ComputerVoltageSources

What's the hardware architecture going to be? I
haven't ever seen a PSIM up close, but here's what I
think is baseline:

* BasicATOM Pro 28-M
http://www.basicmicro.com/Product.aspx?productID=151&CategoryID=2
  - Up to 8 channels 10-bit Analog inputs
  - Serial digital I/O
  - parallel digital I/O.
  All shared on 20 GPIO pins.
  
* 4-channels serially loaded DAC.
  What brand of DAC was used on the PSIM?
  2 Dual DACs or one Quad DAC?
  Separate or simultaneous load strobe?
  How many bits?

* Analog Signal conditioning.
  - Input gain & offset pots or fixed?
  - Output gain & offset pots or fixed?
  - Lowpass filtering?

* Serial I/O
  - BasicATOM Pro uses built-in UART on H8/3664
    processor for firmware loads.
  - Need to re-task serial I/O for MIDI interfaces
  - Front panel switch to select MIDI mode?
  Do we want a built in USB-Serial interface?
  - Many (most?) modern PCs now come without RS-232
    interfaces, but a USB-Serial chip is fairly cheap
    and readily available. See the SiLabs CP210x:
http://www.silabs.com/tgwWebApp/public/web_content/products/Microcontrollers/Interface/en/interface.htm


* Digital I/O
  - Digital I/O is somewhat scarce on the 28-pin
    BasicATOM Pro. Use 74HC595 serial-parallel for
    dedicated outputs, or Maxim MAX6957 port extender
    for flexible I/O over SPI.

* LCD
  - 2x16 char LCD w/ backlight seems a fairly useful
    & common mod. Use Serial I/O with
    external processor, or hook up parallel via SPI
    port extender (see above).

* Buttons
  - Used for run/stop/etc.
  - Use dedicated GPIO pins on BasicATOM Pro, or
    hook up via SPI port extender using available
    interrupt line.

Just a collection of thoughts about hardware. Comments
& criticism invited.

Eric


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