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Code-Free MicroGUI

Here for original MicroGUI

Overview:
 
The combination of special versions of two proven products, MicroGUI and AVRO, creates the most simple means of adding Virtual Controls to any AVR based Application. There is no need to write any GUI related code. The Firmware occupies the normal 1k of Boot space. And its secondary function of loading Flash memory takes only 30secs for a 256k device.
 
Main Features:
 
  • No changes to user Application code
  • Bootloader code only needs 25% of the normal 1k, but can download 256k devices in 30secs
  • The balance of the normal 1k code runs in the background updating the PC Virtual Controls 
  • 90% of GUI interrupts require only 2.2uSecs* - it is essentially transparent
  • Total GUI load is typically less than 0.2%* of the CPU time - it does not impact App. performance
  • Two sliders on the PC control the GUI and Scope update rates
  • Loader Displays and Logs both File & Chip Checksums
  • No AVR peripherals are used other than the UART that is already needed for a Boot Loader
  • The Firmware is auto customised to match user's: Device, Crystal, Baud, and selection of UART (if applicable)
  • User loads their custom firmware into any number of blank SM/DIP AVRs 
  • Pre-programmed Mega168/164 DIPs are also available

* based on 20MHz clock - see Help/Technical/Performance for more details

Application Areas:

 

  • During product development to reveal the AVR's internal data in a meaningful manner 

  • As a very fast Bootloader with Checksum tracking and History logging

  • In Education for faster learning, deeper understanding, and an encouraging sense of achievement

  • As a Human-Machine-Interface (HMI) 

  • For experimenting with simple control system design whilst free of Real I/O and wiring (see 'All_GUI' Examples)
Custom Firmware Generator:


 

  • Select from ATMega: 16, 32, 64, 128, 164, 165, 168, 324, 328, 644, 640, 641,  1280, 1281, 2560, 2561, 3250, 3251, 6450, 6451
  • Crystal Frequencies: 1.84, 3.68, 4.00, 7.37, 8.00, 9.21, 11.05, 14.74, 16.00, 18.43, 20.00
  • Baud Rates: 19.2k, 28.8k, 38.4k, 57.6k, 115.2k
  • The generated file 'GUI_FmWare.hex' is then ready for loading into SM/DIP parts with the user's programmer
  • Pre-programmed Mega164/168s do not need this facillity

 
 
Boot Loader with Checksums & Log:


  • Accepts both .hex and .bin files
  • The use of Checksums and a Log file is very helpful especially when making and subsequently restoring code changes
  • When a file is re-compiled the form is automatically updated and non-matching Checksums are high lighted
  • If 'Notes' is checked, then with each new build, a text entry form appears for quickly adding notes into the same Log holding the before & after Checksums, Build date/time etc.


 


Log format:

 
Associating App. Variables with GUI Controls in AVR-GCC & BASCOM:
In AVR-GCC: In BASCOM:

#include "WA_GUI.c"
#define Variable1 Slider[0] 
#define Variable2 Meter[0]
etc.

$include "BC_GUI.inc" 
Variable1 Alias Slider(1)
Variable2 Alias Meter(1)
etc.
Include files for other Compilers can easily be created from those listed above should there be any differences in the syntax. They merely spellout the Controls avaliable, and the Vector addresses for the BootLoader UART etc.
Adapting to CodeVisionAVR:
A 'How-to' Flash file and resulting conversions for the Examples 1-4, contributed by:

Professor Mariano Barron
Universidad del Pais Vasco UPV-EHU

 CodeVision Conversion as SWF

Zipped SWF + the Converted Examples

To Purchase MicroGUI-CF:

Compare to the µC/Probe where the user writes and debugs all of their MCU's required Communication & Interrupt code, in order to use the PC GUI software that they purchased for $$$ - and there is no high-speed loader.


$49.90  MicroGUI-CF 5.1M, Latest version with License for one PC running under Windows 98 thru Vista - free future updates. It also creates the needed Firmware for ATMega: 16, 32, 64, 128, 164, 165, 168, 324, 328, 644, 640, 641,  1280, 1281, 2560, 2561, 3250, 3251, 6450, 6451 using Crystal frequencies of: 1.84, 3.68, 4.00, 7.37, 8.00, 9.21, 11.05, 14.74, 16.00, 18.43, 20.00 MHz to achieve Baudrates of: 19.2k, 28.8k, 38.4k, 57.6k, 115.2k. The License requires registration, but can be transferred between PCs. Delivered by email.

Please note that the user needs access to an ISP/JTAG/Parallel Programmer to first load the Custom Firmware, then the Boot Loader takes over. Once installed there are 16 Examples for both AVR-GCC and BASCOM to experiment with. Regardless of GUI needs on all projects, every project will benefit from the high speed loader - it can also generate CSV files when reading from the EEPROM - total Boot Space required for GUI and Loader is just 1k words.

Works with Windows 98 thru Vista. Vista users are advised to view the ReadMe.txt available at the end of the installation.

MicroGUI-CF.chm - Included in above Demo but here available separately.

BASCOM Compiler - 21M Demo version of BASCOM Structured Basic Compiler (highly compatible with Microsoft’s VB/QB) - 4k max compiled code, but no time limit.

BASCOM.chm - Included in above Demo but here available separately.

WinAVR - Official source for AVR-GCC

 
Example Projects
Examples to help understand MicroGUI operation:
Examples biased towards Education & Hobbyists:
Continuation of bias, but using Overlays for All-GUI Projects