An input/output controller for virtual pinball machines, with plunger position tracking, accelerometer-based nudge sensing, button input encoding, and feedback device control.

Dependencies:   USBDevice mbed FastAnalogIn FastIO FastPWM SimpleDMA

/media/uploads/mjr/pinscape_no_background_small_L7Miwr6.jpg

The Pinscape Controller is a special-purpose software project that I wrote for my virtual pinball machine.

New version: V2 is now available! The information below is for version 1, which will continue to be available for people who prefer the original setup.

What exactly is a virtual pinball machine? It's basically a video-game pinball emulator built to look like a real pinball machine. (The picture at right is the one I built.) You start with a standard pinball cabinet, either built from scratch or salvaged from a real machine. Inside, you install a PC motherboard to run the software, and install TVs in place of the playfield and backglass. Several Windows pinball programs can take advantage of this setup, including the open-source project Visual Pinball, which has hundreds of tables available. Building one of these makes a great DIY project, and it's a good way to add to your skills at woodworking, computers, and electronics. Check out the Cabinet Builders' Forum on vpforums.org for lots of examples and advice.

This controller project is a key piece in my setup that helps integrate the video game into the pinball cabinet. It handles several input/output tasks that are unique to virtual pinball machines. First, it lets you connect a mechanical plunger to the software, so you can launch the ball like on a real machine. Second, it sends "nudge" data to the software, based on readings from an accelerometer. This lets you interact with the game physically, which makes the playing experience more realistic and immersive. Third, the software can handle button input (for wiring flipper buttons and other cabinet buttons), and fourth, it can control output devices (for tactile feedback, button lights, flashers, and other special effects).

Documentation

The Hardware Build Guide (PDF) has detailed instructions on how to set up a Pinscape Controller for your own virtual pinball cabinet.

Update notes

December 2015 version: This version fully supports the new Expansion Board project, but it'll also run without it. The default configuration settings haven't changed, so existing setups should continue to work as before.

August 2015 version: Be sure to get the latest version of the Config Tool for windows if you're upgrading from an older version of the firmware. This update adds support for TSL1412R sensors (a version of the 1410 sensor with a slightly larger pixel array), and a config option to set the mounting orientation of the board in the firmware rather than in VP (for better support for FP and other pinball programs that don't have VP's flexibility for setting the rotation).

Feb/March 2015 software versions: If you have a CCD plunger that you've been using with the older versions, and the plunger stops working (or doesn't work as well) after you update to the latest version, you might need to increase the brightness of your light source slightly. Check the CCD exposure with the Windows config tool to see if it looks too dark. The new software reads the CCD much more quickly than the old versions did. This makes the "shutter speed" faster, which might require a little more light to get the same readings. The CCD is actually really tolerant of varying light levels, so you probably won't have to change anything for the update - I didn't. But if you do have any trouble, have a look at the exposure meter and try a slightly brighter light source if the exposure looks too dark.

Downloads

  • Config tool for Windows (.exe and C# source): this is a Windows program that lets you view the raw pixel data from the CCD sensor, trigger plunger calibration mode, and configure some of the software options on the controller.
  • Custom VP builds: I created modified versions of Visual Pinball 9.9 and Physmod5 that you might want to use in combination with this controller. The modified versions have special handling for plunger calibration specific to the Pinscape Controller, as well as some enhancements to the nudge physics. If you're not using the plunger, you might still want it for the nudge improvements. The modified version also works with any other input controller, so you can get the enhanced nudging effects even if you're using a different plunger/nudge kit. The big change in the modified versions is a "filter" for accelerometer input that's designed to make the response to cabinet nudges more realistic. It also makes the response more subdued than in the standard VP, so it's not to everyone's taste. The downloads include both the updated executables and the source code changes, in case you want to merge the changes into your own custom version(s).

    Note! These features are now standard in the official VP 9.9.1 and VP 10 releases, so you don't need my custom builds if you're using 9.9.1 or 10 or later. I don't think there's any reason to use my 9.9 instead of the official 9.9.1, but I'm leaving it here just in case. In the official VP releases, look for the checkbox "Enable Nudge Filter" in the Keys preferences dialog. (There's no checkbox in my custom builds, though; the filter is simply always on in those.)
  • Output circuit shopping list: This is a saved shopping cart at mouser.com with the parts needed for each output driver, if you want to use the LedWiz emulator feature. Note that quantities in the cart are for one output channel, so multiply everything by the number of channels you plan to use, except that you only need one of the ULN2803 transistor array chips for each eight output circuits.
  • Lemming77's potentiometer mounting bracket and shooter rod connecter: Sketchup designs for 3D-printable parts for mounting a slide potentiometer as the plunger sensor. These were designed for a particular slide potentiometer that used to be available from an Aliexpress.com seller but is no longer listed. You can probably use this design as a starting point for other similar devices; just check the dimensions before committing the design to plastic.

