Is there any interest for an i/o system??

[Gremlin77]

Hi all,

 

for my little homecockpit (look at my thread Gremlins A10) I have developed an input output system based on the i2c bus. Now I think about manufacturing this little system for the homecockpit scene.

You all are the specialists, what do you think? Is it worth it?

 

Here some facts:

 

* Totally based on 4 wire bus system including power connection

* Each slave with either 16 inputs or 16 outputs

* system can contain 256 slave devices, makes 2048 inputs or outputs

* slave costs about 2€ only the parts without board an work

* master is any arduino board with i2c bus (costs about 20 €), only one needed

*easy programming with selectable predefined functions (eg Master Arm switch etc) or self designed functions (device button states)

 

Hope, many of you give feedback

[Kuky]

erm... how many switches could you hook up to it?

[Gremlin77]

if you don't use any outputs......2048, but this you'll never need I think.......

 

by the way: next to the programming software I have written an SDK,too. So it's possible to write own programs.

[BIGNEWY]

I am playing around with a Arduino UNO, so I would be very interested.

 

I am a novice and learning slowly, trying to incorporate a 2x16 lcd as well

[pitbldr]

I would be interested. Been wanting to use an arduino with my pit for some time.

[Gremlin77]

oh, I have to cancel the order for my new Ferrari....thought I found the holy grail...

no, just kidding

 

thought about setting up a page to start an open source base for my I/O system so that anybody can set it up on his own. It's just soldering a few parts together, no big deal.

 

I have attached some pics of my software so that you can imagine what I am talking about

 

 

[Swaty]

Gremlin, I can set up a section for your project where you can have full access.

[Gremlin77]

okay that sounds awesome!

[Swaty]

OK! Give me 10 min!

[Swaty]

OK!

Here we go:

 

Here is your section: Gremlin77's i/o System

 

 

Visible from the first page. It's empty now, but if you follow "My space on hogpits.net" --> "Submit an Article" and follow this tutorial you will be able to publish articles etc.

Also, you can create your own photo gallery and use these on your articles.

 

Finally I have create a related forum category.

 

I hope you like it. Plz tell me if you need any help working on it!

[Gremlin77]

okay i will try. thanks

[m0jo]

* Totally based on 4 wire bus system including power connection

* Each slave with either 16 inputs or 16 outputs

* system can contain 256 slave devices, makes 2048 inputs or outputs

* slave costs about 2€ only the parts without board an work

* master is any arduino board with i2c bus (costs about 20 €), only one needed

*easy programming with selectable predefined functions (eg Master Arm switch etc) or self designed functions (device button states)

 

Hope, many of you give feedback

 

Cable/pins/track capacitance will limit the number of slave and cable length on a I²C bus. The maximum capacitance on the bus should be around ~400pF, every pins add about ~10pF and each meter of a CAT5 twisted pair will add ~52pF of capacitance. External interference like PWM dimming might cause problems on the I²C bus.

 

You can check the PHCC project before re-inventing the wheel, this board support a lot of different input and output. The hardware on these board also support I²C but this bus isnt supported by the current firmware. I was working earlier to add this missing function to the firmware but never actually finish it / debugged it.

 

I'm currently working on a python interface between PHCC and DCS:World. At the moment, buttons, leds and analog inputs are tested in my pits and working correctly. Other output like servo, analog output and stepper motor should also work without majors problems.

 

I didn't create a GUI for my python scripts and some of the python modules used are kind of messy to install correctly, so my projects isn't aimed at beginner at the moment.

[Gremlin77]

Hi,

 

sounds like you are an professional. I am just, lets say, an advanced beginner.

 

Should say something about my configuration.

 

in one i2c bus there are max 8 MCP23016 devices. to get the in and outputs needed, I use up to four pca9546 i2c switches to gain multiple different i2c "branches". The arduino then quickly switches between the 16 busses to access the MCP23016 chips.

 

I tried the configuration getting no problems with the facts you mentioned.

 

hope, I wont in the future....

 

Looked at the project. This is exactly what I dont want to have. I used the opencockpits system, and there you also have the problem connecting every switch to the boards. So, in my system you use a very small device for every panel in your cockpit, only connected with the 4 wire cable to the Arduino board. so, no cabeling through the cockpit.

Edited September 6, 2012 by Gremlin77

[BIGNEWY]

I have ordered some MCP23016 chips to give it a go, thanks for your tip Gremlin in the messages :)

[Gremlin77]

little introduction

 

Hi all,

 

made a little introduction to my modules as pdf.

 

Have fun!

The i2c bus system.pdf