EEVblog - The Electronics Engineering Video Blog » microchip http://www.eevblog.com No Script, No Fear, All Opinion Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:56:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Copyright © David L. Jones 2011 eevblog@gmail.com (David L. Jones) eevblog@gmail.com (David L. Jones) 1440 http://www.eevblog.com/images/logo/EEVblogDaveLab144x144logo.jpg EEVblog - The Electronics Engineering Video Blog http://www.eevblog.com 144 144 No Script, No Fear, All Opinion David L. Jones David L. Jones eevblog@gmail.com no no EEVblog #130 – The uCalc Credit Card Scientific Calculator / Computer http://www.eevblog.com/2010/11/29/eevblog-130-the-ucalc-credit-card-scientific-calculator-computer/ http://www.eevblog.com/2010/11/29/eevblog-130-the-ucalc-credit-card-scientific-calculator-computer/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:34:16 +0000 EEVblog http://www.eevblog.com/?p=1202

Dave describes the design of his open source hardware uCalc credit card sized calculator / computer.
Specifications: PIC 24F 16 bit Processor, 256KB Flash, 16KB SRAM, 64KB serial flash user memory, 3-Axis tilt sensor, Micro SD card, capacitive touch sensing keypad, 128×64 dot matrix display.

]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2010/11/29/eevblog-130-the-ucalc-credit-card-scientific-calculator-computer/feed/ 50 0:20:51 Dave describes the design of his open source hardware uCalc credit card sized calculator / computer. Specifications: PIC 24F 16 bit Processor, 256KB Flash, 16KB SRAM, 64KB serial flash user memory, 3-Axis tilt sensor, Micro SD card, capacit[...] Dave describes the design of his open source hardware uCalc credit card sized calculator / computer. Specifications: PIC 24F 16 bit Processor, 256KB Flash, 16KB SRAM, 64KB serial flash user memory, 3-Axis tilt sensor, Micro SD card, capacitive touch sensing keypad, 128×64 dot matrix display. David L. Jones no no EEVblog #87 – Let’s hop on the Electronics Design Merry-Go-Round http://www.eevblog.com/2010/05/16/eevblog-87-lets-hop-on-the-electronics-design-merry-go-round-4/ http://www.eevblog.com/2010/05/16/eevblog-87-lets-hop-on-the-electronics-design-merry-go-round-4/#comments Sun, 16 May 2010 06:12:04 +0000 EEVblog http://www.eevblog.com/2010/05/16/eevblog-87-lets-hop-on-the-electronics-design-merry-go-round-4/ Dave demonstrates how much fussing around can be involved in selecting just a couple of cost optimised parts for a new design, using Digikey, Mouser, FindChips, Octopart and Atmel websites.

]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2010/05/16/eevblog-87-lets-hop-on-the-electronics-design-merry-go-round-4/feed/ 19 0:00:01 Dave demonstrates how much fussing around can be involved in selecting just a couple of cost optimised parts for a new design, using Digikey, Mouser, FindChips, Octopart and Atmel websites. Dave demonstrates how much fussing around can be involved in selecting just a couple of cost optimised parts for a new design, using Digikey, Mouser, FindChips, Octopart and Atmel websites. David L. Jones no no EEVblog #63 – Microchip PIC vs Atmel AVR http://www.eevblog.com/2010/02/22/eevblog-63-microchip-pic-vs-atmel-avr/ http://www.eevblog.com/2010/02/22/eevblog-63-microchip-pic-vs-atmel-avr/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:54:02 +0000 EEVblog http://www.eevblog.com/?p=577 Let the microcontroller fanboy wars begin!
Dave’s rather random rant on which is better, Microchip PIC or Atmel AVR.
(Warning, Dave hates Fanboys)

And check out this way to program AVR chips with the PICkit2


]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2010/02/22/eevblog-63-microchip-pic-vs-atmel-avr/feed/ 114 0:00:01 Let the microcontroller fanboy wars begin! Dave’s rather random rant on which is better, Microchip PIC or Atmel AVR. (Warning, Dave hates Fanboys) And check out this way to program AVR chips with the PICkit2 Let the microcontroller fanboy wars begin! Dave’s rather random rant on which is better, Microchip PIC or Atmel AVR. (Warning, Dave hates Fanboys) And check out this way to program AVR chips with the PICkit2 David L. Jones no no EEVblog #53 – Mr Murphy and Microchip PIC Silicon Bugs http://www.eevblog.com/2010/01/07/eevblog-53-mr-murphy-and-microchip-pic-silicon-bugs/ http://www.eevblog.com/2010/01/07/eevblog-53-mr-murphy-and-microchip-pic-silicon-bugs/#comments Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:36:38 +0000 EEVblog http://www.eevblog.com/?p=501 Dave tangles with Murphy’s Law and Microchip silicon bugs with his latest PIC project.

