Interfacing

[CIM]

Interfacing the Isopod..
Other controller cards were having peripheral bus cards, what is planned for the Isopod ?
Output ports have small current source/sink capabilities so drivers are needed.
Peripheral card with I/O connectors? (wire connection)
SPI interface?

Other thing:
May i suggest a TC/RTD temperature sensor interface!
Someone as designed a CANOpen driver? Isolation interfaces?

[RMDumse]

A VSC bussed version of the IsoPod(TM) in 2x4 is planned, but we are currently updating a denser version of the IsoPod(TM) based on the '807 with 16 A/D channels (instead of 8)

The outputs are fairly robust, at TTL levels, only at the slightly lower 3.3V scale. I'm surprized by how many cases no special interfacing is needed, and the outputs work as is. For instance, the PWM to RC Servos seems to work as is whether off PWM outputs, or timer outputs just as well!

Most uP's outputs need buffering. We do custom designs. Since it is so hard to know what buffers at what levels at what speeds, we'll probably not make an IsoPod(TM) generic board with specific buffers, unless it begins as a customer requested project for a semi custom application.

We have discussed the idea of custom SPI cards. That's one of the reasons we included a little I/O on that connector, to provide a little bit of chip selecting to choose external models. A SPI semi custom board would be a very low cost to make.

TC or RTD interface? Call us and discuss specific needs.

There is some non trivial isolation in the interface chip provided on the board for CAN. As far as drivers... We'd love to have some more drivers or experience with CAN. So far, it is on our "we really wanna get around to that" list of things that need doing.

[CIM]

Got the expected release date of the 807 and 2x4 board?
Is the 2x4 board will be compatible with the nmil-xxxx peripherals interfaces?
ISOMAX, how does the task manager work.. (technical)

[nmitech]

Got the expected release date of the 807 and 2x4 board?

The IsoPod with DSP56F807 cpu is expected 8 to 12 weeks for production. The 2x4 is planned but not yet started.

Is the 2x4 board will be compatible with the nmil-xxxx peripherals interfaces?

Due to the differences of the 3.3V and 5V bus, possibly there are some peripherals will be compatible but not all.

ISOMAX, how does the task manager work.. (technical)

The IsoPod does not have a "task manager" per se. There are only two tasks
running in the IsoPod: the IsoMax state machine, which is triggered periodically
by the timer interrupt, and the command interpreter, which runs whenever the
state machine is not running (i.e., between interrupts).

The IsoMax timer interrupt occurs at the rate specified by the user (EVERY n
CYCLES). When this interrupt occurs, the kernel saves the processor context and
switches to an alternate set of stacks, then passes once through all of the
installed state machines. Normally each machine will test a series of
conditions, possibly resulting in programmed actions or state transitions.
After executing the state machines, the original stacks are restored and the
"main" task is resumed.

IsoMax will ignore subsequent interrupts until the state machines have finished
processing. So, you don't need to worry about writing re-entrant code.

Note that the state machines and the command interpreter share the same
variables, buffers, etc. (Arguably these are "threads" and not "tasks.") This
can become evident if, for example, the state machine attempts to display a
number at the same time the command interpreter is displaying a number -- both
IsoMax and the command interpreter use the same numeric conversion buffer.
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[CIM]

When i've start using the HC11 boards, i've built an interrupt system who's using the RTI as a time base. Arrays of parameters will define words to be EXECUTE after x RTI interrupt as follow:

Par, CFA, Delay,

The RTI interrupt will decrement the 'Delay' and if it pass from one to zero, the 'CFA' will be execute with the 'Par' passed on the stack.

Very usefull to execute something at a fix timebase.

Is that the minding of the ISOMAX?
Using the RTI?

Can NMI send me info on what is internally used to be sure that we do not use same registers or interrupt.

[CIM]

I plan to build my own RTC card with SPI interface but before, is NMI plan to do this?
Is NMI plan to build SPI interfaces in a near future?

I have to drive relays, ssr, etc.. Digital ports on the isopod didn't drive more than around 4 mA. What is suggested?

[RMDumse]

About half of NMI's business comes from making custom and semi-custom boards for customers. Before you build something, why not contact us and see if we can build it for you cheaper and faster.

The SPI is already on the IsoPod(TM) with port lines included for chip selects. We will consider making any custom peripherals to go with it. Currently we are doing already custom designs, and working on the 807 IsoPod(TM) and some lower end 803 Mini-board-like products.