Introduction to Microcontroller Programming (using the PIC 16F628A)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
7pm – 10ish
Price: $0.00 (Donations to NSL’s beverage fund are appreciated)
 
Topics covered:

1) Configuration:
Learn how to set up pins for input and output.
Understand the elements of the configuration word.
How to connect the PIC to your circuits.
 
2) Programming:
The complete instruction set. (35 commands!)
Using MPLab, and the simulator.
Program flow.
Bit-masking.
How to mimic instructions that don’t exist.
 
3) Troubleshooting:
Common programming errors.
Common PCB/Breadboard errors.
Debouncing / Output amplification
 
This class will be taught entirely in PIC Assembly, so if you’re thinking about learning Assembly, this will give you an introduction on one of the simplest systems there is. If you are already an x86 Assembly genius, most of the programming will be a piece of cake.
 
By the end, you should be able to make your own blinky-lights projects, read digital input, and control things on a circuit board. I have a few little demo-boards built that we might get to use at the end if people want to mess around with them. If you want your own, tell me and I’ll give you a kit to solder.
 
If people are interested, we can do a second class later on topics like PWM, USART, and ADC.
 
–Viduata