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Binho Supernova: Setup

Connect a Binho Supernova to the computer and to the circuit, and check that it works.

Connection to the Host PC

Section titled “Connection to the Host PC”

Connect the Supernova’s USB Type-C port to the computer with the supplied USB Type-C to Type-A cable, or with the Type-A to Type-C adapter for a Type-C port. The Supernova is powered from USB; no external supply is needed. It is a USB 2.0 Full-Speed device (12 Mbps).

The Supernova is a USB HID device, so Windows and macOS need no driver. On Linux, allow the current user to access it once, as described in Solving USB Connection Issues on Linux.

The Supernova also appears as a USB serial port (a COM port on Windows, /dev/ttyACM* on Linux, /dev/cu.usbmodem* on macOS) that carries its UART. Any serial terminal can open it while the other protocols run over HID.

Check that the computer sees it

Section titled “Check that the computer sees it”

With PyCosmicSDK installed (pip install pycosmicsdk):

import pycosmicsdk


for d in pycosmicsdk.list_devices():
    print(d.model, d.serial_number, d.fw_version)

Nothing is sent to the adapter: the model, serial number and firmware version come from its USB descriptor. If the list is empty, check the cable and, on Linux, the permissions above. If the firmware version reads bootloader or 3.x.x, see Updating Firmware.

Connection to the Test Circuit

Section titled “Connection to the Test Circuit”
Front of the Binho Supernova with its four device-under-test ports

The four front ports of the Supernova.

The front of the Supernova has four ports for the device under test. Use the cable kit that matches the port:

PortUse it forVoltageCables in the box
I3C High-Voltage PortI3C, legacy I2C on I3C, SMBus1.2–3.3 VI3C harness with 2.54 mm female headers, male pin headers, I3C to Qwiic adapter
I3C Low-Voltage PortI3C, legacy I2C0.8–1.2 VSame I3C port kit
Multifunction PortI2C, SPI, UART, GPIO1.2–3.3 V30-conductor ribbon cable and a breakout board to 2.54 mm headers
Dedicated I2C PortI2C (same bus), Qwiic devices1.2–3.3 VQwiic to Qwiic cable, and Qwiic cables with male or female headers
Pin numbering of the Qwiic I2C, multifunction, LV I3C and HV I3C connectors

Pin numbering of each port. Pin 30 of the multifunction port is not connected.

For the function of every pin, see the Pinout Guide in the Supernova user guide.

  • Only one I3C port works at a time. Using the HV port disables the LV port, and the reverse.
  • The I3C ports and the Multifunction and Dedicated I2C ports run on separate rails. A 1.2 V I3C bus and a 1.8 V SPI bus can run at the same time.
  • The DETECT pin (pin 2) on the I3C ports tells the Supernova which harness is plugged in. Do not connect it to the board.

Target Voltage (VTARG)

Section titled “Target Voltage (VTARG)”

Each port has a target voltage (VTARG) pin that sets the bus logic level.

  • The board has no supply: set the voltage it expects from Mission Control 3 or the SDK before enabling a bus. The Supernova powers the board through VTARG, up to 200 mA on the HV and multifunction rails and 350 mA on the LV rail.
  • The board has its own supply: do not set a voltage. Select external voltage (use_external_voltage() in the SDK) and connect the board’s logic supply to VTARG.

The I3C voltage is not saved: the I3C ports start unpowered every time the Supernova starts. Set it in every session.

Always connect ground between the Supernova and the device under test.

Two Supernova setups driving I3C targets

Two Supernova setups driving I3C targets.

First Steps

Section titled “First Steps”

Worked Examples on binho.io

Section titled “Worked Examples on binho.io”

Setups we built and wrote up, with the traps we hit: