PIC - 2
How to pick your PIC
Overview of a PIC Project
1. Think carefully about what you really want to do.
2. Select which PIC you’re going to use.
3. Read the data sheet!
4. Use the editor in MPLAB to write the code.
5. Use the MPLAB assembler (MPASM) to assemble the code.
6. Fix the billions of assembly errors.
7. Simulate your code in the MPLAB PIC simulator (MPSIM).
8. Fix more errors (usually logical and initialization errors).
9. Load the program on your PIC with the programmer.
10. Test the PIC in circuit. Attempt to identify bugs.
11. Fix the errors (usually timing, interrupt and peripheral errors) and re-test.
12. Brag to your friends about how you’re on the cutting edge of embedded control.
(Yellow Letters = what we’ll talk about today)
PIC Architecture: Background
Microprocessor:
 Requires
‘external’ support hardware
 E.g., External RAM, ROM, Peripherals.
Microcontroller:
 Very
little external support hardware.
 Most RAM, ROM and peripherals on chip.
 “Computer on a chip”, or “System on chip” (SOC)
 E.g., PIC = Peripheral Interface Controller
PIC Architecture: Background
We’re used to the Von-Neuman Architecture




Used in: 80X86 (PCs), 8051, 68HC11, etc.)
Only one bus between CPU and memory
RAM and program memory share the same bus and the same
memory, and so must have the same bit width
Bottleneck: Getting instructions interferes with accessing RAM
Memory
CPU
8
(Program
& Data)
PIC Architecture: Background
PICs use the Harvard Architecture
Used mostly in RISC CPUs (we’ll get there)
Separate program bus and data bus: can be different widths!
For example, PICs use:
– Data memory (RAM): a small number of 8bit registers
– Program memory (ROM): 12bit, 14bit or 16bit wide
(in EPROM, FLASH, or ROM)
Memory
Memory
(Data)
8
CPU
12
14
16
(Program)
PIC Architecture: Background
Traditionally, CPUs are “CISC”
Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)
 Used in: 80X86, 8051, 68HC11, etc.
 Many instructions (usually > 100)
 Many, many addressing modes
 Usually takes more than 1 internal clock cycle (Tcyc) to execute
 Example:

MC68HC05:
LDAA 0x55
1000
1100
01010101
2 bytes, 2 cycles
PIC Architecture: Background
PICs and most Harvard chips are “RISC”
Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
 Used in: SPARC, ALPHA, Atmel AVR, etc.
 Few instructions (usually < 50)
 Only a few addressing modes
 Executes 1 instruction in 1 internal clock cycle (Tcyc)
 Example:

PIC16CXXX:
MOVLW 0x55
1100XX 01010101
1 word, 1 cycle
PIC Architecture: Convergence
Many Microcontrollers and DSP chips are “converging”
Heading towards some mean between RISC and CISC
 Large CPUs (DSPs) are adding microcontroller like options
(the 32bit, 100MHz StrongARM draws only 70mA)
 Small microcontrollers are getting more powerful, now able
to do some DSP
 General trend: Smaller packages, less power consumption,
faster
 Future possibility: “Sea of gates” reconfigurable processor

