lcd display pic microcontroller brands

A lot goes into the design of quality electronics regardless of the intended application. Akey componentof embedded systems in electronics is the microcontroller. While diverse, an electronic designer needs to settle for a microcontroller type that suits their electronic needs. PIC microcontrollers are one such type.

PIC microcontrollersare programmable and the world’s tiniest. It is capable of carrying out a diverse task range. Therefore, you will find them in alarm systems, computer control systems, phones, alarm systems, etc. Understanding the diverse types of PIC microcontrollers informs the design process and programming of PIC microcontrollers. Want to learn more? Continue reading.

PIC microcontrollers, alternatively inferred asprogrammable interface controllers, came to the fore in 1993. Primarily designed and developed to support PDP computers in controlling their auxiliary devices, it currently has an expanded scope.

The PIC microcontrollers are based on Harvard architecture, which makes them popular. It stems from the ease in which it can get programmed,low cost, wide availability, and a simple interfacing capability with other auxiliary components. Additionally, it possesses a huge user base besides capacity for serial programming.

As anintegrated chip, a PIC microcontroller consists of a ROM, RAM, timers, CPU, and counters that support protocols like CAN, UART, and SPI for interfacing purposes. It also has flash memory, I/O ports, EEPROM, UART, SSP, ADC, and PSP besides ICSPand LCD. Such components form a fundamental aspect of the PIC microcontroller architecture.

The architecture of the PIC microcontroller defines its functionality. Besides considering the four classifications of the PIC microcontroller that rely on the internal architecture, understanding the different PIC microcontrollers’ types becomes ideal before the design process. Classifications include baseline PIC, enhanced mid-range PIC, mid-range PIC, and PIC18.

PIC microcontrollers also need programming to tailor them to their specific applications. As a designer, you need to factor in the PIC microcontroller programming software to deploy before development. It allows for its proper functioning upon completion. In most instances, the typical programming language often features the embedded C language. Let us now look into the architecture and programming process of the PIC microcontroller.

It only becomes possible to design and program a PIC microcontroller after understanding its architecture. The architecture entails I/O ports, CPU, A/D converter, interrupts, oscillator, counters/timers, memory organization CPP module, and serial communication.

It is similar to other microcontroller CPUs. It has a CU, AC, ALU, accumulator, and MU, among other components. Every aspect has its use. For instance, a control unit (CU) controls everything connected to the CPU. An arithmeticlogic unit (ALU) carries out arithmetic operations besides undertaking logical decisions. A memory unit (MU) stores instructions, etc.

The MU or memory organization module consists of ROM, RAM, and STACK. RAM comes unstable and stores data momentarily in its registers. RAM registers get classified either as general-purpose (GPR) or special function registers (SFR). On the other hand, ROM stores data permanently and, for a microcontroller case, the program. It all functions through the execution of instructions by the CPU. EEPROM allows for programming of the ROM numerous times instead of what happens in a typicalread-only memory (ROM). Flash memory is also PROM and thus can write, read, and erase programs multiple times. Lastly, STACK stores and executes the information from the completion of the interrupt execution.

All PIC16 contain five ports, including Port A, B, C, D, and E. Port A is a 16-bit port for output and input based on the TRISA register. The next is Port B, which comes as an 8-bit port for output or input functions, while Port C is similar to Port B but with its operation specified by the TRISC register. Port D acts as the slave port for Bus connection, while Port E comes as a 3-bit port that controls the digital or analog converter signals.

PIC microcontrollers have four counters/timers, whereas the 8-bit timer or the rest can accommodate eight or sixteen-bit mode, depending on your choice. It generates accuracy actions such as particular time delays among two operations.

PIC microcontrollers always require a PIC programmer, especially when building a PIC microcontroller project. Programming comes by way of an embedded C language, and as such, a designer needs to familiarizing with all these aspects before building their PIC controller project. But what does it all entail?

Before getting started on the PIC microcontroller programming front, it is crucial to understand how a standard microcontroller gets developed. However, the underlying considerations entail picking an ideal project for the microcontroller program, such as an LED flash system. Designing the circuit also becomes vital. Here, aspects such as circuit components, diagrams, and connections come into consideration.

The programming of PIC microcontrollers often gets carried out through the “MP-Lab” software. It requires installation before proceeding to install the compiler. Compilers include GCC compiler, CCS compiler, etc. After completion of the installation process, all you need is to follow the process below.

Pick a suitable compiler based on your needs besides your project’s location path. You can pick the CCS or the GCC compiler depending on your PIC microcontroller needs. After that, choose the browse option then the “ccsloader” within the PICC folder from the program files. At this point, a source group folder gets created in the intended folder.

