PICs - Playground or 'serious' microcontroller

[selbstdual]

So the fact that microchip has a lot of b2b customers is being proven by the amount of sold out pics.

The following questions apply to all participants in this thread(and those deciding to join):

First: Where is proof that these pics went into security relevant areas ?
Second: How many are using pic circuits to create a new one based on it ?
Third: On which LCD is a pic ?
Fourth: Who is using a given pic circuitry, whose interest is in non proprietary software aswell ?

PS: I don't trust these statistics.

Hey, did you see that Microchip shipped its five-billionth microcontroller late last year (thats 5000000000 microcontrollers)? They also sold a billion of them during the year leading up to this total.
I had no idea there were that many amateurs out there.

http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/e...oSOLUTIONS.pdf (see page 9 for details)

[keithdoxey]

So the fact that microchip has a lot of b2b customers is being proven by the amount of sold out pics.


First: Where is proof that these pics went into security relevant areas ?.

That wasnt part of your original post but I am sure there are quite a few security prodcts that contain PICs

Second: How many are using pic circuits to create a new one based on it ?.

What do you mean by that ???

Third: On which LCD is a pic ?.

If you mean as the acutal display driver, probably none as a dedicated chip will be the best means of driving the actual display but there are many LCD displays fitted wth "Serail Backpacks" that are PIC based and an LCD monitor that I have by Kenwood uses a 16 series PIC as its control MPU.

Fourth: Who is using a given pic circuitry, whose interest is in non proprietary software aswell ?

What do you mean by that ???

[selbstdual]

That wasnt part of your original post but I am sure there are quite a few security prodcts that contain PICs

..

If you mean as the acutal display driver, probably none as a dedicated chip will be the best means of driving the actual display but there are many LCD displays fitted wth "Serail Backpacks" that are PIC based and an LCD monitor that I have by Kenwood uses a 16 series PIC as its control MPU.

keithdoxey, you are trying too hard to be against my arguments. Agreeing with what I wrote is no big deal

How many are using pic circuits to create a new one based on it ?.

What do you mean by that ??

Person A creates a circuitry based on a pic. Person B creates a circuitry based on A's circuitry.

Fourth: Who is using a given pic circuitry, whose interest is in non proprietary software aswell ?

What do you mean by that ???

Someone who is interested in knowing what happens. Refer to above.

[T.Jackson]

To say that PIC micros are bound entirely within the scope of (hobbyist / amateur) market only is near border line ridiculous. The last thing on Microchip's mind is a $5 sale from a few hobbyists here and there. I'd hate to think of the cost involved to design these devices. Anyones guess is as good as mine, upwards of a few million?. C'mon, get real - there's simply just not enough amateurs around to be able to justify it. My guess is that only a few percent of sales are generated from the hobbyist. Microchip's intentions are obvious to me, give them half the chance and they'll probably give Intel a run for their money next.

[Jerson]

The following questions apply to all participants in this thread(and those deciding to join):

First: Where is proof that these pics went into security relevant areas ?

I designed my electronic coffers and doorlocks around the PIC. Do these qualify as security products?

Jerson

[Melanie]

Do you have PICs in Security Camera's? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Remote Camera Platforms? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Camera Quads? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Security Recording Devices? Yes.
Do you have PICs in PIR Sensors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Break-Glass Detectors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Vibration Sensors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Microwave Doppler Detectors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Burglar Alarm Controllers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in High Security Line Drivers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Alarm Autodiallers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Secure Door Access Controls? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Secure Credit Card Readers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Bank Front-Office Transaction Terminals? Yes.
Do you have PICs in ATM's? (Cash Machines for those who don't know what an ATM is) Yes.

umm... how big a security list do you want?

[sinoteq]

If the brand decides if a thing is Amateurish or Professional then beeing a Professional golfplayer must be really hard. As soon as you find a brand with the professional feeling to it, any amateur wants to buy it. Then you think, I'll go for the most expensive brand that most amateurs can't affort. Doing that will only make sure you end up among the worst kind of amateurs, the ones with too much money and usually no talents at all in the specific field.

Of course there is a difference between these two groups, in a similar way there are amateur and professional people cooking. Sure once in a while even an amateur can make a great dish, but the professional can make it everytime. It is not what you mix together. It is how you mix them! or even more so, how not to mix.

