Joy-it EXPLORER 500 User manual

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Pascalstr. 8 47506 Neukirchen-Vluyn
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EXPLORER 500
Expansionboard
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Dear customer,
thank you for choosing our product. In the following, we will show what is
to observe during the commissioning and the usage.
Should you encounter any unexpected problems during use, please do
not hesitate to contact us.

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2. CONNECTIONS
1. Pin-Header for the directly pinning on the Raspberry Pi B+, 2B, 3B or
3B+
2. UART-interface
3. 8x I/O interface
4. SPI-interface
5. I2C-interface
6. LCD-interface for HD44780 industrial-standard LCD modules
7. USB TO UART interface
8. Power LED
9. 4x programmable LED
10. 4x programmable buttons
11. Potentiometer → control of contrast for LCD displays
12. RTC battery holder for CR1220 batteries
13. PCF8563: onboard RTC chip
14. 32.768 crystal: RTC crystal
15. CP2102: onboard USB TO UART chip for debugging
16. CP2102: jumper for on / o
17. RTC: Jumper for on / o
18. User LEDs jumper for on / o (see point 9)
19. User keys jumper for on / o (see point 10)
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714 11 513 612 3

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3. IMAGE INSTALLATION
Download the newest prepared image from our website: Download
Format a microSD-card with the “SDFormatter.exe”.
Note: The memory size of the microSD-card should be more
than 4 GB. In this process a microSD-card reader is
required which must be purchased separately.
Start the file “Win32Disklmager.exe” and select the copied image onto
your PC. Click now on the button “Write” to write the image onto the
card.
4. INSTALLATION OF LIBRARIES FOR THE RASPBERRY PI
If you use the prepared image for the Explorer 500, you can skip this and
the next chapter.
For our code examples, the libraries RPi.GPIO and spidev are mandatory.
You can install the RPi.GPIO library with the following command:
sudo apt-get install python3-rpi.gpio
The spidev library with this command:
sudo apt-get install python3-dev
Enter the following commands to install the smbus and smbus2 library
(I2C interfaces functions):
sudo apt-get install python3-smbus
sudo pip3 install smbus2
Enter the following command to install the serial library which contains the
UART-interface functions.
sudo apt-get install python3-serial
sudo pip3 install spidev
Enter the following command to install the python3-dev package:

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Activation of the I2C-function
Enter the following command to configure your Raspberry Pi board.
5. CONFIGURATION OF THE INTERFACES
sudo raspi-config
Choose in Interfacing Options → I2C → Yes to start the core driver of I2C.
Aerwards, you should adjust the configuration file. To open the
configuration file, enter the following:
sudo nano /etc/modules
Add the following two lines at the end of the configuration file:
i2c-bcm2708
i2c-dev
Press the key combination STRG + C to leave the settings and press Y to
save them.
Activation of the serial functions
The serial port of the Raspberry Pi is set on the debugging via the console
mode by default. If you want to use the serial port as a normal IO, you
must adjust the configuration of the Raspberry Pi. If the debugging via
the console function is deactivated, you can not access the Raspberry Pi
board via the serial port. If you want to control the Raspberry, you must
activate the debugging of the serial port via the console function again.
sudo raspi-config
Choose in Interfacing Options → Serial . Through selecting the option No
the debugging via the console function will be deactivated. Aerwards,
the serial port can be used for the serial communication. With selecting
the option Yes the debugging via console function can be activated again.
You should now restart the Raspberry Pi so that the settings come into
force.
Note: The serial Port of the Raspberry Pi 3B is not available
because pin14 and 15 are connected with the own Bluetooth.
sudo raspi-config
To still use the serial functions, you must activate the SPI-function. For
that, you start the SPI-function and you enter meanwhile the following
command:
Now you only have to choose in Interfacing Options → SPI → Yes to use
the serial functions.