The PIC24FJ256 errata

And that Jim’s Mowing Franchise looks pretty tempting.

]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2010/01/07/eevblog-53-mr-murphy-and-microchip-pic-silicon-bugs/feed/ 40 0:00:01 Dave tangles with Murphy’s Law and Microchip silicon bugs with his latest PIC project. The PIC24FJ256 errata And that Jim’s Mowing Franchise looks pretty tempting. Dave tangles with Murphy’s Law and Microchip silicon bugs with his latest PIC project. The PIC24FJ256 errata And that Jim’s Mowing Franchise looks pretty tempting. David L. Jones no no EEVblog #45 – Arduino, PICAXE, and idiot assembler programmers http://www.eevblog.com/2009/11/21/eevblog-45-arduino-picaxe-and-idiot-assembler-programmers/ http://www.eevblog.com/2009/11/21/eevblog-45-arduino-picaxe-and-idiot-assembler-programmers/#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:15:03 +0000 EEVblog http://www.eevblog.com/?p=423 Dave checks out what all the fuss is about with the Arduino, contemplates the PICAXE, and cuts loose on die hard assembly language programmers.
All with no more silly 10 minute youtube time limit.

]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2009/11/21/eevblog-45-arduino-picaxe-and-idiot-assembler-programmers/feed/ 56 0:00:01 Dave checks out what all the fuss is about with the Arduino, contemplates the PICAXE, and cuts loose on die hard assembly language programmers. All with no more silly 10 minute youtube time limit. Dave checks out what all the fuss is about with the Arduino, contemplates the PICAXE, and cuts loose on die hard assembly language programmers. All with no more silly 10 minute youtube time limit. David L. Jones no no EEVblog #41 – Pigs fly at Microchip in HD http://www.eevblog.com/2009/11/04/eevblog-41-pigs-fly-at-microchip-in-hd/ http://www.eevblog.com/2009/11/04/eevblog-41-pigs-fly-at-microchip-in-hd/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:29:28 +0000 EEVblog http://www.eevblog.com/?p=291 See Dave in glorious HD-ish, Microchip PIC talk, and Damocles the flying pig takes flight.

]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2009/11/04/eevblog-41-pigs-fly-at-microchip-in-hd/feed/ 18 0:00:01 See Dave in glorious HD-ish, Microchip PIC talk, and Damocles the flying pig takes flight. See Dave in glorious HD-ish, Microchip PIC talk, and Damocles the flying pig takes flight. David L. Jones no no EEVblog #39 – PICkit 3 Programmer/Debugger Review http://www.eevblog.com/2009/10/21/eevblog-39-pickit-3-programmerdebugger-review/ http://www.eevblog.com/2009/10/21/eevblog-39-pickit-3-programmerdebugger-review/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:56:59 +0000 EEVblog http://www.eevblog.com/?p=269 Dave compares the new PICkit 3 to the old PICkit 2, and, well, he starts to rant uncontrollably about how Microchip may have screwed this up…
And what do MBA managers and dickheads have in common?

UPDATE:
Since this blog has gone to air and made it’s way all around the Microchip HQ, I have received a phone call from none other than the Microchip CEO Steve Sanghi. In a totally unexpected and rare show of honesty from any corporate person, let alone the CEO, he thanked me for the blog and for raising the issues, and appologised for the poor implementation and release of the PICkit3. They took it as serious constructive criticism (as it was intended). He pointed out a few factual errors on my part which was fair enough, but admitted they could have done the PICkit 3 better and most importantly are working to fix the issues (and the bugs) and give customers what they expect of such an upgrade.

Check out their video response below!

Any other huge multi-billion dollar corporation probably would have got their lawyers to give me a dressing down, if they cared at all, but Microchip really do care about their products and will happily take constructive criticism seriously at the top level. Such a thing has to be unprecedented surely?
I am absolutely blown away by Microchip’s honesty, and it starts from their CEO down.
Two thumbs up to Steve Sanghi and Microchip!

