Peek

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Revision as of 19:59, 11 August 2009 by Dan in sd (talk | contribs) (Debugging/Programming Tools and Accessories)
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Peek.jpg

The Device

In The News

Basic Specifications

  • 320x240 TFT LCD with backlight
  • 47 Key QWERTY keyboard
  • 360 degree jogwheel with button
  • Vibrator Motor
  • Small Speaker
  • Side Push Button
  • Top Power Button
  • Standard SIM Socket
  • Micro-B USB Charging Socket ( USB connectivity is not supported, this is really just a TTL Serial port and a charging socket.)
  • Internal Coin Backup Battery
  • E-Mail Notification LED
  • Battery Door Contacts Switch

Discussions about the Current OS

  • It's a lightweight, purpose-built OS called PeekUX. [1]
    • Starts with TI's very own version of the real-time OS called Nucleus ( by Mentor )
    • TI has compiled in device drivers, and other stacks and turned it into their own platform.
    • Peek SW developers then took what TI gave them and wrap it with their own proprietary GUI and network libraries to create Peekux.
    • The email application then runs on top of that.
    • The whole thing is built as a single image. Thus the distinction between OS and App is blurred.
  • "Hacking maybe difficult" article at Peek Forums. [2]

Wireless Network and FCC stuff

  • Uses T-Mobile's nationwide GSM network.
  • Also can use AT&T's GSM network as a secondary network.
  • FCC ID is listed as: V6LPEEK0001

Mail Handling

  • Currently, the very large computing resources at Amazon AWS (Seattle, WA) is being used to handle the mail polling and forwarding for the Peek users. The mail handler was worked out at Peek HQ and then unleashed at AWS. AWS's "EC2 Service" is immensely flexible and allows Peek to keep up with the growing user base.

Chip List

Battery

  • Model: PK-BAT-001
  • Voltage: 3.7V
  • Capacity: 700mAh
  • Maximum Charge Voltage:4.2V
  • Standard: GB/T18287-2000

Peek Accessories

Debugging/Programming Tools

External MicroUSB Charge/Upgrade port

This is the MicroUSB port that is exposed on the left side of the peek.
It's used for both charging and upgrading the Peek. The upgrade cable uses
a serial TTL to USB level shifter to convert the serial TTL into a USB com port.
a bootlog can be viewed using serial settings 115200,n,8,1

Pin Function
1 +5V(USB Standard)
2 TXD +1.8V TTL
3 RXD +1.8V TTL
4 N/C
5 GND
Shield Drain wire

Programming Header

This is on the inside of the Peek under the SIM (this is also covered by the warranty sticker).
a bootlog can be viewed using serial settings 115200,n,8,1

Pin Function
1 Ground
2 nPowerButton (active low)
3 UART_RX +1.8V TTL (input to Peek)
4 USB_PWR +5V
5 UART_TX +1.8V TTL (output from Peek)
6 Bat+ 4.2V

Peek-header.jpg
Picture from Maushammer on Flickr

uClinux

Bootloader

  • a bootloader will be needed to facilitate booting uClinux
  • need low level access to flash either via uart or jtag
  • U-Boot could be used, but is pretty large
  • APEX is small, configurable, and easily adapted for ARM7TDMI

Kernel

Root Filesystem

Tools

  • use CSST ( Cellular Systems Software Tools ) from TI for loading Flash with bootloader etc. This is the Release Notes for the CSST included in SDP2430 (OMAP2430). There is a CSST for the TI LoCosto chips included with the Peek Upgrader software from Peek. More detailed info on CSST can be found here.

The Peek update program calls a command line CSST app to actually load the new firmware to flash. In my case, the command line was "D:\apps\Peek\CSST\csstcli.exe -t 1 -op download -i D:\apps\Peek\software\Rel_01_09_10.m0 -dt NOR -p COM5". This command can be executed from a command prompt. You will be prompted to reset the Peek (remove and replace the battery, then hit the power button) and the download will begin!

References

Other Peek Hacking Sites

Similar board bringups

TI documents

Watch a Peek being assembled

  • Watch Gabe Fabius and Dan Morel of PEEK, Inc. discuss the inner guts of the Peek device.