Description of the GD32 game console based on JLC Liangshan Pi

1. Background and brief introduction of the project

This project is based on the GD32 series development board of LC Liangshan pi, and designs and produces a full-featured game console. Not only does this console offer a classic gaming experience, but it also incorporates the benefits of modern electronics, such as a high-definition display, audio power amplifier, and vibration motor, to provide gamers with a rich sensory experience.

2. Hardware components and functions

The GD32F470 Liangshan Pi main control single-chip microcomputer

It adopts the GD32F470 Liangshan Pi, with a maximum frequency of 240MHz, and has powerful processing power to meet the needs of game operation. The GD32F470 series MCUs use Arm Cortex-M4 cores with processors clocked at up to 240MHz. This high-performance core enables embedded applications with higher algorithm complexity and faster real-time processing capabilities. This enables GD32F470 to excel in handling complex computing and control tasks and meet the needs of high-performance embedded systems. GD32F470 is equipped with on-chip Flash ranging from 512KB to 3072KB and SRAM ranging from 256KB to 768KB. This high-capacity storage advantage enables GD32F470 to support a wide range of industrial and consumer application scenarios such as advanced computing, communication networks, and human-machine interfaces. At the same time, the zero-waiting area for code execution is increased to 1024KB, which further improves the operation efficiency and response speed of the system. GD32F470 provides a variety of peripheral interfaces, including up to 4 USARTs and 4 UARTs, 3 I2C, 6 SPI, 2 I2S, 2 OB, 1 SDIO interface, 1 10/100M Ethernet controller, and supports USB2.0FS and HS communication. In addition, it is equipped with three 12-bit high-speed ADCs with a sampling rate of up to 6 MSPS and two 12-bit DACs. These abundant peripheral resources enable GD32F470 to easily cope with a variety of complex embedded application scenarios, such as motor frequency conversion control, security monitoring, industrial automation, etc. GD32F470 integrates a TFTLCD controller and a hardware graphics accelerator IPA, which can realize LCD drivers and significantly improve the image quality of the display. At the same time, it supports 8-bit to 14-bit Camera video interface, which is convenient for connecting digital cameras and realizing image acquisition and transmission. This gives GD32F470 significant advantages in graphics display and image processing, making it suitable for devices that require high-quality graphics displays, such as e-readers and tablets. GD32F470 ultra-low power consumption reduces system power consumption and extends battery life. At the same time, the high anti-interference ability enables the GD32F470 to maintain stable operation in harsh electromagnetic environments. These characteristics make GD32F470 have a wide range of application prospects in low-power application scenarios such as smart homes and smart wearable devices.

Display screen

The 1.69-inch ST7789 driver serial IPS display has a resolution of 240*280, bright colors, and a wide viewing angle, bringing players a clear visual experience. High resolution: The ST7789 display has a high resolution that delivers crisp, detailed images and provides gamers with a premium visual experience. Rich colors, support 262K color display, full colors and natural transitions, making the game picture more vivid and realistic. Low power consumption, the ST7789 display is designed for low power consumption, making it suitable for mobile devices, helping to extend the battery life of your gaming console. Serial port communication, which supports serial port communication, makes the connection between the display screen and the game console motherboard more convenient, and reduces the complexity of hardware connection. A variety of interface options, in addition to serial communication, the ST7789 display also supports SPI, I2C and other communication interfaces, providing developers with more choices. The ST7789 display is widely used in various electronic products, such as smart watches, portable consumer electronics, etc., showing its strong compatibility. As a result, it's also easy to adapt to a wide range of console motherboards. There are a large number of ST7789 display driver libraries and sample code on the market, which developers can easily obtain and integrate into the development environment of game consoles, reducing the development difficulty. To sum up, the use of 1.69-inch ST7789 drive serial IPS display for game consoles has many advantages, including superior display effect, flexible and diverse interfaces, strong compatibility, stable and reliable performance, and high cost-effectiveness. These advantages make the ST7789 display one of the best choices in the field of gaming console development.

Audio power amplifiers

Using 8002A or MT3608L chips, the maximum output power is 3W, and it supports headphone jack output and speaker output to ensure the clarity and volume of game sound. The use of 8002A (such as MD8002A, SL8002A, ChipSourceTek-8002A, etc.) as an audio power amplifier has many advantages, high output power: 8002A can provide high output power under appropriate conditions, such as MD8002A can provide 2.0 watts of continuous power for BTL load under 5V DC power supply, and the distortion is less than 10%; The SL8002A can provide up to 3W (4Ω load, THD<10%) under standard test conditions (input 1KHz, 5V operating voltage). Low Distortion: The total harmonic distortion noise of these models is usually less than 1% (in the audio range of 20Hz~20KHz), ensuring the high fidelity of the audio signal during transmission, bringing a pure sound quality experience to audio enthusiasts. Reduction of peripheral components: The application circuit design of 8002A is relatively simple, and does not require external coupling capacitors, uplift capacitors, buffer networks, and feedback resistors, etc., which reduces the design difficulty and cost.

