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Vinculum 1 USB Host Controller


Info:
The Vinculum from FTDI is solution to access USB slave devices such BOMS, keyboards, printers with a low cost MCU.
This component allows you to interact with the vinculum 1.

As far as this component goes it only interfaces with a BOMS or Bulk Only Mass Storage device only.
In the future I can provide support for other slave devices as well.

For now the component has utilizes 14 macros for interfacing a BOMS device:

- AppendStringToFile
- ChangeDirectory
- CheckDisk
- CloseFile
- CreateFile
- DeleteDirectory
- DeleteFile
- Initialise
- MakeDirectory
- MovePointer
- MoveUpDirectory
- OpenFile
- SuspendDisk
- WakeDisk

With this component I have provided a simple datalogger application that logs the temperature Data from a DS18B20 temperature Sensor.

Component Use:
The component can be used by copying the ".fcpx" file into the component directory of Flowcode v6.
Then component can be found under the tap Storage as Vinculum 1.

Future Updates:

Future update for V2.1 will include:

-------- The ability to Check for connected disks.
-------- A methode to Check for Available disk before a component macro is executed, otherwise it will return a error code.
-------- A notification when the connected device can be "safely" removed.
-------- A macro for reading the file size
-------- A macro for reading the disk size (<4GB and >4GB)
-------- The CreateFile will be adjusted so I can be used together with the DS1307 & DS3231 Components

-------- Improvement for all other macro, such as return values to notify for example if a command is executed successfully.


If not all updates can be included in a future update, for the reason it takes to long, I will realize some minor updates such as v2.05.


Help File:


Download: ChangeLog:

V2.0 = Added the Ability to manipulate the creation date of a file.
-------- Removed the Macro "CheckDisk", Im not getting this function to work properly
-------- Adjusted the panel-properties so its easier to use.

Example(s):

I have moved the Example file to another pages of this post follow this link: http://www.matrixmultimedia.com/mmforum ... 516#p56516

Tutorials:

Tut #1 Vinculum Communiaction Tutorial

Resources:

Firmware manual --> Right Click and Save To

Video

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Hi Jordy

Thanks for the article.
Have you a link to a datasheet on the Vinculum. I've not come across that name before, though I have seen FTDI usb devices, and I have a couple kicking about on the bench. Wonder if they are a similar thing?

JohnCrow wrote:Hi Jordy

Thanks for the article.
Have you a link to a datasheet on the Vinculum. I've not come across that name before, though I have seen FTDI usb devices, and I have a couple kicking about on the bench. Wonder if they are a similar thing?

Sure here is the datasheet of the Vinculum 1: http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documen ... _VDIP1.pdf

Hi Jordy

Hmm Interesting looking device, afraid I've been tempted again and just ordered one to play with (when I get time). Only £28.50 so not exactly going to break the bank. Don't expect it will be sent out now till next week.
Will let you know how I get on with it.

John, where did you order yours?

Hi

I've ordered mine direct from FTDI (They are in Scotland). The address is on page 21 of the datasheet.

http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documen ... _VDIP1.pdf

I don't know where Jordy ordered his from, but I imagine they must have a distributor in your country.

http://www.ftdichip.com/FTSalesNetwork.htm

I bought the vinculum from a Dutch webshop that had these modules in stock.
Maybe you could Try buying them from farnell.com

Thanks, I just ordered two from FTDI

Hi Jordy

My module has arrived today.
Just a quick question, the jumpers on J3 &J4 are set to pins 1 & 2 (Pull Up - Serial UART)
Is this how you have yours set?

Thanks

PS
I did notice after I'd ordered mine they are stocked by RS Components for a similar price to the manufacturer.

Yes that's correct,

J3/ J4 are set as Pull Up.
Don't forget to connect to RTS and CTS line of the module without these connected the module cannot function.

Also (this is a known issue) when setting the serial component to the correct baud (9600) you need to set flow control to OFF.
However the bug in the RS232 component is that the cal_uart that's in this component default back to flow control ON.

