FREE white paper: Application Portability for 32-Bit Microcontrollers–Reality or Myth?

12. December 2010 by admin.

Get it at http://bit.ly/ffbuey 

In November of 2008, ARM announced the availability of the Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS). They claim that this will reduce the cost of designing software when creating projects for new devices or migrating existing software between Cortex-M based microcontrollers from different silicon vendors. This sounds very good, but is it valid? This paper investigates these claims to determine just how valid they are. This paper also looks at the components of a typical microcontroller and then see just what can or cannot be gained by adding an abstraction layer on top of the typical peripheral firmware libraries.

Posted in Arm, MIPS, 32-bit | Print | 1 Comment »

myPIC32.com Relaunched

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 »

Save $10 on Using the FreeRTOS Real Time Kernel - a Practical Guide

10. May 2010 by admin.

from: http://www.freertos.org/Documentation/FreeRTOS-documentation-and-book.html#FreeRTOS-Book-PIC32

FreeRTOS eBook PIC32 Edition:
“Using the FreeRTOS Real Time Kernel - a Practical Guide”

Overview

This is a concise, step by step, ‘hands on’ guide that describes both general multitasking concepts and FreeRTOS specifics. It presents and explains numerous examples that are written using the FreeRTOS API. Full source code for all the examples is provided in an accompanying .zip file.

The PIC32 Edition

The PIC32 edition includes sixteen examples written specifically for the PIC32 using the free MPLAB C Compiler for PIC32 MCUs and the free MPLAB IDE. The projects target the low cost PIC32 USB Starter Kit II (Microchip part number DM320003-2) development board with a PIC32MX795F512L-80I/PT microcontroller (80 MHz, 512K Flash, 128K RAM, USB Host/Device/OTG, Dual CAN, and more).

This book is a step by step ‘hands on’ guide. It does not contain a complete API reference. An API reference manual is available in a separate document.

Purchased documents are delivered by email to the email address used with your PayPal or Google account. Delivery will normally be made within the hour (when orders are placed within UK office hours) but can take longer when we are out of the office on business. Delivery will always be made within 24 hours, so please check your junk mail folder if you think you have not received your purchase within this time.

Purchase together with the FreeRTOS Reference Manual to save $10.

Posted in FreeRTOS, PIC, Books, 32-bit | Print | 1 Comment »

$150 off MASTERs and other ways to save on registration fees

7. May 2010 by admin.

From http://techtrain.microchip.com/usmasters/Home.aspx?redirects=usmasters 

The MASTERs Conference can help meet these needs by providing up to five days of engineering based technical training over a broad range of embedded control topics. This year we will offer more than 80 different classes that cover programming, USB, Wi-Fi, touch sensing, Ethernet, RTOS, power supplies, lighting & motor control, just to name a few.  Many of the classes are “hands-on” where you will actually write some of your own code as you learn how to use our products and demonstration boards. Most of the classes are taught by our own engineers offering you the unique advantage to learn from the same people who have developed the products, application notes and demo boards that you are using in class.  Attending not only means you will gain valuable knowledge, but you will also have the opportunity to network with other leading engineers from around the world.  

This year we are offering various discounts for all attendees: (Some restrictions apply)

• Early Bird- SAVE $150 on MASTERs & $55 on Pre-Conference - Available until May 14
• Design Partners- (non-commissioned only) - A minimum of 20% off if you are in the Microchip Design Partner Program
• Arizona Resident- 25% off if you don’t need a hotel room
• Academia Program for Professors- SAVE 30% of main pricing of MASTERs only if you are a Professor in the Microchip Academia Program
• Group Discounts- 25% off on 11 or more attendees from same company or 20% off on 6-10 attendees from same company
• Some discounts not applicable for Pre-Conference dates (August 23 & 24, 2010)

Posted in Training & Education, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, Microchip | Print | 1 Comment »

Code Examples from Microchip

20. April 2010 by admin.

See them all at: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1408

Posted in Code Examples, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit | Print | 1 Comment »

