Does anyone know of / have / could write (cheeky!) a simple example
program to allow say a set of leds (why always a set of leds?) to be
turned on off from the PC with the PIC connected via USB?
I have it working using serial, in fact that was one of my first
projects, but with USB it seems I need something a bit more clever on
the PC end than just hyperterminal..........
Thats where I'm at a bit of a loss, due to my lack of knowledge about
USB devices.
I have been told (correct me if this is wrong) that I will need to
write something (Dont shout but I guess with VB6, as I have used that
before) that connects to a DLL ?
I know why I stuck with serial so long, in fact looking once again at
the microchip examples, it seems I can have it appear as a fake com
port to windows, but only problem it will have (like my previous
little projects) is the comport number will change etc if removed / re
inserted, and any software will then need to be told where it is or to
hunt for it.
I can live with that, but would like to get a 'real' USB connection
going so that I can learn from their.
--
Lez
http://groups.google.com/group/recycled_citroen_uk/
USB on 18f2550
Started by ●May 25, 2007
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
You have two relatively easy choices. You can use the USB COM port
emulation profile or you can use the HID (keyboard/mouse) profiles for
USB. In neither case will you need to write a driver for the PC side and
the device will work on a Mac and a PC or Linux box. If you go the HID
route however you will have to use MS library support for talking to HID
devices, if you use the COM port emulator then you can use Hyperterm (hack
ptui!) or your favorite terminal emulator to talk to it. If this is a
learning exercise then both are pretty cool. If you just want to get the
job done then Google for "FTDI chip" and there you will find a single chip
that has the full USB/COM emulation already done in the chip and you can
simply drop it into your project.
I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a dev
board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
DLC
--
Dennis Clark
> Does anyone know of / have / could write (cheeky!) a simple example
> program to allow say a set of leds (why always a set of leds?) to be
> turned on off from the PC with the PIC connected via USB?
> I have it working using serial, in fact that was one of my first
> projects, but with USB it seems I need something a bit more clever on
> the PC end than just hyperterminal..........
>
> Thats where I'm at a bit of a loss, due to my lack of knowledge about
> USB devices.
> I have been told (correct me if this is wrong) that I will need to
> write something (Dont shout but I guess with VB6, as I have used that
> before) that connects to a DLL ?
>
> I know why I stuck with serial so long, in fact looking once again at
> the microchip examples, it seems I can have it appear as a fake com
> port to windows, but only problem it will have (like my previous
> little projects) is the comport number will change etc if removed / re
> inserted, and any software will then need to be told where it is or to
> hunt for it.
>
> I can live with that, but would like to get a 'real' USB connection
> going so that I can learn from their.
>
> --
> Lez
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/recycled_citroen_uk/
> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the
> instructions
> Yahoo! Groups Links
emulation profile or you can use the HID (keyboard/mouse) profiles for
USB. In neither case will you need to write a driver for the PC side and
the device will work on a Mac and a PC or Linux box. If you go the HID
route however you will have to use MS library support for talking to HID
devices, if you use the COM port emulator then you can use Hyperterm (hack
ptui!) or your favorite terminal emulator to talk to it. If this is a
learning exercise then both are pretty cool. If you just want to get the
job done then Google for "FTDI chip" and there you will find a single chip
that has the full USB/COM emulation already done in the chip and you can
simply drop it into your project.
I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a dev
board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
DLC
--
Dennis Clark
> Does anyone know of / have / could write (cheeky!) a simple example
> program to allow say a set of leds (why always a set of leds?) to be
> turned on off from the PC with the PIC connected via USB?
> I have it working using serial, in fact that was one of my first
> projects, but with USB it seems I need something a bit more clever on
> the PC end than just hyperterminal..........
>
> Thats where I'm at a bit of a loss, due to my lack of knowledge about
> USB devices.
> I have been told (correct me if this is wrong) that I will need to
> write something (Dont shout but I guess with VB6, as I have used that
> before) that connects to a DLL ?
>
> I know why I stuck with serial so long, in fact looking once again at
> the microchip examples, it seems I can have it appear as a fake com
> port to windows, but only problem it will have (like my previous
> little projects) is the comport number will change etc if removed / re
> inserted, and any software will then need to be told where it is or to
> hunt for it.
>
> I can live with that, but would like to get a 'real' USB connection
> going so that I can learn from their.
>
> --
> Lez
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/recycled_citroen_uk/
> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the
> instructions
> Yahoo! Groups Links
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
On 25/05/07, d...@frii.com wrote:
> You have two relatively easy choices. You can use the USB COM port
> emulation profile or you can use the HID (keyboard/mouse) profiles for
> USB.
