Author Topic: best way to interface my racing sim lever to USB interface  (Read 1120 times)

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Offline cmcraesloTopic starter

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best way to interface my racing sim lever to USB interface
« on: July 27, 2020, 02:23:24 pm »
Hello guys.

I have designed my own racing sim gear lever and i'm now in the process of finding the best way to interface it to the computer. I'll try to market that so i need a solution that will be easily available and very reliable (1000+ units)  :)

What way would be the best way to do it? I want to have some flexibility. Ideally, I want to have my STM32 as an interface for the switches (+ other inputs) and i'm looking for a chip that would allow me to easily interface the USB with the STM32 (like analog stuff, digital switches, etc).
Looking at the FTDI, there are some HID chips available, but i'm not sure if this is what I need?
I prefer FTDI, due to reliability and great driver support. Last thing I want to is to (potential) user to deal with the drivers.
Which one would you recommend (think of

Thanks
 

Offline Renate

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Re: best way to interface my racing sim lever to USB interface
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2020, 05:18:42 pm »
You definitely want to use a single microcontroller with built-in full or high speed USB.

Me? I'd use an AtMega32u4. Why? Because I know them well and I could knock out the code in an hour.
You? Well, you have a wider choice of microcontrollers. An STM32 with USB is fine.

This will be (should be) and HID device.
All systems support HID devices without further drivers.
No need to mix any FTDI in.
 

Offline robca

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Re: best way to interface my racing sim lever to USB interface
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2020, 08:25:40 pm »
What way would be the best way to do it? I want to have some flexibility. Ideally, I want to have my STM32 as an interface for the switches (+ other inputs) and i'm looking for a chip that would allow me to easily interface the USB with the STM32 (like analog stuff, digital switches, etc).
Looking at the FTDI, there are some HID chips available, but i'm not sure if this is what I need?
I prefer FTDI, due to reliability and great driver support. Last thing I want to is to (potential) user to deal with the drivers.
Which one would you recommend (think of

Thanks
Most STM32 (e.g. even the lowly STM32F103) have USB built in. Look at all the cheap Blue Pill boards, they all have just the STM32F103 and LDO on board.

Why would you want to use more chips when the "right"STM32 does everything you need? What am I missing?
 

Offline NivagSwerdna

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Offline cmcraesloTopic starter

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Re: best way to interface my racing sim lever to USB interface
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2020, 05:31:24 am »
You guys are correct, I apologize. I automatically thought that I need special drivers for HID controls and it made me remember by days with the non FTDI devices and drivers. Looks like only STM32 will do a perfect job. Thanks.
 

Offline Renate

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Re: best way to interface my racing sim lever to USB interface
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2020, 01:19:28 pm »
I apologize.
Woah, no need for that! :)
We're just here talking about stuff and everybody was polite.
 
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