PIC32-M PIC32 Microcontroller Board

This is a small development board that uses a PIC32MX340-512. The board comes complete with ByPic firmware that can read and write FAT16 and FAT32 files. The main communication and programming is via the serial connector.

It also has a built in boot loader so that C programs can be written using MPLAB (Microchip) and programmed without the need for a PIC programmer. See the resources files for details.

*** NOTE the picture shows the BV513-M without the RTC Crystal, it now comes WITH the crystal fitted. ***

Resources

Documentation for the complete BV513 system
 

Features

1. Serial interface, this is the main communication channel, from here programs can be run, written to RAM or Flash. The connector requires COM port translation see below.
2. Power selector, the board can be powered from an external DC source of up to 6V.
3. An SD-Card holder can be directly attached to the end connector. ** See ByVac Shop
4. For maximum flexibility the board comes without connectors or pins attached (other than the serial connector). Wires can be soldered directly to the pads or there is a socket pack available.
5. General purpose I2C and UART interface with power, also available at the main sockets but here as well for convenience.
6. Clock crystal for the low power oscillator ** This is now supplied attached to the board, not shown in the picture ***
7. PIC32MX340F512 Microcontroller uses familiar PIC architecture and has 512k Flash, 32k RAM. The Flash contains over 200k of operating system and application
8. Programming connector. All programs including Flash updates can be carried out via the serial interface there is no need for an additional programmer. However this interface is provided for the PICKit2 programmer should you wish to replace the boot loader.
9. 3V3 voltage regulator on board.

Software

For a full description of the hardware and software visit www.bypic.co.uk

The board comes with a boot loader in protected flash so no programming device is required, it can all be done through the serial interface. There is already loaded in the Flash, PIC32-Basic. This is no ordinary basic but one specifically created for Microcontrollers, it is function based and one or many functions can be  saved to Flash, RAM or SD Card (if attached) for later use. The 'Hello World' Program looks like this:

function hw()
    print "Hello World"
endf

Functions can return values and have parameters, there are several variable types including 64bit floating point. It is fully interactive in that whatever is typed in will be executed immediately. This can be very useful for examining the PIC32 registers with the peek(<register>) keyword.

Connecting

The board is fitted with a 10 pin connector that is fully compatible with the BV101/3 USB to serial converter.

The picture shows that the BV101/3 mates directly. The BV101/3 (USB to serial) will also provide power for the board. It is also possible to connect to a PC Com port but for this some kind of translation will be required, for example a MX232.

Advantages

• PIC32 based - has familiar architecture
• Runs ByPic - easy to program, ideal for learning
• FAT16 & FAT32 filing system - full compatibility with PC if SD Card fitted
• Up to 2,000,000 Baud - for high speed data transfer
• Task Scheduler - run background tasks and capture events
• User programs can run from SD Card (if fitted), RAM or Flash
• Update firmware via Serial interface - no need for specialised programmer
• 14k user RAM & 250k User Flash available (values approximate)

Physical Specification

• Size PCB 62x35mm, height with pluggable sockets 22mm
• Power 50mA when running at 80MHz
• Max I/P voltage 10V
• Weight 15g without

Processor Specification

MCU Core 

• 80MHz, 1.56 DMIPS/MHz, 32-bit MIPS M4K Core 

• 5 Stage pipeline, Harvard architecture 

• MIPS16e mode for up to 40% smaller code size 

• Single cycle multiply and hardware divide unit 

• 32 x 32-bit Core Registers 

• 32 x 32-bit Shadow Registers 

• Fast context switch and interrupt response 

MCU System Features 

• 512K Flash (plus 12K boot Flash) 

• 32K RAM (can execute from RAM) 

• 4 Channel Hardware DMA Controller 

• Flash prefetch module with 256 Byte cache 

• Lock instructions or data in cache for fast access 

• Programmable vector interrupt controller 

Analog Features

• Fast and Accurate 16 channel 10-bit ADC 

• Max 1 Mega sample per second at +/- 1LSB, conversion available during SLEEP & IDLE 

Power Management Modes 

• RUN, IDLE, and SLEEP modes 

• Multiple switchable clock modes for each power mode, enables optimum power settings 

Debug Features 

• 8 hardware breakpoints (6 Instruction and 2 Data) 

• 2 wire programming and debugging interface 

• JTAG interface supporting Programming, Debugging and Boundary scan 

Other MCU Features 

• Fail-Safe Clock Monitor – allows safe shutdown if clock fails 

• 2 Internal oscillators (8MHz & 31KHz) 

• Hardware RTCC (Real-Time Clock and Calendar with Alarms) 

• Watchdog Timer with separate RC oscillator 

• Pin compatible with 16-bit PIC® MCUs 

Software Specification

ByPic

• Functions form basic program and can return values, no line numbers needed
• Numbers and Variables, 64bit float, integer, hex, string and character
• Full filing system keywords, open, close, read, write etc.
• BIOS interface, dir, cd, loading programs etc.
• String functions, mid$, left$ etc.
• Input / Output, print, input, key, key?
• Direct access to registers and memory through peek and poke
• Process scheduling for running subroutines in the background
• Looping and branching while, wend, for, next exitsub, goto, exitif etc.
• Logic and, or not, lshif, rshift etc.
• Maths Log, log10, sin, cos, tan, abs, asin, acos etc.
• Port access
• I2C access
• SPI access

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