EVB+

 

Home

Buy

Products

Textbooks

Resources

Support

Download

Contact

 

 

 

  
 
 

RoadRunner12 USB and POWER stick

 
 
   
   

The new FT232RL based RoadRunner stick provides a flawless USB interface and a versatile power supply for making experimental circuits on solderless breadboards. It is not only designed to be used with our ThunderBird12 and Dragonfly12 stamp modules, but also with any microcontroller ICs or  modules that can be plugged onto a solderless breadboard.

It works with all operating systems including Windows 98, Windows XP, Vista 32/ 64 bit Windows 7 and linux flawlessly.

If the USB to TTL interface is not used, the RoadRunner stick can function as a compact 5V power supply for temporary prototypes and experimenting with circuit design on a solderless breadboard.

RoadRunner features:

  • Includes the FT232RL to provide USB to TTL conversion. 
  • Works flawlessly with all operating systems
  • Power source selectable from a USB port or an external AC-DC adapter by a jumper
  • Provides 500mA DC at 5V or 300mA at 3.3V.
  • Power LED indicator for 5V or 3.3V
  • Installed with a dual function 500mA fuse jumper
  • Pinouts of the SCI communication match the ThunderBird12 module
  • Red and Green LED indicators for serial data communication
  • Works with the ThunderBird12 module without any jumper wire.
  • Provides USB to TTL interface and power to any microcontrollers
  • Zig Zag pin layout for fitting a breadboard perfectly
  • Includes a 6 foot USB type B cable

Install and verify USB driver:

  1. Before connecting the RoadRunner module to your PC's USB port for the first time, make sure that the module is unplugged from a breadboard.

     

  2. Go to the FT232RL driver installation and verification page for operating procedures: http://www.evbplus.com/TinyUSB_9s12/ft232rl.html.

     

  3. Once you have verified that the USB driver is properly installed, you may now plug the RoadRunner module onto a breadboard and connect it to a microcontroller module such as our ThunderBird12 or Dragonfly12 module.  Invoke the AsmIDE if the microcontroller module is pre-loaded with Freescale D-Bug12 monitor, or invoke Code Warrior if the module is pre-loaded with Freescale serial monitor.
     

  4. For using Code Warrior with Freescale serial monitor you need to Download and configure Code Warrior
     http://www.evbplus.com/Code_Warrior_hcs12.html
     

  5. If the AsmIDE does not communicate with your microconroller module then you need to check if the COM port number that is assigned by the AsmIDE matches the USB-to-Serial COM port number that is assigned by Windows' Device Manager. The Device Manager assigns the USB-to-Serial COM port number randomly and it does not know which COM port number that AsmIDE is going to use.

    In order to find the USB-to-Serial COM port number that is assigned by Device Manager, you can click through "Control Panel -> Systems -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> Ports".  The USB-to-Serial COM port number will appear (In Windows Vista, you left click on Start, right click on Computer, left click on propriety, then Device Manager and then Continue).

    For setting the COM port of the AsmIDE to match that USB-to-Serial COM port number, you can click through "View-> Option->Terminal Window Options" menu, then select the correct COM port from COM1 to COM8.

Note:  ( This note applies to Code Warrior IDE as well )

In order to establish a reliable USB communication, always connect the RoadRunner to your PC's USB port first before invoking the AsmIDE, otherwise the AsmIDE will not be able to find a COM port.  When ending a debugging session, always close the AsmIDE first before unplugging the USB cable from the RoadRunner, otherwise the AsmIDE may hang up and you need to re-establish USB communication again. 

As long as you keep the RoadRunner connected to your PC's USB port, disconnecting the RoadRunner from your microcontroller module or unplugging the RoadRunner from your breadboard will not lose USB communication.

In case the AsmIDE hangs up, you need to close the AsmIDE first, then unplug the USB cable from  your RoadRunner, wait a few seconds before re-plugging the USB cable, then wait a few more seconds and allow the USB connection to be re-established.  After cycling the USB connection you can invoke the AsmIDE again and it may restore the USB communication.  If this does not work, you need to restart your PC, but in order to avoid this, always close the AsmIDE before unplugging the USB cable.

If restarting the PC does not solve the problem, you may need to re-install the USB driver.

 

Operating instructions:

The circuitry of the RoadRunner module is very simple and you probably would know how to use it by reading the schematics.
It provides a USB to TTL conversion for a serial communication and a 5V or 3.3V regulated power supply. The serial communication supports xon-xoff protocol and the handshaking signals /RTS and /CTS are available on the module, but are not being used.

