Getting Started with PIC Microcontrollers

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Getting Started with PIC Microcontrollers

• Kelly Flowers NN8E
• April 18th, 2011

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My Background

• Licensed in 1979
• Education BSEE 1981
• Licensed Professional Engineer (Ohio)
• Former NOARS member (80s and 90s)
• Worked for Allen-Bradley/Rockwell for 25yrs
• Worked with computers and microprocessors since
  1979
• Began working with PICs in late 90s

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What am I going to cover tonight?

• PIC background, purpose, value proposition
• PIC architecture (whats it look like inside one)
• How can you use one?
• PIC system overview(dev s/w, programmer, target
  or protoboard)
• Programming language choices(Assy, Basic, C)
• Simple examples / hands on
• Recommended resources

Just want to whet your appetite tonight!
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The 411 on PICs

• Peripheral Interface Controllers came along in
  the 90s from Microchip
• Small pin count microcontrollers intended to be
  smart and fast I/O front ends for more
  traditional microprocessors
• Not intended to have big number-crunching ability
• Hundreds of PICs and dsPICs

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Why are they so popular?

• Cost!
• Per piece cost is low, typically under 5
• Software development environment needed to
  program the devices is FREE (MPLAB IDE)
• Programmers are low cost
• Learning curve is fast(low of instructions)
• Proliferation of hardware, software, books
• Backward compatibility
• Higher level language compilers(Basic, C)
• Canned serial comms (RS232, SPI, I2C)
• Flash memory based, quickly re-programmable
• Minimal support parts needed

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The simplest of PICs
This even has analog input capability!!!
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General PIC project overview
PIC
INPUTS Digital Analog
OUTPUTS Digital
SERIAL DEVICES (displays, EEPROM, RTC, smart
sensors)
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What do you need to get started?

• PC to load development software(MPLAB) on to
• Programmer which connects between PC and your PIC
• Target or protoboard or your actual project board
  to test your program!

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The simplest of PIC projects
Even the 12F675 supports ICSP!
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What is MPLAB IDE?

• This is the program you download to your PC to
  get started with writing your first program
• Integrated Development Environment
• Free integrated software tool set for developing
  and troubleshooting programs for embedded
  applications using PICs
• Easily integrates with 3rd party software such as
  high level language compilers
• Really high quality, professional grade software
• The bad news is Microchip upgrades it a lot and
  every few generations changes the look and feel!

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Programming Language Choices

• Assembly language is the lowest level
• No extra cost to use
• Fastest
• Manipulating things at the bit level
• Not easy to do higher level tasks like serial
  comm and math

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35 Assembly instructions (mid-range)
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Two Higher Level Choices

• BASIC
• Micro Engineering Labs
• C
• Multiple vendors (I use CCS)
• Free light versions
• Popular with scientists and engineers
• High level languages are used to simplify more
  complicated tasks like math and serial
  communications
• Microchip made using these with MPLAB a breeze!
• Typically execute more slowly than Assembly
  programs doing the same thing, but this is not
  usually a problem
• The full versions cost 100 to 300

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Youre gonna need a Programmer
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Putting it all together

• Picture your final project(I like to do the
  hardware design first)
• Download MPLAB or install it off supplied disc
• Connect programmer with blank PIC installed
• Launch MPLAB and set up for proper PIC and the
  type of programmer you are using
• Write your program(or use an example) and build
  till you have no errors! (the hard part)
• Try it out! Do this as many times as needed
  since you can keep erasing and reprogramming in
  seconds!

I recommend the PICkit 2 ARRL Book
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Project Thoughts.

• Keyer
• Test equipment
• Freq counter
• Signal gen (DC to Daylight with DDS board!!!)
• SWR / power meter
• Repeater control
• Automatic control of anything!
• Hobby servo control
• Any timing and/or counting applications
• Holiday lights
• Home automation

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Resources

• Microchip website
• MPLAB, PICkit 23, ICD 23, datasheets, app notes
• ARRL PIC Programming for Beginners
• Hellebuyck Beginners Guide to Embedded C
  Programming
• Square 1 website(www.sq-1.com)
• Wilmshurst Designing Embedded Systems with PIC
  Microcontrollers
• Nuts and Volts magazine
• www.sparkfun.com
• Programmers, proto boards, parts
• www.best-microcontroller-projects.com
• Tutorials, projects
• www.olimex.com
• Excellent cheap proto boards(available at
  sparkfun)
• www.kangaus.com PIC-EL II proto board, docs
• www.digikey.com, www.mouser.com, www.jameco.com,
  www.newark.com PICs and parts
• GOOGLE!!! EBAY!!!