Oh, thats something I would not have thought of, I would have thought
that would only let it be a keyboard or a mouse, not trying to sound
sarcastic I was just looking at it simplistically.
>
> I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a dev
> board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
> are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
>
I built this for the 2550 (photo taken before completed)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tinabriddon/bday/DSC00464.JPG
So I think from that I can start to play, I started that last
september, but other 'real world' tasks have slowed down any progress
I was making, by the time I have found a day off to have a play I have
forgot what I learned the last time I had it out!
> You have two relatively easy choices. You can use the USB COM port
> emulation profile or you can use the HID (keyboard/mouse) profiles for
> USB.
Oh, thats something I would not have thought of, I would have thought
that would only let it be a keyboard or a mouse, not trying to sound
sarcastic I was just looking at it simplistically.
>
> I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a dev
> board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
> are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
>
I built this for the 2550 (photo taken before completed)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tinabriddon/bday/DSC00464.JPG
So I think from that I can start to play, I started that last
september, but other 'real world' tasks have slowed down any progress
I was making, by the time I have found a day off to have a play I have
forgot what I learned the last time I had it out!
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
> On 25/05/07, d...@frii.com wrote:
>> You have two relatively easy choices. You can use the USB COM port
>> emulation profile or you can use the HID (keyboard/mouse) profiles for
>> USB.
>
> Oh, thats something I would not have thought of, I would have thought
> that would only let it be a keyboard or a mouse, not trying to sound
> sarcastic I was just looking at it simplistically.
Oh no! That is the beauty of the HID interface. You put your own code
into the Microchip scaffold to handle the host talking to what IT thinks
is a keyboard or mouse and you send signals back to the host ACTING like
a keyboard or mouse. There isn't much that a host says to a keyboard,
but it can talk to it and you can interpret that dialog any way you want
to. Because to talk to a HID device pretty much means IOCTL calls, I
recommend using the COM emulator, you can use any terminal emulator and
serial port code is cheap on a PC.
DLC
>
>>
>> I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a
>> dev
>> board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
>> are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
>> I built this for the 2550 (photo taken before completed)
> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tinabriddon/bday/DSC00464.JPG
>
> So I think from that I can start to play, I started that last
> september, but other 'real world' tasks have slowed down any progress
> I was making, by the time I have found a day off to have a play I have
> forgot what I learned the last time I had it out!
> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the
> instructions
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>> You have two relatively easy choices. You can use the USB COM port
>> emulation profile or you can use the HID (keyboard/mouse) profiles for
>> USB.
>
> Oh, thats something I would not have thought of, I would have thought
> that would only let it be a keyboard or a mouse, not trying to sound
> sarcastic I was just looking at it simplistically.
Oh no! That is the beauty of the HID interface. You put your own code
into the Microchip scaffold to handle the host talking to what IT thinks
is a keyboard or mouse and you send signals back to the host ACTING like
a keyboard or mouse. There isn't much that a host says to a keyboard,
but it can talk to it and you can interpret that dialog any way you want
to. Because to talk to a HID device pretty much means IOCTL calls, I
recommend using the COM emulator, you can use any terminal emulator and
serial port code is cheap on a PC.
DLC
>
>>
>> I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a
>> dev
>> board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
>> are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
>> I built this for the 2550 (photo taken before completed)
> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tinabriddon/bday/DSC00464.JPG
>
> So I think from that I can start to play, I started that last
> september, but other 'real world' tasks have slowed down any progress
> I was making, by the time I have found a day off to have a play I have
> forgot what I learned the last time I had it out!
> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the
> instructions
> Yahoo! Groups Links
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lez"
To:
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 5:27 PM
Subject: [piclist] USB on 18f2550
> Does anyone know of / have / could write (cheeky!) a simple example
> program to allow say a set of leds (why always a set of leds?) to be
> turned on off from the PC with the PIC connected via USB?
> I have it working using serial, in fact that was one of my first
> projects, but with USB it seems I need something a bit more clever on
> the PC end than just hyperterminal..........
>
> Thats where I'm at a bit of a loss, due to my lack of knowledge about
> USB devices.
> I have been told (correct me if this is wrong) that I will need to
> write something (Dont shout but I guess with VB6, as I have used that
> before) that connects to a DLL ?
>
> I know why I stuck with serial so long, in fact looking once again at
> the microchip examples, it seems I can have it appear as a fake com
> port to windows, but only problem it will have (like my previous
> little projects) is the comport number will change etc if removed / re
> inserted, and any software will then need to be told where it is or to
> hunt for it.
