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Discussion Groups | Piclist | Re: new here, some questions
A discussion group for the PICMicro microcontroller. Also called the Microchip PIC, this list is dedicated to the use and abuse of this fine, simple, microcontroller. Close to topic posts are welcome, ie. general electronics.
new here, some questions - murrayatuptowngallery - Apr 17 11:17:01 2008
Hi:
I'm an electronics tech but haven't had a uP class since an 8085 one
in 1979 and an 8088 one in maybe 1984.
I have a project I need to uC-ify and have been spinning my wheels
looking at all the choices.
I got two pieces of 16F688 (SOIC I think, it has to be small) because
it has enough memory for inefficient code AND expansion.
What I would like to do is find out where I can start reading some
simple examples that show some basics of configuration etc.
Any suggestions on simplest programming interface appreciated. I will
need to be able to modify parameters once the device is built.
I'm not asking how to design it, but a description follows so you can
tell me if I am expecting too much from an 8-bit uC (like the math
expectations).
Basically, it needs to measure one or two voltages, depending what
mode it's in.
Single voltage mode, it needs to translate a linearly varying voltage
to a very specific unit scale and display it on a 3-digit LED
7-segment display. I got some Maxim Charlie-plexing LED drivers too to
make it easier. If not linear enough (3-5% req'd), I am wondering if
it makes more sense to build in a lookup table or, or is polynomial
curve fitting getting too bold for 8-bit?
In the other mode it needs to sample & hold (external hardware if
necessary is OK) two voltages, then (tell me if this is expecting too
much of an 8-bit uC), determine the ratio and then scale or multiply
Thanks
Murray Leshner
Holland MI
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Re: new here, some questions - Eirik Karlsen - Apr 17 13:57:39 2008
Murray,
sertainly a 8bit MPU will do this, and MUCH more. But there are also some that will not...
As opposed to the processors you have experience with the mainstram PICs are RISC units,
and from your point of view they may seem a little awkward to program... I'd say that the
low and mid range PICs are more awkward then the hight end ones (PIC18 and DSPic).
I would strongly reccomend you stay away from the midr 16 series and instead go for the 18 series,
they are much more advanced and easier to deal with from a programming viewpoint.
I'd go one further and suggest you look more closely at the PIC18F242 28pin.
I have used these to do almost exactly what you describe, including the conversion table with
interpolation between controlpoints. Used the 10bit ADCs for measuring DC voltages etc.
HTH
murrayatuptowngallery wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I'm an electronics tech but haven't had a uP class since an 8085 one
> in 1979 and an 8088 one in maybe 1984.
>
> I have a project I need to uC-ify and have been spinning my wheels
> looking at all the choices.
>
> I got two pieces of 16F688 (SOIC I think, it has to be small) because
> it has enough memory for inefficient code AND expansion.
>
> What I would like to do is find out where I can start reading some
> simple examples that show some basics of configuration etc.
>
> Any suggestions on simplest programming interface appreciated. I will
> need to be able to modify parameters once the device is built.
>
> I'm not asking how to design it, but a description follows so you can
> tell me if I am expecting too much from an 8-bit uC (like the math
> expectations).
>
> Basically, it needs to measure one or two voltages, depending what
> mode it's in.
>
> Single voltage mode, it needs to translate a linearly varying voltage
> to a very specific unit scale and display it on a 3-digit LED
> 7-segment display. I got some Maxim Charlie-plexing LED drivers too to
> make it easier. If not linear enough (3-5% req'd), I am wondering if
> it makes more sense to build in a lookup table or, or is polynomial
> curve fitting getting too bold for 8-bit?
>
> In the other mode it needs to sample & hold (external hardware if
> necessary is OK) two voltages, then (tell me if this is expecting too
> much of an 8-bit uC), determine the ratio and then scale or multiply
>
> Thanks
>
> Murray Leshner
> Holland MI
--
*******************************************
VISIT MY HOME PAGE:
LAST UPDATED: 23/08/2003
*******************************************
Regards
Eirik Karlsen
(You need to be a member of piclist -- send a blank email to piclist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
sertainly a 8bit MPU will do this, and MUCH more. But there are also some that will not...