At this stage, it becomes vital to assign the appropriate name to your project before clicking “Next” to save the project. Within the target folder, a source group folder gets created, which you select the file menu and pick the new file from the drop-down list.

After coming up with the PIC microcontroller code, you have to load it into the microcontroller in a process inferred as dumping. Microcontrollers solely comprehend the machine-level language featuring 0’s and 1’s. As such, the dumping process requires specific code loading software.

It is crucial to select and install your preferred software program from many options in the market. Additionally, the PIC programmer kit will come complete with a hardware kit. Plug the PIC microcontroller into the hardware kit and follow the process below to dump the code into the PIC microcontroller.

Plenty of PIC microcontrollers exist in the market. It is, therefore, always difficult to settle on the correct PIC microcontroller type and size when talking to your PCB or circuit assembly company. However, based on your need, we at RayMing PCB and Assembly will advise you accordingly. What’s more? You will get top-rate quality assembly services for your PIC microcontroller at reasonable prices.

The PIC16f877a/PIC16f877 has a simple programming process besides convenience when it comes to using. Because of this, it proves a popular microcontroller option within the industry. It comes either 8-bit or 16-bit and has a flash memory tech allowing for numerous write-erase processes. While ideal because the total amount of pins (40 in total and 33 for output and input) mainly applies in digital electronic circuits and PIC microcontroller projects. It is instrumental in home automation devices and systems, industrial instruments, remote sensors, and safety and security devices.

It comes as an 8-bit CMOS microcontroller developed on high-performance RISC architecture. The PIC12f675 is small in size and cost-effective, thus proves popular among engineers and hobbyists. The design is perfect for low-end systems and applications because of its 2Kbytesflash memory. It also contains 6 GPIO pins that can handle not more than 25mA of current, meeting the threshold of many sensors and peripheral devices.

It is a renowned and the most utilized PIC microcontroller type based on its pioneering stature. The PIC16f84 comes as an 8-bit mid-range microcontroller with a 1024 word program memory. It also has a RAM of 68bytes and a lasting EPROM storage of 64bytes. The striking factor about PIC 16f84 is that it can get reprogrammed using thein-circuit ICSP.

It is an 8-bit flash-based CMOS microcontroller that is simple to program. The PIC microcontroller packs the powerful PIC® MCU architecture within the 8-pin package. It has various features that make it popular, such as the one-channel comparator besides the 128byte EEPROM. It is ideal for application in industrial, automotive, and consumer electronics.

It is a powerful and simple-to-program PIC microcontroller that is based on the CMOS flash-based 8-bit PIC microcontroller. Additionally, it packs the PIC® architecture within the 28-pin package. PIC16f886 possesses a 256byte EEPROM, is self-programming, and has two comparators, among other vital features. It makes it a popular choice for applications in sectors like industrial, automotive, consumer and appliances.

The popular PIC microcontroller mainly gets deployed in embeddedand automation systems. It comes as either TQFP, PDIP, or QFN. The PDIP has 40 pins, while the rest contains a 44-pin interface. It contains a 10-bit ADC, a 256byte EEPROM data memory, and a RAM of 1536 bytes.

It comes as a popular 8-bit PIC microcontroller and comes with an improved NanoWatt technology and flash processor. The PIC microcontroller has three distinctive packages in SSOP, PDIP, and QFN. The SSOP has a 20 pin package, while the PDIP and QFN have 18 pin and 28 pin packages, respectively.

It is a powerful and simple-to-program CMOS and flash-based 8-bit PIC microcontroller. The PIC16f676 packs the powerful PIC® MCU architecture within the 14-pin package. It is a 10-bit A/D converter complete with eight channels, a single comparator, besides an EEPROM data memory. It has applications in industrial, automotive, consumer, and appliance entry-level products, especially those requiring field re-programmability.

The 8-pin flash-based CMOS PIC microcontroller comes with a nanoWatt tech. It offers benefits associated with the mid-range x14 architecture, including standardized features. Such features make it a popular PIC microcontroller option for automotive and industrial applications.

The popular and powerful PIC microcontroller comes as an 8-bit CMPS FLASH-based microcontroller type. It contains 34 I/O pins and comes with one 16-bit and 8-bit timer, 10-bit A/D converter, SPI, I2C, and USART peripherals.

It is a popular and relatively new PIC microcontroller type that cannot work on older device models. The PIC16f628 is based on the FLASH program memory of 3.5, 2 comparators, and a single CCP. What makes it an excellent option entails low voltage programming, programmable BOR, on-chip voltage reference, and other features.

The 8-bit PIC microcontroller from Microchip comes with a 20-pin interface. It incorporates the high-performance RISC CPU that assists in the execution of instructions. The microprocessor also has a crystal oscillator of 20MHz for interfacing purposes and the creation of clock pulses.

