Re: (Topic Change) USB Hosting

From Wear-Hard Mailing list Archive (WH) Maintained by R. Paul McCarty

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If you did go the Gumstix route you wouldn't necessarily be restricted by=
=20
occupying the CF slot with a USB host card, as you probably know the Gumsti=
x=20
has DMA access via NSSP but it also provides a couple of other novel ways t=
o=20
connect a device to the processor.
Ofcourse the wiki is a good place to start but you really begin to get an=
=20
idea of what the PXA255 is capable of after reading the Intel PXA255 dev=20
docs (and thusly what the Gumstix boards are capable of - a somewhat reduce=
d=20
functionality, anyways you can't provide access to all the CPU pins and=20
maintain a board size similar to a stick of gum :P )

those docs can be found here:
http://www.intel.com/design/pca/prodbref/252780.htm

the gumstix wiki is at http://www.gumstix.org/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php

Regarding LCD output, I was once under the delusion(still am not sure if=20
that's true but once apon a time I did know) that the Gumstix provided pins=
=20
to the LCD controller onboard the PXA255, it's not really impressive. I=20
don't think you could get  color with a decent refresh rate but=
=20
then Im may be incorrect in that assumption

I suggest reading the PXA255 PDFs first: "*Intel XScale(r) Design Guide*" a=
nd=20
"*Intel XScale(r) Core Developer's Manual*"
The developer's manual is rather terse, browse the design guide first. From=
=20
the design guide you should be aware of the available busses and I/O=20
provided by the PXA255, if you don't know what some of them are=20
wikipedia.org <http://wikipedia.org> might be, I realise few of us may be=
=20
computer engineers, Im certainly NOT a computer engineer nor have I any=20
education in it other than what I pick up myself. Aftr you have become=20
somewhat familiar with the busses available check the wiki for confirmation=
=20
of their presence on the gumstix board(all three product families have=20
somewhat different connectivity)
It is theoretically possible to add periphel controller chips that use a DM=
A=20
channel to the gumstix, whether you would want to spend the time designing =
a=20
solution is the question. Although most of this stuff is or seems pretty=20
straight forward.

Where there is a will, there is a way. Sometimes ;-)

Consider ripping up a subnotebook off of ebay or something as well,=20
Transmeta equipped boards are everywhere.

On 8/11/05, Ben Roose <> wrote:
>=20
>  The USB Host CF Card is ok, I've seen it floating around for a while.
>=20
> I'm just not sure if I want to go down that route, it almost seems like a=
=20
> 'patchup job' for something that is quite standard on most computer syste=
ms=20
> nowadays.
>=20
> Aside from my odd sense of it being a 'patchup'. I also have misgivings=
=20
> that:
> It is only USB 1.1 - so using a Twiddler on it would be ok, but if I ever=
=20
> wanted to get into video input or high bandwidth applications then it wou=
ld=20
> be too low.
> It takes up the CF card slot - so on the Gumstix you suddenly lose the=20
> ability to augment the flash memory (leaving you with just the 4 or 16 mb=
 of=20
> internal flash) or add additional functionallity like Wi-fi.
> The price tag is reasonably high still - Last I looked it was about 140=
=20
> usd, which seems a lot when the Gumstix itself is only a few hundred doll=
ars=20
> and CF memory or Wi-fi cards are usually about 20 to 50 dollars.
>=20
> You said you have a USB Host CF Card. It looks like it only comes with on=
e=20
> USB port, can you use a USB hub on it and get power down the USB=20
> connections? Also, will it allow you to use any USB device you require or=
 is=20
> it's function limited? I would be looking at plugging up - a Twiddler 2, =
a=20
> Wi-fi USB adapter, a 512mb USB Pen Drive, and maybe some sort of USB=20
> fingermouse or external trackpad.
>=20
> Ben
>=20
>=20
> >From: Jobe Bittman <>
> >Reply-To: Wearable Hardware Discussion List <>
> >To: Wearable Hardware Discussion List <>
> >Subject: RE: Re[2]: [Wear-Hard] Wearable Purchase Questions
> >Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:54:12 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >What about the Ratoc USB 1.1 Host CF Card? I have one.
> >It works in Linux. I have used it on my IPaq running
> >Familiar Linux.
> >
> >http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/subpages/cfu1u.html
> >
> >--- Ben Roose <> wrote:
> >
> >
> >---------------------------------
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> > I've been watching the Gumstix website for a long
> >time now, thinking it would be a great base for a very
> >small wearable - wire a HMD directly to the LCD
> >pinouts and put something like Damn Small Linux on a
> >MMC or CF card. The only problem is that Gumstix does
> >not have USB Hosting, and I want to put my Twiddler 2
> >on it for input and control.
> >
> > The German MiniTC/MiniPC DT166 looks great
> >except it's VGA out and I would need either LCD or
> >Composite Video. Does anyone know if the DT166
> >outputs Video on it's VGA connector?
> >
> > If it did then you could use a VGA - Video adapter
> >like this Cable on eBay. Or can you buy a wearable
> >VGA to Video Converter quite cheaply?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Ben
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> Wear-Hard mailing list
> 
> http://www.haven.org/mailman/listinfo/wear-hard
>=20
>=20
>

