FelinæPurr (you can also write it FelinaePurr if your keyboard does not allow you to make that nice character) is a COMLynx compatible device. The COMLynx is the name of the Atari Lynx cable to connect two Lynx together. As the Lynx use RS232 protocol for that connector, it's also the name of devices that allow to connect your Lynx with your computer.
The particularity of the COMLynx is that it's completely half-duplex as the 2.5 jack used mix with RxD and TxD signal on the same ring:
- +5V
- RX/TX
- Ground
This device can also be used for devices using the same approach for transmiting RS232 signal (yes there are many of them)
This branch usb-a is a version using a USB-A plug directly instead of a microUSB B connector.
FelinæPurr is made around a FTDI FT232RL chip which is basically a USB to Serial adapter. It have some nice feature like the ability to blink LEDs when there are some Tx/Rx activity, which FelinæPurr use!
You can find ready to order PCB from OSHPark (but you can't buy less than 3) here
It is visible on my Tindie store here if it is out of stock, please put yourself in the waitlist so I can have an idea of the number of board to make for the next batch.
Part of the schematics was inspired by Zerosquare's Work for the original RS232/Lynx ComLynx
Felinae is the Subfamily of the Lynx, and Purr I think it's obvious what it mean.
As this device is mainly intended for Atari Lynx and to make it chat with your computer, I found that name perfectly fitting it's role!
And why the æ instead of ae? Because æ or Æ it's way cooler than plain ae / AE isn't it?
Also it slightly change the pronunciation. The correct one is roughly: fɛliːnɑːɛ pɜː using IPA for English
FelinæPurr is an OpenSource Hardware (OSHW) project and licensed under the MIT License. See the license file for more information.