Macropad communication with other microcontroller

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marin_manuel
 
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Macropad communication with other microcontroller

Post by marin_manuel »

Hi, I am planning a project around the Adafruit MacroPad RP2040 but I would like to use it without a computer. Instead, I would like to use the USB-C cable to connect it to another microcontroller (teensy, or raspberry pi/pico if needed).

I have some very basic questions at this stage:
- what would be the appropriate way to power this assembly? Can I provide power to the teensy (through the VIN pin) and let it power the macropad through the USB port? The teensy 4.1 says something about USB Host Hot Plugging https://www.pjrc.com/store/teensy41.html#power
- What would be the best way to exchange data between the two devices? Is serial communication the only protocol I can use with the USB-C connector?

Thank you!

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adafruit_support_mike
 
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Re: Macropad communication with other microcontroller

Post by adafruit_support_mike »

marin_manuel wrote:- What would be the best way to exchange data between the two devices? Is serial communication the only protocol I can use with the USB-C connector?
You'd have to write code to make one of the microcontrollers work as a USB host. That's far from easy, our boards aren't really designed for it, and we don't offer any support for it.

The only boards I know that works as a USB host by default are the Teensy 3.6, 4.0, and 4.1:

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3266
https://www.adafruit.com/product/4323
https://www.adafruit.com/product/4622

You can find information about them on the PJRC website:

https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/

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marin_manuel
 
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Re: Macropad communication with other microcontroller

Post by marin_manuel »

Thank you for the authoritative answer.
According to the JPRC website, the "Teensy 4.0 does not have circuitry to manage the power to USB devices (as Teensy 4.1 does)". I will see if I get something going with a Teensy 4.1.

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