26. August 2010 by admin.

From FieldServer Technologies: http://www.protocessor.com/products/Free_Modbus_RTU_Source_Code.html

• Are you designing an industrial or building automation controller that requires Modbus RTU?
• Do your customers ask for Modbus RTU protocol support?
• Did you know that Modbus RTU is the most popular Industrial Automation protocol in the world?
• Did you know that implementing Modbus RTU on your embedded systems will provide greatest connectivity?

If the answer to any of the above is yes, then this Modbus RTU source code is a good place to start. Obtain the source code by clicking on the link to the right. This code is written for a PIC18f2431 chip, but it can easily be adapted for other CPUs. The steps required to have a functioning Modbus RTU server device are:

Compile our Free Modbus RTU Source Code using the Microchip C18 compiler

Using the Microchip ICD2 debugger module, download the resulting binary image to a PIC18F2431 on the Microchip PICDEM2 Plus evaluation board

Fire up a working Modbus RTU server (slave).

Use our Modbus Simulator to test the communications with your controller.

Posted in FieldServer Technologies, Source Code, 8-bit | 1 Comment »

20. May 2010 by admin.

From http://www.mikroe.com/eng/products/view/19/pic-mcu-cards/

We would like to provide our customers with extra MCU parts for developing purposes. At present, we are offering components for several microcontroller’s compatible with our BIGPIC5 development systems.

BIGPIC5 MCU Card’s (80 pin) have a very good contact with the board thru a two-line connector. The bottom of the card is ground plane for noise prevention.

Posted in MikroElektronika, 8-bit | 1 Comment »

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 | 1 Comment »

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 | 1 Comment »

10. April 2010 by admin.

Microchip offers a free ZigBee® software protocol stack, enabling lower development and system costs. With its ZigBee compliant platforms, the Microchip stack is written to meet the ZigBee industry standard and ensure interoperability. Embedded system designers can now utilize Microchip’s Free downloadable ZigBee Stack in concert with the Microchip MRF24J40/MRF24J40MA and PIC^® microcontrollers:-       Zero-cost-license and royalty-free ZigBee protocol stack.-       Efficient footprint for entire ZigBee protocol-       Source-code format, allowing designers to customize their products-       Utilize Microchip’s broad portfolio of compatible PIC^® microcontrollers

Posted in Wireless, Software Stack, 8-bit, ZigBee, 16-bit | 1 Comment »

1. April 2010 by admin.

From: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2010/win_a_picdem_kit.htm

Entries are invited in the 2010 construction competition which this year is a competition with a difference.

The SA Amateur Radio Development Trust is looking for an innovative approach to a construction project that has application in Amateur Radio but based on microchip technology.

Stage one is the paper design stage. Develop a project of your choice using a microchip and submit a short write up of the project including a circuit diagram and description of operation. The closing date for stage one is 9 April 2010.

Three entries, which in the opinion of the judges are the most original coupled with their usefulness in Amateur Radio, will receive R500 to build a proto-type for entry into the second stage of the competition.

The second stage entry is a complete proto-type entry and must be suitably packaged and operating. This entry must be accompanied by all the necessary paperwork as well as an article with circuit diagram and other necessary illustrations for publishing in Radio ZS.

The winning entry in stage two will be awarded the Microchip PICDEM Touch Sense 1 Development Kit plus an ARRL handbook. The two runner-ups will each receive an ARRL Handbook. The closing date for stage 2 is 10 May 2010.

The winner will be presented with the prize at a gala lunch on 17 May 2010 at the Midrand Protea Hotel.

Get all the details on www.amateurradio.org.za.

Posted in Touch Sense, 8-bit, Contest, Development Tool | 1 Comment »

31. March 2010 by admin.

Electronics World is offering its readers the chance to win the new next generation, low-power PIC microcontroller (MCU) with  nanoWatt XLP eXtreme Low Power Technology, for sleep currents as low as 20nA from Microchip.  These three new 8- and 16-bit MCU families join three other recent 8-bit families that are all part of Microchip’s nanoWatt XLP portfolio, providing designers with a rich and compatible low-power migration path that includes on-chip peripherals for USB and mTouch sensing solutions.

