Atmel FLIP - what does it do?

Projects Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer
1

Under the "Programming" section of this arduino uno product description there's talk about Atmel's FLIP software which can be used to "load a new firmware". I've searched the web for what FLIP actually does but to no avail.

Atmel, description of FLIP:
Supports in-system programming of flash devices through RS232, USB or CAN. The software runs on Windows 9x, Windows ME, WindowsNT, Windows2000, WindowsXP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Linux x86.

This sounds very straightforward, yet I still get confused. This is literally all information there is. Well, there's this Atmel-pdf but that doesn't mention any support for the ATmega16U2. This covers the AT90USB so I don't know.. And besides, there's no place to download this alleged USB DFU either.

Again, the arduino.cc site says that the USB-part of the Uno (ATmega16U2) comes loaded with a "DFU-bootloader". This original bootloader makes uploading "sketches" via USB and Arduino IDE possible as I've understood, does Atmel do the same thing but with Atmel Studio? Or do you have to go through FLIP?

This is my situation; I have an AVRISP MkII on loan for a limited time, when I heard about FLIP I thought that this enabled you to program the Uno via Atmel Studio via USB, NOT exclusively AVRISP. Is this a correct assumption?

As far as I know, I'm the only one on Earth ever to try this, it's hard work being a pioneer :cry: I have no available hardware at this point, but will be getting soon. I run Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit.

(Also, they talk about the ICSP, do you use an ISP with this interface? For example, the Pro says "ISP" but the Uno says "ICSP", what's the difference? Can you connect the AVRISP to both?)

Cheers! Thank you for any help :slight_smile:

2

Okay, reading through the datasheets it becomes apparent that this isn't really as mindboggingly complicated as one might think.. But maybe someone else finds this thread useful sometime, who knows..

3

Keep in mind the context. Flip and any other DFU means of updating 'firmware' is dealing with the USB serial converter chip that is implemented in a 32U (or other USB capable avr chip). This is not directly involved with how one programs the main AVR chip on the board, a 328p in the case of a Uno board, which is either via USB serial interacting with the bootloader code in the 328p, or via ICSP without needing a bootloader.

Only very very very very few arduino users ever have a need to upload new firmware to the USB serial chip.

4

retrolefty:
Keep in mind the context. Flip and any other DFU means of updating 'firmware' is dealing with the USB serial converter chip that is implemented in a 32U (or other USB capable avr chip). This is not directly involved with how one programs the main AVR chip on the board, a 328p in the case of a Uno board, which is either via USB serial interacting with the bootloader code in the 328p, or via ICSP without needing a bootloader.

Only very very very very few arduino users ever have a need to upload new firmware to the USB serial chip.

Right so.. Basically it doesn't matter which firmware is on there? They do the same thing or what.. Can I program the Uno via USB through Atmel Studio? (this is my goal, I'm not too concerned with how I reach it)

5

Tickstart:

retrolefty:
Keep in mind the context. Flip and any other DFU means of updating 'firmware' is dealing with the USB serial converter chip that is implemented in a 32U (or other USB capable avr chip). This is not directly involved with how one programs the main AVR chip on the board, a 328p in the case of a Uno board, which is either via USB serial interacting with the bootloader code in the 328p, or via ICSP without needing a bootloader.

Only very very very very few arduino users ever have a need to upload new firmware to the USB serial chip.

Right so.. Basically it doesn't matter which firmware is on there? They do the same thing or what.. Can I program the Uno via USB through Atmel Studio? (this is my goal, I'm not too concerned with how I reach it)

I'm pretty sure some/many have done that, I just don't have any specific information or link on how.