A short info about the different uC - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

Kryten · 30th January 2008, 01:18 PM

Hi
So far I haven't been able too find a good howto for choosing uC. Im looking for a quick guide that lets me know wheter to go for PIC, AVR, Motorola or whatever make. It should contain gen info like numder of DAC/ ADCs and wheter it supports USB or RS232.

Does anyone here know of something like that??

**3v0** · 30th January 2008, 01:30 PM

You can find all that data on the vendors websites.
I takes about 3 clicks on the Microchip site to get to a table of processors and their features. The same should hold for the other vendors.

Unless you are doing something rather special it is a good bet that any of the mentioned vendors can supply a chip to meet your needs.

It is better to choose the uC based on the tools, support, and the cost for tools and support.

Kryten · 30th January 2008, 01:33 PM

Ok
So you mean that looking at what software methods and programming are the way to choose what kind I should go for?

Mike, K8LH · 30th January 2008, 02:34 PM

This topic comes up fairly often but it's difficult to answer because everyone has their own selection criteria and requirements.

For me, I chose the Microchip PIC series simply because there were so very many example projects and code (good and bad) on the Internet.

Good luck. Regards, Mike

bananasiong · 30th January 2008, 02:49 PM

Hi,
If you're a totally newbie in the microcontroller, I suggest you to use whatever is available or whatever suggested in the tutorial. If you're experienced, just use the parametric search from the microcontroller's site by selecting what features that you want.

*You have a city too

Just added one population for you

HarveyH42 · 30th January 2008, 03:45 PM

Hardware wise, most controllers are very similar, and you can pretty much achieve the some results. The cost and programming are two things that tend to set them a part the most. Think about what computer language you are most comfortable with, then see what kind of compilers are availiable and how much they cost. There are free tools availiable on the web, some aren't so good, and you'll realize that you might need to buy anyway.

For high level languages, like C, the internals won't be so important, as the compiler will take care of all the hard redundant stuff for you. In assembly, you should get data sheets and find out what is availiable. I chose AVR ovr PIC, for this reason, and a USB programmer for under $100...

Kryten · 31st January 2008, 08:57 AM

Ok
Well one last Q: DOes any uC have USB com. or are they still going on RS232?
The reason Im asking is 'cous Im going to transfer data form the uC to a USB memorystick. It wil be placed in such a matter that using RS232 to a computer directly will not be an option.

(bananasiong i mad a factory for you

)

blueroomelectronics · 31st January 2008, 07:21 PM

No small microcontroller has a USB host, the PIC18F2550 has USB slave
hardware but that's meant to talk to your PCs USB host and cannot talk to your USB memorystick.
There is a USB host IC called the Vinculum VNC1L out there but it would be a very advanced project.

parts-man73 · 31st January 2008, 07:58 PM

If the Microcontroller is capable of SPI, an SD memory card can be used. With one of the Microcontrollers that I use (the Propeller) there is pre-written code to interface the SD card, I'm sure it's possible to do with a PIC or other microcontroller also. uController.com or Sparkfun.com sell adapter circuit boards to make it easy to prototype.

Brian

Kryten · 31st January 2008, 08:00 PM

Nice Brian
Thanks mate

Kryten · 1st February 2008, 08:09 AM

Is there any differenc in how the different uC are programmed to write to a memmory card (i.e SD, CF)

Salgat · 2nd February 2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kryten

Is there any differenc in how the different uC are programmed to write to a memmory card (i.e SD, CF)

The standard for interfacing with memories such as SD cards is universal, meaning you have to simply program your microcontroller to interface with it like all other digital devices.

Kryten · 4th February 2008, 07:57 AM

Well i Know I need two AD converters. Does most of the uC have a "large" number of AD's or are there just one on each?

bananasiong · 4th February 2008, 08:19 AM

Hi,
Why do you need two? There is usually only one ADC with multiple channels available in the PIC. Just select different channels accordingly.

Kryten · 4th February 2008, 08:24 AM

well im going to simultanisly monitor two power consuptions and save the values
for making a statistic to see wether we need more charging capasity. Or should i go for separate ADC's (external)?

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30th January 2008, 01:18 PM	(permalink)
Kryten	A short info about the different uC Hi So far I haven't been able too find a good howto for choosing uC. Im looking for a quick guide that lets me know wheter to go for PIC, AVR, Motorola or whatever make. It should contain gen info like numder of DAC/ ADCs and wheter it supports USB or RS232. Does anyone here know of something like that?? __________________ Simplicity rules Good enought - its perfect ?? 2 Gig of free online backup space Are you a Chemist?