Example PIC: 12C508 Block Diagram
The PIC Family: Cores
PICs come with 1 of 4 CPU ‘cores’:
12bit cores with 33 instructions: 12C50x, 16C5x
14bit cores with 35 instructions: 12C67x,16Cxxx
16bit cores with 58 instructions: 17C4x,17C7xx
‘Enhanced’ 16bit cores with 77 instructions: 18Cxxx
The PIC Family: Packages
PICs come in a huge variety of packages:
8 pin DIPs, SOICs:
18pin DIPs, SOICs:
28pin DIPs, SOICs:
40pin DIPs, SOICs:
44 - 68pin PLCCs*:
* also TQFPs, etc.
12C50x (12bit) and 12C67x (14bit)
16C5X (12bit), 16Cxxx (14bit)
16C5X (12bit), 16Cxxx (14bit)
16Cxxx (14bit), 17C4x (16bit)
16Cxxx (14bit), 17C4x / 17Cxxx (16bit)
The PIC Family: Speed
PICs require a clock to work.
Can use crystals, clock oscillators, or even an RC circuit.
Some PICs have a built in 4MHz RC clock
– Not very accurate, but requires no external components!
Instruction speed = 1/4 clock speed (Tcyc = 4 * Tclk)
All PICs can be run from DC to their maximum spec’d speed:
12C50x
12C67x
16Cxxx
17C4x / 17C7xxx
18Cxxx
4MHz
10MHz
20MHz
33MHz
40MHz
The PIC Family: Program Memory
PIC program space is different for each chip.
Some examples are:
12C508
16C71C
16F877
17C766
512 12bit instructions
1024 (1k) 14bit instructions
8192 (8k) 14bit instructions
16384 (16k) 16bit instructions
The PIC Family: Program Memory
PICs have two different types of program storage:
1. EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
Needs high voltage from a programmer to program (~13V)
Needs windowed chips and UV light to erase
Note: One Time Programmable (OTP) chips are EPROM chips,
but with no window!
PIC Examples: Any ‘C’ part: 12C50x, 17C7xx, etc.
The PIC Family: Program Memory
PICs have two different types of program storage:
2. FLASH
Re-writable (even by chip itself)
Much faster to develop on!
Finite number of writes (~100k Writes)
PIC Examples: Any ‘F’ part: 16F84, 16F87x, 18Fxxx (future)
The PIC Family: Data Memory
PICs use general purpose “file registers” for RAM
(each register is 8bits for all PICs)
Some examples are:
12C508
16C71C
16F877
17C766

25 Bytes RAM
36 Bytes RAM
368 Bytes (plus 256 Bytes of nonvolatile EEPROM)
902 Bytes RAM
Don’t forget, programs are stored in program space (not in data space), so low RAM values are OK.
The PIC Family: Control Registers
PICs use a series of “special function registers” for
controlling peripherals and PIC behaviors.
Some examples are:
STATUS
INTCON
TRIS
TXREG
Bank select bits, ALU bits (zero, borrow, carry)
Interrupt control: interrupt enables, flags, etc.
Tristate control for digital I/O: which pins are ‘floating’
UART transmit register: the next byte to transmit
The PIC Family: Peripherals
Different PICs have different on-board peripherals
Some common peripherals are:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Tri-state (“floatable”) digital I/O pins
Analog to Digital Converters (ADC) (8, 10 and 12bit, 50ksps)
Serial communications: UART (RS-232C), SPI, I2C, CAN
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) (10bit)
Timers and counters (8 and 16bit)
Watchdog timers, Brown out detect, LCD drivers
PIC Peripherals: Ports (Digital I/O)

All PICs have digital I/O pins, called ‘Ports’
– the 8pin 12C508 has 1 Port with 4 digital I/O pins
– the 68pin 17C766 has 9 Ports with 66 digital I/O pins

Ports have 2 control registers
– TRISx sets whether each pin is an input or output
– PORTx sets their output bit levels


Most pins have 25mA source/sink (directly drives LEDs)
WARNING: Other peripherals SHARE pins!
PIC Peripherals: ADCs
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Only available in 14bit and 16bit cores
Fs (sample rate) < 54KHz
Most 8bits, newer PICs have 10 or 12bits
All are +/- 1LSB and are monotonic
Theoretically higher accuracy when PIC is in sleep mode
(less digital noise)
Can generate an interrupt on ADC conversion done
Multiplexed 3 (12C671) - 12 (17C7xxx) channel input
– Must wait Tacq to charge up sampling capacitor
(see datasheets)
PIC Peripherals: USART: UART

Serial Communications Peripheral: Universal
Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter
Only available in 14bit and 16bit cores
Interrupt on TX buffer empty and RX buffer full

Asynchronous communication: UART (RS-232C serial)


– Can do 300bps - 115kbps
– 8 or 9 bits, parity, start and stop bits, etc.
– Outputs 5V so you need a RS232 level converter (e.g., MAX232)
PIC Peripherals: USART: USRT

