Tag Archives: hardware

VR 360 180 3D

First tests with a Vuze Xr. (unedited unoptimized)

It can record 360 movies or take 360 degrees pictures.
Besides that it can do stereoscopic recording for using in VR glasses. (2D 180 tested in a oculus vr set)
In the past i made those 360 degrees pictures manually using Hugin for example. Also stereoscopic images, using two pictures.
But it was a lot of work, and most of the times the quality wasn’t worth it.

Another test i did recently was
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/01/02/ipcam-sphere-panorama/

Soon more

6502 and Arduino (due to missing components)

(Work in process, will certainly change)

Due to eeproms being scarce, i’m going to use a arduino as Rom emulator.
Below is a test setup i’m going to build.

Made the drawing in Kicad.

KiCad is a free software suite for electronic design automation. It facilitates the design and simulation of electronic hardware. It features an integrated environment for schematic capture, PCB layout, manufacturing file viewing, SPICE simulation, and engineering calculation.

Memory assignment:

$8000-FFFF - Rom
$4000-7FFF - Ram ?
$2000-3FFF - Multiple times the 6522 *
$0000-???? - Ram probably

* This is due to the fact i am only using Address lines: 0,1,2,3,13,14,15

Mystery Cartridge C64

As posted before, i found a cartridge in my collection a while ago. I don’t know where i’ve got this one from.

While searching on the internet for more information, i really couldn’t find anything about it.
Not even on collectors sites.

Where did it come from, what does it do?

It says: Data Manager 64 (1984) , Softworld and Handic.

I can find many cartridges by Handic. I’ve checked all database/filers i could find. Non looked like this.

Next to try ..
Dumping the cartridge to file. Probably by changing the way the C64 starts a autostart cartridge.
So i have to modify the cartridge port, and put a cross connection on the lines EXROM and GAME, this will change the memory addresses ($8000/$A000) where a cartridge is placed. Then the commodore will start normally, and i can dump the cartrige memory locations to a file.

So pins 8 and 9 have to be switched around.
The C64 autostarts a cartridge when it find certain data on $8000

Meanwhile i try to contact some collectors of cartridges.

I don’t think its a homebrew, but we will see.

New 6502 DIY computer

Started with a new Micro computer project.

Update: 20220721 .. VIA chip installed
Update: 20220801 .. changed layout, addressing and added rom, see below post.

Such a influencial little processor … Apple, Vic-20, C64 (with modifications), PET, BBC Micro, Oric, Atari and Nintendo.

Another (big brother) influencial CPU is the 68000.
(Amiga/Atari ST/ Macintosh/Sinclair)

I’ve made a 680x computer in the past, and i want to make another one.

This one will be based on a 6502, because i used to program on this cpu when i got my Vic-20.

Goals of this project:

  • 6502 Cpu
  • Memory and Rom
    • Rom must contain a good machinecode monitor
  • Adjustable clock
    • Now using Ben Eatons clock diagram, but i will move this to a programmable arduino, with a display which shows the clock rate
  • Hex keyboard ro program the machine, just like picture below
  • Display which was a resolution of at least 640×480
    • It will be a slow screen, character printing and a gfx mode?
    • First probably a SPLC780 HD44780, so i can enter/edit machine code.
  • Hopefully using a SID chip
  • Hardware monitoring of the address and data lines like movie below
  • Programming via serial/usb, by halting the 6502 cpu and pushing data into memory or fake-eprom with a arduino
    • Save/restore by modifying memory
  • Small
Example of Hex keyboard

Update 20220721

Via chip is on the board.
For now i’m using a old display, like this one

I was planning to use this one

The graphic capable 12864 display (128 x 64 pixels)

I will reuse the schematics i’ve used for the 680x computer. (Posted above)

Update: 20220801

Added ROM, and changed layout.
Every breadboard has a function now.

