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| Schematic | PCB design |
| 07.12.09 | - Firmware 1.4 released - Atari Paddles supported - PC Gamepad supported - Compatibility improvement for Sega Megadrive 6 button pad - Minor bug fixes |
| 04.10.09 | - Firmware 1.2 released, BBC Micro joysticks supported - Updated connections tables for BBC Micro - Schematics and PCB no longer prototypes |
| 07.09.09 | - Firmware 1.1 adds better Atari Driving controller support - Updated connections tables |
| 20.08.09 | - Finally reached 1.0! - Added Atari 2600 Driving controller, C16 and Plus/4 connections |
| 20.08.09 | - Firmware 0.9 released, bootloader added for updates over USB - Removed Dreamcast connection details for re-design - Updated DB15 key pins |
| 18.08.09 | - Changed all connector pinouts to accomodate bootloader |
| 17.08.09 | - PDF file with connector diagrams added - Photos of final production boards added |
| 21.07.09 | - Final V1.0 PCB and latest firmware added to download section |
| 21.07.09 | - Updated AVR to connector table with Up/Left fix |
| 21.07.09 | - Changed PC-Engine and PC-FX ID logic - Made tables more readable |
| 19.07.09 | - Fixed N64/GameCube connections - Fixed key for (1) - Uploaded firmware 0.2, Famicom/NES/SNES/N64/Gamecube working |
| 17.07.09 | - Fixed schematic and PCB |
| 16.07.09 | - Complete redesign of hardware |
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| Schematic | PCB design |
| ATmega168 | 9 pin D-sub | 15 pin D-sub |
| PD0 | 1 Up | 15 Up |
| PD3 | 2 Down | |
| PD4 | 3 Left | 14 Left |
| PD5 | 4 Right | |
| PD6 | 6 Button 1 | |
| PD7 | 7 Select | |
| PB0 | 9 Button 2 | |
| PB1 | 7 Down | |
| PB2 | 6 Right | |
| PB3 | 5 B | |
| PB4 | 4 D | |
| PB5 | 3 Select | |
| PC0 | 13 A | |
| PC1 | 12 C | |
| PC2 | 11 Start | |
| PC3 | 10 NC | |
| PC4 | 9 D (NC*) | |
| PC5 | 2 NC | |
| Vcc | 5 +5V | 8 +5V |
| GND | 8 GND | 1 GND |
| DB9 | Atari/C=/Sega | Famicom | NES | SNES | N64[1] | Gamecube[1] | C16 & Plus/4 | |
| 1 | 1 Up | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | 1 JOY1 | |
| 2 | 2 Down | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | 2 JOY2 | |
| 3 | 3 Left | (0) | (0) | (0) | (1) | (1) | 3 JOY3 | |
| 4 | 4 Right | 11 Data | 4 Data | 4 Data | 4 JOY4 | |||
| 5 | 5 +5V[5] | 9 +5V | 5 +5V | 1 +5V | 1 +5V[1] | 1 +5V[1] | 5 +5V | |
| 6 | 6 Button 1[2] | 6 Button 1 | ||||||
| 7 | 7 [Select][5] | 12 Latch | 3 Latch | 3 Latch | ||||
| 8 | 8 GND | 1 GND | 1 GND | 7 GND | 3 GND | 3+4 GND | 7 GND | |
| 9 | 9 Button 2 | 10 Clock | 2 Clock | 2 Clock | 2 Data | 2 Data | 8 DATA | |
| DB15 | Neo Geo | Saturn | Playstation | PC-Engine | PC-FX | Driving[3] | BBC Micro | 2 Player | Timer[6] |
| 1 | 1 GND | 9 GND | 4 GND | 8 GND | 7+5 GND | 8 - GND | 8 - GND | GND | |
| 2 | 2 NC | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (1) | (0) | (0) |
| 3 | 3 Select | 2 D1 (Down) | 1 Data | 2 Up / I | 2 Data | 2 - (COL0) | 1 - Up | X1 | |
| 4 | 4 D | 3 D0 (up) | 2 Command | 3 Right / II | 3 DDR | 3 - (COL1) | 2 - Down | Y1 | |
| 5 | 5 B | 4 D6 (TH) | 6 Attention | 4 Down / Select | 4 Latch | 5 - (COL2) | 3 - Left | X2 | |
| 6 | 6 Right | 5 D5 (TR) | 7 Clock | 5 Left / Run | 6 Clock | 6 - (ROW1) | 4 - Right | Y2 | |
| 7 | 7 Down | 6 D4 (TL) | 9 Acknowledge | 6 Data Select | 10 - Button 2 | 6 - Button 1 | Button 2 | ||
| 8 | 8 +5V | 1 +5V | 5 +5V | 1 +5V | 1 +5V | 1 - 5V | 1 - 5V | 5V | |
| 9 | 9 D (NC) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | 7 - Y axis 1 | (1) | (1) |
| 10 | 10 NC | (0) | (0) | (0) | (0) | (1) | (0) | (1) | (0) |
| 11 | 11 Start | (0) | (0) | (1) | (1) | (0) | 15 - X axis 1 | 2 - Select | (0) |
| 12 | 12 C | (0) | (1) | (1) | (0) | (0) | 12 - X axis 2 | 2 - Button 2 | (Trigger) |
| 13 | 13 A[2] | 4 - Y axis 2 | Button 1 | ||||||
| 14 | 14 Left | 7 D3 (Right) | 7 Enable | 13 - Button 1 | Button 3 | ||||
| 15 | 15 Up | 8 D2 (Left) | (switch)[4] | Button 4 | |||||
| Key: | (0) | - used for connector identification, connect to GND |
| (1) | - used for connector identification, do not connect (pulled high by internal pull-ups) |
| [1] | N64 and Gamecube controllers require 3.3V, which is easily generated with a 3.3V regulator. On the N64 pin 1 is 3.3V, on the Gamecube pin 6 is 3.3V. Gamecube pin 5 is not connected. |
