J4 (port 4) on the Orion

#1

I need some more digital outputs and I’d just like someone to confirm for me that I can’t use J4 because though it does contain D0 and D1 these are labelled in some schematics DX and RX which I presume means they are used for serial comms. I had to look here

Orion Schematic? up to date?

beacuse the official makeblock link does not respond:

http://learn.makeblock.com/orion/

and if you search orion schematic in their search box it returns no results…!

#2

I’ve just found another link which (typically for MakeBlock) has a different pin out:

Link with Makeblock Orion schematic

This one has TXD and RXD on J5 which are D0 and D1 on the chip.

So my question is can anyone work out if J4 or J5 also contains the serial inout and so cannot be used…?

#3

Hi @giovanniguerra,

I’d suggest that you include @tec_support for questions like these. :slight_smile:

#4

Hmm. Where? In the subject?

And aren’t all questions here technical?

And surely forum is monitored assiduously by Makeblock?

#5

The forum is monitored, but you’ll get a quicker response by including @tec_support in the body of the message. :slight_smile:

#6

Hi Giovanniguerra,

The Port 5 on Orion can be used for serial communication while the Port 4 doesn’t have serial communication function.

#7

Thanks for the reply. Maybe I was not clear.

It looks like, from some schematics, that Port5 D1 D2 pins are used for serial communication on the USB. So that means that if I need to communicate with the PC I cannot use D1 and D2 as digital outputs.

Is that correct?

In other words…

You say “Port 5 on Orion can be used for serial communication”, should that be “Port 5 on Orion IS used for serial communication” in the case where I need the USB for sending plotter gcode from the PC?

#8

Hi Giovanniguerra,
When there is a USB cable connected between the Orion board and the PC, the Port 5 on Orion cannot be used for serial communication (for example, the bluetooth/wireless communication cannot work), but the Port 5 still can be used as digital port (it still can be connectted to the electronics which has yellow or blue RJ25 interface).

#9

Ok…When using the USB, which pins on Port 5 are still free to use as digital output?

#10

Hi Giovanniguerra,

Sincerely sorry about that I made a mistake before.
The Tx/Rx pin for Port 5 are Multiplexed. When there is a USB cable connected, the Tx/Rx PIN are captured, so the digital output won’t work. Only after you uploaded the program to the Orion and removed the USB cable,Tx/Rx pin will work as digital pin when connected with digital modules.

#11

Ok, thanks for the info.

#12