A multi processor PIC computer :-)
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From: Jan Panteltje on 9 Jun 2010 17:52 On a sunny day (Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:39:58 +1000) it happened Grant <omg(a)grrr.id.au> wrote in <5s10165g88l18dhge1o1k3d3soq3kvrtgf(a)4ax.com>: >I've just started using PICs, programmed enough (RTC, HD44780 LCD module >controller, multitasking timebase) to know they're okay for what I want. >I return to microcontrollers for first time since '93 when PICs were becoming >popular but I was using 'HC05 series controllers (C8, J2, K1). So I've >seen the RISC and can get the assembler to put multi-module code where I >expect it now. > >Yet to do user input, I'm more interested in standalone operation than >serial interface, so not done rs232 or inter-chip comms yet. > >So many things I'd like to try :) Even bought a 192x128 LCD graphics >display to try driving one day -- the sort without a char gen, so I'd >have to work in a char pattern memory for text on that too. Done that >back in '80s with little 8085 box, in assembler. > >Grant. There are a few PIC project on my site: http://panteltje.com/panteltje/pic/ All of the features you mention are covered there, all asm. I could not write the soft without the serial interface. It is the first thing I always get working, plus some routines to print 8 bits, 16 bits and sometimes 32 bits numbers as ASCII to the RS232. So I can debug my programs, see what is happening. Also I always add test commands, for example 'b' to print a buffer, things like that. When starting a new project that basic code is cut and paste, including the chip initialisation. Speeds up thing a thousand times. The scope_pic project has my own character generator in it: http://panteltje.com/panteltje/pic/
From: John Larkin on 9 Jun 2010 21:28 On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:18:42 GMT, Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >A multi processor PIC computer :-) > ftp://panteltje.com/pub/multi_processor_PIC_LED_color_controller_hardware_img_2002.jpg > >I modified my LED color controller a bit so it has 3 independent hardware PWM channels. >One PIC is the master, is controlled via ethernet, and its PWM unit drives blue. >It forwards the other color levels via very fast RS232 to 2 other PICs, >one does the red pwm, and the other one does the green PM thing. > >There are 4 clocks in this system, 25 MHz for the ethernet controller, >and 3 x 64 MHz internal clocks for the PICs. > >I was watching the LED strips for interference, you can see it on the scope, >but not in the light output.... >PWM is about 15 kHz, 8 bits resolution, probably with harmonics up to...... >Anyways, multi-processor PIC is here :-) > We just got the first bare board of a VME module that has 13 ARM processors on it, one per i/o channel and one overall manager. The channels are electrically isolated, so we couldn't use a multi-processor chip or a single higher-power uP. An ARM with flash, mux'd ADC, DAC, parallel ports, SPI, timers UARTS... is a lot of stuff for $4. We're throwing away the Ethernet port! Multiple CPUs on a chip will be common in all systems some day soon, embedded included. We don't need no stinkin' RTOS... just run bare-metal code on each CPU. John
From: krw on 9 Jun 2010 23:30 On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:28:43 -0700, John Larkin <jjlarkin(a)highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote: >On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:18:42 GMT, Jan Panteltje ><pNaonStpealmtje(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >>A multi processor PIC computer :-) >> ftp://panteltje.com/pub/multi_processor_PIC_LED_color_controller_hardware_img_2002.jpg >> >>I modified my LED color controller a bit so it has 3 independent hardware PWM channels. >>One PIC is the master, is controlled via ethernet, and its PWM unit drives blue. >>It forwards the other color levels via very fast RS232 to 2 other PICs, >>one does the red pwm, and the other one does the green PM thing. >> >>There are 4 clocks in this system, 25 MHz for the ethernet controller, >>and 3 x 64 MHz internal clocks for the PICs. >> >>I was watching the LED strips for interference, you can see it on the scope, >>but not in the light output.... >>PWM is about 15 kHz, 8 bits resolution, probably with harmonics up to...... >>Anyways, multi-processor PIC is here :-) >> > >We just got the first bare board of a VME module that has 13 ARM >processors on it, one per i/o channel and one overall manager. The >channels are electrically isolated, so we couldn't use a >multi-processor chip or a single higher-power uP. An ARM with flash, >mux'd ADC, DAC, parallel ports, SPI, timers UARTS... is a lot of stuff >for $4. We're throwing away the Ethernet port! Use the Ethernet port for your interprocessor communications. Using its transformer coupling, all the real work is done. >Multiple CPUs on a chip will be common in all systems some day soon, >embedded included. We don't need no stinkin' RTOS... just run >bare-metal code on each CPU. I/O is the problem.