Although its main application is to team up with our ThunderBird12 or Dragonfly12 module to form a quick prototype platform, but it will also work with other micro controller module as well.

1. The J4 is used to select the VCC source for the module. It's a dual function polyfuse jumper.
When the jumper is placed toward to the USB jack the USB port provides the VCC for the module.
When the jumper is placed toward to the DC jack you need an 7.5V-9V AC adapter to provide the VCC for the module.

2. The J3 is used to select voltage level for the VCC. Both jumpers must be moved togerther vertically.
When they are placed in the "UP" position the VCC is 5V and the 5V LED indicator will be lit.
When they are placed in the "LOW' position the VCC is 3.3V and the 3V LED indicator will be lit.

The 5V voltage from a USB port is very convenient for testing program code, but if you are going to test motor or other power devices, they might cause a reset on a ThunderBird module if they draw too much current and force the VCC drop below 4.5V. If that's the case you should use an external AC adapter instead of getting power from USB or a separate power supply unit for the power devices.

The default setting of the J3 is for 5V and the J4 is for USB port.


When it's plugged onto a solderless breadboard it can provide VCC and ground buses for the breadboard.
It also provides VCC, ground and SCI communication signals for the ThunderBird12 module or the Dragonfly12-Plus DIP module.


If it's used with a ThunderBird12 module:

1. Plug the RoadRunner onto a soldless breadboard.
2. Plug the ThunderBird12 module and align the pin 57 - pin 60 of the ThunderBird12 module, pin to pin, to the J1 of the RoadRunner.

When the ThunderBird12 module is pre-installed with bootloader and D-Bug12 monitor, the states of the 2-position DIP switch (S2) are tested by the bootloader for selecting one of 4 operating modes during power up or reset, and the four LED indicators will light up from left to right to indicate that the bootloader is functioning. Then one of them will be lit to indicate the selected operating mode and other three will be turned off. When you learn HCS12 / 9S12 programming with D-Bug12 monitor, you might need to change operating modes quite often, so a mode indicator is helpful.

The 4 operating modes tested by the bootloader are EVB, Jump to EE, BDM POD and Bootloader.

When the ThunderBird12 module is pre-installed with serial monitor, the state of the left switch of the 2-position DIP switch (S2) is tested by the serial monitor for selecting RUN or LOAD mode during power up or reset, and the four LED indicators will light up from right to left to indicate that the serial monitor is functioning. If the left switch is placed in "LOAD" mode the monitor will wait for a command from PC. If the left switch is placed in "RUN" mode the LEDs will light up again from left to right to indicate that the program execution is diverted to the user code.

If the bootloader or the serial monitor is not installed or erased by a BDM, the 4 LED indicators will not light up sequentially during power up or reset.
 


If it's used with a Dragonfly12-Plus module based on the MC9S12C32 or MC9s12C128, you need make 4 connections for the Dragonfly12-Plus module: see the wiring in the picture at: http://www.evbplus.com/Dragonfly12P_9s12/DIP40_9s12.html

1. Plug the RoadRunner onto a soldless breadboard.
2. Connect the pin 1 of the Dragonfly12-Plus module to GND.
    Connect the pin 2 of the Dragonfly12-Plus module to VCC.
    Connect the pin 34 (PS0) of the Dragonfly12-Plus module to the TX output of the RoadRunner module.
    Connect the pin 35 (PS1) of the Dragonfly12-Plus module to the RX input of the RoadRunner module.

The Dragonfly12-Plus module is pre-installed with serial monitor only, because it does not have enough flash memory to hold the D-Bug12 monitor. The state of the slide switch (S2) is tested by the serial monitor for selecting RUN or LOAD mode during power up or reset, and the LED indicator will blink twice to indicate that the serial monitor is functioning. If the slide switch is placed in "LOAD" mode the monitor will wait for a command from PC. If the slide switch is placed in "RUN" mode the LEDs will flash 2 more times to indicate that the program execution is diverted to the user code.
 

 

 

9S12:  ThunderBird12 DIP module

Get more info. of the ThunderBird12 at:
http://www.evbplus.com/ThunderBird12_9s12/ThunderBird12_9s12.html

 

 

When the ThunderBird12 module is combined with the RoadRunner USB+POWER stick it becomes a versatile minimal prototype system.  It will make your prototyping much neat and reliable. The clumsy DB9 cable, a USB to RS232 adapter and a bulky AC to DC adapter are replaced by a light USB cable with a 5V power source directly from a laptop, it's a laptop friendly system and students can even do homework while enjoying the outdoor life.  

 

ThunderBird12 and RoadRunner form 
a prototype system

ThunderBird12, RoadRunner 
and an I/O module