All posts by fash

Raspberry – Arduino Collection

Display case almost done.

Raspberry 1-3 different versions RP400, compute module, zero’s, pico, RP2040 (trinkey). (2012-2023)

I’ve got to many arduino clones, so only atmeta328p, uno, mega, nano ..
And a esp32 esp8066 plus a wemos mini (i use these a lot)

The Arduino’s will have to make place for other Raspberry stuff at a later time.

Custom made case with acrylic protection cover.

These all work, so this is also my stock.
When needed for a project, I will have some spares.

Went to HCC Retro Meeting. (SDK-85 Update)

UPDATE 20240104

I’ve met Dirk, he brought his SDK85.
And demo-ed a working cassette interface, using audio cables and a second laptop.

Saw a presentation about the MC14500B a weird little chip, robots, retro rebuilds using Raspberries.

Update 20240104 some soldering

Meanwhile .. my old MicroTapes are not using the Intel AP-29 method for data, so that needs some work also.

Not much new .. why?

Working for a new boss, doing these kinds of projects for a living now.
Writing courses, doing consultancy work and creating cool projects.

I’ll be posting stuff at a later time.

Raspberry Pi History Case

I started a little case for a collection of Raspberry devices.

Over the years, many Raspberries were designed and made.
It all started in 2012
I want to have a case with all RP’s i’ve used.

There are many iterations of the RPi, I’m missing a lot now. If you want to help me, send me old/broken raspberries to get the collection complete!

This is the case at the moment

Case with some Raspberries and Arduino’s I found lying around, I’m not going to dismantle projects. Only the RPi 1A, 4B, Zero, Zero W, Pico and RPi 400 are displayed.
Plastic sheet as protective layer still on there, should be clear as glass.

The case isn’t glued together yet. I’m not sure how and what to include.

  • Horizontal wooden bars to place the devices on?
  • Include a history of Arduino’s for now?
  • Put little notes in the case with information? Like my SDK-85 case?
  • ?

Get information about your RPi version

curl -L https://perturb.org/rpi?rev=$(awk '/^Revision/ { print $3 }' /proc/cpuinfo)

SDK-85 interface PCB soldered

Using spacers, I can use the existing holes in the SDK to hold the interface PCB in place. Now I have to move my information sheet. 🙂

My scope didn’t save the test capture .. Next time.
But I could see the clear ones and zeros.

You can faintly see the data, stop start of a program is visible.

Dirk cleaned up a OCR version of the program, which I cleaned up some more, and found some errors.
So that should be okay now.

We did it! .. The best movies according to IMDB watched! (TOP 250)

Woo-hoo!

In 2013 I converted an online list of movies from here:
https://www.imdb.com/chart/top/

We watched all of them. ( And others .. )

Some unknown beauties. Some we didn’t understand or liked. But we persevered. We can do this!

Just a generic movie image .. Maybe i’ll make a complete movie cover thingy ..

See also:

Are we done? .. No, next to check, are the movies which entered the list after 250. Maybe half of the new ones we’ve seen ..

Busy weekend .. didn´t have time to post

I’ve got my SDK-85 cassette interface PCB’s in, If you want to have the Kicad files. Message me.

My 3D printer has a worn out hot-end .. so a new one to install.

BBQ time! .. That’s from 1-januari till 31-december .. rain, snow storm whatever.
I’ve made a lot of Rubs/Sauces and marinades.
But a new book i always welcome ..

Also new recipes and tips. Let me know.

Sunday a day of music with our folkband.
Played some old and new tunes.

Did some Vulkan / OpenGL benchmark testing.

Cleaned and fixed our wine cellar.

And tomorrow i’m starting new work.

Blender example-animation for a controller

Quick mash-up as proof of concept.

400 frames

Let measure the level of beer in a metal tank .. 🙂

Micropython Pico W Internal Led Test

  • Download firmware from here (uf2 file)
    https://micropython.org/download/RPI_PICO_W/
    (Make sure you use W version if you have a pico-w)
  • Press bootsel and plug your pico into an usb port.
  • A folder should be accessible
  • cp RPI_PICO_W-20231005-v1.21.0.uf2 /media/$USER/RPI-RP2/
    (pico reboots and installs firmware)

Install and start Thonny.

Tools > Options > Interpreter

Python test code (1 second blink)
Note: for the normal pico without Wi-Fi, it is GP25 instead of LED.

from machine import Pin
import utime

led_onboard = Pin('LED', Pin.OUT)
while True:
        led_onboard.on()
        utime.sleep(1)
        led_onboard.off()
        utime.sleep(1)

Run at boottime?

File > save as:
Select device and name the python script main.py

Ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04 + RP2040 (waveshare) Auto screen lock

Point the sensor at yourself when behind your computer.
When you leave your computer for some seconds, it wil automatically lock your screen. (Windows-L keypress)
The RP2040 is configured as HID so it emulates a keyboard.
Just connect via an usb-cable to your machine

Arduino Code

File > Preferences > Additional Board URLS
https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico/releases/download/global/package_rp2040_index.json

Change USB Stack!

Download and install Adafruit_TinyUSB.zip

#include "Adafruit_TinyUSB.h"
// defines pins numbers
const int trigPin = D4;
const int echoPin = D5;
// defines variables
long duration;
int distance;
int maxcounter;
uint8_t const desc_hid_report[] =
{
  TUD_HID_REPORT_DESC_KEYBOARD()
};

// D0-D3 NOT USED AT THE MOMENT, I'VE GOT IDEAS FOR EXTRA FUNCTIONALLITY!

