ICEC2009 Tutorial

Parallel Processing Platform for Interactive Systems Design

Yoichi Nagashima (SUAC/ASL)

2009.09.02

Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers, Paris

  1. Abstract

    This lecture is intended for the designer of the entertainment system. As a platform of an interactive entertainment system, it is popular to combine MIDI sensor and GAINER with Max/MSP. It is also general for a simple system such as toys to use the 1-chip microcontroller such as Arduino. However, it is very difficult in the multimedia system to combine video signal, CD-audio output and many sensors without depending on PC. You will learn a new platform with parallel 8 processors in one chip. As a result, complex processing can be achieved with the standalone system. Propeller's 8 processors can operate simultaneously, either independently or cooperatively, sharing common resources. I introduce this unique processor and discuss about the possibility to develop interactive systems and smart interfaces in media arts, because we need many kinds of tasks at a same time in entertainment computing. We will also show that the design of the Propeller system is effective for the programming education.

  2. Installation/Performance - Examples

  3. Platforms for Installations

    • System Architecture
      • Standalone
      • PC+I/O
      • Multi System with Networks (Wired/Wireless/Internet)
    • Software/Environment
      • Max/MSP/jitter
      • Flash
      • Processing
    • Hardware/Firmware
      • I-Cube
      • PIC
      • BasicStamp
      • AKI-H8
      • Gainer
      • Arduino
      • Propeller

  4. The "Propeller" Processor

  5. Propeller System Design Lecture

    1. Development environment
      • Platform - Windows XP (Language = US English)
      • Download the SDK
      • Install the SDK
      • Interface - USB
      • Powerful IDE - "Propeller Tool"

    2. Experiments with examples
      • 2 Languages - spin / assembler
      • RAM vs FlashEEPROM
      • Propeller Boot Sequence
      • no "Interrupt"
      • Multi Process Generation - cog
      • 32 bits I/O ports
      • 2 parameter interfaces - common memory , call/return value
      • LED out
      • HSCMOS out

    3. MIDI I/O interface
      • MIDI protocol
      • electronical interface - 5V vs 3.3V
      • TLP552
      • 2SC1815
      • 74HC05
      • FIFO buffering
      • MIDI out
      • MIDI input

    4. Video signal generaton
      • video out = only 3 external R !
      • NTSC/PAL/VGA ok
      • Video Driver / Video Generator - 2 cogs
      • 2 plane limitation

    5. Audio signal processing
      • PWM D/A output
      • CR - Comparator A/D input
      • DSP-oriented specially designed architecture of Propeller
      • Voice synth demo

    6. Sensor Interfaces
      • Timer/Counter
      • Cds
      • R gauge
      • CR - thelemin
      • Serial-Out Sensor
      • Voltage Follower - OP amp

    7. Serial Communication Interfaces
      • USB
      • RS232C
      • PS/2
      • Ethernet
      • Wireless System

    8. Expanding Parallel Output Ports
      • 74HC574
      • 74HC138/139
      • (Stepping) Motor Control Driver

    9. Expanding Parallel Input Ports
      • 3-state bus
      • 74HC245
      • 74HC138/139
      • 2SC1815

    10. D/A (voltage) Output
      • 74HC574
      • R/2R ladder R network
      • S/H
      • Voltage Follower - OP amp

    11. A/D (voltage) Input
      • ADC0809
      • 2SC1815
      • Address/ALE/Start/EOC
      • S/H
      • Voltage Follower - OP amp
      • Analog Switch - 74HC4051/4052/4053

  6. Case studies with Propeller

  7. Future work

    • The New Interface for Musical Expression (32 channels Thelemin)

  8. References