The popular PIC microcontroller comes with a FLASH memory of 32KB and proves compatible with PIC17 and PIC16 instruction sets. It uses advanced CAN technology and applies to the automotive and industrial sectors.

The PIC microcontroller comes optimized and equipped with the RISC architecture. It operates on flash memory and has a CPU speed of 10 DMIPS/MIPS, making it a toast for some people. Its maximum ADC is 10 bits with a CCP of 1.

The popular PIC microcontroller comes as a high-performance, low-cost, and 8-bit static microcontroller. It uses flash CMO technology with a total of 8 pins. It also possesses a DRT (device reset timer) that eliminates any requirement for external reset circuitry.

It is always vital to understand everything about PIC microcontrollers, including the diverse types, program them, etc. Such information becomes useful in designing integrated circuits and electronics as a whole. Therefore, consider all insights about the intricacies of the diverse PIC microcontrollers to stay ahead of your design game.

ELAN Microelectronics Corporation is an IC designer and provider of 8-bit microcontrollers and PC Peripheral ICs. Headquartered in Hsinchu Science Park, the Silicon Valley of Taiwan, ELAN"s microcontroller product range includes the following:

Espressif Systems, a company with headquarters in Shanghai, China made their debut in the microcontroller scene with their range of inexpensive and feature-packed WiFi microcontrollers such as ESP8266.

Holtek Semiconductor is a major Taiwan-based designer of 32-bit microcontrollers, 8-bit microcontrollers and peripheral products. Microcontroller products are centred around an ARM core in the case of 32-bit products and 8051 based core and Holtek"s own core in the case of 8-bit products. Located in the Hsinchu Science Park ([1]), the company"s product range includes the following microcontroller device series:

Infineon offers microcontrollers for the automotive, industrial and multimarket industry. DAVE3, a component based auto code generation free tool, provides faster development of complex embedded projects.

Renesas is a joint venture comprising the semiconductor businesses of Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric and NEC Electronics, creating the largest microcontroller manufacturer in the world.

Rockwell semiconductors (now called Conexant) created a line of 6502 based microcontrollers that were used with their telecom (modem) chips. Most of their microcontrollers were packaged in a QIP package.

Manufactures a line of 8-bit 8051-compatible microcontrollers, notable for high speeds (50–100 MIPS) and large memories in relatively small package sizes. A free IDE is available that supports the USB-connected ToolStick line of modular prototyping boards. These microcontrollers were originally developed by Cygnal. In 2012, the company introduced ARM-based mixed-signal MCUs with very low power and USB options, supported by free Eclipse-based tools. The company acquired Energy Micro in 2013 and now offers a number of ARM-based 32-bit microcontrollers.

Supports dual-channel data transfer at read speeds of 233× (35 MB/s) and write speeds of 160× (24 MB/s), making it the fastest USB 2.0 flash disk controller in the market. The SM324 also has serial peripheral interface (SPI) which allows for not only Master and Slave modes, but the flexibility to develop more functionality into USB flash disk (UFD) products such as GPS, fingerprint sensor, Bluetooth and memory-capacity display. The SM324 is available in a 64-pin LQFP package. The SM324 supports 8 SLC or MLC NAND flash chips with 4 bytes / 528 bytes ECC.

Ubicom"s IP2022 is a high performance (120 MIPS) 8-bit microcontroller. Features include: 64k flash code memory, 16 KB PRAM (fast code and packet buffering), 4 KB data memory, 8-channel A/D, various timers, and on-chip support for Ethernet, USB, UART, SPI and GPSI interfaces.

This note will discuss the considerations made when choosing a microcontroller that will work for your display. A few requirements need to be met depending on the display’s features, interface, and size. These can also be determined by the embedded IC in the display. An overview of the considerations when choosing a microcontroller can be seen below. It should be noted that these items are separated for definition but may serve the same purpose and be interconnected in the ecosystem of the controller.

Application and display specific peripheral requirements. I2C, SPI, UART, Parallel, MIPI, LVDS, HDMI etc. Determines pin connections and required architecture of the device.

Flash and RAM memory requirements. Minimum frame buffer memory is dependent on the size andresolution of the display. Location of memory (external or internal) can restrict interface speed and must becompatible with the chosen interface.

Communication speed requirements defined by the interface and intended application. Refresh rateis determined on the size of the display and location of memory. This will indicate which processors arecompatible.

A displays embedded IC can offer resources such as internal RAM, clock generators and power control.This can save resources otherwise needed to be provided externally. Check the datasheet of the display’s ICcontroller for device function specifics.