Features

  • Plunger position sensing, using a TAOS TSL 1410R CCD linear array sensor. This sensor is a 1280 x 1 pixel array at 400 dpi, which makes it about 3" long - almost exactly the travel distance of a standard pinball plunger. The idea is that you install the sensor just above (within a few mm of) the shooter rod on the inside of the cabinet, with the CCD window facing down, aligned with and centered on the long axis of the shooter rod, and positioned so that the rest position of the tip is about 1/2" from one end of the window. As you pull back the plunger, the tip will travel down the length of the window, and the maximum retraction point will put the tip just about at the far end of the window. Put a light source below, facing the sensor - I'm using two typical 20 mA blue LEDs about 8" away (near the floor of the cabinet) with good results. The principle of operation is that the shooter rod casts a shadow on the CCD, so pixels behind the rod will register lower brightness than pixels that aren't in the shadow. We scan down the length of the sensor for the edge between darker and brighter, and this tells us how far back the rod has been pulled. We can read the CCD at about 25-30 ms intervals, so we can get rapid updates. We pass the readings reports to VP via our USB joystick reports.

    The hardware build guide includes schematics showing how to wire the CCD to the KL25Z. It's pretty straightforward - five wires between the two devices, no external components needed. Two GPIO ports are used as outputs to send signals to the device and one is used as an ADC in to read the pixel brightness inputs. The config tool has a feature that lets you display the raw pixel readings across the array, so you can test that the CCD is working and adjust the light source to get the right exposure level.

    Alternatively, you can use a slide potentiometer as the plunger sensor. This is a cheaper and somewhat simpler option that seems to work quite nicely, as you can see in Lemming77's video of this setup in action. This option is also explained more fully in the build guide.
  • Nudge sensing via the KL25Z's on-board accelerometer. Mounting the board in your cabinet makes it feel the same accelerations the cabinet experiences when you nudge it. Visual Pinball already knows how to interpret accelerometer input as nudging, so we simply feed the acceleration readings to VP via the joystick interface.
  • Cabinet button wiring. Up to 24 pushbuttons and switches can be wired to the controller for input controls (for example, flipper buttons, the Start button, the tilt bob, coin slot switches, and service door buttons). These appear to Windows as joystick buttons. VP can map joystick buttons to pinball inputs via its keyboard preferences dialog. (You can raise the 24-button limit by editing the source code, but since all of the GPIO pins are allocated, you'll have to reassign pins currently used for other functions.)
  • LedWiz emulation (limited). In addition to emulating a joystick, the device emulates the LedWiz USB interface, so controllers on the PC side such as DirectOutput Framework can recognize it and send it commands to control lights, solenoids, and other feedback devices. 22 GPIO ports are assigned by default as feedback device outputs. This feature has some limitations. The big one is that the KL25Z hardware only has 10 PWM channels, which isn't enough for a fully decked-out cabinet. You also need to build some external power driver circuitry to use this feature, because of the paltry 4mA output capacity of the KL25Z GPIO ports. The build guide includes instructions for a simple and robust output circuit, including part numbers for the exact components you need. It's not hard if you know your way around a soldering iron, but just be aware that it'll take a little work.

Warning: This is not replacement software for the VirtuaPin plunger kit. If you bought the VirtuaPin kit, please don't try to install this software. The VP kit happens to use the same microcontroller board, but the rest of its hardware is incompatible. The VP kit uses a different type of sensor for its plunger and has completely different button wiring, so the Pinscape software won't work properly with it.

Files at this revision

API Documentation at this revision

Comitter:
mjr
Date:
Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
Parent:
40:cc0d9814522b
Child:
44:b5ac89b9cd5d
Commit message:
Before floating point plunger ranging

