PSoC Express: Does it work for semi-analog designs?

[Joerg]

Yes. If you think "analog" then Express is the way you can walk easy.

I heart that Cypress cuts the price "as needed" for devices selled into
asian markets.

Interesting. Well, production would be in Asia anyhow and then maybe
we'll let the assembler negotiate locally.

Be lucky




The templates are loaded if you add a module of your choice. Then you click
the values in the fields. That gives you the boot-file automatically
generated which loads the PSoC Cypress-provided on-chip firmware after reset
to configure the on-chip peripherals. Also in the modules is ready-to-use
software included.

For example to add a handy debug TxD:
1. Open Designer
2. Select the TxD module out of the module list
3. place it somewhere. Or just use "place" and let Designer take a free a
place.
4. Set the module template values: Baudrate etc.
5. Copy simple sample c code from module description in your main.c code
6. Add a little code to do something with the sample code. A text string or
such to send.
For ease they provide a CRLF function. Of course you can write your own.
7. Don't forget to select an output pin for TxD.
8 And now the fun part:
By selecting TxD line "direct" or "inverted" in the connection matrix
between TxD module and pin you can configure your hardware having a
(inverted) MAX232 or just straight-line TxD output to the PC serial.

Work is done in one minute. OK, the first time maybe 10 minutes to find
especially how the matrix works.

9. Compile and load the hex-file in the PSoC device.

You see, that is not the same as your mentioned CAD template I guess.
You can clone projects. Or even change the underlying PSoC device selection
and the Designer will change the project approbiate.
Mixing Assembler and C is no problem.

Be aware that several module descriptions contain errors or hide things
needed.

I was more thinking about Express. Don't know if that can do such
tricks. Or if at least templates could be dragged from Designer to
Express (projects can't be).

 

[Joerg]

Even on the "Ostfront" of Germany there is much space left till Finland
And we have +10°C degress (Not fahrenheit!). No snow here. Kids are not
lucky.
January 2006 we had below -20°C and I frozen some of my fingers seriously
doing a stupid night walk. Cribbled several months...

We had a really deep freeze last night. Looks like it might have taken
out one of the pool pumps. Oh drat. Where is that global warming?
Certainly not here.

The pellet stove downstairs is running 24/7 and the wood stove cranks
full bore all the time. Yet the house will barely go above 66F (17C?).
In California houses just aren't built for such arctic weather. Looks
like we'll buy six cords of firewood next year, or about three times the
normal quantity. Whatever normal is these days.

 

[Henry Kiefer]

| I was more thinking about Express. Don't know if that can do such
| tricks. Or if at least templates could be dragged from Designer to
| Express (projects can't be).

I don't know because I dropped Express after 2 weeks effortless trying (and asking Cypress for help). Much simple things seem to be
impossible in Express. Especially if you think Embedded. So I took the learning curve to Designer and there is now my home.

But why not ask Cypress?!

"Template" is undefined. Use "module".

- Henry

 

[Henry Kiefer]

| The pellet stove downstairs is running 24/7 and the wood stove cranks
| full bore all the time. Yet the house will barely go above 66F (17C?).
| In California houses just aren't built for such arctic weather. Looks
| like we'll buy six cords of firewood next year, or about three times the
| normal quantity. Whatever normal is these days.

You heat my house thru the golf strom. Keep on!

- Henry

 

[Klaus Kragelund]

Joerg skrev:

Nope, probably I am going to remain mostly analog. Even at 75c it is
often very hard to justify a PSoC when analog parts can do the same job
for half

The real power of the PSOC is dynamic configuration. So at any given
time in your code you can change the analog/digital blocks to suit
whatever signal you need to evaluate. In my current design, I re-use
the same analog block three times at different time slots. So in
effect, the PSOC can give you more than 100% optimization of your
analog blocks

Regards

Klaus

 

[Klaus Kragelund]

Henry Kiefer skrev:

Yes. If you think "analog" then Express is the way you can walk easy.

I heart that Cypress cuts the price "as needed" for devices selled into
asian markets.


Be lucky


The templates are loaded if you add a module of your choice. Then you click
the values in the fields. That gives you the boot-file automatically
generated which loads the PSoC Cypress-provided on-chip firmware after reset
to configure the on-chip peripherals. Also in the modules is ready-to-use
software included.

