To do this requires:
- host USB support
- USB basic software stack
- USB thumb-drive (FAT etc) software stack
- serial port (9-bit capable for our LAN)
I'm considering using a uC we already use plus
the FTDI Vinculum part. Quick development, probably
can meet the BOM (VDRIVE is ~ $25 before qty
discounts, our own board with FTDI controller
would be cheaper).
Anybody got an alternate uC they'd suggest, which
includes all of the above, is available in eval/
devel boards including USB host, has conventional
and robust C development tools, and does not require
$$$ for the software stack and/or tools ? And has
all the required libraries to do file IO to the
thumb drive ?
Thanks in advance for your inputs !
PS: Requirement Notes:
- USB thumb-drive (NOT compact-flash or other storage)
- microcontrollers with proprietary languages
(instead of ANSI C as our existing code requires)
are disqualified (to minimize port work)
> Anybody got an alternate uC they'd suggest, which
> includes all of the above, is available in eval/
> devel boards including USB host, has conventional
You don't strictly need host, you can use OTG... Look at the Freescale
Flexis parts, specifically the ColdFire-based ones because they
include OTG. It's easy to get started with them because they ship an
eval module which consists of the bare CPU mounted on a tiny PCB with
100 mil headers. The eval board is the DEMOJM board. Although not
explicitly documented, this board can also be used to program your own
boards in-circuit (all you need to do is solder on a 3x2 100mil
header).
The s/w stack (at least for your purposes) is free, provided by CMX,
source is included, development is with regular C in CodeWarrior.
Thanks Lewin, I'll have a look.
Guess I should read up on OTG as well...
> > The s/w stack (at least for your purposes) is free, provided by CMX,
> > source is included, development is with regular C in CodeWarrior.
>
> Thanks Lewin, I'll have a look.
> Guess I should read up on OTG as well...
I have several spare DEMOJM boards and you are welcome to one if you
want it. It comes with 8-bit and 32-bit target boards; I want the 8-
bit board, but you're welcome to the 32-bit board and the base, which
is everything you need to experiment with the CMX stack. The 8-bit
board won't do OTG anyway. A size-limited version of CW is included.
That's incredibly kind of you, Thanks !
Let me do a bit more research prior I take you up on your offer.
I'll contact you offline...
Again, Thanks !!!
Luminary Micro has a nice dev board that interfaces with a USB
thumb-drive using a USB OTG port. They have a nice dev board
with free tools, libraries etc. to help one get started. Only FAT12
and FAT16 are supported due to licensing issues with Microsoft
on FAT32.
Regards
Anton Erasmus
> and FAT16 are supported due to licensing issues with Microsoft
> on FAT32.
This is a bit of a phantom. It's generally accepted that if LFN
support is not used, any implementation of FAT32 is compliant. (This
has not TTBOMK been litigated, nor has MS actively pursued a licensing
jihad, since FAT32 is no longer a fashionable FS).
> That's incredibly kind of you, Thanks !
That's ok - I was at a Freescale seminar where they were giveaways.
After the show I asked for more of the 8-bit target boards to build my
own circuits, and they said "just take a few more entire kits, we
don't have loose target boards". So I did :)
uALFAT looks good, but price on their web site is considerably
higher than $12 ???
FAT32 or bust...
OK - I did a bit more homework.
Your comments and thoughts would be appreciated !
FAT16 only supports up to 2GB memory sticks (at least
with "standard" cluster and sector sizes). A 4GB
memory stick now costs $20. Ergo, customers will buy
and plug sticks that require FAT32 into anything we
build now and lives on in the market for a few years.
As these customers know where I live, I think I need
FAT32 support...
So, how to support FAT32 ?
FTDI Vinculum and GHI uALFAT support FAT32.
The GHI uALFAT cost looks like its over our BOM target.
GHI sells a library USB stack plus FAT32 for $3500.
TheFreescale Flexis part suggested by Lewin (MCF51JM64)
is provided with the CMX_lite library, which only supports
FAT16. To get FAT32, we'd need to license the complete
CMX library for $4600 per product, or do something
different.
MicroChip provides a USB-host stack and FAT16 support,
but no FAT32. And their hateful new PIC32 web site
crashes FireFox (I'll need to try again with IE),
though presumably their 16-bitters would be adequate...
Lewin's DOSFS does support FAT32. I had a look and this
looks quite nice, though I didn't find the regression
tests or see how to run them at first glance. I understand
a few minor fixes are pending review and integration;
perhaps I could help here with both. Perhaps I should
layer Lewin's DOSFS on top of the Flexis or Microchip USB
stack.
Your thoughts and komments ?
Thanks in advance,
Best Regards, Dave
> TheFreescale Flexis part suggested by Lewin (MCF51JM64)
> is provided with the CMX_lite library, which only supports
> FAT16. To get FAT32, we'd need to license the complete
> CMX library for $4600 per product, or do something
> different.
So use the CMX USB stuff and add FAT32 from elsewhere, either mine
(yes I'm late with the fixes) or one of about a zillion other open-
source options, depending on whether GPL is a problem for you or not.
Vinculum chip would seem the obvious answer. Even with the socket and supporting parts you're well
under the $30 target if built in. Even the VDIP1 DIP module would just about be in there.
By the way, it can also be a USB slave, so that may save something elsewhere on the BOM.