Couple of PIC Questions

[joe_1]

Hi:

I am still learning PICs. I have two questions:

1-Does any PIC compiler handle graphics? that is to draw line, circle..etc

2-Those PIC programmers, do they program pre-defined set of PIC chips, that is if new PIC chip is introduced to market, then I have to buy new programmer?.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

Hi:

I am still learning PICs. I have two questions:

1-Does any PIC compiler handle graphics? that is to draw line, circle..etc

How could they?, there's no screen to display graphics on! - grahics programming is a function of the hardware you use, rather than of the processor.

2-Those PIC programmers, do they program pre-defined set of PIC chips, that is if new PIC chip is introduced to market, then I have to buy new programmer?.

Most are software upgradable, so you can use new software as new chips are supported - obviously the best in this respect is going to be MicroChip's own programmer - the PICStart+.

 

[Oznog]

There are several graphics LCD types commonly used with PIC, both monochrome and color. They have internal controllers, so you write a memory location and forget it, it doesn't scan out lines and provide a video signal.

There's at least one hardware solution to do simple text overlay on a video signal, the PIC can write to the hardware.

There have been a handful of projects which do generate a crude video signal with a PIC. They're fundamentally crude because the PIC hardly has enough memory to hold a page of video, and the speed required to flawlessly generate video is quite high.

 

[DigiTan]

Can anyone list some good online guides for writing to these dot matrix displays? I've had some experience with character displays, so I guess I'm looking for strategies on drawing shapes, special characters, etc. If it helps any, I'm using an OPTREX DMF-5042 (see attached). Color display guides would help too.

 

[joe_1]

DigiTan

Try this site: https://www.electro-tech-online.com/custompdfs/2004/05/dmcman.pdf

 

[Oznog]

The spec sheet is where you start.

Be aware of the terms:
"Reflective"- these only reflect ambient light. They show up fine in any amount of daylight but of course aren't visible in the dark unless lit from the front.
"Transmissive"- these are solely lit by backlights and don't reflect ambient light. Ambient light washes out the display. Most laptops are transmissive. Transmissive displays appear black when off.
"Transflective"- Reflects ambient light, but can also be backlit.

Color displays you'll have access to are almost all transmissive. There are reflective/transflective color screens used in PDAs, some are just making it onto the surplus market and driving them is a very sketchy proposal.