PIC Microcontroller Projects in C

Basic to Advanced

Dogan Ibrahim

• Publisher: Newnes
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9780080999678
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Hardware
• Index: Computer Science

Extensively revised and updated to encompass the latest developments in the PIC 18FXXX series, this book demonstrates how to develop a range of microcontroller applications through a project-based approach. After giving an introduction to programming in C using the popular mikroC Pro for PIC and MPLAB XC8 languages, this book describes the project development cycle in full. The book walks you through fully tried and tested hands-on projects, including many new, advanced topics such as Ethernet programming, digital signal processing, and RFid technology. This book is ideal for engineers, technicians, hobbyists and students who have knowledge of the basic principles of PIC microcontrollers and want to develop more advanced applications using the PIC18F series.This book Includes over fifty projects which are divided into three categories: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.New projects in this edition: Logic probeCustom LCD font designHi/Lo gameGenerating various waveforms in real-timeUltrasonic height measurementFrequency counterReaction timerGPS projectsClosed-loop ON/OFF temperature controlBluetooth projects (master and slave)RFid projectsClock using Real-time-clock (RTC) chipRTC alarm projectGraphics LCD (GLCD) projectsBarometer+thermometer+altimeter projectPlotting temperature on GLCDEthernet web browser based controlEthernet UDP based controlDigital signal processing (Low Pass Filter design)Automotive LIN bus projectAutomotive CAN bus projectMultitasking projects (using both cooperative and Round-robin scheduling)Unipolar stepper motor projectsBipolar stepper motor projectsClosed-loop ON/OFF DC motor control- A clear introduction to the PIC 18FXXX microcontroller's architecture- Covers developing wireless and sensor network applications, SD card projects, and multi-tasking; all demonstrated with the block and circuit diagram, program description in PDL, program listing, and program description- Includes more than 50 basic, intermediate, and advanced projects

Chapter 1

Microcomputer Systems

Abstract

This chapter is an introduction to microcontrollers. The basic features of the microcontrollers are described briefly with some typical application areas of microcontrollers.

Keywords

Microcontrollers; microprocessors; microcontroller features; microcontroller applications

Chapter Outline

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Microcontroller Systems 1

1.3 Summary 6

1.4 Exercises 6

1.1. Introduction

The term microcomputer is used to describe a system that includes a minimum of a microprocessor, program memory, data memory, and input–output (I/O) module. Some microcomputer systems include additional components such as timers, counters, interrupt processing modules, analog-to-digital converters, serial communication modules, USB modules, and so on. Thus, a microcomputer system can be anything from a large system having hard disks, keyboard, monitor, floppy disks, and printers to a single chip embedded controller.

In this book, we are going to consider only the type of microcomputers that consists of a single silicon chip. Such microcomputer systems are also called microcontrollers and they are used in many everyday household goods such as personal computers, digital watches, microwave ovens, digital TV sets, TV remote control units (CUs), cookers, hi-fi equipment, CD players, personal computers, fridges, etc.

There are a large number of different types of microcontrollers available in the market, developed and manufactured by many companies. In this book, we shall be looking at the programming and system design using the highly popular 8-bit programmable interface controller (PIC) series of microcontrollers manufactured by Microchip Technology Inc (www.microchip.com).

1.2. Microcontroller Systems

A microcontroller is a single chip computer. Micro suggests that the device is small, and controller suggests that the device can be used in control applications. Another term used for microcontrollers is embedded controller, since most of the microcontrollers in industrial, commercial, and domestic applications are built into (or embedded in) the devices they control.

A microprocessor differs from a microcontroller in many ways. The main difference is that a microprocessor requires several other external components for its operation as a computer, such as program memory and data memory, I/O module, and external clock module. A microcontroller on the other hand has all these support chips incorporated inside the same chip. In addition, because of the multiple chip concept, microprocessor-based systems consume considerably more power than the microcontroller-based systems. Another advantage of microcontroller-based systems is that their overall cost is much less than microprocessor-based systems.

All microcontrollers (and microprocessors) operate on a set of instructions (or the user program) stored in their program memories. A microcontroller fetches these instructions from its program memory one by one, decodes these instructions, and then carries out the required operations.

Microcontrollers have traditionally been programmed using the assembly language of the target device. Although the assembly language is fast, it has several disadvantages. An assembly program consists of mnemonics and in general it is difficult to learn and maintain a program written using the assembly language. Also, microcontrollers manufactured by different firms have different assembly languages and the user is required to learn a new language every time a new microcontroller is to be used.

Microcontrollers can also be programmed using high-level languages, such as BASIC, PASCAL, and C. High-level languages have the advantage that it is much easier to learn a high-level language than an assembler language. Also, very large and complex programs can easily be developed using a high-level language. In this book, we shall be learning the programming of high-end 8-bit PIC microcontrollers using two popular C programming languages: the mikroC Pro for PIC, developed by mikroElektronika (www.mikroe.com), and the MPLAB X IDE, developed by Microchip (www.microchip.com).

In general, a single chip is all that is required to have a running microcontroller-based computer system. In practical applications, additional components may be required to allow a microcomputer to interface to its environment. With the advent of the PIC family of microcontrollers, the development time of an electronic project has reduced to several months, weeks, or even hours.

Basically, a microcontroller (or a microprocessor) executes a user program that is loaded in its program memory. Under the control of this program, data are received from external devices (inputs), manipulated, and then sent to external devices (outputs).

For example, in a microcontroller-based fluid level control system, the aim is to control the level of the fluid at a given point. Here, the fluid level is read by the microcomputer via a level sensor device. The program running inside the microcontroller then actuates the pump and the valve and attempts to control the fluid level at the required value. If the fluid level is low, the microcomputer operates the pump to draw more fluid from the reservoir. In practice, the pump is controlled continuously in order to keep the fluid at the required level. Figure 1.1 shows the block diagram of our simple fluid level control system.

The system shown in Figure 1.1 is a very simplified fluid level control system. In a more sophisticated system we may have a keypad to set the required fluid level, and an LCD to display the current fluid level in the tank. Figure 1.2 shows the block diagram of this more sophisticated fluid level control system.

We can make our design even more sophisticated (see Figure 1.3) by adding an audible alarm to inform us if the fluid level is outside the required point. Also, the actual level at any time can be sent to a PC every second for archiving and further processing. For example, a graph of the daily fluid level changes can be plotted on the PC. Wireless interface (e.g. Bluetooth or RF) or internet connectivity can be added to the system so that the fluid level can be monitored or controlled remotely. Figure 1.4 shows the block diagram with a Bluetooth module attached to the microcontroller.

As you can see, because the microcontrollers are programmable, it is very easy to make the final system as simple or as complicated as we like.

Another example of a microcontroller-based system is the speed control of a direct current (DC) motor. Figure 1.5 shows the block diagram of such a system. Here, a speed sensor device reads current speed of the motor and this is compared with the desired speed (which is as...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1. Microcomputer Systems
• Chapter 2. mikroC Pro for PIC Programming Language
• Chapter 3. MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB XC8 C Programming Language
• Chapter 4. Microcontroller Program Development
• Chapter 5. Simple PIC18 Projects
• Chapter 6. Intermediate PIC18 Projects
• Chapter 7. Advanced PIC18 Projects
• Index