2 layers40.2 × 44.8 mm
MicroPicoDriveCartridge
gusmanb/micropicodrive
Internal microdrive replacement for the Sinclair QL
12 parts29MIT
2 layers66 × 59 mm
MicroPicoDrive
gusmanb/micropicodrive29Internal microdrive replacement for the Sinclair QL
- Size
- 66 × 59 mm
- Copper layers
- 2
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 16
- Nets
- 48
- Pads
- 162
- Tracks, vias
- 284, 14
- Pours
- 2
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 6 (file 20211014)
- Created
- 19 Sep 2023
- Updated
- 12 Jul 2024
Overview
MicroPicoDrive is an open-source printed circuit board by gusmanb, from the gusmanb/micropicodrive repository on GitHub, published under the MIT licence. It is a 2-layer board of 66 × 59 mm with 16 parts on 48 nets, routed with 284 tracks and 14 vias.
It is built around the SN74LVC1T45DBVRE4 and TXU0304QPWRQ1. Its parts include 6 capacitors, 5 ICs, 2 connectors and 1 resistor. It belongs with the RP2040 boards of this library.
Main components
2
SN74LVC1T45DBVRE4
SOT-23-6-40℃~+85℃ 1 1.65V~5.5V 1.65V~5.5V Bidirectional Level translator Power-off protection、Output enable high-impedance Push-Pull、Tri-State SOT-23-6 Translators, Level Shifters ROHSTexas InstrumentsTranslators, Level Shifters
TXU0304QPWRQ1
TSSOP-14-40℃~+125℃ 1 1.08V~5.5V 1.08V~5.5V 200Mbps 4 Bidirectional Level translator Power-off protection、Output enable high-impedance、Integrated pull-up resistor SPI、JTAG、UART Tri-State TSSOP-14 Translators, Level Shifters ROHSTexas InstrumentsTranslators, Level Shifters
README
README.mdMicroPicoDrive - An internal replacement of the Sinclair QL Microdrive.
UPDATE 22/03/2023
The device has been tested and patched to work with Minerva. Yup! Also, the PCB has been modified, it should now be correctly placed but I'm waiting to receive a new batch of PCB's, until then I can't ensure 100% that it is totally fixed.
The Wiki has been set in place with documentation on how to assemble and use the device.
The BOM has been added to the Hardware folder and contains links to the more uncommon components.
Have fun!
Initial commit
WARNING! This is a work in progress, I need to test it with Minerva ROM and do some adjustments to the PCB, be ware!
So, I got a Sinclair QL some months ago, I wanted one for many many years, I'm a Sinclair fan and I always have been in the Spectrum world and the QL always has been something that I wanted to get. The unit I got was a broken one, it was stored since the 80's in a repair shop, when I got it the machine was non-working, without microdrives, with a faulty membrane and without a single screw, so the first that I did was to repair it.
And once I got it fully working I wanted to load something, but without microdrives it was a bit difficult... xD
I checked which solutions were available but I didn't liked none so I decided to create my own replacement, armed with my logic analizer and patience I learnt the internals of the microdrive protocol and created an internal replacement that uses "cartridges" and can be installed in the internal space of the QL.
And this is what I got:
The device is based in an RP2040 (I love the PIO units, those damn things are a wonder!) and some level shifters... and that's it. Well, that's it for the internal unit, there is also a screen, some buttons and an SD card holder for the cartridge!
The thing is completelly working with the stock rom, it can load programs without problems, can format cartridges, store images, etc, all without problems.
Also, I found that a lot of the software is stored as Zip files, the device right now supports MDV, IMG and my own custom format, so I checked the available utilities to manipulate MDV images and... it was a boomer to find that there is no updated one, only mdvtools that is ancient and after compiling manually it I found that most of the converted images were flawed.
So, again, I decided to create mi own solution, and this is what I finally got:
It can create MDV images from the ground, import MDV and ZIP files (and yes, it supports the QL zip format, it preserves the executable and data space attributes), manipulate the existing files, extract them, etc, so with this finally I got a full toolset for the QL!
Now I'm waiting for the components to build a 512Kb RAM expansion and from there I don't know where I will continue, may be a floppy drive emulator? IDE interface? Not sure, but the first is to add those 512Kb and a Minerva ROM to test the microdrive.
In any case, this is a work in progress, beware that I need to do some adjustments to the PCB and finish some tools for the software.
If you want more info don't esitate to contact me.
Have fun!
Parts
16| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 100nf | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 |
| 2 | MountingHole_3.5mm | MountingHole:MountingHole_3.5mm | MH0, MH1 |
| 2 | SN74LVC1T45DBVR | SN74LVC1T45DBVR:SOT95P280X145-6N | IC1, IC2 |
| 1 | 4k7 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R1 |
| 1 | Conn_02x16 | EdgeCon:Edge_connector_02x08 | J1 |
| 1 | LM7805_TO220 | Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-220-3_Vertical | U1 |
| 1 | Pico | RPi_Pico:RPi_Pico_SMD_TH | U2 |
| 1 | QL_CONN | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_2x07_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | TXU0304QPWRQ1 | TXU0304QPWRQ1:TXU0304QPWRQ1 | IC3 |
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Questions
How big is the MicroPicoDrive PCB?
It measures 66 × 59 mm and has 2 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the MicroPicoDrive use?
16 parts, built around the SN74LVC1T45DBVRE4 and TXU0304QPWRQ1. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the MicroPicoDrive KiCad files?
From the gusmanb/micropicodrive repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is Hardware/MicroPicoDrive/MicroPicoDrive.kicad_pcb and its schematic Hardware/MicroPicoDrive/MicroPicoDrive.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the MicroPicoDrive design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the MIT licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).