Here is an app note from Microchip explaining how to implement the USB printer class on PICs that have USB host capability. This will allow you to connect your project to a printer. The USB Printer Class, used on one of Microchip’s microcontrollers with the USB OTG peripheral, allows an embedded application to utilize a […]
Tag Archives: microchip
Microchip’s new cheapie PIC24F KL microcontrollers
Microchip added some new cheapie chips to the PIC24F family of 16bit microcontrollers, the ‘KL’ series. They come in 14, 20, and 28 pin packages, and some cost less than a buck in quantity: The PIC24F ‘KL’ family was developed for cost-sensitive applications that require 16-bit performance, extremely low power sleep and active modes, and […]
Automatically generate Eagle footprints for Microchip parts
Macdweller wrote a step by step tutorial on making Cadsoft Eagle footprints for any Microchip device, like PIC microcontrollers, using the Ultra Librarian app to generate footprints automatically. Via the forum.
App note: Driving capacitive loads with op amps
How to drive capacitive loads with op amps. Operational amplifiers that drive large capacitive loads can have problems like oscillation and peaking. This article describes how to anticipate and limit theses problems: Other problems include: reduced bandwidth, lower output slew rate, and higher power consumption. This application note explains why these problems occur, how to […]
App note: Using UART Auto-Baud detection on dsPIC30 digital signal processors
Here is a app note from Microchip describing how to implement the Auto-Baud detection for UART operation on dsPIC30 digital signal processors. This function is useful when the oscillator of the dsPIC is unknown and/or the baud rate is unknown. All current dsPIC30F devices have a UART peripheral with Auto Baud capability. The signal on […]
App note: Implementing digital lock-in amplifiers using the dsPIC DSC
Here is an app note from Microchip describing how to use dsPIC digital signal processors to implement digital lock-in amplifiers. Lock-in amplifiers use phase-sensitive detection to measure the presence of small signals buried in large amounts of noise. By measuring the coherent system response from an incoming AC signal, the digital lock-in amplifier can detect […]
TCPIP and WIFI over a simple serial interface
Sjaak tipped us to the MCW1001A, a TCP/IP stack and WiFi management IC with a simple serial interface. It stands between your project and a MRF24WB0MB WiFI module so you don’t have to mess with a full TCP/IP network implementation. MCW1001A is a companion chip to the MRF24WB0 802.11 module. It provides simple socket based […]
New 8bit PIC microcontrollers with some interesting peripherals
Microchip just released a new series of PIC16F 8bit mid-range microcontrollers, the PIC16F178X. They come in 28 and 40 pin package versions with 14 KB of flash, running at 8 MIPS. We find some of new peripherals very interesting. Programmable Switch Mode Controller with a 16nS (64 MHz) resolution 8bit Digital-to-Analog converter with internal connections […]
App Note: Comparing digital and mechanical potentiometers
Microchip compares mechanical and digital potentiometers to digital. This app note explains the theory behind both versions, and their advantages and disadvantages. Mechanical potentiometers have advantages in terms of having a wide variety of values available and tighter specifications such as nominal resistance, tolerance, temperature coefficient, power rating and temperature range specifications. But in many […]
PROTOTYPE PREVIEW: PIC TQFP-100 Breakout Board v2
PIC TQFP100 Breakout boards are designed to quickly get you prototyping with any Microchip PIC microcontroller or dsPIC digital signal processor that comes in 100pin 0.4mm pitch TQFP (designation ‘PT’) packages. We’ve checked support for PIC32s, PIC24s, and dsPIC33s, but others may be supported as well. In version 2 we fixed some bugs and added […]
App note: Designing the oscilator circuit for PIC microcontrollers
Here is an app note from Microchip describing how to design oscillator circuits for your PIC projects. The article advises designers to think about the conditions the project will be used in and design their oscillator circuits accordingly. Also provided are examples how to test and tweak the oscillator circuit to get the best result. […]
8051-compatible MCU samples from Microchip
For those of you who like the 8051 chip, we notice that Microchip has 8051 compatible MCUs available in 40-pin PDIP, part number SST89E516RD-40-C-PIE, available as samples. According to the datasheet: The SST89E516RDx and SST89V516RDx are members of the FlashFlex family of 8-bit microcontroller products designed and manufactured with SST’s patented and proprietary SuperFlash CMOS […]
App note: Lamp dimmer using PIC12C508
Here is a reference design from Microchip describing how to built a Light dimmer with a PIC12C508 and a few discrete components. The circuit uses a simple zener voltage doper, to drop the voltage from mains to 5V required by the PIC. Watch out, there is live mains voltage involved. This reference note describes an […]
App note: Tips ‘n tricks for comparators in PIC microcontrollers
A collection of tips and tricks from Microchip for using the comparator module on PIC12F and PIC16F microcontrollers. These peripherals usually have high propagation delays, but many applications don’t require high response times from the microcontroller. This app note outlines 20 different applications where integrated comparators might come in handy, such as low battery detection, […]
PIC32-based Cerebot development boards with chipKIT prototyping capabilities
Digilent an Microchip have announced the release of their new line of Cerebot development boards. Microchip and Digilent announce several new 32-bit PIC32 microcontroller (MCU)-based Cerebot development boards with prototyping capabilities for the Arduino compatible chipKIT development platform. The Cerebot MX3cK, Cerebot MX4cK and Cerebot MX7cK (MX3/4/7) boards provide a single, general-purpose development platform for […]
PIC18F26J50 dev-board for Flowcode4 graphical programming language
Element14 and Microchip released a evaluation kit for the PIC18F26j50 microcontroller with USB. It’s designed to be programmed using Flowcode4, a graphical programming language. element14 and Microchip together presents PIC18 MCU based the PIC18F26J50 EVK Flowcode Development Kit, it’s a development and demonstration kit designed to provide developers a hands-on approach to learn Flowcode 4 […]
App note: Understanding ADC specifications and attributes
Here is an app note from Microchip explaining how to interpret various analog to digital converter specifications. This article covers how attributes of ADCs are calculated and how they apply to it’s performance and precision. The purpose of this application note is to describe the specifications used to quantify the performance of A/D converters and […]
PICkit3 programmers are 20% off at MicrochipDIRECT
By using the coupon code “MPLABX” you’ll shave 20% off of a PICkit3 programmer/debugger, or a PICkit3 Debug express kit. PICkit3 is the latest in the PICkit series of programmers from Microchip. It supports all PIC and dsPIC microcontroller families. There are cheap clones floating around on eBay, but with this discount you can get […]
Microchip anounces new cross-platform MPLAB XC compilers
Microchip has announced that it will release new cross-platform MPLAB XC C compilers by the end of March. They come in 3 versions depending on PIC family: XC8 is for 8bit, XC16 for 16bit, and XC32 for 32bit microcontrollers. Microchip is releasing MPLAB XC C compilers in the upcoming weeks. There will be three, one […]
PIC16F145X: Full-Speed USB with no external crystal
Microchip is about to release the PIC16F145X family of microcontrollers. This little guy is advertised to have Full-Speed USB capability without the need of the usual external oscillator. From the product brief it appears that this uC will use the host USB signal to tune the internal 48 MHz oscillator and comply with the USB […]