As opposed to the processors you have experience with the mainstram PICs are RISC units,
and from your point of view they may seem a little awkward to program... I'd say that the
low and mid range PICs are more awkward then the hight end ones (PIC18 and DSPic).
I would strongly reccomend you stay away from the midr 16 series and instead go for the 18 series,
they are much more advanced and easier to deal with from a programming viewpoint.
I'd go one further and suggest you look more closely at the PIC18F242 28pin.
I have used these to do almost exactly what you describe, including the conversion table with
interpolation between controlpoints. Used the 10bit ADCs for measuring DC voltages etc.
HTH
murrayatuptowngallery wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I'm an electronics tech but haven't had a uP class since an 8085 one
> in 1979 and an 8088 one in maybe 1984.
>
> I have a project I need to uC-ify and have been spinning my wheels
> looking at all the choices.
>
> I got two pieces of 16F688 (SOIC I think, it has to be small) because
> it has enough memory for inefficient code AND expansion.
>
> What I would like to do is find out where I can start reading some
> simple examples that show some basics of configuration etc.
>
> Any suggestions on simplest programming interface appreciated. I will
> need to be able to modify parameters once the device is built.
>
> I'm not asking how to design it, but a description follows so you can
> tell me if I am expecting too much from an 8-bit uC (like the math
> expectations).
>
> Basically, it needs to measure one or two voltages, depending what
> mode it's in.
>
> Single voltage mode, it needs to translate a linearly varying voltage
> to a very specific unit scale and display it on a 3-digit LED
> 7-segment display. I got some Maxim Charlie-plexing LED drivers too to
> make it easier. If not linear enough (3-5% req'd), I am wondering if
> it makes more sense to build in a lookup table or, or is polynomial
> curve fitting getting too bold for 8-bit?
>
> In the other mode it needs to sample & hold (external hardware if
> necessary is OK) two voltages, then (tell me if this is expecting too
> much of an 8-bit uC), determine the ratio and then scale or multiply
>
> Thanks
>
> Murray Leshner
> Holland MI
--
*******************************************
VISIT MY HOME PAGE:
LAST UPDATED: 23/08/2003
*******************************************
Regards
Eirik Karlsen
(You need to be a member of piclist -- send a blank email to piclist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
Re: new here, some questions - Murray Leshner - Apr 28 19:28:11 2008
Thank you.
I was trying to go with minimal footprint because one of the things I'm trying to do
is retrofit a new pcb and 3-digit display into an instrument (more than one) with a tiny D'Arsonval meter than is viewed through an optics system. New ones are US$600-800 and that's not going to happen in my lifetime :O)
Murray
Eirik Karlsen wrote: Murray,
sertainly a 8bit MPU will do this, and MUCH more. But there are also some that will not...
As opposed to the processors you have experience with the mainstram PICs are RISC units,
and from your point of view they may seem a little awkward to program... I'd say that the
low and mid range PICs are more awkward then the hight end ones (PIC18 and DSPic).
I would strongly reccomend you stay away from the midr 16 series and instead go for the 18 series,
they are much more advanced and easier to deal with from a programming viewpoint.
I'd go one further and suggest you look more closely at the PIC18F242 28pin.
I have used these to do almost exactly what you describe, including the conversion table with
interpolation between controlpoints. Used the 10bit ADCs for measuring DC voltages etc.
HTH
murrayatuptowngallery wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I'm an electronics tech but haven't had a uP class since an 8085 one
> in 1979 and an 8088 one in maybe 1984.
>
> I have a project I need to uC-ify and have been spinning my wheels
> looking at all the choices.
>
> I got two pieces of 16F688 (SOIC I think, it has to be small) because
> it has enough memory for inefficient code AND expansion.
