Getting Started with PIC

Microcontrollers
Kelly Flowers NN8E
April 18
th
, 2011
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
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!
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
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

The simplest of PICs
This even has analog input capability!!!
General PIC project overview
INPUTS

Digital
Analog
PIC
OUTPUTS

Digital
SERIAL DEVICES
(displays, EEPROM, RTC, smart sensors)
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!
The simplest of PIC projects
Even the 12F675 supports ICSP!
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 3
rd
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!
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



35 Assembly instructions (mid-range)
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


Youre gonna need a Programmer
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
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

Resources
Microchip website
MPLAB, PICkit 2&3, ICD 2&3, 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!!!