Overview

The new EasyPIC6 development board offers even more features over the EasyPIC5 including a built-in 16x2 character chip-on-glass (COG) display, 4x4 matrix keypad and menu navigation style keypad. These, in addition to support for character and graphic LCDs and touch-screen make this latest incarnation of the EasyPIC series of boards a great choice for developing various PIC-based user interface applications.

Like the EasyPIC5, the new EasyPIC6 incorporates a high-speed USB 2.0 programmer and mikroICD in-circuit debugger (compatible with MikroElektronika's mikroBASIC, mikroC and mikroPascal compilers). However, an external ICD connector is now also provided to allow for connection of Microchip's ICD2/3 and compatible in-circuit debuggers if required. The power supply of the EasyPIC6 has also been updated to a switch-mode type and the board may still be powered either from your PC or laptop's USB port or from an external AC or DC mains adapter.

Features

• On-board high-speed USB 2.0 PIC programmer (also compatible with USB1.1).
• On-board mikroICD in-circuit-debugger (when used in conjunction with mikroC, mikroBASIC or mikroPascal PIC compilers).
• Sockets for 8, 14, 18, 20, 28 and 40-pin PICs (40-pin PIC16F887 included).
• Removable oscillator (8MHz crystal included).
• 36 LEDs show status of all the PIC's I/O lines.
• 36 pushbutton switches to simulate digital inputs (configurable as active-high or active-low).
• 4x4 matrix keypad.
• Menu navigation style keypad consisting of four directional arrow keys along with enter and cancel keys.
• 16x2 character chip-on-glass (COG) display connected via port expander IC.
• Analogue potentiometer to simulate analogue input.
• MCP23S17 port expander IC with SPI interface provides 16 additional digital I/O lines and can be configured by DIP switch to drive COG display.
• Character LCD interface (16x2 character available as option).
• Graphic LCD interface (128x64 graphic LCD available as option).
• Touch-screen controller (touch-screen overlay for graphic LCD available as option).
• Socket for DS1820 1-wire temperature sensor (DS1820 available as option).
• RS-232 port with DB9 connector.
• USB communications connector for use with USB-enabled PICs.
• PS/2 connector.
• Connector for optional use of Microchip's ICD2/3 and compatible in-circuit debuggers.
• All I/O lines are available for easy off-board expansion via 10-way IDC headers.
• All board features can be easily enabled or disabled by clearly labelled DIP switches or jumpers.
• Configurable pull-up/pull-down resistors for all I/O lines.
• On-board bridge rectifier and switch-mode voltage regulator with power on/off switch.
• Power supply can be by USB or optional AC/DC power adapter.
• Large range of optional add-on boards available including Ethernet, CAN, RS-485, Bluetooth, GPS, GSM/GPRS, MMC/SD and many more.

Using the EasyPIC6

The EasyPIC6 is incredibly easy to set up and use. On first connecting it to the USB port of your PC using the lead provided, Windows will prompt you to install a driver from the supplied CD-ROM. The PIC16F887 that comes fitted to the EasyPIC6 is pre-programmed with a demonstration program that runs immediately. You can then install the PICFlash2 programming software, also on the CD-ROM, and reprogram the PIC with any of the included pre-compiled example programs to try out the board's I/O features and get a taste of the sort of projects that you can develop.

To write your own programs, you can use the assembler in Microchip's freely available MPLAB software or any make of PIC assembler or compiler that generate HEX files. However use of MikroElektronika's MikroBASIC, MikroC and MikroPascal compilers is recommended as these come with library routines that support all the EasyPIC6's built-in I/O devices and MikroElektronika's optional add-on boards, as well as allowing for use of the EasyPIC6's mikroICD in-circuit debugger. Demonstration versions of these three compilers are included, which enable you to write programs up to 2K in size, or you can save money on the individual prices and buy one of our starter packs that also include full versions of the compilers.

Your programs can make full use of the EasyPIC6's I/O devices and any that are not required can be disabled by way of clearly labelled jumpers and DIP switches. MikroElektronika's range of optional add-on boards can be fitted to the EasyPIC6 and it is also straightforward to connect your own circuits as all of the PIC's I/O lines are available on five 10-way IDC headers. The supplied PIC16F887 microcontroller can easily be removed and replaced with any 8, 14, 18, 20, 28 or 40-pin DIP-packaged PIC microcontroller from the PIC10F, 12F, 16F and 18F families. PICs programmed on the EasyPIC6 may also be removed and used in your own circuits if required.

Specifications

PIC10F Family
PIC10F200, PIC10F202, PIC10F204, PIC10F206, PIC10F220, PIC10F222

PIC12F Family
PIC12F508, PIC12F509, PIC12F510, PIC12F609, PIC12F615, PIC12F629, PIC12F635, PIC12F675, PIC12F683

PIC16F Family
PIC16F54, PIC16F57, PIC16F59, PIC16F72, PIC16F73, PIC16F74, PIC16F76, PIC16F77, PIC16F83, PIC16F84, PIC16F84A, PIC16F87, PIC16F88, PIC16F505, PIC16F506, PIC16F610, PIC16F616, PIC16F627, PIC16F627A, PIC16F628, PIC16F628A, PIC16F630, PIC16F631, PIC16F636, PIC16F639, PIC16F648A, PIC16F676, PIC16F677, PIC16F684, PIC16F687, PIC16F688, PIC16F689, PIC16F690, PIC16F716, PIC16F737, PIC16F747, PIC16F767, PIC16F777, PIC16F785, PIC16F818, PIC16F819, PIC16F870, PIC16F871, PIC16F872, PIC16F873, PIC16F873A, PIC16F874, PIC16F874A, PIC16F876, PIC16F876A, PIC16F877, PIC16F877A, PIC16F882, PIC16F883, PIC16F884, PIC16F886, PIC16F887

PIC18F Family
PIC18F242, PIC18F248, PIC18F252, PIC18F258, PIC18F442, PIC18F448, PIC18F452, PIC18F458, PIC18F1220, PIC18F1230, PIC18F1320, PIC18F1330, PIC18F2220, PIC18F2221, PIC18F2320, PIC18F2321, PIC18F2331, PIC18F2410, PIC18F2420, PIC18F2423, PIC18F2431, PIC18F2439, PIC18F2450, PIC18F2455, PIC18F2480, PIC18F2510, PIC18F2515, PIC18F2520, PIC18F2523, PIC18F2525, PIC18F2539, PIC18F2550, PIC18F2580, PIC18F2585, PIC18F2610, PIC18F2620, PIC18F2680, PIC18F2682, PIC18F2685, PIC18F4220, PIC18F4221, PIC18F4320, PIC18F4321, PIC18F4331, PIC18F4410, PIC18F4420, PIC18F4423, PIC18F4431, PIC18F4439, PIC18F4450, PIC18F4455, PIC18F4480, PIC18F4510, PIC18F4515, PIC18F4520, PIC18F4523, PIC18F4525, PIC18F4539, PIC18F4550, PIC18F4580, PIC18F4585, PIC18F4610, PIC18F4620, PIC18F4680, PIC18F4682, PIC18F4685

Package Contents

• EasyPIC6 development board with 40-pin PIC16F887 microcontroller and 8MHz crystal.
• USB programming/power cable.
• Printed user manuals.
• CD-ROM containing PICFlash2 programming software and drivers.