>
> What I would like to do is find out where I can start reading some
> simple examples that show some basics of configuration etc.
>
> Any suggestions on simplest programming interface appreciated. I will
> need to be able to modify parameters once the device is built.
>
> I'm not asking how to design it, but a description follows so you can
> tell me if I am expecting too much from an 8-bit uC (like the math
> expectations).
>
> Basically, it needs to measure one or two voltages, depending what
> mode it's in.
>
> Single voltage mode, it needs to translate a linearly varying voltage
> to a very specific unit scale and display it on a 3-digit LED
> 7-segment display. I got some Maxim Charlie-plexing LED drivers too to
> make it easier. If not linear enough (3-5% req'd), I am wondering if
> it makes more sense to build in a lookup table or, or is polynomial
> curve fitting getting too bold for 8-bit?
>
> In the other mode it needs to sample & hold (external hardware if
> necessary is OK) two voltages, then (tell me if this is expecting too
> much of an 8-bit uC), determine the ratio and then scale or multiply
>
> Thanks
>
> Murray Leshner
> Holland MI
--
*******************************************
VISIT MY HOME PAGE:
LAST UPDATED: 23/08/2003
*******************************************
Regards
Eirik Karlsen
(You need to be a member of piclist -- send a blank email to piclist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )
I was trying to go with minimal footprint because one of the things I'm trying to do
is retrofit a new pcb and 3-digit display into an instrument (more than one) with a tiny D'Arsonval meter than is viewed through an optics system. New ones are US$600-800 and that's not going to happen in my lifetime :O)
Murray
Eirik Karlsen
sertainly a 8bit MPU will do this, and MUCH more. But there are also some that will not...
As opposed to the processors you have experience with the mainstram PICs are RISC units,
and from your point of view they may seem a little awkward to program... I'd say that the
low and mid range PICs are more awkward then the hight end ones (PIC18 and DSPic).
I would strongly reccomend you stay away from the midr 16 series and instead go for the 18 series,
they are much more advanced and easier to deal with from a programming viewpoint.
I'd go one further and suggest you look more closely at the PIC18F242 28pin.
I have used these to do almost exactly what you describe, including the conversion table with
interpolation between controlpoints. Used the 10bit ADCs for measuring DC voltages etc.
HTH
murrayatuptowngallery wrote:
> Hi:
>
> I'm an electronics tech but haven't had a uP class since an 8085 one
> in 1979 and an 8088 one in maybe 1984.
>
> I have a project I need to uC-ify and have been spinning my wheels
> looking at all the choices.
>
> I got two pieces of 16F688 (SOIC I think, it has to be small) because
> it has enough memory for inefficient code AND expansion.
>
> What I would like to do is find out where I can start reading some
> simple examples that show some basics of configuration etc.
>
> Any suggestions on simplest programming interface appreciated. I will
> need to be able to modify parameters once the device is built.
>
> I'm not asking how to design it, but a description follows so you can
> tell me if I am expecting too much from an 8-bit uC (like the math
> expectations).
>
> Basically, it needs to measure one or two voltages, depending what
> mode it's in.
>
> Single voltage mode, it needs to translate a linearly varying voltage
> to a very specific unit scale and display it on a 3-digit LED
> 7-segment display. I got some Maxim Charlie-plexing LED drivers too to
> make it easier. If not linear enough (3-5% req'd), I am wondering if
> it makes more sense to build in a lookup table or, or is polynomial
> curve fitting getting too bold for 8-bit?
>
> In the other mode it needs to sample & hold (external hardware if
> necessary is OK) two voltages, then (tell me if this is expecting too
> much of an 8-bit uC), determine the ratio and then scale or multiply
>
> Thanks
>
> Murray Leshner
> Holland MI
--
*******************************************
VISIT MY HOME PAGE:
LAST UPDATED: 23/08/2003
*******************************************
Regards
Eirik Karlsen
(You need to be a member of piclist -- send a blank email to piclist-subscribe@yahoogroups.com )