Page 16 - Making PIC Microcontroller Instruments and Controllers

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PIC

1 6F877A MICROCONTROLLER UNIT

Making Plc-based instruments and controllers has to do with leaming how to combine
the various capabilities that single-chip microcontroller units provide and utilizing a
coherent set of interactive funclions that se e the purposes we have in mind.
A vast a[ray of PIC microcontrollers is manufactured by the Microchip Technology
Corporation of Tucson, Arizona. This tutorial is designed to introduce you to just orc
of these devices-and do so ir a non-intimidating way, if you are technically inclined
but not necessarily an electronic technician or electrical engineer Getting to know this
one d€vice will expose you to most of the features provided in this entire family of
devices and make you comfortable with selecting and using the device that most closely
meets your needs.
The device I have selecled is the PIC 16F877A microcontroller. This is a 40-pin
device that contains most of the features you are litely to nnd in the family of micro-
controllers that Microchip Technology manufactures. In geneml, the salient features we
need to get comfortable with can be described as dealing with the lbllowing:

: lnput capability
: Output capability
I Mathematical manipulations wifhin 8/16-bit math
I Using timers
I Using counters
with digital and analog devices
I Commuoicanons
t Dealing with displays
I Interacting with personal computers

The PIC 16F877A will let us get familiar with all the preceding items and more,
and is an excellentchoice for the first-tjme serjous user. This particular MCU (micro-
Anumberofboards that
controller unit) is also very popularwith robotic enthusiasts.
incorporate this device are available in the general marketplace and on the Internet.