Adding addtitional Sensors to Openmoko

[Andy Green]

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Michael Tansella wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> we want to create an additional Board which includes some sensors bundled with 
> a Microcontroller. What do you think is the easiest way to connect it with 
> the Openmoko. Can we use an UART Port, if yes, what's the best way to get 
> access to it?
> AFAIK we have 3 UART Ports available. One is used for GSM Modem one for GPS 
> and one for Console.
> 
> I don't understand what's the third one (Console) for. Can we use it for our 
> project? 
> 
> Do you recommend another possibility? SPI?Are there any free ports which are 
> supposed to be used for hardware extensions?

Debug console sets information from bootloader and linux dumped down it
on boot, and you can log in there as well.  If you stop the tty process
spawning in inittab, after boot you'd be able to use it.

There is an SPI interface on the testpoints near the debug connector.

> We would like to avoid using USB because of its complexity.

USB is definitely the best solution if you can get over the hump of
getting started with a programmable device for it.  Everything else
means the phone is tethered permanently to your other board.

- -Andy

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