SOFTWARE COMPILER
The PICBASIC PRO BASIC software compiler provided by micro Engineering Labs provides the functions needed to control all aspects of the hardware provided by Microchip Technologies as a part of their large PIC offering. All the functions avail- able on the PIC 16F877A microcontroller that we will be using are accessible from the software. The PICBASIC software will write software for almost the entire family of PIC microcontrollers. You will be able to use this compiler for all your future projects; it is a very worthwhile investment.
ADDITIONAL HARDWARE
The following hardware can be added to the LAB-X1 without making any modifica- tions to the board. These hardware items fit into sockets or onto pins that are provided on the LAB-X1 as shipped. Not all devices can be mounted simultaneously because some addresses are shared by the sockets provided. In our experiments, we will popu- late only one of the empty sockets at a time, to make sure that there are no conflicts. (There is no need to use more than one device at one time for any one experiment so this will not be a problem.)
Memory chips:
N I2C memory chip
N SPI memory chip Microwire memory chips:
N 12 bit A to D converter chip
N NJU6355
Real time clock chips:
N DS1202 N DS1302 N LTC1298
Thermometer chip:
N DS1802
Serial interface chip:
N RS485
RC servos:
N Two hobby R/C servos can be controlled simultaneously; not provided.
The LAB-X1 provides two sets of pins for the R/C servos. All standard model air- craft servos can be used and you can use either one or two of them. (Using these is essentially an exercise in creating pulse width modulated signals and profiles that are used in the R/C industry.)
40-PIN DEVICES
All 40-pin MCUs provided by Microchip can be accommodated in the 40-pin ZIF socket provided on the board. Check for compatibility with the pin layout before selecting and buying your MCU. The recommended PIC 16F877A that we are using is an excellent choice for learning if you have no specific use in mind.
We will also be using the 18F4331 for the experiments needing encoder interfacing with the microprocessor. This chip has the ability to keep track of the encoder position automatically, which is a very useful property for our purposes.