PICmicro® information
Getting started
What is a PIC®?
A PICmicro®, or PIC®, is a small, low-cost microcontroller made by Microchip Technology (www.microchip.com). Microcontrollers are self-contained computers, in the form of an IC (integrated circuit, or chip), that you can build into a circuit and program to accomplish a specific task.
Why use the PICmicro®?
PICmicro® microcontrollers and supporting products are simple, inexpensive, fast, and available from a number of suppliers and distributors. Microchip is one of the top vendors, by volume, of embedded microcontrollers and analog ICs.
Are Siriusmicro products like a Basic Stamp?
Yes, and no. Basic Stamps are a versatile series of programmable modules made by Parallax, Inc. (www.parallax.com). Basic Stamps are programmed in a high-level BASIC-like syntax, and the programs run in a circuit containing a Basic Stamp module.
Siriusmicro products are designed to teach you low-level assembly code programming. You use a development system like the CHRP and free software tools to learn programming and test your code. Then, you can make and program your own circuits using low-cost microcontroller chips.
Programming
How do I program PICs?
The examples on this website use Microchip's free MPLAB IDE (Integraded Development Environment) to program the CHRP, UFO, and BMP in assembly code. You can download the MPLAB IDE from Microchip Technology (www.microchip.com).
CHRP programming
Programs are downloaded into the CHRP board using Shane Tolmie's bootloader, which is freely available from the MicrochipC site (www.microchipc.com).
To program the PIC microcontroller, you will need a 9-pin serial cable, or a USB to serial converter if your newer PC or laptop has no serial port.
To use serial programming with the CHRP board, the PIC microcontroller needs to be pre-programmed with the bootloader.
If you build your own CHRP circuit, or buy the CHRP bare board, you will either need a separate programmer to program your microcontroller, or a PIC pre-programmed with the bootloader to use the serial programming feature.
UFO & BMP programming
Programs are downloaded into the UFO and BMP using Microchip's PICkit-2 USB programmer. This programmer is readily available from Digi-Key (www.digikey.com).
If you build your own UFO or BMP circuit, you will need a programmer capable of programming the 8-pin mid-range PICs, or a PIC pre-programmed with the circuit function that you would like.