Changed in this revision

AltAnalogIn/AltAnalogIn.h Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
AltAnalogIn/AltAnalogIn_KL25Z.cpp Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
FastAnalogIn.lib Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
Pinscape_Controller.lib Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
TSL1410R/tsl1410r.h Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
TSL1410R/tsl410r.cpp Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
ccdSensor.h Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
config.h Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
main.cpp Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
plunger.h Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
potSensor.h Show annotated file Show diff for this revision Revisions of this file
--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/AltAnalogIn/AltAnalogIn.h	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+#ifndef ALTANALOGIN_H
+#define ALTANALOGIN_H
+
+// This is a slightly modified version of Scissors's FastAnalogIn.
+// 
+// This version is optimized for reading from multiple inputs.  The KL25Z has 
+// multiple ADC channels, but the multiplexer hardware only allows sampling one
+// at a time.  The entire sampling process from start to finish is serialized 
+// in the multiplexer, so we unfortunately can't overlap the sampling times
+// for multiple channels - we have to wait in sequence for the sampling period
+// on each channel, one after the other.
+//
+// The base version of FastAnalogIn uses the hardware's continuous conversion
+// feature to speed up sampling.  When sampling multiple inputs, that feature
+// becomes useless, and in fact the way FastAnalogIn uses it creates additional
+// overhead for multiple input sampling.  But FastAnalogIn still has some speed
+// advantages over the base mbed AnalogIn implementation, since it sets all of
+// the other conversion settings to the fastest options.  This version keeps the
+// other speed-ups from FastAnalogIn, but dispenses with the continuous sampling.
+
+/*
+ * Includes
+ */
+#include "mbed.h"
+#include "pinmap.h"
+
+#if !defined TARGET_LPC1768 && !defined TARGET_KLXX && !defined TARGET_LPC408X && !defined TARGET_LPC11UXX && !defined TARGET_K20D5M
+    #error "Target not supported"
+#endif
+
+ /** A class similar to AnalogIn, only faster, for LPC1768, LPC408X and KLxx
+ *
+ * AnalogIn does a single conversion when you read a value (actually several conversions and it takes the median of that).
+ * This library runns the ADC conversion automatically in the background.
+ * When read is called, it immediatly returns the last sampled value.
+ *
+ * LPC1768 / LPC4088
+ * Using more ADC pins in continuous mode will decrease the conversion rate (LPC1768:200kHz/LPC4088:400kHz).
+ * If you need to sample one pin very fast and sometimes also need to do AD conversions on another pin,
+ * you can disable the continuous conversion on that ADC channel and still read its value.
+ *
+ * KLXX
+ * Multiple Fast instances can be declared of which only ONE can be continuous (all others must be non-continuous).
+ *
+ * When continuous conversion is disabled, a read will block until the conversion is complete
+ * (much like the regular AnalogIn library does).
+ * Each ADC channel can be enabled/disabled separately.
+ *
+ * IMPORTANT : It does not play nicely with regular AnalogIn objects, so either use this library or AnalogIn, not both at the same time!!
+ *
+ * Example for the KLxx processors:
+ * @code
+ * // Print messages when the AnalogIn is greater than 50%
+ *
+ * #include "mbed.h"
+ *
+ * AltAnalogIn temperature(PTC2); //Fast continuous sampling on PTC2
+ * AltAnalogIn speed(PTB3, 0);    //Fast non-continuous sampling on PTB3
+ *
+ * int main() {
+ *     while(1) {
+ *         if(temperature > 0.5) {
+ *             printf("Too hot! (%f) at speed %f", temperature.read(), speed.read());
+ *         }
+ *     }
+ * }
+ * @endcode
+ * Example for the LPC1768 processor:
+ * @code
+ * // Print messages when the AnalogIn is greater than 50%
+ *
+ * #include "mbed.h"
+ *
+ * AltAnalogIn temperature(p20);
+ *
+ * int main() {
+ *     while(1) {
+ *         if(temperature > 0.5) {
+ *             printf("Too hot! (%f)", temperature.read());
+ *         }
+ *     }
+ * }
+ * @endcode
+*/
+class AltAnalogIn {
+
+public:
+     /** Create an AltAnalogIn, connected to the specified pin
+     *
+     * @param pin AnalogIn pin to connect to
+     * @param enabled Enable the ADC channel (default = true)
+     */
+    AltAnalogIn( PinName pin, bool enabled = true );
+    
+    ~AltAnalogIn( void )
+    {
+    }
+    
+    /** Start a sample.  This sets the ADC multiplexer to read from
+    * this input and activates the sampler.
+    */
+    inline void start()
+    {
+        // update the MUX bit in the CFG2 register only if necessary
+        static int lastMux = -1;
+        if (lastMux != ADCmux) 
+        {
+            // remember the new register value
+            lastMux = ADCmux;
+        
+            // select the multiplexer for our ADC channel
+            if (ADCmux)
+                ADC0->CFG2 |= ADC_CFG2_MUXSEL_MASK;
+            else
+                ADC0->CFG2 &= ~ADC_CFG2_MUXSEL_MASK;
+        }
+        
+        // select our ADC channel in the control register - this initiates sampling
+        // on the channel
+        ADC0->SC1[0] = startMask;
+    }
+ 
+
+    
+    /** Returns the raw value
+    *
+    * @param return Unsigned integer with converted value
+    */
+    inline uint16_t read_u16()
+    {
+        // wait for the hardware to signal that the sample is completed
+        while ((ADC0->SC1[0] & ADC_SC1_COCO_MASK) == 0);
+    
+        // return the result register value
+        return (uint16_t)ADC0->R[0] << 4;  // convert 12-bit to 16-bit, padding with zeroes
+    }
+    
+    /** Returns the scaled value
+    *
+    * @param return Float with scaled converted value to 0.0-1.0
+    */
+    float read(void)
+    {
+        unsigned short value = read_u16();
+        return value / 65535.0f;
+    }
+    
+    /** An operator shorthand for read()
+    */
+    operator float() { return read(); }
+
+    
+private:
+    char ADCnumber;         // ADC number of our input pin
+    char ADCmux;            // multiplexer for our input pin (0=A, 1=B)
+    uint32_t startMask;
+};
+
+#endif
--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/AltAnalogIn/AltAnalogIn_KL25Z.cpp	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+#if defined(TARGET_KLXX) || defined(TARGET_K20D50M)
+
+#include "AltAnalogIn.h"
+#include "clk_freqs.h"
+
+// Maximum ADC clock for KL25Z in 12-bit mode.  The data sheet says this is
+// limited to 18MHz, but we seem to get good results at higher rates.  The
+// data sheet is actually slightly vague on this because it's only in the
+// table for the 16-bit ADC, even though the ADC we're using is a 12-bit ADC,
+// which seems to have slightly different properties.  So there's room to
+// think the data sheet omits the data for the 12-bit ADC.
+#define MAX_FADC_12BIT      25000000
+
+#define CHANNELS_A_SHIFT     5          // bit position in ADC channel number of A/B mux
+#define ADC_CFG1_ADLSMP      0x10       // long sample time mode
+#define ADC_SC2_ADLSTS(mode) (mode)     // long sample time select - bits 1:0 of CFG2
+
+#ifdef TARGET_K20D50M
+static const PinMap PinMap_ADC[] = {
+    {PTC2, ADC0_SE4b, 0},
+    {PTD1, ADC0_SE5b, 0},
+    {PTD5, ADC0_SE6b, 0},
+    {PTD6, ADC0_SE7b, 0},
+    {PTB0, ADC0_SE8,  0},
+    {PTB1, ADC0_SE9,  0},
+    {PTB2, ADC0_SE12, 0},
+    {PTB3, ADC0_SE13, 0},
+    {PTC0, ADC0_SE14, 0},
+    {PTC1, ADC0_SE15, 0},
+    {NC,   NC,        0}
+};
+#endif
+
+AltAnalogIn::AltAnalogIn(PinName pin, bool enabled)
+{
+    // do nothing if explicitly not connected
+    if (pin == NC)
+        return;
+    
+    // figure our ADC number
+    ADCnumber = (ADCName)pinmap_peripheral(pin, PinMap_ADC);
+    if (ADCnumber == (ADCName)NC) {
+        error("ADC pin mapping failed");
+    }
+    
+    // figure our multiplexer channel (A or B)
+    ADCmux = (ADCnumber >> CHANNELS_A_SHIFT) ^ 1;
+
+    // enable the ADC0 clock in the system control module
+    SIM->SCGC6 |= SIM_SCGC6_ADC0_MASK;
+
+    // enable the port clock gate for the port containing our GPIO pin
+    uint32_t port = (uint32_t)pin >> PORT_SHIFT;
+    SIM->SCGC5 |= 1 << (SIM_SCGC5_PORTA_SHIFT + port);
+        
+    // Figure the maximum clock frequency.  In 12-bit mode or less, we can 
+    // run the ADC at up to 18 MHz per the KL25Z data sheet.  (16-bit mode
+    // is limited to 12 MHz.)
+    int clkdiv = 0;
+    uint32_t ourfreq = bus_frequency();
+    for ( ; ourfreq > MAX_FADC_12BIT ; ourfreq /= 2, clkdiv += 1) ;
+    
+    // Set the "high speed" configuration only if we're right at the bus speed
+    // limit.  This bit is somewhat confusingly named, in that it actually
+    // *slows down* the conversions.  "High speed" means that the *other*
+    // options are set right at the limits of the ADC, so this option adds
+    // a few extra cycle delays to every conversion to compensate for living
+    // on the edge.
+    uint32_t adhsc_bit = (ourfreq == MAX_FADC_12BIT ? ADC_CFG2_ADHSC_MASK : 0);
+    
+    printf("ADCnumber=%d, cfg2_muxsel=%d, bus freq=%ld, clkdiv=%d\r\n", ADCnumber, ADCmux, bus_frequency(), clkdiv);
+
+    // set up the ADC control registers 
+
+    ADC0->CFG1 = ADC_CFG1_ADIV(clkdiv)  // Clock Divide Select (as calculated above)
+               | ADC_CFG1_MODE(1)       // Sample precision = 12-bit
+               | ADC_CFG1_ADICLK(0);    // Input Clock = bus clock
+
+    ADC0->CFG2 = adhsc_bit              // High-Speed Configuration, if needed
+               | ADC_CFG2_ADLSTS(3);    // Long sample time mode 3 -> 6 ADCK cycles total
+               
+    ADC0->SC2 = ADC_SC2_REFSEL(0);      // Default Voltage Reference
+    
+    ADC0->SC3 = 0;                      // Calibration mode off, single sample, averaging disabled
+
+    // map the GPIO pin in the system multiplexer to the ADC
+    pinmap_pinout(pin, PinMap_ADC);
+    
+    // figure our 'start' mask - this is the value we write to the SC1A register
+    // to initiate a new sample
+    startMask = ADC_SC1_ADCH(ADCnumber & ~(1 << CHANNELS_A_SHIFT));
+}
+
+#endif //defined TARGET_KLXX
--- a/FastAnalogIn.lib	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,1 +0,0 @@
-http://mbed.org/users/Sissors/code/FastAnalogIn/#234c5cd2b8de
--- a/Pinscape_Controller.lib	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,1 +0,0 @@
-http://mbed.org/users/mjr/code/Pinscape_Controller/#ed52738445fc
--- a/TSL1410R/tsl1410r.h	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ b/TSL1410R/tsl1410r.h	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  
 #include "mbed.h"
 #include "config.h"
-#include "FastAnalogIn.h"
+#include "AltAnalogIn.h"
  