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If you did go the Gumstix route you wouldn't necessarily be restricted
by occupying the CF slot with a USB host card, as you probably know the
Gumstix has DMA access via NSSP but it also provides a couple of other
novel ways to connect a device to the processor.<br>
Ofcourse the wiki is a good place to start but you really begin to get
an idea of what the PXA255 is capable of after reading the Intel PXA255
dev docs (and thusly what the Gumstix boards are capable of - a
somewhat reduced functionality, anyways you can't provide access to all
the CPU pins and maintain a board size similar to a stick of gum :P )<br><b=
r>
those docs can be found here:<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.intel.com/design/pca/prodbref/252780.htm">http://www.=
intel.com/design/pca/prodbref/252780.htm</a><br>
<br>
the gumstix wiki is at <a href=3D"http://www.gumstix.org/tikiwiki/tiki-inde=
x.php">http://www.gumstix.org/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php</a><br>
<br>
Regarding LCD output, I was once under the delusion(still am not sure
if that's true but once apon a time I did know) that the Gumstix
provided pins to the LCD controller onboard the PXA255, it's not really
impressive. I don't think you could get  color with a decent
refresh rate but then Im may be incorrect in that assumption<br>
<br>
I suggest reading the PXA255 PDFs first: <font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica" siz=
e=3D"2">"</font><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica" size=3D"2"><b>Intel XSc=
ale® Design Guide</b>" and </font><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica" s=
ize=3D"2">"
<b>Intel XScale® Core Developer's Manual</b>"</font><font face=3D"=
Arial,Helvetica" size=3D"2"><br>
The developer's manual is rather terse, browse the design guide first.
>From the design guide you should be aware of the available busses and
I/O provided by the PXA255, if you don't know what some of them are
<a href=3D"http://wikipedia.org">wikipedia.org</a> might be, I realise few =
of us may be computer engineers,
Im certainly NOT a computer engineer nor have I any education in it
other than what I pick up myself.  Aftr you  have become
somewhat familiar  with the  busses  available 
check the  wiki for  confirmation of their presence on the
gumstix board(all three product families have somewhat different
connectivity)<br>
It is theoretically possible to add periphel controller chips that use
a DMA channel to the gumstix, whether you would want to spend the time
designing a solution is the question. Although most of this stuff is or
seems pretty straight forward.<br>
</font><font face=3D"Arial,Helvetica" size=3D"2"><br>
Where there is a will, there is a way. Sometimes ;-)<br>
<br>
Consider ripping up a subnotebook off of ebay or something as well, Transme=
ta equipped boards are everywhere.<br>
<br>
</font><div><span class=3D"gmail_quote">On 8/11/05, <b class=3D"gmail_sende=
rname">Ben Roose</b> <<a href=3D"mailto:">=
otmail.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"=
border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; paddi=
ng-left: 1ex;">
<div style=3D""><div>
<p>    The USB Host CF Card is ok, I've seen it floating aro=
und for a while.</p>
<p>     I'm just not sure if I want to go down that
route, it almost seems like a 'patchup job' for something that is
quite standard on most computer systems nowadays.</p>
<p>   Aside from my odd sense of it being a 'patchup'.  I al=
so have misgivings that:<br>      
It is only USB 1.1 - so using a Twiddler on it would be ok, but if I
ever wanted to get into video input or high bandwidth applications then
it would be too low.<br>       It takes
up the CF card slot - so on the Gumstix you suddenly lose the ability
to augment the flash memory (leaving you with just the 4 or 16 mb of
internal flash) or add additional functionallity like Wi-fi.<br> =

