A new 32-bit Arduino Shield Compatible platform.

 

Home

Store

Products

Flexis MCU

Getting Started

Resources

Support

Contact

 

 

  

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

A modern 32-bit MCU for academia.
Step-by-step debugger.
 

Fast.  More memory.  More I/Os.  More features. 
More accessories.
More programming languages.
Lower cost.

  
   

32-bit Firebird32 development board

Firebird32 is an Arduino Shield Compatible platform based on the Freescale 32-bit MCF51JM128 Flexis controller. It supports most Arduino shields available.

For beginners, the "StickOS BASIC" created by Rich Testardi is even easier to use than any IDE. You do not need to install an IDE on your host computer, but only a standard terminal emulation program, such as TeraTerm in Windows, the "screen" terminal command in Mac OS X, etc.

For advanced users, the Firebird32 board and USBDM works with Freescale's CodeWarrior IDE and a step-by-step debugger.  CodeWarrior special edition is free and has been used by universities all over the world.


Firebird32 features:

  • Low cost
  • 32-bit MCF51JM128 Flexis MCU
  • Flash Memory: 128 K x 8
  • RAM: 16 K x 8
  • EEPROM: 4 K x 8
  • Clock Speed: 50 MHz
  • Supported by Jim Donelson's Framework
  • Supported by Richard Testardi's "StickOS BASIC" with an interactive debugger
  • Supported by CodeWarrior IDE with a step-by-step debugger and USBDM, OSBDM and Multilink
  • Supported by Code Sorcery tool chain (compiler, assembler and linker)
  • A gateway to more advanced Coldfire V2-V4 microcontroller families
  • Total 46 I/O pins including analog inputs and PWM outputs
  • Eight analog Inputs
  • Analog comparator
  • Two SPIs
  • Two UARTs
  • CAN 2.0
  • Native USB port using CDC communication class eliminates the FT232RL chip
  • Native USB port for making projects as true USB devices
  • I2C interface
  • Eight advanced timers and PWMs
  • PWM available on D11
  • Two keyboard interrupts
  • Standard Arduino shield form factor
  • Supports most Arduino shields, it not all.
  • Power ON LED and digital 13 LED are located on the front edge of PCB
  • Reset switch and data switch are located on the edge of PCB
  • Exclusive Breadboard Over Chip (BOC) design for saving a shield ( breadboard is not included in the price )
  • Accepts a plug-in 8x2 LCD for saving a shield ( LCD is not included in the price )
  • Accepts a 4x4 keypad for saving a shield ( keypad is not included in the price )
  • Accepts a 3-axis accelerometer for saving a shield ( accelerometer is not included in the price )
  • RGB LED
  • Speaker for alarm, voice and music applications
  • SPI header
  • UART header
  • I2C header
  • Auto sensing/switching power input
  • Low power auto sensing/switching circuit to eliminate an OP amp. for battery powered applications
  • BDM (ICD/ICE) header for direct program download and debugging
  • Input DC voltage: 7-20 V
  • Operating voltage: 5V
  • Resettable fuse to protect PC's USB port
  • Damping resistors for reliable USB communication
  • Ferrite bead to reduce EMI
  • Two-layer PCB
  • PC board size: Credit Card Size, 3.375" X 2.160", between sizes of Uno32 and Max32

 

 

How does Firebird32 compare with the ChipKIT Uno32?

Firebird32 vs. ChipKIT Uno32                             

 