 #ifndef TSL1410R_H
 #define TSL1410R_H
@@ -28,14 +28,15 @@
 // to be assigned dynamically at run-time, which we prefer because it allows for
 // configuration changes to be made on the fly rather than having to recompile
 // the program.
-#define GPIO_PORT_BASE(pin)   ((FGPIO_Type *)(FPTA_BASE + ((unsigned int)pin >> PORT_SHIFT) * 0x40))
-#define GPIO_PINMASK(pin)     (1 << ((pin & 0x7F) >> 2))
+#define GPIO_PORT(pin)        (((unsigned int)(pin)) >> PORT_SHIFT)
+#define GPIO_PORT_BASE(pin)   ((FGPIO_Type *)(FPTA_BASE + GPIO_PORT(pin) * 0x40))
+#define GPIO_PINMASK(pin)     gpio_set(pin)
  
 class TSL1410R
 {
 public:
-    TSL1410R(int nPix, PinName siPin, PinName clockPin, PinName ao1Pin, PinName ao2Pin) 
-        : nPix(nPix), si(siPin), clock(clockPin), ao1(ao1Pin), ao2(ao2Pin)
+    TSL1410R(int nPixSensor, PinName siPin, PinName clockPin, PinName ao1Pin, PinName ao2Pin) 
+        : nPixSensor(nPixSensor), si(siPin), clock(clockPin), ao1(ao1Pin), ao2(ao2Pin)
     {
         // we're in parallel mode if ao2 is a valid pin
         parallel = (ao2Pin != NC);
@@ -44,16 +45,14 @@
         clockPort = GPIO_PORT_BASE(clockPin);
         clockMask = GPIO_PINMASK(clockPin);
         
