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nibbler
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Joined: 18/04/2013
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Posts: 11

Posted: 01:22pm 09 Jul 2015

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CircuitGizmos, on my Skinnymite SPI IN is marked pin 45 and it also connects to pin 45 on the PIC32.

Alan

boss

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Joined: 19/08/2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 268

Posted: 01:34pm 09 Jul 2015

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Sounds good. Really impressive upgrade.

@Geoff
I have just two remarks:

1) PS2 keyboard is hard to find a new condition in these days. I know that PS2 protocol is simple, but what about to ad USB HID and connect data to serial.

2) If graphical support (based on SSD1963 resolution up to 800x480) will be embedded then USB mouse (connected the same way like keyboard)is highly desired as well.

Of course some HW would necessary to add

Btw why not use 100pin chip instead 64pin?

Regards
Bo

WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
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Posted: 01:57pm 09 Jul 2015

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boss said Btw why not use 100pin chip instead 64pin?

Have you run out of I/O pins already??

CircuitGizmos

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Joined: 08/09/2011
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Posted: 02:21pm 09 Jul 2015

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Alan: There are definite differences between the Matherp list and the pin list for Geoff's Micromite plus. They are not the same.

Micromites and Maximites! - Beginning Maximite

Grogster

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Posted: 03:35pm 09 Jul 2015

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Justplayin said I love what I'm seeing!!! Finally, file storage and LCD display capability on one MM platform. I might not need a Maximite and 8 Micromites to build my clock now.

-Curtis

Well, indeed.

That massive PCB I designed for my security system that used all three of Geoff's projects - the Colour Maximite, the Micromite and the VT100 - is now in serious jeopardy, as the new beast integrates so much of what I was doing, into the one unit, that I am looking very seriously at doing a complete re-design of this board to use the new MM+ and be done with it.

I only got five prototype boards of that huge 3-in-1 design, so none are actually in service yet, as I was still prototyping.

Perhaps it can go into the Rictech museum!

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
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Posted: 04:21pm 09 Jul 2015

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CircuitGizmos said What pin on the 64 pin device is SPI1 IN?

SPI IN (MISO) for channel 1 is on pin 45. I need to update the documentation.

Something has gone wrong with the pin allocations related to COM1: as Tx should not be on pin 45. So (for the moment) COM1: is not working. It should be an easy fix and I will have a go at it over the next couple of days.

CircuitGizmos said The matherp pin allocation and the Geoff pin allocation are different.

That is correct, you must use the MM+ documentation.

boss said what about to ad USB HID and connect data to serial.

If you are asking for USB keyboard support, that is in my long terms plans for the MM+.

boss said why not use 100pin chip instead 64pin?

The 64-pin chip was used on the Explore 64 board because of space constraints. Grogster and/or myself are planning a PCB that will plug onto the back of a 5" SSD1963 display and that will probably use the 100-pin chip (might even call it the Explore 100).

Geoff

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

CircuitGizmos

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Posted: 04:40pm 09 Jul 2015

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Geoffg said

CircuitGizmos said What pin on the 64 pin device is SPI1 IN?

CircuitGizmos said The matherp pin allocation and the Geoff pin allocation are different.

That is correct, you must use the MM+ documentation.

Geoff

Thanks. I have a board put together with the Mather version of the I/O. I'll need to wait to use this "Plus" version until the pin-out is solid.

Micromites and Maximites! - Beginning Maximite

geraldfryjr

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Joined: 02/03/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 61

Posted: 04:43pm 09 Jul 2015

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Thanks Geoffg !!!
I ordered some 64 and 100 pin types today just in case!!

jer

Keep on DIYin' !!!

ztoti
Regular Member

Joined: 27/10/2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 65

Posted: 05:16pm 09 Jul 2015

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Simple speechless.
Thank you Geoff for your hard work.

boss

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Joined: 19/08/2011
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Posts: 268

Posted: 06:48pm 09 Jul 2015

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@Geoff

That is really great news, with 100pin version you can dedicate ~20pin for TFT display, add a SD card and reserve two serial ports for Keyboard/Mouse and still have plenty of pin remaining for application. Anyone needs more peripherals?

