Chapter 5

PIC PROGRAMMING IN C

Chapter Objective
Understand C programming for embedded
system
Understand input output (I/O) programming in C
Understand programming timer

Why program the PIC18 in C

Compilers produce hex file downloaded into the
ROM of the microcontroller
The size of the hex file is the concern because
of:
limited size of on-chip ROM
limited code space for PIC18 (2Mbyte)

C Vs. Assembly
C Language

Assembly Language

Easy to write the program

Harder to write the program

Less time consuming

Time consuming

Easier to modified and update

Tedious to modified

Code available in function library

Must know /write every instruction

Code is portable to other

microcontroller ( less modification)

Not portable to other microcontroller

Bigger HEX file

Smaller HEX file

The structure of C program for PIC18

Functions
void main (void):
It represents that "main" function does not return any
value as well as does not accept any
parameter/arguments.

In old compilers it was mandate to specify void in

parenthesis in case main is not going to accept any
parameters. but these days you may need to use like
below only:
void main()

 its just simply means that a main function

has no any return value or any passed
variable
if we write only main in our program then
the compiler has show some error
because it could not find any return type of
the main function

C data types for the PIC18

Data Type

Bit Size

Data Range

unsigned char

8-bit

0 to 255

char

8-bit

-128 to +127

unsigned int

16-bit

0 to 65535

int

16-bit

-32768 to
+32767
*PIC18 has a limited
number of registers and
data RAM locations

Example 1 (unsigned numbers)

Toogle all bits at

PortB for 50,000
times

#include<htc.h>
void main()
{
unsigned int z;
TRISB = 0;
for (z=0; z<=50000; z++)
{
PORTB = 0x55;
PORTB = 0xAA;
}
while(1);
}

Example 2

Toogle all bits at

PortB for 100,000
times

#include<htc.h>
void main()
{
unsigned short long z;
unsigned int x;
TRISB = 0;
for (z=0; z<=100000; z++)
{
PORTB = 0x55;
PORTB = 0xAA;
}
while(1); //stay here forever
}

Time delay

Two way of creating a time delay in PIC18;

i. using a simple loop program
ii. using PIC18 timer function (discuss later)

Time delay using loop program

Two factor that effect the delay accuracy:
Crystal frequency
The compiler used.
# Assembly lang. can control exact instruction
in delay subroutine.
# In C programs, different compilers produces
different-size HEX code.

 instructions are implemented in one

instruction cycle(except branching, they
are implemented in two instruction cycle).
We can calculate instruction cycle by
dividing oscillator frequency by 4.

Example
Let's say we have 4MHz oscillator
connected to our microcontroller. Then,
one instruction cycle will take
4/4Mhz = 1us(micro second).

Example
Write a C18 program to toggle all bits of
Port B ports continuously with a 250 ms
delay. Assume that the system is
PIC184550 with XTAL=10MHz

#include<htc.h>
__CONFIG(0x3F3A);
void delay(unsigned int);
void main(void)
{
TRISB=0;
PORTB=0;
while(1)
{
PORTB = 0X55;
delay(250);
PORTB = 0xAA;
delay(250);
}
}

Answer

void delay(unsigned int tempoh)

{
unsigned int i; unsigned char j;
for (i=0;i<tempoh;i++)
for(j=0;j<165;j++);
}

Exercise
Assume that a system is PIC18F4550 with
XTAL=20MHz.

Input and Output (I/O)

Programming in C
The I/O port preserve be access using 2 method:
a. byte addressable , or
b. bit addressable

Ports PORTA-PORTD are byte accessible

Example ( BYTE ADDRESSABLE )

Write a C program to get a byte of data

from PORTB, wait 0.5 second, and then
send it to PORTC. Assume XTAL = 4MHz.

