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Linux
| Re: Ping - microcontroller stuff |
Author: Phil Short
Date: 04-12-06 15:15
Anthony,
The questions/issues that I'm posing are a little bit more basic, since the benefits of standardization are pretty clear (among other things, it is hard to get software for 'non-standard' hardware).
First, why someone initially approaching this hobby choose to use μControllers at all, how are they better than the current MSI approaches (Hill-320, Olsen-595, and variations)? And why would someone who is currently using one of the MSI designs choose to switch over?
Second, if someone has chosen the μController approach, why would they select an approach that is more complicated than a 'Type-I' controller? Since the simplest approach is have the controller just turn light strings on or off (or dim them, for that matter) under the immediate supervision of a general-purpose computer (PC), are the benefits of a more functional controller worth it?
The easiest answer to the first question when dimming is involved is that of cost. Implementing a dimming circuit in MSI hardware costs more for the chips and more board space than implementing it with a low-end μcontroller.
Other potential benefits (although they sort of require an 'intelligent' controller) are the possibility of PC-less display execution, and of freedom from the slowly disappearing parallel port (since an intelligent controller allows a wider range of communications as the result of a more efficient use of bandwidth).
The other response for those first designing and implementing the scheme is that it is neat and fun to design. I'm not sure that this will necessarily draw in the software people, because they have a lot more work and support required than the hardware and firmware designers, and would want a sense that their work will benefit more than just a few hardware/firmware wonks.
Anyway, thoughts along these lines are what I had in mind with the previous post, and I welcome any additional comments.
Later,
Phil
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| Topics |
Author |
Date |
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Phil Short |
04-08-06 12:07 |
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Anthony Marchini |
04-10-06 00:43 |
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Phil Short |
04-10-06 15:04 |
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Anthony Marchini |
04-10-06 22:07 |
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Al White |
04-10-06 18:05 |
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Ernie Horning |
04-11-06 13:29 |
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Phil Short |
04-11-06 14:36 |
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Anthony Marchini |
04-12-06 07:43 |
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Re: Ping - microcontroller stuff new |
|
Phil Short |
04-12-06 15:15 |
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