Synchronous communication: i.e., with clock signal

SPI = Serial Peripheral Interface
–
–
–
–

3 wire: Data in, Data out, Clock
Master/Slave (can have multiple masters)
Very high speed (1.6Mbps)
Full speed simultaneous send and receive (Full duplex)
I2C = Inter IC
– 2 wire: Data and Clock
– Master/Slave (Single master only; multiple masters clumsy)
– Lots of cheap I2C chips available; typically < 100kbps
(For example, 8pin EEPROM chips, ADC, DACs, etc.)
PIC Peripherals: Timers





Available in all PICs.
14+bit cores may generate interrupts on timer overflow.
Some 8bits, some 16bits, some have prescalers
Can use external pins as clock in/clock out
(ie, for counting events or using a different Fosc)
Warning: some peripherals share Timer resources
PIC Peripherals: CCP Modules


Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP)
10bit PWM width within 8bit PWM period (frequency)
– Enhanced 16bit cores have better bit widths

Frequency/Duty cycle resolution tradeoff
– 19.5KHz has 10bit resolution
– 40KHz has 8bit resolution
– 1MHz has 1bit resolution (makes a 1MHz clock!)



Can use PWM to do DAC - See AN655
Capture counts external pin changes
Compare will interrupt on when the timer equals the value
in a compare register
PIC Peripherals: Misc.

Sleep Mode: PIC shuts down until external interrupt (or internal timer)
wakes it up.
Interrupt on pin change: Generate an interrupt when a digital input pin
changes state (for example, interrupt on keypress).
Watchdog timer: Resets chip if not cleared before overflow
Brown out detect: Resets chip at a known voltage level
LCD drivers: Drives simple LCD displays
Future: CAN bus, 12bit ADC, better analog functions

VIRTUAL PERIPHERALS:





– Peripherals programmed in software. UARTS, timers, and more can be
done in software (but it takes most of the resources of the machine)
Selecting your PIC

See Microchip Line card for the entire list of PICs :
http://www.microchip.com/10/Lit/rLit/00148d1/index.htm

See the Digikey catalog for pricing information.
http://www.digikey.com
Low End: 12C508










8pin package (DIP, SO)
12bit core - 33 instructions
1us instruction time (Tclk = 4MHz)
512 12bit program memory
25 8bit data memory or registers (“File registers”)
2 level hardware stack (no interrupts)
5 GPIO pins, 1 input only (25mA source/sink)
Features: Internal pullups, wake up on pin change, internal oscillator
Peripherals: Timer, Watch Dog Timer
$1.88(1), $1.25(100), $9.65(W)
Mid Range: 16F876


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

28pin package (DIP, SO)
14bit core - 35 instructions
200ns instruction time (Tclk = 20MHz)
8,092 14bit FLASH program memory
368 8bit data memory or registers (“File registers”)
256 8bit EEPROM (nonvolatile) data registers
8 level hardware stack (interrupts enabled)
22 GPIO (20mA source / 25mA 7sink)
Peripherals: 5ch 10bit ADC, USART/I2C/SPI, 16bit & 8bit timers
Features: Brown out detect, In-Circuit Debugger (ICD)
$11.00(1), $5.89(100)
High End: 17C766

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


84pin PLCC package
16bit core - 58 instructions
121ns instruction time (Tclk = 33MHz)
16,384 16bit program memory
902 8bit data memory or registers
16 level hardware stack (priority interrupts)
66 GPIO (20mA source / 35mA sink)
Features: 8x8 multiply, BOD, microprocessor mode
Peripherals:
– 2x 16bit + 2x 8bit timer, WDT, 2x USART, 4x CCP,
– 12ch 10bit ADC,
$20.25(1), $10.53(100), $18.38(W)
12C508, 16F876, 17C766 Uses

12C508
– Inexpensive controllers, glue logic, simple tasks
– E.g., quadrature decoding, digital interfacing

16F876
– Multitasking programs, serial communication
– E.g., Cheap data acquisition system and digital I/O system for PC
off COM ports, data logging

