Update! Three things. 1) all the below still holds true. 2)I dind't really mention it was an 18X I was gonna use, but it's inconsequential because 3) I will soon have a 40X to use isntead.
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Ok, I need input.
Origionally I was jsut designing a data aquisition and control system for a radio telescope.
This then evolved into a "hey, why not make a data aquisition box separate from the radio telescope so I can use it for other things when not observing"
Then it became "Since I have to have some outputs for control, why not make lotsa outputs"
Now it's "Why dont I jsut hang off every accessory I have or can acquire, and make what I have dubbed a "Big Honkin I/O Cube".
I'm calling it a cube, but it's probably going to be more of a big rectanglular box. My idea is to modularize it, each different function on an identically sized board that can be stacked up or removed as needed.
So far I've got the following:
128 bi-directional I/O with interrupt (on two 64 I/O boards)
16 channels of DAC (possibly only 8, and use the other 8 as reference voltages for the first bank).
ADC- this ones still up in the air. I could use analog switches into the picaxe ADC's (giving an easy choice of 8 or 10 bit), or use up 3 I/O's on the picaxe and use a TLV2543. That'll give me a choice between 8 through 12 bits across 11 channels, but be alot slower. oh decisions decisions...=)
a single PWMout through a fixed discrete darlington transistor (as that's all the 18X has so far as I know)
a multiplexed strobe for clocking things in and out of whatever it is that's decided to connect to this frankensteins monster. Perhaps play double duty and use more analog multiplexers for things such as DS18B20 temp sensors.
standard Gammut of MAX6955 features, the "keypad" feature of which will probably be used for the interrupts from the I/O ports for speedier data acquisition (and also onboard keys!)
Onboard memory is an undecided option as of yet, as this is mostly designed to be connected to a computer.
Whew...now that that's outta the way, it comes to needing your input. As an american, I'mgoing to follow the bigger and more is beter stereotype! What else can I shove into this thing? Gimme your ideas, no matter how outrageous, I can probably figure out how to fit it in.
Let your imaginations fly and help my burned out brain!
--Andy P
Edited by - andypro on 7/1/2005 10:22:02 PM
Edited by - andypro on 7/1/2005 10:24:58 PM
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Ok, I need input.
Origionally I was jsut designing a data aquisition and control system for a radio telescope.
This then evolved into a "hey, why not make a data aquisition box separate from the radio telescope so I can use it for other things when not observing"
Then it became "Since I have to have some outputs for control, why not make lotsa outputs"
Now it's "Why dont I jsut hang off every accessory I have or can acquire, and make what I have dubbed a "Big Honkin I/O Cube".
I'm calling it a cube, but it's probably going to be more of a big rectanglular box. My idea is to modularize it, each different function on an identically sized board that can be stacked up or removed as needed.
So far I've got the following:
128 bi-directional I/O with interrupt (on two 64 I/O boards)
16 channels of DAC (possibly only 8, and use the other 8 as reference voltages for the first bank).
ADC- this ones still up in the air. I could use analog switches into the picaxe ADC's (giving an easy choice of 8 or 10 bit), or use up 3 I/O's on the picaxe and use a TLV2543. That'll give me a choice between 8 through 12 bits across 11 channels, but be alot slower. oh decisions decisions...=)
a single PWMout through a fixed discrete darlington transistor (as that's all the 18X has so far as I know)
a multiplexed strobe for clocking things in and out of whatever it is that's decided to connect to this frankensteins monster. Perhaps play double duty and use more analog multiplexers for things such as DS18B20 temp sensors.
standard Gammut of MAX6955 features, the "keypad" feature of which will probably be used for the interrupts from the I/O ports for speedier data acquisition (and also onboard keys!)
Onboard memory is an undecided option as of yet, as this is mostly designed to be connected to a computer.
Whew...now that that's outta the way, it comes to needing your input. As an american, I'mgoing to follow the bigger and more is beter stereotype! What else can I shove into this thing? Gimme your ideas, no matter how outrageous, I can probably figure out how to fit it in.
Let your imaginations fly and help my burned out brain!
--Andy P
Edited by - andypro on 7/1/2005 10:22:02 PM
Edited by - andypro on 7/1/2005 10:24:58 PM