>
> I can live with that, but would like to get a 'real' USB connection
> going so that I can learn from their.
See this USB project of mine using the 18F2455:
http://www.leonheller.com/usb/
It should be quite easy to adapt it to the 18F2550.
Leon
--
Leon Heller
Amateur radio call-sign G1HSM
Yaesu FT-817ND transceiver
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
l...@btinternet.com
http://webspace.webring.com/people/jl/leon_heller/
From: "Lez"
To:
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 5:27 PM
Subject: [piclist] USB on 18f2550
> Does anyone know of / have / could write (cheeky!) a simple example
> program to allow say a set of leds (why always a set of leds?) to be
> turned on off from the PC with the PIC connected via USB?
> I have it working using serial, in fact that was one of my first
> projects, but with USB it seems I need something a bit more clever on
> the PC end than just hyperterminal..........
>
> Thats where I'm at a bit of a loss, due to my lack of knowledge about
> USB devices.
> I have been told (correct me if this is wrong) that I will need to
> write something (Dont shout but I guess with VB6, as I have used that
> before) that connects to a DLL ?
>
> I know why I stuck with serial so long, in fact looking once again at
> the microchip examples, it seems I can have it appear as a fake com
> port to windows, but only problem it will have (like my previous
> little projects) is the comport number will change etc if removed / re
> inserted, and any software will then need to be told where it is or to
> hunt for it.
>
> I can live with that, but would like to get a 'real' USB connection
> going so that I can learn from their.
See this USB project of mine using the 18F2455:
http://www.leonheller.com/usb/
It should be quite easy to adapt it to the 18F2550.
Leon
--
Leon Heller
Amateur radio call-sign G1HSM
Yaesu FT-817ND transceiver
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
l...@btinternet.com
http://webspace.webring.com/people/jl/leon_heller/
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
>
> Oh no! That is the beauty of the HID interface. You put your own code
> into the Microchip scaffold to handle the host talking to what IT thinks
> is a keyboard or mouse and you send signals back to the host ACTING like
> a keyboard or mouse. There isn't much that a host says to a keyboard,
Stupid stupid point here, but wont windows just think its a keyboard
and screw everything up?
I *really* need to read up on this, thankfully I just took a week off
to sort my car out, so should get a few nights to make a
start.........
> recommend using the COM emulator, you can use any terminal emulator and
> serial port code is cheap on a PC.
True, but it also seems a bit like using dos to create a directory
when I click a mouse and create a folder....
If I flash a few lights using an emulated port, it would feel a bit
like a hollow victory, I'll have to do some heavy googling I may find
its already been done with a dumbed down explanation of how it works.
I think fixing the noisy tappet/rocker problem on the car engine is
sounding a lot simpler........
> Oh no! That is the beauty of the HID interface. You put your own code
> into the Microchip scaffold to handle the host talking to what IT thinks
> is a keyboard or mouse and you send signals back to the host ACTING like
> a keyboard or mouse. There isn't much that a host says to a keyboard,
Stupid stupid point here, but wont windows just think its a keyboard
and screw everything up?
I *really* need to read up on this, thankfully I just took a week off
to sort my car out, so should get a few nights to make a
start.........
> recommend using the COM emulator, you can use any terminal emulator and
> serial port code is cheap on a PC.
True, but it also seems a bit like using dos to create a directory
when I click a mouse and create a folder....
If I flash a few lights using an emulated port, it would feel a bit
like a hollow victory, I'll have to do some heavy googling I may find
its already been done with a dumbed down explanation of how it works.
I think fixing the noisy tappet/rocker problem on the car engine is
sounding a lot simpler........
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
> See this USB project of mine using the 18F2455:
>
> http://www.leonheller.com/usb/
Thanks, just downloaded them but will have to play tomorrow, Is the
PIC asm/hex in their or is that elsewhere etc, or do I need to write
that to match etc.
>
> http://www.leonheller.com/usb/
Thanks, just downloaded them but will have to play tomorrow, Is the
PIC asm/hex in their or is that elsewhere etc, or do I need to write
that to match etc.
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
Hi Lez,
Sure! Have you looked at the PICDEM FS USB demo board and its available
software?
Their PC program (panel) allows you to turn the LEDs on and off, along with
other things. Study that. You can wire up an PIC18F4550 chip quite easily
to a few LEDs, etc. and do your own if you don't want to buy the demo board.
I've done it. Schematics are on the net!
