Interfacing PIC Microcontrollers Embedded Design by Interactive Simulation

Abstract

The PIC is one of the biggest selling small microcontrollers. When it first became available, it was not only technically innovative, but helped to make the teaching of microelectronics much more interesting. A small controller with flash memory meant that a great variety of student projects could be realised quickly and easily. It helped that the development toolkit was free as well. It has always been a problem in electronics that you cannot see a circuit working in the same way that a mechanical engineer can see a steam engine pumping up and down. Sure, we can see the screen flickering on a television, or an electric motor spinning, but you cannot see electrons or volts directly. As a result, it has always been that bit more difficult to learn electronics. Interactive electronic design software is the answer. The Proteus VSM (Virtual System Modelling) software used in this book has been developed by Labcenter Electronics in the UK. It brings circuits to life on the computer screen and makes learning electronics more effective and more fun. It is also a full-scale professional product, and will take the student electronic engineer seamlessly into commercial design work. This book is intended to support electronic learning wherever it takes place, at college, at work or in the home. Please enjoy! Martin Bates March 2013