GP32 Interfacing hardware on GP32

[alexp]

Hi GP32 community ,

Does anyone know a site on how to interface hardware on the GP32 ?

The idea comes from the GBA with which you can interface anything on the cartridge port (like an FPGA programmer, or a MP3 player, TV tuner ... )

I dont know how the ARM is cabled ; anyone knows if the Analog/digital converter of the microcontroller is usable ? or how to program the USB interface for the GP32; is there SDK for that ?


APH.

 

[Intruder]

I know the sad part about USB is that it is not powered, so alot of devices wouldnt work 8-(. But they are also the EXT port, which is from what i have read is a serial port. The other connector is for the SMC, i am sure they are some documentation about that around the net, not too sure if you can make some other device to plug there. I know with the SD card they made some I/O device (you can check what is available for the new Palm with SD).

 

[zboy9]

That would be neat to have something to connect to the GP32, there are soooo many things that would be nice to have on it.

 

[Shrike]

you could try some kind of digi cam, that'd rawk

 

[skab]

I know the sad part about USB is that it is not powered, so alot of devices wouldnt work 8-(.

Guys, better don't complain about the USB port not being powered, and that the GP is not compatible with 5V SMCs, since both would need a 5V power supply, read: at least 1 more AA battery (more weight) or a power consuming current converter (shorter battery life).

For connectivity the EXT port is more than enough, there's I2C, RS232, the direct ARM interface, some of that should be sufficient to connect to interesting stuff.

 

[alexp]

I have found yesterday intereting stuff on the GP32 hardware part numbers and especially the concerned EXT port pinout :
:rolleyes:

Here the information I found (copied from a site):

CPU: ARM920T Core (Samsung S3C2400X01), running at up to 99MHz
Display: 3.5" Reflective TFT, 320x240, 256 or 65536 colors
(index 239 (255,102,255) is default color key for transparency)
Storage: SMC (Smart Media Card), probably any available size supported
Memory: 8MB SDRAM (HY57V641620HGT-H)
512KB flash memory (AT49BV040-90VC) for firmware
serial EEPROM (SO24LBOX91-BCB0)
Connections: - USB connector (1795A-042)

- EXT connector (3050-18R-0.5HTBD) : UART, JTAG & I2C
http://www.hyupjininc.com/kor/product/3050_1801pin.htm
http://www.sebo2000.com/connector/3050%20series.htm

Pins: 1=3.3v 10=TXD0/GPF2
2=nRESET 11=IIC-bus[SCL]
3=nTRST 12=IIC-bus[SDA]
4=JTAG[TDI] 13=nRTS0/GPF4
5=JTAG[TMS] 14=nCTS0/GPF5
6=JTAG[TCK] 15=RXD1/GPF1
7=JTAG[TDO] 16=TXD1/GPF3
8=AIN0 17=NoConnection(?)
9=RXD0/GPF0 18=Ground

Refer to the CPU data sheet for more info on these signals.
- Headphone Jack (TSH-3675(AJ332))
Sound: 8 or 16Bit PCM Stereo DAC (Phillips TDA1330)
Power: - 2 AA Batteries (said to last ~12 Hours)
- DC Power-Jack (TSH-3675(AJ238S-SMT)), 3.3v "reversed" polarity
Controls: 8-Way directional pad (joystick) + A,B,L,R,Start,Select buttons
A=GPB14[pin19] B=GPB13[pin18]
Start=EINT6/GPE6[pin125] Select=EINT7/GPE7[pin126]
L=GPB12[pin17] R=GPB15[pin20]
Up=GPB11[pin16] Down=GPB9[pin14]
Left=GPB8[pin13] Right=GPB10[pin15]
When read, the values will be 0 when pressed & 1 when released.


It seems that using some samsung mobile phone connectors are compatible with the EXT port (SAMSUNG R200/R210)


By the way, does anyone got the datasheet or link for the S3C2400X01 microcontroller ? because it is not available on the manufacturer s site; the new release proc is S3C2410,
I dont know the upgrades between the both version;

I would like to do some audio sampling through AIN0 pin and require programming the A/DC controller;

I just wonder if it is easily possible to interface an external DSP/FPGA system audio sampling/processing (GP32 already got half the system : micro proc, storage, control pads&buttons, LCD screen, audio out ; there are only 1 audio input +sampling and the processing processor missing) in order to design custom audio effects for guitar for example or an industrial FPGA system;

 

[Intruder]

Ooops i forgot about the silly problem of battery ;-). Indeed if the GP32 had more thing using bigger voltage, that mean it will need larger capacity battery and it wont last as long as it is now (which is roughly 10 hours).

 

[NiN^_^NiN]

Ok im newbie do hit me for saying this if its stupid but

I have 1 of them cables which interfaces into a DB25 plug

just wondering if these pins are converting the datalines from the pc serial port or serial device to the proper pins on the gp32 would that make this cable helpfull?

Its gotta be helpfull if you are making a hardware addon and u just make a db25 plug instead of worrying about the small plug for the gp32.

hmm could use it to see if a keyboard can be connected just need the software as a normal keyboard or even a palm keyboard is UART same as the gp32 port

BUt yeah is this cable usefull? :unsure:

 

[DeMi-LAiT]

For the datasheet of the GP32 proc, just do a search in the samsung's site. They don't give direct access as they for the newer proc, but the datasheet is still on line with some other stuff. I didn't know that the proc have hardware scrolling implemented (c siper) !!!!

 

[NssOne]

Actually, what would be cool, is the ability to hook up an external controller to the gp32. You know, something with more buttons or a joystick or something.

 

[stickofjoy]

As we can see from the pinout above, pin 1 of the EXT provides power. Somebody has connected a custom modified Ericsson chat board to their GP32, which made my eyes light up so I bought one and the connector to mod it myself.

http://www.gp32x.de/index.php?artc=398

 

[MojoJojo]

Hmm, the lack of power on USB port...

You can get powered USB hubs, and I imagine somewhere you can get a battery powered USB power adding adaptor type thing. If not, it probably would be too hard to wire up yourself, if you can handle a soldering iron. I don't really know though, electronics isn't really my thing. You'd have to have 3-4 batteries in it though, although a downstepped 9v battery would be ideal.

Don't know how useful it would be though, you'd have to write all the drivers software for whatever you wanted to plug in.
Shame that none of PDA minikeyboards attach via USB, as far as I know.