RP2040 PIO Module

[mikechristle]

I was looking at the code to see how you decoded the DCC signal. I see that you are using edge detection interrupts and a reverse bit banging algorithm. This obviously works well since the processor is so much faster than the DCC signal. Have you considered using the RP2040 PIO module. This would save the processor a lot of work.

[gab-k]

No, I have not really considered it. You already correctly assumend that the MCU is plenty fast anyway. However i can see that it might be beneficial in reducing current consumption of the MCU in general. Not too sure about how much it can be reduced but probably quite a lot. If i recall correctly the consumption currently should be in the ballpark of about ~30mA, which results in quite some power loss in the LDO.

[gab-k]

If one would want to optimize power consumption, it would make sense to focus first on putting the controller to sleep as often as possible. As far as I remember, the current version does not place much emphasis on energy saving.

[mikechristle]

I recently completed this project, this might help. https://github.com/mikechristle/DCC_Monitor.git My apologies to you C programmers, I prefer Python. My philosophy is to do time critical work in hardware, and let the software do higher level work.

[mikechristle]

My apologies on the funduk link. https://github.com/mikechristle/DCC_Monitor

[gab-k]

So you are using circuitpython with inline PIO instructions? Didn't even know that was possible.

[mikechristle]

I took some research, but once I figured it out it works great.