29. October 2010 by admin.

Thanks Liam for sending this code over from ESC Boston.

Here are the terms of redeeming the free class:

Instructions for UseGo to www.microchip.com/RTCLocate the course you wish to attend.Logon and add the course to the system “Shopping Cart”.At check-out select the “MODIFY CART” button before placing the order.Enter discount coupon code and select “APPLY COUPON” (this will waive course registration fee).Proceed with checkout.Not valid for TLS2101 “Introduction to the C Programming for Embedded Engineers”.
Valid only for publicly held RTC courses in North American including courses held at third party partner facilities.
Valid only for courses held September 21st, 2010 through December 31st, 2010.
One use per person. Standard RTC discounts for tools apply. Not Valid for RTC courses conducted on customer premises.

Posted in Training & Education, Free Stuff | Print | 1 Comment »

24. October 2010 by admin.

From http://www.eetimes.com/power

EE Times Virtual Conference: Advances in Power Management

Register at http://seminar2.techonline.com/registration/wcRegForm_inxpo_direct.cgi?sessionID=virtualshow_sep1610

EE Times, the leading resource for design decision makers in the electronics industry, brings you the second in its Virtual Conference series titled Advances in Power Management. The unavoidable fact is that every electronic product—whether a micropower circuit or a large, line-powered system—needs a power source. Designers are more concerned than ever with issues of power sources, delivery, management, efficiency, and dissipation.

Who Should Participate

The Advances in Power Management Virtual Conference is unique in that it spans a large audience. Topics are sure to be of interest to the student, academia professional and hobbyist, the experienced design engineer, and theprocurement specialist.

What is a Virtual Conference?

EE Times Virtual Conferences are fully interactive events that incorporate online learning, live chat, active movement in and out of exhibit booths and sessions, vendor presentations, contests and more. Because the conference is virtual you can experience it from the comfort of you own desk. So you can get right to the industry information and solutions you seek.

Posted in EE Times, Training & Education | Print | 2 Comments »

20. October 2010 by admin.

From http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2629&param=en549353

Complete these 4 Easy Steps to Enter the Motor Control Tuning Guide Sweepstakes and Get Your 20% off Motor Control Development Tools Discount Coupon.

1) Register to receive a 20% off Microchip motor control development tools discount coupon.

2) Select and download the Application Note and Tuning Guide for your motor control application.

3) Use the New dsPIC^® DSC Motor Control Tuning Guides to adjust the software control parameters to your motor and application.

4) Return here to provide feedback on your tuning experience and be entered in a drawing to win a free tool!

Posted in Application Notes, 16-bit, Motor Control, Development Tool | Print | 1 Comment »

16. October 2010 by admin.

Check out http://mypic32.com/web/guest/home for PIC32 projects, code and user tips on this updated site.

Posted in Code Examples, Tips & Tricks, 32-bit | Print | 1 Comment »

14. October 2010 by admin.

Use code ESCB2010 at Checkout on http://www.microchipdirect.com/ 

Offer expires on 10/15/10

Posted in Limited-time Offer, Development Tool | Print | 1 Comment »

13. October 2010 by admin.

From: http://makezine.com/makeitlast/

Welcome to Make It Last, a project build series and contest, sponsored by Microchip and Energizer. Over the course of this contest, we’re going to cover a series of three project builds, demonstrating some of the finer points of low-power microcontroller design. We’re hoping these will be fun, informative projects and a good introduction to using “bare” microcontrollers and learning more about the relationship between microcontrollers and power management. Starting with basic components, we will build up each design and you can follow along in a series of Make It Last build newsletters. We will be awarding some really cool prizes at the end of each build, based on the quality of your submission, what you learned in the process, your documentation, etc.

First Build: The Data logger

The first project in the build is a data logger. This is a battery powered device that can periodically sample the temperature and record it for later analysis. It’s basically like a thermometer combined with a recording device- you could track the temperature of your home, refrigerator, personal volcano, or anything else over a long period of time, using a single set of batteries. To save battery power, the device will spend most of its time in a reduced-power ’sleep’ mode, only waking itself up every so often measure a temperature probe before going back to sleep.

The contest part comes in when you try it at home and make your own version. You can follow along with our instructions, or build your own version using any parts that you want. The official rules are listed at the bottom of this page. To qualify, your build must be powered by a battery, and be capable of sensing and recording something in the environment (i.e. a “data logger”). The rest is up to you!

What would a contest be without prizes? The prizes for the first build are as follows. The entry that gets the most points will win a prize package consisting of the following items:

• MPLAB® ICD 3 In-Circuit Debugger
• Explorer 16 Demo Board
• F1 Evaluation Platform
• MPLAB® Starter Kit for PIC24F
• MCP1640 Single Cell Boost Converter for Energizer® MAX AlkalineAAAA
• Energizer® Night Strike Swivel Light
• $50 Maker ShedGift Certificate

And the second place entry will take home:

• F1 Evaluation Kit
• MPLAB® Starter Kit for PIC18F MCU
• MCP1640 Single Cell Boost Converter for Energizer® MAX AlkalineAAAA
• Energizer® Night Strike Swivel Light

Posted in Make Magazine, Contest, Microchip | Print | 1 Comment »

4. October 2010 by admin.

The Truth about Power Consumption in PIC® MCUs with XLP Technology vs. TI’s MSP430. I found it at http://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/8576

 This white paper will clarify the facts behind Texas Instrument’s arguments that presented TI’s MSP430 as a better low power device than Microchip’s XLP technology.

Posted in MSP430, White Paper, Low Power | Print | 1 Comment »