Hi all,
The USB-41 module project is, as the rest of the modules I've designed so far, a multifunctional device.
Currently the hardware part of the project is finished, the first units (a small run of about 20) are in production
during this and the next week, and will be shipped afterwards.
Fuctionality for the "Text mode 82143A" emulation is also finished including a Windows based interface
to accept the "printed" data, save it to a file and/or actually hardcopy it on any suitable printer attached
to your PC. Details
here.
I've also included the USB Power function, so the HP-41 can be powered from the USB-41 module as long
as it is attached to a powered USB computer port.
The "Clonix-41" functionality is inherent to the USB-41 module, although it is not yet implemented in the
ClonixConfig.exe utility. I'm currently upgrading to ver. 3.0 in order to include USB-41 module configuration
as well as access to pages #4 & #5, as requested for a well known programmer/user, contributor and friend... :-)
New version will allow up to 8 .ROM pages to be included in the USB-41 module in a Clonix-like fashion.
Current software developement for the USB-41 is the Wand emulation. This requires handling of the not very
well documented FI line, but currently the single byte bar-codes can be issued, so I'm confident in having a
functional version by this summer (depending on the spare time availability)
There is another application being developed simultaneously, intended to provide a means to transfer HP-41
pages directly to a PC .ROM file and vice-versa, using HEPAX RAM and the "COPYROM" command.
The HP-41 -> PC direction has been tested and works as expected; still pending is the development of the
PC -> HP-41 mode which requires more control due to limited amount of RAM inside PIC microcontroller
to build a suitable buffer.
These are my inmediate goals for this new-born member of the Clonix family. Hope you find it interesting.
Cheers from the Canary Islands.
Diego.
PS. For the curious users out there: you will see that the "NoV-2E7" is no longer in the ClonixConfig.exe utility and its place is now used by the USB-41.
This "NoV-2E7" module was about to have 128K (32 pages) regrettably the sample RAM chips I used for the prototypes (which eventually worked as expected) were soon afterwards discontinued by the manufacturer and no suitable replacement was offered; so I decided to stop development and only the two prototypes were built.
Edited: 6 Apr 2012, 10:14 a.m. after one or more responses were posted