Bo

jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
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Posted: 07:48pm 09 Jul 2015

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Thanks Geoff

This makes a Micromite into MAXIMUM-MITE

Regards

Jman

retepsnikrep

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Joined: 31/12/2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 134

Posted: 10:00pm 09 Jul 2015

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This is great project and extension of the huge range of MAXI stuff.

Can I make a plea about casing the unit with displays especially the bigger 4.3/7" units.
I've seen so many projects (including my own) let down by terrible cases and hacked about project boxes.

Do we have any ideas on a case for the display/rear mounted pic unit combined?
3d printed perhaps?

Gen1 Honda Insights.

kiiid

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Joined: 11/05/2013
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Posted: 10:04pm 09 Jul 2015

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A question: on a first look it seems that the internal RTC is not supported. Have I missed it or that's the case? It would be good to have it I think (I can assist with that if necessary). Would it be too hard to include?Edited by kiiid 2015-07-11

http://rittle.org

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Grogster

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Posted: 10:24pm 09 Jul 2015

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retepsnikrep said Do we have any ideas on a case for the display/rear mounted pic unit combined?
3d printed perhaps?

I am considering designing a sheet-metal case that is laser-cut then powder-coated.
This may be more exotic then people want, but I am thinking about it - a friend of mine used this to make some server cases, and they came out beautifully, and they weren't that expensive to have laser cut and folded.

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

Geoffg

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Posted: 12:28am 10 Jul 2015

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kiiid said A question: on a first look it seems that the internal RTC is not supported. Have I missed it or that's the case? It would be good to have it I think (I can assist with that if necessary). Would it be too hard to include?

No, the internal RTC is not used. The internal clock is managed by MMBasic using its millisecond interrupt.

I thought about using the RTC but it is not as simple as it seems. The MM+ uses a crystal therefore the current clock is quite accurate while the MM+ is powered. So the RTC is only useful when power is removed. But the PIC32 does not have a separate power input for the RTC so the whole chip must be powered to keep it running.

This means that Vdd must be switched to a battery and the chip put to sleep. But this in turn has a pile of issues. The switching circuit is one, detecting when the power has failed is another and minimising the sleep current is difficult, if not impossible, when there are devices connected to the I/O pins.

It is much simpler to use a cheap $3 external RTC that can be queried for the time on power up.

Geoff

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

MicroBlocks

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Posted: 12:28am 10 Jul 2015

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3d printed is slow and expensive if you want a case that can last some time.
I have 3d printers and i only use them for prototyping, less and less so because it causes you to design with the capabilities of a 3d printer and not for processes or machines that can be used for quantities (even for small amounts). Seen too many examples of people going completely crazy when they have to make a few, 3d printing scales terribly and quality is pretty low if you want it to be affordable.
At the makerspace people come for the 3d printer,they stay for the laser cutter and cnc.
HIPS would be an ok material.Vacuum forms great, and can be get in many colors.
Otherwise cnc is a good option.

Edited by TZAdvantage 2015-07-11

Microblocks. Build with logic.

kiiid

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Joined: 11/05/2013
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Posted: 12:49am 10 Jul 2015

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Geoffg said
..........

Geoff

Makes complete sense. Thanks!

PS. Something for fixing in the documentation: in the 64-pin devices pin 15 is clock, and pin 16 is data for firmware programming (PGEC1 and PGED1 respectively)Edited by kiiid 2015-07-11

http://rittle.org

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MicroBlocks

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Posted: 03:52am 10 Jul 2015

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Does that also mean that Microchips Harmony library is tackled? :)

Microblocks. Build with logic.

f1fco

Senior Member

Joined: 18/03/2012
Location: France
Posts: 155

Posted: 11:42am 10 Jul 2015

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what a fantastic work !
I have a dream and Geoff do it !

thank you

Pierre

I need a PCB for a 100 pins PIC : is it already available ?

73s de F1FCO

shoebuckle
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Joined: 21/01/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 189

Posted: 12:52pm 10 Jul 2015

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@Geoffg. Geoff, sounds like a great project for a series of articles in Silicon Chip, especially if integrated with a small screen, keyboard and external RTC.
Hugh

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