Features

Firebird32

ChipKIT Uno32

Winner
Price $26.00 $26.95 Firebird32

Microcontroller data bus

32-bit

32-bit

Draw
Flash memory 128 K 128K Draw
RAM 16K 16K Draw
EEPROM 4K 0 Firebird32
I/O pins 46, all the time 42 normal, 20 when a shield is stacked on Firebird32
UART 2 2 Draw
SPI 2 2 Draw
Analog to Digital converter 12-bit 10-bit Firebird32
PWM on D11 Yes No Firebird32
I2C 1 2 Uno32
RTC No Yes Uno32
CAN 2.0 Yes No Firebird32
USB port communication Native Requires a FT232 Firebird32
Step-by-step debugger Requires a $19 USBDM Requires a $44.95 Pickit 3 Firebird32
System speed 50MHz 80MHz Uno32
Operating voltage, VCC 5V 3.3V Firebird321
Breadboard location On board Off board Firebird32
USB signal damping resistors Yes No Firebird32
Ferrite bead for USB port Yes No Firebird32
RGB LED Yes No Firebird32
Speaker Yes No Firebird32
User input switch Yes No Firebird32
LCD header Yes No Firebird32
SPI header Yes No Firebird32
I2C header Yes No Firebird32
UART header Yes No Firebird32
4x4 keypad header Yes No Firebird32
3-Axis accelerometer header Yes No Firebird32
PCB layer 2 4 Firebird322
PCB size Credit Card Size Smaller than CCS Uno323
Reset button location At the left edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
D13 LED location At the front edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
Power-on LED location At the front edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
BDM / ICE header location At the left edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
Debugger hardware tool USBDM,  $19 Pickit 3,  $44.95 Firebird32
Total system cost $26+$19=$45 $26.90+$44.95=$71.90 Firebird32

To purchase a Pickit 3 for $44.95 at: http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?Keywords=PG164130

Note 1:   80%-90% of all shields have been manufactured are 5V shields,
              so you know which voltage is more desired for microcontroller applications.

Note 2:  The Firebird32 won because its more difficult circuit layout can be done in a 2-layer PCB instead of a 4-layer PCB.
Note 3:  The Uno32 won because smaller is better for some applications.

Note 4:  The winner in blue color indicates a significant win. 

 

Firebird32

 ChipKIT Uno32

=

Firebird32 with our exclusive Breadboard Over Chip (BOCtm) design eliminates a proto-shield.
Cost: $26+$3.50=$29.50

  

ChipKIT Uno32's design needs a proto-shield (part# TCHIP002).
Cost: $26.95+$19.95=$46.90
http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?keywords=TCHIP002
 

http://www.chipkit.org/forum/download/file.php?id=7

http://twistify.com/wp-content/uploads/chirping_cricket_arduino_breadboard.jpg

http://todbot.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/minimal-arduino-uploading.jpg

This is how the wiring looks when the breadboard is sitting over the chip.

  

This is how the wiring looks when breadboard is separated from the controller board.

 

 

 

http://www.nuelectronics.com/estore/images/nustore/lcd_shield_2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3616807268_9fdd438973.jpg

http://www.fabiobiondi.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/lcd-arduino_wires_001.jpg

 

Firebird32 with LCD and breadboard,
saves two shields.

  

A LCD shield blocks every I/O pins. It's impossible to add a breadboard for doing circuit experiments.
     
 


Firebird32 incorporates a transistor based power switching control circuit that draws no current in battery operation.

  


Uno32 incorporates a low current OP amplifier based power switching control circuit that draws at least 100uA all the time.

 

 

Use female headers with long pins to raise the LCD, so the underneath breadboard will be accessible.

 

 
Firebird32 connected to a 24x2 LCD through a ribbon cable. It can control character based LCDs in different sizes.
Many hobbyists are interested in making a USB LCD controller.
 http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=115461

You do not have to start it from scratch. Complete low cost hardware for a USB LCD controller is right here.
It's a more elegant solution with a native USB port than a USB to TTL interface chip being used in the Uno32 and Max32.

With the Stick/OS v1.84 which includes built-in LCD and keypad routines for the Firebird32, you can get your USB LCD application up and running in hours instead of days and weeks.

Below is the code to display two lines of text on the LCD.  The "0" is for printing the 1st line, the "1" is for the 2nd line.

LCD 0,  "Firebird Trainer"
LCD 1,  "StickOS / BASIC"

Is this simpler and more straight forward than the code in your favorite IDE?