Availability of resources for programming and debugging the microcontroller. Online resources andexampleprograms to leverage from can a lot of save time. Compatibility with a familiarprogramming environment isadditionally beneficial.

The interface selection is dependent on the intended application of the display. Each display has a different interface or different choices for a connection interface. For smaller displays a 3/4-wire serial interface would be sufficient. For larger display’s with high resolution a faster interface should be chosen. A parallel RGB interface is capable of high-speed data transmission however requires many pin connections. If the intended application for the display is video a MIPI, LVDS or HDMI connection would be a good choice.

The available memory of a microcontroller often becomes a highlighted issue when determining which microcontroller to select. The microcontroller needs a minimum amount of RAM to hold the frame buffer of the display. Even small displays require more RAM than a typical microcontroller possess. To verify that your microcontroller will have enough memory, it is important to calculate the frame buffer.

The minimum RAM required for the frame buffer in this example would then be 768kB. It is important to note that external RAM can be provided for the frame buffer if the microcontroller does not provide it internally. Clocking speed should be verified if using external RAM as the microcontroller cannot access external RAM as quickly. The clock frequency constrained by external RAM sometimes does not meet the minimum requirements of some very high-speed interfaces (ex. DSI-MIPI). Additionally, the display can contain some form of RAM depending on the IC controller inside the display. This can be verified on the specification sheet of the IC.

The speed of the microcontroller is heavily dependent on the interface used in the application. The minimum and maximum of the clock frequency is specified in the datasheet of the display and in the specification sheet of the display’s controller IC. The frame rate is typically around 50-60Hz, which is the median oscillation frequency to refresh the display to maintain an image. The display will often provide an internal high frequency clock that can be initialized to certain frequencies.

It is important to verify in the controller data sheet which resources are provided by the internal IC of the display. Some key information to look for would be: Does the display have sufficient RAM or does this need to be provided? Does the display have an internal oscillator for clock generation for the interface chosen? An additional graphics controller can be used to interface the display with the microcontroller to meet these requirements. Features like these can be utilized to avoid additional cost, space, and memory of your application.

After a brief consideration of intended application and interface of the display you can get some idea of which microcontroller processor and architecture you will need. There are a few different microcontroller processors to choose from. The main choices are ARM, AVR, PIC, and 8051. The difference between them is the bit size of the processor, 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit or 64-bit data . The data bit width is the amount of data that can be sent at a time. This determines the speed of data transfer and thus compatible applications and interfaces.

The AVR has an 8-bit processor and is a RISC type microcontroller. This type of processor is compatible with low speed interfaces (SPI, I2C) and smaller displays. A common AVR microcontroller board is the Arduino which has the embedded 8-bit ATMEL RISC processors. These processors are widely popular which provide the benefit of numerous online resources and availability. The Arduino processors (ATmega/SAM3X) are typically available in most microcontroller programming environments. Additionally, Arduino offers 32-bit AVR development boards which function closely to the ARM processors.

The AVR microcontrollers are constrained by the low frequency, internal memory availability and power costs. AVR’s cannot use external program memory but some may allow expansion of external SRAM. These microcontrollers alone would be incompatible for high frequency applications such as video, large displays, or capacitive touch panels.

The ARM microprocessors have a RISC architecture. They offer 32-bit or 64-bit processors and are great options for high speed interfaces (Parallel, LVDS, MIPI, HDMI) and high-resolution displays. Common ARM processors can be found from STMicroelectronics and Raspberry Pi. The most common version of the ARM processors is the “Microcontroller” Arm-M group which include the Cortex-M0 and Cortex-M4 series.

The ARM processors are compatible with most displays and connection interfaces. These microcontrollers have become increasingly popular, so the cost has become comparable between the ARM and the AVR types. These processors provide the speed, but it is recommended to verify the available RAM as these boards vary widely on included features.

The PIC architecture consists of 8, 16, and 32-bit processors developed by Microchip. The PIC 32-bit series of microcontrollers have been geared toward graphical embedded applications and there are a lot of resources online for these devices. There is a huge variety of PIC controllers which make them easily available. These microcontrollers are known for being low cost and are comparable to the ARM processors. The drawback of the PIC controllers is using Microchips programming environment, but this is based on preference.

The Intel MCS-51, more commonly known as the 8051 microcontrollers have a CISC architecture and an 8-bit processor. These processors differ in architecture from the previous and are programmed using a combination of C and assembly languages. The program memory is read only and does not have an on-board ISP. A special programming device is needed to rewrite the EEPROM or flash memory. These processors are typically small, low cost and low powered. This can make them favorable for battery powered devices. These processors are commonly used to initialize TFT displays and are combined with a graphics controller to provide the required resources such as RAM and clock frequency.

