electrons.
 
bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2946
Posted: 10:48pm 29 May 2014
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Bill,

  Bill.b said  
I will have to use floating leads to my programming.


It would be a simple matter to make an `interface adapter' out of a small bit of vero-board. Or make a short cable to do the job, it is only four wires max.


I also, initially, missed your point about the Freetronics module being mentioned in the SC article, well MuP Ver. 1 was designed before the SC article was published and even to this day I havent seen any of the SC articles as I have not re-subscribed.

I just checked the Freetronics web site and they make the statement that it is the same pinout as the FTDI cable (as Dontronics sell), however looking at the overlay and the pinout on Dontronics the RTS and CTS are reversed.. Not that it would make the slightest difference to MuP as I would ignore them.

In one way it is a pity, as if I had redone J2 I would have made it the same as The Dontronics FTDI cable and that would have suited the Freetronics module as well but as I had already released a Version that had one pin-out I wasnt going to create a possibly disastrous situation for those who had both versions of MuP.

In the case of the FTDI cable it is a simple 1 to 2 minute job with a sharp scalpel blade to change the pin-out on the 6 way header.. No such luck on a PCB though, unfortunately.

If I do a Ver. 3 I will have to revisit this or add still another footprint, although I doubt there is any place I could add another header.



Regards,

Mick

Edited by bigmik 2014-05-31
Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
Lou

Senior Member

Joined: 01/02/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 229
Posted: 07:52pm 31 May 2014
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Mick said:
MuP Ver. 2 also introduced a new header (J12) that directly mates with WhiteWizard's USB-TTL module.
This header also enables the Sparkfun modules to be plugged in but as these dont have 5V supply on the connector
(5V is there but would need a minor modification to use it to Power MuP) and the fact it has only 4 pins I felt
that this could get a bit complicated and whilst they WILL work, it is not officially supported.

Good work Mick, I think everyone who does a uMite board from here out should use the WhiteWizzard's USB-TTL module as the standard.
All future boards from Zonker (Z-cards) will definitely use this USB-TTL header as the standard.

Lou
Microcontrollers - the other white meat
 
WhiteWizzard
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Posted: 10:34pm 31 May 2014
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The 5-pin header included on the WW USB Module had a lot of thought going into what seems like a really simple thing. The logic was as follows:

- All MicroMites will require 3v3 for the PIC. So with no onboard LDO then you need to offer 3v3.

- If a MicroMite module has an onboard LDO then this will be driven by typically 5v so need to offer 5v.

- The only 'console' connections required for a MicroMite are Rx & Tx (no CTS, RTS etc, etc - so don't offer any of these).

The above implicates a 5-pin header: 0V, Rx, Tx, 3v3, and 5v.

My thoughts then said if every MicroMite module had this 5-pin header, then it can be used as a communications header and/or a power input header. So a 'range' of miniature Power/Comms Modules could be created including:
1> A USB Power Module: 5v from USB via poly fuse to 5v pin. This would then power a MicroMite Module's LDO
2> As above but with a 3v3 LDO on board to supply 3v3 to a MicroMite Module (for those with no LDO installed)
3> A jack-socket Power Module. 5-12v input then regulated down to 5v and/or 3v3
4> Also a direct connection to the stand-alone ASCII Video Terminal (coming soon!)

This would then avoid the need for other onboard power headers saving valuable PCB space.

So anyone designing a MicroMite Module and implementing this 5-pin header would have ALL the necessary inputs for console communication and power requirements.

Now I await a flood of messages saying 'but it doesn't cater for . . . . .'
 
MicroBlocks

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Joined: 12/05/2012
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Posted: 11:11pm 31 May 2014
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But it doesn't cater for:

using USB-Serials module DTR for resetting the mcu.

So i just added a pin to make it a 6 pin header that is compatible with the 5 pin header. :)



Microblocks. Build with logic.
 
WhiteWizzard
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Posted: 11:25pm 31 May 2014
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aargee
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Joined: 21/08/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 255
Posted: 05:03pm 01 Jun 2014
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I did post the idea of the Freetronics USB/Serial(/Power supply) interface back in Feb here . It has an LD1117 3.3V regulator onboard and I hot wired the USB 5V to the spare pin on the six pin header connector. Maybe just a little on the expensive side at $25

It has been working very well since then. It has successfully run the Micromite, a backlit 40x2 LCD and Ultrasound module for hours on end without a hiccup. Providing the load on the USB interface doesn't exceed the computers port spec (500mA) then this board can handle everything else.

Great for experimenting with the Maximite when I go on the road.
For crying out loud, all I wanted to do was flash this blasted LED.
 
vasi

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Joined: 23/03/2007
Location: Romania
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Posted: 09:24pm 01 Jun 2014
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But it doesn't cater for:

- Arduino standard USB-to-Serial module (be it 5 or 3.3V) so you can't use what is already available for Arduino PRO boards and a lot of other boards. In fact, you are ignoring a well established standard and try to create another. It may work for you or not ...
Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton
Elvish name: Mablung Miriel
Beyound Arduino Lang
 
JohnS
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Posted: 10:23pm 01 Jun 2014
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But that (Arduino) assumes a 5V uC and uses 5V logic levels, doesn't it?

JohnEdited by JohnS 2014-06-03
 
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