17C766
– RTOS, low end DSP, communications, big moosey applications
– E.g., FEC converter, Rocket Flight Computer, cheap FFT chip
For Comparison: The 68HC11
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
48pin DIP, 52pin PLCC packages
145 instructions & 6 addressing modes
333ns instruction time (Tclk = 12MHz)
12k 8bit ROM or EPROM program memory
512 8bit general RAM memory
512 8bit EEPROM
Software stack (uses general RAM)
16 I/O, 11 inputs, 11 outputs
Peripherals:
– USART, SPI, 8ch 8bit ADC, 4x 16bit capture timers, 4x PWM,
Pulse accumulator, WDT, 16bit GP clock
~$7.00(1), ?(100), ?(W)
Getting ready to code!

ALWAYS have the data sheet for your PIC:
http://www.microchip.com/
There are just too many details you have to know!

Example: See PIC12C508 data sheet
PART II
Writing PIC Code
Software: Introduction

In this course, we’ll only talk about PIC assembly language as used in
the MPLAB assembler.
– MPLAB is FREE (score): see http://www.microchip.com/
– Assembly is a bit harder to code, but faster and more compact.

BASIC and C compilers exist but are spendy.
– Easier to use for mathematically intensive programs
(E.g., floating point, really complicated logic)
– Small, simple programs may be better done in assembly.

Excursion: Brief introduction to MPLAB
Software: Instruction Set

Let’s see what makes PICs tick!
See handout:
“PIC 16CXX Instruction Set Summary”


Program counter increments once each Tcyc to “grab” the next
instruction
Remember, instructions are stored in program memory and are
completely separate from RAM (“File registers”).
Software: Programmers Model
Hardware Stack
<-
12/14/16 bits
->
Stores addresses for subroutines
Program Memory
“Burned” in by
programmer (can’t
change during
execution). Stored
instructions, addresses
and “literals”
(numbers).
W “Register”
(PCH)
Program Counter-PCL
<-
8 bits
->
Status
Special Purpose
Registers
I/O pin states,
peripheral
registers, etc.
General Purpose
Registers
RAM or “data
memory”. Variables
are stored here.
Software: Instruction Examples
movlw 0xFF
Move (“mov”) the number (“l” for “literal”) 0xFF - that’s 256
in decimal- into the working register (“w”).
In other words, load W with the value 0xFF.
Software: Programmers Model
Hardware Stack
<-
12/14/16
->
Program Memory
(PCH)
Program Counter-PCL
<-
8 bits
Status
Special Purpose
Registers
0xFF
W “Register”
General Purpose
Registers
->
Software: Instruction Examples
movwf PORTA
Move (“mov”) the working register (“w”) into the file register
(“f”) named PORTA.
In other words, load the register called PORTA with whatever
number is in the W register.
Software: Programmers Model
Hardware Stack
<-
12/14/16
->
Program Memory
(PCH)
Program Counter-PCL
<-
8 bits
Status
Special Purpose
Registers
Value in W
W “Register”
PORTA
General Purpose
Registers
->
Software: Instruction Examples
movf
PORTA, W
Move (“mov”) the the value of the file register (“f”) named
PORTA into the working register (“w”) .
In other words, load W with the whatever number is in PORTA.
Software: Programmers Model
Hardware Stack
<-
12/14/16
->
Program Memory
(PCH)
Program Counter-PCL
<-
8 bits
Status
Special Purpose
Registers
Value in PORTA
W “Register”
PORTA
General Purpose
Registers
->
Software: Assembly Format



First column: Labels
Second column: opcodes and assembler directives
Third Columns & more: operands
; This is a comments since it starts with a “;”
; This program puts out a square wave on PORTA Pin 0
Loop
clrf
clrf
bsf
nop
nop
bcf
goto
PORTA
TRISA
PORTA,0
PORTA,0
Loop
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
Clear PORTA register
Make PORTA all outputs
Turn on PORTA Pin 0
Match ‘goto’ delay
“
“
“
Turn off PORTA Pin 0
If not zero, loop back
Software: Branches


All branches are “Bit Tests”
All branches only skip one instruction
; Set EqualFlag if PORTA = PORTB
bcf
movf
subwf
btfsc
bsf
EqualFlag, 7 ; First, clear the flag
PORTA, W
; Move PORTA -> W
PORTB, W
; W - PORTB -> W
STATUS, Z
; Check Z bit (see STATUS)
EqualFlag, 7 ; Ports equal; set flag
STATUS Register
Software: Direct Addressing

All file registers (RAM) are accessed by an address. This
is called direct addressing.

