Welcome!

Overview

The mini2440 is the perfect hardware platform for my project.

Most folks seem interested in my step-by-step installation instructions.

As a Java programmer I really didn't relish the idea of having to learn Qt or another GUI toolkit for this lone project. So, I decided to install Android OS and leverage my Java skills. I had already planned to learn Android programming, and this was the perfect project. This site is a collection of things that worked for me as I installed the Android OS on the mini2440 and then programmed the thing using the Android eclipse plugins.

This is also my first project with the ARM family of CPUs. I found the ARM9 to be responsive and easy to work with overall. Making the transition from Intel/Linux to ARM/Linux wasn't that difficult. After the boxes boot they are pretty much the same. However the boot process, and OS install process, took a while to figure out. I didn't find a concise explaination for the boot process. I had to piece together an understanding from bits and pieces scattered across the net. I put this site together to consolidate my notes, and to help others.

Hardware

The hardware for my project was ordered from within the US in early March 2010 from Industrial ARMWorks. I purchased mine with the Chameleon 1 case designed by esawdust. Industrial ARMWorks carries the enclosure as well, so I didn't get hit with two sets of shipping charges. Dispite a small snag that delayed shipping, I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again.

I needed access to the back button, and eventually others.

The good: the mini2440 exposes the buttons as IO pins.

The bad: the connector isn't something I had on my workbench.

The ughy: I took a scrap PCB board, soldered a standard .1" header onto it, and then soldered wire wrap wire from the IO pins onto the traces to the header. It works, and I can plug / unplug the button from the rest of the kit.

All of the connectors are unique enough that I couldn't located them on digi-key, mouser or any of the usual soruces. Also two of the serial ports are exposed as TTL logic levels. I intend to design and etch a breakout board to expose the interesting IO in a a more user-friendly format.

If I'm 100% honest with myself, the header board is really just an excuse to design and etch another board.

Work In Progress

This site is a work in progress. Please leave feedback if I can improve the site in any way.

Contact

You can contact me directly at shannon dot haworth at the google mail domain.

Last modified: Nov 19, 2011

Navigation