PIC Microcontroller Project Book: For PIC Basic and PIC Basic Pro Compliers / Edition 2

by John Iovine

Overview

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product.

This completely updated version of the best-selling PiC Microcontroller Project Book boasts updated software, many new projects, and comprehensive coverage of the new PIC Basic Pro version of the controller


The PIC microcontroller is enormously popular both in the U.S. and abroad. The first edition of this book was a tremendous success because of that. However, in the 4 years that have passed since the book was first published, the electronics hobbyist market has become more sophisticated. Many users of the PIC are now comfortable shelling out the $250 for the price of the Professional version of the PIC Basic (the regular version sells for $100). This new edition is fully updated and revised to include detailed directions on using both versions of the microcontroller, with no-nonsense recommendations on which is better served in different situations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071437042
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	03/29/2004
Series:	Tab Robotics
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Electronics professional John Iovine is the author of several popular TAB titles that explore the frontiers of science. He wrote the cult classic Robots, Androids, and Animatrons. He also wrote such popular books as Homemade Holograms: The Complete Guide to Inexpensive, Do-It-Yourself Holography; Kirlian Photography: A Hands-On Guide; Fantastic Electronics: Build Your Own Negative-Ion Generator and Other Projects; and A Step into Virtual Reality. He is the "Amazing Science" columnist for Poptronics magazine and a regular contributor to Nuts and Volts.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1: Microcontroller

What Is a Microcontroller?

A microcontroller is an inexpensive single-chip computer. Single-chip computer means that the entire computer system lies within the confines of the integrated circuit chip. The microcontroller on the encapsulated sliver of silicon has features similar to those of our standard personal computer. Primarily, the microcontroller is capable of storing and running a program (its most important feature). The microcontroller contains a CPU (central processing unit), RAM (random-access memory), ROM (read-only memory), 1/O (input/output) lines, serial and parallel ports, timers, and sometimes other built-in peripherals such as A/D (analog-to-digital) and D/A (digital-to-analog) converters.

Why Use a Microcontroller?

Microcontrollers, as stated, are inexpensive computers. The microcontroller's ability to store and run unique programs makes it extremely versatile. For instance, one can program a microcontroller to make decisions (perform functions) based on predetermined situations (1/O-line logic) and selections. The microcontroller's ability to perform math and logic functions allows it to mimic sophisticated logic and electronic circuits.

Other programs can make the microcontroller behave like a neural circuit and/or a fuzzy-logic controller. Microcontrollers are responsible for the "intelligence" in most smart devices on the consumer market.

The Future of Electronics Is Here-It's Microcontrollers

Look in any hobbyist electronics magazine from this country or any other. You will see articles that feature the use of microcontrollers, either directly or embedded in the circuit's design. Becauseof their versatility, microcontrollers add a lot of power, control, and options at little cost. It therefore becomes essential that the electronics engineer or hobbyist learn to program these microcontrollers to maintain a level of competence and to gain the advantages microcontrollers provide in his or her own circuit designs.

If you examine consumer electronics, you will find microcontrollers embedded in just about everything. This is another reason to become familiar with microcontrollers.

Designer Computers

There is a large variety of microcontrollers on the market today. We will focus on a few versatile microcontroller chips called PIC chips (or PICMicro chips) from Microchip Technology.

The PIC Chip

Microchip Technology's series of microcontrollers is called PIC chips. Microchip secured a trademark for the name PIC. Microchip uses PIC to describe its series of PIC microcontrollers. PIC is generally assumed to mean programmable interface controller.

Better Than Any Stamp

Parallax Company sells an easy-to-use series of microcontroller circuits called the Basic Stamp. Parallax's Basic Stamps (BS1 and BS2) use Microchip Technology's PIC microcontrollers. What makes the Stamps so popular and easy to use is that they are programmed using a simplified form of the Basic language. Basic-language programming is easy to learn and use. This was the Stamps' main advantage over other microcontroller systems, which have a much longer learning curve because they force their users and developers to learn a niche assembly language. (A niche assembly language is one that is specific to that company's microcontroller and no one else's.)

