On 09/15/2012 01:29 PM, Chris Tofu wrote:
if you wanted to add PCMCIA capability to something
resembling an ISA
slot (but different in many ways, particularly the form factor), what
would be the best way to go about this? Obviously many micro
controllers have this built in (I would think). I'm looking for
something quick and dirty. Off the top of your head. I'm reading into
this, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
I took apart an HP Jornada VGA adapter (PCMCIA > VGA out) for
connecting to an external monitor. There's very little in there.
There's a Trident chip (9440-3), 2 memory chips, a couple of other
chips (glue of some sort I guess) and passive components. It's the
closest thing I've seen to a VGA on a chip solution (I haven't
looked, but it's pretty close). Therefore I need to either hack the
PCMCIA interface to get it to work w/say a Tandy 2000 bus (or another
8086/80186 based computer). Or create a PCMCIA interface on a card to
plug the pc card into, which kind of seems like the long way, but
might turn out to being the easier solution. You tell me.
Keep in mind I don't need the hot swapping capability or card
services stack (can a card function w/o them?). Initially it was
designed to add memory. I'm thinking all the rest of the gobligook
came along after they realized people might want to add the kitchen
sink to laptops and handhelds. 16 bit capability is of course
adequate. I imagine I'll have to right a device driver.
The Trident 9440 is the VGA controller, as you probably know. There
are several ISA<->PCMCIA bridge chips out there; TI made one for
example, though I don't recall the number.
ISA PCMCIA adapters are mondo pricey on eBay.
Icarumba.
Seriously? I probably have a few buried somewhere. They were
trashed by the thousands in pallets of PCs coming via DRMO auctions.
Not terribly useful. If you need one badly enough I will go digging,
but it sounds like that might not be exactly what you need due to
form-factor issues..?
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA