Page 161 - PDA Robotics Using Your Personal Digital Assistant to Control Your Robot

PDA 07 5/27/03 8:44 AM Page 137
7

Programming

the PIC16F876

Microcontroller

The PIC compiler is used in this project to write the software running
on the PIC16F876 microcontroller, and the EPIC Plus Programmer is
used to download the software to the PIC16F84A. The PIC16F876
receives input data and commands from the infrared (IR) module and
the PDA via the MCP2150. It sends information such as range data and
motor control confirmation codes back to the PDA. The PIC16F876
could be considered the main node of the robot’s nervous system.
Figure 7.1 shows the EPIC Plus microcontroller programmer with the
PIC16F876 inserted into the ZIF adapter.
The pocket-sized EPIC Plus Programmer quickly and easily programs
most PICmicro microcontrollers, including the PIC16C55x, 6xx, 7xx,
84, 9xx, PIC16CE62x, PIC16F62x, 8x, 87x, PIC14Cxxx, PIC17C7xx,
PIC18Cxxx, 18Fxxx, the 8-pin PIC12Cxxx, PIC12CExxx, and the 14-
pin 16C505 microcontrollers. The basic programmer includes an 18-
pin socket for programming 8-, 14-, and 18-pin PICmicro microcon-
troler unit (MCUs). (It will not program or read the baseline PIC16C5x
or high-end 17C4x series.) A wide variety of adapters allow the EPIC
Plus to program devices in many different package formats such as
DIP, SOIC, PLCC, SSOP, TSOP, etc.

The EPIC Plus Programmer is software upgradeable for future PICs. It
includes DOS and Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000 programming soft-
ware and a PIC macro assembler that works with both the Microchip

137

Copyright 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click Here for Terms of Use.