My take on a GBz

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moosepr
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My take on a GBz

Post by moosepr » Thu Mar 02, 2017 2:37 am

So i made a thing

https://youtu.be/HDbjSgRWIe4

couldn't bear to take a working gameboy apart and chop it up, so i made something different. Ended up being a challenge of how small, and how few parts i could use to make a working device.

Parts count is 9 (10 if you count the pcb)
- pi zero
- TP4056 li-po charge/protect board
- tiny switch
- jst battery socket
- li-po battery (1000mah currently)
- 2.2" ili9341 screen
- 2 x 5 way navigation switches
- smd resistor for backlight duties

all wrapped up on a custom PCB. the pi and the TP4056 are soldered direct to SMD pads, so there are no pins to get in the way (and it keeps things nice and skinny). This is just a first prototype. There is currently no sound, and no form of safe shutdown. The protection board will keep the battery from going too low, but it will just cut the power, so it needs to be avoided!! This version also has a bit of a boo boo, the switch actually disconnects the battery from the protection board, rather than disconnecting the protection from the pi, as a result, you have to plug a charger in when you want to switch it on (although only long enough for the protect board to reset)

More images coming soon!!

Image
Get a small cheep LCD in your project https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2312
Wrap it all round a battery https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2292
Or use a custom PCB to make it really small https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2512
or make it really really really really tiny!! https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2919

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abrugsch
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by abrugsch » Thu Mar 02, 2017 8:03 am

I. LOVE. THIS.

:ugeek:

now, to put one in a gameboy cartridge shell (repro of course ;) ) and show all the retropi-in-a-nes-cart-shell boys what real modding is.

this needs to go on hackaday :)

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moosepr
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by moosepr » Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:01 am

abrugsch wrote:I. LOVE. THIS.

:ugeek:

now, to put one in a gameboy cartridge shell (repro of course ;) ) and show all the retropi-in-a-nes-cart-shell boys what real modding is.

this needs to go on hackaday :)
I hadn't actually noticed it was the same size as the cart until about 5 min before making my video!! i might need to do some more mesuring

feel free to tip hackaday ;) (doesnt feel right submitting it myself)
Get a small cheep LCD in your project https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2312
Wrap it all round a battery https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2292
Or use a custom PCB to make it really small https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2512
or make it really really really really tiny!! https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2919

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moosepr
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by moosepr » Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:51 am

damit, that will never fit!!

Image

It is literally exactly the same size in every dimension. On the plus side, it looks like i could use a game case as a carry case!!!

More shots - http://imgur.com/a/W9VP3
Get a small cheep LCD in your project https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2312
Wrap it all round a battery https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2292
Or use a custom PCB to make it really small https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2512
or make it really really really really tiny!! https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2919

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abrugsch
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by abrugsch » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:11 am

Get a case model off thingiverse and print it 15% bigger. No 3D printer? I'll print you one ;)

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moosepr
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by moosepr » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:17 am

abrugsch wrote:Get a case model off thingiverse and print it 15% bigger. No 3D printer? I'll print you one ;)
oooh maybe we could arrange a swap for 2.8" ili9341 goodies :)
Get a small cheep LCD in your project https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2312
Wrap it all round a battery https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2292
Or use a custom PCB to make it really small https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2512
or make it really really really really tiny!! https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2919

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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by HoolyHoo » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:24 am

What inner dimensions of the case do you need? I could whip one up quickly with the holes if you want.

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moosepr
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by moosepr » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:13 pm

HoolyHoo wrote:What inner dimensions of the case do you need? I could whip one up quickly with the holes if you want.
Thanks dude! I hadn't really thought about casing, just got caught up in the board design.

I'm already working on mk2 (actually started before I had even ordered this board) and planning on adding safe shutdown, a power gauge, and maybe even some sound.

I think the navigation switches might need replacing with actual buttons. They are not the best for long gaming sessions
Get a small cheep LCD in your project https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2312
Wrap it all round a battery https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2292
Or use a custom PCB to make it really small https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2512
or make it really really really really tiny!! https://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2919

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HoolyHoo
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by HoolyHoo » Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:21 pm

No problem. Keep at it and let me know if you decide. :D

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Sephiros
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Re: My take on a GBz

Post by Sephiros » Thu Mar 02, 2017 10:57 pm

That's really cool, I like the simplicity of this.
Did you learn circuit design by yourself or are you working in that industry?

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