Upper left, Ben’s Clock module (this is going to be changed to a arduino with display which shows frequency)
Upper right, power-on reset (Reused part of C64 schematic)
Second row left, the 6502
On the right the ROM, RAM i also going to install here.
3rd Row, Address decoding, this is going to be a dynamic setup using dip switches and a eeprom for decoding (i know, this kind of decoding is slow, but i don’t need speed), on the right probably the hex keyboard with its own 6522.
4rd row left, a temporary display 16X2 connected via a 6522. Here i want to have a graphical display.
4rd row right (not started this part yet) a sound device. SID or a Yamaha sound chip i still have.

Screens and DIY projects

Below some examples and connection diagrams to control displays.
More code and complete schematics will be added on this page or on a separate projects page.

UPDATE 20230119 Cost of 20×4 display in 1998

LCD

I’ve used a LCD display like this (HITACHI HD44780) on my PC in the 90s, and also written code to use this as a monitoring device on my amiga.

On Linux i used LcdProc – This module also was equiped with a serial connector
Now (2023) it is 8 euros!
When bought now fl to euro 98 Euro or 107 $
;LCD Display Module             Parallel port
;        1 Vss                  20 GND
;        2 Vdd                  14 +5V
;        3 Vlc                  20 GND (contrast LCD display)
;        4 RS (register select) 11 BUSY
;        5 R/W                  12 POUT
;        6 E (enable)           13 SEL
;        7 DB0                   2 D0
;        8 DB1                   3 D1
;        9 DB2                   4 D2
;       10 DB3                   5 D3
;       11 DB4                   6 D4
;       12 DB5                   7 D5
;       13 DB6                   8 D6
;       14 DB7                   9 D7
Amiga code part
        bsr     initprt         ; CIA 8520 init
        bsr     initlcd         ; init lcd display module
        move.l  #0,d0
        rts

initprt:move.b  #$ff,$bfe301    ; parallel port is output
        move.b  $bfd200,d0
        ori.b   #$07,d0         ; select, p-out and busy
        move.b  d0,$bfd200      
        rts

initlcd:move.w  #$38,d0         ; multiple reset
        bsr     send
        bsr     delay2
        move.w  #$38,d0
        bsr     send
        bsr     delay2
        move.w  #$38,d0         ; 2*8 lines
        bsr     send
        bsr     delay2
        move.w  #$01,d0         ; clear display
        bsr     send
        bsr     delay2          ; wait
        move.w  #$0c,d0         ; display on
        bsr     send
        move.w  #$06,d0         ; Entry Mode Set
        bsr     send
        rts

send:   bsr     delay
        btst    #8,d0           ; test rs bit
        beq     reg0
        bsr     rs1             ; select register 1
        bra     skip
reg0:   bsr     rs0             ; select register 0
skip:
        bsr     delay
        bsr     rw0             ; read/write=0 
        bsr     delay
        bsr     e1              ; enable = 1
        bsr     delay
        move.b  d0,$bfe101      ; push data
        bsr     delay
        bsr     e0              
        bsr     delay
        rts

delay:  move.w  #$20,d1
dloop:  subi    #1,d1
        bne     dloop
        rts

delay2: move.w  #$800,d1
dloop2: subi    #1,d1
        bne     dloop2
        rts
Part of my MQTT display alarm thingy
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
#include <Wire.h> 
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>  
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 20, 4);
const char* ssid = "MYACCESSPOINT";
const char* password = "MYPASSWORD";
const char* mqtt_server = "mymqttserver";
const byte ledRed = 12;
const byte horn = 13;
int button = 2;
int press = 0;
boolean buttonToggle = true;


// Todo : DISPLAY 2ND LINE, DISPLAY SILENT, ...

WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);
bool toggle = false;
void setup_wifi() {
  delay(100);

  Serial.print("Connecting to ");
  Serial.println(ssid);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED)
  {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  randomSeed(micros());
  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("WiFi connected");
  Serial.println("IP address: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
}

void callback(char* topic, byte* payload, unsigned int length)
{
  if (length > 0) {
    toggle = true;
  }

  if (length == 0) {
    toggle = false;
  }

  Serial.print("Command from MQTT broker is : [");
  Serial.print(topic);

  Serial.println();
  Serial.print(" publish data is:");
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.backlight(); // turn off backlight

