Page 14 - Making PIC Microcontroller Instruments and Controllers

PREFACE

By the time you get to thc cnd 01 lhis book, you should be able to use these logic
engines to create snall ye1 fairly sophislicalcd systems that can do work that is bot!
intcresting and useful. Frcm there, you will have the knowlcdgc and confidence needed
10 lakc on norc complicated and sophisticated tasks.
Since this book is dcsigncd to be a resource, you will see things rcpealed from timc
to time in nore than onc chaptcr This will save you from having to read the crlirc
book to get the iDfbmalion you nccd. By doiog this, each chapter bas been nadc ts
selt'-contained as possible (wilhin reason). Scgmcnls of code in the progmlns also
repeat thenselves for the sime re son.
A lot of what any inteiligent mlchine does has 1l] do with the softwafe in the
machinc. Thc software in the machine is speciJic to that nachiDc, but thc knowledge
lhrlgocs inlo lhc dcsign ofagood progfanr is universal.In this book, wc will look into
how the sollware is dcsigncd lbr lhcsc sma]l pmcessoll\. as well as how 10 dclcrnrinc
whxt musl be done lo makc a machinc funct;on prcpedy so it 0 0 molr complctcly
realize its potentii for doing useiirl work.

Plc miciocontrollers I sclcotcd thc Miflochip Technology flmily of PIC nricro-
processors s the fbcus ol these nolos lbr lwo rcasons. First, Micrcchip TechDology
lin lhc kinds of prqiects we
provides ihe most oompfebensive Iine ol' nricroproccssors
arc interlstcd in, lnd seoond, the coDrpiler lor lhese ploccssors provides almost the
eDtirc line ol PlCs with comprlhcnsive suppo . AII you h ve to do is lcll thc compilcf
which PIC you are using, and il lhc lcaturcs you havc becn addressirg in your prcjccl
arc vail$le on thal Darticular PlC. thc conrDilcr will do thc rcst. You will nevcr havc to
buy another compilor if you stay with thc vcry oornprchcn sivc M ic I oc h ip Technobgy
tamily of PICs.

The LAB-XI The microEngineerirg Labs LAB-Xl boad was pickcd as the supporl
board bccnusc it providcs a very comprehensive
set of onboard leaturcs lhat wjll lct
us do itilllost all our software experimentation and developmenl on il wilh casc. The
PIC l6F877A was choscn bccausc if has alnrost all the features you would cxpcct to
find on any small microcontroller. All rhc skills you will develop with this devicc will
be transferable to aDy olher systen you decide lC) lnigfaie to with ease. The boa and
the compiler togeiher give you the most vdue lbr your invcstmcnt.

Discounted package Arrangemenh have been made wilh microEngincsrj ng Labs
to provide a comprchcnsivc package of software and hardwafe items suilablc lbr use
with this book it a discount. A coupon to claim this discount is included ar the cnd ol

HARPRIT SINCH SANDHLJ
Chunpdisn, IL, U.S.A.

and
Internet supporl siles: wwwencodergeek.com
wwwmhprcl-essional.com/sandhu