Development environments and online resources become considerably valuable when creating an application for your display. A brand new or uncommon microcontroller will have very few resources for reference. Even knowledgeable engineers can find frustrations with the manufacturers programming environments. There are many microcontroller choices that will support your display with similar and overlapping features. Choosing a microcontroller with an available FAQ, application notes or is accessible on a familiar programming platform can save a lot of time.

Buyers and others who are developing systems that incorporate FocusLCDs products (collectively, “Designers”) understand and agree that Designers remain responsible for using their independent analysis, evaluation and judgment in designing their applications and that Designers have full and exclusive responsibility to assure the safety of Designers" applications and compliance of their applications (and of all FocusLCDs products used in or for Designers’ applications) with all applicable regulations, laws and other applicable requirements.

Designer agrees that prior to using or distributing any applications that include FocusLCDs products, Designer will thoroughly test such applications and the functionality of such FocusLCDs products as used in such applications.

At the heart of any embedded electronics device, either on a DIY or professional product level is a microcontroller. They run the codes/firmware that helps developers obtain inputs from sensors and tie it to actions executed through actuators. While they are usually developed as general-purpose components, MCUs are built with certain features and functionalities that make them suitable and (or) preferred by certain developers for certain applications, use cases, or scenarios. These features and functionalities have increased to meet current technological demands, making the microcontrollers not just more powerful, but more diverse, creating a selection headache for designers.  Today’s article will, in no particular order, highlight the 10 most popular microcontrollers based on how often they have featured in products and the size of the communities around them.

The STM32F10C8T6 is a popular member of the STM32F103xx medium-density performance line family of microcontrollers that feature a high-performance ARM® Cortex®-M3 32-bit RISC core operating at a 72 MHz frequency and possess an extensive range of enhanced I/Os and peripherals connected to two APB buses. All members of the STM32F103x family, including the CT86, offer two 12-bit ADCs, three general-purpose 16-bit timers plus one PWM timer, as well as standard and advanced communication interfaces: up to two I2Cs and SPIs, three USARTs, an USB and a CAN.

Arguably one of the most popular microcontrollers in the world, the Atmega328p has been the microcontroller of choice to a lot of designers who want to avoid the bulkiness of the Arduino boards, but retain the ease of programming, community support, and other amazing features associated with the Arduino development platform. It’s an 8-bit AVR microcontroller based on an advanced RISC architecture and combines 32KB ISP flash memory with read-while-write capabilities.

The PIC16F877A is arguably the most popular 8-bit microcontroller in the PIC family of MCUs. While it’s considered by some as old and past its time, the PIC16F877A is no doubt, still one of the most popular microcontrollers in the world. It is seen as the de-facto microcontroller for beginners looking to get into embedded development with PIC and it ends up as the microcontroller of choice for them when they become experts.

Dev boards are one of the reasons why PIC microcontrollers are increasingly becoming unpopular. While the PIC development boards are usually very good for beginners because they come with different components that aids learning, for the average designer, they are considered bulky and pretty much uninteresting to work with, as most of the components included are usually not needed by experienced designers.

Loved for their tiny form-factor, the ATtiny series of microcontrollers are considered as the go-to microcontroller for projects where a small form factor is desired, and the number of GPIOs required is low. Of all the microcontrollers in this series, the aTtiny85 is regarded as the most popular, presumably because it seems to have more I/O pins compared to others. While Microchip announced a new range of ATtiny chips with significant performance upgrades, the ATtiny85 is still revered, mostly because of the familiarity most designers have built with it over time.

The MSP430 family of microcontrollers from TI are considered as some of the most modern microcontrollers and the most popular member of that family so far has been the MSP430G2452. The MSP430G2452 is a powerful, and relatively cheap microcontroller based on a 16-bit RISC CPU manufactured by Texas Instruments.

The popularity of the ESP8266 cannot be contested. It is unarguably one of the most impactful microcontrollers of the last decade and it definitely was one of the pacesetters for the current trend of microcontrollers with fused communication capabilities. Developed by Espressif Systems, the ESP8266 is a low-cost Wi-Fi microchip, with a full TCP/IP stack and microcontroller capability. Multiple versions of the MCU were created in quick succession and what started initially as a Wi-Fi module for microcontrollers quickly spurned off to a module like the ESP-12e which became the heart of several projects and products.

An upgrade to the ESP8266, the esp32 has enjoyed great support and adoption since its release few years back. it is a low-cost, low-power system on a chip microcontroller with integrated Wi-Fi and dual-mode Bluetooth. it uses the Tensilica Xtensa LX6 microprocessor in both dual-core and single-core variations and includes built-in antenna switches, RF balun, power amplifier, low-noise receive amplifier, filters, and power management modules. Designed for modern applications, ESP32 also incorporates several security features like Cryptographic hardware acceleration, flash encryption, and secure boot.

