Step-by-Step Guide for Using Breadboard++

Step 1: Install the Teensy Driver

  1. Go to the Teensy driver download page.
  2. Follow the installation instructions provided to install the Teensy driver on your computer.

Step 2: Install CoolTerm

  1. Download CoolTerm from this link.
  2. Install CoolTerm following the instructions on the website.

Step 3: Connect and Configure CoolTerm

  1. Open CoolTerm and select the correct COM port for the Breadboard++ device.
  2. Press Ctrl + T to open the terminal window for sending commands.

Command Syntax

  • To connect two rows:
    • Use the command format: (row1) (row2) connect
    • Example: x4 y8 connect (connects row x4 to row y8)
  • To disconnect two rows:
    • Use the command format: (row1) (row2) disconnect
    • Example: y8 x5 disconnect (disconnects row y8 from row x5)
  • To clear all connections:
    • Use the command: clear all

Step 4: Send Commands

  1. After typing your command in the terminal, click the Send button to execute it.

Communication

The Breadboard++ communicates with the laptop serially. You can use any terminal application to access it, but the Teensy driver needs to be installed first. I prefer using CoolTerm because it makes sending and receiving commands simple. Other terminal options include Tera Term 5 and PuTTY.

Methodology

For this project, 
I'm using a 170-point mini prototyping breadboard, featuring 17 columns and 2 block of rows.  

Since the cross-point array switch IC operates on a 16x8 matrix switch configuration, I combined two ICs to achieve a 16x16 matrix switch configuration

There are three types of connections that can be established on this breadboard:
Connections between each column: A -> B
Within each columns: A -> A and B -> B
So three pairs of IC’s are required

MT8816 cross-point analog array switch IC requires a 7-bit address to connect specific points in the 16x8 matrix. To generate this 7-bit address, I'm using Teensy MCU to send different addresses for connecting the points.

For instance:

To connect pin X3 to pin Y0 on IC C1, follow these steps based on the provided data sheet:

  1. The 7-bit address 1100000 is transmitted to the address lines, which is the address for selecting the required connection (X3 to Y0).
  2. Before transmitting the address, the Chip Select (CS) pin for IC C1 is set to HIGH, as pin Y0 is a column pin located on IC C1. Setting the CS pin HIGH enables the IC to respond to further instructions.
  3. While transmitting the address, the DATA pin is set to HIGH, signaling that the connection between X3 and Y0 should be established.
  4. Finally, the STROBE pin is toggled by sending a HIGH-LOW pulse. This pulse latches the connection between pin X3 and pin Y0, completing the process.

X0 – X16 are the rows of switch array of IC C1 and C2

Y0 – Y7 are the columns of switch array of IC C1

Y’0 – Y’7 are the columns of switch array of IC C2