PIC32 Ethernet Giveaway

24. March 2010 by admin.

The Embedded Muse is a newsletter sent via email by Jack Ganssle., is giivng away three PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kits – the easiest and lowest-cost method to experience 10/100 Ethernet development with the 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers. Combined with Microchip’s free TCP/IP software, your project will be running in no time. (The PIC32 also has an available CAN2.0b peripheral and USB host/device/OTG.) This Ethernet Starter Kit has the same form factor and expansion connector as other PIC32 Starter Kits. To watch a video demonstration of the PIC32 family featured in this kit, visit: www.microchip.com/get/401347994444444

To make this fun, submit a Haiku about embedded systems or firmware to mailto:marybeth@ganssle.com by the end of March. Our team of esteemed judges will pick three they deem the best, using a completely subjective analysis of “user experience”. Those lucky winners will get the PIC32 kits.

 http://www.ganssle.com/tem/tem192.htm 

Posted in The Ganssle Group, Contest, 32-bit | Print | 1 Comment »

Application Portability for 32-Bit Microcontrollers–Reality or Myth?

11. February 2010 by admin.

In November of 2008, ARM announced the availability of the Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS). They claim that this will reduce the cost of designing software when creating projects for new devices or migrating existing software between Cortex-M based microcontrollers from different silicon vendors. This sounds very good, but is it valid? This paper investigates these claims to determine just how valid they are. This paper also looks at the components of a typical microcontroller and then see just what can or cannot be gained by adding an abstraction layer on top of the typical peripheral firmware libraries.

Get it at http://www.eetimes.com/electrical-engineers/education-training/tech-papers/4211329/Application-Portability-for-32-Bit-Microcontrollers 

Posted in Arm, White Paper, 32-bit | Print | 1 Comment »

Microchip End of Year Dev Tool Sale Announced!

30. November 2009 by admin.

from: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2042&param=en025217&link=Banner

