PIC Literature and General Information

• Microchip PIC literature (general information, data books, reference manuals, etc.)
• Microchip page for selecting appropriate PIC16F8x series 8-bit microcontrollers
• Microchip page for ordering free samples
• PIC16F84 microntroller (18 pin DIP with Flash/EEPROM reprogrammable memory)
• other PICs pin-compatible with the PIC16F84 (with added features)
  • PIC16F84A (20 MHz)
  • PIC16F88 (20 MHz, internal oscillator, 16 I/O, 7168 flash, capture/compare/PWM, A/D)
  • PIC16F819 (20 MHz, internal oscillator, 16 I/O, 3584 flash, capture/compare/PWM, A/D)

See also:

• Myke Predko's PIC Links (select Links-PICmicro to access PIC-related links)
• Brook's Electronics Page (PIC Microcontroller info and links)
• PICList Home Page (bulletin board and listserv for PIC microcontrollers)

PIC Support Products

• Custom Computer Services PIC C Compiler
• Hi-Tech Software PICC compiler
• MPLAB IDE Manual and Tutorial
• MicroEngineering Labs (PicBasic Pro compiler, PIC programmers, development boards, etc.)
• Modtronix (modular PIC based hardware and software)
• Olimmex PIC PG-2 programmer (see circuit)
• Reynolds Electronics (typical PIC project components)

MicroEngineering Labs' PicBasic Pro Information

• PicBasic Pro instruction set
• PicBasic Pro manual (on-line, PDF file)
• PicBasic Pro program examples (from MicroEngineering Labs PicBasic Pro resources)
• BLINK.BAS (continuously blinks an LED on and off)
• FOR.BAS (uses a FOR loop to output a series of characters to a serial port)
• LCD.BAS (writes strings to a liquid crystal display)
• SOUND.BAS (sends random sounds to a speaker)
  • see Where Math Meets Music for note frequency information.
• see also: other examples
• Using PicBasic Pro within the MPLAB IDE
• Routines for floating point calculations

Semiconductor and Electronics Information and Ordering

• Digi-Key Parts Search (general information and data sheets on most electronics and semiconductor products)
• Fairchild Semiconductor (general information and data sheets)
• Maxim Integrated Products (analog and mixed signal ICs)
• National Semiconductor  (general information and data sheets)
• Texas Instruments TTL Semiconductor Products (general information and data sheets)
• see also: Semiconductor (IC) Manufacturers

Vendors/Suppliers:

• All Electronics (discounted)
• Digi-Key (largest selection)
• Jameco Electronics (good selection, good prices)
• Mouser Electronics
• Newark Electronics
• Radio Shack
• Reynolds Electronics (typical PIC project components)
• see also:  Useful Local Vendors (in Fort Collins, CO)

I/O Devices and Useful Project Components and Accessories

For example designs using many of these components, see the Threaded Design Examples (and components used) in
Introductioin to Mechatronics and Measurement Systems

• Basic required components (see Digikey for product info)
• PIC microcontroller products
• LM340T 5V voltage regulator
• 4 MHz, 20pF microprocessor crystal (e.g., CTX-402 or CTX006)
• Digital I/O expansion
• E-lab EDE300 parallel/serial transceiver
• TI 74595 8-Bit Shift Registers With Output Latches
• Intel 8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface (PPI) [for expanded digital I/O]
• HD44780-based Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module for character display
• E-lab EDE700 Serial LCD Interface
• How to control (with low-level software)
• Motor/load drivers and controllers
• E-lab EDE1200 unipolar stepper motor driver
• E-lab EDE1204 bipolar stepper motor driver
• Allegro Microsystems UCN5804B unipolar stepper motor driver
• JR Kerr Automation (PIC-based motion control products)
• National Semiconductor LMD18200 H-bridge motor driver
• National Semiconductor LM3524D PWM driver
• Stepper motor information
• STMicroelectronics motor drivers (e.g., L297 stepper controller and L298 H-bridge)
• see also: Robotics vendors
• Printed Circuit Boards (custom-designed): ExpressPCB
  • example of steps in PCB process
• Sensor interfaces
• Agilent HCTL-20xx quadrature decoder/counter
• E-lab EDE1144 keypad encoder IC (for serial or parallel interface to microcontroller)
• National Semiconductor ADC0801 and ADC0831 8-bit A/D converters
• Maxim temperature sensors
• National Semiconductor temperature sensors
• Linear Technology LT1025 thermocouple cold junction compensator
• Texas Instruments TLC7524 8-bit D/A converter
• Good general vendors for small robotics and mechtronics projects:
  • SparkFun Electronics (sensors, ICs, development boards, LCDs, and prototyping supplies for student projects)
  • Acroname Easier Robotics (wide range of components supporting small robotics projects)
  • Reynolds Electronics (typical PIC project components)
  • see also: Robotics vendors

• Example components used by past student groups:
  • accelerometer
    • SEN-00849 from Sparkfun
  • digital sound recorder
    • chipcorder ISD17240 from Digikey
    • voice record module 276-1323 from Radio Shack
  • gearmotor
    • MS-16574-050 from BaneBots
  • H-bridge
    • LMD18201 from National Semiconductor
    • 386337 from Jameco
  • IR proximity sensors (TS-011-000 from superdroidrobots.com)
  • LEDs
    • 540R2GBC-CA tricolor LEDs from Buy LEDs Online
  • PIR motion detector
    • MS-360 from IR-Tec
    • 555-28027 from Parallax
    • 276-033 from Radio Shack
  • pneumatic cylinder
    • V1B04-AW1 solenoid valve from MSC Direct
    • CJ2B16-60SR cylinder from Coast Pneumatics
  • RC servo motor
    • FUTABA S3003 from Hobbytown
    • made by Hitec, TD-008-000 from superdroidrobots.com
    • 2055 from Traxxas
  • RC servo motor controller
    • EDE-FT639 from E-labs
    • SSC-32 from Lunxmotion
    • XL5 speed controller from Traxxas
  • RF communication link
    • WRL-08948 from Sparkfun
    • TWS-8-bit from Reynolds Electronics
  • solenoid
    • SH9543 from All Electronics
    • 70155K76 from McMasterCarr
  • stepper motor
    • 42BY48406 from Jameco
    • 15Y102S-LW4 from Anaheim Automation
  • stepper motor driver
    • 25216 from Jameco
    • A3982SLB-T from Allegro
  • temperature and relative humidity sensor
    • SHT11 from Parallax
  • thermistor
    • 527-MC65Y104C from Mouser
    • 2381-640-10103 from SparkFun
  • ultrasonic rangefinder
    • SEN-08502 from Sparkfun
    • 276-031 from Radio Shack
  • voice synthesizer (Speakjet R225-SPEAKJET from Acroname Robotics)

  See also: Mechatronics Resources (links to information on actuators, sensors, semiconductors, electronics, controllers, hobby robotics components, etc.). The Robotics section is particularly useful for small projects. Many of the components above are offered by the hobby robotics suppliers.