The Atmega32u4 is a low-power Microchip 8-bit AVR® RISC-based microcontroller featuring 32 KB self-programming flash program memory, 2.5 KB SRAM, 1 KB EEPROM, USB 2.0 full-speed/low-speed device, 12-channel 10-bit A/D-converter, and JTAG interface for on-chip-debug. The device is able to execute powerful instructions in a single clock cycle, enabling it to achieve up to 16 MIPS throughput at 16 MHz. This gives designers the ability to optimize power consumption versus processing speed.

The STM8 family of microcontrollers offers a high-performance 8-bit core and a state-of-the-art set of peripherals in a tiny form factor, similar to what is obtainable with theATtiny series of MCUs. The family is made up of 4 series including; the STM8S, the STM8L, the STM8AF, and the STM8AL. Of all these, the STM8S series is considered to be the mainstream MCU and the STM8S103F3 is considered to be one of the most popular MCUs in the Series.

The 8-bit microcontroller offers 8 Kbyte Flash program memory, with an integrated true data EEPROM, advanced core and peripherals, a 16 MHz clock frequency, robust I/Os, independent watchdogs with separate clock source, and a clock security system, all of which ensures its high performance and overall system robustness.

There are a lot of breakout boards based on the STM8S103F3 microcontroller that are not sophisticated enough to be classified as a development board. Some noteworthy boards based on the MCU include;

The LPC1768 is a Cortex®-M3 microcontroller designed for embedded applications with low power requirements. It features a high level of integration and low power consumption at frequencies of up to 100 MHz. It’s is a high-performance microcontroller and features up to 512 kB of flash memory and 64 kB of data memory, along with peripherals like an Ethernet MAC, a USB Device/Host/OTG interface, 8-channel DMA controller and 4 UARTs, among others.

With 1000s of microcontrollers in existence, there are definitely a few other microcontrollers out there that probably deserve a spot on this list, but you will agree with me that the community, projects, and products that have been built around the MCUs featured in these articles are hard to match.

Using the serial enabled controller, it is easy to connect to any microcontroller that has a serial UART port such as an Arduino, AVR, PIC, etc. The SerLCD supports 16 and 20 character-wide screens with 2 or 4 lines of display.

Depending on your LCD"s specs, the input voltage may be 3.3V or 5V. For the LCDs listed below, the input voltage for the backpack must be 3.3V even though the silkscreen says 5V. The logic levels will be the same as the input voltage.

The LCDs listed below require an input voltage of 5V. Higher than 5.5V will cause damage to the PIC, LCD, and backlight (if attached). At 5V, the SerLCD uses 3mA with the backlight turned off and ~60mA with the backlight activated. The following LCDs do not have a SerLCD backpack.

The SerLCD and built-in serial LCDs comes equipped with a 10k potentiometer to control the contrast of the LCD. This is set during assembly and testing but may need correcting for your specific LCD module. Temperature and supply voltage can affect the contrast of the LCD. While powered, simply adjust the potentiometer with a screw driver.

The SerLCD v2.5 uses a general purpose, 1000mA NPN transistor to control the LCDs backlight. If you purchased the SerLCD module, you may use this pin as a general purpose, high power control pin. If you issue the backlight on/off command to the SerLCD or built-in serial LCD, the BL pin on the board can also be used to power / control other circuits with a maximum current of 1000 mA. This is usually the last pin on the top row of the LCD. Check your datasheet for proper pin outs.

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How do you select the right microcontroller for your specific hardware product? This article will show you all the different factors you need to juggle when selecting the very best microcontroller.

When selecting the right microcontroller for a project you must consider cost, performance, power consumption and overall size. The availability of the proper software and hardware tools is also a prime consideration.

Support for the chosen platform is also very important – not just from the vendor, but from the community at large. It also helps if the chosen microcontroller has a readily available development board.

Finally, development time can be significantly reduced if the selected microcontroller has extensive, fully debugged, software libraries with well documented Application Programming Interfaces, or API’s.

All modern microcontrollers share some basic features. On top of a processing unit, they have a certain amount of flash that is used to store the application code, some SRAM, and, in most cases, some EEPROM.

Also, other than very low-end microcontrollers, most have at least one UART for serial communications. Beyond that, microcontrollers are distinguished by the amount of memory they have, the number and type of other peripherals integrated on the chip, and the speed at which they run user applications.

Microcontrollers for embedded systems mainly fall into three categories based on the width of their data buses: 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit. There are others, but these are the most popular ones.

In general, 8-bit microcontrollers are geared toward lower end applications, and 32-bit ones are for the higher ends, with 16-bit for mid-end applications.

