I got the package from China with some ICs I wanted to try before embedding them to the clock project I want to make. Have to warn: my point of interest was just a time, the date was out of the scope, so nothing about it will be investigated further.
Goal: To write the value of the time/read the time and output it thru UART from the DS1307 chip
Tools: PIC16f628a, DS1307, MAX232 level converter, devboard, proteus.
Let’s look at USART module in pic microcontroller (uart module).
I’m going to move in two ways:
1. Using existing functions from a hi-tech compiler.
2. Writing my own functions.
USART = UART = SCI – the universal data transmitting/receiving protocol, which can work in synchronous and asynchronous modes. We pay attention to the second mode at the moment, this one is used for communications mostly.
Continue readingI choose the software realization of the I2C protocol as the next experiment. There isn’t a description of this protocol, only realization. The curious soul should google it, there is a lot information on i2c subject.
So:
Goal: To make the connection between PIC16f628a and IO port expander PCA9539 by i2c
What we have: PIC16f628a, PCA9539, devboard.
Why do I need it (in short): I have one project in development state for now. The project is a clock with a thermometer and two seven-segment indicators: the first 4-digit and the second has 3 digits. To control it I need 8+4+8+3 = 23 IO pins, but PIC16f628a has only 16, so in the such configuration, it seems not real to me. In the beginning, I thought about shift register using, but suddenly I received free sample sets from NXP and I took the decision to use PCA9539. In this case, there are only 9 pins to be used, and two pins from it are for I2C communication between pic micro, RTC clock, and the thermometer.
Continue readingGoal: To write and read EEPROM
What we have: PIC16f628a and a simple devboard.
Microcontroller PIC16f628a has 128 bytes of EEPROM memory on board, not too much but we have what we have. Hi-tech PICC compiler has internal functions for work with EEPROM, but here I’m going to make some my personal functions.
Let’s look at the EECON1 register:
The goal: To adjust the LED brightness using the PWM module.
What we have: PIC16f628a and devboard + proteus.
The goal: to learn the CCP module
What do we have: PIC16f628a, the simple devboard + proteus.
I’m going to take a look into the CCP module (Capture/Compare/PWM).
Looking at the name you already can say that you can:
1. Capture
2. Compare
3. Generate PWM pulses
More stuff inside
Continue readingThe goal: the same as previous, to get the 1KHz pulse.
What do we have: PIC16f628a, the simple devboard + proteus.
For this particular uC the timer2 module is another 8bits timer, which has some peculiarities.
The goal: to get 1 Hz pulses.
What do we have: PIC16f628a, a handmade devboard, and proteus
Continuing to learn pic microcontrollers, and the timer1 is the next module in our way. Usually, this is a 16bit timer, so it allows to have a larger time frame.
The task: To learn how to use the comparator
Tools: PIC16f628a, proteus
Task: To learn how to control LCD display
Tools: PIC16f628a, LCD 2×16, proteus
Let me try to make the display work in the proteus
Continue reading