Answer

#include<htc.h>
int a;
void main()
{
TRISB = 0xFF;
PORTB = 0x00;
TRISC=0x00;

while(1)
{
a = PORTB;
PORTC = a;
}
}

Example ( BYTE ADDRESSABLE )

Write a C program to get a byte from

PORTC. If it is less than 100, send it to
PORTB; otherwise, send it to PORTD

Answer

#include<htc.h>
void main(void)
{
unsigned char z;
TRISC = 0xFF;
TRISB = 0x00;
TRISD = 0x00;;
while(1)
{
z = PORTC;
if (z < 100)
PORTB = z;
else
PORTD = z;
}
}

Bit-addressable I/O
programming
The l/O ports of PIC 18 are bit-addressable. We can
access a single bit without disturbing the rest of the port.
We use PORTxbits. Rxy to access a single bit of Portx,
where x is the port A, B, C, or D, and y is the bit (0-7)
of that port.
For example, PORTBbits.RB7 indicates PORTB.7. We
access the TRISx registers in the same way where
TRISBbits.TRISB7 indicates the D7 of the TRISB.

Example ( BiT ADDRESSABLE )

Logic Operation and data

conversion in C
One of the most important and powerful features of the C
language is its ability to perform bit manipulation.
While every C programmer is familiar with the logical
operators AND (&&), OR (II), and NOT (!), many C
programmers are less familiar with the bitwise operators
AND (&), OR (I), EX-OR (^), inverter (~), shift right
(>>), and shift left(<<)).

Logic Operation and data conversion in C

These bit-wise operators are widely used

in software engineering for embedded
systems and control; consequently, their
understanding and mastery are critical in
microprocessor-based system design and
interfacing.

Logic Operation and data conversion in C

Operation

Symbol

Example

Equal to

==

if(a == 0) b=b+5;

Not equal to

!=

if(a != 1) b=b+4;

Greater than

>

if(a > 2) b=b+3;

Less than

<

if(a < 3) b=b+2;

Greater than or equal to

>=

if(a >= 4) b=b+1;

Less than or equal to

<=

if(a <= 5) b=b+0;

OPERATION

OPERATOR

DESCRIPTION

SOURCE CODE

EXAMPLE

RESULT

Increment

++

Add one to integer

result = num1++;

0000 0000

0000 00001

Decrement

--

Subtract one from integer

result = num1--;

1111 1111

1111 1110

Complement

Invert all bits of integer

result = ~num1;

0000 0000

1111 1111

Add

Integer or Float

result = num1 + num2;

0000 1010 0000 1101

+ 0000 0011

Subtract

Integer or Float

result = num1 - num2;

0000 1010 0000 0111

- 0000 0011

Multiply

Integer or Float

result = num1 * num2;

Divide

Integer or Float

result = num1 / num2;

Logical AND

&

Integer Bitwise

result = num1 & num2;

Logical OR

Integer Bitwise

result = num1 | num2;

Logical OR

Integer Bitwise

result = num1 ^ num2;

Arithmetic Operation

0000 1010
*0000 0011

0001 1110

0000 1100 0000 0100

/ 0000 0011

Logical Operation
1001 0011
& 0111 0001 0001 0001
1001 0011 1111 0011
|0111 0001
1001 0011
^ 0111 0001

1110 0010

Data conversion in C
Recall that BCD numbers were discussed earlier. As
stated there, many newer microcontrollers have a realtime clock (RTC) where the time and date are kept even
when the power is off.
Very often the RTC provides the time and date in packed
BCD. To display them, however, it must convert them to
ASCII. In this section we show the application of logic
and rotate instructions in the conversion of BCD and
ASCII.

ASCII numbers
On ASCII keyboards, when the key "0" is activated, "0 II
0000" (30H) is provided to the computer. Similarly, 31H
(0110001) is provided for the key "1", and so on.

Programming Timer
The PICI8 has two to five timers depending on the family
member. They are referred to as Timers 0, I, 2, 3, and 4.
They can be used either as timers to generate a time
delay or as counters to count events happening outside
the microcontroller.

 Every timer needs a clock pulse to tick. The clock source

can be internal or external. If we use the internal clock
source, then 1/4th of the frequency of the crystal
oscillator on the OSCI and OSC2 pins (Fosc/4) is fed
into the timer.