By far, most of the products I work on tend to incorporate 32-bit microcontrollers, but 8 or 16-bit microcontrollers can be a good choice for low-end, low-cost products.

If an application does not have very high demands on processing power, and is of relatively small size, then it can make sense to consider an 8-bit microcontroller.

For reference, most Arduinos are based on 8-bit microcontrollers. So if you have built your early prototype using an Arduino then you may be able to use an 8-bit microcontroller in your final product.

For example, the Atmega328p is the 8-bit microcontroller used the Arduino Uno. It costs a little over $1 in volumes of around 10k pieces. It runs at 20 MHz and includes 32 KB of Flash and 2KB of RAM.

On the other hand, you can purchase a 32-bit microcontrollers running at 48 MHz with similar memory for only 60 cents. This is likely due to the popularly of 32-bit microcontrollers driving down their cost.

8-bit microcontrollers should typically be considered for applications that are dedicated to just doing one job, with a limited user interface and little data processing.

8-bit microcontrollers come in all sizes from small 6-pin devices to chips with 64 pins. They have flash sizes ranging from 512 bytes to 256KB, SRAM sizes from 32 to 8KB, or more, and EEPROM from 0 to 4K, or more. A minimal system can be as simple as a single chip, with a bypass capacitor on the power supply rail.

The three most popular lines of 8-bit microcontrollers are the 8051 series, the PIC series from Microchip, and the AVR series from Atmel, now part of Microchip.

This can then be integrated in the application code. There are PIC models with combinations of USART’s, SPI, I2C, ADC, USB, LIN, CAN and other interfaces. Microchip also offers development tools such as the MPLAB PICkit 4.

Higher quality commercial compliers that have better code optimization are also available. Here is a quick PDF reference guide to PIC microcontrollers.

The AVR is another series of very popular 8-bit microcontrollers. While they are in the same space as the PIC’s described above, and have comparable performances, they do have one big claim to fame: Arduino.

The original Arduinos, such as the Uno, Leonardo and Mega, all use AVR microcontrollers. Due to the very wide range of available libraries for Arduinos, the AVRs merit serious consideration for 8-bit applications, even if only for proof of concept prototypes.

Hardware development tools include the Atmel ICE and the PICkit 4. In addition, mature tools such as the STK600 and AVR Dragon are still widely available. Here is a link to a quick PDF reference guide for AVR microcontrollers.

16-bit microcontrollers are the next step up from 8-bit, while still sharing many of the same attributes. They are faster, support even more peripherals, and generally offer more memory, both flash and SRAM.

Internally, these devices also have hardware blocks typically not found in lower end devices. These include encryption engines, Operational or Programmable Gain Amplifiers, and DMA controllers.

Although 16-bit microcontrollers can be found from various manufacturers such as Microchip (their dsPIC33 microcontroller is a popular choice), NXP, Infineon, or Cypress, the TI MSP430 series will be presented here as a typical example of this microcontroller segment.

The MSP430 is a series of very low power 16-bit microcontrollers that are available in many flavors. They range from general purpose to very specialized models.

One interesting thing about the specialized variants of these microcontrollers is that it actually branches out into two extremes: very dedicated, very low-cost models, and high end models with analog sensor interfaces and Digital Signal Processing (DSP).

32-bit microcontrollers are powerful devices with microprocessor-like features. Some of the advanced features include instruction pipelining, branch prediction, Nested Vectored Interrupts (NVI), Floating Point Units (FPU), memory protection, and on-board debuggers.

Finally, on-board debugging allows peeking into registers and other areas of the system to facilitate application code debugging. All of these together allow these microcontrollers to run large, fast, and robust applications.

Even though there are many 32-bit microcontrollers on the market, the focus in this note will be on the ARM Cortex M-based devices, with a special mention of the ESP32 from Espressif.

ARM Holdings actually only designs processor core IP’s, which they then license to various semiconductor vendors that incorporate them, along with some peripherals, into their own silicon chips. Numerous chip makers offer microcontrollers based on the Cortex-M architecture.

The SAM devices deserve mention here due to their use in some Arduino-compatible boards. However, in general, the STM32 devices offer more choices, and should be given top consideration when designing in an embedded 32-bit microcontroller.

ARM Cortex M cores come in many versions. The most popular ones are the M0/M0+, M1, M3, M4 and M7, each offering progressively higher performance. STM32 microcontrollers incorporate M0/M0+, M3, M4 or M7 cores.

Both contain a STLink debugging interface. All that is needed is a computer with USB, running the appropriate software tool to evaluate the chosen microcontroller.