  {
  
    for (int i = 0; i < length; i++)
    {
      Serial.print((char)payload[i]);
      if (i < 16){
      lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
      lcd.setCursor(i, 0);
      } else {
      lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
      lcd.setCursor(i-16, 1);
      }
      lcd.write((char)payload[i]);
    }
  }


  Serial.println();
} 

void reconnect() {
  
  while (!client.connected())
  {
    Serial.print("Attempting MQTT connection...");
    
    String clientId = "mqttlcd";
    clientId += String(random(0xffff), HEX);

    if (client.connect(clientId.c_str()))
    {
      Serial.println("connected");

      client.subscribe("mqttlcd/message");
    } else {
      Serial.print("failed, rc=");
      Serial.print(client.state());
      Serial.println(" try again in 5 seconds");
      delay(6000);
    }
  }
} 

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  pinMode(button, INPUT);
  digitalWrite(2, HIGH);
  pinMode(ledRed, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(ledRed, LOW);
  pinMode(horn, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(horn, LOW);
  setup_wifi();
  client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
  lcd.init(); 
  lcd.backlight();
}

void loop() {

  
  if (!client.connected()) {
    reconnect();
  }
  if (toggle == true) {
    digitalWrite(ledRed, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(horn, HIGH);
    delay(200);
    digitalWrite(ledRed, LOW);
    digitalWrite(horn, LOW);
    delay(200);
  }
  if (toggle == false) {
    digitalWrite(ledRed, LOW);
    digitalWrite(horn, LOW);

  }

  client.setCallback(callback);
  client.loop();

  press = digitalRead(button);
  if (press == LOW)
  {
    if (buttonToggle)
    {
      digitalWrite(ledRed, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(horn, HIGH);
      buttonToggle = !buttonToggle;
    }
    else
    {
      digitalWrite(ledRed, LOW); 
      digitalWrite(horn, LOW);
      buttonToggle = !buttonToggle;
      toggle = false;
      client.publish("mqttlcd/button","pressed");
      lcd.clear();
      lcd.noBacklight(); // turn off backlight
    }
  }
  delay(500);  //delay for debounce
}

Oled

There are several oled displays, mostly controllable with i2c but some of them are SPI

SSD1306 – I2c connected

Using a wemos – Octoprint project for example
Octoprint (Note: this is NOT a multicolor display 1/4 of the display is yellow. )
My notification watch. Runs on a ESP12F connects to Wifi, has a piezo sound element
Using a raspberry (Part of my Lab Sensors Project)
pip3 install adafruit-circuitpython-ssd1306
git clone https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Python_SSD1306 (old)
Edit file - comment SPI section

Some arduino’s have embedded displays like those i’ve used for a Lora project.

Other means of connecting : SPI

SPI connected display

Nextion

Nextion is a Human Machine Interface (HMI) solution combining an onboard processor and memory touch display with Nextion Editor software for HMI GUI project development.

Using the Nextion Editor software, you can quickly develop the HMI GUI by drag-and-drop components (graphics, text, button, slider, etc.) and ASCII text-based instructions for coding how components interact on the display side.

Nextion HMI display connects to peripheral MCU via TTL Serial (5V, TX, RX, GND) to provide event notifications that peripheral MCU can act on, the peripheral MCU can easily update progress, and status back to Nextion display utilizing simple ASCII text-based instructions.

My nextion domoticz box, tilt to wakeup
Domoticz controller

My biltong box using a Nextion

Raspberry displays

 3.5inch RPi Display – 480×320 Pixel – XPT2046 Touch Controller
edit cmdline.txt
add "fbcon=map:10 fbcon=font:ProFont6x11 logo.nologo"
at the end
edit config.txt
add between custom comments at the bottom
dtoverlay=piscreen,speed=24000000,rotate=90
# Or check http://www.lcdwiki.com/3.5inch_RPi_Display

Above display’s i’ve used for Picore Players and the Lidar POC

To try: Getting above display running with a arduino
https://github.com/PaulStoffregen/XPT2046_Touchscreen

Raspberry HDMI display

Easiest of them all, just connect with HDMI, there is a adaptor for hdmi-hdmi (versions 1,2,3) and hdmi-mini-hdmi for RPi4 variants.