-        // disable continuous conversion mode in FastAnalogIn - since we're
-        // reading discrete pixel values, we want to control when the samples
-        // are taken rather than continuously averaging over time
-        ao1.disable();
-        if (parallel) ao2.disable();
-
-        // clear out power-on noise by clocking through all pixels twice
+        // clear out power-on random data by clocking through all pixels twice
         clear();
         clear();
+        
+        totalTime = 0.0; nRuns = 0; // $$$
     }
+    
+    float totalTime; int nRuns; // $$$
 
     // Read the pixels.
     //
@@ -90,86 +89,109 @@
     // If the caller has other work to tend to that takes longer than the
     // desired maximum integration time, it can call clear() to clock out
     // the current pixels and start a fresh integration cycle.
-    void read(uint16_t *pix, int n)
+    void read(register uint16_t *pix, int n)
     {
+        Timer t; t.start(); // $$$
+        
         // get the clock pin pointers into local variables for fast access
-        register FGPIO_Type *clockPort = this->clockPort;
-        register uint32_t clockMask = this->clockMask;
+        register volatile uint32_t *clockPSOR = &clockPort->PSOR;
+        register volatile uint32_t *clockPCOR = &clockPort->PCOR;
+        register const uint32_t clockMask = this->clockMask;
         
         // start the next integration cycle by pulsing SI and one clock
         si = 1;
-        clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;       // turn the clock pin on (clock = 1)
+        clock = 1;
         si = 0;
-        clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;       // turn the clock pin off (clock = 0)
+        clock = 0;
         
         // figure how many pixels to skip on each read
-        int skip = nPix/n - 1;
+        int skip = nPixSensor/n - 1;
         
+///$$$
+static int done=0;
+if (done++ == 0) printf("nPixSensor=%d, n=%d, skip=%d, parallel=%d\r\n", nPixSensor, n, skip, parallel);
+
+        // get the clock PSOR and PCOR register addresses for fast access
+
         // read all of the pixels
+        int dst;
         if (parallel)
         {
-            // parallel mode - read pixels from each half sensor concurrently
-            int nPixHalf = nPix/2;
-            for (int src = 0, dst = 0 ; src < nPixHalf ; ++src)
+            // Parallel mode - read pixels from each half sensor concurrently.
+            // Divide 'n' (the output pixel count) by 2 to get the loop count,
+            // since we're going to do 2 pixels on each iteration.
+            for (n /= 2, dst = 0 ; dst < n ; ++dst)
             {
-                // pulse the clock and start the ADC sampling
-                clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;
-                ao1.enable();
-                ao2.enable();
-                wait_us(1);
-                clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;
-                
-                // wait for the ADCs to stabilize
-                wait_us(11);
+                // Take the clock high.  The TSL1410R will connect the next
+                // pixel pair's hold capacitors to the A01 and AO2 lines 
+                // (respectively) on the clock rising edge.
+                *clockPSOR = clockMask;
+
+                // Start the ADC sampler for AO1.  The TSL1410R sample 
+                // stabilization time per the data sheet is 120ns.  This is
+                // fast enough that we don't need an explicit delay, since
+                // the instructions to execute this call will take longer
+                // than that.
+                ao1.start();
                 
-                // read the pixels
+                // take the clock low while we're waiting for the reading
+                *clockPCOR = clockMask;
+                
+                // Read the first half-sensor pixel from AO1
                 pix[dst] = ao1.read_u16();
-                pix[dst+n/2] = ao2.read_u16();
                 
-                // turn off the ADC until the next pixel is clocked out
-                ao1.disable();
-                ao2.disable();
+                // Read the second half-sensor pixel from AO2, and store it
+                // in the destination array at the current index PLUS 'n',
+                // which you will recall contains half the output pixel count.
+                // This second pixel is halfway up the sensor from the first 
+                // pixel, so it goes halfway up the output array from the
+                // current output position.
+                ao2.start();
+                pix[dst + n] = ao2.read_u16();
                 
-                // clock skipped pixels
-                for (int i = 0 ; i < skip ; ++i, ++src) 
+                // Clock through the skipped pixels
+                for (int i = skip ; i > 0 ; --i) 
                 {
-                    clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;
-                    clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;
+                    *clockPSOR = clockMask;
+                    *clockPCOR = clockMask;
                 }
             }
         }
         else
         {
             // serial mode - read all pixels in a single file
-            for (int src = 0, dst = 0 ; src < nPix ; ++src)
+            for (dst = 0 ; dst < n ; ++dst)
             {
-                // pulse the clock and start the ADC sampling
-                clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;
-                ao1.enable();
-                wait_us(1);
-                clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;
+                // Clock the next pixel onto the sensor A0 line
+                *clockPSOR = clockMask;
                 
