¶ USB-to-CD-i Adapter
¶ Overview
Developer: TwBurn
Project GitHub Page: https://github.com/TwBurn/usb2cdi
Uses the CD-i Controller Library.
The USB-to-CD-i adapter allows USB controllers to be used with a CD-i player. By using a BlueTooth dongle wireless controllers using BlueTooth can also be connected. The default hardware design has splitter functionality built-in, allowing for two controllers to be used with a single adapter for players that support a splitter cable.
It is based on an Arduino with an USB Host Shield[1] connected to it.
¶ Hardware Design
¶ Materials
- Arduino Pro Micro 3.3v
- USB Host Shield Mini
- Logic Level Shifter (4 pin)
The schematic above shows how you need to connect everything. The pins of the Arduino Pro Micro line up with the pins of the USB host shield, so you can use headers to solder them on top of each other. However:
- The reset pin of the USB host shield lines up with a GND pin on the Arduino, this one needs to be connected to VCC instead.
- By default the VCC is hooked up to the VBUS of the USB connector, which is 3.3V. Most USB devices will work on 3.3V, but in order to get 5V on the VBUS, you need to cut a trace on the board (indicated in the schematic) and hook up the VBUS pad to the RAW pin on the Arduino.
Both of these can be done by soldering two wires on the back of the USB Host shield.
The Logic Level Shifter is needed to convert the 3.3V signals of the Arduino to the 5V which is used by the CD-i player. The pin connections listed in the schematic are made in a way that supports two controllers at once (integrated splitter).
When built in this way the example sketches can be run without any alterations.
¶ Alterations
¶ Compact Design
In order to create a very compact version, I've soldered the Logic Level Shifter (rotated 180 degrees from the schematic) on top of the Arduino Micro, connecting all six pins (LV1 to LV4) to digital outputs on the Arduino (pins 2 to 7) - connecting "LV" to pin 4, and "GND" to pin 5. This does require an alteration to the sketches, namely the following code needs to be added to the top of the setup() function:
pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(4, HIGH);
digitalWrite(5, LOW);
This configures pins 4 and 5 as output, and provides 3.3V on pin 4 and ground on pin 5.
¶ Software
Given the nature of the USB Host Shield used in this project, the software on the Arduino must match the device connected to it. On the Project GitHub page sketches for various devices are available.
¶ Supported Devices
¶ Keyboard and/or Mouse
Keyboard and/or mouse, mapped to a CD-i Relative Coordinate Device.
Mouse mapping:
- Mouse move: Move cursor
- Left button: Button 1.
- Right button: Button 2.
- Middle button: Button 1 and 2
Keyboard mapping:
- Cursor keys: Directional input
- Z: Button 1
- X: Button 2
- C: Button 1 and 2
- 0-9: Speed selection (Keyboard order, 1 is slowest, 0 is fastest)
¶ MagicNS Dongle
Uses a MagicNS[2] dongle to connect a supported controller (for example Switch Pro, Switch SNES controller) to a CD-i mapped as a Maneuvering Device. A two player version of the sketch is also available, requiring an USB Hub and two MagicNS dongles connected to the adapter.
Button mapping:
- D-pad and left thumbstick: Directional input.
- A and X: Button 1.
- B and Y: Button 2.
- L/R triggers: Speed up/down (4 speed settings)
¶ WiiMote/WiiU BlueTooth
WiiMote/WiiU Pro controller using a Bluetooth dongle. A WiiMote must be held sideways.
Button mapping:
- D-pad and left thumbstick: Directional input.
- A, X and 1: Button 1.
- B, Y and 2: Button 2.
- +/-: Speed up/down (4 speed)
MagicNS Dongle by MayFlash: https://www.mayflash.com/product/showproduct.php?id=30 ↩︎