The price tag is reasonably high still - Last I looked it was
about 140 usd, which seems a lot when the Gumstix itself is only a few
hundred dollars and CF memory or Wi-fi cards are usually about 20 to 50
dollars.</p>
<p>      You said you have a USB Host CF
Card.  It looks like it only comes with one USB port, can you
use a USB hub on it and get power down the USB connections?  Also,
will it allow you to use any USB device you require or is it's function
limited?  I would be looking at plugging up - a Twiddler 2, a
Wi-fi USB adapter, a 512mb USB Pen Drive, and maybe some sort of USB
fingermouse or external trackpad.</p>
<p>           Ben</p>
<p><br>>From: Jobe Bittman <<a href=3D"mailto:" tar=
get=3D"_blank" onclick=3D"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">jbi=
</a>><br>>Reply-To: Wearable Hardware Discussion List =
<
<a href=3D"mailto:" target=3D"_blank" onclick=3D"return =
top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)"></a>><br>>T=
o: Wearable Hardware Discussion List <<a href=3D"mailto:.=
org" target=3D"_blank" onclick=3D"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,th=
is)">
</a>><br>>Subject: RE: Re[2]: [Wear-Hard] Wearable=
 Purchase Questions<br>>Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2005 15:54:12 -0700 (PDT)<br>&=
gt;<br>>What about the Ratoc USB 1.1 Host CF Card? I have one.<br>>It=
 works in Linux. I have used it on my IPaq running
<br>>Familiar Linux.<br>><br>><a href=3D"http://www.ratocsystems.c=
om/english/products/subpages/cfu1u.html" target=3D"_blank" onclick=3D"retur=
n top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.ratocsystems.com/englis=
h/products/subpages/cfu1u.html
</a><br>><br>>--- Ben Roose <<a href=3D"mailto:=
m" target=3D"_blank" onclick=3D"return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this=
)"></a>> wrote:<br>><br>><br>>-------------=
--------------------
<br>><br>>Hi,<br>><br>>     I've been watch=
ing the Gumstix website for a long<br>>time now, thinking it would be a =
great base for a very<br>>small wearable - wire a HMD directly to=20
the LCD<br>>pinouts and put something like Damn Small Linux on a<br>>=
MMC or CF card.  The only problem is that Gumstix does<br>>not=
 have USB Hosting, and I want to put my Twiddler 2<br>>on it for input a=
nd control.
<br>><br>>       The German MiniTC/Mini=
PC DT166 looks great<br>>except it's VGA out and I would need either LCD=
 or<br>>Composite Video.  Does anyone know if the DT166<br>>=
;outputs Video on it's VGA connector?
<br>><br>>     If it did then you could use a VGA=
 - Video adapter<br>>like this Cable on eBay.  Or can you buy =
a wearable<br>>VGA to Video Converter quite cheaply?<br>><br>>&nbs=
p;   Thanks<br>><br>>     &nb=
sp;  Ben
</p></div></div>

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