The Basic Stamp has become one of the most popular microcontrollers in use today. Again, the Basic Stamp's popularity (this bears repeating) is due to its easy-to-learn and easy-to-use Basic-language programming. The PIC's Basiclanguage system is just as easy to learn and use, and the PIC has enormous benefits that make it better than any Stamp.

The Basic language of the PICBasic compiler that we will use to program the PIC chips is similar to that used in the Basic Stamp series. Programming PIC chips directly has just become as easy as programming Stamps. Now you can enjoy the same easy language the Basic Stamp offers, plus two more very important benefits.

Benefit one: faster speed

Our programmed PIC chips will run their program much faster. If we enter the identical Basic program into a Basic Stamp and into a PIC chip, the programmed PIC chip will run 20 to 100 times faster (depending upon the instructions used) than the Basic Stamp. Here's why.

The BS1 and BS2 Basic Stamp systems use a serial EEPROM memory connected to the PIC chip to store their programs. The basic commands in the program are stored as basic tokens. Basic tokens are like a shorthand for basic commands. When running the program, the Basic Stamp reads each instruction (token and data/address) over the serial line from the external EEPROM memory, interprets the token (converts token to the ML equivalent the PIC can understand), performs the instruction, reads the next instruction, and so on. Each and every instruction goes through these serial load, read, interpret, then perform steps as the program runs. The serial interface reading routine eats up gobs of the microcontroller's CPU time.

In contrast to this operation, when a PIC chip is programmed using the Basic compiler, the Basic program is first converted to a PIC machinelanguage (hex file) program. The ML program is then uploaded into the PIC chip. Being the native language of the PIC, this machine-language (ML) code does not need to be stored as tokens and interpreted as it runs because the program is written in the PIC chip's native language.

When the PIC chip runs the program, it reads the ML program instructions directly from its on-board memory and performs the instruction. There is no serial interface to an external EEPROM to eat up CPU time. The ML instructions are read in parallel, not bit by bit as in the serial interface. The ML instructions read directly without any basic-token-to-ML-equivalent conversion required. This enables programmed PIC chips to run their code 20 to 100 times faster than the same Basic program code in a Basic Stamp.

Benefit two: much lower cost

The next factor is cost. Using PIC chips directly will save you 75 percent of the cost of a comparable Basic Stamp. The retail price for the BS1, which has 256 bytes of programmable memory, is $34.95. The retail price for the BS2, which has 2K of programmable memory, is $49.95. The 16F84 PIC microcontroller featured throughout this book is more closely comparable to the BS2 Stamp. The 16F84 PIC chip we are using has 1K of programmable memory.

The retail cost of the 16F84 PIC chip is $6.95. To this, add the cost of a timing crystal, a few capacitors, a few resistors, and a 7805 voltage regulator to make a circuit equivalent to that of the Stamp. These components increase the total cost to about $10.00-still well below one-quarter the cost (75 percent savings) currently quoted for the BS2.

And this $10.00 cost for the PIC may be cut substantially in some situations...

