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We’ve just posted the Copper AVR32 stick/development board quick start guide, which is available at the download site: http://dl.stackfoundry.org/hardware/copper/
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Copper Development Board Quick Start Guide
Published on November 18, 2009
AVR32: Getting up and running with DFU
Published on November 18, 2009
The Copper features an integrated USB bootloader which allows for reprogramming the device with nothing but the USB port. However, it can be a bit confusing to get everything set up correctly (install the trampoline in build rules, use the right linker commands, and get the drivers working), outside of AVR32 Studio or the included AVR32 Software Framework examples (which are a great way to get going by the way).
The most important document is the following PDF from Atmel: http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc7745.pdf, which is meaty enough to require several read-troughs.
We have prepared the following tips to get running with the DFU:
- On Windows, you need to install the Atmel FLIP software, however you cannot use the graphical mode. You must either use the functionality as integrated into AVR32 Studio, or the BatchISP.exe command line as described in the Atmel document (above)
- If you are running 64bit Windows (Vista or 7), the drivers which are included with FLIP are not signed. Luckily, there is a community signed version of the drivers available at AVRFreaks.net. This is the same Atmel driver, with a generously donated digital signature so it passes Windows’ new signing requirements.
- The AVR32 Studio projects may or may not install the DFU trampoline, depending on the template chosen. Making a project for the EVK1101 reference board will bring in the necessary magic automatically, otherwise you need to add the Trampoline.s file to your build project.
- For command line/Makefile driven builds, the Atmel document provides the needed commands to add. Or, us one of the examples in the AVR32 Software Framework (the CDC Example for the UC3B1256 is a good starting point).
- If the USB DFU functionality does not appear in AVR32 Studio under targets (as described in the Atmel document), try changing the target type of the AVR32 Simulator first. Often, this will make the option available for “New Targets” (a random glitch).
A Wiki with more collaborative information is in the works, so stay tuned!
Copper pre-orders now accepted, new products and widgets
Published on November 13, 2009
Copper on a breadboard
We have also posted a smattering of new products:
- A cool electromechanical solenoid activated counter
- USB cables – you can never have enough
- High precision temperature sensors on 6 feet of wire – perfect for your next weather station project
- Logic ICs – You can never have enough 74 series logic
Thats it for now!
Arduino for the Megavore? We’re working on it
Published on November 9, 2009
We’re busy making the needed changes to the Arduino standard libraries to correctly support the Megavore, and in turn the AVR XMega. Stay tuned for more details!
And good luck to LeafLabs on their STM32 based board!
The Eagle Library Collection
Published on November 3, 2009
StackFoundry has an Eagle library collection we use on a regular basis, and continue to add parts to as we design them into products. We don’t have a complete list of all the parts in the library, but any design we make will have all of its component parts sourced from the it.
Note that some of the libraries are extensions of the CadSoft original Eagle libraries – such as rcl, supply1, atmel, etc. Some are collections of other libraries, and some are brand-new originals.
You can find the collection via gitweb at http://git.stackfoundry.com/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=electronics/eagle-lib.git;a=summary or clone it directly via
git clone git://git.stackfoundry.org/electronics/eagle-lib.git
Schematics and Eagle files released for Copper, Megavore
Published on November 2, 2009
As part of our open source hardware movement, we have released the schematics and Eagle files for both the Copper AVR32 stick and the Megavore XMEGA header board with Arduino-compatible pinout. The Magnetovore is not yet ready for release, but will be soon(tm). The information is available on the download server:
http://dl.stackfoundry.org/hardware/
As described in the Schematic and PDF, the license used is the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Stay tuned for some of our other projects (looking at the NXP1768 and the MSP430)!
Credit Cards now accepted at the store!
Published on November 1, 2009
We are pleased to announce that credit cards are now directly accepted at the StackFoundry store, without having to use the Amazon.com Payments system. We get a better rate, and you no-longer need an Amazon.com account. In addition, this system lets us set up pre-orders and finer grained billing.
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
Magnetovore pre-orders, Megavore and Copper coming soon
Published on October 15, 2009
Just a quick update for those of you following the blog: we have made the needed design changes to the Magnetovore PCB to fix the silly errors we made (including the classic TX and RX pins being swapped, how embarrassing). We are also finalizing the pricing for the production PCBs and setting up the last parts of the store (including credit card processing).
To add to the announcement, we are also introducing the Megavore, which is a Magnetovore sans the external SRAM/MRAM interface. All pins are broken out in convenient headers, with an option for Arduino-style female headers (the Sullins PPC series) or no headers (since they’re a pain to remove non-destructively). Pricing is significantly lower than the Magnetovore due to simplified construction and part cost.
Lastly, we’re introducing Copper, the AVR32-on-a-DIL module. Includes the AVR32UC3B1256 (256KB flash, 32KB SRAM), USB port, JTAG header (no need to use it, as the USB based device firmware upgrade can easily program the processor), voltage regulator and crystal. It fits in a DIL-32 0.6″ spaced formfactor, making it perfect for breadboard use. Coupled with the excellent AVR32 Studio, its a quick way to get off the ground with 32-bit microcontrollers.
We will also be adding some fun toys from our parts collection to the store, perfect for prototyping and project purposes.
Introducing the Magnetovore
Published on September 30, 2009
Introducing the Magnetovore, StackFoundry’s latest creation. The Magnetovore is a small development board featuring:
- An Atmel AVR xMEGA 128A1, running at up to 32MHz
- A USB to serial adapter, using the venerable FTDI FT232R chip.
- Up to 4Mbit (512KiB) of either standard SRAM, or 1-4MBit of MRAM, directly mapped into the processor’s address space.
- All of the pins not in use for the external bus interface broken out on 0.1 inch pin headers (6 ports of 8 bits each are available, 3 ports are used for the external memory bus)
- Arduino-compatible 0.1 inch pin headers, allowing you to plug in many pre-existing shields from any 3.3V compatible Arduino
- All of the normal support parts, including a 3.3V linear regulator, power connectors, USB-B connector, etc
The most exciting part of this board is the MRAM option, using the 8-bit wide parallel MRAM chips made by EverSpin Technologies. MRAM is a non-volatile memory, which retains its state even without power. MRAM has unlimited write endurance (unlike Flash, which can only be written 100,000 times on average), has an access time of 35 nanoseconds (faster than most Flash, even at reading), and is bit-changeable (no need for a separate erase step as in Flash). As the MRAM is directly addressable by the AVR xMEGA, it is completely transparent to the code running on the processor – you simply write to a memory location located in the external address space, and your data is automatically persisted.
For those that don’t want the non-volatile MRAM, a board with 512KB of RAM is also available at a reduced cost.
There is no firm pricing yet, but expect approximately $50-60 for a board with 128KB of MRAM, less for SRAM.
As you can see in the picture above, we have beta boards in stock and are verifying our hardware design, fixing issues, and starting procurement for production. No pre-orders are accepted just yet, but feel free to subscribe to this blog for further updates and when orders will be accepted in the store.
(And yes, the board pictured has SRAM installed 
)
