DIY USB adapter

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Revision as of 22:54, 28 October 2015 by Matlo (talk | contribs) (Cheap Arduino-compatible atmega32u4-based boards)

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This page explains how to build a GIMX DIY USB adapter.

A much easier but less complete tutorial is also available: DIY USB Adapter for dummies.
A German translation of a previous version is also available on the forum: old German translation.

Warning: you are responsible for the hardware you buy, and anything right or wrong you do with this.

Required hardware parts

USB to serial TTL converter

Make sure it works at 500kbps and that it is 5V tolerant.

chip CP2102 FT232R PL2303 CH340 FT230X
5V tolerant yes (*) (*) (*) yes
500 kbps yes yes no no yes
compatible yes (*) no no yes

(*) depends on the board
Examples:

AVR USB development board

Make sure it is working at 5V and that is has a chip among the following: at90usb82, at90usb162, at90usb646, at90usb647, at90usb1286, at90usb1287, atmega16u2, atmega32u2, atmega16u4, atmega32u4
Examples:

Recommended setup

  • CP2102 converter from ebay (very low price, but sometimes low delivery)
  • Teensy 2.0 board (low price, good quality, and quick delivery).

Firmware loading

  • EMUJOYSTICKPS3: HID joystick emulation, with 16bit stick axes, for PS3
  • EMUPS3: Sixaxis emulation, for PS3
  • EMU360: 360 pad emulation, for Xbox 360
  • EMUPS4: Hori Pad FPS Plus emulation, for PS4 (with touchpad support)
  • EMUXONE: Xbox One pad emulation, for Xbox One
  • EMUG29PS4: Logitech G29 gaming wheel emulation, for PS4, with force feedback support
  • EMUG27PS3: Logitech G27 gaming wheel emulation, for PS3, with force feedback support
  • EMUGTFPS2: Logitech GT Force emulation, for PS2, with force feedback support
  • EMUDFPS2: Logitech Driving Force emulation, for PS2, with force feedback support
  • EMUDFPPS2: Logitech Driving Force Pro emulation, for PS2, with force feedback support
  • EMUG27PC: Logitech G27 gaming wheel emulation, for PC, force feedback support

Teensy boards

Teensy boards can be easily flashed using the Teensy Loader.
It is probably the easier to use flashing tool, but it is only compatible with genuine teensy boards.

Cheap Arduino-compatible atmega32u4-based boards

First-time flashing instructions

  • Download the Arduino Leonardo drivers and save them into the same folder:
  • Right-click on the arduino.inf file and click on Install.
  • Connect the atmega32u4 board. A new COM port named "Arduino Leonardo (COMX)" should appear in the device manager.
  • Download the Arduino Builder tool and extract the archive (using 7zip).
  • Run ArduinoBuilder.exe.
  • Click on "Load Sketch / HEX", and select the desired atmega32u4.hex firmware.
  • Click on "Board Type" and select "Arduino Leonardo".
  • In the Arduino Builder tool, click on the COM port that matches the "Arduino Leonardo (COMX)" COM port in the device manager.

Upon success a "Uploading completed!" message should be displayed.

In GNU/Linux, use the following command to run the bootloader:

avrdude -v -n -p atmega32u4 -c avr109 -P /dev/ttyACM0 -b 1200

And use the following command to load the firmware:

avrdude -v -p atmega32u4 -c avr109 -P /dev/ttyACM0 -b 57600 -D -U flash:w:atmega32u4.hex:i

Further flashing

Because GIMX reprograms the USB interface, the COM port used in the First-time flashing instructions is no more available.
Fortunately, there is a way to make the board run the bootloader:

  • Make sure that the USB to UART board (e.g. CP2102) is connected and powered, and that the wiring with the atmega32u4 board is correct.
  • Make sure that the atmega32u4 board is connected and powered.
  • Run ArduinoBuilder.exe.
  • Click on "Load Sketch / HEX", and select the desired atmega32u4.hex firmware.
  • Click on "Board Type" and select "Arduino Leonardo".
  • In the Arduino Builder tool, click on the COM port that matches the "Silicon Labs CP210x ... (COMX)" COM port in the device manager (or whatever the name of your USB to UART board is). This is a trick to make the Arduino Builder tool look for a new COM port.
  • The following message should appear: "Forcing reset using 1200bps open/close on COMX...".
  • Quickly unplug/replug the atmega32u4 board.
  • The atmega32u4 board should run the bootloader. The Arduino builder tool should find the Arduino Leonardo COM port and flash the firmware.

Upon success a "Uploading completed!" message should be displayed.

In GNU/Linux, use the following command to load the firmware:

avrdude -v -p atmega32u4 -c avr109 -P /dev/ttyACM0 -b 57600 -D -U flash:w:atmega32u4.hex:i

Other tools

There are a few other tools that can be used to load the hex file:

  • avrdude: comes with the Arduino IDE, and with the Arduino Builder tool
  • Flip utility from Atmel (not compatible with genuine teensy boards and with Arduino-compatible atmega32u4-based boards)
  • dfu-programmer command-line tool (not compatible with genuine teensy boards and with Arduino-compatible atmega32u4-based boards)

dfu-programmer example:

   sudo dfu-programmer at90usb162 erase
   sudo dfu-programmer at90usb162 flash at90usb162.hex
   sudo dfu-programmer at90usb162 reset

Wiring

The only thing you have to do is to connect the following pins:

USB dev board USB to UART board
GND GND
RX TX / TXO / RXD
TX RX / RXI / TXD

With a Teensy 2.0 as a USB dev board:

Teensy 2.0 USB to UART board
GND GND
D2 TX / TXO / RXD
D3 RX / RXI / TXD

If you use the arduino on-board USB to serial converter, Rx and Tx are inverted, i.e. Rx = TX▶ and Tx = RX◀

The example below shows how to connect a CP2102 converter (left) to a Teensy 2.0 board (right):

It's possible to solder wires or to use jumper wires (these are generally provided with USB to serial TTL boards) in case your AVR USB board has header pins:

Examples:

  • Bumble-b and FT232RL wired on a breadboard:
  • Teensy++ and CP2102 wired on a breadboard:
  • Teensy 2.0 and CP2102 soldered:

Connection

If it's not already done, install GIMX.
Connect the USB to UART converter to your PC, and connect the usb dev board to your console.
Turn the console on (the ps/guide buttons are not working at this point).
The console should detect a controller (if you add another controller, it should be detected as controller #2).
Start gimx-launcher:
TODO: update screenshot

In Ubuntu/Linux, the USB to UART converter should be detected as "ttyUSBX" (with 'X' a number).
In Windows, it should be detected as "COMX" (with 'X' a number). Check the device manager to select the right one.

Now that your adapter is ready you can follow the instructions on the Quick Start page.