Matrix: Flowcode 5 Design Software Overview

Overview

Flowcode is one of the World’s most advanced graphical programming languages for microcontrollers. The great advantage of Flowcode is that it allows those with little experience to create complex electronic systems. Flowcode is a powerful language that uses macros to facilitate the control of complex devices like 7-segment displays, motor controllers and LCDs. The use of macros allows you to control highly complex electronic devices without getting bogged down in understanding the programming involved. Flowcode is available in twenty languages and supports a wide range of devices. Separate versions are available for the PICmicro (8-bit), AVR/Arduino, dsPIC/PIC24 and ARM series of microcontrollers. Flowcode can be used with many microcontroller development hardware solutions including those from Matrix such as Formula FlowcodeFormula Flowcode, E-blocksE-blocks, MIACMIAC and ECIOECIO. Flowcode is used in education as a means of introducing students to the concepts of programming. Flowcode is used in industry for rapid development and as a means of managing large projects.

Benefits

• Save time and money - Flowcode facilitates the rapid design of electronic systems based of microcontrollers.
• Easy to use interface - Simply drag and drop icons on-screen to create an electronic system without writing traditional code line by line.
• Fast and flexible - Flowcode has a host of high level component subroutines which means rapid system development. The flowchart programming method allows to develop microcontroller programs.
• Error free results - Flowcode works What you design and simulate on-screen is the result you get when you download to your microcontroller.
• Open architecture - Flowcode allows you to view C and ASM code for all programs created and customise them. Access circuit diagram equivalents to the system you design through the data sheets and support material.
• Fully supported - Flowcode is supported by a wide range of materials and books for learning about, and developing, electronic systems.
• Core-independent - Flowcode programs developed for one microcontrollers easily transfer to another microcontroller.

Features

• Supported microcontrollers: Microchip PIC 10, 12, 16, 18, dsPIC, PIC24, Atmel AVR/Arduino, Atmel ARM.
• Supported communication systems: Bluetooth, CAN, FAT, GPS, GSM, I2C, IrDA, LIN, MIDI, One wire, RC5, RF, RFID, RS232, RS485, SPI, TCP/IP, USB, Wireless LAN, ZigBee
• Supported components: ADC, LEDs, switches, keypads, LCDs, Graphical colour LCD, Graphical mono LCDs, Sensors, 7-segment displays, Internal EEPROM, comms systems, Touchscreen LCD, Webserver.
• Supported mechatronics: Accelerometer, PWM, Servo, Stepper, Speech.
• Supported subsystems: MIAC, MIAC expansion modules, Formula Flowcode.
• Panel designer: Design a panel of your choice on-screen and simulate it.
• In-Circuit Debug (ICD): When used with EB006 PIC Multiprogrammer, EB064 dsPIC/PIC24 Multiprogrammer or FlowKit.
• Tight integration with E-blocks: Each comms system is supported by E-blocks hardware.
• Virtual networks: Co-simulation of many instances of Flowcode for multi-chip systems. Co-simulation of MIAC based systems with MIAC expansion modules.

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Hardware Debugging

Whilst Flowcode simulation allows debug of a system to a first pass, the FlowKitFlowKit takes debug to a new level by running the program in the hardware and on the screen at the same time. The FlowKitFlowKit can be connected to microcontroller hardware systems to provide a real time debug facility where it is possible to step through the Flowcode program on the PC, and step through the program in the hardware at the same time. The system is controlled from within the Flowcode environment where controls allow users to start, stop, pause and step through their program one icon at a time. Under user control the Flowcode software shows the location of the program in the flow chart, the value of all variables in the program, and allows users to alter the variable values when the program is paused. Flowkit can be used on microcontrollers supported by Flowcode 4.2 and later. It is compatible with E-blocksE-blocks, user's own hardware and third party PIC and AVR programming systems. It is compatible with Matrix USB systems such as Formula FlowcodeFormula Flowcode, MIACMIAC and ECIOECIO devices.

Programmer Boards

As mentioned before, Flowcode have different version for the PICmicro (8-bit), AVR/Arduino, dsPIC/PIC24 and ARM series of microcontrollers. Matirx provides variuos programmer boards to support different MCUs.

PICmicro Microcontroller Multiprogrammer

The PICmicro multiprogrammerPICmicro multiprogrammer connects to the PC via USB to provide a high speed, low cost PICmicro MCU programmer for development and programming use.  This board can be used with Assembly, C or Flowcode and most third party compilers.  The board programs a range of 8, 14, 18, 28 and 40 pin PICmicro microcontroller devices from the 12, 16 and 18 series and presents all 5 ports on separate D-type sockets.  As soon as the on-board chip is programmed, the program inside the chip is reset and executed.  The board takes power from an external power supply or from the USB port.  The new V8 board is compatible with Flowcode 5’s In Circuit Debug feature and has an on-board 13V generator for chip programming.

AVR Microcontroller Multiprogrammer

The AVR multiprogrammerAVR multiprogrammer includes everything you need to both program an AVR microcontroller as well as to develop AVR projects.  This product contains several items: a CD ROM containing development tools, an in-system programmer and an E-blocks AVR board.  The ISP programmer connects to your USB port and to the board which is compatible with 8, 20, 28 and 40 pin AVR devices.  The board supplies 4 full E-blocks ports and all pins are available on a 40 pin header.  The CD ROM includes a range of development tools including an Integrated Development Environment for code writing in assembly and debugging and the ISP programming software.  A free GNU C compiler can be added to the IDE for those wanting to write programs in C.

ARM microcontroller programmer

This ARM programmer board is a development tool for the powerful AT91 SAM 7 microcontroller from Atmel.  The SAM 7 is a 32 bit RISC device running at an internal frequency of 80MHz and having 128k ROM and 32K static RAM as well as 2 USARTs, 4 x 10 bit A/D converters and a native USB bus.  This incredibly powerful microcontroller can be used for a range of advanced E-blocks projects.  The board has 5 E-blocks ports and the processor itself is housed on a removable daughter board (Atmel ARM processors are only available in SMD technology) so that the ARM can be incorporated into custom PCBs. This board uses a 3.3V power supply.

dsPIC/PIC24 Multiprogrammer

This dsPIC/PIC24 microcontroller multiprogrammer connects to the PC via USB to provide a low cost, flexible PICmicro microcontroller programmer for development and programming use.  This board can be used with MPLAB or Flowcode and most third party C compilers.  This board will program a wide range of 18, 20, 28 and 40 pin PICmicro microcontroller devices from the PIC24F, PIC24H, dsPIC30 and dsPIC33 series PICmicro ranges using the programming software provided, and presents the microcontroller I/O on up to 5 D-type sockets for E-blocks connection.  The board takes power from an external power supply or from the USB port.  A Microchip PICkit socket provides alternative reprogramming and debugging techniques.  This E-block is compatible with the In Circuit Debug features of Flowcode 5 and includes a dsPIC30F2011 device.

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