Project Development
Development of a AT89C2051 microcontroller project requires several development tools. The following is a list of the tools that are essential:
• Suitable assembler or compiler which can generate machine code for the AT89C2051 microcontroller. In this book we shall be developing the projects using a C compiler.
• Chip programmer suitable to program AT89C2051 devices. There are
many programmers available on the market for this purpose. For example, PG302 by Inguana labs, Evalu8r by Equinox Technologies, and others. The programmer should be compatible with the code generated by the assembler or the compiler so that the code can be downloaded to the microcontroller. Notice that there is no ultraviolet erasing process. AT89C2051 devices contain reprogrammmable flash memories which can be erased and reprogrammed by electrical signals.
• A minimum AT89C2051 microcontroller hardware. Many manufacturers offer development systems, consisting of a basic microcontroller, LED lights, switches, buzzers etc. Some development systems include both language compilers and hardware and such systems can be very useful during project development.
Although the microcontroller used in the projects is the 20-pin AT89C2051, the code given will run on all members of the 8051 family provided that there is enough program and data memories.