Greg2600 wrote:
mellott124 wrote:
Greg2600 wrote:
So to understand the design, we put all the roms on an SD card, and the cart will display a menu to choose a rom and load it to memory?No. Like Flashboy, you’ll remove the cart from the VB, connect a USB cable from your PC, and then select and program the game on your PC. The files reside on the SD card merely to make programming faster. I could have done it on the PC just like flashboy but I wanted to speed up the programming. There will be no on-screen menu for HyperFlash32. That’s one of the things that makes this design easier to get done.
Oh, gotcha. Well, I’ll just stand by and hope you can accomplish the Multi-Boy at some time in the future.
I hope to change your mind once you see the final HyperFlash32 product!
Update on the case design. I’ve been hard at work on the mechanical design of how the cart is assembled together.
HyperFlash32 will be a red FR4 based case with a carbon fiber black 3D printed frame. This allows the unique ability to embed electronics into the actual cases on the backsides. FR4 is the same material as the PCB, and its strong as hell. Much stronger than ABS plastic. This means I can make it thinner and fit more components inside. I’ve already had the frames printed and they look really good. They’re also ridiculously strong.
The drive to make more space was to add back the eInk display. If this all pans out, which it looks like it will, then the eInk display will be added back along with 3 capacitive touch buttons on the back of the case. You won’t see the buttons except for an outline as they’re actually embedded into the case. Same goes for the top cover, or case. The display is embedded into the top 1.5mm of the case. This was the only way to get it all to fit and work. It’s quite a unique design and I’m quite proud of it. The test PCBs (shape but no traces) are being ordered now. I’m doing some mechanical samples to make sure the board house can get the correct dimensions and stack heights I need to put it all together. They’ve reviewed the design and said its not a problem.
Back to the 3 capacitive buttons. This is to allow selection of the ROM files and programming without needing the PC. With a display available, this is now possible. However it will still need to be powered via the USB cable input. Also keep in mind that eInk is slow. Update rates of 3Hz or so. So it won’t be fast but it will be usable. It’s primary function is to allow user graphics for labels. Secondary function will be an on-device screen for programming.
Which eInk, I’m still debating. Monochrome black and white are much faster and allow partial update zones which is much better for an on-device screen that helps with programming. However, its hard to pass up a red and black eInk display given the Virtual Boy. I’ll build both initially and then post my results and let people decide which one they prefer.
Anyway, some pictures attached to show the design. Design files of the case design are shown, as well as the art that will be added to the top and bottom surfaces. I’ve also attached a picture of an early test carbon fiber frame with a display sitting in it next to a Mario Tennis cart. That frame happens to have a slight wave in the top of the case but the others are straight and it won’t be an issue when building units.
Super excited about this project. Probably more so than any other VB project I’ve done. I’ll post another design update once the test PCBs come in and I do fit checks. Then it will be modifying the electronic design and then doing layout for both PCBs (the main cart PCB, and then the bottom cover PCB that will contain the eInk electronics and SD card electronics).
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brumbie13 wrote:
If I understand correctly, with this latest design update, we can use the buttons on the cart to switch between games. Is that it?If so, I am sold. I was holding out for the MultiBoy32, but if this will let me switch between ROMS without needing to plug the cart into a computer, I’m sold.
Also, if we don’t need to plug the unit into a computer and the ROMs are stored on an SD card, what is the purpose of the USB connection?
You need USB for power. You can’t flash it while plugged into the VB.
I’m open to suggestions for powering the cart when out of the VB.
