IsoMax

[paverbeke]

Hi,

I am once again starting development with an LPC2129. I am new to FORTH but like the concept and I am hoping to exploit the power. I have a couple of questions:

1. I was wondering if there were any new releases or updates to IsoMax?
2. Is development on-going?
3. I was trying to set the IOPINSEL0. I can read it but I can't seem to write to it. Is it being controlled by IsoMax for the UART0 etc?
4. Is there a word available to display register contents in Binary? If not is there any code available?
5. Is there more detailed documentation available for the words?
6. Are there more examples? PWM, UART etc?

Thanks,

Paul

[RMDumse]

Hi. NMI Tech is out for a few days, extended holiday, should be back Wed. He usually handles the ARM questions. I'll answer what few I can, and hope he will be here soon to get the other specifics.


1. I was wondering if there were any new releases or updates to IsoMax?


Not for some time.


2. Is development on-going?


Yes, but in the DSP line. No active development in the ARM line is going on while advances in language development continue elsewhere. But if there is a specific need, we can still contract for help from Rob, who was the original author of the ARM code.


3. I was trying to set the IOPINSEL0. I can read it but I can't seem to write to it. Is it being controlled by IsoMax for the UART0 etc?


This one we'll have to leave for LC for now.


4. Is there a word available to display register contents in Binary? If not is there any code available?


Forth allows you to use the radix base you wish. So you can do 2 BASE ! and anything printed will be binary. Caution, the leading zeros will be surpressed, so that might be misleading. So you can use .R to decide how many places to print. While the leading zeros will still be supressed, at least the bits will be in the correct positions.

Don't forget to change back to DECIMAL or HEX, or you'll have trouble changing base to anything else.



5. Is there more detailed documentation available for the words?


Yes, again follow links in the HC11, HC12, DSP codes. The underlying Max-Forth is nearly identical in all.


6. Are there more examples? PWM, UART etc?


There are quite a few IsoMax(TM) examples on the DSP page, although they won't help much at the hardware level on the ARM.

[paverbeke]

Hi,

Thanks for the information. It is too bad I had not known this when I bought the ARM. I was under the impression that it was a new product that was actively being developed. Otherwise I probably would have bought an IsoPod instead. Again, the documentation was sketchy in places but thought it would be updated.

Thanks,

Paul

[RMDumse]

As long as the board is not modified or stressed, we can work out a credit if you want to swap for an isoPod(TM).

But there really are advantages to the ARM. More memory is one, and the increased address space. The reason the our choosing the LPC2129 for the PlugaArm(TM) was so we could use the CAN bus to talk to the 'Pod's. So between the two architectures, you can get the best of both worlds.

We'll get back to working on further ARM development. Right now we're working on a SuperPlugaPod development. The hardware is done, and we're just checking out the software for release. This one has something like 8x the memory of the original PlugaPod(TM) so extending the language over those addressing barriers, and some changes in the CPU made the process more difficult than we expected. But once we've got that done, we'll have a very good compromise between the ARM and current DSP's on the 'Pods.

[paverbeke]

Hi,

I appreciate the quick response. That would be fantastic if I there was an option that I could trade in the ARM. It has not been modified at all.

1. When is this new product due to be released?
2. Is it significantly more expensive?
3. Do you need beta testers?
4. If I go with the IsoPod are there any restrictions compared to the ARM.
5. Is the memory enough for a reasonable sized program?
6. Can it accomodate a second uart? I know one is for communication but I need a second to talk to another device. Can this be bit-banged at 9600?

Thanks,

Paul

[RMDumse]

Hi,
That would be fantastic if there was an option that I could trade in the ARM.

Talk to nmisales@newmicros.com and make arrangements if you wish.



1. When is this new product due to be released?


Assuming no bumps in the road, before year's end. Our estimate is about three weeks work yet to be done. Mostly testing as the rest is reported done.



2. Is it significantly more expensive?


Not priced yet, but yes, probably more expensive. It basically has all the functionality of our ServoPod(TM) ($199) in a smaller format, with a 50% increase in processor speed, vastly more memory, etc. It will be under $200 but that's all I can say for now.



3. Do you need beta testers?


Usually. We like to work closely with our customers. In fact our product line is very much customer request driven.



4. If I go with the IsoPod are there any restrictions compared to the ARM.


Memory as mentioned. 16-bit DSP vs. 32-bit ARM.

'Pod's have nice motion control hardware, and are better controllers for real time applications, the ARM's less so.

The ARM's have the more open upgrade path, are much more widely popular for more conventional CPU applications, and have more third party software development options.

Really as I tried to emphasize previously, it isn't either/or, but the two processors together give you the best of controller and the best of processor, if you use them together.


5. Is the memory enough for a reasonable sized program?


Not any reports running out of program space on IsoPod(TM)s or ServoPod(TM)s, that I know. The current PlugaPod(TM)s have customers starting to run out of program space. This means the chips are really packed out, with multiple tasks.

Partly this problem is because we've kept the V0.xx format, so we've been adding (maybe too much) to the language. In the new SuperPlugaPod(TM) you'll be hard pressed to ever fill it up with program, if you're using the IsoMax(TM)/MaxFORTH(TM) programming paradigm, that tends to get more compact the more programming you do.



6. Can it accomodate a second uart? I know one is for communication but I need a second to talk to another device. Can this be bit-banged at 9600?


We have software UART's on the 'Pod's now. Yes, they can do 9600 baud. The SuperPlugaPod(TM) has two native hardware serial ports, like the IsoPod(TM) and ServoPod(TM).

[paverbeke]

Hi,

Thanks again for the information. I think at this point I would be better off with a ServoPod since it is a mature product with good documentation and plenty of examples. It also fits well with my robotics application. I will contact sales and make the arrangements.

Thanks,

Paul

[RMDumse]

Hi Paul,

You should have gotten a reply now from NMI Tech. Our production manager happened to be out that day it came in, and he holds the RMA book we assign return numbers from. He should be back in Monday.

[paverbeke]

Hi,

I would like to thank you all for the excellent support, and going the extra mile to satisy your customers. Keep up the good work.

Paul