Highly integrated: This highly integrated design idea is especially suitable for low-power portable systems with strict requirements on volume and weight, such as smartphones, Bluetooth headsets, small speakers, etc. Sleep mode: The 8002A has a built-in sleep mode control function, which can make the chip enter a low-power sleep state through simple logic control, thereby greatly reducing energy consumption and extending the battery life of the device in non-working conditions. Overtemperature protection: These chips are also equipped with an overtemperature automatic shutdown protection mechanism, which will automatically cut off the output once the internal temperature is detected to be too high, effectively preventing chip damage and ensuring the safe and stable operation of the system. Voltage gain adjustment: Through the reasonable configuration of external resistors, users can flexibly adjust the voltage gain of the amplifier to meet the needs of different application scenarios and achieve personalized sound quality adjustment. Unity-Gain Stability: The 8002A is stable at unity-gain, which means that the amplifier maintains stable gain characteristics over a wide frequency range without the need for additional compensation circuitry. The use of 8002A as an audio power amplifier has many advantages, such as high efficiency, low distortion, simplified circuit design, energy saving and protection mechanism, flexibility and stability, and a wide range of application fields. These advantages make the 8002A one of the best choices in the field of audio power amplifiers.

Vibration motor

The 3610 SMD motor GS2701 is used to control the vibration intensity through the PWM function of the IO port, enhancing the interactivity and immersion of the game. The use of the 3610 SMD motor (although the original text mentions the GS-2701F, but the 3610 SMD motor as a similar product, can also be controlled by the PWM function, the 3610 is used as an example here, the principle is the same) through the PWM function of the IO port to control the vibration intensity, which has a significant role in game consoles. Here's a closer look at these effects: Vibration Feedback: Precise control of the vibration intensity of the SMD motor through the PWM function can provide gamers with subtle vibration feedback. This feedback simulates a variety of in-game actions and effects, such as collisions, explosions, guns, and more, making the player feel more immersed in the game world. Enhance Immersion: Subtle vibration feedback, combined with the game's graphics and sound, can further enhance the player's sense of immersion and enhance the overall gaming experience. Vibration Pattern Customization: With the PWM feature, developers can customize unique vibration patterns for different games or game scenarios. These modes can be adjusted in real time according to the game plot and the player's actions, bringing players a richer and more diverse gaming experience. Interactive experience: In multiplayer games or cooperative games, the interaction and communication between players can be achieved through different vibration intensities and modes of vibration motors, and the social and interactive nature of the game can be enhanced. Precise control: The PWM function allows precise control of the vibration intensity of the SMD motor, which means that developers can fine-tune the vibration according to the needs of the game to ensure the accuracy and stability of the game. Energy saving: By precisely controlling the vibration intensity, it can also reduce the energy consumption of the game console to a certain extent and extend the battery life, which is especially important for portable game consoles. In summary, using a 3610 SMD motor (or a similar product such as GS-2701F) to control the vibration intensity through the PWM function of the IO port has many functions in game consoles, such as improving the gaming experience, realizing diversified gameplay, optimizing game control, and adapting to the needs of different players. Together, these effects bring players a richer, more detailed and more personalized gaming experience.

Power management

Powered by 4000mAh large lithium battery, it supports long battery life; The TP4056 lithium battery management chip is used to manage the charge and discharge of the battery to ensure the battery life and safety. The TP4056 is a single-cell lithium battery constant current/constant voltage linear charge management IC with a fixed charge voltage of 4.2V and a charge current that can be set by an external resistor. This design allows the TP4056 to charge the lithium battery in an efficient manner, ensuring that the battery is fully charged and maintains a stable voltage output in a short period of time. The TP4056 has an integrated anti-reverse charging circuit, eliminating the need for an external isolation diode, effectively preventing the battery from reverse charging and protecting the battery from damage. The chip has a thermal feedback function, which can automatically adjust the charging current to limit the temperature rise of the chip during high-power operation or high-temperature environments, so as to ensure a safe and stable charging process. The TP4056 is able to detect the battery temperature and take appropriate protection measures when the temperature is too high or too low to prevent the battery from being damaged due to abnormal temperatures. Pre-charge function: When the battery voltage is lower than a certain threshold (such as 3V or 2.9V), the TP4056 will automatically pre-charge the battery with a small current to protect the battery from the impact of high current. Constant current/constant voltage charging mode: During the charging process, TP4056 first adopts constant current mode to quickly charge the battery, and when the battery voltage is close to 4.2V, it automatically switches to constant voltage mode for trickle charging to ensure that the battery is fully charged and not overcharged. Automatic Termination of Charging: When the charging current is reduced to 1/10 of the set value, the TP4056 will automatically terminate the charging cycle to prevent the battery from overcharging and overheating. The TP4056 is suitable for USB power supplies or adapter power supplies, and its SOP8 package has a heat sink and fewer external components, making it easy to carry and integrate into a wide range of devices. Low cost and high efficiency: As a conventional model, the TP4056 is more commonly used, relatively inexpensive, and has a significant advantage in terms of cost performance due to its efficient charging management and safety protection functions. To sum up, the charge and discharge management of batteries through the TP4056 lithium battery management chip has many advantages such as efficient charging, safety protection, intelligent control, convenient status indication and wide application compatibility.

