As embedded devices evolve in both capability and connectivity so does the need to enable remote application updates. Embedded connectivity, which is not limited to a single communications protocol, is essential in growing markets including the Internet of Things (IoT). Remote firmware updates allow for efficient upgrades to an existing application while increasing a products useful life. The addition of new features to a product can be used to maintain a competitive advantage against new market offerings or unlock existing fee-based premium content. Additionally, software fixes can be quickly propagated to ensure reliable system operation.
To take advantage of this capability, bootloader firmware must reside within memory to provide self-programming capability to the microcontroller. Since developing custom bootloader code can be a complex and time consuming process, we provide tools that will generate bootloader firmware for your application. The table below can be used to identify the proper bootloader solution for your application, based on the PIC® microcontroller (MCU) you are using.