Epaper and 7-Segment displays

Other means of displaying information are for example

Epaper

ESP with epaper module, disconnected power for a while, artifacts appear.

7 Segment displays

I used a lot of 7-Segment display’s in the past. They look cool and are hardcore.

My homebrew computer uses this

Nixie tubes!

And there are https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixie_tube .. I’ve never had those

Above bigger 2D display i used with Wled and a digital microphone, so its sound reactive. The lower part i got in recently .

inmp441 digital microphone

Morse with a ATTINY85

Using above schematic and attiny program you can make a mini morse trainer. It runs on a single CR2032!

I’ve got a attiny85 programmer as pictured below.

A Attiny85 chip is a 8 pin microcontroller, but with far less pin’s and its most of the times just a DIP/DIL (Dual in line)

When using the Arduino IDE:

  • Preferences : Add board url :
    https://raw.githubusercontent.com/damellis/attiny/ide-1.6.x-boards-manager/package_damellis_attiny_index.json
  • Set board info like: (NOTE PROGRAMMER USBasp)
  • Burn bootloader
  • After that compile and upload

Source code used: https://github.com/andyhighnumber/Attiny-Arduino-Games/tree/master/MorseAttinyArcade

I had to short JP2 to get the USBasp into slow burn mode, else the attiny85 could not be found

Hard to do without a propper morse key!

Table lamp hack

Added: ino file 20220525

Bought a cheap table lamp a few weeks ago.
Runs on batteries and when you flip it over, it turns on or off.

I thought, when i strip this thing of its internals. I can make a wifi/mqtt enabled one.


Opening it up today, i saw a minimalistic print and a battery holder. There was a tilt switch like

Which i wanted to replace by a mercury one i bought in a bunch of sensors a few years ago.

So why go though all the trouble stripping and replacing .. so i didnt

GND and 5v to the batteries, and D4 to the tilt switch. (Measure which side you have to take!) .. I used a pull down of 3k3 ohms

Esp was flashed in the past with Easy ESP .. well lets keep that one for now.

INO version

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <Ethernet.h>

const char* ssid = "SSID";
const char* password = "PASSWORD";
const char* mqtt_server = "mqttserver";
const char* mqtt_username = "";
const char* mqtt_password = "";
const char* clientID = "wankel";

const int tiltPin = 4;
int tiltState = 0;    
int previousState = 0;    
WiFiClient espClient;

PubSubClient client(espClient);

void reconnect() {
  while (!client.connected()) {
    if (client.connect(clientID, mqtt_username, mqtt_password)) {
    } else {
      delay(2000);
    }
  }
}

void setup()
{
  {
    client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
    pinMode(tiltPin, INPUT);
  }
}
void loop() {
  tiltState = digitalRead(tiltPin);
  if (tiltState != previousState) {
    if (tiltState == HIGH) {
      client.publish("onoff-wankel/wankel/State", "0"); //
    } else {
      client.publish("onoff-wankel/wankel/State", "1"); //
    }
    delay(100);
  }
  previousState = tiltState;

  {
    if (!client.connected()) {
      reconnect();
    }
    client.loop();
  }
}
Node red + led server

Example is using my ledserver, see other post, but i intent to made a easy to configure node red panel where the to be controlled devices are preconfigured.

