[Delicon]

Here it is. The final working version of the through hole cart and the programmer. All the software and CPLD files have changed, I will post these later. For now, here are the schematic and board files. If people are interested I will post the files to send to the board house. Parts list (hasnt changed) and instruction forthcoming. Good luck, feel free to ask questions. Any input by experts would be great, like if I did something really boneheaded.

All options have been tested. USB works (drivers available for windows, Mac, and linux). RS232 works. Built in Pony Prog programmer works. CPLD programming works. SRAM works. FLASH works. Bankswitching works.

Serial communications is set to 115.2K buad. Let me know if this should be adjustable. I will work on it. Downloading doesnt take too long, a minute for the bankswitching files, less for the game bin files.

I renamed it to just Chimera, I dropped the Jr part. I dont think anyone will mind.

If someone comes up with a case or enclosure for the programmer, let me know. I will check it out and design a board to fit.

I am cleaning code, testing more bankswitching, and will begin work on the surface mount version (smaller, cheaper, and programmer included).

Software, CPLD files, parts list, and instructions to come.

If someone wants to design cart labels that would be really cool.

Good luck,

Vern

These files require Eagle layout editor to view and manipulate. Download free for hobby use at Cadsoft.

Attached File(s)

•  Chimera_Stuff.zip (51.62K)
  Number of downloads: 74

This post has been edited by Delicon: Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:06 AM

[Delicon]

Part lists are broken up into the cartridge and programmer. Most parts can be ordered from Digikey. A couple parts I ordered from Jameco and Mouser. If someone finds an equivalent part # for Digikey to replace the Jameco or Mouser parts, let me know and I will update the list. If someone has a question about any part, just ask.

Cartridge:

          Part Description                        Digikey Part#      Price       Notes
U1       Xilinx xc9572 CPLD 84-PLCC              122-1172-ND        6.10
U2       Cypress 32K SRAM 28-DIP                 428-1080-ND        4.25        Optional - Only needed to play games using extra RAM
U3, U4   Atmel AT49F512 64K Flash 32-PLCC        AT49F512-70JC-ND   2.04        U4 is optional, but must be the same part as U3
U3, U4   Atmel AT49F001 128K Flash 32-PLCC                                      U4 is optional, but must be the same part as U3
U3, U4   Atmel AT49F002 256K Flash 32-PLCC                                      U4 is optional, but must be the same part as U3
U3, U4   Atmel AT49F040 512K Flash 32-PLCC                                      U4 is optional, but must be the same part as U3
OSC1     5V 14.7456MHz Oscillator                XC247-ND           2.13
C1       100pF Ceramic Cap                       BC1013CT-ND        0.13
C2-C9    0.1uF Ceramic Cap                       BC1084CT-ND        0.16        C7 and C9 are needed only when populating U2 and U4 respectively
          84-PLCC Socket                                             1.29        Jameco Part#  71976
          32-PLCC Socket                                             0.55        Jameco Part#  71811 - 2 are needed if populating U4
          28-DIP Wide Socket                                         0.19        Jameco Part#  112272 - only needed if populating U2

This post has been edited by Delicon: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:01 AM

[Delicon]

Programmer:

          Part Description                        Digikey Part#      Price       Notes
U1       RS232 Interface                         296-1402-5-ND      0.78        Populate for RS232 use
U2       5V Regulator                            296-13996-5-ND     0.52        Populate for RS232 use
U3       AVR Microcontroller                     ATMEGA8-16PC-ND    3.66
U4       Silabs CP2101 USB Bridge                336-1077-1-ND      5.70        Populate for USB use
OSC1     5V 14.7456MHz Oscillator                XC247-ND           2.13
CONN1    24POS Edge Card connector               S1126-ND           2.96
CONN2    2.1mm Power Jack                        CP-102A-ND         0.38        Populate for RS232 use
CONN3    DSUB9 .318" RT Female                                      0.60        Jameco Part#  104951 - Populate for RS232 use or Pony Prog use
CONN4    Kobiconn B Type USB Connector                              0.58        Mouser Part#  154-2442 - Populate for USB use
SW1      4POS Dip Switch                         CT2084-ND          0.51        Populate for Pony Prog use
J1       3x2 Male Header                                            0.18        Jameco Part#  115035CC - Populate for AVRISP use
K1       Reed Relay 5V w/Diode                   306-1063-ND        1.46
T1       NPN 200ma Transistor TO-92              2N3904D26ZCT-ND    0.15
D1,D2    20V Zener Diode                         1N4747ADICT-ND     0.36        Populate for Pony Prog use
D3       2 Color LED                             P391-ND            0.59
R1, R2   4.7K Ohm Resistor                       4.7KQBK-ND         0.06        Populate for Pony Prog use
R3, R4   470 Ohm Resistor                        470QBK-ND          0.06
R5       2.2K Ohm Resistor                       2.2KQBK-ND         0.06
C1       0.47uF 25V Ceramic Capacitor            BC1150CT-ND        0.29        Populate for RS232 use
C2, C8   0.1uF 50V Ceramic Capacitor             BC1084CT-ND        0.16        Populate C2 for RS232 use
C3-C7    1.0uF 25V Ceramic Capacitor             BC1151CT-ND        0.45        Populate C3-C7 for RS232 use
C9       0.1uF 1206 50V Ceramic Capacitor                           0.15        Mouser Part#  80-C1206C104K5R - Populate for USB use
C10      1.0uF 1206 16V Ceramic Capacitor                           0.25        Mouser Part#  80-C1206C105M4V - Populate for USB use
C11      4.7uF "A" 10V Tantalum Capacitor                           0.19        Mouser Part#  80-T491A475K010 - Populate for USB use
          30 Pin Inline Socket                                       0.89        Jameco Part#  78641CC - Used to raise card edge connector higher
          28-DIP Socket                                              0.21        Jameco Part#  112299
          16-DIP Socket                                              0.13        Jameco Part#  112221

