Rith Nachampasak wrote:

> could someone please give an example application for using =
bootloader??

Hi Rith,

If I understand your question, it sounds like you know what a bootloader =
is, but just want to know what one is used for.=20

Here's a real example application:

Microchip's ICD 2 (in-circuit development tool) uses a bootloader in =
it's PIC16F877 so that you can download different programming spec =
algorithms to allow programming of PICs or dsPICs that require different =
programming algorithms.

The beauty of it is that you don't have to open the ICD 2 up or anything =
and swap out firmware like you had to do with the PICSTART Plus. The =
bootloader allows you to update the application part of the firmware =
without using a dedicated PIC device programmer.

The bootloader of the ICD 2 receives the new application firmware via =
the USB port or the RS-232 port.

And guess what, Microchip is coming out with a PICSTART Plus =
PIC18F-based upgrade with a bootloader so that upgrading its firmware =
will be as easy as it is with the Microchip ICD 2.

But, there is always a catch: what this means is that you better make =
sure your PIC bootloader is rock-solid and bug-free. If the bootloader =
has some sort of bug or problem, you cannot update it using the =
bootloader. You would have to re-program the PIC with the newly fixed =
bootloader using ICSP (in-circuit serial programming) or whatever method =
you programmed the PIC in the first place.

Hope this helps and makes sense.

Best regards,

Ken Pergola

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