-                // wait for the ADC sample to stabilize
-                wait_us(11);
+                // start the ADC sampler
+                ao1.start();
                 
-                // read the ADC sample
-                pix[dst++] = ao1.read_u16();
-                
-                // turn off the ADC until the next pixel is ready
-                ao1.disable();
+                // take the clock low while we're waiting for the analog reading
+                *clockPCOR = clockMask;
                 
-                // clock skipped pixels
-                for (int i = 0 ; i < skip ; ++i, ++src) 
+                // wait for and read the ADC sample; plug it into the output
+                // array, and increment the output pointer to the next position
+                pix[dst] = ao1.read_u16();
+                
+                // clock through the skipped pixels
+                for (int i = skip ; i > 0 ; --i) 
                 {
-                    clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;
-                    clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;
+                    *clockPSOR = clockMask;
+                    *clockPCOR = clockMask;
                 }
             }
         }
         
+//$$$
+if (done==1) printf(". done: dst=%d\r\n", dst);
+        
         // clock out one extra pixel to leave A1 in the high-Z state
-        clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;
-        clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;
+        clock = 1;
+        clock = 0;
+        
+        if (n >= 80) { totalTime += t.read(); nRuns += 1; } // $$$
     }
 
     // Clock through all pixels to clear the array.  Pulses SI at the
@@ -184,29 +206,29 @@
 
         // clock in an SI pulse
         si = 1;
-        clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;
+        clockPort->PSOR = clockMask;
         si = 0;
-        clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;
+        clockPort->PCOR = clockMask;
         
         // if in serial mode, clock all pixels across both sensor halves;
         // in parallel mode, the pixels are clocked together
-        int n = parallel ? nPix/2 : nPix;
+        int n = parallel ? nPixSensor/2 : nPixSensor;
         
         // clock out all pixels
         for (int i = 0 ; i < n + 1 ; ++i) {
-            clockPort->PSOR |= clockMask;
-            clockPort->PCOR |= clockMask;
+            clock = 1; // $$$clockPort->PSOR = clockMask;
+            clock = 0; // $$$clockPort->PCOR = clockMask;
         }
     }
 
 private:
-    int nPix;                 // number of pixels in physical sensor array
+    int nPixSensor;           // number of pixels in physical sensor array
     DigitalOut si;            // GPIO pin for sensor SI (serial data) 
     DigitalOut clock;         // GPIO pin for sensor SCLK (serial clock)
     FGPIO_Type *clockPort;    // IOPORT base address for clock pin - cached for fast writes
     uint32_t clockMask;       // IOPORT register bit mask for clock pin
-    FastAnalogIn ao1;         // GPIO pin for sensor AO1 (analog output 1) - we read sensor data from this pin
-    FastAnalogIn ao2;         // GPIO pin for sensor AO2 (analog output 2) - 2nd sensor data pin, when in parallel mode
+    AltAnalogIn ao1;          // GPIO pin for sensor AO1 (analog output 1) - we read sensor data from this pin
+    AltAnalogIn ao2;          // GPIO pin for sensor AO2 (analog output 2) - 2nd sensor data pin, when in parallel mode
     bool parallel;            // true -> running in parallel mode (we read AO1 and AO2 separately on each clock)
 };
  
--- a/TSL1410R/tsl410r.cpp	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-// this file is no longer used - the method bodies are no in the header,
-// which was necessary because of the change to a template class, which
-// itself was necessary because of the use of the FastIO library
--- a/ccdSensor.h	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ b/ccdSensor.h	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@
 class PlungerSensorCCD: public PlungerSensor
 {
 public:
-    PlungerSensorCCD(int nPix, PinName si, PinName clock, PinName ao1, PinName ao2) 
-        : ccd(nPix, si, clock, ao1, ao2)
+    PlungerSensorCCD(int nativePix, PinName si, PinName clock, PinName ao1, PinName ao2) 
+        : ccd(nativePix, si, clock, ao1, ao2)
     {
     }
     
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@
     virtual bool lowResScan(int &pos)
     {
         // read the pixels at low resolution
-        const int nlpix = 32;
         uint16_t pix[nlpix];
         ccd.read(pix, nlpix);
     
@@ -144,13 +143,17 @@
     // send an exposure report to the joystick interface
     virtual void sendExposureReport(USBJoystick &js)
     {
+        // Read a fresh high-res scan, then do another right away.  This
+        // gives us the shortest possible exposure for the sample we report,
+        // which helps ensure that the user inspecting the data sees something
+        // close to what we see when we calculate the plunger position.
+        ccd.read(pix, npix);
+        ccd.read(pix, npix);        
+        
         // send reports for all pixels
         int idx = 0;
         while (idx < npix)
-        {
             js.updateExposure(idx, npix, pix);
-            wait_ms(1);
-        }
             
         // The pixel dump requires many USB reports, since each report
         // can only send a few pixel values.  An integration cycle has
@@ -163,10 +166,16 @@
     }
     
 protected:
-    // pixel buffer
+    // pixel buffer - concrete subclasses must set to a buffer of the
+    // appropriate size
     uint16_t *pix;
     
+    // number of pixels in low-res scan - concrete subclasses must set
+    // this to a value that evenly divides the native sensor size
+    int nlpix;
+    
     // the low-level interface to the CCD hardware
+public://$$$
     TSL1410R ccd;
 };
 
