ControlBlock – Safe Power Button and Original Controllers Interface

The ControlBlock

Elevate your Raspberry Pi® projects with the ControlBlock, a versatile extension board designed to enhance both safety and functionality. This innovative tool is specifically engineered to address two critical needs in Raspberry Pi® applications:

  1. Safe Power Button: The ControlBlock features a secure power button that allows for a safe shutdown of the Raspberry Pi®, ensuring no data loss occurs during the process. This feature is crucial for maintaining the integrity of your projects and protecting your data.
  2. Game Controller Interface: Alongside the safe power button, the ControlBlock offers a robust interface for connecting traditional game controllers. This functionality opens up a wide range of possibilities for arcade machines, game consoles, and any project that requires precise control inputs.
  3. I/O Expansion: The ControlBlock also includes terminal blocks for I/O expansion, providing additional connectivity options for your Raspberry Pi® projects. Whether you’re working on a DIY robotics project, a home automation system, or a custom gaming setup, the ControlBlock offers the flexibility you need to expand your Raspberry Pi®’s capabilities.
Top-view of the ControlBlock

The ControlBlock is not just an extension board; it’s a toolkit for enhancing your Raspberry Pi® experience, offering a blend of safety, functionality, and expansion possibilities. Whether you’re a hobbyist, a professional developer, or an educator, the ControlBlock is the perfect companion for your Raspberry Pi® projects.

Key Features and Specifications:

In addition to these core features, the ControlBlock boasts a comprehensive list of functionalities:

  • Extensive Game Controller Support: Equipped to support arcade and original game controllers, including SNES, NES, Atari, Sega Master System, and Sega Genesis/Megadrive controllers.
  • Multiplayer Capability: With support for up to two players, the ControlBlock ensures seamless multiplayer experiences.
  • Enhanced Power Management: The ControlBlock includes a safe power button with the same functionality as the PowerBlock, ensuring reliable power management.
  • Flexible Switch Options: Supports both toggle and momentary switches, with automatic detection of switch type, offering versatile control options.
  • Power Status Indication: An optional external LED provides smooth power status indication, aiding in troubleshooting and system checks.
  • Advanced GPIO Access: All 32 GPIO channels can be accessed via SPI, including interrupt output pins, offering unlimited possibilities for your projects.
  • Power Specifications: Designed for robust operation, with a 5V input and output, and a maximum continuous current of 7A at 25°C.
  • High-Quality Components: Features a MOSFET with a static on-resistance of 0.006 Ω, ensuring efficient and low-power operation.
ControlBlock within original SNES case

The ControlBlock is more than just an extension board; it’s a toolkit designed to enhance your Raspberry Pi® projects with advanced functionality, game controller support, and robust power management. Whether you’re building a gaming setup, a home automation system, or any project requiring precise control inputs, the ControlBlock is the perfect companion for your Raspberry Pi®.

This is a great product to use on a RetroPie project!

Easy to install, set up and use. Great service from Florian to get some issues fixed.
I just bought it for the controllers, but once I started using the start-up function and the LED, I can’t live without it any more :D

Kristof

This is by far the most effective way of providing control inputs and start/stop your Pi without corrupting the filesystem with hard resets.

It’s exactly what is needed and nothing you don’t. Delivery was good. Doc is excellent.

Mark

Truly, it took this project to the next level. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Linux Journal
ControlBlock with attached power switch
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Top-view of the ControlBlock

Top View

ControlBlock Front View 2

Side View

2×13 stackable pin header as connector to the Raspberry Pi

The ControlBlock is attached to the Raspberry with a 2×13 stackable pin header. This header is used for connecting to the voltage and ground pins as well as the additional GPIO pins. The board is prepared for breaking out all other pins of that header so that you can easily access all other pins that are not used by the ControlBlock.

USB Type Power Supply

Just as the Raspberry Pi the ControlBlock provides a USB connector for the power supply. That means you can use your existing USB Micro cable. As an alternative you can optionally solder a USB-B socket to the ControlBlock that can be used as input for power supply.

Pin Outs for 5V Power Supply

If you do not want to use the USB connector, GND and the 5V supply voltage can also be accessed via two pins so that you could use batteries or whatever you like for power supply.

Pin Outs for a Toggle or a Momentary Button

To control the power state of the Raspberry Pi the ControlBlock provides an interface for attaching a toggle or a momentary buttons. The type of the button is detected automatically. The on-board microcontroller monitors the state of that switch as well as the one of the Raspberry. It safely shuts down the Raspberry without any risk of data loss.

Pin Outs for a Status LED

The current power state can be indicated with a 5V status LED that can be attached to the two pins that are provided by the ControlBlock. These states can be “off”, “booting”, “on”, and “shutdown”. The different state are indicated with easy-to-distinguish static and pulsing patterns.

Additional 2×16 GPIO Pin, Game Controllers

Two GPIO expanders provide 32 additional GPIO pins for arbitrary usage. With revision 2.X of the Raspberry Pi, these pins can be accessed via the SPI interface of the Raspberry Pi (With revision 1.X of the ControlBlock, these pins can be accessed via the I2C interface with the I2C addresses 0x20 and 0x27). You can use the provided ControlBlock driver to easily connect various original game controllers.

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