3. April 2010 by admin.

From http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=2680&dDocName=en544475

The Microchip Graphics Display Designer (GDD) is an MPLAB IDE plug-in and a visual design tool that provides customers with a quick and easy way of creating graphical user interface (GUI) screens for embedded applications on Microchip MCUs. The GDD is a design tool created for use with the Microchip Graphics Library.

For customers who are familiar with MPLAB IE, PIC MCUs, Microchip Graphics Library and MPLAB C Compilers, the GDD simplifies coding for the GUI screens. Customers can draw, move, resize, and delete screen objects, create multiple static screens, assign an LCD controller, select graphics-related configurations, and generate output source files. These source files can be compiled with the Microchip Graphics Library using the Microchip C compilers for PIC24, dsPIC and PIC32 MCUs.

GDD eliminates the need to manually calculate the X/Y coordinates for on-screen object placements. Nearly all the graphical objects (widgets) from the Microchip Graphics Library are supported in GDD.

GDD provides “what you see is what you get” results by using the same rendering code from the Microchip Graphics Library to draw objects on the PC screen. This guarantees that what you see on the PC screen is what you get on the target embedded screen.

Graphical resources can be imported into GDD for application development, including custom fonts and bitmap images. Various Microchip Graphics Library configuration settings can be set in GDD, including display resolution, color depth, LCD driver, etc. Code generation feature generates ANSI C code for PIC24, dsPIC and PIC32 MCUs. The code generated by this plug-in can be compiled with source files from the Microchip Graphics Library developed for Microchip’s PIC24, dsPIC and PIC32 MCUs.

Advanced users still have the option to call APIs from the Microchip Graphics Library directly without using GDD. This provides a finer control over the flow and behavior of the application.

Released version: 2.0.0.9c – Supports Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (dated 09/17/09)

The GDD v2.0.0.9c works with Graphics Library v1.75b only, and not with the newer Graphics Library v2.00 or later.

To download Graphics Library v1.75b, click here to download.

Posted in Software, Graphics, Free Stuff | 1 Comment »

2. October 2009 by admin.

Available for On-Demand Viewing Beginning Thursday, September 24th, 2009 
Duration: 60 minutes 

Hosted by EDN, Sponsored Cypress Semiconductor Corp and Microchip Technology, Inc. 

The importance and visibility of human/machine interfaces escalated when multi-touch and gesture interfaces appeared in more products over the last few years. The iPhone and Wii products are two examples of where the human/machine interfaces herald game changing ways, via gesture recognition, that users interact with their electronic devices. The sensing technology plays an important role, but the microcontroller(s) that interface, control, and collect data from these sensors provides the key capabilities that separate these newer interfaces from previous human/machine interface attempts as early as ten years ago. 

EDN technical editor Robert Cravotta will host a webinar panel discussion to be broadcast starting September 24th that showcases experts in human/machine interface sensing and control technologies. The panel will cover the key design, usability, and maintainability care-abouts when pairing sensor technology, such as touch and gesture interfaces, with microcontrollers.

Posted in Graphics, Human Interface, Touch Sensing, Training & Education | 1 Comment »

30. April 2009 by admin.

Play the Fllying Chips Game at http://www.microchip.com.hk/quickneasy/ and win a variety of dev tool prizes!   

Posted in Programmer, Complier, Debugger, Just for Fun, Graphics, IDE, HI-Tech, Touch Sensing, Microchip, Development Tool, Limited-time Offer, Sweepstakes, USB, 8-bit, MPLAB | 1 Comment »

27. March 2009 by admin.

from http://techtrain.microchip.com/esc/Main.aspx

Visit Microchip Technology at ESC Silicon Valley 2009 Microchip Technology is offering a selection of FREE 30-40 minute technical training sessions in Booth 416 at ESC Silicon Valley 2009. Seating is limited, so sign up today for the sessions that interest you. This registration site is for Microchip’s Technical Training Classes ONLY. In order to attend one of these classes you must ALSO register for ESC Silicon Valley 2009 as an attendee or as an exhibitor. To register for ESC Silicon Valley 2009, go to: http://esc-sv09.techinsightsevents.com/ To register for one of these classes click here.

In-Booth Training Classes - Booth416  Digital Power Solutions   (Level: Intermediate) From simple monitor circuits to complex digital control loops, power supplies are becoming increasingly more digital. Digital control helps improve efficiency, reduce cost and increase flexibility. This class will highlight the various levels of digital control and solutions available from Microchip. We will also present the support available to help you make the switch from analog to digital.  Ethernet Solutions   (Level: Intermediate) Ethernet’s capabilities and ubiquitous deployment make it unrivaled among communications standards. Embedded designers wishing to add this capability to their systems are often faced with challenges not found in the networking world. This class presents Microchip’s solutions to these challenges. Learn about Microchip’s cost-effective and easy-to-use wired ethernet and WiFi solutions. Products, software and development tools for implementations using our stand-alone Ethernet controller, our family of microcontrollers with on-chip Ethernet controller and WiFi solutions will be discussed.  Human Interface Solutions (Touch Sense and Graphics)   (Level: Introductory) Whether to reduce cost and improve reliability through the elimination of buttons or provide a reconfigurable interface through the use of a graphical display, touch sensitive user interfaces are showing up everywhere. In this session attendees will learn about the hardware and software solutions from Microchip that can help them easily integrate a touch solution into their next design.  Innovations in 8-bit Microcontrollers   (Level: Introductory) Innovation is still taking place in the world of 8-bit microcontrollers. From architectural enhancements to low power designs to enhanced peripherals, 8-bit microcontrollers are being upgraded in many ways that can increase the performance and lower the cost of your designs. This session will highlight some of the recent advances in Microchip’s PIC® families of 8-bit microcontrollers and the benefits and advantages you can reap from them.  RF – ZigBee® and MiWi™ Solutions   (Level: Intermediate) Embedded engineers are increasingly being asked to add short-range, low cost point to point or networked wireless communication to their systems. This session will present two alternatives from Microchip to solve this problem: the interoperable ZigBee® protocol and the proprietary MiWi™ protocol. Attendees will understand the differences between these two protocols and be show the products and tools used to implement solutions.  USB Solutions   (Level: Introductory) Serial Communications protocols like RS-232 are fast becoming obsolete for faster and more efficient protocols like USB. Embedded USB connectivity has its own challenges. This session helps embedded designers understand the challenges of using USB in their applications Attendees will learn about Microchip’s USB solutions for end point devices as well as Embedded Host applications. A demo will show the ease and simplicity of using Microchip’s USB solutions.

Posted in Graphics, RF, Touch Sense, Tradeshows, Digital Power, Seminars & Confrences, Ethernet, Human Interface, PIC, Free Stuff, ZigBee, 8-bit, Training & Education, USB, Microchip | 1 Comment »

12. March 2009 by admin.

emWin is written in ANSI “C” and can handle any LCD, any resolution and any color depth. There is no need to change the source code of the application to use the software for different color depths. All you need to do is to modify the configuration file. 

Get the eval at http://www.segger.com/emwin_pc_evaluation.html 

Posted in Graphics, Evaluation Version, emWin, Segger, LCD, Development Tool | No Comments »

6. March 2009 by admin.

No “deal” but I like it. 

Posted in LCD, Graphics, Touch Sense, Video, Demo Software, Microchip, 8-bit, Development Tool | No Comments »