@@ -180,11 +189,17 @@
     {
         // This sensor is 1x1280 pixels at 400dpi.  Sample every 8th
         // pixel -> 160 pixels at 50dpi == 0.5mm spatial resolution.
-        npix = 160;
+        npix = 320;
+        
+        // for the low-res scan, sample every 40th pixel -> 32 pixels
+        // at 10dpi == 2.54mm spatial resolution.
+        nlpix = 32;
+        
+        // set the pixel buffer
         pix = pixbuf;
     }
     
-    uint16_t pixbuf[160];
+    uint16_t pixbuf[320];
 };
 
 // TSL1412R
@@ -197,6 +212,12 @@
         // This sensor is 1x1536 pixels at 400dpi.  Sample every 8th
         // pixel -> 192 pixels at 50dpi == 0.5mm spatial resolution.
         npix = 192;
+        
+        // for the low-res scan, sample every 48 pixels -> 32 pixels
+        // at 8.34dpi = 3.05mm spatial resolution
+        nlpix = 32;
+        
+        // set the pixel buffer
         pix = pixbuf;
     }
     
--- a/config.h	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ b/config.h	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -141,6 +141,15 @@
         plunger.enabled = false;
         plunger.sensorType = PlungerType_None;
         
+#if 1 // $$$
+        plunger.enabled = true;
+        plunger.sensorType = PlungerType_TSL1410RS;
+        plunger.sensorPin[0] = PTE20; // SI
+        plunger.sensorPin[1] = PTE21; // SCLK
+        plunger.sensorPin[2] = PTB0;  // AO1 = PTB0 = ADC0_SE8
+        plunger.sensorPin[3] = PTE22; // AO2 (parallel mode) = PTE22 = ADC0_SE3
+#endif
+        
         // assume that there's no calibration button
         plunger.cal.btn = NC;
         plunger.cal.led = NC;
@@ -153,23 +162,21 @@
         plunger.zbLaunchBall.btn = 0;
         
         // assume no TV ON switch
-#if 1
+        TVON.statusPin = NC;
+        TVON.latchPin = NC;
+        TVON.relayPin = NC;
+        TVON.delayTime = 7;
+#if 0//$$$
         TVON.statusPin = PTD2;
         TVON.latchPin = PTE0;
         TVON.relayPin = PTD3;
         TVON.delayTime = 7;
-#else
-        TVON.statusPin = NC;
-        TVON.latchPin = NC;
-        TVON.relayPin = NC;
-        TVON.delayTime = 0;
 #endif
         
         // assume no TLC5940 chips
-#if 1 // $$$
-        tlc5940.nchips = 4;
-#else
         tlc5940.nchips = 0;
+#if 0 // $$$
+        //tlc5940.nchips = 4;
 #endif
 
         // default TLC5940 pin assignments
@@ -180,10 +187,9 @@
         tlc5940.gsclk = PTA1;
         
         // assume no 74HC595 chips
-#if 1 // $$$
-        hc595.nchips = 1;
-#else
         hc595.nchips = 0;
+#if 0 // $$$
+        //hc595.nchips = 1;
 #endif
     
         // default 74HC595 pin assignments
@@ -249,7 +255,8 @@
         
 #endif
         
-#if 1 // $$$
+
+#if 0 // $$$
         // CONFIGURE EXPANSION BOARD PORTS
         //
         // We have the following hardware attached:
--- a/main.cpp	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ b/main.cpp	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -685,7 +685,11 @@
 class LwPwmOut: public LwOut
 {
 public:
-    LwPwmOut(PinName pin) : p(pin) { prv = 0; }
+    LwPwmOut(PinName pin, uint8_t initVal) : p(pin)
+    {
+         prv = initVal ^ 0xFF;
+         set(initVal);
+    }
     virtual void set(uint8_t val) 
     { 
         if (val != prv)
@@ -699,7 +703,7 @@
 class LwDigOut: public LwOut
 {
 public:
-    LwDigOut(PinName pin) : p(pin) { prv = 0; }
+    LwDigOut(PinName pin, uint8_t initVal) : p(pin, initVal ? 1 : 0) { prv = initVal; }
     virtual void set(uint8_t val) 
     {
          if (val != prv)
@@ -759,12 +763,12 @@
     {
     case PortTypeGPIOPWM:
         // PWM GPIO port
-        lwp = new LwPwmOut(wirePinName(pin));
+        lwp = new LwPwmOut(wirePinName(pin), activeLow ? 255 : 0);
         break;
     
     case PortTypeGPIODig:
         // Digital GPIO port
-        lwp = new LwDigOut(wirePinName(pin));
+        lwp = new LwDigOut(wirePinName(pin), activeLow ? 255 : 0);
         break;
     
     case PortTypeTLC5940:
@@ -814,6 +818,7 @@
         break;
 
     case PortTypeVirtual:
+    case PortTypeDisabled:
     default:
         // virtual or unknown
         lwp = new LwVirtualOut();
@@ -2225,10 +2230,6 @@
 // there's already a sensor object, we'll delete it.
 void createPlunger()
 {
-    // delete any existing sensor object
-    if (plungerSensor != 0)
-        delete plungerSensor;
-        
     // create the new sensor object according to the type
     switch (cfg.plunger.sensorType)
     {
@@ -2674,7 +2675,8 @@
     // clear the I2C bus (for the accelerometer)
     clear_i2c();
 
