About USB [Archive] - MEL PICBASIC Forum

Bill Legge

- 2nd December 2009, 08:54

I've just got the FTDI product VDrive2 working after a weeken of fiddling about updating the firmware and learning the disk/file commands.

Works well - the data is recorded on a USB memory stick in a '.csv' file (commer separated variable) file that can be easily read into an Xl spreadsheet.

Cost about $30. After the difficulty of packing data into EEPROM the almost unlimited storage is great.

Regards Bill legge

' -----[ Program Description ]---------------------------------------
'
' Name: WVL Vdrive_03 File write test
' Program stores two 8-bit readings to USB thumb drive using a Vdrive2
'
' Vdrive jumper in UART MODE (UART/SPI pulled up datasheet V.99 is correct)
' Pin Name Description
'
' 1 GND 5V common
' 2 RTS Request to Send
' 3 Vdd Connects to +5V
' 4 RXD Receive Data
' 5 TXD Transmit Data
' 6 CTS Clear to Send (connect to common or make low)
' 7 NC No Connection
' 8 RI Ring Indicator (not used)
'
' PIC18F8722 on BIGPIC5
' DEBUG used for PC comms and SERIN/SEROUT for VDrive2 comms all at 9600 Baud
'
' -----[ DEFINES ]---------------------------------------------------
'
clear
DEFINE OSC 40 ' Compile as HS

DEFINE LCD_DREG PORTD ' Define PIC port used for LCD Data lines
DEFINE LCD_DBIT 4 ' Define first pin of data nibble
DEFINE LCD_RSREG PORTD ' Define PIC port used for R/S line
DEFINE LCD_RSBIT 2 ' Define Portb pin used for R/S
DEFINE LCD_EREG PORTD ' Define PIC prot used for E line
DEFINE LCD_EBIT 3 ' Define PortB pin used for E connection
DEFINE LCD_BITS 4 ' Define the 4 bit communication mode
DEFINE LCD_LINES 4 ' Define using a 2 line LCD
DEFINE LCD_COMMANDUS 1500 ' Define delay time between sending commands
DEFINE LCD_DATAUS 45 ' Define delay time between data sent
lcdout $fe,$1
pause 2000
FLAGS=0

INCLUDE "modedefs.bas" ' Include serial modes

DEFINE DEBUG_REG PORTC
DEFINE DEBUG_BIT 6
DEFINE DEBUG_BAUD 9600 ' VDrive2 default speed
DEFINE DEBUG_MODE 0

DEFINE DEBUGIN_REG PORTC
DEFINE DEBUGIN_BIT 7
DEFINE DEBUGIN_BAUD 9600
DEFINE DEBUGIN_MODE 0

define ADC_BITS 8
'
' -----[ VARIABLES ]-----------------------------------------------------------
'
X VAR byte
Y var byte
Z var byte
A var byte
B var byte
C var byte
D var byte
E var byte
F var byte
G var word
DataIn var byte[50]
Echo var byte
Rx VAR PORTC.0 ' Data in from VDrive [Yellow]
Tx VAR PORTC.1 ' Data out to VDrive [Orange]
Heartbeat var PORTD.0

Number VAR BYTE[10]
'
' -----[ INITIALISE ]----------------------------------------------------------
'
ADCON1 = %00001111 ' All digital
TRISA = %00000011 ' A0 and A1 inputs
TRISB = %00000000
TRISC = %00000001 ' C0 is data in, C1 is data out
TRISD = %00000000
TRISE = %00000000
TRISF = %00000000
TRISG = %00000000
TRISH = %00000000
TRISJ = %00000000
'
' -----[ IDENTIFY ]------------------------------------------------------------
'
lcdout $fe,$80, "WVL Vdrive_03"
lcdout $fe,$c0, "PIC18F8722"
pause 3000
lcdout $fe,1

' ************************************************** ***************************
' * *
' * ESTABLISH COMMS WITH VDRIVE *
' * *
' ************************************************** ***************************

Begin:
Debug "VDrive2 Starting",13
Pause 200
Debug "Attempting synchronisation:"

Syncro:
Pause 200
toggle Heartbeat
X=X+1
debug " ",dec3 X
SerOut2 TX,84,["E",13] ' Send sync command folowed by CR
SerIn2 RX,84,200,Toolong,[Echo] ' Wait 200mS for reply 'E'
if Echo = "E" then Comms_Good

Toolong:
GoTo Syncro

Comms_Good:
Debug 13,"Disk synchronised",10,13 ' Show SUD has been sent
pause 500

' ************************************************** ***************************
' * *
' * M A I N C O D E *
' * *
' ************************************************** ***************************

gosub Check_disk
gosub Get_version
gosub File_list
gosub File_name_size ' File size & name before FOR...NEXT loop
gosub Free_space
gosub File_delete
pause 100
gosub File_open ' Create the file "TestFile.csv" (XL type)
' When read becomes "TESTFILE.CSV"
for X=1 to 17
toggle Heartbeat
debug "Writing to file X: ",dec3 X,13
SerOut2 TX,84,["WRF ",0,0,0,4,13] ' 32 bit number of bytes
serout2 Tx,84,[dec3 x,10,13] ' Number of bytes must be exact
next X ' Additional CR puts XL numbers into a column

gosub File_close

gosub File_size ' File size after FOR...NEXT loop

' Read the file size and send first byte to LCD
serout2 Tx,84,["IPA",13] ' Switch to ASCII characters for display of HEX digits
pause 100 ' Essential to wait after o/p switch
serout2 Tx,84,["DIR TestFile.csv",13] ' Issue the command
serin2 Rx,84,[Wait ("TESTFILE.CSV $"),_
hex2 A,skip 2,hex2 B,skip 2,hex2 C,skip 2,hex2 D]
lcdout $fe,$80, "$: ",hex2 A," ",HEX2 B," ",HEX2 C," ",HEX2 D
pause 100

debug "All done",10,13
end

' ************************************************** ***************************
' * *
' * S U B R O U T I N E S *
' * *
' ************************************************** ***************************