For example to add a handy debug TxD:
1. Open Designer
2. Select the TxD module out of the module list
3. place it somewhere. Or just use "place" and let Designer take a free a
place.
4. Set the module template values: Baudrate etc.
5. Copy simple sample c code from module description in your main.c code
6. Add a little code to do something with the sample code. A text string or
such to send.
For ease they provide a CRLF function. Of course you can write your own.
7. Don't forget to select an output pin for TxD.
8 And now the fun part:
By selecting TxD line "direct" or "inverted" in the connection matrix
between TxD module and pin you can configure your hardware having a
(inverted) MAX232 or just straight-line TxD output to the PC serial.

Especially for the PSOC using a debug TX signal is powerfull, since you
often need to know how an internal signal looks. Regretably the PSOC
has limited analog output buffers (it would be nice to be able to debug
using a scope to monitor many signals at the same time). Perhaps that's
going to be improved in the next gen.

Lastly, beware of the datasheet. A lot of typical limits without
guarenteed limits. For example the bias current into a pin is 20pA
typical, and gross tested to 1uA. That is really the worst specmanship
I have ever seen. Also the lack of any simulation models is also bad
since it is difficult to evaluate a complex design over temperature and
other sources of drift

Regards

Klaus

 

[Jonathan Kirwan]

We had a really deep freeze last night. Looks like it might have taken
out one of the pool pumps. Oh drat. Where is that global warming?
Certainly not here.

Weather is probably more variable with more energy held in the system.
Should be interesting.

The pellet stove downstairs is running 24/7 and the wood stove cranks
full bore all the time. Yet the house will barely go above 66F (17C?).

hehe. And I consider 66F to be toasty. I have to strip down to
underwear at that temperature to be comfortable. That's when I sleep
with no blanket... and I sleep on the floor, we've no beds here. I
keep the thermostat held at 58F and the house is between 58F and 60F.

Just checked. Outside it is 31F and inside is 60F. House is warm to
me and I'm in my bare feet, shorts and t-shirt.

In California houses just aren't built for such arctic weather. Looks
like we'll buy six cords of firewood next year, or about three times the
normal quantity. Whatever normal is these days.

Normal is changing. Much fun!

Jon

 

[CBFalconer]

You heat my house thru the golf strom. Keep on!

Not from California. They are 2000 M (3000 km) away from the Gulf
Stream. However you can send your contribution for heat to me here
in Maine. The forecast is for 0 to -5 F (-20 C) in the next few
days. So far it has been a very warm winter.

 

[Joerg]

| I was more thinking about Express. Don't know if that can do such
| tricks. Or if at least templates could be dragged from Designer to
| Express (projects can't be).

I don't know because I dropped Express after 2 weeks effortless trying (and asking Cypress for help). Much simple things seem to be
impossible in Express. Especially if you think Embedded. So I took the learning curve to Designer and there is now my home.

But why not ask Cypress?!

Oh, I will. But first I want to familiarize myself some more with
Express. Before I embarrass myself.

"Template" is undefined. Use "module".

Thanks. Got to learn Cypress-speak I guess.

 

[Joerg]

Joerg skrev:



The real power of the PSOC is dynamic configuration. So at any given
time in your code you can change the analog/digital blocks to suit
whatever signal you need to evaluate. In my current design, I re-use
the same analog block three times at different time slots. So in
effect, the PSOC can give you more than 100% optimization of your
analog blocks

Yes, I realized some of that during the seminar. For example, if you
want an ADC that has to run at more than 100Hz you don't get many bit
with PSoC. But you can hook a PGA up front. If this is in a regulator
loop you can then re-program the gain on the fly and effectively put in
a vernier drive.

 

[Joerg]

Henry Kiefer skrev:



Especially for the PSOC using a debug TX signal is powerfull, since you
often need to know how an internal signal looks. Regretably the PSOC
has limited analog output buffers (it would be nice to be able to debug
using a scope to monitor many signals at the same time). Perhaps that's
going to be improved in the next gen.

