EEVblog (actual) #510 - Mailbag

[nitro2k01]

Here's what turned out to be the actual episode #510.

[cidcorp]

I always get a kick out shipping costs.  I was about to jump on the schmartboard PSoC for $35, cause I noticed in the letter it supported USB sniffing using
code on the web... something I need right now.  Sadly when I type in all the specifics at checkout, the shipping cost is $30+, same cost as the board (and I bet my lovely
government will want their sales taxes as well).  All I have to say about that is...

Not going to happen.

Hope you're feeling better Dave!  I still enjoy the videos, love the quote "School for the gifted" (still remember the far side comic).

Chris
Toronto, Canada

[hli]

Funny - I got a PSoC5LP Schmartboard two months ago, from their give-away-contest (took a month to deliver tough, customs really needed their time...). I just finished writing up my review (http://blog.hendriklipka.de/archives/2013/08/psoc_schmartboard_review.html) when I watched the Mailbag episode...

Short summary: its a really nice board. Schmartboard just forgot to add a ground connection down to the breadboard. I can live with not having a power connector, but ground is really essential.

[Winston]

I'd definitely like to see a segment on that PSoC devboard.

[artur9n9]

You can program Azoteq chip to other mode.
direct/latch/toggle

[artur9n9]

Azoteq ct200 configuration tool req.

[hans]

I think your virus is magically transferring to Europe ! Last week I have had aching muscles, sore throat and lots of other annoying stuff. And it's summer for god sake!

Anyway, the PSoC5 chips are quite fun. At college one did a project with such a chip that spew out 10-20Mbits of data on 6 SPI busses. It was for a large fast spinning LED display that took >5A @ 30V. I believe there is also some digital programmable logic in there, which would make them really fun.
In essence they are FPGA's inversed; it's a processor with logic instead of logic with a processor.

And for FPGA's, maybe do a comparison of the tools provided by both manufacturers. Because FPGA's are so versatile it's important to have good tools.
I think the hardware is pretty much just a convenience than anything else. If you want to control 5 VGA outputs, you need to add your own PCB anyway.

Also for example: is there any debug feature available whilst the FPGA is running? (like SignalTap or something) How easy is it to set up a PLL to spit out X MHz internal clk frequency? How easy is it to configure I/O banks? How fast is the compilation? What kind of simulation software is available? Are options non-standard, and do you need to pay for everything big moneys?

[dentaku]

That was the best mailbag in a while.

[senso]

Don't get me wrong, but when I saw the precision screwdrivers I instantly thinked, oh $DEITY someone sent crappy 1$ chinese tools, the translucent plastic and the overall aspect looks very low quality crap driver 

[Corporate666]

Dave,

I most definitely would like to see a video on the PSoC (pronounced Pee-sock at least here!) chips.  I think your viewers would really appreciate being introduced to such a device as well. 

One thing I think should be part of any such video is that there are two distinct families of PSoC.  There is PSoC1 which uses "PSoC Designer" software.  The chips have some neat functionality, but it is obvious from the software and hardware that the FPGA-like features were a bit of a bodged on afterthought and there are some limitations.  But the PSoC1 is the oldest of the PSoC family and have been around for many years now.

The PSoC3, PSoC4 and PSoC5 are the modern versions.  They use PSoC Creator software, which is infinitely better than PSoC Designer.  The PSoC3 uses an 8051 core with a bunch of programmable logic.  The PSoC4 uses an Arm M0 core and has limited analog and some digital (PSoC4 is, counter intuitively, below the PSoC3 in the features/functionality hierarchy).  And PSoC5 is the big daddy of the family using an Arm M3 processor and the same programmable functionality (but more of it) than PSoC3.

The PSoC4 chips can be had in the sub $1.50 range right from Cypress.


I know this might sound like an advertisement for the chips, but I just love 'em.  After switching from Atmel to Cypress, I haven't looked back... PSoC is far far superior.

[hli]

Actually the PSoCs are more than just a MCU with attached FPGA (though its more like a CPLD). Each of the digital blocks contains an ALU, so it can run (small) programs (think of state machines) independently of the main processor. Many of the available digital components use that capability, but one can write als own ones.

[open loop]

Hope David id feeling better now...

Anyway one brand of screw drivers I do like is Facom from France - expensive but if you ever break it apparently they replace it for free - this is their lifetime warranty. Interestingly in the UK many tool manufactures are now owned by Stanley tools even the French Facom - well this is what my local tool supplier told me.

Would love to see what the PSoC chip can do..

[ivaylo]

+1 for some PSoC education 

Yes, one thing Schmartboard can't figure out is shipping. I live across the bay from them, tried to order a few times $10-$15 worth of boards/parts from them, go to checkout and they slap me with $10 shipping. Errr sorry, cancel...