For example,
movlw
movwf
0xFF
0x06
loads W with FF, and then loads W into GPIO (address
0x06).

Thankfully, we can use labels instead of addresses:
GPIO
movwf
equ
GPIO
0x06
Software: Relative Addressing



PCL = Low byte of the Program Counter
Can be read and written.
Writing to it sets the address of the next instruction to be executed.
12bit core
14bit core
Software: Relative Addressing
Example
of Relative Addressing (using a table):
; Here’s a simple lookup table which is called as a
; subroutine. Expects the table offset to be loaded in W.
; An example call looks like this:
;
movlw 0x04
; Load W with 4
;
call
Table
; Call the table subroutine
;
movwf Result
; Store the result from the table
Table
addwf
retlw
retlw
retlw
retlw
PCL, W
0x00
0x23
0x33
0x88
;
;
;
;
Jump to (current PCL) + W
Return with 0x00 in W
Return with 0x23 in W
etc.
Software: Indirect Addressing
00h
04h
INDF

Load indirect address into FSR
Reading/Writing to INDF acts on
address stored in FSR

Example code to clear 0x20 - 7F:

FSR
loop
7Fh
Register File
movlw
movwf
0x20
FSR
clrf
incf
btfss
goto
INDF
FSR,F
FSR,7
loop
Software: Banking
RAM in the PICs is banked, especially
special function registers. Use the bank
select commands to choose the bank.
Either:
bsf
bcf
STATUS, RP0
STATUS, RPO
Or use the assembler directive:
Banksel
<registername>
Software: Real Code!
 Note:
Each PIC has a predefined “.h” file which
contains labels for each special file register
(so you don’t have to!)
 A working
program requires initialization code
and option codes set in the program. See .ASM
examples for initialization code
 Please
see Example.asm
Software Tips
 Destination
bit determines W or F for result
 Look at data movement and re-structure
Example: A + B -> A
MOVF
ADDWF
MOVWF
A,W
B,W
A
3 instructions
MOVF
ADDWF
B,W
A,F
2 instructions
Software Tips
WASTE
MACRO
NUMBER
NOLIST
; Doesn’t expand this into listing
LOCAL i
; Use local variable in Macro
i set NUMBER ; Initialize the local counter
WHILE i
IF i > 1
goto $+1
i -= 2
ELSE
nop
i -= 1
ENDIF
ENDW
LIST
ENDM
;Count of cycles to waste
;twice the waste, half the space
;Waste 1 Cycle
Software Tips
; Define variable names (without bothering with
; absolute addresses)
CBLOCK 0x20 ;Start of data space.
Var1: 1
Var2: 1
Var16:2
ACCL: 1
ACCH: 1
ENDC
; You can always call one thing many names, Grasshopper.
ACCA equ ACCL
ACCB equ ACCH
;alias ACCL
;alias ACCH
Software Tips
; This routine multiplies W by tmp (8x8). Uses
; temporary register CntDwn and stores 16bit result
; in ACCH:ACCL.
Mult
MSum
clrf
clrf
clrf
bsf
bcf
rrf
btfsc
addwf
rrf
rrf
decfsz
goto
return
ACCL
ACCH
CntDown
CntDown,3
STATUS,C
tmp,F
STATUS,C
ACCH,F
ACCH,F
ACCL,F
CntDown,F
MSum
;CntDown -> 8
Software Tips
;Save the current state on interrupt
;(NOTE: _W must map in both Banks - e.g. 7F/FF)
Interrupt
movwf
swapf
bcf
movwf
.
.
.
swapf
movwf
swapf
swapf
retfie
_W
STATUS,W
;Move STATUS w/o changing it
STATUS,RP0 ;Switch to page 0
_STATUS
;Save old status (swapped)
_STATUS,W ;Load old STATUS (& unswap)
STATUS
;also restores old page#
_W,F
_W,W
Software: Pitfalls!
 Bit
tests will screw you up! Be careful!
 For example:
movf Register, W
btfsc STATUS, Z
goto NZero
Zero .
.
Nzero .
(WRONG!)
Software: Pitfalls!