Lastly, beware of the datasheet. A lot of typical limits without
guarenteed limits. For example the bias current into a pin is 20pA
typical, and gross tested to 1uA. That is really the worst specmanship
I have ever seen. Also the lack of any simulation models is also bad
since it is difficult to evaluate a complex design over temperature and
other sources of drift

That was actually the big turn-off for me in the past. Well, that and
cost. I brought one of my designs to the seminar and showed it to them.
"Here, this has 65 parts and costs $2.50 including PCB and final test.
Can you beat that?" Who knows, maybe some day the 75c lower end of PSoC
will be spruced up a bit and then I could really replace it. But not now.

 

[Joerg]

Not from California. They are 2000 M (3000 km) away from the Gulf
Stream. However you can send your contribution for heat to me here
in Maine. The forecast is for 0 to -5 F (-20 C) in the next few
days. So far it has been a very warm winter.

Sounds like the Alaska Airlines captain, "Looks like we've got another
scorcher". Man, I hope this is over soon. Maybe we should install a
third wood stove and plaster the driveway with firewood each summer :-(

 

[Joerg]

Weather is probably more variable with more energy held in the system.
Should be interesting.




hehe. And I consider 66F to be toasty. I have to strip down to
underwear at that temperature to be comfortable. That's when I sleep
with no blanket... and I sleep on the floor, we've no beds here. I
keep the thermostat held at 58F and the house is between 58F and 60F.

Just checked. Outside it is 31F and inside is 60F. House is warm to
me and I'm in my bare feet, shorts and t-shirt.

I am similar, my best working temperature in the office is around
64-66F. But my wife ain't happy at all if it isn't 70F, and right now we
just can't get it up there. Same for the folks around us. They all crank
their stoves hard but it won't heat up the house. My wife met a lady at
a store who said they are already down to eight bags of pellets. Oh man,
it's next to impossible to find any right now.

Normal is changing. Much fun!

Certainly no warming out here. Feels more like the next ice age is coming.

 

[Henry Kiefer]

| Henry Kiefer wrote:
|
| > | I was more thinking about Express. Don't know if that can do such
| > | tricks. Or if at least templates could be dragged from Designer to
| > | Express (projects can't be).
| >
| > I don't know because I dropped Express after 2 weeks effortless trying (and asking Cypress for help). Much simple things seem to
be
| > impossible in Express. Especially if you think Embedded. So I took the learning curve to Designer and there is now my home.
| >
| > But why not ask Cypress?!
| >
|
| Oh, I will. But first I want to familiarize myself some more with
| Express. Before I embarrass myself.
|
|
| > "Template" is undefined. Use "module".
| >
|
| Thanks. Got to learn Cypress-speak I guess.

As I'm a visual thinking guy I verified it in Designer: "User Module" they write

Cypress Support was always very helpful - even if the error was mine.
Sometimes you must wait a couple of days to climb the support stages from Bangalore to California ;-)

- Henry

 

[Henry Kiefer]

| "Here, this has 65 parts and costs $2.50 including PCB and final test.
| Can you beat that?"

parts and test:
That would be impossible to make in Germany or even the EU. So here it would be cheaper to use a costly PSoC. OK, in China they do
it.

- Henry

 

[Henry Kiefer]

| Klaus Kragelund wrote:
|
| > Joerg skrev:
| >
| >>Henry Kiefer wrote:
| >>
| >>
| >>>Annoying to see how fast you can change your mind ;-)
| >>>
| >>
| >>Nope, probably I am going to remain mostly analog. Even at 75c it is
| >>often very hard to justify a PSoC when analog parts can do the same job
| >>for half
| >
| >
| > The real power of the PSOC is dynamic configuration. So at any given
| > time in your code you can change the analog/digital blocks to suit
| > whatever signal you need to evaluate. In my current design, I re-use
| > the same analog block three times at different time slots. So in
| > effect, the PSOC can give you more than 100% optimization of your
| > analog blocks
| >
|
| Yes, I realized some of that during the seminar. For example, if you
| want an ADC that has to run at more than 100Hz you don't get many bit
| with PSoC. But you can hook a PGA up front. If this is in a regulator
| loop you can then re-program the gain on the fly and effectively put in
| a vernier drive.

