Notepad ++

Notepad++ is a free (as in "free speech" and also as in "free beer") source code editor and Notepad replacement that supports several languages. Running in the MS Windows environment, its use is governed by GPL License.

Based on a powerful editing component Scintilla, Notepad++ is written in C++ and uses pure Win32 API and STL which ensures a higher execution speed and smaller program size. By optimizing as many routines as possible without losing user friendliness, Notepad++ is trying to reduce the world carbon dioxide emissions. When using less CPU power, the PC can throttle down and reduce power consumption, resulting in a greener environment.


More about Notepad ++ click here

Frequency to Voltage Converter Circuit

This circuit good working in the frequency range 0-850 Hz. You can change the value of R8 and C1 in order to get the various frequency range.

PIC18F4550 Module Trainer Board

This site presents a simple didactical microcontroller modules designed for teaching of microcontroller systems, digital signal processing, and system programming.

Full documentation (schematic diagram and pcb design) is provided, and you are free to duplicate the modules. However, if you are going to use THESE schematic or PCB files to build and distribute the modules, than you should include the information about the original source and about the availability of the documentation.



PIC18F4550 module Parameters:

1. Clock frequency up to 48MHz (12 MIPS) with oscilator working at 8 MHz
2. Memory: 2KB RAM, 256 B EEPROM, 32KB code (FLASH)
3. USB 2.0 Interface - Low Speed & Full Speed
4. 10-bit ADC (7 channels available for user)
5. 2 analogue comparators
6. 4 timers and 2 PWM/CCP modules (one extended)
7. Synchronous/asynchronous serial interface (EUSART)
8. Synchronous serial interface: SPI/I2C
9. Parallel SPP port - for direct transfer of data over USB





This module is based on the PIC18F4550 microcontroller. It offers the direct USB connectivity. Available documentation includes the schematic diagram as PDF, sources of the schematic diagram in the gschem format, and the PCB layout in the free PCB program format.

ALL Material Download

Source : http://www.ise.pw.edu.pl

The NanoVM - Java for the AVR

The NanoVM is a java virtual machine for the Atmel AVR ATmega8 CPU, the member of the AVR CPU family used e.g. in the DLR Asuro robot, manufactured by AREXX engineering. With the NanoVM, the Asuro can be programmed in the popular Java language using the standard Sun JDK. The NanoVM and its tools are distributed under the GPL and can be used on other AVR based systems as well.

The NanoVM for Asuro replaces the original firmware of the Asuro with a Java virtual machine capable of running a subset of the virtual machine command set. This enables e.g. the Asuro to interpret java bytecode and to run simple java programs like e.g. this one.


The NanoVM is a very resource aware implementation of the java vm. The Asuro version including a boot loader and several native classes fit into the 8kBytes flash rom of the Asuros AVR ATmega8 CPU. The complete 512 Byte EEPROM space of the CPU are available as Java program space and 75% of the 1 kByte RAM space are available to the running Java program.

More information about The NanoVM - Java for the AVR click here

Displaying SubVIs as Expandable Nodes [LabVIEW Tutorial]

SubVIs may be viewed as either icons or expandable nodes. Express VIs are viewed as expandable nodes, by default. To view a subVI as an expandable node, right-click on it and uncheck the View As Icon option by selecting it from the pop-up menu, as shown in Figure 71. This will cause the subVI's appearance to change, such that its icon is surrounded by a yellow background, as shown in Figure 72.

Figure 71. SubVI with View As Icon setting enabled, as also indicated in its visible pop-up menu

Figure 72. SubVI with View As Icon setting disabled, appearing as an expandable node

We can resize the subVI vertically, which causes inputs and outputs to appear below the subVI's icon, as shown in Figure 73. Note that inputs and outputs made available are no longer available to the left and right of the subVI's icon.

Figure 73. Resizing (expanding) a subVI configured as an expandable node

You can also show and hide inputs and outputs from the subVI's pop-up menu, using the Select Input/Output submenu to change an input/output, Insert Input/Output to insert a new input/output, and Remove Input/Output to remove an input/output (see Figure 74).

Figure 74. Selecting the visible inputs and outputs of a subVI configured as an expandable, from its pop-up menu

Exploit The SoundCard as Oscilloscope

Thanks to Konstantin Zeldovich

Oscilloscope for Windows version 2.51 (Oscilloscope 2.51) is an application showing how home PC peripherials, such as a sound card, can be used in an unconventional way, emulating industrial ADC hardware. The Oscilloscope provides a complete functionality of a "standalone" scope in a familiar Windows ennvironment.

The Oscilloscope allows you, for example:
- to study in real time any signal envelope,
- to measure frequencies
- to study realtime signal spectra,
- to plot Lissajous patterns.
- to measure a cross-correlation coefficient of two signals
(In general, to do most things you can do with an oscilloscope and a spectrum analyzer).


