computer interface help with at least 29 output ports

[Rich Grise]

"Ryan Kremser" <news@rkremser.endjunk.com> wrote in message news:<721f38579d2e47827722a8bb82b4f648@news.teranews.com>...

First of all the actual project is an bowling arcade game type thing
(http://www.pinrepair.com/bowl/goldmed3.jpg) its easier to see than to
explain. So the updates would only occur to update scores which aside from
when it happens isn't a huge time issue. (ex takes a second to update) The
solution that you mentioned before would definatly work for me, I"m just
wondering what kind of prices i should expect to pay for that setup. Just
to clarify all the inputs are going to be incoming through a ps2 port to the
computer and i'll be updating scores / lighting background / strike lights
ect. with these outputs.

This might be a radical idea: get the cheapest BIG monitor that you
can get, and draw the whole backglass.

You can do a surprising array of graphic stuff in dos with a 25X80
screen!

Good Luck!
Rich

 

[Ryan Kremser]

thanks thats what i needed, makes a lot more sence to me now.

"petrus bitbyter" <p.kralt@hccnet.nl> wrote in message
news:QB5cb.217081$P03.41125666@amsnews02.chello.com...

Ryan,

You have to connect the eight data lines of your parallel port to the
inputs
of all registers. To write an address into the address register you first
have to put that address on the data lines of the printer port. Then you
clock it into the address register using pin 17 (Select printer/EPP
Address
Strobe.)

To write into a data register you first have to write its address into the
address register, then put the data on the data lines of the paralel port
and then use pin 14 (Auto Linefeed/Data Strobe) together with the
(decoded)
address line to clock the data into the data register. So you have to
*AND*
the address line with the Data Strobe to achieve the result you want.

If you do not need more the 64 output lines you can do without address
decoders. The eight output lines of the address register can select eight
different data registers of eight bits each.

You can control up to seven counters with a common reset by one data
register. Seven output lines will be connected to the clockinput of a
counter, the remaining line will be connected to the reset input of all
counters. To increase a counter content you have to:
- Write its address to the address register.
- Write a one to the output line that controls the counter so to raise its
clock input.
- Write a zero to the same bit to lower the clock again.

Of course you can increase the content of any combination of counters that
are controlled by the same data register at the same time.

pieter.

"Ryan Kremser" <news@rkremser.endjunk.com> schreef in bericht
news:b99b24de4a33525ef1fc878da862cae1@news.teranews.com...
ok, for the most part i understand your last post but i'm still slightly
confused of how to connect the bus to the address register, and how to
get
to 3 bits which the address decoders accept. I"ve finally decided to
have
counters for the scores so i'll just need one signal per score + 1 reset
line for all of them. If i'm reading this correctly i'll then only setup
48
outputs using two data registers with 8 of the Hct138's Hopefully i'm
seeing this the right way, if not please point me in the right
direction.


"petrus bitbyter" <p.kralt@hccnet.nl> wrote in message
news:lW09b.36249$P03.11893680@amsnews02.chello.com...
Using the address- and dataregister approach you can have 8*8= output
lines
without address decoder. (So not 2^8=256 like I wrote in a previous
posting.) But with an address decoder you can have 2^8*8=2048 output
lines.

To outline the electronic part of the project I'll start with the
component
choice. The old 74LSxx serie will do but the 74HCTxx is slightly newer
but
consumes much less energy.

Connecting a lot of components to the parallel port you'd better first
buffer its output lines. A couple of HCT245 bus transceivers will do.
One
HCT245 and a HCT14 will be some cents cheaper.

The address register may be a HCT374 like I mentioned before. Use of
the LPT interface to
clock this register.

You initially required four dataregisters. Adding 3*6=18 seven segment
displays will add another eighteen. Add two for various purposes and
you
will end up with twentyfour dataregisters. Clock this registers with
pin
14
(Auto Linefeed/Data Strobe) of the LPT interface anded with the the
appropriate address selection line.

An addressdecoder is easily build with four HCT138. You can use two
bits
of
the address register to select one of the HCT138s and three bits to
select
a
line of the selected 138. This way you can create the twentyfour
address
selection lines, one for every dataregister. Keep in mind that the
outputs
of the HCT138 are active low.

It is possible of course to put all this logic on one board and hope
you
get
it to work. A far better approach is building units that can be build
and
tested separately.

pieter

"Ryan Kremser" <news@rkremser.endjunk.com> schreef in bericht
news:6fde5350265ade7b6a81ee9555ba4cb2@news.teranews.com...
is there an easy way to add maybe 136 more address easily,
previously
i
was
looking into using a led counter to accept a pulse to incriment the
value
but now that i'm looking it seems to be a bit more expensive than i
was
hoping. I need to be able to drive 6 -> 3 digit (7 segment)
displays.
plus
an extra 10 could make another aspect a bit easier. Would it
actully
be
a
good idea to use these outputs to control the led's or even with the
difference in price would the counters be a better solution?

"petrus bitbyter" <p.kralt@hccnet.nl> wrote in message
news:Tit8b.23115$P03.6222725@amsnews02.chello.com...
Ryan,

A very thorough treatment of the parallel port interface you will
find
:
http://www.beyondlogic.org/

If you read the EPP part you will find out that for output only,
you
can
use
the method of address- and data register also with a standard
parallel
printer port. So with five (LS)374 (*not 473*) you can have 32
outputs.
Some
Googling and you'll find the datasheet.

For low voltages (<15V) and low currents (<0.5A) a solid state
relay
will
be
overkill. A small (reed) relay will do. Farnell sells HE221A0590
from
Breed/Hamlin priced about 3 euro. FAIK it's one of the cheapest.
This
relay
will need only a 15mA at 5V so with all outputs on, you still
require
only
about 0.5A. You'd better not use this relay to switch the mains
unless
you
want to start fireworks.

The outputs of the 374 cannot source the 15mA required so you have
to
use
a
transistor or an open collector/drain buffer p.e. a HC07. Keep in
mind
that
a transistor will invert the logic. Always place a diode parallel
to
the
relay coil.

pieter

"Ryan Kremser" <news@rkremser.endjunk.com> schreef in bericht
news:1f4371b3eaf12e840daae29059da25ad@news.teranews.com...
actually solid state would probably be a better solution for me,
for
the
most part all i'll be switching is 5 or 12 volt lines. If you
could
point me to some more information with the printer port it would
help
me
out a lot, so far this seems to be the best option. I was
actually
planning on running this through dos, complied used c++ as there
will
be
no monitor on the system and it will require fast boot and
response
times. Any better alternatives to dos or will i still be able
to
access
the parallel port in the same way. again thanks in advance

petrus bitbyter wrote:
Ryan,

You can use an EPP (printer) port. This way you can use a
separate
address-
and databyte. Using a 374 type of address register you can
enable
or
disable
up to eight 473 type data registers without address decoding.
That
gives
you
256 output pins which sure will be enough.

Do you really need relays to switch your equipment? They tend
to
be
pretty
expensive and need a good amount of current. So for twentynine
relays
you
may end up to need some >3A of current. If you want to switch
the
mains,
solid state relais are a better choice. (Although they are not
cheap
either.) You can also use triacs and optocouplers but you will
need
some
extra parts so you're building your own solid state relais
this
way.

Except from the hardware you'll also need some software. Newer
(NT
based)
Windows versions will not allow you to write directly to the
output
ports.
One of the methods to circumvent these problem is using a
special
driver.
For instance:
http://www.paraport.net/

pieter



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