-    // load the saved configuration
+    // load the saved configuration (or set factory defaults if no flash
+    // configuration has ever been saved)
     loadConfigFromFlash();
     
     // initialize the diagnostic LEDs
@@ -2862,6 +2864,8 @@
     // start the first CCD integration cycle
     plungerSensor->init();
     
+    Timer dbgTimer; dbgTimer.start(); // $$$  plunger debug report timer
+    
     // we're all set up - now just loop, processing sensor reports and 
     // host requests
     for (;;)
@@ -3476,6 +3480,17 @@
                 }
             }
         }
+
+    // $$$
+        if (dbgTimer.read() > 10) {
+            dbgTimer.reset();
+            if (plungerSensor != 0 && (cfg.plunger.sensorType == PlungerType_TSL1410RS || cfg.plunger.sensorType == PlungerType_TSL1410RP))
+            {
+                PlungerSensorTSL1410R *ps = (PlungerSensorTSL1410R *)plungerSensor;
+                printf("average plunger read time: %f ms (total=%f, n=%d)\r\n", ps->ccd.totalTime*1000.0 / ps->ccd.nRuns, ps->ccd.totalTime, ps->ccd.nRuns);
+            }
+        }
+    // end $$$
         
         // provide a visual status indication on the on-board LED
         if (calBtnState < 2 && hbTimer.read_ms() > 1000) 
--- a/plunger.h	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ b/plunger.h	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -21,21 +21,23 @@
     // a pixel coordinate in the image.  But it's no longer the right word,
     // since we support sensor types that have nothing to do with imaging.
     // Even so, the function this serves is still applicable.  Abstractly,
-    // it represents the physical resolution of the sensor, by giving the
-    // total number of quanta that the sensor can resolve over the entire 
-    // range of travel of the plunger.  For devices that inherently quantize
-    // the position reading at the physical level, such as imaging sensors 
-    // and quadrature sensors, this should be set to the total number of
-    // quanta (resolvable position steps) over the range of travel.  For
-    // devices with physically analog outputs, such as potentiometers or
-    // LVDTs, the reading still has to be digitized for us to be able to
-    // work with it, but this happens invisibly in the ADC, so the "pixel" 
-    // scale is essentially arbitrary.  Analog sensor types should thus 
-    // simply use the maximum joystick report range, since that's the
-    // final scale we have to convert to - using a different scale would
-    // have no benefit and would just introduce rounding errors.
+    // it represents the physical resolution of the sensor in terms of
+    // the number of quanta over the full range of travel of the plunger.
+    // For sensors that inherently quantize the position reading at the 
+    // physical level, such as imaging sensors and quadrature sensors, 
+    // this should be set to the total number of position steps over the 
+    // range of travel.  For devices with physically analog outputs, such 
+    // as potentiometers or LVDTs, the reading still has to be digitized 
+    // for us to be able to work with it, which means it has to be turned
+    // into a value that's fundamentally an integer.  But this happens in
+    // the ADC, so the quantization scale is hidden in the mbed libraries.
+    // The normal KL25Z ADC configuration is 16-bit quantization, so the
+    // quantization factor is usually 65535.  But you might prefer to set
+    // this to the joystick maximum so that there are no more rounding
+    // errors in scale conversions after the point of initial conversion.
     //
-    // This value MUST be initialized in the constructor.
+    // IMPORTANT!  This value MUST be initialized in the constructor for
+    // each concrete subclass.
     int npix;
          
     // Initialize the physical sensor device.  This is called at startup
--- a/potSensor.h	Wed Feb 03 22:57:25 2016 +0000
+++ b/potSensor.h	Sat Feb 06 20:21:48 2016 +0000
@@ -1,9 +1,18 @@
 // Potentiometer plunger sensor
 //
 // This file implements our generic plunger sensor interface for a
-// potentiometer.
+// potentiometer.  The potentiometer resistance must be linear in 
+// position.  To connect physically, wire the fixed ends of the
+// potentiometer to +3.3V and GND (respectively), and connect the 
+// wiper to an ADC-capable GPIO pin on the KL25Z.  The wiper voltage 
+// that we read on the ADC will vary linearly with the wiper position.
+// Mechanically attach the wiper to the plunger so that the wiper moves
+// in lock step with the plunger.
+//
+// Although this class is nominally for potentiometers, it will also
+// work with any other type of sensor that provides a single analog 
+// voltage level that maps linearly to the position, such as an LVDT.
 
-#include "FastAnalogIn.h"
 
 class PlungerSensorPot: public PlungerSensor
 {
@@ -46,9 +55,11 @@
     {
         // Use an average of several readings.  Note that even though this
         // is nominally a "low res" scan, we can still afford to take an
-        // average.  The point of the low res interface is speed, and since
-        // we only have one analog value to read, we can afford to take
-        // several samples here even in the low res case.
+        // average.  The point of the low res interface is to speed things
+        // up for the image sensor types, which have a large number of
+        // analog samples to read.  In our case, we only have the one
+        // input to sample, so our normal scan is already so fast that
+        // there's no need to do anything different here.
         pos = int((pot.read() + pot.read() + pot.read())/3.0 * npix);
         return true;
     }