Not surprisingly, the Oscilloscope has several drawbacks too:
- non-calibrated amplitude level (hard to use as digital multimeter),
- relatively low bandwidth (20 Hz - 20 kHz),
- possibility of damage of a PC when connecting to an unknown signal source. (See Precautions ).



Specifications:
Dual trace digital storage oscilloscope with realtime spectrum analyzer and correlometer.
Buffer length: 52 ms
Bandwidth: 20 Hz - 20 kHz max
Input level: about 2 VAC, limited by sound card capabilities
Display refresh: ca. 6 fps
Data export: disk file or Windows clipboard, text format

Click here to download the oscilloscope software

USB Sniffer With SnoopyPro

SnoopyPro is a tool for advanced USB programmers. It allows you to record each URB sent to and received from a USB device. This traces can be saved, loaded, edited, printed and combined into new traces.

WARNING: You might damage your system with this tool. Don't use it if you don't know what you're doing!!!! We're not responsible for anything that happens to you, your system, your devices, your marriage, etc. etc.

SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEMS:

Tested by the authors on Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP

INSTALLATION/USE:

1. Run SnoopyPro.exe from whereever you have saved it.
2. Open up the USB devices window with F2.
3. Choose 'Unpack Drivers' from the 'File' menu.
4. Choose 'Install Service' from the 'File' menu.
5. Locate the device you want to sniff.
6. Right-click on it and choose 'Install and Restart'.
7. Wait for the magic to happen...




Click Here To Download SnoopyPro

The Toolbar in LabVIEW

The Toolbar, located at the top of LabVIEW windows, contains buttons you will use to control the execution of your VI, as well as text configuration options and commands to control the alignment and distribution of objects (see Figure 59). You'll notice that the Toolbar has a few more options in the block diagram than in the front panel, and that a few editing-related options disappear when you run your VI. If you're not sure what a button does, hold the cursor over it until a tip strip appears, describing its function.

Figure 59. Toolbar




Run Button

Run Button (Active)

Run Button (Broken)

The Run button, which looks like an arrow, starts VI execution when you click on it. It changes appearance to active when a VI is actually running. When a VI won't compile, the run button appears broken.

Continuous Run Button

The Continuous Run button causes the VI to execute over and over until you hit the stop button. It's kind of like a GOTO statement (sort of a "programming no-no"), so use it sparingly.

Abort Button

The Abort button, easily recognizable because it looks like a tiny stop sign, becomes active when a VI begins to execute; otherwise, the Abort button is grayed out. You can click on this button to halt the VI.
Using the Abort button is like pulling the power cord on your computer. Your program will stop immediately rather than coming to a graceful end, and data integrity can be lost this way. You should always code a more appropriate stopping mechanism into your program, as we will demonstrate later.

Pause Button

The Pause button pauses the VI so that you can use single-step debugging options such as step into, step over, and step out. Hit the Pause button again to continue execution.

Step Into Button

Step Over Button

Step Out Button

The single-step buttonsStep Into, Step Over, and Step Outforce your VI to execute one step at a time so you can troubleshoot.

Execution Highlight Button

The Execution Highlight button causes the VI to highlight the flow of data as it passes through the diagram. When execution highlight is on, you can see intermediate data values in your block diagram that would not otherwise appear.

Retain Wire Values

The Retain Wire Values button causes the VI's wires to store the value that flowed through them the last time the VI executed. This is very useful for debugging. You can view the value stored in a wire by placing a probe on the wire. The probe value will be set to the value stored in the wire.

Warning Button

The Warning button appears if you have configured your VI to show warnings and you have any warnings outstanding. You can list the warnings by clicking on the button. A warning is not an error; it just alerts you that you are doing something you may not have intended (for example, if there are objects on the block diagram that are hidden behind other objects and cannot be seen).

Comm Sniffer (From Knightsoft.net)

CommSniffer is a valuable tool for technicians, engineers and software developers designing/debugging serial port related projects, it is an advanced COM/RS232 Serial port data viewer / analyzer. View and send (all 256) ASCII/Binary data. Main features include:

• Supports COM1 to COM16.
• Baud rates from 110 to 115200.
• Export transactions session to an ASCII file.
• Designed for ease of use.
• Ultra fast display rate.
• Runs in Windows 9X/2000/XP.
• Capture/send data to/from serial port.
• Built in data converter ASCII/Binary/Hex.
• Built in search.

and more...

Click here to download Comm Sniffer "FREE..."

Pic Baud Rate Calculator V2.1 (208Kb zip Win32 App)

PIC Baud Calculator - a FREE utility to calculate the SPBRG value for the PIC processors with on board Uart. Simply enter the Clock speed and the desired Baud rate and hit calculate. The SPBRG value is shown for both BRG High and Low, including the difference error. On some older PIC uarts, the BRG High setting causes intermittent UART errors.

V2.1 now supports systems that require 'commas' instead of 'points' in floating point numbers.

his utility is provided FREE of charge and as such comes with no technical support or guarantee! by downloading it you agree to these terms. If you are unsure of the validity of the output from this utility, don't use it. :)


Click here to download PIC Baud Calculator