Bootloaders - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

AtomSoft · 1st December 2008, 02:40 PM

I know you can use boot loaders to load/upgrade a new program into the pic from like USART/USB but can you load it off External EEPROM chip or SD card? Like would it be possible instead of it checking taking the new program in automatically i can hold a button down on starup and have it load the new data from a sd card and then program itself and afterward still use data off the SD to load info.

I was thinking of testing on a PIC18F452 or PIC18F4620

Mike, K8LH · 1st December 2008, 03:53 PM

A bootloader could be programmed to pull the hex data from almost anywhere you like...

Mike

picbits · 1st December 2008, 04:17 PM

As above - just have the bootloader software in your PIC which pulls the data from the SD card and copies it into its program memory.

AtomSoft · 1st December 2008, 05:32 PM

awsome. ok cool. I think using something like this would make upgrading a product easy and as simple as drag n drop hex on card and place card connected to PIC and done!

Someone Electro · 1st December 2008, 09:34 PM

Yes a bootloader can take the data from nearly anything from a COM port to a SD card to the internet.

I saw the propeller video demo board has a nice bootloder. It displays all the programs found on a SD card on a TV or monitor connected to the video port and you can select what program to run using the buttons.

AtomSoft · 1st December 2008, 09:38 PM

Cool! I was just woundering. I understand the concept somewhat of what needs to be done but. No one ever mentioned how to make the HEX to upload. Like once you setup the boot-loader how do you create the hex file to upload to it? Is it just a normal program like hex created by MPLAB just without the bootloader? Like if i made a bootloader and then have it on the pic.

Would i just make the program or main code next like normal with no bootloader code and just send it to it via bootloader?

futz · 2nd December 2008, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomSoft

Cool! I was just woundering. I understand the concept somewhat of what needs to be done but. No one ever mentioned how to make the HEX to upload. Like once you setup the boot-loader how do you create the hex file to upload to it? Is it just a normal program like hex created by MPLAB just without the bootloader? Like if i made a bootloader and then have it on the pic.

Would i just make the program or main code next like normal with no bootloader code and just send it to it via bootloader?

It's just the normal hex file. It would be really dumb to require a special, different hex file just for bootloaders. It's just software.

Try a ready made bootloader for a while before writing your own. You'll understand better what you need then.

AtomSoft · 2nd December 2008, 01:10 AM

ok so i load a ready made bootloader then i write my own normal code and upload the normal code to the pic via bootloader?

Can you recommend some bootloader i would prefer in C please. Whether its in CSS, C18 or any other C (not Mikro tho) im sure i can port over.

futz · 2nd December 2008, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomSoft

ok so i load a ready made bootloader then i write my own normal code and upload the normal code to the pic via bootloader?

Can you recommend some bootloader i would prefer in C please. Whether its in CSS, C18 or any other C (not Mikro tho) im sure i can port over.

Doesn't Microchip have one? Thought I heard of one from them. I could be wrong. Anyway, Google for it.

3v0 · 2nd December 2008, 02:21 AM

The USB bitwacker uses one as does the PICkit2.

AtomSoft · 2nd December 2008, 12:02 PM

I was afraid of the USB one because i might get lost in the code since its mixed with so many things to run the USB. So i wanted to start with a non-usb one. This way i can learn how it works better.

Futz. You are right "AN851" but its in ASM. And as you may think its like 3 pages long which would be a pain to convert to C; but since i seem to have no choice i guess i will.

**Nigel Goodwin** · 2nd December 2008, 12:37 PM

Have a look here

Microchip PIC micros and C - source and sample code

I've not used the 18F one, but I've used the 16F version over the years, and found it excellent (and requires no extra pins to be used).