| [2] | Used to start bootloader. |
| [3] | The Atari Driving Controller connects directly to the 9 pin port, the DB15 is only used for identification. |
| [4] | A switch connected on one side to GND and the other side left unconnected selects between 2x standard joysticks and 1x Voltmace 14B joystick. |
| [5] | Pin 5 is +5V on the Retro Adapter. On the Amiga and other Commodore computers, pin 5 is the third button and pin 7 is +5V. Do not connect 3 button joysticks or mice. Pin 7 is held high most of the time, which allows auto-fire circuits to operate. |
| [6] |
The PCB fits inside a DB9-DB25 converter shell, and has a DB9 at one end and a DB15 at the other. The DB9 can accept most DB9 controllers, such as Atari/Commodore style joysticks, as well as Sega Master System and Megadrive (Gensis) gamepads. With the right connectors it can take Nintendo NES/SNES/N64/Gamecube gamepads, as well as Atari driving controllers and a few others.
The DB15 on the other end can directly accept Neo Geo joysticks and gamepads. With extra connectors it can take all other supported controllers, and there is room for expansion. By grounding certain pins, the AVR automatically knows which connector is attached so everything is simply "plug in and go."
The DB9-DB25 converter box is a cheap and readily available enclosure. A single hole for the USB cable needs to be drilled in one side. The USB spec mandates a captured cable, and using one also means that the position of the hole is not critical.
The ATmega168 microcontroller has enough I/O ports to cover every pin on each connector, with only two being shared. The 16K flash memory is more than enough with plenty of room for expansion, and also supports bootloading for firmware upgrades over USB.
The ultimate goal is to have an easy to build design which can be produced in kit form, and which is extendable for new controllers. The AVR is the only surface mount component, all others are through-hole. Initial programming is done via the DB15 and a special reset test point, after which firmware can be updated via USB. The AVR's TQFP package is not too difficult to solder, but I will provide pre-soldered and programmed chips for kit builders.
To connect controllers which do not use a DB9 or DB15 to the Retro Adapter a Connector is required. Connectors are mostly just wiring, but a few require extra hardware too.
Preliminary controller connections: Google Spreadsheet
Connector diagrams
(view looking in to console, pin 1 indicated):
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| Sega Saturn | Playstation | Super Famicom SNES | PC-Engine TurboGrafx | N64 | ||||
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| Famicom NES | Gamecube |
PDF containing all connectors with both console and controller ends: connectors.pdf
N64 and Gamecube Connectors require a 3.3V regulator to generate the required voltage. Almost any type will do as long as it can supply more than 100mA. I use TO-92 package fixed 3-pin regulators, the exact model depending on what I can get cheaply at the time :-)
Since both Connectors are quite similar you can make a combined N64+Gamecube Connector. If you do, do not connect both controllers at once.
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Atari Paddle Connectors require a 556 timer, similar to the one used in the Atari 2600. See the schematic on the left for details. Due to the age of the controllers the paddles often jump around when in use. This can be corrected by either replacing the potentiometers (linear 1MΩ) or by opening the orginal pots and cleaning them. |
The 2 Player Connector gives you a second DB9. You can connect Atari/Commodore style joysticks, Sega Master System and Megadrive (Genesis) gamepads and NES/SNES Connectors to it. N64 and Gamecube support may be added at a later date.
With the 2 Player Connector the second controller is mapped to unused axis and buttons on the Retro Adapter. You will need to configure your game/emulator to use them.
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| PCB rev. 3 top | PCB rev. 3 bottom | ||
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| Assembled | Assembled |