29. June 2009 by admin.

picnic allows you to build a low cost hardware that implements TCP/IP protocol stack in a PIC microcontroller interfacing it with ethernet networks. picnic can control several devices via web or other interfaces.

Posted in TCP/IP, Ethernet, GNU General Public License (GPL), Source Code, Software Stack, PIC | Print | 1 Comment »

28. February 2009 by admin.

Check out http://www.vscp.org

VSCP stands for Very Simple Control Protocol and it is, as the name implies, a very simple protocol indeed ( a protocol is much like a language for machines etc on how they should talk with each other). It is simple because it has been developed for use on low end devices such as micro controllers. But actually its more then just a protocol. Its a complete solution for measurement and control. And even though VSCP is very easy to use it is still very capable and can be used in very demanding control situations.

Except for a very well specified message format the protocol supports global unique identifiers for nodes, a register model to give a flexible interface to node configuration and a model for node functionality.

VSCP does not assume anything about the lower level system. It works with Ethernet TCP/IP, Wireless, Zigbee, Bluetooth, CAN, GPRS, RS-232, USB and everything else you want. Its just a uniform way of describing the systems available. Every control situation can be described and implemented using VSCP.

A normal user does not see or know much of VSCP anyway. Its just the underlying control system that makes things possible. Much the same way as someone driving a car does not need to know a lot about motors.

Some features:

• Free and open for commercial and other use.

• Have two levels. Level I and Level II where level I is designed with CAN as the least common denominator. Can be used for TCP/IP, UDP, RF, Mains, etc etc.

• Has globally unique id’s for each node.

• Has a mechanism to automatically assign a unique id to a newly installed node.

• Can use “decision matrixes” and “registers” as a uniform way to configure nodes.

• Has software and drivers for Windows and Linux. More added all the time.

• Has a common specification language “MDF” that describe a module in a uniform way that can be used by set up software and such.

and more…

Posted in Bluetooth, RS-232, Protocol, RF, Wireless, Open Source, USB, CAN, TCP/IP, Ethernet, ZigBee | Print | 1 Comment »

17. February 2009 by admin.

ZeroG Wireless Teams With Microchip Technology to Introduce ZeroG Wi-Fi Development Kits for PIC Microcontrollers

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ — ZeroG Wireless, Inc., an innovator in low-power embedded Wi-Fi design, today announced the ZeroG “Wi-Fi I/O” development kits for Microchip Technology Inc.’s (Nasdaq: MCHP) PIC microcontrollers. The ZeroG development kits are based on the standard Microchip PICtail(TM) and PICtail Plus daughter-board connectors, which allows a designer to easily plug Wi-Fi connectivity into a variety of Microchip development kits. The Wi-Fi I/O kits are now available to select customers as part of an early-access program, with general availability expected in April. Interested customers can register on the ZeroG Web site at http://www.zerogwireless.com.

“We needed to develop a solution that would enable customers to easily and seamlessly add Wi-Fi to their existing designs,” said David Friedman, vice president of Business Development for ZeroG. “Teaming with Microchip to develop a tightly integrated PICtail daughter board approach ensures that there is no need to buy a lot of additional hardware or software, or do a lot of re-engineering to make it work. Customers can begin prototyping with Wi-Fi the very same day they receive their ZeroG Wi-Fi PICtail Daughter Board.”

The PICtail daughter board-based kits contain a ZeroG Wi-Fi module mounted to a PICtail daughter board, along with software drivers. As a result of the joint development by ZeroG and Microchip, the ZeroG software stack runs on the 8-bit PIC18, 16-bit PIC24 and 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers as well as the dsPIC digital signal controller families, requiring little additional system resource to add Wi-Fi connectivity. The driver is highly integrated with Microchip’s royalty-free TCP/IP networking stack, so customers that have used the stack can easily migrate from wired Ethernet to Wi-Fi communication. The module is being FCC certified and has an onboard antenna, with options for several external antennas for production.

“We have seen a growing interest in Wi-Fi from our customers, over the last two years,” said Rodger Richey, director of applications for Microchip’s Advanced Microcontroller Architecture Division. “Working with ZeroG, we are jointly engineering a solution that leverages our customers’ existing investments in hardware and software. Their PICtail daughter board and module is an easy-to-use Wi-Fi prototyping system with a fast path to production.”

The ZeroG development kits are currently available to customers as part of an early-access program. General availability is expected to follow at the beginning of April 2009. Development kit pricing ranges from $219 to $595 (U.S.), and is dependent on the configuration of the kit. Interested customers can register on the ZeroG Web site at http://www.zerogwireless.com.

The kits will be on display at ZeroG’s Booth #541, at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, March 31-April 3.

Posted in TCP/IP, WiFi, ZeroG, Early Adopter List, 8-bit, PIC, 32-bit, dsPIC, 16-bit, Development Tool | Print | 1 Comment »