C Programming for the PIC Microcontroller

Go beyond the jigsaw approach of just using blocks of code you don’t understand and become a programmer who really understands how your code works.

Starting with the fundamentals on C programming, this book walks you through where the C language fits with microcontrollers. Next, you’ll see how to use the industrial IDE, create and simulate a project, and download your program to an actual PIC microcontroller.

You’ll then advance into the main process of a C program and explore in depth the most common commands applied to a PIC microcontroller and see how to use the range of control registers inside the PIC. With C Programming for the PIC Microcontroller as your guide, you’ll become a better programmer who can truly say they have written and understand the code they use.

What You’ll Learn

• Use the freely available MPLAX software
• Build a project and write a program using inputs from switches
• Create a variable delay with the oscillator source
• Measure real-world signals using pressure, temperature, and speed inputs
• Incorporate LCD screens into your projects
• Apply what you’ve learned into a simple embedded program

Who This Book Is For

Hobbyists who want to move into the challenging world of embedded programming or students on an engineering course.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Our First Program

Chapter 3: Updating the Program

Chapter 4: Applying What We’ve Learned

Chapter 5: Real-World Inputs

Chapter 6: Using the LCD

Chapter 7: Creating a Header File

Chapter 8: Understanding Some Useful Code

Appendix: Additional Resources

About the Author

Hubert Ward has nearly 25 years of experience in teaching at the Higher National Certificate and The Higher Diploma in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Hubert has also worked as a college lecturer and consultant in embedded programming. His work has established his expertise in the assembler language and C, MPLAX, and designing electronic circuit and PCBs using ECAD software. Hubert was also the UK technical expert in Mechatronics for three years, training the UK team and taking them to enter in the Skills Olympics in Seoul 2001, resulting in one of the best outcomes to date for the UK in Mechatronics.