Yes, that is the PSoC trick. Fine Joerg!

Please double-check that dynamic reconfiguration is possible in Express. I don't think so!
There is a app note describing it in Designer.

- Henry

 

[Henry Kiefer]

| CBFalconer wrote:
|
| > Henry Kiefer wrote:
| >
| >>
| >>
| >>>The pellet stove downstairs is running 24/7 and the wood stove
| >>>cranks full bore all the time. Yet the house will barely go above
| >>>66F (17C?). In California houses just aren't built for such arctic
| >>>weather. Looks like we'll buy six cords of firewood next year, or
| >>>about three times the normal quantity. Whatever normal is these
| >>>days.
| >>
| >>You heat my house thru the golf strom. Keep on!
| >
| >
| > Not from California. They are 2000 M (3000 km) away from the Gulf
| > Stream. However you can send your contribution for heat to me here
| > in Maine. The forecast is for 0 to -5 F (-20 C) in the next few
| > days. So far it has been a very warm winter.
| >
|
| Sounds like the Alaska Airlines captain, "Looks like we've got another
| scorcher". Man, I hope this is over soon. Maybe we should install a
| third wood stove and plaster the driveway with firewood each summer :-(

Here in the Oberlausitz it is common for traditional buildings to have at least 0.5m walls. Mostly wood. "Umgebindehaus"

- Henry

 

[Joerg]

| Klaus Kragelund wrote:
|
| > Joerg skrev:
| >
| >>Henry Kiefer wrote:
| >>
| >>
| >>>Annoying to see how fast you can change your mind ;-)
| >>>
| >>
| >>Nope, probably I am going to remain mostly analog. Even at 75c it is
| >>often very hard to justify a PSoC when analog parts can do the same job
| >>for half
| >
| >
| > The real power of the PSOC is dynamic configuration. So at any given
| > time in your code you can change the analog/digital blocks to suit
| > whatever signal you need to evaluate. In my current design, I re-use
| > the same analog block three times at different time slots. So in
| > effect, the PSOC can give you more than 100% optimization of your
| > analog blocks
| >
|
| Yes, I realized some of that during the seminar. For example, if you
| want an ADC that has to run at more than 100Hz you don't get many bit
| with PSoC. But you can hook a PGA up front. If this is in a regulator
| loop you can then re-program the gain on the fly and effectively put in
| a vernier drive.

Yes, that is the PSoC trick. Fine Joerg!

Please double-check that dynamic reconfiguration is possible in Express. I don't think so!
There is a app note describing it in Designer.

AFAICT it isn't available in Express :-(

 

[Joerg]

| "Here, this has 65 parts and costs $2.50 including PCB and final test.
| Can you beat that?"

parts and test:
That would be impossible to make in Germany or even the EU. So here it would be cheaper to use a costly PSoC. OK, in China they do
it.

Yes, it's Chinese production. But who would not produce it there? Thing
is, if you come up with a more integrated solution at $4 and the
competitior does it all in discrete for $2.50 they'll have you for lunch.

 

[Joerg]

| CBFalconer wrote:
|
| > Henry Kiefer wrote:
| >
| >>
| >>
| >>>The pellet stove downstairs is running 24/7 and the wood stove
| >>>cranks full bore all the time. Yet the house will barely go above
| >>>66F (17C?). In California houses just aren't built for such arctic
| >>>weather. Looks like we'll buy six cords of firewood next year, or
| >>>about three times the normal quantity. Whatever normal is these
| >>>days.
| >>
| >>You heat my house thru the golf strom. Keep on!
| >
| >
| > Not from California. They are 2000 M (3000 km) away from the Gulf
| > Stream. However you can send your contribution for heat to me here
| > in Maine. The forecast is for 0 to -5 F (-20 C) in the next few
| > days. So far it has been a very warm winter.
| >
|
| Sounds like the Alaska Airlines captain, "Looks like we've got another
| scorcher". Man, I hope this is over soon. Maybe we should install a
| third wood stove and plaster the driveway with firewood each summer :-(

Here in the Oberlausitz it is common for traditional buildings to have at least 0.5m walls. Mostly wood. "Umgebindehaus"

Here it's a whopping four inches (about 10cm).

:-(