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dangiu committed May 23, 2022
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# PicoMemcard
PicoMemcard allows you to build your own supercharged PSX Memory Card that can be connected to your computer via USB in order to transfer saves directly to/from your PSX. Can be used to repurpose broken/counterfit Memory Cards into new ones using only a Raspberry Pi Pico.
PicoMemcard allows you to build your own supercharged PSX Memory Card that can be connected to your computer via USB in order to transfer saves directly to/from your PSX. You can use it to repurpose broken/counterfit Memory Cards creating a better one using only a Raspberry Pi Pico.

## Features
* Able to simulate faithfully PSX Memory Card
* USB conection to import/export saves
* Allows to copy saves to/from any other memory card (using original PSX file manager)
* Compatible with [FreePSXBoot]
* Cheaper than a used original memory card.
* Allows to play burned CDs (thanks to [FreePSXBoot])
* Cheaper than an original memory card

## Bills of materials
* **Raspberry Pi Pico** (around ~5$)
Expand All @@ -24,36 +24,36 @@ In total building a PicoMemcard wil cost you less than buying an used original M
[![PicoMemcard](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Sie0kzmnJJw/0.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sie0kzmnJJw)

## Wiring
The wiriting diagram below shows how to wire the Pi Pico and a counterfit memory card from Aliexpress. For the other cases (wiring directly to the PSX or using a controller cable) the pins on the Pico are the same, the pinout of the PSX/controller can be found on [psx-spx]. The image shows the bottom side of the memory card with the cover removed.
The wiriting diagram below shows how to wire the Pico and a counterfit memory card from Aliexpress. For the other cases (wiring directly to the PSX or using a controller cable) the pins on the Pico are the same, the pinout of the PSX/controller can be found on [psx-spx]. The image shows the bottom side of the memory card with the cover removed.

<img src="./docs/wiring_bg.svg" alt="Wiring Diagram" width="800">

The dashed line on the PCB of the memory card is where you should cut a groove using a xacto knife deep enough to disconnect the original controller from the traces. The yellow squares above the line indicate where you should scrape away the proctective film in order to expose the traces and solder the wires onto.
The dashed line on the PCB of the memory card is where you should cut a groove deep enough to disconnect the original controller from the traces. The yellow squares above the line indicate where you should scrape away the proctective film in order to expose the copper traces and solder the wires onto them.

Finally the area on the bottom part of the memory card is where I cut a hole to feed the wires through and connect them to the Pico.
Finally the area at the bottom of the memory card is where you can cut a hole to feed the wires through connecting them to the Pico.

## Installation
1. Download the latest [release].
2. While bressing the 'BOOTSEL' button on your Raspberry Pi Pico, plug it into your computer.
3. Drag and drop the PicoMemcard onto your Raspberry Pi Pico.
2. While pressing the 'BOOTSEL' button on your Raspberry Pi Pico, plug it into your computer.
3. Drag and drop the PicoMemcard release onto your Raspberry Pi Pico.
4. PicoMemcard should appear on your PC as a USB drive.
5. Upload a memory card image to your PicoMemcard.

## Transfering Data
As of the current release, uploading data to PicoMemcard requires some precises steps:
* The image of the memory card to upload must be called exactly `MEMCARD.MCR`. Uploading anything else will not result in any errors but PicoMemcard will not save the uploaded data to flash, after rebooting the device the old data will still be present.
As of the current release, uploading data to PicoMemcard requires some precise steps:
* The image of the memory card to upload must be called exactly `MEMCARD.MCR`. Uploading anything else will not result in any errors but PicoMemcard will not save the uploaded data to flash. After rebooting the device the old data will still be present.
* The image must be 128KB (131072 bytes) in size which is precisely the size of an original Memory Card.
* After the image has been uploaded, the device **must be safely ejected** in order for the data to be actually imported correctly. This is a limitation of the current implementation (see Design section).
* After the image has been uploaded, the device **must be safely ejected** in order for the data to be actually imported correctly. This is a limitation of the current implementation (see [Design](#design) section).

Inside `docs/images` you can find a couple of memory card images. One has a couple of saves on it so you can test if everything works correctly, the other is completely empty.
Inside `docs/images` you can find a two memory card images. One has a couple of saves on it so you can test if everything works correctly, the other is completely empty.

**ATTENTION:**
I would recommend to never plug the PicoMemcard both into the PC (via USB) and the PSX at the same time! Otherwise the 5V provided by USB would end up on the 3.3V rail of the PSX. I'm not really sure if this could cause actual damage but I would avoid it.
I would recommend to never plug PicoMemcard both into the PC (via USB) and the PSX at the same time! Otherwise the 5V provided by USB would end up on the 3.3V rail of the PSX. I'm not really sure if this could cause actual damage but I would avoid risking it.

If you really need to have the Pico plugged into both the USB and PSX (e.g. for debugging purposes), disconnect the 3.3V line from the VBUS pin. In this way you can power on the Pico using a simple USB phone charger or by plugging it into your PC.

## Future Development
As of now PicoMemcard is still in very early development stages and only tested it on a PSOne Pal model (SCPH-102, bios version 4.4) and may work or not on your PSX. If you want to try it on your PSX any feedback would be much appreciated.
As of now PicoMemcard is still in very early development stages and only tested it on a PSOne Pal model (SCPH-102, bios version 4.4). It **should** work on any PSX model. If you want to try it on your PSX any feedback would be much appreciated.

I've tried to make the project as accessible as possible by using the least amount of hardware but this comes with a few limitations, in particular regarding the flash storage of the Pico. In the future I want to add the possibility to use a microSD card by adding a microSD SPI module, this would improve on the following:
* The very limited storage preventing from having multiple memory card images at the same time and being able to switch them using a button on the Pico.
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