Microcontroller Programming - PDF

Running head: MICROCONTROLLER PROGRAMING 1
MICROCONTROLLER PROGRAMING
Name of Student
Institution Affiliation

MICROCONTROLLER PROGRAMING 2
Introduction
Microcontrollers are usually small computers that are based on a single jointed circuit. They
are usually made up of processor cores together with programmable output/input peripherals
and a memory.
Microcontrollers are generally designed for embedded applications, in comparison with the
microprocessors which are used in common purpose uses or personal computers comprising
of various discrete chips (Peatman, 2012).
The specifications of the microcontroller boards are; processor type, Bus type, number of
ports, memory, operating system and port type. The microcontroller are used to measure the
programs which are used for embedded devices like different home appliances, controllers
point of scale terminals, robots and information appliances (Singh, 2016).
There are diverse types of microcontroller platforms that are accessible for physical
calculations such as; Net media’s BX-24, MIT’s Handy board and Parallax Basic Stamp
(Peatman, 2012). The above examples are discussed in details below.
Parallax Basic Stamp
The parallax basic stamp is usually programmed in a variation of the Basic language, which
is referred to as PBASIC. The PBASIC language includes regular microcontroller roles,
Including PWM, serial communication, communication with regular LCD driver circuits,
pseudo-sine wave frequency, hobby servo trains and the ability to time the RC circuit that can
be used to detect an analog value.
When the program has been written in a ‘stamp Editor’ a combined development
environment in windows ,it is possible to check the syntax, then tokenize and send it to the
chip via USB or serial mini-B cable , where it be made to run.
The parallax Basic Stamp microcontroller is used to learn programming and electronics side
by side. It is a small on-board computer which is like the ones that are found in most
electronic devices. The figure below show parallax Basic Stamp.
Fig 1: parallax Basic Stamp
microcontroller
Main characteristics
 Creates a simple circuits
with wiring and
schematic diagrams.
 Signals are sent by
blinking LEDs
 Programs are written in
PBASIC in order to control the circuit
 The bush buttons are used to sense contact
 Data in this microcontroller platform is displayed on a 7-segment LED.
 A servo motor is used to control motion
 A potentiometer is used to a dial (Crisp, 2011).
Specifications

MICROCONTROLLER PROGRAMING 3
The parallax Basic Stamp microcontroller has the following specifications:
Attribute value
Family name parallax Basic Stamp
Type of package PDIP
Type of mounting Through hole
Number of Pins 24
Type of core Basic Stamp 2
Size of programming memory 2kB
Highest Frequency 20MHz
Size of RAM 32B
Supply voltage 5 to 15V
Dimensions 30 by 16 by 3.81mm
Highest operating temperature + 85oc
UART channels 1
Lowest operating temperature -40oc
Type of programming memory EEPROM
Applications
The parallax Basic Stamp microcontroller is mainly applied in technology education because
it has quickly to implement, easy to program solutions in many industries including;
processing control, manufacturing and robotics (Crisp, 2011).
An automatic parking system is one of the fruitful projects which made of the parallax stamp
controller. The main purpose of the parking system is to find out the best available parking
location and then display the data at the entrance to the parking so as to guide the drive an
empty parking lot.
This is achieved by the execution of a priority algorithm that utilises the application of the
infrared sensor signals from each of the parking location. The counting of the number of
vehicle which enters and leaves the parking is also done by the sensors. When the parking is
full the display area at the gate will notify the drives and the gate will remain closed until
when there is an empty parking space (Kamal, 2013).
The other project which makes application of the parallax Basic Stamp microcontroller is the
design of the electronic soccer board. The score board to be designed has to connect to two
basketball rims.in the electronic soccer one player is able to shoot the baskets and play alone
or they can be toe plays to compete each other. After the time that was set has elapsed the
inning player and the scores are displayed (Peatman, 2012).
Cost
The cost of parallax Basic Stamp USD $ 12.99
NETMEDIA’S BX-24
Netmedia’s BX-24 is the greatest commanding programmable microcontroller in Basic on the
market. This circuit is all you essentially require in order to start up any robotics project. The
Netmedia’s BX-24 brings together in a circuit the size of a 24-pin chip, a voltage regulator,