 Therefore, it is used for time delay generation and for

that reason is called a timer. By choosing the external
clock option, we feed pulses through one of the PICI8s
pins: this is called a counter.

Programming Timer
PIC18 has two to five timers
Depending on the family number

These timers can be used as

Timers to generate a time delay
Counters to count events happening outside
the uC

Programming timers 0 and 1

Every timer needs a clock pulse to tick
Clock source can be
Internal 1/4th of the frequency of the crystal oscillator
on OSC1 and OSC2 pins (Fosc/4) is fed into timer
External: pulses are fed through one of the PIC18s pins
Counter

Timers are 16-bit wide

Can be accessed as two separate reg. (TMRxL & TMRxH)
Each timer has TCON (timer Control) reg.

T0CON (Timer0 control) register

Each timer has a control register, called TCON, to set
the various timer operation modes. T0CON is an 8-bit
register used for control of Timer0.

Example

TMR0IF flag bit

Notice that the TMR0IF bit (Timer0 interrupt flag) is part
of the INTCON (interrupt control) register.
when the timer reaches its maximum value of FFFFH, it
rolls over to 0000, and TMR0IF is set to I.

16-bit timer programming

The following are the characteristics and operations of 16-bit
mode:
1. It is a 16-bit timer; therefore, it allows values of 0000 to
FFFFH to be loaded into the registers TMR0H and TMR0L.
2. After TMR0H and TMR0L are loaded with a 16-bit initial value,
the timer must be started. This is done by "BSF T0CON,
TMR0ON" for Timer0.
3. After the timer is started, it starts to count up. It counts up until
it reaches its limit of FFFFH. When it rolls over from FFFFH to
0000, it sets HIGH a flag bit called TMR0IF (timer interrupt
flag, which is part of the INTCON register). This timer flag
can be monitored. When this timer flag is raised, one option
would be to stop the timer.

4. After the timer reaches its limit and rolls over, in order to
repeat the process, the registers TMR0H and TMR0L
must be reloaded with the original value, and the
TMR0IF flag must be reset to 0 for the next round.

Steps to program Timer0 in 16-bit mode

To generate a time delay using the Timer0 mode 16, the
following steps are taken:
1. Load the value into the T0CON register indicating which mode
(8-bit or 16- bit) is to be used and the selected prescaler
option.
2. Load register TMR0H followed by register TMR0L with initial
count values.
3. Start the timer with the instruction "BSF T0CON, TMR0ON".
4. Keep monitoring the timer flag (TMR0IF) to see if it is raised.
Get out of the loop when TMR0IF becomes high.
5. Stop the timer with the instruction "BCF T0CON, TMR0ON".
6. Clear the TMR0IF flag for the next round.
7. Go back to Step 2 to load TMR0H and TMR0L again.

COUNTER PROGRAMMING
We used the timers of the PICI8 to generate time delays.
These timers can also be used as counters to count
events happening outside the PIC 18.
When it is used as a counter, however, it is a pulse
outside the PIC 18 that increments the TH, TL registers.
In counter mode, notice that registers such as T0CON,
TMR0H, and TMR0L are the same as for the timer
discussed in the last section; they even have the same
names.

T0CS bit in T0CON register

Recall from the last section that the T0CS bit (Timer0 clock
source) in the T0CON register decides the source of the clock
for the timer. If T0CS = 0, the timer gets pulses from the
crystal oscillator connected to the OSC I and OSC2 pins
(Fosc/4).
In contrast, when T0CS = I, the timer is used as a counter and
gets its pulses from outside the PIC 18. Therefore, when
T0CS = I, the counter counts up as pulses are fed from pin
RA4 (PORTA.4). The pin is called T0CKI (Timer0 clock input).
Notice that the pin belongs to Port A.
In the case of Timer0, when T0CS = I, pin RA4 (PORTA.4)
provides the clock pulse and the counter counts up for each
clock pulse coming from that pin. Similarly, for Timer I, when
TMRI CS = I, each clock pulse coming in from pin RC0
(PORTC.0) makes the counter count up.