The microcontroller is arguably the most important component you must select for your product. Changing to a new microcontroller mid-project can be a nightmare, so be sure you get this choice right upfront.

Other components in a design can commonly be changed without requiring massive, system-wide changes. That is not the case with the microcontroller which serves as the core of your product.

When picking a microcontroller you want to generally pick one that gives your product some room to grow. For example, if you determine that you require 16 GPIO pins then you don’t want to pick a microcontroller with only 16 GPIO pins.

What happens if you decide to add a new button in the future so you need another GPIO pin? If your microcontroller doesn’t give you room to grow, then you may find that seemly simple design upgrades in the future will require a massive redesign because a new microcontroller is necessary.

For instance, if your product simply monitors temperature and humidity then you won’t ever need an advanced 32-bit microcontroller running at hundreds of MHz. That would be overkill which will add unnecessary costs and design complexities to your product.

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In my last post describing the implementation of a circular buffer I mentioned that I was working on a serial UART library for PIC 18. Well it is now completed! Yesterday I tested all the functions of the library and its working like a charm! In this post I will...

Today when I was hooking up my PIC micro on to a breadboard for a quick demonstration to a friend of mine, I realized how often I needed the Pin Diagram from the datasheet. All this while I have been opening the datasheet and scrolling through to page 4. I...

Having worked with any one Microcontroller, moving from one of its family to another is just a matter of knowing the right tools and understanding how things have to be done in terms of software (compiler specific addressing like that of the SRFs) and hardware (circuitry, design practices, etc., )...

Timers are one of the mostly used modules in microcontroller. Almost every system that has to reliably produce time interval or delays will have to use timers modules. The PIC timer calculator is a cool tool that will make life much simpler. If you haven’t worked with timers, I suggest...

The interrupt on change is a cool feature on microcontrollers. Like you guessed, the interrupt occurs when there is a state change in any of the port pin associated with this feature. In PIC microcontrollers, PORT B has the Interrupt on Change feature. The controller jumps into the interrupt vector...

Migrating to HI-TECH C compiler for PIC MCU is not really a hard task. The developers have taken much care in keeping it that way. In addition to the existing features of the C18 compiler, there are a lot of other added features in the HI-TECH C compiler. This post...

I wanted to make a breadboard breakout for PIC microcontrollers after seeing this arduino breadboard breakout from adafruit. This product is fully standalone and yet has very small footprint so that it can be conveniently plugged into the breadboard. The most amazing part was that it still has 2 rows...

In my previous post Introduction to Stepper Motors and How they Work, we had a look at stepper motors and how they work. This post will deal with the programming and circuitry involved in the stepper motor interface with PIC microcontroller. Usually a microcontroller is used to produce the stepping...

The MPLAB X is an IDE for developed by Microchip Inc. for their PIC microcontrollers. It has a lot of added features when compared to the older MPLAB IDE v8.xx. TheA MPLAB X is not a new version of the current MPLAB IDE v8. Instead it is a brand new...

This post documents the steps involved in interfacing the LCD in 4 bit mode with a microcontroller. It belongs to a series of 4 posts. If you landed here straight from a search engine, here is an index to help you navigate. LCD Module Basic Theory (LCD Controllers, CG&DD RAM,...

This post documents the steps involved in interfacing the LCD in 8 bit mode with a microcontroller. It belongs to a series of 4 posts. If you landed here straight from a search engine, here is an index to help you navigate. LCD Module Basic Theory (LCD Controllers, CG&DD RAM,...

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PIC microcontrollers are electronic circuits that can be programmed to carry out a vast range of tasks. The name PIC initially referred to “Peripheral Interface Controller”. Later it has been changed to “Programmable Intelligent Computer”. The PIC microcontrollers are mainly used by hobbyists and experimenters, especially in the fields of electronics and robotics. The main features of PIC microcontroller are wide availability, low cost, ease of reprogramming with built-in EEPROM, an extensive collection of free application notes, abundant development tools, and a great deal of information available on the Internet. The PIC microcontrollers often appear under the brand name PICmicro.

Today, many engineering students are showing lot of interest towards embedded systems projects in which microcontrollers are used. Among all the microcontrollers, 8051 and PIC are the 2 types of microcontroller which are playing important role due to their features. So, here we have listed out some of the best projects ideas based on PIC microcontroller which can be useful for engineering students in completing their Graduation successfully.

If you are interested, you may check the list of the following PIC microcontroller projects and write your feedback, new ideas, suggestions and requests in our contact us page.

[adsense2]SPI (serial peripheral interface) by using PIC micro controller. The SPI is most popular device that is used to transfer the serial data. In this project, we introduce two types of serial interfacing devices, like SPI master and SPI slave. The output of the master SPI will control the data flow of the slave SPI.