Developing the Palm application
The project had two primary components. The first was to develop a Palm application to install the updated control program to the flash chip. The second component was to develop an interface on the Palm device to allow the monitoring of the dryer performance during operation and to store the information on the Palm device for synchronization at a central computer later. This second was an additional benefit to using the Palm computer over any of the other methods considered.

Such monitoring is commonly done at a central computer for a "networked" dryer or series of dryers, however the project team thought it would be valuable for servicemen and others to be able to monitor performance directly at the dryer. It would also be a useful feature to permit gathering of the performance information from dryers that cannot be connected to a network interface. They decided that, initially, the monitoring would be done via a cable interface. However, the team planned to enhance the design with an IR interface using an LED mounted on the external face of the dryer control panel.

The flash chip programmer portion of the project is now complete and is being used to program the dryers on the production line at the GSI dryer assembly plant, as seen in Figure C.

FIGURE C


Here, the control program is being loaded onto the dryer. Roll over picture for a larger image.

It's also being used by the GSI field service organization and is in the process of being distributed to the GSI dryer sales force. It's anticipated the program will be available to the GSI dealer network in March. Right now, the monitoring program is in limited use by the service organization.

The development team still has some enhancements planned for this portion of the project and anticipates wider distribution of the monitoring, or "Watchdog" program, as it's called, probably by the time you're reading this article.

Inside the Palm application
The opening screen of the GSI Flash Programmer can be seen in Figure D. It's fun seeing our logo in blazing color on a Palm IIIc!

FIGURE D

This is the opening screen of GSI's Palm application as seen on a Palm IIIc.

In Figure E, you can see the program selection screen. This list contains a database of programs that can be downloaded into the dryer's control processor.

FIGURE E

Here is the program selection screen.

In Figure F, the program is downloading to the control board.

FIGURE F

Here, the program is downloading to the control board.

The GSI Flash Programmer is designed to operate with any Palm OS-based device (color or grayscale) using Palm OS 3.5. The size of the program is 42K, therefore device memory isn't a significant issue. The program can also be beamed between devices.

Of course, one other enhancement was necessary. As you might imagine, grain dryers don't often come from the factory with a HotSync connector. So it was necessary for us to develop a small board level interface plug, pictured in Figure G, to permit the board to interface with the Palm device.