This is my explanation of my project to control a Gameboy printer with a Parallax Propeller.
I found the code and schematic by Joe Grand to interface a Parallax Propeller with the Gameboy Printer.
I had an extra WiiChuck adapter that I thought would work with the Gameboy Link Cable, but I had to sand down both edges of the adapter so that it would fit. I also had to cut a trace and solder it to another pin.
The data sent to the printer is in the format:
“GBP horizontal resolution of 160 pixels @ 2 bit/pixel greyscale
Each tile = 8 pixels * 8 pixels
20 tiles horizontal per band
2 bands per buffer”
It wasn’t clear to me that the data was in a checkerboard pattern. It starts from the top left. Follow the arrows to see how it’s setup. There are 20 tiles horizontal by 2 high per band and there are 2 bands. The whole thing is a buffer.
Each line is organized in a block of 8 pixels by 8 pixels:
byte $FF, $00, $FF, $00, $FF, $00, $FF, $00 is equivalent to:
Important note: “The SIN pin (serial input TO Propeller) must be pulled up to VCC(5V) via a 15k resistor.”
Important note #2: You need to replace the section
CON
_clkmode = xtal1 + pll16x
' _xinfreq = 5_000_000 ' 80MHz
_xinfreq = 6_000_000 ' 96MHz overclock
_stack = 50 ' Ensure we have this minimum stack space available
with
CON
_clkmode = xtal1 + pll16x
_xinfreq = 5_000_000 ' 80MHz
' _xinfreq = 6_000_000 ' 96MHz overclock
_stack = 50 ' Ensure we have this minimum stack space available
Files
Code: http://obex.parallax.com/objects/814/
Schematic: http://www.grandideastudio.com/wp-content/uploads/lrfcam_schematic.pdf
More info: http://www.grandideastudio.com/portfolio/laser-range-finder/
Bill of Materials
Parallax Propeller P8X32A QuickStart Board: $25.00 + shipping, from Parallax
WiiChuck Adapter: $1.95 + shipping, from Sparkfun More info/
Header: You only need 4 pins of $1.50 + shipping, from Sparkfun
Sand Paper
3 x 220Ω Resistors
15kΩ Resistor
7805 Voltage Regulator(5V): $1.25 + shipping, from Sparkfun
Nintendo Gameboy Printer
