Inchworm+ Officially Announced & Sneak Peak at UNICORN

[blueroomelectronics]

I've posted the Inchworm+ assembly manual on my site, schematics, BOM, etc.

Some of you already know about the new Inchworm+ but I have a surprise for you.

I've been working on the Unicorn, a USB upgrade for the Inchworm+

Unicorn uses the 18F4550 and can power the Inchworm+ and it's target up to 400ma.

And better yet I've designed Unicorn to be a USB experimenter too.

• ICD2 for Inchworm (any version)
• 2x16 LCD with backlight control
• 4 push buttons under the LCD
• USB
• RS485

To use it as a very fast ICD2 *up to 15x faster than a serial ICD2* just snap it under the Inchworm+
Or
You can plug in a 2x16 LCD and use it as a USB experimenter
Or
Buy two and sandwich the Inchworm+ between them as a USB-LAB

Note: you can go back and forth between experimenter & ICD2 upgrade. Just depends on how you connect it.

PS you use the Inchworm in serial mode to program it initally...

 

[justDIY]

Sounds great Bill!

Can't wait to see some more details about how you plan to use the massive 4550.

 

[mramos1]

Great job Bill. USB and target power are great... Will check out the unicorn.

Congrats.

EDIT: On man, I could get rid of my old parallel programmer with that switch. I have done the MCLR and INTOSC a few times.

Good job...

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Since it's both an ICD2 USB upgrade and an experimenter I can only do so much with the 18F4550.
It's wired so the LCD occupies RD & RE & RB3 for the backlight.
Pushbuttons RB0,1,2,5
USER port RA0-3
UART to RS485 SN75176

 

[gregmcc]

A nice idea. Also can't wait to try it out.

 

[Azaruk]

Blueroom does it again!!!!

I am really looking forward to seeing this project. I have built the Inchworm + with great success - my own PCB which (I have to brag) worked first time.

The Unicorn sounds great - when can we expect to see the details?

 

[blueroomelectronics]

Gosh, well since you asked so nicely...
The Unicorn uses the 40pin header under the Inchworm+ 16F877A.
Here's a beta release of the schematic, it works as shown but is not final.
I was asked to add 4 diodes (RD0-3) and an 8 pin header (a 4x4 external keypad)
PS the USB LED found in most schematics for the USB ICD2 never seems to do anything...
PPS the RS,RW & E lines on the LCD are not yet set in stone, any suggestions on a "industry standard" arrangement?
PPPS I think I should add a choke on the USB power, not familiar with chokes or beads, suggestions?
**broken link removed**

 

[williB]

WoW william , i'm off to read about the Inchworm +