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2.PROJECTS STEPS

Putting together a micro controller’s project involves several steps:

2.1 Define the task 

2.2 Design and build the circuits

2.3 Write the controls program

2. !est and debug.

!o see "hat’s involved in each step# let’s look at each in more detail.

2.1. Define the task 

$ver% project begins "ith an idea or a problem that needs a solution i.e.# ho" can & monitor light

intensit% at different locations and times to find the best location for a solar collector' (r ho"

can & automate the process of drilling printed )circuit board s' (r ho" can & create a computer*

controlled# animated displa% for a store "indo"'

 (nce %ou kno" "hat to accomplish# %ou need to determine "hether that idea is been re+uired to

computer. &n general# a computer is the "a% to go "hen the circuits must make comple,

decisions or deal "ith comple, data. -or e,ample# a simple /D gate can easil% decide "hether 

or not t"o inputs are both valid logic highs# and "ill changes its output accordingl%. 0ut it

re+uire man% small*scale chips to build a circuit that stores a series of values representing sensor 

outputs and times the% occurred and displa% easil%.

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2.2 Design and building 

When %ou’re read% to design and build the circuits for a project# there are several "a%s to

 proceed. ou can design %our circuits from scratch. ou can bu% an assembled single*broad

computer# adding onl% the interfaces and programming %our application re+uires and %ou can

also build %ourself# but %ou can also use a kit or assembled broad as a base.

 

2.2.1 Choosing a chip:

Does it matter "hich micro controllers chip %ou use' ll micro controllers contain a P# and

chances are that %ou can use an% of several devices for a specific project.4icro controllers are

also characteri5ed b% ho" man% bits of data the% process at once# "ith a higher number of bits

generall% including a faster or more po"erful chip. $ight*bit chips are popular for simpler 

design# but *bits# 16*bits# and 32*bits architectures are also available.

Po"er consumption is another consideration# especiall% for batter%*po"ered s%stems. hips

manufactured "ith 4(7 processes usuall% have lo"er po"er consumption than those

manufactured "ith /4(7 processes.

2.3 Writing the controls program

When it’s time to "rite program that controls %our project# the options include using

machine code# assembl% language# or a higher*level language. Which programming language %ou

use depends on things like desired e,ecution speed# program length# and convenience as "ell as

 price range.

2.3.1 Machine code:

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!he most fundamental program form is machine code# the binar% instruction that causes

the P to perform the operations.

2.3.2 Assembly language:

(ne step removed from machine code is assembl% language# "here abbreviation called

mnemonics 8memor% aids9 substitute for the machine codes. !he mnemonics are easier to

remember than the machine codes.

2.3.3 igher!le"el language.

disadvantage to assembl% language is that each device famil% has its o"n set of 

mnemonics# so %ou have to learn a ne" vocabular% for each famil%. !o get around this program#

higher*level languages like # Pascal# -ortran# -orth# and 07& follo"s a standard s%nta,.

 

2.3.# $nterpreters and compliers

&nterpreters and compliers are t"o forms of higher*level languages. n interpreter 

translates a program into machine code each time the program runs# "hile a complier translates

onl% once# creating a ne"# e,ecutable that the computer runs directl%# "ithout re*translating.

#. %esting and Debugging

fter %ou;ve "ritten a program# it’s time to test nit and find correct mistakes to get it

"ork properl%. !he process of ferreting out and correcting mistakes is called debugging. $as%

debugging and troubleshooting can make a big difference in ho" long it takes to get a s%stem up

and running. We have several options.

2.# %esting in &'()M:.

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(ne "a% is to burn %our program into $Pike simulator# an

emulator lets %ou control program e,ecution and monitor "hat happens at each program step.

4icroprocessor emulators t%picall% are e,pensive.