OCULA - a ULA replacement concept

[Sodiumlightbaby]

New FW release published
https://github.com/sodiumlb/ocula-pivic ... tag/v0.1.1


Add PIVIC address masking PIO program and DMA. by @sodiumlb in #24
Fix OCULA splash screen configurability. by @sodiumlb in #25
Fix OCULA decode PIO program. I by @sodiumlb in #26
Fix Correct CVBS PAL colour definiton for light green odd lines to th… by @sodiumlb in #27
Fix Make RnW sampling related to PHI clock, not RnW signal edge, to a… by @sodiumlb in #28
Added missing look up of border colour before outputting last 4 border pixels prior to hblanking by @lanceewing in #31
Reverse mode changes are one pixel off by @lanceewing in #33
29 pivic ntsc palette issues by @sodiumlb in #34
adding memory usage stats after build by @iss000 in #32

New Contributors

@iss000 made their first contribution in #32

Key for OCULA is the updated decode program which should greatly help stability. Testers, enjoy!

[iss]

I've tested the update and it works stable for me.

[Sodiumlightbaby]

I've tested the update and it works stable for me.

Great to hear! I think @Chema had the most issues last?

Edit: Update is basically like on LOCI. https://github.com/sodiumlb/ocula-docs/ ... are-update

[Chema]

Great! I will test asap. I am currently under some pressure are work, but will try to find some time!

[Sodiumlightbaby]

It's been good seeing the clip-on mux bridges have been working well, but I've been worried about the need for special pins and tricky soldering needed to make them for those who wants to produce OCULA. I used some board stacking headers that had thin enough pins to work as the flexible clamp-on contacts, but it was not a great process so I've been trying to think of better solutions for the pins.

Then occured to me to give flex PCB a try. Basically have the connector PCB and pins done as one piece that fits inside the PLA 3D printed clamp-on frame. Now, assembling components on the flex PCBs cost extra so the cost-reduced prototype I'm going for simple short bridges. First trial so this we'll see in time if this is a good option or not.

ocula_mux_bridge_cr_top.jpg

ocula_mux_bridge_cr_bottom.jpg

[Vyper68]

Flex PCB is an interesting alternative to the Mux bridges as they currently exist. They work fine for me but I can see how it would make it more ... for want of a better word "foolproof".
I haven't tested the new firmware as I have been ill for a few days but will give it a go tomorrow.

[Sodiumlightbaby]

Flex PCB is an interesting alternative to the Mux bridges as they currently exist. They work fine for me but I can see how it would make it more ... for want of a better word "foolproof".
I haven't tested the new firmware as I have been ill for a few days but will give it a go tomorrow.

Good to hear you are feeling better
Yeah, thinking is to use a 3D printed clip-on frame simular to the old one, but have the bridge PCB and the "leach pins" be produced in one body, instead of the fiddly soldering job of the non-standard contact pins of the prototype.

[ftmb]

I'm going to resume my tests

first on Oric
then on Telestrat