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SPIDriver: the Tool to Control and Monitor SPI Devices

By on June 19, 2018
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SPIDriver is an easy-to-use tool for controlling SPI devices. It works with Windows, Mac, and Linux, and has a built-in color screen that shows a live logic-analyzer display of all SPI traffic. It uses a standard FTDI USB serial chip to talk to the PC, so no special drivers need to be installed. The board includes 3.3 and 5 V supplies with voltage and current monitoring.

SPIDriver driving a Gameduino 3 LCD panel.

 

SPIDriver comes with free (as in freedom) software to control it from:

  • a GUI
  • the command-line
  • C and C++ using a single source file
  • Python 2 and 3, using a module

 

SPIDriver driving a LED strip.

Features

  • live display shows you exactly what it’s doing all the time
  • sustained SPI transfers at 500 Kbps
  • USB line voltage monitor to detect supply problems, to 0.01 V
  • target device high-side current measurement, to 5 mA
  • two auxiliary output signals, A and B
  • dedicated power out lines. two each of GND, 3.3 V and 5 V
  • all signals color coded to match jumper colors
  • all signals are 3.3 V, and are 5 V tolerant
  • uses an FTDI USB serial adapter, and Silicon Labs automotive-grade EFM8 controller
  • also reports uptime, temperature, and running CRC of all traffic
  • all sensors and signals controlled using a simple serial protocol
  • GUI, command-line, C/C++, and Python 2/3 host software provided for Windows, Mac, and Linux

 

Specifications

  • maximum power out current: up to 470 mA
  • signal current: up to 10 mA
  • device current: up to 25 mA
  • dimensions: 61 mm x 49 mm x 6 mm
  • interface: USB 2.0, micro USB connector

SPIDriver is on Crowd Supply until July 13th, and costs $27 for the SPIDriver Core (no LCD), or $57 for the complete SPIDriver Expert. Orders should ship in August.

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About Boris Landoni

Boris Landoni is the technical manager of Open-Electronics.org. Skilled in the GSM field, embraces the Open Source philosophy and its projects are available to the community.

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