AtomSoft · 2nd December 2008, 12:42 PM

thx i downloaded it and will play now! i have like 5-6 18F1320s on hand

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1st December 2008, 02:40 PM	#1
AtomSoft	Bootloaders I know you can use boot loaders to load/upgrade a new program into the pic from like USART/USB but can you load it off External EEPROM chip or SD card? Like would it be possible instead of it checking taking the new program in automatically i can hold a button down on starup and have it load the new data from a sd card and then program itself and afterward still use data off the SD to load info. I was thinking of testing on a PIC18F452 or PIC18F4620 __________________ AtomSofts eBay Store AtomSoftTech: C18 TIPS & TRICKS v9 PDF Nokia 6100 Driver/Software My Name: Jason Lopez http://atomsofttech.info/ \| My YouTube Videos! My Favorite Store: dipmicro Electronics

1st December 2008, 03:53 PM	#2
Mike, K8LH	A bootloader could be programmed to pull the hex data from almost anywhere you like... Mike

1st December 2008, 04:17 PM	#3
picbits	As above - just have the bootloader software in your PIC which pulls the data from the SD card and copies it into its program memory.

1st December 2008, 05:32 PM	#4
AtomSoft	awsome. ok cool. I think using something like this would make upgrading a product easy and as simple as drag n drop hex on card and place card connected to PIC and done! __________________ AtomSofts eBay Store AtomSoftTech: C18 TIPS & TRICKS v9 PDF Nokia 6100 Driver/Software My Name: Jason Lopez http://atomsofttech.info/ \| My YouTube Videos! My Favorite Store: dipmicro Electronics

1st December 2008, 09:34 PM	#5
Someone Electro	Yes a bootloader can take the data from nearly anything from a COM port to a SD card to the internet. I saw the propeller video demo board has a nice bootloder. It displays all the programs found on a SD card on a TV or monitor connected to the video port and you can select what program to run using the buttons. __________________ Il give you shocking experience.

1st December 2008, 09:38 PM	#6
AtomSoft	Cool! I was just woundering. I understand the concept somewhat of what needs to be done but. No one ever mentioned how to make the HEX to upload. Like once you setup the boot-loader how do you create the hex file to upload to it? Is it just a normal program like hex created by MPLAB just without the bootloader? Like if i made a bootloader and then have it on the pic. Would i just make the program or main code next like normal with no bootloader code and just send it to it via bootloader? __________________ AtomSofts eBay Store AtomSoftTech: C18 TIPS & TRICKS v9 PDF Nokia 6100 Driver/Software My Name: Jason Lopez http://atomsofttech.info/ \| My YouTube Videos! My Favorite Store: dipmicro Electronics

2nd December 2008, 01:10 AM	#8
AtomSoft	ok so i load a ready made bootloader then i write my own normal code and upload the normal code to the pic via bootloader? Can you recommend some bootloader i would prefer in C please. Whether its in CSS, C18 or any other C (not Mikro tho) im sure i can port over. __________________ AtomSofts eBay Store AtomSoftTech: C18 TIPS & TRICKS v9 PDF Nokia 6100 Driver/Software My Name: Jason Lopez http://atomsofttech.info/ \| My YouTube Videos! My Favorite Store: dipmicro Electronics

2nd December 2008, 02:21 AM	#10
3v0	The USB bitwacker uses one as does the PICkit2. __________________ Please post questions to the forums. PM's are for personal communication. BCHS/3v0's Tutorials Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Whacker, The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time)

2nd December 2008, 12:02 PM	#11
AtomSoft	I was afraid of the USB one because i might get lost in the code since its mixed with so many things to run the USB. So i wanted to start with a non-usb one. This way i can learn how it works better. Futz. You are right "AN851" but its in ASM. And as you may think its like 3 pages long which would be a pain to convert to C; but since i seem to have no choice i guess i will. __________________ AtomSofts eBay Store AtomSoftTech: C18 TIPS & TRICKS v9 PDF Nokia 6100 Driver/Software My Name: Jason Lopez http://atomsofttech.info/ \| My YouTube Videos! My Favorite Store: dipmicro Electronics

2nd December 2008, 12:37 PM	#12
Nigel Goodwin	Have a look here Microchip PIC micros and C - source and sample code I've not used the 18F one, but I've used the 16F version over the years, and found it excellent (and requires no extra pins to be used). __________________ PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at: http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

2nd December 2008, 12:42 PM	#13
AtomSoft	thx i downloaded it and will play now! i have like 5-6 18F1320s on hand __________________ AtomSofts eBay Store AtomSoftTech: C18 TIPS & TRICKS v9 PDF Nokia 6100 Driver/Software My Name: Jason Lopez http://atomsofttech.info/ \| My YouTube Videos! My Favorite Store: dipmicro Electronics