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Hardware Hackers

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Contents

Overview

If you're interested in adding functionality to the BUG with hardware, here's some information about hacking the BUG.

If you're interested in software as well, Tutorials & HOWTOs are a good place to get started with applications.

Hardware Hacking

There are several possible ways to interact with the BUGbase, including a handylink port, a mini-USB port, and four connectors that make it possible to connect modules. With the addition of a BUGvonHippel module, you can access the BUG interfaces directly for more flexibility.


The Handylink Cable

The handylink connection can be used for things like kernel flashing and debugging. It provides a serial data interface and


The BUG-Module Interface

The BUGbase interfaces with modules via Samtec connectors—QTE connectors on the modules fit the QSE connectors on the base. The QTE connector pinout can be viewed in the Exploded Connector Diagram; as you'd expect, the QSE pinout is a mirror image. This is a standard interface for all BUG modules; any new module will need the same connector in order to interact with the base the way the existing modules do.

Some more BMI documentation:


The USB Port

The BUGbase has a mini-A USB port that allows the base to communicate with and charge from a computer. This connection can also be used to interface with other devices; adapters are available for many devices that don't have mini-A USB connections.


The von Hippel Module

The von Hippel module exposes the standard interfaces, allowing a user to connect to external hardware. Opening up the BUG connections gives you much more flexibility—BUT that also means that it's much easier to damage the base unit, the von Hippel module, and/or any external hardware by mistake, so be sure to read through the detailed information in the vonHippel Hardware Design Spec.


Pins available on the BUGvonHippel module:

  • 5V power
  • Adjustable power source
  • Active-low interrupt to base CPU
  • GPIO pins 0-3
  • IOX pins 0-5
  • 2 DAC outputs
  • 4 ADC inputs
  • I2C interface
  • SPI interface
  • RS232 serial port interface
  • Digital audio interface


Take a closer look at BUGvonHippel to learn more about the module.

The BUGduino Module

The not yet released BUGduino will be an alternative to the The von Hippel Module,it uses a programable Atmel microcontroller. It also has different specifications(for instance it has a faster ADC which has less precision)

How Tos