Difference between revisions of "MultiSerial Shield"

From Hackstrich
(Fixing category and explaining why this project exists.)
(MAX3110 is crazy expensive!)
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The Arduino MultiSerial shield will let the Arduino access a number (4 or 8 likely) of RS232 serial ports via SPI.  It will have switchable TTL or RS232 levels.  This project exists mainly as a debugging tool for networks of [[BlinkieBits]], as (at least during BlinkieNet design/prototyping) it would be extremely useful to be able to receive debugging information from a whole network of BlinkieBits, rather than just one at a time.
 
The Arduino MultiSerial shield will let the Arduino access a number (4 or 8 likely) of RS232 serial ports via SPI.  It will have switchable TTL or RS232 levels.  This project exists mainly as a debugging tool for networks of [[BlinkieBits]], as (at least during BlinkieNet design/prototyping) it would be extremely useful to be able to receive debugging information from a whole network of BlinkieBits, rather than just one at a time.
  
* Use the MAX3110 SPI UART/level shifter chip, $11ish at Digi-Key in qty. 1
+
* The MAX3110 chip would do everything we need in one chip, but is $11 per channel!
 +
* The NXP SC16IS752 chip gives 2 channels for ~$7 but needs 3.3v I/O and talks 3.3v RS232.  The PCA9306 chip will solve the former issue and is $0.95 qty. 1.
  
 
[[Category:Current Projects]]
 
[[Category:Current Projects]]

Revision as of 01:44, 22 November 2009

The Arduino MultiSerial shield will let the Arduino access a number (4 or 8 likely) of RS232 serial ports via SPI. It will have switchable TTL or RS232 levels. This project exists mainly as a debugging tool for networks of BlinkieBits, as (at least during BlinkieNet design/prototyping) it would be extremely useful to be able to receive debugging information from a whole network of BlinkieBits, rather than just one at a time.

  • The MAX3110 chip would do everything we need in one chip, but is $11 per channel!
  • The NXP SC16IS752 chip gives 2 channels for ~$7 but needs 3.3v I/O and talks 3.3v RS232. The PCA9306 chip will solve the former issue and is $0.95 qty. 1.