Check_disk:
for X=0 to 49 : DataIn[X]=0 : NEXT X ' Clear the array
serout2 tx,84,[13] ' Issue the command. "D"= Disk Ok, "N"=no disk
serin2 Rx,84,[str DataIn\1] ' Read 1 character
If DataIn[0] = "N" then
debug "No disk detected "
pause 500
goto Check_disk
else
debug "Disk found OK",10,13
endif
pause 100 ' These pauses are essential
return

Get_version:
debug "Firmware version:"
for X=0 to 49 : DataIn[X]=0 : NEXT X ' Clear the array
serout2 tx,84,["FWV",13] ' Issue the command
serin2 Rx,84,[str DataIn\50\">"] ' Read characters until ">" is found
debug str DataIn\50 ' Send data to the PC
pause 100 ' These pauses are essential
return

File_list:
debug 13,10,10,"List all files:"
for X=0 to 49 : DataIn[X]=0 : NEXT X ' Clear the array
serout2 Tx,84,["DIR",13] ' Issue the command
serin2 Rx,84,[str DataIn\50\">"] ' Read up to max of 50 chrs
debug str DataIn\50
pause 100
return

File_name_size:
debug 13,10,10,"File name & size:"
serout2 Tx,84,["IPA",13] ' Switch to ASCII characters for display of HEX digits
pause 10 ' Essential to wait after o/p switch
for X=0 to 49 : DataIn[X]=0 : NEXT X ' Clear the array
serout2 Tx,84,["DIR TestFile.csv",13] ' Issue the command
serin2 Rx,84,2000,Jump2,[str DataIn\50\">"]' Read up to max of 50 chrs
Jump2: ' Needed in case there is no file on the drive
debug str DataIn\50
pause 100
return

File_size:
debug 13,10,10,"File size:",13
serout2 Tx,84,["IPA",13] ' Switch to ASCII characters for display of HEX digits
pause 10 ' Essential to wait after o/p switch
for X=0 to 49 : DataIn[X]=0 : NEXT X ' Clear the array
serout2 Tx,84,["DIR TestFile.csv",13] ' Issue the command
serin2 Rx,84,2000,Jump3,[Wait ("TESTFILE.CSV "), str DataIn\50\">"]
' Read up to max of 50 chrs
Jump3: ' Needed in case there is no file on the drive
debug str DataIn\50,10,13
serout2 Tx,84,["IPH",13] ' Switch to HEX characters
pause 100
return

Free_space
debug 13,10,10,"Free space:",13
serout2 Tx,84,["IPA",13] ' Switch to ASCII characters for display of HEX digits
pause 10 ' Essential to wait after o/p switch
for X=0 to 49 : DataIn[X]=0 : NEXT X ' Clear the array
serout2 Tx,84,["FS",13] ' Return 4 bytes
serin2 Rx,84,[str DataIn\50\">"] ' Read up to max of 50 chrs
debug str DataIn\50
serout2 Tx,84,["IPH",13] ' Switch to HEX characters
pause 100
return

File_open:
debug "Opening file",10,13
serout2 Tx,84,["OPW TestFile.csv",13] ' Issue the command
return

File_close:
debug 10,"Closing file",10,13
SerOut2 TX,84,["CLF TestFile.csv",13] ' Issue the command
return

File_delete:
debug 13,10,10,"Deleting file",10,13
serout2 tx,84,["DLF TestFile.csv",13] ' Issue the command
return

Bill Legge

- 3rd December 2009, 12:25

The FTDI site whilst visually neat is a logical mess and the Vdreive2 product is hiding under the 'Web Shop' button:

http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip?op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=52&title=Vinculum+Kits+and+Modules

The web shop uses the name 'Vinculum' but there is no explanation if this is the name of the shop, product group or whatever. It's amazing that a company with a good range of products and obviously of considerable technical expertise has names and parts probably designated by the mad hatter on one of his 'off' days.

If this link does not work the way to find it is:

1. FTDI site.
2. Select Web Shop.
3. Select 'modules'
4. And there you are, I hope.

When you get the module it will probably have outdated firmware loaded into it. My advice on dealing with this is:

1. Don't update it initially.
2. Write a test program to open files, write to the file, close, get file size and so on. All easy using RS232 at 9600 Baude without CTS/RTS control.
3. After gaining confidence that the thing works, have a go at updating the firmware. I spent a whole day trying to do it by the 'memory stick method' and failed. I then had a go at update by using the RS232 link - and it worked fine.

Updating by using RS232 needs the CTS/RTS lines to be used. There is a good circuit diagram and details on how to do it in the 'Firmware' support document. Don't bother asking questions from the tech support link - one does get a reply but, it's not of much value.

If you go along this path and run into difficulties - let me know. i've just got a 2 Gigabyte stick and all works OK. It's odd writing data logging routines where there is no restriction on record lengths or the frequency of sampling!

Regards Bill Legge