- PicBasic Pro Demo version,
- MicroCode Studio
- PICKIT 2 programmer
- PICkit 2 Low Pin Count Demo Board (DM164120-1) PIC16F690
- Under Windows 7 64 bits.
- Go on melabs Website and Download PICBasic Demo & MicroCode Studio
- Run the install file
If you're running Vista of Win 7, you want to raise your privilege, right click on the file then, click on "run as administrator"- Accept the agreement
- Use the default installation folders
- Continue the installation and Install Microcode Studio
- Go at the Pickit 2 page and download those 2 files
(Version listed as of June 21, 2011) - Extract all .ZIP in different folder to avoid some mess.
- Install the standalone utility first.... Again
If you're running Vista of Win 7, you want to raise your privilege, right click on the file then, click on "run as administrator" - Create a new folder for the command line application
Let's use C:\Program Files (x86)\Microchip\PICkit 2 cmd - Copy all file extracted from the PK2CMDv1-20.zip archive to that folder
- now create a new folder to store & test our new code. It's a good idea to create one close to the root.
Let's use C:\PBP_Prog
Open MicroCode Studio. Your milleage may vary, but your screen should look like

Now click on Assembler tab.
Again, Make sure you see whats in the red circle, case not, just click on Find Automatically button
Let's configure MicroCode Studio to use PICKIT 2 programmer. In the same Compile and Program Options window
- Click on Programmer tab
- Click on Add new programmer
- from the drop down menu select Microchip Pickit II - Command line
- Click on Next
- Click Edit...
- Programmer filename have to be pk2cmd.exe
- Click on Next
- Now we need to set the executable path. IUt seems the Find automatically button is not working properly on my machine, again your milleage may vary so let's click on Find Manually
- Select the folder we previously choosed C:\Program Files (x86)\Microchip\PICkit 2 cmd
- Click on Next
- There's quite a few parameter you can pass to the command line utility, Microcode already set some, let's use the default one and click on Finished
Should you need to modify the default one, All options are listed in the Readme For PK2CMD.txt file located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microchip\PICkit 2 cmd folder
- On the Menu bar click on View
- Click on Editor Options
- In the General tab, click on the Change... button
- Select our C:\PBP_Prog folder
- click OK
We are now almost ready to jump on the dark side. BUT before to do so, as we're going to use a PIC16F690 and Microchip LPC Demo board, it's a good idea to download some references to make friend with
- The PIC16F690 Datasheet
- Microchip's LPC Demo Board User Guide
- There's no crystal attached to the PIC.
Q. And then?
A. We will need to configure the PIC to work with it's own internal OSC. If we don't do it, the PIC will never run... - LEDs are attached to some pin who have some enabled by default analog peripheral.
Q. How do you know that?
A. The PIC pinout gives some hints, but It's always a good to have a look in the datasheet,
Section 4.5 PORTC and TRISC Registers (pdf page 78-82)
Table 4-3 resume it really well, you want to dig the datasheet to learn how to set them.
Q. What if I don't care about the datasheet and just go ahead typing some code for...what kind problem it may cause?
A. You'll be the really first one on earthYour milleage may vary, but usually a LED connected to an analog pin doesn't work at all. Have a good look at This thread for more infos.