This post has been edited by Delicon: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:05 AM

[Delicon]

Cartridge assembly instructions:

Before you start anything, you have to decide how much flash memory you want to install. The cartridge can provide 64k, 128k, 256k, or 512k using a single chip. At any time a second chip (of the same type as a first chip) can be added to double the flash to 128k, 256k, 512k, or 1M. You also need to decide if you want SRAM. Some games use extra RAM in the cartridge to supplement the RAM in the VCS. If you wish to use the cartridge to play these types of games, you will need to install the SRAM chip.

Order your parts, see parts list above. You may not need to order all of the parts, be sure to read the part notes to decide which ones to order. If there is no note, that part is not optional and must be installed.

Just a note before you begin. Many components need to be installed in a specific direction. There are markings on the board that indicate the first pin or the direction a part should be placed. If this is new to you, be sure to get help, you can destroy some parts by installing them backwards.

Begin assembly with the capacitors. Install C1 - C6, install C7 if you chose to add SRAM, install C8, and install C9 if you are installing a second flash chip or wish to in the future. Solder all the caps and clip the leads short.

Install the 28-DIP wide socket at U2 if you chose to add the SRAM, solder in place.

Install OSC1, solder and cut leads.

Install the 84 pin PLCC socket at U1 and a 32 pin PLCC socket at U3, install a 32 pin PLCC socket at U4 if you are installing a second flash chip or wish to in the future. Solder all pins in place. After soldering the PLCC sockets, its a good idea to double check that you in fact soldered every lead. Its easy to skip one when soldering so many at once.

Find S0 and S1 near one of the cartridge arms. These two switches tell the cartridge brains what size memory chips you are using, not the total memory. To turn a switch on or make it 1, bridge a glob of solder over the middle pad and the pad above it or more towards the number 1 printed on the board. To turn the switch off or make it 0, bridge a glob of solder over the middle pad and the pad below it or more towards the zero. Set S0 and S1 according the following:
64k memory chips - S0 is 0 and S1 is 0
128k memory chips - S0 is 1 and S1 is 0
256k memory chips - S0 is 0 and S1 is 1
512k memory chips - S0 is 1 and S1 is 1

Install U1 - U4 into their sockets, be sure to watch for chip direction again.

You are done. Finished product should look similar to the picture.

Attached thumbnail(s)

• 

This post has been edited by Delicon: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:57 AM

[Delicon]

This episode, how to assemble the programmer. Next episode, how to program the programmer!?

Again, before starting the programmer, you need to decide two things. One, USB or RS232. USB requires surface mount soldering, this is not for everyone, but the advantages are no power cable needed and it works with Mac and Linux. RS232 is easy, needs external power, and wont work with Mac without an adaptor.

The second thing you need to decide is how to program the AVR microcontroller. There is a small computer called an AVR that runs the programmer. When you buy this chip it doesnt have any code on it, you need a way to put code on it. One way is an AVRISPs or equivalent. This a device that costs about $30 and connects to the chip through a 3x2 pin header. Many people may already have these AVRISP, so this option is available to them. If you dont have one then you have to use the Pony Prog. This a very simple programmer that works with free software available at Lancos. It is available for Windows and Linux. Use the 2.06 version. The downside of the Pony Prog is that you must use an RS232 port to do the initial programming. This cannot be done through USB. You can use USB afterwards to load games on your cartridge, but the initial code must be programmed with RS232 if you are using the Pony Prog. A third option will be available in the future, this will be buying the AVR chip with a bootloader already programmed into it. I will explain this later when it becomes available, right now it cant be done.

Order your parts, see parts list above. You may not need to order all of the parts, be sure to read the part notes to decide which ones to order. If there is no note, that part is not optional and must be installed.

Just a note before you begin. Many components need to be installed in a specific direction. There are markings on the board that indicate the first pin or the direction a part should be placed. If this is new to you, be sure to get help, you can destroy some parts by installing them backwards.

I am not going to go step by step again for soldering, just solder in all the parts you ordered. The only tricky one is CONN1. Do this one last. Take your 30 pin inline socket and carefully break it into two 12 pin pieces and one 6 pin piece. Take the two 12 pin pieces and loosely press them on CONN1 card edge connector. Dont over do it, its very tight and you will end up with pins sticking inside your hand, it hurts. Push them on enough so they stay and dont fall off. Now take the connector with the inlines on it and install it and solder it. Once soldered, press CONN1 card edge connector all the way down, see the pictures below. It will hold on its own, no need to do anything else.

Done. See pictures for completed RS232 version and USB version.

12 pin inlines soldered in:


CONN1 card edge connector pushed on the inlines:


Completed RS232 with PonyProg version:


Completed USB with AVRISP version:



Stay tuned for programming the programmer.

This post has been edited by Delicon: Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:18 PM