30th January 2008, 01:30 PM	(permalink)
3v0	You can find all that data on the vendors websites. I takes about 3 clicks on the Microchip site to get to a table of processors and their features. The same should hold for the other vendors. Unless you are doing something rather special it is a good bet that any of the mentioned vendors can supply a chip to meet your needs. It is better to choose the uC based on the tools, support, and the cost for tools and support. __________________ search engine for electronic parts Junebug USB PIC programmer kit., USB Bit Wacker, Homepage The 15 Minute Printed Circuit Board! (+drill time)

30th January 2008, 01:33 PM	(permalink)
Kryten	Ok So you mean that looking at what software methods and programming are the way to choose what kind I should go for? __________________ Simplicity rules Good enought - its perfect ?? 2 Gig of free online backup space Are you a Chemist?

30th January 2008, 02:34 PM	(permalink)
Mike, K8LH	This topic comes up fairly often but it's difficult to answer because everyone has their own selection criteria and requirements. For me, I chose the Microchip PIC series simply because there were so very many example projects and code (good and bad) on the Internet. Good luck. Regards, Mike

30th January 2008, 02:49 PM	(permalink)
bananasiong	Hi, If you're a totally newbie in the microcontroller, I suggest you to use whatever is available or whatever suggested in the tutorial. If you're experienced, just use the parametric search from the microcontroller's site by selecting what features that you want. *You have a city too Just added one population for you __________________ Superman returns..

30th January 2008, 03:45 PM	(permalink)
HarveyH42	Hardware wise, most controllers are very similar, and you can pretty much achieve the some results. The cost and programming are two things that tend to set them a part the most. Think about what computer language you are most comfortable with, then see what kind of compilers are availiable and how much they cost. There are free tools availiable on the web, some aren't so good, and you'll realize that you might need to buy anyway. For high level languages, like C, the internals won't be so important, as the compiler will take care of all the hard redundant stuff for you. In assembly, you should get data sheets and find out what is availiable. I chose AVR ovr PIC, for this reason, and a USB programmer for under $100...

31st January 2008, 08:57 AM	(permalink)
Kryten	Ok Well one last Q: DOes any uC have USB com. or are they still going on RS232? The reason Im asking is 'cous Im going to transfer data form the uC to a USB memorystick. It wil be placed in such a matter that using RS232 to a computer directly will not be an option. (bananasiong i mad a factory for you ) __________________ Simplicity rules Good enought - its perfect ?? 2 Gig of free online backup space Are you a Chemist? Last edited by Kryten; 31st January 2008 at 09:00 AM.

31st January 2008, 07:21 PM	(permalink)
blueroomelectronics	No small microcontroller has a USB host, the PIC18F2550 has USB slave hardware but that's meant to talk to your PCs USB host and cannot talk to your USB memorystick. There is a USB host IC called the Vinculum VNC1L out there but it would be a very advanced project. __________________ Bill Smart Kits build Smart People http://www.blueroomelectronics.com

31st January 2008, 07:58 PM	(permalink)
parts-man73	If the Microcontroller is capable of SPI, an SD memory card can be used. With one of the Microcontrollers that I use (the Propeller) there is pre-written code to interface the SD card, I'm sure it's possible to do with a PIC or other microcontroller also. uController.com or Sparkfun.com sell adapter circuit boards to make it easy to prototype. Brian

31st January 2008, 08:00 PM	(permalink)
Kryten	Nice Brian Thanks mate __________________ Simplicity rules Good enought - its perfect ?? 2 Gig of free online backup space Are you a Chemist?

1st February 2008, 08:09 AM	(permalink)
Kryten	Is there any differenc in how the different uC are programmed to write to a memmory card (i.e SD, CF) __________________ Simplicity rules Good enought - its perfect ?? 2 Gig of free online backup space Are you a Chemist?

4th February 2008, 07:57 AM	(permalink)
Kryten	Well i Know I need two AD converters. Does most of the uC have a "large" number of AD's or are there just one on each? __________________ Simplicity rules Good enought - its perfect ?? 2 Gig of free online backup space Are you a Chemist?

4th February 2008, 08:19 AM	(permalink)
bananasiong	Hi, Why do you need two? There is usually only one ADC with multiple channels available in the PIC. Just select different channels accordingly. __________________ Superman returns..

4th February 2008, 08:24 AM	(permalink)
Kryten	well im going to simultanisly monitor two power consuptions and save the values for making a statistic to see wether we need more charging capasity. Or should i go for separate ADC's (external)? __________________ Simplicity rules Good enought - its perfect ?? 2 Gig of free online backup space Are you a Chemist? Last edited by Kryten; 4th February 2008 at 09:35 AM.