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macOS Newbie at PIC/microcontroller programming
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Microchip is going cross platform. MPLAB X is coming out early 2011 and supports both Mac and Linux. Microchip's compilers are also going cross platform; not sure about Hi-Tech. The new IDE is based on Net Beans and is a significant improvement over MPLAB 8.x
HELP ME CHOOSE CONTROLLER, please...
I'm searching for a PIC controller with, at least, 14 analog outputs...
Does anyone know wich one to select?
I'm searching for a PIC controller with, at least, 14 analog outputs...
Does anyone know wich one to select?
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Analog outputs? Do you mean ADC (Analog Digital Converter) inputs? If not, exactly what are you trying to accomplish?
Easy answer: None. No PICs have analog outputs.
If you mean analog inputs, then the simplest answer is to visit the Microchip website and search. If you don't find a suitable PIC, then consider using an analog multiplexer chip to increase the number of discrete analog inputs feeding a single ADC input pin. You can get simple analog multiplexer chips almost anywhere for well under $1, and there are lots of options (number of inputs, voltage ranges, package type, etc.). Google it.
If you really mean analog outputs, and you really need 14 of them, then you'll need external DAC chips, which you'd interface to the PIC using SPI or I2C. Then any PIC can drive the external chip (or multiple DAC chips, since I don't know of any single-chip 14-output DACs).
You should also describe what analog range you need (full-scale voltage or current range), and what precision (sample size) and bandwidth you need (sample rate). These will determine what kind of analog multiplexer to use, or what kind of DAC chips. If you need anything special, such as high-voltage isolation or microvolt ranges, you can expect to pay big money.
What about the old "use a PWM as a poor-mans DAC"?
Many PICs have PWM outputs.
Edit: link http://www.k9spud.com/traxmod/pwmdac.php
B
Many PICs have PWM outputs.
Edit: link http://www.k9spud.com/traxmod/pwmdac.php
B
I agree, in principle. But the poster asked for analog, not PWM.
Frankly, I think the poster is probably lost, and this page came up in google, so he/she posted a desperate question. None of the prior posts were about selecting a PIC chip.
Usually when someone is talking about "analog out" and PICs they are talking about PWM outputs.
Arduino even uses the function named analogWrite() to use PWM on a pin.
If this is what you're after, the Arudino Mega has 14 PWM capable pins.
Arduino even uses the function named analogWrite() to use PWM on a pin.
If this is what you're after, the Arudino Mega has 14 PWM capable pins.
Maybe that's why the poster couldn't find a suitable chip: he/she didn't know that analogWrite() doesn't write to an analog output, but a PWM one.
Sorry since there is already a thread about programming microcontrollers, but I thought it better to make a whole new thread rather than hijack that one.
Basically the most experience I have with programming is a bit of very simple Basic Stamp work. I'm an art student and programming isn't really my forte, but after taking an electronics class at my Uni I have become very interested in integrating electronics into my work.
I am getting pretty comfortable with programming my Basic Stamp (through the program MacBS2 http://www.muratnkonar.com/otherstuff/macbs2/) but I like the idea of how cheap PIC chips are. I don't really like the idea of having to shell our ~ $50 every time I manage to make and sell another electronic piece of art.
SO! Getting to my point (finally) I want to learn to program PIC chips, and I want to do it on my Mac. I don't know if there is some way of programming them in some sort of Basic language, since I have no clue at all about programming in C, but I am sure I can learn pretty quickly and pick things up as I need to know them.
If anyone could point me to some resources, tutorials, anything at all. Heck, even just tell me to give up now and stick with the Basic Stamp if you think that would be most appropriate. Really, anything to get me started on the way of programming PIC chips/microcontrollers would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot in advance!
And if there is any more information as to what experience/equipment I have available I would be happy to divulge such details.
you can build your own basic stamp for around $12.5 canadian
i use these for automation controls,
PM for parts list and dealers who sell them.
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i can make some for you for free, only small quantity's though i don't have much oven room.
i can tin the boards any way you need them, good for protoyping
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The post you're replying to is 4.5 years old. This thread was recently resurrected.
-Lee
We'll probably never know for sure since the OP hasn't logged on since making their first and only post.
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