For all 12 and 14bit cores, the working register, “W”, can
NOT be addressed. So:
swapf W, W
will not work!

However, in the 17CXXX series you CAN address the
working register (called WREG).
Software: Pitfalls!
 Peripheral
Pin sharing
Many times pins share functions. E.g., a GPIO will share a pin with a
UART module (say the TX line). You CAN’T use one pin for two
functions! You must choose between them.
 Peripheral
Resource Sharing
Some resources require using the same resource. For example, some
of the PWM modules use TMR2, which may also be used in the
USART module.
Software: Pitfalls!

Read-Modify-Write problems CAN BE SERIOUS! (Uplink)

BCF/BSF PORTn Does the following:
–
–
–
–

Reads in the PORTn byte
Clears/sets the bit
Write the whole byte back.
BUT! If something external pulls a different output pin low or high
during the READ, the read in value will not be what you expect WORSE, the WRITE will permanently change it that way.
Solution: Use Shadowed I/O (Example: set PORTA Bit 0)
bsf
_PORTA, 0
movf
_PORTA, W
movwf PORTA
Software: Pitfalls!
Make sure you always set the
correct BANK bits!
bsf
clrf
bcf
STATUS, RP0
TRISA
STATUS, RPO
is correct; but if you just do
clrf
TRISA
you’ll actually execute:
clrf
PORTA
Software: Conclusion
 Choose:
Project then Build All. MPASM
will attempt to compile your code.
 Get
ready to fix a billion errors!
These errors are usually syntactical in
nature… you won’t catch the logical errors
until you simulate!
PART III
Simulating your code
Simulation Introduction

Ok, my code assembles! Let’s go!
– Not so fast. Sure it assembles, but does it actually do what it’s
suppose to do?
– Simulating your code - stepping through it line by line and
watching register and port values - will let you catch all sorts of
logical and program flow errors.

MPLAB has a free simulator called MPSIM
– Warning: Many of the peripherals are not simulated correctly.
– Coolness: You can step through your code, use watch windows,
time routines, set breakpoints, etc.

See MPSIM Example on Example.asm
Simulation Issues
 Once
your simulation seems to work,
you’ve probably caught most of the major
logical errors in your program.
 Now
you’re ready to program your PIC and
find out how it behaves in the Real
World™.
PART IV
Programming PICs
Programming PICs: PICSTART+
 Low
cost ($149.00) programmer with ZIF socket
 Programs
all PICs except > 40pin packages
(which require an adapter)
 Cheaper
 Con:
available but only for 16F84 series
Must take chip out of circuit to program
Programming PICs: ICSP

In-Circuit Serial Programmability
– Good for commercial design
– Available for most PICS
– Assemble boards, then program them
MCLR/VPP
VDD
VDD
VSS
VSS
I/O 1
Clock
I/O 2



Vpp = +13V
Vdd = Operating Vdd
Cons: Requires dual use on ICSP pins
VPP
PIC16CXX
PIC14CXXX
PIC12CXXX
Data I/O
Programming PICs: ICD
 Low
cost ($159.00)
 Programs
 Is
only 16F87xx PICs in ICP mode
also an in-circuit debugger (!)
Programming PICs: Erasing

You must have a UV Eraser to do PIC EPROM
programming
– Good one from Digikey is about $50.00
– Takes anywhere between 3 - 10 minutes to erase.
– You can check if it’s erased using the “Blank Check”
option in MPLAB.
– Not blank? Erase it again. Light won’t ever damage the
silicon. We think.
Programming PICs: Tricks