Let's jump on the dark side,
- Connect your LPC Demo board to your PICKIT 2
- Open MicroCode Studio
- Make sure you have PIC16F690 selected in the PIC dropdown list
First code example: the Blinky Led
Copy/paste the following code in Microcode Studio
'-------------------------------< Blinky LED >------------------------------------ ' ' File name : BlinkyLed.bas ' Version : 1.0 ' Company : Mister E ' Programmer : Steve Monfette ' Date : June 22, 2011 ' Device : PIC16F690 ' '--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '---------------------------< Project description >------------------------------- ' ' Beginner code example to blink a Led on PORTc.0 using: ' 1) PBPDEMO version ' 2) MicroCode Studio ' 3) PICKIT 2 Programmer ' '--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '----------------------------< Hardware listing >--------------------------------- ' ' - Microchip Low Pin Count Demo Board ' - PIC16F690 installed ' - *** All jumper have to be installed *** ' - Target board will be powered by the PICKIT 2 ' '--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' ' Pic Configuration ' ================= ' All PIC configuration fuses (Configuration bits) are listed in the ' C:\PBPDEMO\p16f690.inc file. Also see datasheet section 14.1 ' @ __config _INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT & _WDT_ON & _MCLRE_ON & _CP_OFF & _CPD_OFF & _FCMEN_OFF & _IESO_OFF & _BOR_ON & _PWRTE_ON ' _INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT: Using Internal Oscillator ' _WDT_ON: Enable Watch Dog Timer ' _MCLRE_ON: Enable MCLR ' _CP_OFF: Disable Code Protection ' _CPD_OFF: Disable Data Code Protection ' _FCMEN_OFF: Disable Fail Safe Clock Monitor ' _IESO_OFF: Disable Internal/External switchover ' _BOR_ON: Enable Brown out detect ' _PWRTE_ON: Enable Power up Timer ' OSCCON = %01110000 ' datasheet section 3 ' -x-------- n/a ' --111----- IRCF<2:0> Internal Oscillator Frequency Select Bits (8MHz) ' -----xxxx- Read Only ' DEFINE OSC 8 ' tells PBP we use a 8 MHZ clock ' ' Hardware assignment ' =================== ' Here we assign Aliases to PORT pin ' this makes the code easier to read ' I'll use the Aliases name as written on the schematic ' ' LEDs ' ---- DS1 VAR PORTC.0 DS2 VAR PORTC.1 DS3 VAR PORTC.2 DS4 VAR PORTC.3 ' ' Hardware configuration ' ====================== ' ' I/Os (Datasheet section 4.0 & above) ' ------------------------------------ TRISA = 0 ' All PORTA I/O set as Output (When capable of) TRISB = 0 ' All PORTB I/O set as Output TRISC = 0 ' All PORTC I/O set as Output ' ' ADCs (datasheet section 9) ' -------------------------- ANSEL = 0 ' Disable all ANSELH = 0 ' ADCs ' ' Comparator (datasheet section 8) ' -------------------------------- ' At Power On, the comparator are already disabled ' but let's play safe. ' CM1CON0 = 0 ' Disable comparator 1 CM2CON0 = 0 ' Disable comparator 2 ' ' Software/Hardware initialisation ' ================================ PORTA = 0 ' clear PORTA output pins (0v) PORTB = 0 ' clear PORTB output pins (0v) PORTC = 0 ' clear PORTC output pins (0v) WHILE !OSCCON.2 : Wend ' Wait untill the internal OSC get stable '------------------------------< Main program >----------------------------------- ' Start: DS1 = 1 ' turn ON LED DS1 PAUSE 500 ' wait 500 mSec DS1 = 0 ' turn OFF LED DS1 PAUSE 500 ' wait 500 mSec GOTO Start ' do it again ' '---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now have a good reading at this thread, at least POST #1 & POST #5. Post #5 explain how to fix it.
Once you've fixed the 16F690.inc file, hit F10, it will compile fine, it will even program the PIC... and... nothing happen.
Why? Use you multimeter and measure the voltage across Vdd & Vss... there's nothing there. That mean the PICKIT 2 is not powering your board. I previously told the pk2cmd allow several parameter, one of those is to power the target board once the PIC is programmed.
Go, open the Readme For PK2CMD.txt file and goto section 9. Command Line Option. There you will find the whole set of available option. The one we want to use right now is the T one.
To add this feature to MicroCode, you can modify the programmer.ini file in MicroCode Studio folder OR ...
- Click on View
- Click on Compile And program Options
- Click on Programmer tab
- Select PICKIT II From the drop list
- Click on Edit...
- Click on Next
- Click on Next Again
- In the Parameters section add /T totally at the end of the line
- Click on Finished
- Click on OK
Time to celebrate!
