Microchip PIC Microntroller Resources

Microchip PIC Microcontroller Resources

PIC Literature and General Information

Microchip PIC literature (general information, data books, reference manuals, etc.)
PIC16F84 microntroller (18 pin DIP with Flash/EEPROM reprogrammable memory)
other PICs pin-compatible with the PIC16F84 (with added features)
- PIC16F84A (20 MHz)
- PIC16F88 (20 MHz, internal oscillator, 16 I/O, 7168 flash, capture/compare/PWM, A/D)
- PIC16F819 (20 MHz, internal oscillator, 16 I/O, 3584 flash, capture/compare/PWM, A/D)

See also:

Myke Predko's PIC Links (select Links-PICmicro to access PIC-related links)
Brook's Electronics Page (PIC Microcontroller info and links)
PICList Home Page (bulletin board and listserv for PIC microcontrollers)

PIC Support Products

Custom Computer Services PIC C Compiler
Hi-Tech Software PICC compiler
MPLAB IDE Manual and Tutorial
MicroEngineering Labs (PicBasic Pro compiler, PIC programmers, development boards, etc.)
Modtronix (modular PIC based hardware and software)
Olimmex PIC PG-2 programmer (see circuit)
Reynolds Electronics (typical PIC project components)

MicroEngineering Labs' PicBasic Pro Information

PicBasic Pro instruction set
PicBasic Pro manual (on-line, PDF file)
PicBasic Pro program examples (from MicroEngineering Labs PicBasic Pro resources)

BLINK.BAS (continuously blinks an LED on and off)
FOR.BAS (uses a FOR loop to output a series of characters to a serial port)
LCD.BAS (writes strings to a liquid crystal display)
SOUND.BAS (sends random sounds to a speaker)
- see Where Math Meets Music for note frequency information.
see also: other examples

Using PicBasic Pro within the MPLAB IDE
Routines for floating point calculations

Semiconductor and Electronics Information and Ordering

Digi-Key Parts Search (general information and data sheets on most electronics and semiconductor products)
Fairchild Semiconductor (general information and data sheets)
Maxim Integrated Products (analog and mixed signal ICs)
National Semiconductor (general information and data sheets)
Texas Instruments TTL Semiconductor Products (general information and data sheets)
see also: Semiconductor (IC) Manufacturers

Vendors/Suppliers:

All Electronics (discounted)
Digi-Key (largest selection)
Jameco Electronics (good selection, good prices)
Mouser Electronics
Newark Electronics
Radio Shack
Reynolds Electronics (typical PIC project components)
see also: Useful Local Vendors (in Fort Collins, CO)

I/O Devices and Useful Accessories

Basic required components (see Digikey for product info)

PIC microcontroller products
LM340T 5V voltage regulator
4 MHz, 20pF microprocessor crystal (e.g., CTX-402 or CTX006)

Digital I/O expansion

E-lab EDE300 parallel/serial transceiver
TI 74595 8-Bit Shift Registers With Output Latches
Intel 8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface (PPI) [for expanded digital I/O]

HD44780-based Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module for character display

Motor/load drivers and controllers

Allegro Microsystems UCN5804B unipolar stepper motor driver

JR Kerr Automation (PIC-based motion control products)
National Semiconductor LMD18200 H-bridge motor driver
National Semiconductor LM3524D PWM driver
Stepper motor information
STMicroelectronics motor drivers (e.g., L297 stepper controller and L298 H-bridge)
see also: Robotics vendors

Printed Circuit Boards (custom-designed): ExpressPCB
- example of steps in PCB process
Sensor interfaces

Agilent HCTL-20xx quadrature decoder/counter
E-lab EDE1144 keypad encoder IC (for serial or parallel interface to microcontroller)
National Semiconductor ADC0801 and ADC0831 8-bit A/D converters
Maxim temperature sensors
National Semiconductor temperature sensors
Linear Technology LT1025 thermocouple cold junction compensator
Texas Instruments TLC7524 8-bit D/A converter

Good general vendors for small robotics and mechtronics projects:
- SparkFun Electronics (sensors, ICs, development boards, LCDs, and prototyping supplies for student projects)
- Acroname Easier Robotics (wide range of components supporting small robotics projects)
- Reynolds Electronics (typical PIC project components)
- see also: Robotics vendors

Example components used by past student groups:
- chipcorder digital sound chip (ISD17240 from Digikey)
- H-bridge (LMD18200 from National Semiconductor)
- H-bridge (386337 from Jameco)
- IR proximity sensors (TS-011-000 from superdroidrobots.com)
- radio remote control trasnmitter/receiver (TWS-8-bit from Reynolds Electronics)
- RC servo motor (made by Hitec, TD-008-000 from superdroidrobots.com)
- RC servo motor PWM driver (EDE-FT639 from E-labs)
- solenoid (70155K76 from McMasterCarr)
- stepper motor (42BY48406 from Jameco)
- stepper motor driver (25216 from Jameco)
- thermistor (527-MC65Y104C from Mouser)

See also: Mechatronics Resources (links to information on actuators, sensors, semiconductors, electronics, controllers, hobby robotics components, etc.)