tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

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tinkerBOY
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tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by tinkerBOY » Wed May 23, 2018 5:23 am

I'm currently working on my next v3.0 controller board.
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Feature Highlights:
- atmega32u4 for the inputs
- C-Media USB audio chip with builtin power amplifier
- 4-port USB Hub 2.0

I've tested each of the necessary parts individually and so far everything works great. 😊
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New! tinkerBOY PowerSwitch v1.0 with Safe Shutdown
Game Boy Zero Controllers available @ tinkerBOY.xyz * Support
tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 - built-in usb controller, usb audio, and usb hub
tinkerBOY Controller v2.0 - GPIO buttons and builtin PWM Audio and Amplifier
tinkerBOY Controller v1.1 - simple pcb button
* DPI Adapter - better display for GBZ
* keyboard converters - IBM XT/AT Soarer's Converter | ADB to USB Converter

raiderj
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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by raiderj » Wed May 23, 2018 8:49 am

When you expect the new version to be available? I'm new to the "Game Boy Zero" project space and really enjoy seeing what people have put together. Soon I'd like to build one or two, but still working on the details of how exactly I'd want to do it.

For your new board:
  • It looks like you changed the audio amp portion from earlier versions? Curious if you did and why. USB chip produces better sound?
  • This board is essentially separate from the DPI board? That board is coming soon?
  • Any plans to sell a "kit" of the necessary boards on your website or Tindy? It would be nice to buy everything I need in as few separate orders as possible.

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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by rodocop » Wed May 23, 2018 9:30 am

Looking good!

And yes, Raiderj, USB sound is much nicer than PWM.

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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by Gizard » Wed May 23, 2018 1:26 pm

raiderj wrote:
Wed May 23, 2018 8:49 am
[*] Any plans to sell a "kit" of the necessary boards on your website or Tindy? It would be nice to buy everything I need in as few separate orders as possible.[/list]
There is no need for a kit. Simply place all of the necessary boards into the same shopping cart and you only pay for shipping once.
Check out my bluetooth speaker in an altoids tin! https://sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7274

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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by sgtgrumbles » Wed May 23, 2018 6:23 pm

Could you modify the d-pad contacts to match the original GB/NES/SNES controllers? :) See the bottom of this post for a comparison and explanation:

https://sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=5951

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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by tinkerBOY » Wed May 23, 2018 8:11 pm

raiderj wrote:
Wed May 23, 2018 8:49 am
When you expect the new version to be available? I'm new to the "Game Boy Zero" project space and really enjoy seeing what people have put together. Soon I'd like to build one or two, but still working on the details of how exactly I'd want to do it.

For your new board:
  • It looks like you changed the audio amp portion from earlier versions? Curious if you did and why. USB chip produces better sound?
  • This board is essentially separate from the DPI board? That board is coming soon?
  • Any plans to sell a "kit" of the necessary boards on your website or Tindy? It would be nice to buy everything I need in as few separate orders as possible.
Already ordered the parts and currently working on the pcb layout/design. Im not sure yet if i'll choose the above design or will just stick to my original v2.2 layout which has nice space accessibility to where the usual location of a joystick.

- using a usb audio chip(with builtin power amp) eliminates the need for the low/high pass circuit and the pam8403 audio amp on my v2.0, v2.1, & v2.2. It's also sound better than PWM. Most importantly I don't hear any noise from my initial test not unlike the pwm audio which is noisy.
- i still have some issues with my dpi adapter and looking into it.
- most of the necessary parts can be purchased at my website www.tinkerboy.xyz.
New! tinkerBOY PowerSwitch v1.0 with Safe Shutdown
Game Boy Zero Controllers available @ tinkerBOY.xyz * Support
tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 - built-in usb controller, usb audio, and usb hub
tinkerBOY Controller v2.0 - GPIO buttons and builtin PWM Audio and Amplifier
tinkerBOY Controller v1.1 - simple pcb button
* DPI Adapter - better display for GBZ
* keyboard converters - IBM XT/AT Soarer's Converter | ADB to USB Converter

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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by Helder » Thu May 24, 2018 2:54 am

Is that the FE1.1s? If so then you will have issues since it doesn't do different usb speeds like the larger FE1.1.
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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by tinkerBOY » Thu May 24, 2018 5:19 am

Helder wrote:
Thu May 24, 2018 2:54 am
Is that the FE1.1s? If so then you will have issues since it doesn't do different usb speeds like the larger FE1.1.
Hi Helder,

Yes it's the fe1.1s. What do you mean by different USB speeds? Are you talking about USB1.1, 2.0, or 3.0. I believe every USB version is backward compatible to its previous version.

I already tested several USB2.0 devices i have from flash drive, usb hard drive, usb hub, usb keyboards, usb wifi adapters, etc.. everything seems to work fine.

Here's also a sample test i did of copying a 1GB file from the sdcard to the usb flash drive.
file_transfer.PNG
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I think some of the issues i encountered has something to do with the crystal/oscillator in choosing the right load capacitors since the ones i bought did not specify any of it.

I need to test it further when everything is assembled as a single controller board.
New! tinkerBOY PowerSwitch v1.0 with Safe Shutdown
Game Boy Zero Controllers available @ tinkerBOY.xyz * Support
tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 - built-in usb controller, usb audio, and usb hub
tinkerBOY Controller v2.0 - GPIO buttons and builtin PWM Audio and Amplifier
tinkerBOY Controller v1.1 - simple pcb button
* DPI Adapter - better display for GBZ
* keyboard converters - IBM XT/AT Soarer's Converter | ADB to USB Converter

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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by Helder » Fri May 25, 2018 2:57 am

Well on a pc it works as intended but on the Pi not really. You say you've tested the chip with numerous devices but all separately I assume.

Try hooking up the Atmega32u4 and one of the devices you tested like the usb drive and see how well it works.
Chat with me and other members On Discord

Don't contact me about obtaining my board files (as you will not get them). If my Boards or PCB Kits are sold out, they will be restocked as soon as I can get them and there is demand for them. You can join the mailing list on my Website to be notified when they are available.


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We will not support any cloned work so don't come to us with technical issues to resolve, go talk to the cloner for help.

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Re: tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 Prototype #1

Post by tinkerBOY » Fri May 25, 2018 6:50 am

Helder wrote:
Fri May 25, 2018 2:57 am
Well on a pc it works as intended but on the Pi not really. You say you've tested the chip with numerous devices but all separately I assume.

Try hooking up the Atmega32u4 and one of the devices you tested like the usb drive and see how well it works.
I've been using and testing it on a Pi zero with all the USB devices connected at the same time.

Here are 4 USB devices connected:
1. USB Audio playing sound in the background.
2. Sandisk 16gb flash drive - copying a 1gb file in the background from sdcard to this drive.
3. USB keyboard - typed and entered the command to test USB gamepad (Atmega32u4).
4. USB Arduino Atmega32u4 - running and pressing each buttons. All work well.

Everything works fine. I also have a USB hub that works just fine with similar fe1.1s chip that I use all time with my Pi Zero.

Can you tell me exactly what issues you had with the fe1.1s?
New! tinkerBOY PowerSwitch v1.0 with Safe Shutdown
Game Boy Zero Controllers available @ tinkerBOY.xyz * Support
tinkerBOY Controller v3.0 - built-in usb controller, usb audio, and usb hub
tinkerBOY Controller v2.0 - GPIO buttons and builtin PWM Audio and Amplifier
tinkerBOY Controller v1.1 - simple pcb button
* DPI Adapter - better display for GBZ
* keyboard converters - IBM XT/AT Soarer's Converter | ADB to USB Converter

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