Ok, I'm in the beginning stages of designing an electronics platform that will interface to many other devices (think phidgets like).
I believe I'd like all of the devices (which I will be making as well) to interface using the I2C (TWI) protocol (unless there is something better/easier/more universal). I want to leave open the ability for 3rd parties to create devices for this platform as well.
The question I have is:
1) Is there a simple chip that will handle all of the i2c interface stuff for me (analog and/or digital interface to various things like temperature sensors, tilt sensors, etc). Currently I have been using PIC chips to do the interfacing, but when you start talking about having to add a PIC chip to every device and then have special programming for that device, it starts to increase the price quite a bit.
2) If *I* must use a PIC chip (or similar), can anyone recommend a good/cheap chip to use? It only needs to have a couple ADC lines (2-4), a couple digital i/o lines (2-4), and the i2c interface. It doesn't have to be from Microchip, any readily available manufacturer will do. I've used the 16F877a chip, but I'm looking for something that's not so overkill.
I believe I'd like all of the devices (which I will be making as well) to interface using the I2C (TWI) protocol (unless there is something better/easier/more universal). I want to leave open the ability for 3rd parties to create devices for this platform as well.
The question I have is:
1) Is there a simple chip that will handle all of the i2c interface stuff for me (analog and/or digital interface to various things like temperature sensors, tilt sensors, etc). Currently I have been using PIC chips to do the interfacing, but when you start talking about having to add a PIC chip to every device and then have special programming for that device, it starts to increase the price quite a bit.
2) If *I* must use a PIC chip (or similar), can anyone recommend a good/cheap chip to use? It only needs to have a couple ADC lines (2-4), a couple digital i/o lines (2-4), and the i2c interface. It doesn't have to be from Microchip, any readily available manufacturer will do. I've used the 16F877a chip, but I'm looking for something that's not so overkill.