5 replies to this topic

[xavierrd]

I like playing with those electronic little toys now more than ever thanks to C, being MCs from Motorola or PICs from Microchip. I just got a NITRO (from Motorola) programming kit, it's very small, but enough for playing. Does somebody know of a good tutorial on these?

[rvalkass]

I use microcontrollers quite a lot in my electronics work. I'm currently making a lottery number generator for my GCSE project. It's quite amazing what you can do with the things.

Tutorials entirely depend on what system you use and what language it uses. The Chip Factory uses BASIC, PicAxe uses assembly code. Just run a search for tutorials or get a manual from Motorola. Often they have information in them on projects and ideas.

[xavierrd]

That's true, it depends on each system. I'll follow your advice, thanks. Also I guess Motorola must have something to start with at they site, somewhere

The package was nitron, and I found this, have not really checked them, but seem good for a start.

http://www.hc08.cz/sw_tutorials/cwse/index.htm

I'll keep looking for those tutorials and post them here as soon as I find good ones.

Here, in my city, I can get Microchips pics easily, not Motorolas that's the only bad thing, but the worst that could happen is that I would have to wait for a package to get here. I think 'em both are good options. Does some one know of other good brands??? They are the only ones I have ever used. I would like to know of others, it is always good to have options.

[believer]

can you share more information on what chips are available and for what applications normally they are being used? I do love to build things like this and am interested on what you have said, more info would be nice, thanks.

[xavierrd]

believer

I've been using microcontrollers for a short time, but as far as I can tell, they can be used in any way you want. As some say, the sky is the limit, but I would doubt that. Microcontrolers, as any other technology, get more advanced and get new features with time.

As a brief description, they are small computers, wich lack of some high level interfaces, but they have ports, RAM, ROM, need power supply, calculate things, etc., and some include Analog-Digital and Digital-Analog converters wich make them powerful computers able to work with sensors. Ah, for using 'em, you need a computer to write the program, an IDE for testing, if possible, and a programmer- a little box connected to your PC. In that box you put your MC to write to it your program.

What could you do? A simple calculator, a countdown counter, a clock, a simple robot that follows lines or light. a light dimmer... You could control an enire house's electrical system (lights, doors, etc.). Using sensors, you could have the MC tell if someone is around, so it can turn the lights on, or off if there's no one in a certain room.

Among my personal projects, I want to make a complex robot able to navigate around my house, like a pet, and something more serious, a system to sense and give lectures of everything that's going on in my car. After that, I'd love to have my car RC

To me, MCs are simple to understand, and you could program them using C instead of an assembly languaje, so you won't have to suffer But the hard part comes when trying to create an interface with a machine or to understand how to use those thousands of other electronic components.

For learning, I've found Microchip's PICs are a good choice, so are Motorola's MCs.

If I can help with anything else, let me know

www.semiconductors.philips.com/acrobat/literature/9397/75012107.pdf
http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/products/microcontrollers/index.html

Microchip - Featured Applications

http://www.microchip.com/

Motorola

http://www.freescale.com/
http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/overview.jsp?nodeId=016246362255423553

believer, on Feb 6 2006, 02:24 AM, said:

can you share more information on what chips are available and for what applications normally they are being used? I do love to build things like this and am interested on what you have said, more info would be nice, thanks.

[bidarshi]

Let me join in the discussion. Microcontroller: I stress is one of the most powerful micros in the electronics world. These small things and rightly compete with the microprocessors in most aspects. To use the microcontroller and its programming language one must consult the proper manual. While in my high school I had been taught the Intel 8051 with a different programming compatability than the PIC or other stuff I can point out the common features of microcontrollers in general.This might serve as a beginner's tutorial.
Micro controllers in general have I/O capability, memory clock associated with them.When properly interfaced and programmed they can be used to produce interesting products.For the 8051 the ports are bit addressable which is more desireable properety of addressability.