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I am looking for additional UARTs. So far I've found a single SPI/I2C->UART breakout board from Sparkfun and a dual UART (same, SPI/I2C) IC: SC16IS762 and a matching shield project <- I doubt that this one is in production or something.
Are there any other options? A quad UART would be nice . I guess only realistic option at this time is using 4 Sparfkun boards.
Miha Markic, Microsoft MVP C# Righthand .net consulting and software development http://blog.rthand.com/
Miha, happy to see there are friends closer than oversea!
Well, about the quad-uart...
Take a look at these chips: I think could fit for your probelm.
MAX3110E, MAX3111E
Cheers
Mario
Biggest fault of Netduino? It runs by electricity.
Firstly, I must admit a mismatch: the MAX3100 implements a generic UART, instead a RS232.
Second, it depends on what are you thinking to do...
I mean that if you want a quad-full-independent uarts, maybe with different hardware drivers, then you must use two chips like the Max3100 (the other twos are in the Netduino).
But maybe you may accept to share (let's say) a single uart to serve two different lines, they're mutually exclusive. Just as example, consider a master controller, which has to poll several slaves on a RS485 line and a RS232 line. Since the master has the total control of their slaves, you may use a single uart, then switch the TXD, RXD lines to the right driver time by time.
Moreover, consider that the SPI management of two different chips requires a kind of switch too.
Ciao
Biggest fault of Netduino? It runs by electricity.
The Netduino might a 3rd uart somewhere. The Netduino COM1 is actually the dbgu. Uart0 is the COM2. The uart1 is at PA4 and PA5 I think.
I recall something about this - that there is a driver under development for utilizing it or something.
I find it odd that there are no easy solutions to this problem (like a quad UART chip or two double chips on a breakout board or something) giving the fact that a lot of components communicate through TX/RX.
Miha Markic, Microsoft MVP C# Righthand .net consulting and software development http://blog.rthand.com/
I didn't ask you what kind of model of Netduino are you using (mini, standard or plus)...
There are double-uart chips, but -as far I know- they are parallel (16550-like). However I never heard a quad or else.
Miha, I *stronlgy* discourage you to implement a firmware-simulated uart. Years ago I've do that, but it was a nightmare.
Please, could you describe what should your device do with four uarts?
Mario
Biggest fault of Netduino? It runs by electricity.
Hi Mario,
No, no, I'm not going to implement software based solution. I am in the phase of toy-car equipment, which consists of:
- dual camera (front two axis movable, rear fixed)
- XBee Pro
- 9dof sensor
- GPS
That's total of 5 UARTs. Granted, I could share one among the two cameras but that's still 4 UARTs. Unless something spectacular comes out, I'll probably go with 3 SPI->UART breakout board from sparkfun.
Or perhaps, for the time being, implement software UART.
Miha Markic, Microsoft MVP C# Righthand .net consulting and software development http://blog.rthand.com/
The problems are: how much does it cost?...when will be available?...will you able to hand-wiring a 48-pin QFN package?...
I don't think cost is a problem. However availability is a problem and bloody QFN package is even a bigger one. Are there any QFN -> normal package adapters out there?
Miha Markic, Microsoft MVP C# Righthand .net consulting and software development http://blog.rthand.com/
I don't think there's any adapter for such a small package.
If you're a soldering wizard (with a super-thin solder), you may try to connect a 48-pin DIP socket to the QFN wire-by-wire. I'd never able to do, but there's people able to make surgery on ants...
. I guess only realistic option at this time is using 4 Sparfkun boards.
