PICList Project

Communitary Universal Microcontroller Programmer

Status

This project is being actively developed.  Visit the CUMP mailing list for more information.

History / Beginning

An open source project:

• http://www.opensource.org/ what is open source?
• http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/ a set of good papers about open source

It all started with a post on the PICList you can read the original PICList threads starting here:

• http://www.piclist.com/techref/postbot.asp?by=thread&id=Communitary+Programmer%25
• http://www.infosite.com/%7Ejkeyzer/piclist/1999/Dec/0953.html

Edson Brusque started the CUMP mailing list on http://groups.yahoo.com.

Glossary

Donations

Resolutions

All parts easily obtained and assembled at low cost by beginners.

Abstracted interface (modular, can be serial, parallel, USB, etc...) and using a command language that will be easy to send from any host including an ASCII dumb terminal.

High level language text or tokens sent to MB processor which is either

• compiled into tokens (if not already compiled on the host) and stored either
  • in the MB processor (RAM or EEPROM) for later direct execution or
  • in an optional serial EEPROM on the DB for later retrieval and execution without need for download of anything other than programming data from the host. Each DB can know how to program a different device allowing for production programming.
• interpreted into programming data and programmed into the target using token code from the DB or MB. Intel Hex format 8M is the default but others will follow.
• directly executed to allow for immediate
  • status read-back, (installed options/modules/target device, data needed to program installed device, menu)
  • action initiation, or
  • other general purpose computing (use of the CUMP as a logic analyzer, controller, programmable powersupply, meter, etc...with low-level functions to generate sine, triangle, saw and pulse waves outputs and to read pins inputs and A/Ds)

A 40 pin connector interface to a matching socket on the DB (Daughter Board: Where the programming socket and any additional circuitry necessary for the device being programmed reside) so that direct plug in, ribbon cable, card slot connector, DIL pins to cable, etc... can be used. The pin assignements have been set:

  1 SCK_SCL (SPI & I2C clock)
  2 GND
  3 SDI_SDA (SPI & I2C data)
  4 SDO (SPI data)
  5 TxD (UART Transmit)
  6 +5V
  7 RxD (UART Receive)
  8 BD0 (Bi-Directional 0)
  ...
35 BD27 (Bi-Directional 27)
36 VAR1 (Variable Voltage Supply 1)
37 VAR2 (Variable Voltage Supply 2)
38 BD28 (optional)
39 BD29 (optional)
40 BD30 (optional)

Space available on MB for extra latches, with software support but these are not required and can be left off for targets that are serially programmed or they can be moved to a DB.

Multiple Variable high voltage supplys on the motherboard or manually adjustable depending on how the builder wants to do it.

See also

• Also: The "everything in an '877" idea
• Also: The "free" ICD idea

Summary

A universal programmer that operates independant of operating system, can program any device via "daughter boards"(DBs) which are adaptor boards that will plug into the main board. The Main Board (MB) will have various circuits designed to provide compatability with almost any device. There will be a power supply board that is seperate, due to the large amount of argument surrounding that subject. There will also be a one time programming board to get the firmware onto the MCU on the MB. And, there will be a board for communication interfacing so that the programmer will not be resricted to any specific protocol.

Firmware:

• Consists of control algorithms for all of the built-in devices, and a byte code interpreter for allowing easy writing of programming algorithms.

Hardware:

MB

The Main Board will have:

• A PIC16F877 to handle control
• An 8-pin ICSP compatible header
• A 40-pin or 37-pin header to connect to DB's
• A 10-pin header to connect to the Power supply
• An 10-pin communication header
• An optional I2C hub
• Optional I2C expansion ports
• An optional onboard MAX232 for onboard RS232 communication
• Additional required components for the operation of the MCU
• Several DIP switches for signal switching and configuration

(Note: the choice of controller is currently under "discussion" on the CUMP list. I have posted a comparison table of available MCUs that could fit the bill.)

• A ZIF socket physically mounted to the main unit or to a daughter board with a large pin header where each pin of the ZIF can be connected to any pin of the DB Header. This will allow the programming of most devices with just a low cost female header to connect the signals to the correct target pins for each type of device.

DB

The DBs will have:

• An optional (Recomended) onboard EEPROM to store the bytecode instructions for the MB processor.
• A 40-pin/37-pin header for connection to the MB and supply voltages.
• All additional required hardware for the target device.

Comm Board

The Comm Board will have:

• All required communications hardware for conversion from SPI,   I2C or USART serial to the target protocol
• A 10-pin header encompasing all the previously mentioned protocols

PSupply

The supply board wil have:

• The required hardware for a 25V source
• The required hardware for a 5V source
• The required hardware for 2 programable sources and any of the following desired to make said sources
  • 2 PWM inputs for voltage control (optional)
  • 2 analog feedback returns (optional)
  • An I2C port (optional)
  • 2 buffered full scale analog outputs

Previous recommendations considered by the list

Hardware

It has been suggested that the SIMM form factor be adopted. (Note: The SIMM form factor has been essentially rejected due to various reasons. Visit the CUMP mailing list archives for more info) This would make the product compatible with the

• DonTronics SimmStick series includeing the 16F877 SimmStick http://www.dontronics.com/dt106.html
• USB Simm http://usbsimm.home.att.net

A ZIF socket not permanently connected to any one DB, with a 40-pin header so that it can be connected to a second 40-pin header on any DB.

A device similar to a breakout box for extremely cheap (but slow) rerouting of traces for programming, but that should be a DB.

Software

Byron A Jeff has recommended the use of the IPL license from http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/house/ipl/ipl.htm(Note: He has recently said that the GPL would likely be more appropriate for this project)

Suggestions

See also:

• http://www.elantec.com/pages/products/PowerMOSFETDrivers.html universal pin drivers. Take look at some of the ones at elantec - eg, EL7154:

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