Table of Contents

Chapter 1	Microcontrollers	1
	What Is a Microcontroller?	1
	Why Use a Microcontroller?	1
	Microcontrollers Are the Future of Electronics	1
	Designer Computers--So Many Microcontrollers	2
	The PIC Chip	2
	Better Than Any Stamp	2
	PIC Programming Overview	4
	PICBasic and PICBasic Pro Compilers	5
	EPIC Programmer	6
	Firmware	7
	Consumables	7
	16F84 PIC Microcontroller	7
Step 1	Writing Code (The Basic Program)	8
Step 2	Using the Compiler	8
Step 3	Installing the Firmware, or Programming the PIC Chip	9
	Ready, Steady, Go	9
	Hardware and Software	10
	Parts List	10
Chapter 2	Installing the Compiler	13
	Installing the PICBasic Compiler Software	13
	Installing PICBasic Pro Compiler	14
Chapter 3	Installing the EPIC Software	23
	Installing the EPIC Software in Windows	23
	Installing the EPIC Software from DOS	24
	Applications Directory	26
	ZIF Adapter Sockets	26
	AC Adapter	27
Chapter 4	CodeDesigner	29
	CodeDesigner Features	29
	Software Installation	31
	Setting CodeDesigner Options	31
	First Program	36
	The EPIC Programming Board Software	40
	Parts List	41
Chapter 5	How to Use DOS Instead of Windows to Code, Compile, and Program	43
	Compile	47
	Programming the PIC Microcontroller Chip	48
	The EPIC Programming Board Software	51
	Using the EPIC DOS Version	51
	Continuing with the WINK.BAS Program	51
Chapter 6	Testing the PIC Microcontroller	55
	The Solderless Breadboard	55
	Three Schematics, One Circuit	57
	Wink	60
	Troubleshooting the Circuit	60
	PIC Experimenter's Board and LCD	60
	PIC Experimenter's Board	62
	Using the X-Board's LCD: PICBasic and PICBasic Pro Examples	68
Chapter 7	PIC 16F84 Microcontroller	71
	Advanced PIC Microcontrollers	71
	Back to the 16F84 Microcontroller	72
	Clock Oscillators	72
	Reset	73
	PIC Harvard Architecture	74
	Register Map	76
	Memory Mapped I/O	76
	Binary Fundamentals	77
	Registers and Ports	79
	Using the TRIS and Port Registers	81
	Writing to a Register Using PICBasic Compiler	82
	Writing to a Register Using PICBasic Pro Compiler	83
	Accessing the Ports for Output	83
	Electrical Binary, TTL, and CMOS	84
	Counting Program	85
	Counting in Binary by One	85
	Variable Space	87
	Schematic for Program	89
	Counting Binary Progression	89
	Basic High and Low Commands	91
	Programming Review	92
	Next Chapter--Reading Input Signals	94
	Parts List	94
	Optional Parts	94
Chapter 8	Reading I/O Lines	95
	Placing Electrical Signals on a Pin	95
	Reading a Port	96
	PICBasic Compiler and Variables B0 and B1 (Bit0 to Bit15)	98
	Dynamic Changes	99
	Delay Variable	101
	Basic Input and Output Commands	102
	Basic Input and Output Commands (Pro Version)	102
	The Button Command	103
	Debouncing a Switch	103
	Auto-Repeat	104
	The Variable Used in the Button Command	105
	Multiple Statements--Single Line	105
Chapter 9	PICBasic Language Reference	107
	Branch	107
	Button	108
	Call	110
	Eeprom	110
	End	110
	For ... Next	110
	Gosub	111
	Goto	111
	High	112
	12CIN	112
	12cout	113
	If ... Then	114
	Input	115
	Let	115
	Lookdown	117
	Lookup	117
	Low	118
	Nap	118
	Output	118
	Pause	119
	Peek	119
	Poke	120
	Pot	120
	Pulsin	121
	Pulsout	121
	PWM	122
	Random	123
	Read	123
	Return	123
	Reverse	124
	Serin	124
	Serout	125
	Sleep	127
	Sound	127
	Toggle	128
	Write	129
Chapter 10	Additional Command Reference for PICBasic Pro	131
	Adcin	134
	Asm ... EndAsm	134
	Branchl	135
	Clear	135
	Clearwdt	135
	Count	135
	Data	135
	Debug	136
	Debugin	136
	Disable	137
	Disable Debug	137
	Disable Interrupt	137
	DTMFout	137
	Enable	137
	Enable Debug	138
	Enable Interrput	138
	Freqout	138
	Hserin	138
	Hserout	138
	12cread	139
	12cwrite	139
	If ... Then	139
	Lcdin	140
	Lcdout	140
	Lookdown2	141
	Lookup2	142
	On Debug	142
	On Interrupt	142
	Pauseus	144
	Peek	145
	Poke	145
	Pulsin	145
	Pulsout	146
	RCtime	146
	Readcode	147
	Resume	147
	Serin2	147
	Serout2	147
	Shiftin	148
	Shiftout	148
	Swap	148
	While...Wend	148
	Writecode	148
	Xin	149
	Xout	149
Chapter 11	Speech Synthesizer	151
	Speech Chip SPO256	151
	A Little on Linguistics	154
	Interfacing to the SPO256	154
	Mode Select	154
	The Circuit	155
	Program Differences	159
	Program Functions	159
	Peek PortA, b0	159
