2024-03-27, 02:33 PM
(This post was last modified: 2024-03-27, 06:19 PM by sebba.
Edit Reason: resizing image
)
Hello sailors,
I just made (got) the first prototype of a new hat for RPi.
When I decide to develop it, the main goal was not to use too many GPIO pins to avoid conflicting with other hats as much as possible and also to be able to use it with older and newer RPi models.
So, this hat is based on a USB 2.0 Hub, made with FE1.1S chip, the same chip used in some other USB HUB hats for RPi Zero.
Internally connected at this hub is an FTDI 4232 chip which provide 4 serial ports with RS422 converters for 4x NMEA0183 in/out connections.
On another "output" port of the internal hub I placed a canable interface for handling NMEA2000 connection.
The remaining 2 USB ports are available for external use.
An Seatalk 1 input is also available through GPIO pin.
There are also 2 INA260 sensors on board, connected to the I2C GPIO pins, to measure as much as +36V at up to 15A Continuous on either the high or low side and an also an RTC based on DS3231 chip with CR1220 battery socket and optional connector for external battery.
I am currently testing in on the bench, and I have good results connecting by NMEA2000 with some Si-Tex AIS Transponder, Garmin chartplotter and also some Arduino based NMEA2000 devices.
The NMEA0183 looks good also but I still have some issues for setting unique serial id for each serial port. This will affect the set up of the serial ports in OP and SK because without unique serial numbers only "Remember port (position on the USB-hub)" can be used. And I am not very pleased about that.
I hope I'll be able to make some real test, on the boat, soon enough.
For now I still have to resolve some issues regarding the height of the stacking headers. Some extra-tall stacking headers (male/female, both sides) are on the way. Few days more till have them.
Fair winds,
Seb
I just made (got) the first prototype of a new hat for RPi.
When I decide to develop it, the main goal was not to use too many GPIO pins to avoid conflicting with other hats as much as possible and also to be able to use it with older and newer RPi models.
So, this hat is based on a USB 2.0 Hub, made with FE1.1S chip, the same chip used in some other USB HUB hats for RPi Zero.
Internally connected at this hub is an FTDI 4232 chip which provide 4 serial ports with RS422 converters for 4x NMEA0183 in/out connections.
On another "output" port of the internal hub I placed a canable interface for handling NMEA2000 connection.
The remaining 2 USB ports are available for external use.
An Seatalk 1 input is also available through GPIO pin.
There are also 2 INA260 sensors on board, connected to the I2C GPIO pins, to measure as much as +36V at up to 15A Continuous on either the high or low side and an also an RTC based on DS3231 chip with CR1220 battery socket and optional connector for external battery.
I am currently testing in on the bench, and I have good results connecting by NMEA2000 with some Si-Tex AIS Transponder, Garmin chartplotter and also some Arduino based NMEA2000 devices.
The NMEA0183 looks good also but I still have some issues for setting unique serial id for each serial port. This will affect the set up of the serial ports in OP and SK because without unique serial numbers only "Remember port (position on the USB-hub)" can be used. And I am not very pleased about that.
I hope I'll be able to make some real test, on the boat, soon enough.
For now I still have to resolve some issues regarding the height of the stacking headers. Some extra-tall stacking headers (male/female, both sides) are on the way. Few days more till have them.
Fair winds,
Seb
███ - SV Haimana