Release Notes for Microchip Application Libraries (MAL) v2010-08-04

Microchip Technology Inc. 2010

August 4, 2010

 

Table of Contents

1. What is Microchip Application Libraries (MAL)?

2. Installing/Uninstalling MAL

3. What’s new/change in v2010-08-04

4. Customer Support

 

 

1. What is Microchip Application Libraries (MAL)?

MAL is a collection of Microchip firmware libraries and demo projects. Not all firmware libraries and demo projects from Microchip are distributed with MAL; rather, MAL includes a few specific libraries that tend to be used together.

 

By distributing libraries that are used often together, Microchip can provide example projects that integrate the use of multiple libraries.

 

Some example projects that use multiple libraries are:

 

Graphics MultiApp Demo

PIC18F Starter Kit 1

PIC24F Starter Kit 1

PIC24H Starter Kit 1

TCPIP MDD Demo App

USB Host – Printer – Print Screen Demo

USB Host – Printer – Simple Full Sheet Demo

USB Host – Printer – Simple POS Demo

 

MAL is currently being distributed mainly in the source code form to provide the maximum flexibility for end designers to customize firmware to fit his/her applications.

 

2. Installing/Uninstalling MAL

To obtain the latest version of MAL, you can download it from the Microchip web site at www.microchip.com/MAL.

 

Once the MAL package is downloaded, first unzip the downloaded zip file and run the setup executable.

 

Currently, MAL does not provide an uninstaller. To uninstall, simply delete the installation folder and the short cut menu folder. No registry edits were made during the installation.

 

Some users may need to install multiple instances of MAL; this can be done simply by selecting a different installation path and shortcut menu folder.

 

When upgrading from a previous MAL version, it is recommended that users install the newer MAL to a different installation path, and then consult each individual library release notes for changes that may impact application project. This method is safer than just overwriting the previous installation.

 

3. What’s new/changed in v2010-08-04

 

For a full list of changes, read each individual library’s release notes after installation.  This section provides only a summary of key changes:

 

Key Summary:

Library

Current

Version

Previous

Version

PIC Family Supported

PIC18F

(8-bit)

PIC24F

(16-bit)

PIC24H

(16-bit)

dsPIC

(16-bit)

PIC32

(32-bit)

MCHPFSUSB Framework

2.7a

2.7

x

X

 

 

x

Graphics Library

2.10

2.10

 

X

x

x

x

Memory Disk Drive (MDD)

1.2.6

1.2.6

x

X

x

x

x

TCP/IP Stack

5.25

5.25

x

X

x

x

x

mTouchCap Library

1.20

1.20

x

X

 

 

 

Smart Card Library

1.01

1.00

x

X

 

 

 

 

3.1 MCHPFSUSB Framework

  • Device
    • PIC18FJ47J53 A1 support
    • Bug fixes and enhancements
  • Host/OTG/Dual Role
    • Bug fixes and enhancements
  • PC Utilities
    • Super Device Manager – helps assist in removing development versions of installed .inf files and drivers

 

For more information about the specific changes in this revision, please refer to the Revision History section of the MCHPFSUSB Library Help file available in the library download.

 

3.2 Graphics Library

  • Added support for PIC24FJ256DA210 Development Board.
  • Added new demo using color look up table for PIC24FJ256DA210 device family.
  • Added support for PIC32MX795F512L device.

 

For more information about the specific changes in this revision, please refer to the detailed release notes in the Graphics Library Help file available in the library download.

 

3.3 MDD Library

  • Bug Fixes

 

3.4 TCP/IP Stack

  • Added MRF24WB0M module, PIC24FJ256DA210 Development Board, PIC24FJ256GB210 PIM, PIC24FJ256GB110 PIM, PIC24FJ256GA110 PIM support
  • Added Zeroconf and primitive DNS server modules.
  • Multiple bug fixes

 

For more information about the specific changes in this revision, please refer to the detailed release notes in the TCPIP Stack Help file available in the library download.

3.5 mTouchCap Library

  • Library structure enhanced to instantiate multiple demos in the same application, such as many 2-channel sliders, many direct keys etc in the same application.
  • Added new demos:
    • Proximity sensing using CTMU
    • Swipe gesture detection using CTMU
    • Demo integrating mTouch + GFX library for PIC24FJ256DA210 family
    • mTouch + USB stack demo to work with mTouch Diagnostics tool
  • Improved the linearity of 2-ch and 4-ch sliders

 

 

3.6 Smart Card Library

  • Added T=1 protocol support

 

 

4. Customer Support

The Microchip Web Site

Microchip provides online support via our web site at http://www.microchip.com. This web site is used as a means to make files and information easily available to customers. Accessible by using your favorite Internet browser, the web site contains the following information:

  • Product Support - Data sheets and errata, application notes and sample programs, design resources, user's guides and hardware support documents, latest software releases and archived software
  • General Technical Support - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), technical support requests (http://support.microchip.com), online discussion groups/forums (http://forum.microchip.com), Microchip consultant program member listing
  • Business of Microchip - Product selector and ordering guides, latest Microchip press releases, listing of seminars and events, listings of Microchip sales offices, distributors and factory representatives

Development Systems Customer Change Notification Service

Microchip's customer notification service helps keep customers current on Microchip products. Subscribers will receive e-mail notification whenever there are changes, updates, revisions or errata related to a specified product family or development tool of interest.

To register, access the Microchip web site at www.microchip.com, click on Customer Change Notification and follow the registration instructions.

Additional Support

Users of Microchip products can receive assistance through several channels:

  • Distributor or Representative
  • Local Sales Office
  • Field Application Engineer (FAE)
  • Technical Support

Customers should contact their distributor, representative or field application engineer (FAE) for support. Local sales offices are also available to help customers. A listing of sales offices and locations is available on our website.

Technical support is available through the web site at: http://support.microchip.com

Training

 

Trademarks:

The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo, MPLAB, and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries.