Virtual Boy Lives @ Project: VB
Reprogrammable PLCC Flash PCB Cartridge
Here's some pics of a PLCC cart PCB that I designed... I created it using Novarm Diptrace, then sent the design to Custom PCB. Their prices are very reasonable since their basic service doesn't include any add-ons. Next time I'll probably have a solder mask applied, but I couldn't see spending the extra money for it on something I wasn't sure was going to work. I added the H shaped area for an inverter to allow writing in-system from the upper address line, but now I realize pin 5 is /WE, so the next one will have that line connected directly and those other pads removed. The board is a direct connection for PLCC 29F040's (4mbit flash), but can also support chips such as a PLCC 27C080's (8mbit EPROM) by swapping/jumpering 2 pins.These are currently not for sale, but I should have at least a few for sale sometime in the future.
Here's the front of the cart PCB.
Here's the back of the cart PCB.
Front of the built cart. Sockets installled on this cart
with the /WE pins connected to VCC (writing disabled from the cart
edge). I have also built one with the chips directly soldered to the
board and /WE connected to pin 5, which allows programming directly by
the Virtual Boy, and completely enclosed in the cart case.
Back of the built cart.
Kinda crappy cutting job on the case, but it works :-).
