EM500 "MiniMo" BASIC/C-programmable Ethernet Module

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR NEW DESIGNS

em500

Introduction

The EM500 "MiniMo"* device is a miniature stand-alone BASIC-programmable embedded module, designed to be used in combination with a standard LED/magnetics RJ45 jack. The combined footprint of the EM500 and a standard jack is only 28.5x18.5mm.

The module's hardware mix, which includes 10/100BaseT Ethernet port, a serial port, and 8 I/O lines, has been carefully tailored to address the basic needs of lightweight network-enabled control devices. If your application has a need to store data in files, an external flash IC can be connected to the EM500. The EM500 also supports Wi-Fi communications (using the GA1000 add-on board).

Compact dimensions, innovative "vertical slice" mechanical design, low power consumption, and patented dual-function LED control lines make the module an excellent fit for miniature, cost-sensitive designs.

The EM500 is fully supported by TIDE software and a dedicated EM500 platform that covers all hardware facilities of the module (see TIDE, TiOS, Tibbo BASIC, and Tibbo C Manual). For convenient testing and evaluation Tibbo offers the EM500EV development system.

The EM500 can be ordered standalone or in combination with an industry-standard RJ45 jack and/or other discrete components required to complete a working circuit.

Hardware features

  • Powered by Tibbo OS (TiOS).

  • 10/100BaseT auto-MDIX Ethernet port (no magnetics).

  • Optional Wi-Fi interface (requires GA1000 add-on module to be connected).

  • One serial port (CMOS-level):

    • Baudrates of up to 460'800bps;
    • None/even/odd/mark/space parity modes;
    • 7/8 bits/character modes;
    • Full-duplex mode with optional flow control;
    • Half-duplex mode with direction control;
    • Encoding and decoding of Wiegand and clock/data streams.

  • 8 general-purpose I/O lines; 2 lines can work as interrupts.

  • 17.5KB SRAM for Tibbo BASIC/C variables and data.

  • 512KB flash memory for TiOS and application code.

  • Optional 1MB flash disk (requires an external SPI flash IC).

  • 208-byte EEPROM for data storage.

  • Three control lines for status LEDs:

    • Control lines for two external dual-function status LEDs.
    • A separate control line for the Ethernet link LED.

  • Reliable power-on/ brown-out reset circuit*.

  • "Vertical slice" form factor.

  • Dimensions (HxWxT): 16 x 18.5 x 6.5mm.

  • Operating temperature range: -40 ~ +70C.

  • Firmware and compiled Tibbo BASIC/C app can be updated through the serial port or Ethernet LAN.
  • Tibbo BASIC/C application can be debugged through the Ethernet LAN (no additional debugging hardware is required).
  • CE- and FCC-certified.

* Added in revision -01 of the module.

Programming features

  • Variable Types: Byte, char, integer (word), short, dword, long, real, string, plus user-defined arrays and structures.
  • Function Groups: string functions (27 in total!), date/time conversion functions (8), encryption/hash calculation functions (RC4, MD5, SHA-1), and more.
  • Platform objects:
    • sock — socket communications (up to 16 UDP, TCP, and HTTP sessions);
    • net — controls the Ethernet port;
    • wln — handles the Wi-Fi interface (requires GA1000 add-on module);
    • ser — in charge of serial ports (UART, Wiegand, and clock/data modes);
    • io — handles I/O lines, ports, and interrupts;
    • fd** — manages flash memory file system and direct sector access;
    • stor — provides access to the EEPROM;
    • romfile — facilitates access to resource files (fixed data);
    • pppoe — provides access to the Internet over an ADSL modem;
    • ppp — provides access to the Internet over a serial modem (GPRS, POTS, etc.);
    • pat — "plays" patterns on up to five LED pairs;
    • button — monitors MD line (setup button);
    • sys — in charge of general device functionality;

* MiniMo is a registered trademark of Tibbo Technology.

** Fully supported with the exception of fd.copyfirmware; requires an externally connected flash IC.