This project is suffering from a bit of feature creep, but it's all good and desirable stuff that's being added (trust me).
So because of also wanting to be able to incorporate at least the networking aspect of FujiNet into the project, a couple of extra headers were added, and a FujiNet Plug-In Module has been designed.
The PCB mock-up of this new FujiNet Module can be seen to the right. With the real thing nearly ready to have the gerbers sent off to the board manufacturer to get some sample boards made.
This is meant to plug in on the right of the A8Pico Cart module of the NUCplus4 daughter board. Taking advantage of the 576NUC+ internal SIO header, and a couple of small 2 pin headers on each of the bottom corners to stabilize the piggyback aspect of this module.
Everything from a WiFi aspect has been retained, so accessing TNFS servers, assigning remote files to virtual drives, and doing wireless printing to the PC is fully supported. However unlike the regular FujiNet implementations, SD Card access is separate being handled by the SDrive-ng.
So because of also wanting to be able to incorporate at least the networking aspect of FujiNet into the project, a couple of extra headers were added, and a FujiNet Plug-In Module has been designed.
The PCB mock-up of this new FujiNet Module can be seen to the right. With the real thing nearly ready to have the gerbers sent off to the board manufacturer to get some sample boards made.
This is meant to plug in on the right of the A8Pico Cart module of the NUCplus4 daughter board. Taking advantage of the 576NUC+ internal SIO header, and a couple of small 2 pin headers on each of the bottom corners to stabilize the piggyback aspect of this module.
Everything from a WiFi aspect has been retained, so accessing TNFS servers, assigning remote files to virtual drives, and doing wireless printing to the PC is fully supported. However unlike the regular FujiNet implementations, SD Card access is separate being handled by the SDrive-ng.
For the firmware update aspect I chose to use a pre-made FTDI based RS232 Serial to USB-C board from AliExpress. Its cheap at just a tad over $3 (that price includes shipping), and has all the required signals broken out, including the ones that allow for Auto Program mode.
Being USB-C mimics the connector on the A8Pico Cart board, so only one cable need be stocked in order to load files to the A8Pico Cart, or to update firmware on either that or the FujiNet.
Being USB-C mimics the connector on the A8Pico Cart board, so only one cable need be stocked in order to load files to the A8Pico Cart, or to update firmware on either that or the FujiNet.
Individual physical switches have been eliminated for control of either the FujiNet, SDrive, or the A8Pico Cart, making use of the keyboard PS/2 signals broken out on the internal SIO header of the 576NUC+. This combined with individual PIC12F629 8-pin DIP 'slave' micro-controller chips on both the NUCplus4 daughter board and FujiNet module, allows all control to be done via the PS/2 keyboard. This method also allows for monitoring by the 'master' PIC16F1847 chip on the 576NUC+ so that certain actions can be modified and/or the present state displayed upon entering a key shortcut sequence. Having all actions controlled and coordinated by the single PS/2 keyboard, lets the 3D printed enclosure be much simpler and have far fewer holes, or any need for identification labels.
Speaking of having a PIC12629 on the NUCplus4 daughter board, yes that required a new board layout bringing it up to revision level 1.5.
I think that'll do it for this blog post. More to come...
- Michael
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Speaking of having a PIC12629 on the NUCplus4 daughter board, yes that required a new board layout bringing it up to revision level 1.5.
I think that'll do it for this blog post. More to come...
- Michael
Previous Post (Next Post)
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