	Parts List	160
Chapter 12	Creating a New I/O Port	163
	Serial Communication	163
	Output First	163
	Basic Serial	164
	Clear Pin	166
	First Program	166
	Bit Shift Correcting	169
	Input I/O	172
	Compatibility Issues	176
	Parts List	177
Chapter 13	Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)	179
	Serout Command's RS-232 Serial Communication	179
	Error-Detection Algorithms	181
	Parity	181
	Serial Format: Mode and Baud Rate	181
	XTAL Clock, Please	181
	4.0 MHz Clock Limitations	182
	Three-Wire Connection	182
	Positioning the Cursor	185
	Off-Screen Memory	185
	PICBasic Pro Project: LCD Module	186
	Using the LCD Module for Display	188
	Parts List	188
Chapter 14	Reading Resistive Sensors	189
	R/C Values	190
	Scale	190
	PIN Exceptions	191
	Resistive Sensors	191
	Test Program	191
	Fuzzy Logic and Neural Sensors	194
	Fuzzy First	194
	Fuzzy Logic Light Tracker	196
	DC Motor Control	198
	Diodes	201
	Operation	202
	Fuzzy Output	202
	Neural Sensors (Logic)	203
	Multivalue Threshold	203
	Parts List	206
Chapter 15	Analog-to-Digital (A/D) Converters	209
	Analog Signal	209
	Digital Equivalents	209
	A/D Converters	210
	Setting the Reference Voltage(s)	212
	Voltage Range and Resolution	212
	Interpreting the Results	212
	Serial A/D Converter Chip Control	213
	TLC549 Serial Sequence	213
	Toxic Gas Sensor	215
	Parts List	217
Chapter 16	DC Motor Control	219
	The Transistor	219
	First Method	219
	Bidirectional	220
	Diodes	222
	Parts List	223
Chapter 17	Stepper Motors	225
	Stepper Motor Construction and Operation	225
	Resolution	226
	Half-Step	227
	Other Types of Stepper Motors	227
	Real World	227
	First Stepper Circuit	228
	Electrical Equivalent of a Stepper Motor	229
	Test Circuit Program	231
	One Rotation	232
	Second Basic Program	232
	Half-Stepping	234
	The "ti" Delay Variable	234
	Troubleshooting	236
	UCN 5804 Dedicated Stepper Motor ICs	236
	Parts List	240
Chapter 18	Servomotors	241
	Extending Servo Motor Range	244
	Manual Servo Control	245
	Multiple Servomotors	247
	Timing and Servomotors	250
	PICBasic Pro Compiler Project: Five-Servomotor Controller	250
	Parts List	254
Chapter 19	Controlling AC Appliances	255
	Inductive and Resistive Loads	255
	Circuit Construction	256
	Test Circuit	260
	Smart Control	260
	Electronic Nose	261
	Parts List	261
Chapter 20	A Few More Projects	263
	Binary Clock	263
	Setting the Clock	265
	Digital Geiger Counter	266
	Frequency Generator	268
	In Closing	269
	Suppliers Index	271
	Hexadecimal Numbers	273
	Index	275

Editorial Reviews

PIC microcontrollers, low-cost computers-in-a-chip, let electronics designers and hobbyists add intelligence and functions that mimic big computers to any electronic product or project. This guide gives directions for using Microchip's RISC-based chips with up to 8K of memory, starting with simple projects and leading up to sophisticated programming techniques. Assumes no programming experience. Includes a list of suppliers. Iovine has authored several books of projects for holograms, Kirlian photography, and negative-ion generators. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Bound to spur the imagination and inspire plans for using PICs in new products and projects, this book answers the question: What can you do with PIC microcontrollers? Practically anything - from creating "photovore" robots that hunt light for their solar cells to making toasters announce "Your toast is ready!" These easy-to-use, low-cost, computers-in-a-chip let designers and hobbyists add intelligence and responsiveness to any electronic product or project - even faster than comparable Basic Stamps.

Hands-on directions are supplied for putting Microchip's RISC-based chips - with up to 8k of memory - to work. Starting with simple projects and experiments, this book progresses gradually into sophisticated programming techniques. The author John Iovine, our "Amazing Science" columnist, guides enthusiasts into such projects as synthesizing human speech, controlling DC and stepper motors, adding sensing abilities to robots, and building in decision-making neural and "fuzzy logic" functions.

Poptronics