From: Spehro Pefhany on 9 Jun 2010 23:36 On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:30:56 -0500, the renowned "krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz" <krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz> wrote: >On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:28:43 -0700, John Larkin ><jjlarkin(a)highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote: > >>On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:18:42 GMT, Jan Panteltje >><pNaonStpealmtje(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >>>A multi processor PIC computer :-) >>> ftp://panteltje.com/pub/multi_processor_PIC_LED_color_controller_hardware_img_2002.jpg >>> >>>I modified my LED color controller a bit so it has 3 independent hardware PWM channels. >>>One PIC is the master, is controlled via ethernet, and its PWM unit drives blue. >>>It forwards the other color levels via very fast RS232 to 2 other PICs, >>>one does the red pwm, and the other one does the green PM thing. >>> >>>There are 4 clocks in this system, 25 MHz for the ethernet controller, >>>and 3 x 64 MHz internal clocks for the PICs. >>> >>>I was watching the LED strips for interference, you can see it on the scope, >>>but not in the light output.... >>>PWM is about 15 kHz, 8 bits resolution, probably with harmonics up to...... >>>Anyways, multi-processor PIC is here :-) >>> >> >>We just got the first bare board of a VME module that has 13 ARM >>processors on it, one per i/o channel and one overall manager. The >>channels are electrically isolated, so we couldn't use a >>multi-processor chip or a single higher-power uP. An ARM with flash, >>mux'd ADC, DAC, parallel ports, SPI, timers UARTS... is a lot of stuff >>for $4. We're throwing away the Ethernet port! > >Use the Ethernet port for your interprocessor communications. Using its >transformer coupling, all the real work is done. Well, unless you need to guarantee tight timing, in which case the real work may be just beginning. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany -- "it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speff(a)interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
From: krw on 9 Jun 2010 23:41
On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:36:45 -0400, Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP(a)interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote: >On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:30:56 -0500, the renowned >"krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz" <krw(a)att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz> wrote: > >>On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:28:43 -0700, John Larkin >><jjlarkin(a)highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote: >> >>>On Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:18:42 GMT, Jan Panteltje >>><pNaonStpealmtje(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >>> >>>>A multi processor PIC computer :-) >>>> ftp://panteltje.com/pub/multi_processor_PIC_LED_color_controller_hardware_img_2002.jpg >>>> >>>>I modified my LED color controller a bit so it has 3 independent hardware PWM channels. >>>>One PIC is the master, is controlled via ethernet, and its PWM unit drives blue. >>>>It forwards the other color levels via very fast RS232 to 2 other PICs, >>>>one does the red pwm, and the other one does the green PM thing. >>>> >>>>There are 4 clocks in this system, 25 MHz for the ethernet controller, >>>>and 3 x 64 MHz internal clocks for the PICs. >>>> >>>>I was watching the LED strips for interference, you can see it on the scope, >>>>but not in the light output.... >>>>PWM is about 15 kHz, 8 bits resolution, probably with harmonics up to...... >>>>Anyways, multi-processor PIC is here :-) >>>> >>> >>>We just got the first bare board of a VME module that has 13 ARM >>>processors on it, one per i/o channel and one overall manager. The >>>channels are electrically isolated, so we couldn't use a >>>multi-processor chip or a single higher-power uP. An ARM with flash, >>>mux'd ADC, DAC, parallel ports, SPI, timers UARTS... is a lot of stuff >>>for $4. We're throwing away the Ethernet port! >> >>Use the Ethernet port for your interprocessor communications. Using its >>transformer coupling, all the real work is done. > >Well, unless you need to guarantee tight timing, in which case the >real work may be just beginning. I thought we were just interfacing between multiple processors. ...and John doesn't like RTOSs, so... |