Upgradeable? Can we create "hacks" for the Arc4 ?

[BlindedByTheLite]

Upgradeable? Can we create \"hacks\" for the Arc4 ?

if we have the necessary components can we change the software and hardware of the Arc4? or is this something that can only be done thru Arc?

 

[jpeg]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

It's a good thought, it would be really cool to be able to code your own custom flashlight functions... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

I believe if you have the nessecary components, and the knowhow, you can hack anything, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif but...

Unless you have a lathe to cut your own parts, it's probably a "no" on the hardware.

Unless you have Henry's uncompiled code and some kind of way to connect to the ARC4's circuit (probably not mass produced) the answer is "no" here too... I'm curious what he coded it in, but I've never asked him... You'd have to ask Peter if he wanted the flashlight logic to be open source, but I don't think he'd go for it...
...just my 2¢

 

[BlindedByTheLite]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

yeah i'd never wanna do it behind Peter's back so i put it up in this forum..
i figure it wouldn't be a go but i gotta ask to clear this things up! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

 

[ViciousCycle74]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

I'd really like a chance to look at the source code and play. Probably not going to happen though.

 

[bluegreen]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

We could create our own open source version and call it OpenLight(tm) or Lumex or something... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[chamenos]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

arc flashlight might even make the headlines on slashdot if this keeps up /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gransee]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

I won't discourage you from doing it but I can't really help right now either. There just isn't enough flash memory space to create a interpreted language or hooks. The other alternative would be to erase the device and put your own code in there but that would be very challenging. And I should tell you that if you break the hardware/software, it is not covered under the warranty. But you probably assumed that already. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Peter

 

[nybble]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

can the arc7 have an sd card slot and play mp3's? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[cynix]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

[ QUOTE ]
nybble said:
can the arc7 have an sd card slot and play mp3's? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]it has an integrated 8megapixel digital camera /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Microxot]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

I'll wait for the integrated Arc7 with integrated laser pointer(green and red beam)/laser cutter!

..."And on slide three we can see that the diagram up here near the top of the screen...opps, sorry about that folks, didn't mean the cut the screen, I hit the wrong switch"

 

[cynix]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

[ QUOTE ]
Microxot said:
..."And on slide three we can see that the diagram up here near the top of the screen...opps, sorry about that folks, didn't mean the cut the screen, I hit the wrong switch"

[/ QUOTE ]or rather, i hit the switch the wrong number of times, or i forgot to hold it down at the end /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Harrkev]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

All you need to do is to open the Arc4 up and see what processor is in there. Then, go to the manufacturer of the processor and get a dev kit. Should be a couple hundred or so. But then you will have to develop all software from scratch.

It probably uses a standard programming interface for that unit. Just a wild guess, but the interface is likely RS-232 signals carried over a TTL line. That is common for tiny processors, although some use a JTAG interface.

I would be willing to bet $100 that the "security" bit is set on the processor, so you cannot get the code off of there. The best that you will be able to do is to erase the whole thing and start from scratch. But if you are VERY good at programming, you should be able to cobble something together that will work.

I once saw a board made in the 1970s which, after it was assembled, they placed the ENTIRE BOARD face-down on a belt sander. This completely obliterated all markings on the chip. If Peter and Henry did something like this, then you do not even know which brand of processor they are using. Then, you are out of luck...

 

[NewBie]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create

Hint, TI 430 series

http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/msp430f1132.html

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Upgradeable? Can we create \'\'hacks\'\' for the Arc4?

Back in the 1990s, I could program in 6502 assembly language; though I highly, highly doubt that the Arc4 uses a 6502.

 

[NewBie]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create \'\'hacks\'\' for the Arc4?

Read my post above Craig.

In case you didn't believe me, here is a photo of the exact part in an ARC4:

(The rest of the photo was hidden, in case certain folks want to reverse engineer the design)

 

[LEDMANIA]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create \'\'hacks\'\' for the Arc4?

[ QUOTE ]
The_LED_Museum said:
Back in the 1990s, I could program in 6502 assembly language; though I highly, highly doubt that the Arc4 uses a 6502.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha Ha Ha!!! I like that Craig !!
I'm familiar with that 40lids IC too when ATARI 800XL were popular on the 80'S..But the IC alone is as big as the ARC 4 itself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[NewBie]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create \'\'hacks\'\' for the Arc4?

[ QUOTE ]
LEDMANIA said:
[ QUOTE ]
The_LED_Museum said:
Back in the 1990s, I could program in 6502 assembly language; though I highly, highly doubt that the Arc4 uses a 6502.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha Ha Ha!!! I like that Craig !!
I'm familiar with that 40lids IC too when ATARI 800XL were popular on the 80'S..But the IC alone is as big as the ARC 4 itself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you talking the ones with the black/grey or white bodies, with the gold plated leads and cover?

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create \'\'hacks\'\' for the Arc4?

The ones I programmed were black (opaque epoxy?), with 40-pin DIP cases and silvery colored pins.
There was no gold cover; the entire IC was black epoxy.

The screen from a demo as shown below was programmed on a machine (a Commode 128) in assembly using 6502 assembly language /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[unphorgettable]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create \'\'hacks\'\' for the A

I'm pretty sure that chip is a TI MSP430F1132 ultra low power MCU.

You can find its product descriptions as well as user's guides from here:
http://focus.ti.com/mcu/docs/overview.tsp?familyId=342&templateId=5246&navigationId=11466&path=templatedata/cm/mcuovw/data/msp430_ovw&DCMP=MCU_other&HQS=Other+IL+msp430

If you want to program it, you can download msp430-gcc and run it under cygwin. They're both free. (note you must have a programming module to do this. they cost about $40)
If ARC burned the JTAG fuse, meaning you can't download code off it, then you must also get msp430-bsl to download code to the device.

If you want a very beefed up development environment, go for IAR.
MSP430 is pretty easy to program and I don't see why the arc4 state machine will take any more than 1 wk of work. So go hackers! We all love to see an customizable arc4+
Thomas

 

[NewBie]

Re: Upgradeable? Can we create \'\'hacks\'\' for the A

[ QUOTE ]
unphorgettable said:
I'm pretty sure that chip is a TI MSP430F1132 ultra low power MCU.
Thomas

[/ QUOTE ]


Humm, I did point folks to the direct link to the part already...scroll up.

[ QUOTE ]
NewBie said:
Hint, TI 430 series

http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/msp430f1132.html

[/ QUOTE ]