You need to use the component debugger tool to expose all used components by the serial component and navigate to the cal_uart and set flow control to OFF.
You need to do this every time you re-open you Flowcode program as long as the bug is not fixed.

Regards Jordy

Thanks Jordy

The help file is no attached and can be downloaded from to start post.

Regard Jordy

Later this week I want to release a document where I show you how to communicate with the vinculum 1 using a com port terminal program.
The main point if this document is to let you see how easy it is to communicate with it, also you can see the different responses from the vinculum 1 to these commands.

Regards Jordy

Hi Jordy

You need to use the component debugger tool to expose all used components by the serial component and navigate to the cal_uart and set flow control to OFF.
You need to do this every time you re-open you Flowcode program as long as the bug is not fixed

Just tried this and I've not been able to find it in the component debugger. How do I find that?

Thanks

JohnCrow wrote:Hi Jordy

You need to use the component debugger tool to expose all used components by the serial component and navigate to the cal_uart and set flow control to OFF.
You need to do this every time you re-open you Flowcode program as long as the bug is not fixed

Just tried this and I've not been able to find it in the component debugger. How do I find that?

Thanks

Hi John the best way to explain it is to create a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LUx4Njoap0

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Is there any way to get support for larger flash drives? I don't have any USB sticks smaller than 8GB. I thought I did but nope.

I even managed to take one of my 8GB USB sticks and create a 500MB partition (only partition) and format it with FAT16 but still no go. It will not create log.csv on it.

My first tests last night, it didn't create the file on a 2GB usb stick either (formatted fat - 64k Allocation Units)
Ive got a 250MB drive somewhere, I'll dig that out and try that tomorrow.

The display showed File Created and the data point counter was incrementing.

Hi john,

I did a quick test with a 16gig memory stick from Kingston and it worked fine.
I have formatted the stick as FAT and a cluster size of 64kbit I believe.

Maybe you can take a picture of you setup maybe I can spot something.

Regards Jordy.

As soon as I've got time a will create a guide on how to communicate with the vinculum thought the computer.
Maybe this can help to figure out what's wrong.

Hi Jordy

Don't think a photo would be very clear
I've got it connected as follows - Same device as you.

Module PIC
6 = C6 = TX
8 = C7 = RX
9 = C5 RTS
10 = C4 CTS

1 = 5V
7 = 0V

When it starts the leds on the module flash.

Before doing the mod to the flowchart regards setting flow control to off it didn't even show the start up message on the LCD.

On powerup does the USB drive active led flashes together with the vinculum module.

Mine does not.

Hi
I've just tried mine again.Using a 256MB flash drive.

This is the sequence of events

Apply power to system

LEDs 1 & 2 on the Vinculum alternate a few times starting with 2
LED2 then gives a double flash
LED2 then lights steady and the led on the flash drive flickers.

Press SW0
LED on flash drive does not light when display says writing data though.

Jordy, could you please post the hex file created by your example.
That way will eliminate any problems that could be related to the bug described earlier.

hyperion007 wrote:Mine does not.

So the LEDs on your flash drive does not flash when you first plug it in.

JohnCrow wrote:Hi
I've just tried mine again.Using a 256MB flash drive.

This is the sequence of events

Apply power to system

LEDs 1 & 2 on the Vinculum alternate a few times starting with 2
LED2 then gives a double flash
LED2 then lights steady and the led on the flash drive flickers.

Press SW0
LED on flash drive does not light when display says writing data though.

Jordy, could you please post the hex file created by your example.
That way will eliminate any problems that could be related to the bug described earlier.

Hi john can you verify that your are sending and receiving serial data with a scoop.
If this is not the case then you're flow control will be set enabled I think.

Also check if the rts and cts line are held low.

I will try my best to complete the tutorials on how to use the vinculum to communicate with the PC.
This should help you a bit to find any issues.

Regards Jordy

Ps. I have just read you're post, I'm not able to share the hex file now but when I get home I will post it.

Thanks Jordy

I'll get the scope out this afternoon and have a probe around.

Im getting data on the TX line, starts and stops with SW0/SW1
but just looks like noise on the RX line

RTS & CTS are low