I'm currently bringing up an Atmel AT91SAM7S board (no flames!) for work,
and last night I got bi-directional communication to the board! The
usbser.sys file (generic to Windoz) is used.
I believe the PICDEM demo also uses this SYS file. This is the basic CDC
mode for USB. The code for the uP DOES seem a lot simpler for the Atmel,
but all you do is put your code in the "user" file, as I recall. Again,
study the PICDEM demo code!
I DO want to see if I can make a simpler USB interface for the PIC. After I
compare the AT91 code to the 18F4550 code, maybe I'll see what's going on.
Atmel might be linking in a USB library module, but I don't see it. Also,
it doesn't us up 1/2 the RAM. The CDC implementation seems much simpler on
the AT91. On the PC side USBLibrary.dll is used.
Atmel also has an app that uses a DLL to talk to the USB, as you describe.
On the PIC, look for VCPICUSBDemo. It uses mpusbapi.dll
Alan KM6VV
> -----Original Message-----
> From: p... [mailto:p...] On Behalf
> Of Lez
> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 9:27 AM
> To: p...
> Subject: [piclist] USB on 18f2550
>
> Does anyone know of / have / could write (cheeky!) a simple example
> program to allow say a set of leds (why always a set of leds?) to be
> turned on off from the PC with the PIC connected via USB?
> I have it working using serial, in fact that was one of my first
> projects, but with USB it seems I need something a bit more clever on
> the PC end than just hyperterminal..........
>
> Thats where I'm at a bit of a loss, due to my lack of knowledge about
> USB devices.
> I have been told (correct me if this is wrong) that I will need to
> write something (Dont shout but I guess with VB6, as I have used that
> before) that connects to a DLL ?
>
> I know why I stuck with serial so long, in fact looking once again at
> the microchip examples, it seems I can have it appear as a fake com
> port to windows, but only problem it will have (like my previous
> little projects) is the comport number will change etc if removed / re
> inserted, and any software will then need to be told where it is or to
> hunt for it.
>
> I can live with that, but would like to get a 'real' USB connection
> going so that I can learn from their.
>
> --
> Lez
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/recycled_citroen_uk/
> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the
> instructions
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
Sure! Have you looked at the PICDEM FS USB demo board and its available
software?
Their PC program (panel) allows you to turn the LEDs on and off, along with
other things. Study that. You can wire up an PIC18F4550 chip quite easily
to a few LEDs, etc. and do your own if you don't want to buy the demo board.
I've done it. Schematics are on the net!
I'm currently bringing up an Atmel AT91SAM7S board (no flames!) for work,
and last night I got bi-directional communication to the board! The
usbser.sys file (generic to Windoz) is used.
I believe the PICDEM demo also uses this SYS file. This is the basic CDC
mode for USB. The code for the uP DOES seem a lot simpler for the Atmel,
but all you do is put your code in the "user" file, as I recall. Again,
study the PICDEM demo code!
I DO want to see if I can make a simpler USB interface for the PIC. After I
compare the AT91 code to the 18F4550 code, maybe I'll see what's going on.
Atmel might be linking in a USB library module, but I don't see it. Also,
it doesn't us up 1/2 the RAM. The CDC implementation seems much simpler on
the AT91. On the PC side USBLibrary.dll is used.
Atmel also has an app that uses a DLL to talk to the USB, as you describe.
On the PIC, look for VCPICUSBDemo. It uses mpusbapi.dll
Alan KM6VV
> -----Original Message-----
> From: p... [mailto:p...] On Behalf
> Of Lez
> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 9:27 AM
> To: p...
> Subject: [piclist] USB on 18f2550
>
> Does anyone know of / have / could write (cheeky!) a simple example
> program to allow say a set of leds (why always a set of leds?) to be
> turned on off from the PC with the PIC connected via USB?
> I have it working using serial, in fact that was one of my first
> projects, but with USB it seems I need something a bit more clever on
> the PC end than just hyperterminal..........
>
> Thats where I'm at a bit of a loss, due to my lack of knowledge about
> USB devices.
> I have been told (correct me if this is wrong) that I will need to
> write something (Dont shout but I guess with VB6, as I have used that
> before) that connects to a DLL ?
>
> I know why I stuck with serial so long, in fact looking once again at
> the microchip examples, it seems I can have it appear as a fake com
> port to windows, but only problem it will have (like my previous
> little projects) is the comport number will change etc if removed / re
> inserted, and any software will then need to be told where it is or to
> hunt for it.
