Barrel Power Connector Pictorial

BARREL POWER CONNECTOR
Basic connections
01-06-2011, 08:33 PM CODE 5-115

This is a handy pictorial that can be used to measure power on the unmodified PPPB. It shows the (+/-)
polarity of the Barrel Connector and the positioning of the power LED under the slide switch. It also
identifies the green LED and its resistor pair. PPPB = Parallax Propeller Proto Board.

Regulator Pictorial

REGULATOR PICTORIAL
01-06-2011, 08:23 AM CODE 5-114

The pictorial sketch shows the 3.3-volt power regulator and its pinout. The PPPB was modified by lifting the 3.3 VDC leg. Below the regulator is the pinout of the nearest connector.

Resistor Selection

RESISTOR SELECTION
Propeller Protection & Pull Down Considerations

01-06-2011, 08:17 AM CODE 5-113

When connecting prop to prop, a 2.2K ohm resistor is recommended to protect the Propeller chip pin. In the circuit at the bottom of the diagram posted above, what value is recommended and does the 4.7K ohm pull-down resistor need a lower value? At first glance, it looks like 2.2K ohm could be used throughout. That would give 4.4K ohms to Vss with each Propeller chip, close to the original recommended 4.7K ohms. Considerations: how will this be affected with 20 props? With 50 props?

Brain Serial Interfacing

ALL ABOUT BRAIN SERIAL INTERFACING
Deciding the nature of various connecting interfaces
01-06-2011, 07:58 AM CODE 5-112

  When is comes to serial interfacing, there are numerous options to consider. I have categorized some of the possibilities and listed some options to consider.

First, decide if the interface will use one pin or two pins. A two wire interface (2 pins per chip) can operate in a bi-directional full duplex mode (send and receive at the same time or staggered). It can also be configured to function with one wire out of the two as half duplex.

One wire (1 pin per chip) functions in half duplex mode. It can either send or receive but not both at the same time. One wire interfacing has the advantage of simplicity, can be up and running in a timely fashion, and has low code overhead potentially needing only a single cog.

Standard One-Pin Uni-Directional True/Inverted Mode
Standard Two-Pin Bi-Directional True/Inverted Modes
Same-Pin (Bi-Directional) Inverted Mode
Same-Pin (Bi-Directional) True Mode

Various serial interfacing (requires the addition
of protection resistors)

The napkin sketch shows four connection diagrams, less the protection resistors on each Propeller. Not the pull up and pull down configurations with a 4K7 resistor in bi-directional true and inverted modes. One pin bi-directional mode in inverted mode and pull down was adopted by BSS (illustration number 4). For simplicity, reliability and familiar code, illustration 4 will be adapted first unless otherwise noted.

Brain Work Sheet

BRAIN WORK SHEET
01-05-2011, 12:54 PM CODE 5-110

 
( ) 1 Stamp + 1 Prop
( ) 1 Prop + 1 Prop
( ) 1 Prop Master + 2 Props Slaves
( ) Parts Acquisition
( ) Brain Stem
( ) Brain Base
( ) Brain Span
( ) Power Tests
( ) 1-Wire Serial
( ) 2-Wire Serial
( ) Parallel BUS
( ) Serial Code
( ) Cog Consumption
( ) Breadboard DIY
( ) Breadboard Commercial
( ) LED Resistor Pair Value
( ) LED Red Tests
( ) LED Yellow Tests
( ) LED Green Tests
( ) Testing LED Code
( ) Sketching
( ) Researching AI
( ) Researching Cognitive Learning
( ) Researching High Speed Data Transmission

Green Brain Blob

01-05-2011, 11:12 AM Code 6-109

Green Brain Blob & Green Guts

Approach to recycling hardware and software

The previous post specified the Hybrid BBB. Recycling may represent a large portion of the Brain Blob. The Brain, no matter how we look at it, needs all the resources it can get. Things inside will need the ability to serve numerous multiple purposes. I can see the use of shape shifters that are recycled from one purpose into another. Pins may recycle from output to input and visa versa. Memory is recyclable with varying code that runs and deletes. Algorithms can created "erasable" subroutines. Axons cycle for use and reuse. Code is self writing. Transposition, transmutation, juxtaposition, morphing, blending and evolving are all aspects of greening up the brain. For a comparison example of morphing where space is recycled, see the 4D Morphing Computer (with CoProcessor).

Brain Blob BUS

01-05-2011, 11:02 AM Code 6-108 BRAIN BLOB BUSS 

The foundation of the Hybrid BBB

    I had previously and briefly mentioned the hybrid aspect of the interfacing BUS for the Brain and this has now evolved through various testing trial and error into something more usable. The hybrid BBB is based on the proponent idea in the AM Algorithm Machine's Hybrid Bus, although it used a tiny 6-bit parallel version. For example, a two wire serial full duplex interface can use one wire or two wires just by changing the software. That's the idea. So we just put on the parallel bus and tweak software for three interfaces, i.e. make an 8-bit parallel and recycle 1 or 2 wires for serial duplex modes. The Hybrid BBB is a nice little hobby invention for getting more use out of a simple machine and increasing programming flexibility and minimizing the number of wired processor pins. It will also allow a system to be up and running sooner and leave the more complicated configurations for later. No schematics at this time for the Brain but there is a direct-connect schematic for the AM.

    For example,
    the AM Machine Interface


    This versatile machine operates in four modes, which can be wired as single mode A, single mode B, or dual modes A & B, or simply C mode. Operate the AM using a single wire and serial PBASIC code commands or program the machine using the seven parallel port bits.

    A - Single Wire Serial P0
    B - Parallel Bus P3, P4, P5, P6, P7
    A + B Dual BUS, as seen above
    C - Parallel Bus Only P0, P3. P4, P5, P6, P7

Brain Cog Power Draw

BRAIN COG POWER DRAW

01-05-2011, 10:20 AM CODE 5-110

 Managing current within a Brain Blob

Each of eight cogs draw power
when in use

From time to time we will review the power consumption aspects of the Brain. We need to know the aspects of all power draw in the Brain as things are leading towards the development of battery operation for mobile robots (as one app). Dr. Braino has pointed out, as seen in the Propeller Specification sheet, a cog draws something on the order of 1 uA per Mkz per core and inactive cores are 0 uA. So every time a cog is turned on, it will draw a small amount of extra power. It may not seem like much, but multiplied by hundreds, or many thousand of cogs, it will add up and every milli-amp is significant.

Simple Learning Algorithms

01-04-2011, 12:34 PM Code 6-105 SIMPLE LEARNING ALGORITHMS
We'll need some simple examples of learning algorithms that can begin with one Propeller and then have it applied to multiple processors.

The Last PPPB Breadboard

01-03-2011, 05:05 PM Code 6-104 The Last PPPB
 
Finally the last PPPB gets a solderless breadboard!