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Help: Deciding hardware 4 project

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vineesh.1

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I intend to make a project on an embedded system.
I shall be using a thermal printer, handheld bar code scanners with USB interface and a basic kaypad. I need help in deciding wat system do I use as a base. I cud do the proj using a comp, but the system needs to be compact. So shud I go in for a cpld or an fpga or sm microcontroller?
I'd be grateful to u for ur help.

Thnx in advance.
 

I'd use a microcontroller that has plenty of i/o for the peripheral devices you will connect to. This will cost less than fpga and is easier to develop.
 

If your objective is to learn, why not combine both microcontroller and FPGA?
 

Thnx a lot 4 the reply frnds, but my confusion remains at the same pt where it started.
@dipal_z : I intend to make a project wich is a wrking prototype for demonstration, so it is not jus gonna have learning as an objective though it is certainly an important aim.

I have experience in wrking wid sm microcontrollers, but none had as many i/o ports as we need.
@lambtron: If possible cud u plz suggest me any micro-controller wid many i/o ports.

I need help not only wid jus the choice b/w micro-controllers, FPGA, comp or a CPLD but plz also help me by giving me a name/type of the choice too.

Thnq for the responses and luking 4wrd to sm more replies.
Thnx a lot in advance.
 

You might use something like Freecell's MCF52235 Coldfire microcontroller (approx $9 USD). This has three uarts, some parallel i/o, spi, plenty of internal ram and flash, plus ethernet mac/phy if you want networking capability either now or later.

If there isn't enough parallel i/o you can add a Lattice LC4064 (approx $3 USD) and program it to implement an spi-to-digital-i/o interface. This can be quickly developed and will give you up to 71 digital i/o's with a simple 3-wire connection to the microcontroller.
 

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    vineesh.1

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Thnx a million Lambtron, but one last ques tat I have is abt how to port USB devices onto the MCF52235. Hv downloaded the data sheet 4 MCF52235 Coldfire. I guess it wud more than suffice , but the USB core is wat I am having a lil prob wid.

Thnx once again 4 the help, but still need a lil bit more.

Added after 8 minutes:

Also can smone plz suggest sm suppliers of thermal printers for embedded design (coz I need to do bar code printing) and ne barcode reader wich can be used with micro-controllers.
 

Have a look at Cypress Semiconductor's **broken link removed**. These are not quite as "well endowed" as the Coldfire parts, but they have built-in usb and lots of reference designs and software support. In a pinch you could use this with a MCF5223x.

Most any barcode scanner will work. Just choose one that has a RS232 interface (most scanners are available with RS232) and connect it to the microcontroller's serial interface (with appropriate RS232 transceiver). Check out Symbol Technologies.
 

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    vineesh.1

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Thnx once again lambtron. Wud get bak to the forum wid my other queries.
 

The microcontroller is not in prodn in India and Freescale doesnt offer them as samples. Can u suggest any other chip with the Crypto Accelerator Unit as tat wud be very useful 4 my proj?? I cudnt find ne with Freescale!!
Even widout the CAU wud do, but smthng close to MCF52235 wud do!!

Thnx in advance!!
 

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