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Important: Should you use a new Raspbian and not one of our
prefabricated images, you should note chapter 4 and 5.
Prior to the application of the Explorer 500 program, you should install
the libraries of bcm2835, wiringPi and python on the Raspberry Pi that
you can add further APIs. Additionally, you should adjust the settings to
start the core driver of I2C, SPI and UART automatically aer the
installation of the libraries.
If you are not using our image, you can download the codes examples
here.
LED
We provide for the dierent modules of the Explorerboard 500
example codes. Also for the four LEDs, which are located on the
board. First, use the following command to go to the subfolder of the
LEDs:
6. CODE EXAMPLES
There you can find three codes for the LEDs. One is led.py , which lets the
LED0 flash. You can run this program with the the following command:
cd ~/Desktop/EXP500/LED
The example code pwm.py makes LED1 pulsate and you can execute it
with the following command:
sudo python3 led.py
sudo python3 pwm.py
The example code blink.py addresses all LEDs and lets them flash one
aer the other. You can trigger this with the following command:
sudo python3 blink.py
KEY
The Explorerboard 500 has four buttons which can be controlled. To do
this, first use the following command to leave the subfolder LED:
cd ~/Desktop/EXP500/
Now, you can use the following command to control the buttons that are
marked with KEY. The console displays which button is pressed.
sudo python3 key.py
LCD 16x2 (separately available)
On the Explorerboard there is an LCD interface with which a LCD can be
easily connected. Our COM-LCD16x2 can easily be plugged onto the
board and is immediately ready for use with our sample code. You can
execute it with the following commands:
sudo python3 lcd16x2.py
cd ~/Desktop/EXP500/

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PCF8563- Real Time Clock
Check if these jumpers of the Explorer 500 are plugged in:
RTC_SDA with SDA
RTC_SCL with SCL
This is necessary to control the RTC.
You can check your connection with the following command:
sudo i2cdetect -y 1
Now you should see an address with which you can control the RTC in
case everything is wired correctly.
You can embed this RTC into your system as a real time clock or use it on-
ly in a code. Please note that a Real Time Clock is only fully functional if a
battery is installed in the corresponding battery holder.
Embedding in the system
First, you edit the modules file. You do this with the the following
command:
sudo nano /etc/modules
Add this line to the end of the file:
rtc-pcf8563
You can save the file with CTRL + O and exit the editor with CTRL + X. Now
you must edit the config.txt . Open it with the following command:
sudo nano /boot/config.txt
There you add this line to the end of the file:
dt-overlay=i2c-rtc,pcf8563
You can save the file again with CTRL + O and exit the editor with CTRL +
X. Now, you have to install the driver of the RTC. Aerwards, you have to
restart Raspberry Pi to make your changes take eect.
sudo modprobe rtc-pcf8563
sudo nano /etc/rc.local
Above the command exit 0 add the following three lines:
echo pcf8563 0x51 > /sys/class/i2c-adapter/i2c-1/new_device
hwclock --hctosys
date
Edit now the following file to set the system time aer a start to the time
of the RTC:

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Use in code
If you want to use your RTC in the code, you must uninstall the drivers of the
RTC or do not embed the RTC in the system, because the driver of the RTC
blocks it for further processes. You can uninstall the driver with:
sudo rmmod rtc-pcf8563
You only need to execute this command if you have embedded the RTC in
the system. You should then also remove the added lines in rc.local to
avoid incorrect changes in the system.
In our code example we use the library RTC_SDL_PCF8563 published by
SwitchDoc Labs.
To execute the code, you must go first into subfolder . You do this with
the following command:
cd ~/Desktop/EXP500/RTC_SDL_PCF8563
There you can execute our code, which maps the RTC to system time and
sets the time and date every second. You can execute this code with the
following command:
sudo python3 pcf8563.py
You can also run the sample code from SwitchDoc Labs,
which displays the time of the system and the RTC in a 10 second cycle.
You start it with :
sudo python3 testSDL_PCF8563.py
UART - Transmission of serial data
The serial interface of the Raspberry Pi is by default deactiveted. For this
program, you must enable this function so that the Raspberry Pi is not
communicating via the serial port. Instead other methods must be used
to communicate with the Raspberry Pi.
To use this code example, you have to change first the serial function in
the configuration of the Raspberry Pi.
For that, enter the following command into the console:
sudo raspi-config
sudo hwclock -r
With this command the time of the RTC can be output.
sudo hwclock -w
This command adjusts the RTC to the time of the system.
Aerwards, you can control the RTC as one of the system.
Therefore, you can now use the following commands:
Close the file again with CTRL + O and CTRL + X and restart the Raspberry
Pi. Now the time of the system is aer each restart set by the RTC.
Note that a CR1220 battery must be inserted in the battery holder so that
the Real Time Clock can maintain the correct time.

