How to connect ESP8266 to a microprocessor parallel port?
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:23 pm
I want to connect this module to a 68000 processor. I have neither a UART nor a SPI port, just a parallel port with the address, data and control lines.
What's the cheapest/easiest way of connecting the module to this kind of bus? I had a look to UARTs with parallel interface (such as SC16C550), and I find them a bit pricey (ESP8266 module is cheaper!). I was thinking if there is a better way of connecting it, e.g. using a cheap CPLD (like Xilinx XC2C32) implementing parallel to SPI protocols, to connect to ESP8266 via SPI. Using the CPLD approach has additional advantages (I can add additional peripherals as long as they fit in the CPLD). I thought about using SPI instead of UART because SPI eats a lot less CPLD space.
Can the module be used via SPI? How difficult is it? is there a better/cheaper approach?
What's the cheapest/easiest way of connecting the module to this kind of bus? I had a look to UARTs with parallel interface (such as SC16C550), and I find them a bit pricey (ESP8266 module is cheaper!). I was thinking if there is a better way of connecting it, e.g. using a cheap CPLD (like Xilinx XC2C32) implementing parallel to SPI protocols, to connect to ESP8266 via SPI. Using the CPLD approach has additional advantages (I can add additional peripherals as long as they fit in the CPLD). I thought about using SPI instead of UART because SPI eats a lot less CPLD space.
Can the module be used via SPI? How difficult is it? is there a better/cheaper approach?