Code Example 2: ADC Reading
Start a new project in Microcode studio then Copy/Paste the following code
'-------------------------------< Blinky LED >------------------------------------ ' ' File name : ADCToLed.bas ' Version : 1.0 ' Company : Mister E ' Programmer : Steve Monfette ' Date : June 22, 2011 ' Device : PIC16F690 ' '--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '---------------------------< Project description >------------------------------- ' ' Beginner code example to display the ADC reading from channel AN0 to 4 LEDs ' attached on PORTC<3:0> ' 1) PBPDEMO version ' 2) MicroCode Studio ' 3) PICKIT 2 Programmer ' '--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '----------------------------< Hardware listing >--------------------------------- ' ' - Microchip Low Pin Count Demo Board ' - PIC16F690 installed ' - *** All jumper have to be installed *** ' - Target board will be powered by the PICKIT 2 ' '--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ' ' Pic Configuration ' ================= ' All PIC configuration fuses (Configuration bits) are listed in the ' C:\PBPDEMO\p16f690.inc file. Also see datasheet section 14.1 ' @ __config _INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT & _WDT_ON & _MCLRE_ON & _CP_OFF & _CPD_OFF & _FCMEN_OFF & _IESO_OFF & _BOR_ON & _PWRTE_ON ' _INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT: Using Internal Oscillator ' _WDT_ON: Enable Watch Dog Timer ' _MCLRE_ON: Enable MCLR ' _CP_OFF: Disable Code Protection ' _CPD_OFF: Disable Data Code Protection ' _FCMEN_OFF: Disable Fail Safe Clock Monitor ' _IESO_OFF: Disable Internal/External switchover ' _BOR_ON: Enable Brown out detect ' _PWRTE_ON: Enable Power up Timer ' OSCCON = %01110000 ' datasheet section 3 ' -x-------- n/a ' --111----- IRCF<2:0> Internal Oscillator Frequency Select Bits (8MHz) ' -----xxxx- Read Only ' DEFINE OSC 8 ' tells PBP we use a 8 MHZ clock ' ' Hardware assignment ' =================== ' Here we assign Aliases to PORT pin ' this makes the code easier to read ' I'll use the Aliases name as written on the schematic ' ' LEDs ' ---- DS1 VAR PORTC.0 DS2 VAR PORTC.1 DS3 VAR PORTC.2 DS4 VAR PORTC.3 LED VAR PORTC ' ' Hardware configuration ' ====================== ' ' I/Os (Datasheet section 4.0 & above) ' ------------------------------------ TRISA = %00000001 ' -xx------- n/a ' ---00000-- Output: When capable of ' --------1- Input: AN0, ADC input TRISB = 0 ' All PORTB I/O set as Output TRISC = 0 ' All PORTC I/O set as Output ' ' ADCs (datasheet section 9) ' -------------------------- ANSEL = %00000001 ' -0000000-- AN<7:1> = Digital I/O ' --------1- AN0 = Analog ANSELH = 0 ' AN<11:8> = Digital I/O DEFINE ADC_BITS 8 ' Set number of bits in result DEFINE ADC_CLOCK 3 ' Set clock source (rc = 3) DEFINE ADC_SAMPLEUS 50 ' Set sampling time in ' ' Comparator (datasheet section 8) ' -------------------------------- ' At Power On, the comparator are already disabled ' but let's play safe. ' CM1CON0 = 0 ' Disable comparator 1 CM2CON0 = 0 ' Disable comparator 2 ' ' Software variable ' ================= bADC VAR BYTE ' Hold the ADC reading ' ' Software/Hardware initialisation ' ================================ PORTA = 0 ' clear PORTA output pins (0v) PORTB = 0 ' clear PORTB output pins (0v) PORTC = 0 ' clear PORTC output pins (0v) WHILE !OSCCON.2 : Wend ' Wait untill the internal OSC get stable '------------------------------< Main program >----------------------------------- ' Start: ADCIN 0, bADC ' read AN0 and store it to bADC variable ' ' Since we use only 4 LED and the ADC is a 8 Bit result, we ' need to adjust it so the ADC range will fit a 4 BITs LED reading ' To do so we will shift the ADC by 4 bits bADC = bADC>>4 LED = bADC ' show the result PAUSE 100 ' wait 100 mSec GOTO Start ' do it again ' '---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soon you'll discover you can't turn on the 4 LED together. The reason is simple. Inside the PICKIT 2, both PGD & PGC (ICSPDAT & ICSPCLK) pins are pulled down with 4.7K resistor. Now leaving the PICKIT 2 connected to your board, R7 make a voltage divider with those internal internal pull-down. So the voltage never go up to 5 volt on the ADC input...
To solve this problem you could disconnect your PICKIT 2 and use an external power supply OR modify your code to use another ADC channel OR just lift the pin 4 of the ICSP header. It's up to you
Enjoy, you're now a professional :P
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