Home
JAQForum Ver 24.01
Log In or Join  
Active Topics
Local Time 23:40 26 Nov 2024 Privacy Policy
Jump to

Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.

Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Picomite VGA Logic analyzer

     Page 3 of 4    
Author Message
Pluto
Guru

Joined: 09/06/2017
Location: Finland
Posts: 358
Posted: 08:06am 16 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Made an isolated input for the Logic Analyzer (LA_21) by using Si8660 LOW POWER SIX-CHANNEL DIGITAL ISOLATOR. Works fine at least for I2C, not yet tested with SPI. Isolates the measurement inputs from PicoMite and makes the inputs 5V tolerant.

Just for testing. I have the input part suppled from USB 5V and the output supplied from Pico's 3.3V. If properly done, the input should be powered a from separate isolated supply (e.g. battery, 2.5-5.5V).

Made it because I have some trouble with static electricity shutting down the Pico from time to time. Sometimes the program is erased, but more frequently it starts again (OPTION AUTORUN ON). However, the isolator did not solve the problem with static electricity.

/Pluto
 
Mixtel90

Guru

Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6792
Posted: 09:06am 16 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

The PicoMite shutting down occasionally could be a sign of a bad or marginal power supply rather than static electricity. The on-board SMPS usually isolates the 3V3 pretty effectively from the 5V input and allows for quite a voltage drop. There shouldn't be much noise or any spikes on the USB supply from a PC.

It could be that all you need are some external pull down (or pull up as appropriate) resistors to discharge the gate capacitance of the PicoMite inputs.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
Pluto
Guru

Joined: 09/06/2017
Location: Finland
Posts: 358
Posted: 09:18am 16 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

In my case it is definitely static electricity. It only happens when I approach and touch the workbench. Can also feel the characteristic small pain in my fingers.  

It is winter here in Finland and the humidity is low. Excellent opportunity for creating static electricity. Not enough to heat the house   , but only a finger or two.
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 09:56am 16 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Hi Pluto,

Yesterday I experience the same. But I was using a picomite to control a 1000Vdc generator, and when touching the 1000V with a multimeter probe, the picomite restarted (disconnecting USB...mind you, this is linux, putty, shuts down in that case...Windows teraterm will reconnect without issues).

In my case the pico was on a breadboard. I blaimed the breadboard, and the poor ground layout between the instuments on my desk, where USB creates a ground loop.

My circuit was a test setup, and I got the results. But it was anoying...

In your case the problem may be coupling through the 5V USB and common ground. You can test this by powering the isolator primary side from a separate phone charger...

Volhout
Edited 2023-02-16 20:01 by Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
phil99

Guru

Joined: 11/02/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 2135
Posted: 11:43am 16 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Try a 10k from RUN pin to 3V3 (and perhaps a 100n from RUN to GND). The weak internal pullup makes it a bit too sensitive.
Fixed it for me.
 
Pluto
Guru

Joined: 09/06/2017
Location: Finland
Posts: 358
Posted: 12:01pm 16 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Thanks for the idea. I will try it.
/Pluto
 
Mixtel90

Guru

Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6792
Posted: 12:14pm 16 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

I'd be tempted to work on an antistatic mat and wear a wrist band connected to it. Static discharges and microcontrollers don't mix well You may be ok at first, but repeated discharges can weaken insulating layers on the die and give problems later. Normal precautions when working with CMOS.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 10:08am 20 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

  phil99 said  Try a 10k from RUN pin to 3V3 (and perhaps a 100n from RUN to GND). The weak internal pullup makes it a bit too sensitive.
Fixed it for me.


Hi phil99,

This is a really good fix. I just added to 100n capacitor, and it made the pico much more robust against ESD discharges on my test table. I will rework all my picomite platforms to add this capacitor. The 10k may also help, but the capacitor was the dominant fix.

Thanks !!!

Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
Pluto
Guru

Joined: 09/06/2017
Location: Finland
Posts: 358
Posted: 07:16pm 22 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Thanks phil99. I connected only the 100n and did not see any problems since that.

/Pluto
 
Pluto
Guru

Joined: 09/06/2017
Location: Finland
Posts: 358
Posted: 07:27pm 22 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Logic Analyzer LA_21:
I had some problems with the newer firmwares (e.g.PicoMiteVGA MMBasic Version 5.07.07b22). The graph colors were OK only in the upper-left corner of the screen.
The solution was simple: Adding the command "TILE LARGE" to the beginning of the program solvs the problem.

Just in case somebody else run into the same problem.

/Pluto
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 10:56pm 22 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

@pluto

I did the same. Did not publish yet, since Peter is still working on 50707bxx. Things may still change.

Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 06:14pm 25 Feb 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

There is an update for the logic analyzer program. There are no features added, but changes to make it compatible with the latest MMBasic version.

This version V50707b24 is adapted for color editor in mode 1. To support this is has a different tile size. The tiles are used to provide color in mode 1.
With this new version MMBasic the colors on screen where mis aligned.

This version fixes that. It has changes in screen setup, and in the time measurement function that highlights the measured section.


LA21_b24.zip

Put both files in 1 folder. Then run the LA_21_b24.bas.

Regards,


Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 10:38pm 10 Mar 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Please find attached user manual for the Picomite VGA logic analyzer.

Feel free to comment.

The document is in in .RTF format. I hope it is readable since I can't write in PDF at the moment.


LA_userman.zip


Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
Mixtel90

Guru

Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6792
Posted: 11:03pm 10 Mar 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

I write RTF files using Jarte Plus now. It's a nice editor, free and can print to PDF files.
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
Amnesie
Guru

Joined: 30/06/2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 396
Posted: 10:25am 11 Mar 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Thank you for the manual, this makes things a lot easier!

Greetings
Daniel
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 07:41pm 11 Mar 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

You are welcome. I needed to write down instructions, and Tom asked for a manual, so here is it.

Volhout..
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
thwill

Guru

Joined: 16/09/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 4040
Posted: 07:55pm 11 Mar 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Neat, thank you @Volhout, I'll have to find time to have a play ... I wonder what I will analyse ... the signals from NES controllers perhaps    .

Best wishes,

Tom
Game*Mite, CMM2 Welcome Tape, Creaky old text adventures
 
Pluto
Guru

Joined: 09/06/2017
Location: Finland
Posts: 358
Posted: 09:52pm 11 Mar 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

You will probably have the play when you have your next communication problem...
...with sensors.
I2C is in place and operational and SPI is also possible to encode (see much earlier posts), what would be the next preference?
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 09:59pm 11 Mar 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Spi basis has been shown. Disadvantage of spi is that you need so much knowledge to set it up correctly for decoding that hardly anyone will succesfully use it.

But maybe uart or onewire would be more usefull.

But I tend more at the moment to finalising my chess program, so if you, pluto, want to pick up where I stopped, you are welcome.
Edited 2023-03-12 08:08 by Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
Volhout
Guru

Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4235
Posted: 11:18am 13 Apr 2023
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

All,

The Picomite VGA 5.07.07 is close to release. All bugs have been fixed. One fix affected the logic analyzer graphics.

This is fixed in below version LA_22.

Version LA_22 is functionally identical to LA_21, only modified to work with Picomite 50707.

The user manual is included in the ZIP. Unpack all in a folder on the picomite, and run "LA_22.bas".

Happy analyzing...

Volhout
LA22.zip
Edited 2023-04-13 21:19 by Volhout
PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS
 
     Page 3 of 4    
Print this page
© JAQ Software 2024