The easy to use ADALM-PLUTO active learning module (PlutoSDR)helps introduce electrical engineering students to the fundamentals of software-defined radio (SDR) RF Theory & Practice The PlutoSDR works as a portable lab that, when used with a host, can augment classroom learning. If you can help me provide a touch screen driver for this device it will be a big help for me and other having this problem. I'll post my touch screen hardware Id here so you can help me find the driver for this tablet: ACPI VENMSSL&DEV1680 ACPI MSSL1680.MSSL1680. Device Description: KMDF HID Minidriver for Touch I2C Device. Thanks in advance!
The Pluto-P is an inexpensive ($60) FPGA board featuring the ACEX1K chip from Altera.
The src/hal/drivers/pluto_servo_firmware/ and src/hal/drivers/pluto_step_firmware/ subdirectories contain the Verilog source code plus additional files used by Quartus for the FPGA firmwares. Altera's Quartus II software is required to rebuild the FPGA firmware. To rebuild the firmware from the .hdl and other source files, open the .qpf file and press CTRL-L. Then, recompile emc2.
Like the HAL hardware driver, the FPGA firmware is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.
The gratis version of Quartus II runs only on Microsoft Windows, although there is apparently a paid version that runs on Linux.
Some additional information about it is available from http://www.fpga4fun.com/board_pluto-P.html and from the developer's blog.
The pluto_servo system is suitable for control of a 4-axis CNC mill with servo motors, a 3-axis mill with PWM spindle control, a lathe with spindle encoder, etc. The large number of inputs allows a full set of limit switches.
This driver features:
Primary function | Alternate Function | Behavior if both functions used |
UP0 | PWM0 | When pwm-0-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the PWM output |
OUT10 | XOR'd with UP0 or PWM0 | |
UP1 | PWM1 | When pwm-1-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the PWM output |
OUT12 | XOR'd with UP1 or PWM1 | |
UP2 | PWM2 | When pwm-2-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the PWM output |
OUT14 | XOR'd with UP2 or PWM2 | |
UP3 | PWM3 | When pwm-3-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the PWM output |
OUT16 | XOR'd with UP3 or PWM3 | |
DN0 | DIR0 | When pwm-0-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the DIR output |
OUT11 | XOR'd with DN0 or DIR0 | |
DN1 | DIR1 | When pwm-1-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the DIR output |
OUT13 | XOR'd with DN1 or DIR1 | |
DN2 | DIR2 | When pwm-2-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the DIR output |
OUT15 | XOR'd with DN2 or DIR2 | |
DN3 | DIR3 | When pwm-3-pwmdir is TRUE, this pin is the DIR output |
OUT17 | XOR'd with DN3 or DIR3 | |
QZ0 | IN8 | Read same value |
QZ1 | IN9 | Read same value |
QZ2 | IN10 | Read same value |
QZ3 | IN11 | Read same value |
QA0 | IN12 | Read same value |
QA1 | IN13 | Read same value |
QA2 | IN14 | Read same value |
QA3 | IN15 | Read same value |
QB0 | IN16 | Read same value |
QB1 | IN17 | Read same value |
QB2 | IN18 | Read same value |
QB3 | IN19 | Read same value |
A list of all 'loadrt' arguments, HAL function names, pin names and parameter names is in the manual page, pluto_servo.9.
A schematic for a 2A, 2-axis PWM servo amplifier board is available (http://emergent.unpy.net/projects/01148303608). The L298 H-Bridge (L298 H-bridge) is inexpensive and can easily be used for motors up to 4A (one motor per L298) or up to 2A (two motors per L298) with the supply voltage up to 46V. However, the L298 does not have built-in current limiting, a problem for motors with high stall currents. For higher currents and voltages, some users have reported success with International Rectifier's integrated high-side/low-side drivers. (http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25929)
Pluto-step is suitable for control of a 3- or 4-axis CNC mill with stepper motors. The large number of inputs allows for a full set of limit switches.
The board features:
While the “extended main connector” has a superset of signals usually found on a Step & Direction DB25 connector--4 step generators, 9 inputs, and 6 general-purpose outputs--the layout on this header is different than the layout of a standard 26-pin ribbon cable to DB25 connector.
The firmware and driver enforce step length, space, and direction change times. Timings are rounded up to the next multiple of 1.6μs, with a maximum of 49.6μs. The timings are the same as for the software stepgen component, except that “dirhold” and “dirsetup” have been merged into a single parameter “dirtime” which should be the maximum of the two, and that the same step timings are always applied to all channels.