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Now, navigate via the arrow keys into the option 5 Interfacing Options.
Aer that choose Punkt P6 Serial.
The question Would you like a login shell to be accessible over serial?
should you answer with No.
The question Would you like the serial port hardware to be enabled?
answer with Yes.

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Now you can click on Connect to establish a connection. As the next step,
you must start the code exampleon your Raspberry Pi. For that enter the
following:
cd ~/Desktop/EXP500
sudo python3 uart.py
The USB to UART interface of your Raspberry Pi allows you to connect the
Pi with your computer and to let them communicate without a
connection with the internet.
In this example, we use HTerm. Download this program here and install
it.
First of all, open HTerm and assume the settings like shown in the
picture. Therefore, it is to note that you set the right baudrate (115200)
and the right port. You should also note that your port could be dierent
which you should ensure in the device manager.
In HTerm you will see the following:
Now you can sen texts to your Raspberry Pi. The code examples allows that
the Raspberry Pui will send all sended texts from your computer back to
your computer.
You can enter these texts in the text field and send them with ASend .

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Aer that your computer will receive the following:
You can open the terminal console via the UART connection instead of an
external display or via the internet. Therefore, you can use PuTTY, MobaX-
term or others for the connection. For that, you have to change your settings
again.
First, enter the following command into the console:
Navigate now with the arrow key to the option 5 Interfacing Options.
sudo raspi-config
Then choose point P6 Serial .

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The question Would you like a login shell to be accessible over serial?
should you answer with Yes.
Aer a reboot, you can connect your Raspberry Pi with your computer.
Now MobaXterm, which you can download here and establish a
connection with the following setting:
Therefore, you should note that you have to choose the connection type
Serial and the right port (viewable in device manager) as well as to set the
baudrate to 115200.
Now, the console will be opened and you must log in on your Raspberry
Pi. If you use our image, the user name is pi and the password is
raspberry .
Attention, the keystrokes will not be shown if you enter your password.
Aer you logged in successfully, the console will open and you can use the
terminal of the Raspberry Pi the same way as via SSH only without a internet
connection.

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PR
7. OTHER INFORMATION
Our Information and Take-back Obligations according to
the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG)
Symbol on Electrial and Electronic Products:
This crossed-out bin means that electrical and electronic products
do not belong into the household waste. You must hand over your old
appliance to a registration place. Before you can hand over the old
appliance, you must remove used batteries and replacement batteries
which are not enclosed by the device.
Return Options:
As the end user, you can hand over your old appliance (which has
essentially the same functions as the new one bought with us) free of
charge for disposal with the purchase of a new device.
Small devices, which do not have outer dimensions bigger than 25 cm
can be handed in for disposal independently of the purchase of a new
product in normal household quantities.
1. Possibility of return at our company location during our opening hours
SIMAC GmbH, Pascalstr. 8, D-47506 Neukirchen-Vluyn
2. Possibility of return nearby
We will send you a parcel stamp with which you can send us your old
appliance free of charge. For this possibility, please contact us via e-mail
at [e-mail] or via telephone, then please dial 02845 93 60 -23
Information about Package:
Please package your old appliance safe for transport. Should you not
have suitable packaging material or you do not want to use your own
material, you can contact us and we will send you an appropriate
package.
8. SUPPORT
If any questions remained open or problems may arise aer your
purchase,we are available by email, telephone and ticket support
system to answer these.
Email: [e-mail]
Ticket-system: http://support.joy-it.net
Telephone: [phone] – 66 (10 - 17 o'clock)
For further information visit our website:
www.joy-it.net
Published: 06.05.2020
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SIMAC Electronics GmbH
Pascalstr. 8, 47506 Neukirchen-Vluyn
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