/me

[RussMartin]

Keith makes a good point on the distinction between "amateur" and "professional". "Amateur" in its strict sense means one who loves a pursuit; the word is not automatically synonymous with "novice" or "shoddy".

When I was starting out with microcontrollers and microprocessors, it meant devices like the 8008 (and the 4004), 8080, and 8085. (That was a really long time ago!)

In the early and middle 1980s, I remember hearing some "professionals" (other engineers) sneer at the Z-80 as a "toy". ("Amateurs" had started using them.)

I had the opportunity, earlier this month, to spend 5-1/2 days at MicroChip's 11th annual Masters Conference and PreConference in Phoenix--about 44 in-class hours, most with labs. And I got to mingle with 800 other engineers, many from other countries, who are using PICs daily in every imaginable application design.

[Christopher4187]

I just enjoyed when Melanie said, "Yup, there's even a microchip PIC in one brand of vibrator that I know of..."

[mackrackit]

I just enjoyed when Melanie said, "Yup, there's even a microchip PIC in one brand of vibrator that I know of..."

Is that an amateur or professional vibrator.

[selbstdual]

Do you have PICs in Security Camera's? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Remote Camera Platforms? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Camera Quads? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Security Recording Devices? Yes.
Do you have PICs in PIR Sensors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Break-Glass Detectors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Vibration Sensors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Microwave Doppler Detectors? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Burglar Alarm Controllers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in High Security Line Drivers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Alarm Autodiallers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Secure Door Access Controls? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Secure Credit Card Readers? Yes.
Do you have PICs in Bank Front-Office Transaction Terminals? Yes.
Do you have PICs in ATM's? (Cash Machines for those who don't know what an ATM is) Yes.

umm... how big a security list do you want?

I see no proof for any item. Do you have any ?

[mackrackit]

selbstdual,

Are you a professional? Your bio says you are a tax inspector, so you must be an armature in electronics.

Many of the people on this forum (myself included) make their living one way or another with electronics. Also, I would guess that many of these people (myself included again) are doing custom jobs (less than 1000 units) or proto-typing for a larger firm, working under a given set of specifications. I know of some that are doing R+D for projects with military specifications.

Why should someone here provide proof to you that the parts we use are used in other products.
Many have posted on this thread telling you that they use PICs in their security devices or that they know PICs are used in security devices. Yet you ask for proof. You even denied the sales statistics given for PICs. I see that as you calling the people on this forum liars.

You sir owe many an apology.

[Melanie]

I wasn't aware that I had to provide proof of every statement I make.

Here is Microchips annual report...

http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/e...Y07_Annual.pdf

Perhaps selbstdual can tell us where $1billion worth of sales went...

Actually if I was the President of Microchip, I wouldn't give a sh*t if every one of my chips went into a toy as long as the money keeps rolling into the Bank!

Good luck to them and to the rest of us that earn a damn-good living from this business.

[keithdoxey]

I see no proof for any item. Do you have any ?

No... but I trust what Melanie says. I have seen PICs in many products including some that have the numbers erased from chips.

Your responses to well thought out replies within this thread indicate that no matter what we say you will still argue the point so therefore this thread is nothing more than a troll and I will not contribute to it nor any other of your posts any more.

[Luciano]

Hi,

The brain is an organ like all of the other organs in the body.
The brain is vulnerable to a great many disorders, many of them chronic.
DysPICxia is a very rare disorder with a worldwide incidence of 0.5
to 1.0 cases per million per year.

Be tolerant!

Best regards,

Luciano

[RussMartin]

Perhaps selbstdual would be happier using something from the 8051 family of devices, and BASIC for it (maybe BASCOM-51). There are plenty of forums and support!

(Oops--I forgot; there are a lot of "amateurs" using 8051s! Darn! )

[T.Jackson]

Hi,

The brain is an organ like all of the other organs in the body.
The brain is vulnerable to a great many disorders, many of them chronic.
DysPICxia is a very rare disorder with a worldwide incidence of 0.5
to 1.0 cases per million per year.

You'll probably find that some of the cat scan systems have a PIC buried somewhere in them.