A list of all 'loadrt' arguments, HAL function names, pin names and parameter names is in the manual page, pluto_step.9.
| Introduction | Specifications | Construction | Electronics | Supplies | Photos | PLUTO+ | PLUTO-2.1 |
PLUTO, the small 2-way active loudspeaker system that was introduced in 2005 has undergone several changes to improve its acoustic performance and to make it easier to build. Most significantly the woofer/midrange driver was replaced by a special Seas unit to obtain lower non-linear distortion and increased bass output. This became Pluto-2 . It required component changes on the printed circuit board of the original PLUTO to update the equalization and crossover for the new driver. Also a new mounting scheme was introduced for the woofer/midrange driver to improve the looks and to provide an alternative in situations where the original rubber pipe coupler is difficult to find or not desired. The base, which houses the two power amplifiers, the electronic crossover and equalization, was increased in size to make room for larger heat sinks, for ventilation and for easier access to the circuit board.
No changes were made in the tweeter selection. The Aura driver is instrumental to the omni-directional PLUTO concept since this tweeter allows for a low 1 kHz crossover frequency and uniform radiation over large off-axis angles up to several kHz due to its small external dimension. I am not aware of another equally well suited driver for this application.
I have built, measured and listened to a number of Pluto-2 systems both at home and in other locations. The new Seas driver had required a change in equalization. That change indicated further potential for refinement and I have revisited the equalization process as if starting new. Equalization in my loudspeaker designs is usually a correction of trends in the frequency response. The measured frequency response often hides these trends in some fine grain structure. The fine grain structure is usually the result of reflections in the measurement environment and diffraction from the loudspeaker cabinet. Thus the chosen equalization for a seemingly flat on-axis response may not yield a flat response, if the artifacts could have been removed. Some educated guess work is involved in equalization. It yields more realistic results than the blind equalization of every detail often used in computer software. It is not surprising then that re-equalization can lead to somewhat different woofer and tweeter drive signal frequency responses, especially when the underlying physical phenomena are better understood.
The low frequency equalization was left unchanged but the midrange, crossover region and tweeter notch were modified. The tweeter level was reduced by 2.5 dB. The 220 Hz notch corrects for the remainder of the attenuated half-wavelength pipe resonance. The audible effect of this is a warmer presentation with an increase in low bass. There is no loss in neutrality or transparency. The all-important voice range is rendered naturally.
PLUTO-2.1 is a worthy alternative to ORION+ when cost, size or room placement do not allow for a large system at this time. If you think that you need another octave of bass, then you could add the PLUTO+ subwoofer, but you should wait with that decision until you have lived with PLUTO-2.1 for a while. This is such an enjoyable speaker system by itself that the doubling of expenses for the subs may not be necessary. You can drive these speakers directly from a universal player that has volume controls, such as the OPPO DV-980H, from an iPod, a laptop, from the outputs of your preamplifier or the loudspeaker output terminals of a receiver.
The most cost effective way for acquiring the PLUTO-2.1 loudspeakers is to build them yourself. The PLUTO documentation and its updates on the owner-support page provide detailed information and ongoing support.
The loudspeakers can also be purchased ready made from Wood Artistry. Of course, you now pay someone else for turning basic plumbing materials that you can find in a local hardware store into a unique looking product' You pay for fit and finish, for assembling and testing the electronics and getting it all safely to your place. This might be the most expedient way for you to become a PLUTO owner. Don Naples will thank you for it.
I talked about Hearing Spatial Detail in Stereo Recordings and used a pair of PLUTO-2.1 to illustrate differences in recording techniques at the 26th Tonmeistertagung in Leipzig, Germany, 2010.
Do-it-yourself and Wood Artistry versions of PLUTO-2.1 that show construction and finish alternatives. The enclosure is made up of 4 inch and 1.5 inch or equivalent metric PVC or ABS plumbing pipes that must be cut to length and of associated end caps, knees and pipe couplers. The mounting section for the woofer/midrange driver can be a rubber plastic-to-clay pipe adapter or a wooden crown that is assembled around a standard pipe coupler. The same electronics assembly works for either construction. |
Power amplifiers, electronic crossover and equalization are built into the base. Construction requires the ability to follow the labeling on a printed circuit board for placement of electronic components with leads into wire holes and then soldering them to circuit pads. The components are described in a material list and are ordered from suggested suppliers. The housing is a simple wooden box. |
A review of the earlier Pluto-2 loudspeaker has been published by Peter Aczel of The Audio Critic.
| Introduction | Specifications | Construction | Electronics | Supplies | Photos | PLUTO+ |PLUTO-2.1 |