Would it be possible to add USB controller support to DC?

Hello all,

I am new here, I happened across this forum when researching playing games from an sd card and realizing there is a much better option on the horizon

Anyways, this community seems extremely knowledgable about the DC so, I had a question: using this usb encoder, would it be possible to add usb controls to the dc?

I am running fighting game tournaments and the number one issue in getting entrants is lack of arcade sticks with dc support. Being able to use an option like this would be a godsend and definitely make its easier overall to play on the console in this era of usb sticks.

 

Doing more poking around, it actually is possible for anyone interested. The USB encoder basically functions as an open ended converter. Project box application looks straight forward enough.

 

That converter only does half the job that's needed - that will take a USB control and convert it into discrete switch outputs, but you then need to reencode those in the Maple bus format that the DC needs.

Having said that, it's not an especially complicated format.

 

Or you could install that pcb into an original DC controller, then you could plug the arcade stick into the controller. You could then just sell premade DC controllers with usb port to your entrants

 

As it was said, the board you talked about only does half the job, you then gotta send maple-bus signals from the ones it gives you.

Pertinent infos: http://mc.pp.se/dc/maplebus.html

 

with fpga and ARM it's possible. but if you need only USB<->DC maple converter, maybe you need something simple, just ARM mcu. i plan attach ps2 joypad through gd-emu.

 

I was planning on using another pcb which has dc usb support as my base for the usb encoder. However, if there was a way for me to solder to the motherboard and internilize everything that would be amazing.

I am alright at modding but, going into coding I dont have clue haha. I like making neat projects, depending on the size of the usb I was planning on putting it inside of the case. If I have to use that addional pcb though, I know that wont be possible, just not enough room.

 

Well, if you're really motivated, a dreamcast runs off 12v, 5v and 3.3v. Now The 12v rail can accept lower voltage without too much problem (7.4v IIRC is ok). The dreamcast own PSU is immemse (4"x1.5" maybe). You could get a picoPSU and run everything off 12v or even put your own regulators and use a wall brick; this would save you TONS of space, enought for a VGA box, your own usb PCB, a VGA2HDMI adapter and a small pizza. Also, there's quite some "hidden room" between the controller PCB and gd-rom and between the gd-rom and the shell's "wall" next to it (over modem and such), it's not obvious, but a lotta low-profile stuff can be fit there (aka smd pcb).

Cheers!

FG

 

It's not that hard to talk on the Maple bus just using software - I did it with an AVR (@20MHz, I think), so one of the Cortex-M3 chips should easily be fast enough. The only thing you need to watch is that the time between bit edges is quite short, so you really need to lock out interrupts during the time you are actually on the bus (and especially in the RX phase). Obviously, if you are just reading discrete wire inputs, this is not a problem, since reading I/O lines is not going to be affected by interrupt lockouts.

It could become a big deal if you were trying to implement USB on the same chip, though - I'm pretty sure the AVR style bit-banged USB wouldn't work, and even some host controller based implementations might have problems.

 

Thank you for that information! I may just do that (replace the power supply with a pico), I can mount the new power feedthru and have LOTS of space....even for pizza apparently lol
Ill post pictures when the board is finally released, I will probably tackle that project right away.

 

i would love to use my hori ex stick on my dreamcast! great idea.