davedarkoThe whole reason I'm looking for something else: I wrote seeed studio about getting the SMT version of the grove connector and they told me that they're sold out / not in stock anymore. I tried a JST 2mm 4 pin connector, but it's just a pain to connect. To be continued, but please, feel free to comment ideas. I need to find a connector that is:
- cheap to find / buy
- is well supported with modules
- easy to connect
- shouldn't break stuff if mistaken for something else
- easily obtainable cables with no soldering involved
USB
there's already a usb port on the LAMEBOY and I don't want people to mixup stuff
TRRS
would be nice, but I don't want to short stuff by accident or have users mistake it for the headphone plug - especially if there's no audio on board.
RJ12 / RJ25 / RJ10
that was actually already proposed to me in a twitter comment (@gsreynaga) use the same stuff that LEGO, http://wiki.makeblock.cc/index.php?title=RJ25_Wiring_System and probably others. So right now I'm leaning towards RJ10, a 4P4C cinnector, that is also used to connect phones to the speaker+mic part.
MOLEX / 2.54mm connectors
Down in the comments Molex adapters and CD rom cables (basically 2.54mm headers) were suggested, I like the hacker-ready approach, but it doesn't feel like a "finished" design that I want to achieve with revision 4. The current boards have the grove connector still on them.
Sparkfun QUIIC connectors
@Patrick Van Oosterwijck suggested https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14417 sparkfuns QUIIC connectors, 1mm JST connectors - a wee bit too tiny and the same problems as bigger JST connectors. BUt it features a lot of sensors that one could use.
Spring connectors
another suggestion from twitter, use spring connectors. interesting, easily plug and play ready and probably accepts pcbs, if done right. using pcbs as connectors is the cheapest thing I can think of :D https://t.co/taDxle3lOT
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How about a WII nunchuck connector? It is I2C already and can be done on the board, no parts involved. You can even use a nunchuck controller for some games :D
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probably tough to source though and cables aren't that easy to get.
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maybe you could try good-old audio cable for CDROM drives (it had 4 pins 2.54 female-female) and generally only 3 wires (red, white, black) you could plug SDA,SCL,GND ... ?
as an example : http://www.cableleader.com/18in-mpc-4-cd-rom-audio-cable.html
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maybe you could try good-old audio cable for CDROM drives (it had 4 pins 2.54 female-female) and generally only 3 wires (red, white, black) you could plug SDA,SCL,GND ... ?
as an example : http://www.cableleader.com/18in-mpc-4-cd-rom-audio-cable.html
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that's probably the same like ajlitt mentioned below, like a molex connector (maybe without the hook)
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it's the same system effectively (sorry for redundance), the only advantage of CDROM cable is that connector + cable is very easy to find... but ok
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I'm more confused by the second comment, that is the same as the first :) but don't apologise, it's just brainstorming and technically something different.
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Or perhaps mini-DIN connectors, once commonly used as PS-2 connectors in 6-pin variety. There are 4-8 pins IIRC, so you can choose other pin count to minimize "user interferences".
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might feel a bit big because of the height and I guess there aren't so much point to point cables for connecting modules with the same connector though. But still, good call :)
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Yes, it's a bit bigger than RJ-11, for example. I'm just throwing random ideas at you :-) I battled this problem on all my portable computers and found exactly -wait for it - zero solutions. Available connectors are either:
1, Already used (or purposely built) for something (USB, HDMI, RJ45), but small and rugged.
2, Rugged and suitable for generic use, but too big (Cannon, DIN)
3, Small, suitable for generic use, but not rugged enough for daily use (all sorts of pinheaders, edge connectors)
You have connector that is small-rugged-generic, but you can choose not more than two at once. I think this call for connector is similar to your call for keyboard, where you have a few different options and all of them wrong, or at least full of compromises.
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I appreciate you throwing things at me :) it definitely looks like the call for a keyboard :) I should get one or two of the blackberry keyboards that @WooDWorkeR uses, btw.
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What about something like this: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/molex-connector-corporation/14-56-2032/WM10647-ND/313695
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Almost normal dupont / 2.54mm pins, hm kinda working and also highly "hackable" because you can use breadboard stuff. but also look a bit unfinished, can't say why but it doesn't work for me.
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Yeah, a backshell would be nice to pretty it up. There's no strain relief with that sort of connector, so the signal wire crimps are the only things holding it together. Best I can think of is to use glue lined heat shrink between the back of the connector and the cable.
If RJ11/RJ12 won't work because of confusion with POTS, how about MMJ: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/stewart-connector/940-SP-3066R-OST/380-1238-ND/2257010 https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/stewart-connector/SS-6466-NF-OST/380-1314-ND/2257320
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What about abusing a SATA connector? It's relatively low profile, keyed, and cables with latches and overmold strain relief are cheap.
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sata is 7 pins, but I like the size and availability of cables! In terms of confusion I think it's a bit more problematic than 4P4C / RJ 10, but it ranks high, thanks!
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SATA is capacitively coupled so it shouldn't destroy the Lameboy or the SATA device if someone does confuse the two.
The other thing is considering how much volume the connector adds to the Lameboy. Right angle SATA and alt-USB are low profile and shallow, while RJ*, DuPont, and TRRS take significant PCB space or height.
If you can find the Wiimote PCB mount connectors, that would be ideal. The Wiimote carries 3.3V power and I2C. And there are prefab controllers out there already...
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Just throwing random idea:
Maybe you can find some older weird USB connector, like 4-position USB mini B. There were a few very seldom used and nowadays almost nobody uses them, so there is small to none chance of interfering with real devices. There could be a problem with sourcing the connectors, though. It has 4 pins as you need and it you keep connection of 5V (insert schottky diode in series to prevent "backcharge") and GND pins, it will not break everything if you actually connect valid USB peripheral. It is also smaller than RJ11.
When going the RJ11 route, don't forget somebody can plug it to telephone line. You can't do totally foolproof design. Just can't. Never.
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I thought about those too, but I think it get's tricky to buy cables then. Right now RJ10 seems nice. I've ordered some sockets in RJ12 / RJ25 size and RJ10 to get a feeling for the size and relations. Maybe
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