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Archive for May 2009

FREE PIC Tools

28. May 2009 by admin.

gputils is a collection of tools for Microchip PIC microcontrollers. Its goal is to be fully compatible with Microchip’s tools, MPASM, MPLINK, and MPLIB.

Posted in MPASM, MPLLINK, GNU General Public License (GPL), SourceForge, MPLAB | 1 Comment »

Get Free Schematic Symbols and PCB Footprints for Faster System Designs

26. May 2009 by admin.

from the May issue of microSOLUTIONS:

Microchip and Accelerated Designs, Inc. have collaborated on an Ultra Librarian Reader (ULR) tool to provide Microchip’s customers with schematic symbols and Printed Circuit Board (PCB) footprints for Microchip’s entire product portfolio, including Microchip’s 8-, 16- and 32-bit PIC^® microcontrollers, dsPIC^® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs), Serial EEPROMs and Analog and Interface products. Providing components based on parametric data through the ULR allows PCB designers to reliably create consistent quality CAD entities to an established standard with minimal effort. This free download service will save designers valuable time, when working with Microchip’s products, and accelerate time to market for their designs.

Both PCB footprints and schematic symbols are available for free download in a vendor-neutral format, which can then be exported to the leading EDA CAD/CAE design tools—including the newly released Cadsoft Eagle support—using the ULR. The standard Microchip footprints generated by the ULR are based on the IPC-7351 specification. The free ULR tool, including both footprints and symbols, is available now for download at http://www.microchip.com/CAD. The ULR is a subset of the complete Accelerated Designs Ultra Librarian toolset, and generates components and their attributes in virtually any EDA CAD/CAE format. An enhanced version of the Accelerated Designs Ultra Librarian software is also available for purchase. The enhanced package enables software models to be modified and auto-generated to meet any user-defined requirement.

Posted in Accelerated Designs, Inc., Schematic Symbols, PCB, 8-bit, 32-bit, 16-bit, Microchip | 1 Comment »

Save $10 on C What Happens by David Benson

22. May 2009 by admin.

at http://www.ccsinfo.com/content.php?page=education2

C What Happens is a series of explanations and examples for those who want to learn to program PIC^® microcontrollers using the C programming language. It is assumed that the reader has no knowledge of PIC^® microcontrollers or programming, but does have a rudimentary understanding of electronics. The reader will learn to create programs by making selections from a large variety of built-in functions provided in the CCS C Compiler, writing his/her own functions as needed, and writing executable statements. The reader will “C what happens” by programming a PIC^® microcontroller with the newly created code and exercising it using a simple circuit described in the book. The subject matter is laid out in a logical progression from simple to not-so-simple and is illustrated with lots of examples.

Posted in Complier, CCS, PIC, Books | 1 Comment »

GNU IDE for PIC and dsPIC

21. May 2009 by admin.

Piklab is an integrated development environment for applications based on PIC and dsPIC microcontrollers. The GNU PIC Utilities, SDCC, PICC, PIC30 toolchain, ICD2 debugger, PICkit1, PICkit2, PicStart+, GPSim and most direct programmers are supported.

Posted in C Programming, Debugger, SourceForge, GNU General Public License (GPL), 8-bit, PIC, Development Tool, dsPIC, 16-bit, MPLAB | 1 Comment »

ASEE Hands-on Workshop on Using the PIC24 CPU in a Microcontroller Course

19. May 2009 by admin.

from http://www.reesemicro.com/Home/asee-hands-on-pic24-workshop

There will be a hands-on workshop at the ASEE annual conference in June 2009 on using the PIC24 in an introductory microcontroller course. Participants are assumed to already have familiarity with microcontroller basics (the particular vendor/family is unimportant). Given this assumed background, the workshop is a fast-paced introduction to assembly language and C language programming/interfacing with the Microchip PIC24 microcontroller family. Participants will need to have a portable PC that runs some form of Windows (Windows 2000 or later) in order to install the various software tools used in the hands-on exercises. Participants should also have two free USB ports on their PC in order to take full advantage of the hands-on exercises.

Take-home Package

The ticket cost is $70, for which the participants will receive to take home:

A PIC24-oriented textbook donated by Delmar/Cengage that covers both assembly language and C language programming/interfacing.
A PIC24 breakout board that contains a PIC24HJ64GP502 CPU, 3.3 V voltage regulator, power LED, reset switch and an interface to an FTDI USB-to-serial cable. The breakout board will be populated with pin headers that allow it to easily plug into a standard breadboard for experimentation purposes.

An experiment board that the previously mentioned PIC24 breakout board plugs into. The experiment board contains 3 LEDs, two push button switches, a SPI temp sensor, I2C temp sensor, analog temp sensor, SPI potentiometer, I2C EEPROM, a SPI DAC, an analog potentiometer, an 8 MHz crystal, and a 32768 Hz crystal. The experiment board + CPU breakout board will be the platform used during the workshop for assembly language and C programming/interfacing. The picture below shows the CPU module plugged into the experiment board.

An TTL-232R-3V3 USB-to-serial cable that is used for CPU module communication to development tools hosted on a PC; this serial link is used for serial communication by C programs and also for downloading new programs into the CPU via a serial bootloader.

A PICkit2 programmer donated by Microchip that can be used to download new programs into Microchip microcontrollers. A small PCB (picture to be added) that contains a ZIF socket for easily programming CPUs in DIP packages will also be provided to participants.

Tentative Schedule

A tentative schedule for the workshop is show below:

9:00—9:30    Introduction, Setup
9:30—10:30     PIC24 Introduction, Assembly Language Programming
10:30—11:30 Hardware Introduction
11:30—1:00     Parallel I/O & Working Lunch (graciously provided by the ECE division)
1:00—2:00       Interrupts/Timers
2:00—3:00       Serial I/O
3:00—4:00       Data Conversion
4:00—4:30       PICkit2 Usage
4:30—5:00       Wrap-up

The schedule is aggressive, and the hands-on exercises are designed to be self-paced. There are more exercises included in the workshop material than we can actually cover, so participants can continue working with the material at home if desired.

