FLIP is a free programmer from Atmel. BASCOM supports FLIP for the USB chips/interface.

 

The USB chips are programmed with a boot loader. This is very convenient since you do not need any hardware to program the chip. FLIP can be downloaded from the Atmel site.

URL : http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/Flip%20Installer%20-%203.3.1.exe

The FLIP website you can find at : http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?family_id=604&family_name=8051+Architecture&tool_id=3886

 

FLIP is a Java application. The BASCOM-IDE can use the FLIP software to program the chip too. But in order to use the FLIP programmer, you need to install FLIP first.

When FLIP is working, you can select FLIP from Options, Programmer, in order to program quickly without the FLIP executable.

On Vista there is a problem with loading some of the FLIP DLL's. In case you get an error, copy the FLIP DLL's to the BASCOM application directory.

You need to copy the following files :

 

You can run the flipDLLcopy.cmd file from the BASCOM application directory to copy these files.

The content of the command file :

copy "c:\program files\atmel\flip 3.3.1\bin\atjniisp.dll" .

copy "c:\program files\atmel\flip 3.3.1\bin\AtLibUsbDfu.dll" .

copy "c:\program files\atmel\flip 3.3.1\bin\msvcp60.dll" .

copy "c:\program files\atmel\flip 3.3.1\bin\msvcrt.dll" .

pause

 

The last line pauses so you can view the result.  Notice the . (dot) that will copy the file to the current directory, which is the reason that you need to run this file from the BASCOM application directory.

 

As with other programmers, you press F4 to program the HEX file into the chip. A small window will become visible.

A number of dialogs are possible:

 

In this case, you try to program a chip which is not supported by FLIP. The Mega88 is not an USB chip so the error makes sense.

 

The next dialog informs you about a missing DFU device.

In this case, the boot loader is not found. You can run the boot loader by following the sequence from the dialog box.

In order to make this work, the HWB and RST input both need a small switch to ground.

When HWB is pressed(low) during a reset, the boot loader will be executed.

 

TIPS & Tricks

FLIP is only supported by Atmel. Here you will find some tips about FLIP. In order to use BASCOM's FLIP support, you must have running FLIP successfully first !

Here is a good tip from a user :

IMO he Flip 3.3.1 Installer is a little bit stupid.

The dll´s are located in the Path ...\Atmel\Flip 3.3.1\bin .

The Installer has set a correct Path-Variable in Windows for this path.

But, the libusb0.dll isn´t in that location. It is in ...\Atmel\Flip 3.3.1\USB !

So I moved the libusb0.dll into the \bin dir and Flip runs without the errors. (GRRRR)

 

In the ...\Atmel\Flip 3.3.1\USB dir I have also detected the missing .inf File.

After installing this, Windows detects the AT90USB162 and Flip can connect the device.