Note:  To connect the Firebird32 to a LCD module through a ribbon cable, you need a right angle 7x2 male header to be soldered on the top layer of the LCD PC board.

 
Firebird32 with LCD, UTB ( USB to TTL Breakout, but works as USB to TTL adapter here ), 4x4 Keypad & TinyBee ( 3-axis accelerometer ).

It's a low cost training system for hobbyists and non-engineering students.
Quite a few applications can be done with these accessories without any shields.
Code development can be done with StickOS BASIC programming. 
No BDM is required, no IDE is needed to install.  A terminal program is all you need to develop and debug code in StickOS BASIC.

 

 
Firebird32 with USBDM, LCD, UTB ( USB to TTL Breakout, but works as USB to TTL adapter here ), 4x4 Keypad &
TinyBee ( 3-axis accelerometer ).
The low cost USBDM is all you need to develop and debug code with CodeWarrior in C or assembly language.

 

 

When a shield is stacked on, the board does not provide enough space for a LCD cable. 
Use female headers with long pins to raise the shield, so the LCD cable can be plugged under the shield.

 

 
Firebird32 with USBDM.  An advanced user's system for developing and debugging code using CodeWarrior.

It's easy to buy different shields or design your own to finish your senior projects.
It's a low cost 32-bit platform for EE/ECE students. The total system costs $45.

 

 

How does Firebird32 compare with the ChipKIT Max32: 

Features

Firebird32

ChipKIT Max32

Winner
Price $26 $45.95 Firebird32

Microcontroller data bus

32-bit

32-bit

Draw
Flash memory 128 K 512K Max32
RAM 16K 64K Max32
EEPROM 4K 0 Firebird32
I/O pins 46 68 Max32
UART 2 5 Max32
SPI 2 5 Max32
Analog to Digital Converter 12-bit 10-bit Firebird32
I2C 1 5 Max32
RTC No Yes Max32
CAN 2.0 Yes Yes Draw
Ethernet No Yes Max32
USB port communication Native Requires a FT232 Firebird32
Step-by-step debugger Requires a $19 USBDM Requires a $44.95 Pickit 3 Firebird32
System speed 50MHz 80MHz Max32
Breadboard location On board Off board Firebird32
USB signal damping resistors Yes No Firebird32
Ferrite bead for USB port Yes No Firebird32
RGB LED Yes No Firebird32
Speaker Yes No Firebird32
User input switch Yes No Firebird32
LCD header Yes No Firebird32
SPI header Yes No Firebird32
I2C header Yes No Firebird32
UART header Yes No Firebird32
4x4 keypad header Yes No Firebird32
3-Axis accelerometer header Yes No Firebird32
PCB layer 2 4 Firebird32
PCB size Credit Card Size Larger than CCS Firebird32
Reset button location At the left edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
D13 LED location At the front edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
Power-on LED location At the front edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
BDM / ICE header location At the left edge of PCB Hiding under a shield Firebird32
Debugger hardware tool USBDM,  $19 Pickit 3,  $44.95 Firebird32
Total system cost $26+$19=$45 $45.90+$44.95=$90.95 Firebird32

To purchase a Pickit 3 for $44.95 at: http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?Keywords=PG164130

 

Summary:

Although Firebird32 is no match for the Max32 in some applications, but it's still a 32-bit microcontroller based development board with more features. In some applications it can be as good as, if not better than a Max32, at a fraction of the cost. In most cases 46 I/O pins are more than enough for learning microcontroller programming in classrooms or making senior design projects.

Extra I/O pins are moved to the edge, so when a shield is stacked on, the Firebird32 still has 46 I/O pins available for user application programs. Just having LCD and 4x4 keypad interfaces on the board will make the Firedird32 a better choice in many classrooms. If you add in debugger hardware, USBDM / Pickit 3, as a kit, the total system price will be $45 vs $90.95. The price difference is very significant when a school buys 100 kits, that's $4500 vs. $9095.