Home Automation Demo Kit

This document will show programmer how to develop Windows CE application on ICOP Vortex86 boards. It includes steps we build Windows CE platform, tune Windows CE, how to write demo program, how to debug eMbedded Visual C++ program and make a work DOM for home automation demo kit. Before reading, programmer needs skill about building Windows CE and writing MFC application with embedded Visual C++ 4.0.

Hardware Platform

The main control board in this kit is ICOP-6072. Refer to http://www.icop.com.tw/results.asp?search=6072 to get more detail. It includes 12-bits GPIO, 128Mbytes RAM, USB and 2 serial ports. Here is the hardware description:

• GPIO will be used to control relay for lights and fans.
• Connect USB touch panel for easy operation.
• Use serial port to read temperature for condition control.
• Add ICOP-6083-Mini-PCI and plug Realtek 8180 mini-PCI wireless card.
• We use LT-200 base board for I/O control. It has a 20-pin connector for us to connect Vortex86 GPIO.

Because there are no Ethernet on ICOP-6072, programmer can develop software on other Vortex86 boards with Ethernet or add an ICOP-6083L1 Ethernet module. In our development phase, we add ICOP-6083L1 for easy debug. At final phase, remove ICOP-6083L1 and install ICOP-6083-Mini-PCI + Realtek 8180 mini-PCI wireless card.

Software Platform

1. Using Platform Builder to build a Windows CE image. We select "Internet Appliance" to start our image building. In order to save disk space and make image time, we remove unused components.
2. From hardware configuration, we add stylus and hive-based registry to save touch panel calibration data, add software input panel and add driver for Realtek 8180 wireless module.
3. Build and test Windows CE image to make sure all hardware devices are active.
4. Export SDK for embedded Visual C++ development.
5. Develop a MFC application with eVC++. Test and debug it on emulator or demo kit.
6. Writing codes and debug with demo kit.
7. Build release mode Windows CE image and application.
8. Install release version image and software.

More detail in our technical document will show programmer our step by step to build demo kit.

Download

• Development of Home Automation Demo Kit (806 KB)
  Document to show programmer how our engineer develop demo kit.
  
• Windows CE Platform Project Files (116 KB)
  It includes our Platform Builder project files to make Windows CE platform for demo kit.
  
• Platform.reg & Vortex.reg (6 KB)
  Those two files are not included in Windows CE platform project files. Developer can jsut those two files to save time.
  
• eMbedded Visual C++ Project Files (78 KB)
  It includes full source code of demo program.
  
  
Follow this document will show programmer the outline how our engineer make this demo kit for Microsoft 2005 DevCon. If need more information or help, feel free to contact our technical support (tech@dmp.com.tw). We can provide limited support for software development suggestion. If your project is huge or complexity, find Windows CE software consulting is a quick and effective solution.