The PIC is a family of RISC microcontrollers made by Microchip Technology Inc. and derivatives PIC1650 originally developed by the microelectronics division of General Instrument.
The current name is an acronym. In fact, the full name is PICmicro, although generally used as a Peripheral Interface Controller (peripheral interface controller).
The original PIC was designed for use with the new 16-bit CPU CP16000. Being generally a good CPU, it had poor performance of E / S, and 8-bit PIC was developed in 1975 to improve system performance by removing weight of E / S to the CPU. The PIC used simple microcode stored in ROM to perform these tasks, and although the term is not used at that time, it is a RISC design that runs one instruction at a 4-cycle oscillator.
In 1985, the microelectronics division of General Instrument is separated as an independent company which is incorporated as a subsidiary (the December 14, 1987 changed its name to Microchip Technology and in 1989 was acquired by a group of investors) and the new landlord canceled almost all developments, which by this time most were obsolete. The PIC, however, was improved with EPROM to get a programmable channel controller. Today many PICs come with various peripherals including (serial communication modules, UARTs, motor control centers, etc.) And program memory from 512 to 32,000 words (one word corresponds to one assembly instruction, and may be 12, 14 or 16 bits, depending on the specific family of PICmicro).
PIC Programming
To transfer a computer code to the PIC normally uses a device called a programmer. Most PICs that Microchip currently distributes feature ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming, built-in serial programming) or LVP (Low Voltage Programming, low voltage programming), which lets you program the PIC directly on the target circuit. Used for ICSP pins RB6 and RB7 (In some models can be used as the other pins GP0 and GP1 or RA0 and RA1) and clock and data and MCLR to activate the programming mode by applying a voltage of 13 volts. There are many PIC programmers, from the simplest to leave the details of communications software, to complex, that can verify the device at different voltages and hardware implemented in almost all the functionalities. Many of these programmers complexes include preprogrammed PICs themselves as an interface to send commands to the PIC to be programmed. One of the most simple is the TE20, which uses the RS232 TX line as food and DTR and CTS lines to send or receive data when the microcontroller is in programming mode. The programming software can be ICProg, common among people who use this type of microcontrollers. Programming environments based on BASIC interpreters made accessible to any projects that appear to be ambitious.
Commonly used PICs
* PIC12C508/509 (encapsulation small 8-pin, internal oscillator, popular in small designs such as the iPod remote)
* PIC12F629/675
* PIC16F84 (Considered obsolete, but impossible to dismiss and very popular).
* PIC16F84A (Buena previous update, some versions run at 20 MHz, compatible 1:1)
* PIC16F628A
* PIC16F88 (New PIC16F84A substitute with more memory, internal oscillator, PWM, etc. that could become popular as his sister).
* The subfamily PIC16F87X and PIC16F87X (for older siblings and PIC16F84A PIC16F84, with lots of enhancements in hardware. Fairly common in the amateur draft).
* PIC16F886/887 (New 16F876A and 16F877A substitute with the difference that the new internal oscillator is already included).
* PIC16F193x (PIC New optimized midrange and lots of RAM, now with 49 instructions for the first time in front of the 35 lifetime).
* Similar PIC18F2455 and USB 2.0 port
PIC18F2550 *
* PIC18F452
PIC18F4550 *
* DsPIC30F3011 (ideal for electronic control of induction motors, audio control, etc.)..
* PIC32 (New range of 32-bit PIC, the most modern and compatible with USB 2.0).