The three new nanoWatt XLP MCU families being announced include the 16-bit PIC24F16KA family, which features typical sleep currents as low as 20nA; and the 8-bit PIC18F46J11 and PIC18F46J50 families, both of which feature typical sleep currents of less than 20nA. The six general-purpose members in the PIC18F46J11 family provide up to 64kbyte of Flash program memory and the peripheral set of a typical
64- or 80-pin device in only 28- or 44-pins. The PIC18F46J50 family also features six members, which in addition integrate full speed USB 2.0 to enable connectivity for embedded applications requiring remote field upgrades or the downloading of data.

The extremely low sleep currents and numerous wake-up features of Microchip’s new nanoWatt XLP MCUs should be ideal for battery operated devices, which actually spend most of their time asleep. The interest in the market for such low power processors, for use in consumer to industrial applications, is now on the rise. Numerous consumer, industrial, automotive and medical applications can benefit from the extremely low power and peripheral integration of the nanoWatt XLP MCUs.

For your chance to win a Microchip nanoWatt XLP Microcontroller, simply answer the following question to be in with a chance to win:
What is the lowest sleep current of the low-power PIC microcontroller (MCU) with nanoWatt XLP eXtreme Low Power Technology from Microchip:
(a) 20nA
(b) 70nA
(c) 50nA

Email your answer, along with your name, position, company and email address, to Svetlana.josifovska@stjohpatrick.com

The winner will be announced online and in print.

Posted in Electronics World, Low Power, 8-bit, Contest | 1 Comment »

9. March 2010 by admin.

From: http://www.kanda.com/products/QuantumBase/QB-ICD2.html

PIC-ICD2 Plus debugger and programmer is directly compatible with Microchip’s original MPBA-ICD2 and with it you can do everything you can do with the original MPLAB-ICD2, including PIC Programming. PIC-ICD2 is a low cost, real-time debugger and programmer for all PIC16F, PIC18F and dsPIC DSCs.
Programs can be downloaded and executed in real time and examined in detail with the debug functions of MPLAB. Watches can be set on variables and breakpoints can be set from symbolic labels in C or assembly source code, to allow single steppping through C source lines or into assembly code. 

PIC-ICD2 can also be used as a development programmer for supported PIC MCUs. 

The secret behind In Circuit Debugging is two dedicated hardware lines (microcontroller pins used only during debugging mode) that control In Circuit Serial Programming (ICSP) of the device and, afterwards, debugging through proprietary, on-chip firmware. 

The ICD 2 debug features are built into the microcontroller and activated by programming the debug code into the target processor. There is some shared overhead expense that includes one stack level, some general purpose file registers and a small area of program memory.

Posted in ICD, Kanda Systems Ltd., 8-bit, PIC, 16-bit, dsPIC | 4 Comments »

2. February 2010 by admin.

Thru June 30, 2010. 

PICkit 3 Debug Express (DV164131)
PIC18 Starter Kit (DM180021)
F1 Starter Kit (DM164130-1) 

Go to www.microchip.com/easy for details.

Posted in 8-bit, Debugger, PIC, Limited-time Offer, Microchip, Development Tool | 3 Comments »

20. January 2010 by admin.

From: http://embedded.com/222200285

The Embedded.com European Newsletter is offering its readers the chance to win the new MPLAB Starter Kit for PIC18 Microcontrollers, which contains all of the components, documentation, schematics, debugging and programming capabilities needed to evaluate the high-performance PIC18 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) family in low-power USB and touch-sensing applications.
The MPLAB Starter Kit for PIC18 Microcontrollers includes the Bosch Sensortec BMA150 digital triaxial accelerometer, which enables the PIC18 Starter Kit board to detect acceleration in 3 perpendicular axes for sensing the board’s tilt and motion. The board ships with demo code that enables it to function as a USB mouse or joystick using the accelerometer.

Acceleration on all three axes is used to compute the board tilt, which is then converted to movement of the mouse cursor on the X and Y axes. The accelerometer allows the cursor to move slowly when the board is tilted a small amount, and quickly when there is a steeper tilt.

For your chance to win a Microchip MPLAB Starter Kit for PIC18, visit the competition website and enter your details in the online entry form.

Posted in 8-bit, Embedded Systems Design, PIC, Sweepstakes, Development Tool, Contest, MPLAB | 1 Comment »