Re: [avr-chat] Re: Programmer for everyone!

[David Kelly]

On Thu, Jul 12, 2007 at 03:24:22PM +0200, Clemens Koller wrote:
> Graham Davies wrote:
> > This isn't really true.  There are a large number of programmers out
> > there with various capabilities and fair prices.  Take a look on
> > AVRfreaks. People only build their own if they value the learning
> > experience or have lots of time and no money.  On the other hand,
> > Atmel have kept the designs of newer debug interfaces closed (the
> > JTAG ICE MkII and Dragon) and it might be interesting to see what can
> > be done *legally* in this area.
>
> What can be done *illegally* here?
> Is reengineering debug interfaces illegal of a product I bought?!

You know Graham designed, built, and sells the excellent (my favorite)
ICE Cube JTAG ICE tool? So in that context the question is what can be
lifted from Atmel's designs in order to produce enhanced products both
freeware and commercial?

Graham's (and others) JTAG programmer looks exactly like an Atmel
JTAGICE mk-I to AVR Studio, and as such run Atmel's firmware which is
loaded by AVR Studio on first use.

I really would like to see the AVR Dragon enhanced to support the full
range of 8-bit AVRs. Am about to put ATmega48/88/168 in 3 different
designs all because the customer wants to be able to edit the product
after its delivered and was impressed with the $50 Dragon. Avr-gcc, AVR
Studio, and AVR Dragon make quite a combination on $2.50 MCU's.

--
David Kelly N4HHE, address@hidden
========================================================================
Whom computers would destroy, they must first drive mad.