We have also reached a tentative agreement with Intronix to provide an Intronix 34 Channel USB logic analyzer to each participant for use during the workshop (but not to take home). This is a great USB logic analyzer that is also very affordable (~$400).

Participants will install the following tools on their PCs to be used during the training:

Microchip MPLAB Integrated Design Environment
Microchip PIC24 C Compiler (Student edition)
Microchip PIC24 PICkit 2 GUI
Bootloader GUI software
Intronix USB logic analyzer GUI

Posted in Training & Education, Tradeshows, Logic Analyzer, USB, 16-bit, Development Tool, Books, MPLAB | 1 Comment »

Need a small/medium quantity circuit board assembly?

16. May 2009 by admin.

New Year Special! (found at http://www.currentelectronics.com/)

Current Electronics is starting the new year with a highlight on our domestic manufacturing capabilities. With state of the art surface mount equipment on-site we will beat any competitor’s quote for small to medium quantity circuit board assembly.Our dedication to quality while maintaining a rapid turn around time means Current Electronics is your single source for complete realization of your concept at any stage of development. Locally owned and operated we understand the importance of domestic manufacturing and pride ourselves as a leader in our class.

Posted in Circuit Board Assembly, Current Electronics Inc. | 1 Comment »

Newark offers exclusive $99 Low Power bundle

15. May 2009 by admin.

From: http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/specially-priced-pickit-3-extreme-low-power-bundle-evaluate-microchip-technology039s-new-nanowatt-xl

Specially priced PICkit 3 extreme low power bundle to evaluate Microchip Technology’s new nanoWatt XLP MCUs offered exclusively.

Committed to bringing engineers the newest technologies first, leading multi-channel electronics distributorNewark, part of the global Premier Farnell Group, announces that it has partnered with Microchip Technology to offer a specially pricedPICkit 3™ nanoWatt XLP™ Technology bundlewith all the hardware, software and MCU samples needed to start designing products using the new nanoWatt XLP™ microcontrollers, which set a new low for power consumption in the industry.

Microchip’s nanoWatt XLP portfolio consists of three new 8- and 16-bit PIC® MCU families and three other recent 8-bit families, providing designers with a rich and compatible low-power migration path that includes on-chip peripherals for USB and mTouch™ sensing solutions. This technology enables products to have longer operating lives using less power, or to require fewer battery changes.

Newark’s PICkit 3 nanoWatt XLP Technology bundle (07R8155) is priced at $99.99, and available for same day shipping, while supplies last, at www.newark.com.
It includes:

PICkit 3 Debug Express In-Circuit Debugger/Programmer
PIC18F46J50 FS USB Demo Board
MPLAB® IDE and C-compiler software CD
CD containing white papers, application notes and data sheets
1 sample each
PIC18F14K50-I/SO
PIC18F14K50-I/SS
PIC16F722-I/SS
PIC18F45K20-I/PT
PIC18F46J11-I/PT
PIC18F46J50-I/PT
USB cables

If purchased separately, these same items would cost over $115.00.

“We are pleased to partner with Newark to meet the needs of embedded designers with the lowest possible power consumption for today’s demanding battery-powered and power-constrained applications,” said Malcolm Campbell, Microchip’s Global Channel Sales director. “Through significant investment in our new nanoWatt XLP Technology, which combines enhanced design techniques and new features, Microchip has driven power consumption to new lows, surpassing the industry and becoming the new leader in low-power microcontrollers.”

“This is the latest example of how Newark and Microchip partner together to bring the newest technology to market,” comments Paul Buckley, Senior VP, Sales & Supplier Management, Newark. “We are proud to offer design engineers both innovation and value.”

Complete details about Newark’s exclusive development bundle can be found atwww.newark.com.

Posted in Application Notes, Low Power, Complier, Newark, Limited-time Offer, 8-bit, Development Tool | 1 Comment »

10% off all semiconductor inventory thru 5/31

15. May 2009 by admin.

From http://twitter.com/NewarkDesigner

Save up to 10% with online orders for all ON SEMICONDUCTOR inventory at Newark through 5/31/09.

Posted in Newark, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, Limited-time Offer | No Comments »

Save 20% on ANY Microchip Dev Tool thru 6/15/09

14. May 2009 by admin.

Check out http://www.microchip.com.hk/quickneasy/ Use Promo Code GNGCAZ39 at checkout on www.microchipdirect.com

Posted in dsPIC, 16-bit, 8-bit, 32-bit, Limited-time Offer, Development Tool, Microchip, microchipdirect, MPLAB | 2 Comments »

DOWNLOAD CODE for “Serial Communications”

11. May 2009 by admin.

“Serial Communications” is a comprehensive advanced level book which details various methods for implementing serial communications between a Microchip PIC microcontroller and an external device. Asynchronous serial communications is covered both by using an on-chip USART and by bit-bang methods. The RS-232 standard is explained. A discussion of synchronous serial communications includes the I2C (Philips Semiconductors), SPI (Motorola) and Microwire (National Semiconductor) protocols. The Dallas Semiconductor 1-Wire bus is described. Many code examples are included as modules which will provide the basis for the reader’s own PIC microcontroller applications. By Roger Stevens (8-1/2 x 11 format, 566 pages, $49.95).

Download the code at http://www.sq-1.com/srccode.html

Posted in SPI, I²C, Microwire, SQUARE 1 ELECTRONICS, RS-232, PIC, Serial Communications, Source Code, Books | 1 Comment »

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