Enter MPLAB09 upon checkout and get 20% off select analog and microcontroller development tools and MPLAB® and HI-TECH® C Compilers now through January 5, 2010 on www.microchipDIRECT.com
Analog Development Tools
Item	Part Number	Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
MCP73113 OVP Single Cell Li-Ion Battery Charger Evaluation Board	MCP73113EV-1SOVP	Demonstrates the features of the MCP73113 Single-Cell Li-Ion / Li-Polymer Battery Charge Management Controller with Input Overvoltage Protection.	$19.99	$15.99
MCP6V01 Input Offset Demo Board	MCP6V01DM-VOS	Provides a simple means to measure the MCP6V01/2/3 op amps input offset voltage under a variety of bias conditions.	$25.00	$20.00
MCP9800 Temperature Sensor Demo Board	MCP9800DM-TS1	Connects to a PC with USB interface and evaluate the sensor performance of the MCP9800.	$35.00	$28.00
Microcontroller Development Tools
Item	Part Number	Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
PICDEM™ Touch Sense 1	DM164125	Comes pre-programmed with a demonstration application to introduce Capacitive Touch Sensing using all of the board’s features.	$139.99	$111.99
PICDEM™ Touch Sense 2	DM164128	Offers a complete platform introducing Microchip’s mTouch™ Sensing Solutions employing the 16-bit PIC24F MCU.	$99.99	$79.99
PIC10F Cap Touch Demo Board	AC103003	Demonstrates the implementation of a single capacitive touch key or proximity sensor using a PIC10F204 or PIC10F206 MCU.	$11.00	$8.80
mTouch™ AR1000 Development Kit	DV102011	Includes the AR1000 development board, a 7 four-wire resistive touch screen, a PICkit™ Serial Analyzer, and other necessary tools to get started on AR1000 resistive controllers.	$99.99	$79.99
Internet Radio Demo Board	DM183033	Uses the PIC18F67J60 8-bit MCU with integrated 10Base-T MAC and PHY to connect to SHOUTcast servers and stream MP3 data to an audio decoder.	$99.99	$79.99
PICDEM™ Lab Development Board	DM163035	Geared toward first-time PIC® MCU users and students, this is designed to provide a comprehensive development and learning platform for virtually all Flash-based 6-, 8-, 14-, 18-, and 20-pin, 8-bit PIC Microcontrollers	$124.99	$99.99
MPLAB® C Compilers
Item	Part Number	Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
MPLAB® C Compiler for PIC18 MCUs	SW006011	A full-featured ANSI C compiler for Microchip’s 8-bit PIC18 MCUs	$495.00	$396.00
MPLAB® C Compiler for PIC32 MCUs	SW006015	A full-featured ANSI C compiler for Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32 MCUs	$895.00	$716.00
MPLAB® C Compiler for dSPIC® DSCs	SW006013	A full-featured ANSI C compiler for Microchip’s 16-bit dsPIC® DSCs	$495.00	$396.00
MPLAB® C Compiler for PIC24 MCUs	SW006014	A full-featured ANSI C compiler for Microchip’s 16-bit PIC24 MCUs	$495.00	$396.00
MPLAB® C Compiler for 16-bit MCUs and DSCs	SW006012	A full-featured ANSI C compiler for Microchip’s 16-bit PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC® DSCs	$895.00	$716.00
HI-TECH® C Compilers
Item	Part Number	Description	Regular Price	Sale Price
HI-TECH C® Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs (PRO)	SW500010	An ANSI C compiler iimplemented with maximum optimizations to ensure the densest code output and highest performance levels for Microchip’s 8-bit baseline and mid-range PIC MCUs	$1,195.00	$956.00
HI-TECH C® Compiler for PIC10/12/16 MCUs (Standard)	SW500004	A mid range ANSI C compiler enabled with ample optimizations levels for Microchip’s 8-bit baseline and mid-range PIC MCUs	$495.00	$396.00
HI-TECH C® Compiler for PIC18 MCUs (PRO)	SW500007	An ANSI C compiler implemented with maximum optimizations to ensure the densest code output and highest performance levels for Microchip’s 8-bit PIC18 MCUs	$1,195.00	$956.00
HI-TECH C® Compiler for PIC18 MCUs (Standard)	SW500008	A mid range ANSI C compiler enabled with ample optimizations levels for Microchip’s 8-bit PIC18 MCUs	$495.00	$396.00
HI-TECH C® Compiler for PIC32 MCUs (PRO)	SW500011	An ANSI C compiler implemented with maximum optimizations to ensure the densest code output and highest performance levels for Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32 MCUs	$1,495.00	$1,196.00
HI-TECH C® Compiler for PIC32 MCUs (Standard)	SW500012	A mid range ANSI C compiler enabled with ample optimizations levels for Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32 MCUs	$895.00	$716.00
HI-TECH C® Compiler for PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC® DSCs (Standard)	SW500009	A mid range ANSI C compiler enabled with ample optimizations levels for Microchip’s 16-bit PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC DSCs	$895.00	$716.00
Just a reminder: Be sure to enter MPLAB09 upon checkout and get 20% off select analog and microcontroller development tools and MPLAB® and HI-TECH® C Compilers now through January 5, 2010 on www.microchipDIRECT.com.

Posted in 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, Microchip, Development Tool | Print | 1 Comment »

20% off PICkit 3 or PIC18 Starter Kit

20. November 2009 by admin.

From http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2867

Offer ends 12/31/09.

Posted in 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, Limited-time Offer, Microchip | Print | 1 Comment »

First Microchip Technology Halloween promo giveaway

5. October 2009 by admin.

As part of  this year’s MAKE Halloween contest, Microchip  will be providing us with a number of product samples to give away throughout October. First up for grabs is a PIC32 Starter Kit, shown above, with a retail value of $50, together with a PIC32 I/O Expansion Board, shown below, which sells for $72. To enter, leave a comment describing what cool Halloween-themed project you’d make with it. The winner will be announced next Friday, October 9.

Posted in Sweepstakes, Make Magazine, Contest, 32-bit, Microchip, Development Tool | Print | 2 Comments »