Issues in my blog pointed out by Microchip are:
1) The auto VDD voltage was removed deliberately due to potential damage to chips if applied incorrectly. (Fair call, but I still don’t like it)
2) The VDD range is not 3V-5.5V, it’s actually 2V-5.5V and range changes with the chip selected. (Yep, I didn’t see this, it is different to the PK2 and buried away)
3) The PK3 is only slower for the chip type I selected (Murphy’s Law), for all others it’s actually faster than the PK2. They are working on speed optimisation for the other ones.
4) Debugging is faster than the PK2 which I didn’t mention at all.
5) Programming to Go feature is now supported (only a week or so before I filmed the blog)
6) They plan on releasing the separate programmer software again (open source)

Microchips response!

]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2009/10/21/eevblog-39-pickit-3-programmerdebugger-review/feed/ 50 0:00:01 Dave compares the new PICkit 3 to the old PICkit 2, and, well, he starts to rant uncontrollably about how Microchip may have screwed this up… And what do MBA managers and dickheads have in common? UPDATE: Since this blog has gone to air and ma[...] Dave compares the new PICkit 3 to the old PICkit 2, and, well, he starts to rant uncontrollably about how Microchip may have screwed this up… And what do MBA managers and dickheads have in common? UPDATE: Since this blog has gone to air and made it’s way all around the Microchip HQ, I have received a phone call from none other than the Microchip CEO Steve Sanghi. In a totally unexpected and rare show of honesty from any corporate person, let alone the CEO, he thanked me for the blog and for raising the issues, and appologised for the poor implementation and release of the PICkit3. They took it as serious constructive criticism (as it was intended). He pointed out a few factual errors on my part which was fair enough, but admitted they could have done the PICkit 3 better and most importantly are working to fix the issues (and the bugs) and give customers what they expect of such an upgrade. Check out their video response below! Any other huge multi-billion dollar corporation probably would have got their lawyers to give me a dressing down, if they cared at all, but Microchip really do care about their products and will happily take constructive criticism seriously at the top level. Such a thing has to be unprecedented surely? I am absolutely blown away by Microchip’s honesty, and it starts from their CEO down. Two thumbs up to Steve Sanghi and Microchip! Issues in my blog pointed out by Microchip are: 1) The auto VDD voltage was removed deliberately due to potential damage to chips if applied incorrectly. (Fair call, but I still don’t like it) 2) The VDD range is not 3V-5.5V, it’s actually 2V-5.5V and range changes with the chip selected. (Yep, I didn’t see this, it is different to the PK2 and buried away) 3) The PK3 is only slower for the chip type I selected (Murphy’s Law), for all others it’s actually faster than the PK2. They are working on speed optimisation for the other ones. 4) Debugging is faster than the PK2 which I didn’t mention at all. 5) Programming to Go feature is now supported (only a week or so before I filmed the blog) 6) They plan on releasing the separate programmer software again (open source) Microchips response! David L. Jones no no EEVblog #9 – ThermoChron iButton and Microchip PICkit2 http://www.eevblog.com/2009/05/17/eevblog-9-thermochron-ibutton-microchip-pickit2/ http://www.eevblog.com/2009/05/17/eevblog-9-thermochron-ibutton-microchip-pickit2/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 00:10:23 +0000 EEVblog http://www.alternatezone.com/eevblog/?p=72 TI buys Luminary Micro, Maxim/Dallas ThermoChron iButton, Microchip PICkit2


]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2009/05/17/eevblog-9-thermochron-ibutton-microchip-pickit2/feed/ 10 0:00:01 TI buys Luminary Micro, Maxim/Dallas ThermoChron iButton, Microchip PICkit2 TI buys Luminary Micro, Maxim/Dallas ThermoChron iButton, Microchip PICkit2 David L. Jones no no EEVblog #8 Part 1 of 2 – Graphical LCD display development http://www.eevblog.com/2009/05/10/eevblog-8-part-1-of-2-graphical-lcd-display-development/ http://www.eevblog.com/2009/05/10/eevblog-8-part-1-of-2-graphical-lcd-display-development/#comments Sun, 10 May 2009 02:36:37 +0000 EEVblog http://www.alternatezone.com/eevblog/?p=66 Graphical LCD display development and PIC demo board stories.


]]> http://www.eevblog.com/2009/05/10/eevblog-8-part-1-of-2-graphical-lcd-display-development/feed/ 8 0:00:01 Graphical LCD display development and PIC demo board stories. Graphical LCD display development and PIC demo board stories. David L. Jones no no