After much research, the AVR AT32UC3B series was identified as a likely candidate for a HID-based embedded USB controller chip.   The EVK1101 was obtained, and set up as follows:

Package contents:  EVK1101 board, IAR embedded Workbench CD (CDKS-EVK1100-EWAVR32-310D-005), AVR Technical Library Jan 2009 DVD, serial cable, USB cable, OTG cable adapter, coax cable to pigtails, and a quickstart guide.

So, Insert CD, double-click it, and select ‘Software installations”

Pick the ‘KickStart edition’ (code-size limited but no expiration).  AVR has GNU tools also available, stay tuned for details about this.  It wants you to register and sends you a license # and key, so do that.

This just installs the IAR workbench, not the drivers.

The next step is to see what’s on the Technical Library DVD.  Double-clicking it opens an HTML file with two choices: AVR and AVR32.  Pick AVR32, which then brings up the AVR32 Technical Library page, with choices AVR32 Studio and GNU Toolchain (very nice), Tools, and Devices.

The Getting Started Guide mentions a “AVR32 UC3B Control Panel PC Demo Installer.exe” application and states that it is on the DVD, but it doesn’t appear to be, so look on www.atmel.com/avr32

Looking around on the Atmel website revealed some other interesting information:

A free RTOS is availabel:  The AVR®32 UC3 FreeRTOS.org kernel port. FreeRTOS.org is a portable, open source, mini Real Time Kernel - a free to download and royalty free RTOS that can be used in commercial applications.

Note:

The AVR®32 UC3 FreeRTOS.org kernel port and basic demonstrations is currently available in the AT32UC3-SoftwareFramework-x.x.x.zip package under the SERVICES/FREERTOS folder.

And check out the LIBUSB driver:  (http://libusb-win32.sourceforge.net/)

And after a bit more searching and re-searching, the files actually appear to be on the DVD, zipped up, so expand this one: AVR32-SoftwareFramework-1.3.0-AT32UC3B.zip (note, there was also a version 1.2.1ES, not sure what’s the difference).   And looking on the website reveals an even later version: AVR32-SoftwareFramework-AT32UC3B-1.4.0.zip, so download and extract that instead.

See the Blog entry http://www.michaelshonle.com/2009/06/21/using-the-atmel-avr32-usb-evk1101-with-vista-64-way-1/ for details on getting the EVK1101 board talking to the computer.

Meanwhile, moving right along, time to install their IDE:

So run AVR32Studio-2.0.2-Setup.exe from c:\dev\AVR\techlib32\software\studio32\software

Install in c:\dev\avr\avr tools\

Running it brings up a list of errors:
avr32program: <not found> (Need version 3.0 or newer)
avr32gdbproxy: <not found> (Need version 3.0 or newer)
avr32-gdb: <not found> (Need version 6.7 or newer)
avr32-g++: <not found> (Need version 4.2 or newer)
avr32-gcc: <not found> (Need version 4.2 or newer)
avr32-as: <not found> (Need version 2.17 or newer)
avr32-nm: <not found> (Need version 2.17 or newer)

There are multiple problems with dependent executables or path settings. Please consult the user guide for details.

AVR32 Studio could not locate a AVR32/GNU Toolchain on your host. Please make sure that a compatible version is installed and restart AVR32 Studio.

So, try installing the tools:

C:\Dev\AVR\techlib32\software\GNU_toolchain\software>avr32-gnu-toolchain-2.0.3.exe

This made it happy, here’s the new startup report:

AVR32 Studio has checked your system to ensure the proper versions of required utilities are in place.

avr32program: Found version 3.0.4
avr32gdbproxy: Found version 3.0.11
avr32-gdb: Found version 6.7.1.atmel.1.0.3
avr32-g++: Found version 4.2.2-atmel.1.0.8
avr32-gcc: Found version 4.2.2-atmel.1.0.8
avr32-as: Found version 2.17.atmel.1.2.6
avr32-nm: Found version 2.17.atmel.1.2.6

You are using the MinGW version of the AVR32 Utilities and AVR32/GNU Toolchain.

Have fun!