>
> I can live with that, but would like to get a 'real' USB connection
> going so that I can learn from their.
>
> --
> Lez
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/recycled_citroen_uk/
> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the
> instructions
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
Hi Lez,
Well that's a cool board! I'll bet it can run the PICDEM FS USB code I
mentioned! You might have to change the LED bit assignments in the code,
but then you'd be good to go!
Did you etch your board? I've been milling mine.
Alan KM6VV
> >
> > I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a
> dev
> > board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
> > are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
> > I built this for the 2550 (photo taken before completed)
> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tinabriddon/bday/DSC00464.JPG
>
> So I think from that I can start to play, I started that last
> september, but other 'real world' tasks have slowed down any progress
> I was making, by the time I have found a day off to have a play I have
> forgot what I learned the last time I had it out!
>
Well that's a cool board! I'll bet it can run the PICDEM FS USB code I
mentioned! You might have to change the LED bit assignments in the code,
but then you'd be good to go!
Did you etch your board? I've been milling mine.
Alan KM6VV
> >
> > I bought the Microchip USB evaluation kit which came with code and a
> dev
> > board to play with this stuff - It wasn't very expensive either. There
> > are example projects for all of the USB options on the Microchip site.
> > I built this for the 2550 (photo taken before completed)
> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tinabriddon/bday/DSC00464.JPG
>
> So I think from that I can start to play, I started that last
> september, but other 'real world' tasks have slowed down any progress
> I was making, by the time I have found a day off to have a play I have
> forgot what I learned the last time I had it out!
>
Reply by ●May 25, 20072007-05-25
>>
>> Oh no! That is the beauty of the HID interface. You put your own code
>> into the Microchip scaffold to handle the host talking to what IT
>> thinks
>> is a keyboard or mouse and you send signals back to the host ACTING
>> like
>> a keyboard or mouse. There isn't much that a host says to a keyboard,
>
> Stupid stupid point here, but wont windows just think its a keyboard
> and screw everything up?
A HID device is a keyboard, mouse, game controller, joystick, graphics
tablet, there are a LOT of things that use that interface. You can have
more than one of anytype of HID device on the USB bus.
> I *really* need to read up on this, thankfully I just took a week off
> to sort my car out, so should get a few nights to make a
> start.........
>
>> recommend using the COM emulator, you can use any terminal emulator and
>> serial port code is cheap on a PC.
>
> True, but it also seems a bit like using dos to create a directory
> when I click a mouse and create a folder....
>
> If I flash a few lights using an emulated port, it would feel a bit
> like a hollow victory, I'll have to do some heavy googling I may find
> its already been done with a dumbed down explanation of how it works.
Why generate work? If the exercise is to maximize cleverness then you
can write your own USB definition, create your own DLL, make your own
USB profile, etc. But this is a LOT of work and it won't do anything
better than using the already established definitions. There is nothing
"cheater" about it. You'll find the exercise plenty challenging! And
still doable.
DLC
> I think fixing the noisy tappet/rocker problem on the car engine is
> sounding a lot simpler........
> to unsubscribe, go to http://www.yahoogroups.com and follow the
> instructions
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>> Oh no! That is the beauty of the HID interface. You put your own code
>> into the Microchip scaffold to handle the host talking to what IT
>> thinks
>> is a keyboard or mouse and you send signals back to the host ACTING
>> like
>> a keyboard or mouse. There isn't much that a host says to a keyboard,
>
> Stupid stupid point here, but wont windows just think its a keyboard
> and screw everything up?
A HID device is a keyboard, mouse, game controller, joystick, graphics
tablet, there are a LOT of things that use that interface. You can have
more than one of anytype of HID device on the USB bus.
> I *really* need to read up on this, thankfully I just took a week off
> to sort my car out, so should get a few nights to make a
> start.........
>
>> recommend using the COM emulator, you can use any terminal emulator and
>> serial port code is cheap on a PC.
>
> True, but it also seems a bit like using dos to create a directory
> when I click a mouse and create a folder....
>
> If I flash a few lights using an emulated port, it would feel a bit
> like a hollow victory, I'll have to do some heavy googling I may find
> its already been done with a dumbed down explanation of how it works.
Why generate work? If the exercise is to maximize cleverness then you
can write your own USB definition, create your own DLL, make your own
USB profile, etc. But this is a LOT of work and it won't do anything
better than using the already established definitions. There is nothing
"cheater" about it. You'll find the exercise plenty challenging! And
still doable.
DLC
> I think fixing the noisy tappet/rocker problem on the car engine is
> sounding a lot simpler........
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