Joystick rocker

The joystick plays a vital role in the game, not only as an important tool for the player to interact with the game, but also as a key factor in improving the gaming experience and achieving precise operation. Whether it's a subtle turn or a quick run, the joystick delivers a precise response. Sense of direction: The joystick reflects the player's input through its angle change, so that the player can intuitively perceive and control the direction of the character's movement, enhancing the sense of immersion and substitution in the game. Combo Actions: In some games, players need to combine sticks with other buttons to achieve complex actions and skills. The flexibility of the joystick makes these operations more natural and fluid.

Skill release: In games such as fighting and racing, the angle and speed changes of the joystick can trigger different skills or actions, providing players with more tactical choices and room for maneuvering. Personalization: Many games allow players to personalize the joystick according to their preferences and habits, such as adjusting sensitivity, dead zones, etc., to further optimize the gaming experience.

Quick Response: The design of the joystick allows players to quickly respond to changes in the game, such as enemy attacks, turns on the track, etc., improving operational efficiency and game competitiveness. Versatile applications: Gamepads are suitable for a variety of game types and styles, such as action, adventure, sports, racing, and more. It can be flexibly adjusted according to the needs of the game to suit different modes of operation. Cross-platform compatibility: Many joysticks support cross-platform use, such as PC, console, etc., so that gamers can enjoy a consistent operation experience on different gaming platforms. Joysticks can play a variety of roles in games, such as accurately controlling character movements, realizing complex movements and skills, improving game experience and operational efficiency, adapting to different game types and styles, and enhancing game interactivity and sociality. Together, these effects result in a richer, more diverse, and more immersive gaming experience.

Storage and file systems

Support SD card storage, use Fats file system, convenient for the storage and reading of game data. W24C02 (often referred to as 24C02) as a memory in the game is mainly reflected in data storage and reading. Here's a detailed explanation of what it does, which makes it possible to store data such as parameters, configurations, progress, etc., necessary for the game. The 24C02 has very low power consumption in the operating state, making it suitable for mobile and battery-powered applications, which is especially important for portable gaming consoles. The 24C02 uses automatic page writing technology to ensure high reliability and stability, ensuring data integrity and durability. The 24C02 uses a serial interface for data reading and writing operations, and is able to communicate with a variety of microprocessors and other peripherals for easy integration with game consoles or controllers. Game parameter storage: 24C02 can store various parameters in the game, such as the options set by the player, game difficulty, progress information, etc. These parameters remain after the player exits the game, so that they can return to their previous state the next time they continue the game. Game Save: For games that need to be saved, 24C02 can save the player's game progress. When a player completes a level or reaches a milestone, they can choose to save it to continue playing in the future. This adds to the playability of the game and the player's sense of engagement. Game configuration management: 24C02 can also be used to store game configuration information, such as resolution, sound effect settings, etc. This configuration information can be adjusted to the player's preferences and is automatically loaded the next time the game is launched.

3. Software design and function implementation

Game porting: The game console has successfully ported the NES emulator, which supports the download and operation of hundreds of NES games, allowing players to relive the classic game time.

UI: A simple and easy-to-use UI interface is designed to facilitate players to select games, view game progress, and set game parameters.

Audio output: Through the DAC function of GD32, the audio signal can be output and amplified, providing players with high-quality game sound and background music.

File system: The Fats file system is read and written, supports the storage and reading of game data, and ensures the continuity and stability of the game.

Memory management: Optimized the memory management of SDRAM to ensure that game files can be loaded into memory and run smoothly.

Hardware interface: The design and optimization of hardware interfaces such as LCD driver, audio amplification circuit, motor drive circuit, EEPROM circuit and so on are realized to ensure the normal operation of various functions of the game console.