// USB HID object. For ESP32 these values cannot be changed after this declaration
// desc report, desc len, protocol, interval, use out endpoint
Adafruit_USBD_HID usb_hid(desc_hid_report, sizeof(desc_hid_report), HID_ITF_PROTOCOL_KEYBOARD, 2, false);

//------------- Input Pins -------------//
// Array of pins and its keycode.
  uint8_t pins[] = { D0, D1, D2, D3 };


// number of pins
uint8_t pincount = sizeof(pins)/sizeof(pins[0]);

// For keycode definition check out https://github.com/hathach/tinyusb/blob/master/src/class/hid/hid.h
uint8_t hidcode[] = { HID_KEY_0, HID_KEY_1, HID_KEY_2, HID_KEY_3 , HID_KEY_4, HID_KEY_5 };

#if defined(ARDUINO_SAMD_CIRCUITPLAYGROUND_EXPRESS) || defined(ARDUINO_NRF52840_CIRCUITPLAY) || defined(ARDUINO_FUNHOUSE_ESP32S2)
  bool activeState = true;
#else
  bool activeState = false;
#endif

void setup()
{
  // Setting pins for Ultrasonic Sensor HC-SR04
  pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT); // Sets the trigPin as an Output
  pinMode(echoPin, INPUT); // Sets the echoPin as an Input
  
#if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_MBED) && defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_RP2040)
  // Manual begin() is required on core without built-in support for TinyUSB such as mbed rp2040
  TinyUSB_Device_Init(0);
#endif

  // Set up output report (on control endpoint) for Capslock indicator
  // Not used .. yet
  usb_hid.setReportCallback(NULL, hid_report_callback);

  usb_hid.begin();

  // overwrite input pin with PIN_BUTTONx
  // NOT USED 
#ifdef PIN_BUTTON1
  pins[0] = PIN_BUTTON1;
#endif

#ifdef PIN_BUTTON2
  pins[1] = PIN_BUTTON2;
#endif

#ifdef PIN_BUTTON3
  pins[2] = PIN_BUTTON3;
#endif

#ifdef PIN_BUTTON4
  pins[3] = PIN_BUTTON4;
#endif

  // Set up pin as input
  for (uint8_t i=0; i<pincount; i++)
  {
    pinMode(pins[i], activeState ? INPUT_PULLDOWN : INPUT_PULLUP);
  }

  // wait until device mounted
  while( !TinyUSBDevice.mounted() ) delay(1);

maxcounter =0;
}

void loop()
{
  
  // Clears the trigPin
  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  // Sets the trigPin on HIGH state for 10 micro seconds
  digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);
  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);
  // Reads the echoPin, returns the sound wave travel time in microseconds
  duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);
  // Calculating the distance
  distance = duration * 0.034 / 2;
  // Prints the distance on the Serial Monitor - DEBUG
  //Serial.print("Distance: ");
  //Serial.println(distance);

  // Below will wait for more than 100 measurements with a distance of 100
  // Then it will send a WINDOWS-L (lock) keyboard combination 
  if (distance > 100)
  {
    maxcounter +=1; 
  }
  else
  {
    maxcounter = 0;
  }
  if (maxcounter > 100 && maxcounter < 150)
  {
    maxcounter = 200;
       // Send report if there is key pressed
    uint8_t const report_id = 0;


    uint8_t  modifier = KEYBOARD_MODIFIER_LEFTGUI;
          uint8_t keycode[6] = { 0 };
      keycode[0] = HID_KEY_L;


    usb_hid.keyboardReport(report_id, modifier, keycode);
    delay(10);
    // Un-press keys :)
    usb_hid.keyboardRelease(0);
    
  }

  
  // poll gpio once each 2 ms
  delay(20);

  // used to avoid send multiple consecutive zero report for keyboard
  static bool keyPressedPreviously = false;

  uint8_t count=0;
  uint8_t keycode[6] = { 0 };

  // scan normal key and send report
  for(uint8_t i=0; i < pincount; i++)
  {
    if ( activeState == digitalRead(pins[i]) )
    {
      // if pin is active (low), add its hid code to key report
      keycode[count++] = hidcode[i];

      // 6 is max keycode per report
      if (count == 6) break;
    }
  }

  if ( TinyUSBDevice.suspended() && count )
  {
    // Wake up host if we are in suspend mode
    // and REMOTE_WAKEUP feature is enabled by host
    TinyUSBDevice.remoteWakeup();
  }

  // skip if hid is not ready e.g still transferring previous report
  if ( !usb_hid.ready() ) return;

  if ( count )
  {
    // Send report if there is key pressed
    uint8_t const report_id = 0;
    uint8_t const modifier = 0;

    keyPressedPreviously = true;
    usb_hid.keyboardReport(report_id, modifier, keycode);
  }else
  {
    // Send All-zero report to indicate there is no keys pressed
    // Most of the time, it is, though we don't need to send zero report
    // every loop(), only a key is pressed in previous loop()
    if ( keyPressedPreviously )
    {
      keyPressedPreviously = false;
      usb_hid.keyboardRelease(0);
    }
  }
}

// Output report callback for LED indicator such as Caplocks
void hid_report_callback(uint8_t report_id, hid_report_type_t report_type, uint8_t const* buffer, uint16_t bufsize)
{
  (void) report_id;
  (void) bufsize;

}