NOP reprogramming Trick
– Erased EPROM is all ‘1’s - ie, 0x3FF (12bit core)
– Programming changes instructions by adding ‘0’s
– You can ‘0’ out your code and use the remaining unprogrammed
memory to do in the field “reprogramming
– I.E., change all of the existing code to NOPs so startup will simply
pass right through it
– Consider adding some 0x3FF “spaces” to add GOTOs if you think
you’ll be reprogramming (which you always will!)
Programming PICs: Pitfalls

THERE IS ONLY ONE DOWNLOAD BUFFER.
– If you assemble your program,
– then Read another PIC,
– You will program that PIC’s Hex dump and not your
program!
– ALWAYS reassemble your code after reading anything
you don’t want to write!
PART V
The Real World™ and your PIC:
Building and debugging
The Minimum PIC System

You need some kind of a clock:
– Internal 4MHz clock on some PICs, external RC, external crystal,
or external clock oscillator.

And you need some power:
– Most PICs can operate from 2.5V - 5.5V (see Data Sheets)
– New 16HVXX can directly use up to 14V
(Great for direct 9V or 12V battery hook ups)

And that’s it!
Infiltrating the Epoxy Curtain
 Biggest
drawback to PICs is the lack of easy incircuit debugging.
– You’ve programmed your PIC, stuck it in your circuit,
turned it on and it just sits there and does nothing. Now
what do you do?
– Your PIC is now a black (epoxy) box
– You can check the code by hand, but that takes a lot of
time, and doesn’t always work.
 You
need debugging tools!
Debugging Tools: ICD
 The
16F87x ICD lets you debug your PIC in situ.
– Allows real hardware single stepping, break points,
register modifications, all very cool stuff
– Step through the program while the PIC actually
executes the code.
– But; this only works on the 16F87x
Debugging Tools: Emulators
 Emulators:
Cool as heck and expensive as it too
– Allows real hardware single stepping, break points,
register modifications, all very cool stuff
– Works with all PICs (requires a module for each PIC)
– But we can’t afford it: > $1000
Debugging Tools: Wetware
 Solution: Wetware
debugging tools
– Status Pins
» LED or digital outputs to show program status/Location
– Debugging Modes
» Controlled by digital inputs; ie, wait if pin high.
– Exotics
» Measuring timing, current draw, output spikes, temperature
Debugging Tools: Do This

Write your own monitor program that takes a minimum of
resources on the PIC.
– Allow the PIC, even EPROM versions, to do some forms of
breakpointing based on RAM data.
– Communicate serially to dump RAM values into a PC.

Post on the web! Become famous overnight!
PART VI
Things that make you go “cool!”
Cool Ideas
6 LEDs off only three pins!
A I/O
PICmicro
1
5
6
2
B I/O
C I/O
3
4
I/O
A B C
LEDs
1 2 3 4 5 6
0
0
1
Z
Z
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Z
Z
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
Z
Z
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
Cool Ideas
The following macro swaps the contents of W and REG
without using a second register
XCHGWF
MACROREG
XORWF REG,F
XORWF REG,W
XORWF REG,F
ENDM
Needs: 0 TEMP Registers
3 Instructions
3 Tcy
Cool Things

Application Notes - www.microchip.com
– Almost everything you could imagine
» RTOS for the 17CXXX family
» DSP for the 16CXX family - Inc. FFTs and IIR filters
» Micropower applications
» All sorts of tricks and tips and in depth explanations
– Code listed in the notes is available as well!

PIC Books
– PIC’n (?)
– Introduction to PICs (Predko)
Cool Things

Some examples of PIC applications
–
–
–
–
12C508 web server
17C756 audio FFT, direct display on VGA monitor
Data acquisition board
Going over board: Replacing a 555 timer
(we don’t condone this, but it has been done)
That’s it! Go PIC the world.
Thanks. Questions/Comments?
Improvements on this Seminar?