How much do you know about microcontrollers?

FordNoMore · 05-31-2008, 02:20 AM

Ever since learning to use microcontrollers (PIC's in my case), I feel like a whole world of possibilities has opened up for electronics projects. I'm just curious if many people on this site know much about them or are interested in learning.

A microcontroller (such as a PIC) is basically a simple computer on a single chip. They cost maybe $5 each and can do all sorts of things. When you program them, you have direct access to input and output pins, so you can easily control relays, motors, or LED's, read switches or encoders, control or communicate with other electronics, etc.

It does take intermediate skill at computer programming to use them, and some basic electronics design skills to get much out of them. Also, even though they're cheap, they do require a programmer which is generally a few hundred bucks to buy.
*EDIT: Okay, I've been corrected. You can get programmers much cheaper than that. See replies below.*

Just wondering what the general skill level and interest is on this forum.

Rob Withey · 05-31-2008, 02:25 AM

Know about them, have used them many times and will probably use them again.
The same is probably true for many people on this forum, you only have to see some of the projects here to realise that.

Programmers are not a few hundred bucks, they are far cheaper.

2k1Toaster · 05-31-2008, 02:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Withey

Know about them, have used them many times and will probably use them again.
The same is probably true for many people on this forum, you only have to see some of the projects here to realise that.

Programmers are not a few hundred bucks, they are far cheaper.

We got a programmer for like $20 + shipping or something like that, and you can build one yourself if you are uber-geeky for a dollar or so in parts.

eric_barcus · 05-31-2008, 02:31 AM

never used, its a world id love to get into considering im a project aholic

where should i start?

FordNoMore · 05-31-2008, 02:32 AM

What cheaper programmers would you recommend? I (from work, fortunately) got a Microchip Development Kit for I think $300. It's a really nice setup, with a USB in-circuit debugger and a demo board... but on my own dime I would have opted for something cheaper.

meddler · 05-31-2008, 02:32 AM

Just finished doing a course at colledge for microcontrollers and c++ programming.

Infact I am writing a robot arm control program for my final assignment

FordNoMore · 05-31-2008, 02:49 AM

This is a great reference for PIC Microcontrollers that starts from basics and is perfect for a beginner. I'm amazed that it's available online for free:
www.mikroe.com/en/books/picbook/picbook.htm

meddler · 05-31-2008, 05:07 AM

great link. thanks.

eric_barcus · 05-31-2008, 09:05 AM

got it and bookmarked it

Chris31 · 05-31-2008, 10:53 AM

Have used them many times from small project to something very complicated.

There are better MCU out there but PICs is the best one to get started, they have plenty of variety, supports, infos, projects and they give away free samples

As for the programer get the one with ICSP + USB and the one that would integrate with MPLAB, its productive that way. There are many other software you can use but I like MPLAB so im biased

Learn assembly language and you will appreciate how an MCU work much better, and you will be able to get the most out of it. Use ASM if possible then C.

Chris31 · 05-31-2008, 10:57 AM

Here is a link to the ICD2 programmer

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/hard...cd2-clone.html

Probably outdated now though, but yeah if you want to build one its fairly easy.

FordNoMore · 05-31-2008, 12:30 PM

I totally agree - learning assembly language first is a good way to go, just to get a feel for what's actually happening on the chip. And then when you start pulling your hair out because assembly is a pain to actually program anything sizable in, transition to C.

Along the same lines, I feel lucky that I started programming computers in the DOS days, using timer interrupts, polling the mouse driver directly, writing direct to video memory, controlling the sound card using low level port access... It gave me a tremendous understanding of a computer's inner workings that I would have never gotten if I'd jumped straight into high-level Windows programming.

meddler · 05-31-2008, 07:05 PM

got any good links to learning assembly?

FordNoMore · 05-31-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by meddler

got any good links to learning assembly?

To be honest, if you've got just a little programming background, the link I gave above does a really good job of introducing assembly language for the PIC. (And a PIC is a great way to learn assembly language because the processor is very simple.)

meddler · 05-31-2008, 10:19 PM

cool... I have already bookmarked that one.