[
    {
        "id": "9ec21acaec91aecc",
        "type": "mqtt in",
        "z": "54f3b5b461471f2c",
        "name": "",
        "topic": "onoff-wankel/wankel/State",
        "qos": "2",
        "datatype": "auto",
        "broker": "8c74c5f6.9a7a48",
        "nl": false,
        "rap": true,
        "rh": 0,
        "inputs": 0,
        "x": 400,
        "y": 260,
        "wires": [
            [
                "0fe77b535517f818"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "159f65f444a0d7c2",
        "type": "http request",
        "z": "54f3b5b461471f2c",
        "name": "1 - 30 red",
        "method": "GET",
        "ret": "txt",
        "paytoqs": "ignore",
        "url": "http://ledserver:8080/range/01/30/ff0000",
        "tls": "",
        "persist": false,
        "proxy": "",
        "authType": "",
        "senderr": false,
        "credentials": {},
        "x": 900,
        "y": 280,
        "wires": [
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "5806fbfd0e99daab",
        "type": "http request",
        "z": "54f3b5b461471f2c",
        "name": "1 - 30 black",
        "method": "GET",
        "ret": "txt",
        "paytoqs": "ignore",
        "url": "http://ledserver:8080/range/01/30/000000",
        "tls": "",
        "persist": false,
        "proxy": "",
        "authType": "",
        "senderr": false,
        "credentials": {
            "user": "",
            "password": ""
        },
        "x": 910,
        "y": 220,
        "wires": [
            []
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "0fe77b535517f818",
        "type": "switch",
        "z": "54f3b5b461471f2c",
        "name": "",
        "property": "payload",
        "propertyType": "msg",
        "rules": [
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "0",
                "vt": "str"
            },
            {
                "t": "eq",
                "v": "1",
                "vt": "str"
            }
        ],
        "checkall": "true",
        "repair": false,
        "outputs": 2,
        "x": 660,
        "y": 260,
        "wires": [
            [
                "5806fbfd0e99daab"
            ],
            [
                "159f65f444a0d7c2"
            ]
        ]
    },
    {
        "id": "8c74c5f6.9a7a48",
        "type": "mqtt-broker",
        "name": "mqttserver",
        "broker": "mqttserver",
        "port": "1883",
        "clientid": "",
        "usetls": false,
        "compatmode": true,
        "keepalive": "15",
        "cleansession": true,
        "birthTopic": "",
        "birthQos": "0",
        "birthPayload": "",
        "closeTopic": "",
        "closePayload": "",
        "willTopic": "",
        "willQos": "0",
        "willPayload": ""
    }
]

Gotek stuff

Recently back to old skool retro!

As posted https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/05/03/c64-and-sd2iec/

Wellll, i bought some goodies from gotek.nl

A new SUB-D(23) to scart video cable for amiga.

A 9pindin mouse to PS/2 convertor

My tank mouse died .. beyond repair. Blue 9pins to ps2 works great!

A switchless (using key combination) diskdrive switcher df0<>df1

I used to make a floppy switch myself in the past, i used a wirewrap socket, and a cross switch. Made a hole in the back, with the little switch.
This one does not need a hole in your case for the switch.

Own floppy switch

Gotek Floppydrive Emulator with Rotary Encoder

This drive supports a lot of disk formats and systems, i will have to look into that ..
https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy/wiki/Host-Platforms

Commodore day

Update: 20220514 – Vic Graf cartridge and more

One Vic-20 working ( switched some keyboards and chips around )
Something i made in 1984? .. then the fuse in my vic-20 power blew (250v 160mA)
Another Vic-20 – with a Bad U31 (Oscillator)? or Vic video chip?
Vic Graf Cartridge, graph a function with annoying sound

Manual : https://archive.org/details/VIC_Graf_1982_Commodore/page/n11/mode/2up

I’ve got a load of cartridges, some of them i tested:

  • Vic-20 – Super expander plus 3K ram ( also some draw and sound functionality in this one )
  • Vic-20 – 32K Ram expander (switchable)
  • Vic-20 – 3K expander
  • C64 – KCS power cardridge
  • C64 – Final Cartridge III
  • C64 – Data Manager 2 – Data Base, hard to find information on this one, will post later on this one.

C64 and SD2IEC

As posted before ( https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/04/09/c64-plus-drive-running-again/ ) i’ve got a little gadget which emulates a C64 diskdrive.

The SD2IEC connected

I’ve been using this for a while now, and i’m really impressed by it. It just connects to the Serial Din of your C64, draws power from the Cassette port. … And even looks like a mini drive!

I’ve been converting Disks to images as well as runnig previously converted D64 images on a real C64 again.

Also the internet provides loads of images to run again.

Converting and running:

  • For real floppy to image i used a empty image file. Made my real original drive device number 9, and used Dracopy (also below)
  • Image running on your real C64, just put a D64 disk image on your SDcard.

There is a disk selector and run program you can use. (See below)
Also you can use the buttons for disk swap/change.

FB64 tool to select a D64 image to start
Dracopy