Tiny PIC bootloader

Tiny Bootloader

I consider firmware programs should be as small as possible. In the bootloader case all the hard work can be moved to PC software, allowing a wider range of options and easier upgrades to the software, while the firmware should implement only the basic functions, with no need for upgrades.

Features of the firmware

• Size of only 100 words; (both versions, for 16F and for 18F occupy less than 100 words);
• Can write flash, eeprom and configuration bytes(18F);
• On reset, waits 1 second for a message from the PC, if not received, launch user application;
• Tested on: 16F876A, 16F877A, 18F252; should work on all 16F and 18F PICs; also it is possible to work with nonA versions;
• The default baudrates are 115200 (for hi freq xtal) and 19200 for lower speeds; (contact me for custom frequencies/baud rates);
• The source code is included and can be easily adapted for any frequency (or baudrate);
• It should also work (not tested) with: 16F87(3/4)A, 18F(2/4)42, 18F(2/4)58, 18F(2/4)48, 18F(1/2)320, 18F(1/2)220, 18F42/320, 18F(6/8)720, 18F(6/8)620, 18F(6/8)520. In order to support other PIC models (without problems), modifications to the PC software has to be made.

Features of the PC software

• Can upload programs into flash (in current version eeprom and cfg bytes can be modified only from command line);
• Works with both PIC 16F and 18F types; automatically detects PIC type, model, HEXcontent;
• Remembers last settings;
• In case of errors, performs retransmissions or tries to resynchronize with pic;
• Several features can be activated by commands written in the log window (like a "command line"). Start typing "help" or "?" on an empty line:
   

  ?	help
  ontop	keep the window on top of the others
  logdetails	lists detailed stuff happening inside (used only for debugging)
  clearallflash	clears all flash except the bootloader (actually it fills all flash with FFh)
  baud <newbaud>	good if another baud rate is  desired. eg:   baud 9600
  writeeeprom <addr> <dat>	writes the byte <dat> at the address <addr> (numbers can be either dec or hex) eg:   writeeeprom 0 b6h     - writes B6h in the first eeprom location
  writeconfig <adrLow> <dat>	only for 18F; writes the configuration byte <dat> at the address 300000h+<addrLow> eg:   writeconfig 3 FFh     - activates WDT

How to use

• You must have the PIC (pins TX,RX) connected to the serial port of the PC (pins Rx,Tx), usually using a MAX232 level converter (search the web for schematics and instructions if you don't have it yet);
• The program must meet this requirement: it must have in the first 4words of memory a GOTO to the start of the main program. (this is what the majority of the bootloaders require)

  PIC16F	PIC18F
  org 0 clrf STATUS clrf PCLATH goto Main	org 0 goto Main

• Modify "xtal", "baud", "_??_OSC" to what you need; assemble it; write the HEX it with a PIC programmer; put the PIC on you board and connect it to the PC serial port.
• You can keep the TinyBootloader interface opened, browse or enter the name of the hex file, select the COM port and baud rate, then click WriteFlash, or double-click the tray icon, and after that reset (r power-up) the PIC.
• If all things are set up properly the program will be loaded into the pic and after that executed.

• When you press "WriteFlash" the application will read and analyze the hex file to determine if it's a 16F or 18F code, to determine the size, eeprom and config data.
• Then it will ping the serial port until there is a response from the PIC or the timeout will expire.
• On the other side, on PIC reset, it will wait around 1s to receive something from the PC. This timeout value can be adjusted from "movlw xtal/2000000+1", but decreasing this timeout too much will cause later communication to fail.
• A warning will be issued if: a goto is not found in the first 4 instructions or if PIC and HEX files do not match.

All critics and suggestions are welcome at: 

General info about Bootloaders

A bootloader is a program that stays in the microcontroller and communicates with the PC (usually through the serial interface). The bootlader receives a user program from the PC and writes it in the flash memory, then launches this program in execution. Bootloaders can only be used with those microcontrollers that can write their eeprom through software. The bootloader itself must be written into the flash memory with an external burner. In order for the bootloader to be launched after each reset, a "goto bootloader" instruction must exist somewhere in the first 4 instructions; it is the job of the bootloader to reallocate the first 4 instructions of the user program to another location and execute them when the bootloader exits.

(Some of the) Available bootloaders (as reported by Google) in May, 2003: