Nigel Goodwin

Obvious method would be to use a PIC to do it, and either run four traces as planned, or even one as a simple serial interface. You've not mentioned what the rest of the project is?, but it's probably also simpler to replace the rest of it with the same simple PIC? - or a couple of them?.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

danuke

I really don't have any experience in PIC work. I've been thinking about diving into that world, but really don't know what type of programmer chips etc would be a good starter kit.

I pretty much know when I get into that, I'd want to use flash based PICs for learning on so I can play around without spending several dollars per chip. If you happen to know of an easy programmer to learn on, please feel free to recommend one. I'd like to try to stay under $50 for a whole kit (1 flash chip, programming hardware, and software) if possible.

Nigel Goodwin

Check out the InchWorm, an ICD2 clone - cheap and VERY capable.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

danuke

does the inchworm+ come with the components and circuit board or just the circuit board?

blueroomelectronics

If you're using USB then I'd recommend a Junebug, the kits come with all the parts.

Since dipmicro does not carry the Junebug I'll see what I can arrange with Creatron Inc (they have stock both kit and assembled)

__________________
Bill
Smart Kits build Smart People
http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

hysteresis

A simple solution, which you might consider, would be to use an EPROM to perform the encoding. A 4096 x 8bit device (such as a 2732A) has 12 address lines - one for each pushbutton, with only four of its data lines required for your binary encoded output.

The binary output code would have to be programmed into just 12 memory locations - those accessed when a single address line is asserted, e.g.

address 0000 0000 0001 would hold 0000 0001
address 0000 0000 0010 would hold 0000 0010
address 0000 0000 0100 would hold 0000 0011
address 0000 0000 1000 would hold 0000 0100
address 0000 0001 0000 would hold 0000 0101

and so on, up to

address 1000 0000 0000 would hold 0000 1100

All other locations could be filled with zeros, so that if two (or more) buttons were pressed simultaneously, the output would be zero.

2732 type EPROM's are now obsolete (superseded by much higher capacity devices), though they can still be regularly found on a certain auction web site. Alternatively, a higher capacity device could be used, with the unwanted extra address lines tied to ground.

danuke

I like the EPROM chip approach and got a few from my neighbor who had some spares from where he used to work. Will definitely try my hand at EPROM programming to see what it has to offer.

Is there a good dumbed down tutorial site that can help me learn how to use the software to program the PIC using the inchworm? I find that I usually learn better by seeing the code that does a function and see comments with what certain lines do with it. Sorry if I should have started a new thread for the preceding questions about PICs.

Thanks again for all the help.