BeagleBoard/GSoC/2019Proposal/GPIOParallelBidirComm

Reference Design For A GPIO-based Parallel Bi-Directional Bus

Student: Pranav Kumar Mentors: Andrew Henderson, Zubeen Tolani Code: Wiki: https://elinux.org/index.php?title=/BeagleBoard/GSoC/GPIO-parallel-bi-dir-bus

=Status= Create a hardware/software design will incorporate shift registers (and potentially logic level converter solutions as appropriate) to allow BB.org hardware to communicate with hardware via a parallel, bi-directional bus.

=Tasks Done=

I have completed the task required as described on the ideas page, and created a pull request, as listed here

About Me
IRC: pranav_kumar Github: https://github.com/pranav083 E-Linux Username: pranav083 School: UIET,Panjab University,Chandigarh Country: IndiaIndia Primary language: English,Hindi Typical work hours: 9:30 - 23:00 IST GMT/EST/PST to Ist Adjusted Time Previous GSoC participation: Skills: C,Python,ROS,OpenCV,Embeddded C,Electronics Prototying

Tools(proficient) : Git,Linux Experience : C,Python,Java,HTML,CSS,JavaScript,Arduino

Hardware Skills: Atmel chip, Raspberry Pi, ICs, Circuit Designing, I2C

Reference Design For A GPIO-based Parallel Bi-Directional Bus
Project name: Reference Design For A GPIO-based Parallel Bi-Directional Bus

Introduction
In digital circuits, a shift register is a cascade of flip flops, sharing the same clock, in which the output of each flip-flop is connected to the 'data' input of the next flip-flop in the chain, resulting in a circuit that shifts by one position the 'bit array' stored in it, 'shifting in' the data present at its input and 'shifting out' the last bit in the array, at each transition of the clock input. As many projects require a large number of input/output pins to make the project interfacing other the other microcontroller it's having a huge requirement GPIO(e.g game controller etc.). As pocket beagle is small yet very power packed low-power board in which the GPIO are pinmux with the other peripherals and having many functionalities on the same pin like (SPI, USART), that led to the shortage of pins on the board

As it can be seen that GPIO having simple input /output (without pinmux) are very less in number which makes it really hard to use pocket beagle to use in projects where their large requirement of I/O pins. Buts as it has two powerful PRU of with a 32-­‐bit RISC processor at 200MHz with single-­cycle pin access for hard realme. So it makes it very easy for implementing multiple inputs and outputs control at high speed through a few GPIO pins.

Progress till now
First of all, I studied the internal mapping of the PRU in the pocket Beagle I am able to interface swift register with the pocketBeagle And working

Community Bonding Period

 * Studying and getting further in-depth knowledge of the PRU and knowing the further use cases of the project through the mentor and another community member.
 * Discussing the type of coding standard to be followed in the code with the mentors
 * If any changes are suggested making changes in according to that
 * Discussing the guideline followed for documentation
 * study the device tree of the pocketbeagle for
 * Studying the Datasheet so that during the implementation period it makes easier to apply things in a more smooth way.

Week 1 : Milestone #1

 * As I was already working on the swift register interfacing with the pocket beagle will work on further improving the code for different use cases
 * Testing it with different input and output modes on different GPIOs

Week 2 : Milestone #2

 * Check for signal accuracy and any delay if occurring which occurring while running different test cases using CRO.
 * In the meantime check for any loss which is occurring in this circuit
 * Testing and Debugging the circuit making circuits for the by implementing it with different input and output with different programs and making design of the circuit on PCB as addon for pocketbeagle.
 * As I will get be known to most aspect of the hardware and PRU for now so it will be easier to expoloit mosre from it, to move toward the develoment of kernel drivers

Week 3 : Milestone #3

 * developing linux kernel module for the kernel user space
 * testing and debuging if any problem is caused in between the development

Week 4 : Milestone #4

 * expanding device driver capability to communicate taking input or output at different baud rates
 * Testing the communication and synchronization with other peripherals and logic analyzer
 * Preparing slides of the completed work and check for any bugs in the driver.

by this time the time for Phase I evaluation: I will deliver kernel driver, circuits, effect of swift register on the different GPIOs of the pocket beagle 

Week 5 : Milestone #5

 * Try to fix any bug if it is there in the kernel driver
 * start to develop library in c for the user space
 * Documenting the work

Week 6 : Milestone #6

 * making first project that will be a game controller using the pocket beagle
 * testing and writing code for it as

Week 8 : Milestone #8
'''By this time the time for Phase II evaluation: I will be able to deliver library for the user space,

Week 9 : Milestone #9

 * fixing bugs error and
 * expanding the support for the driver in python

Week 13 : Milestone #13
As the another p

Experience
As I am from Electronics background and always involved in creating in making projects related to micro-controller.I like to learn new things in my day to day life. I have made a 3D printer that works both as a 2D printer and 3D printer using the hardware modules of a 3d printer and Open Source Marlin Firmware. Worked on finite state machines using embedded system. And I take sessions in our college to spread knowledge among ourself with common interests. I love to contribute to open source where people can help each and clearing one another problems.

Previous Contributions to Open-Source

 * Making a lighter and less complex multifunctional line Following algorithm using FSM that is easy to implement and build.
 * Lead the team of NGO making projects for school going children with full DIY guide and Documentation Github.
 * Making a short script for login into our university wifi Github Link.
 * Take the initiative to have an Open-Source Community section of India on OSRF official ROS-Discourse so that people can openly know to each other.

Contributions to this project
There was no upstream repository for this project. So, I make one and started contributing to it by starting from interfacing shift register github. And for this project I have created another repository on GitHub https://github.com/pranav083/pocketbeagle-bi-dir-comm.

Participations

 * Participated in Hacktober fest 2018.
 * Suggesting an efficient prototype of Harvester at eYIC, IIT Bombay(Country level competition)Docs.
 * Won PocketBeagle from Mouser electronics event at IIT Roorkee, India.

Approach
As I will be on my break period from my college after semesters exam. So, I can devote my full time on this project and there will be enough time for me to learn, explore and implement new things and successfully able to complete this project on time.

Benefit
It will largely impact the way people who want multiple inputs or output capability in their projects

What community members speak
After making this project for the community, I am looking forward to working more with the hardware-software integrated project and want to help pocketbeagle to made easy to use in projects for newbies.

Future Contributions
As always I will like to contribute further in the open source community and spread my word to my local community and spreading the easy of making project using beaglebone family and its advantages over other controllers, And the way people help each other especially.