Programming & Customizing the PICAXE Microcontroller

Programming and Customizing the PICAXE Microcontroller is a great resource for anyone who is interested in learning and mastering the PICAXE microcontroller.

Mr. Lincoln's book is loaded with ready-to-build projects that are easy enough that anyone can successfully complete them, and with enough depth that experienced builders will find value in them.

PICAXE - easy to use, easy to program. Now easy to read about too!

350 Pages
Author: David Lincoln
Format: Softcover

Warning: Boring list of contents follows. Trust us, the actual book is much easier to read!
1. Introduction

• What is a Microcontroller
• What is a PIC
• What is a PICAXE
• PICAXE system architecture
• Handling precautions
• Integrated circuits, a brief history
• TTL logic
• The experiments
• Building the projects

2. Programming techniques

• Writing code
• Data
  • Variables
  • Constants
  • Expressions
• Meaningful names
• CPU registers
• EEPROM
• Labels
• Commands
• Reserved words
• Program flow
• Pausing and stopping program execution
• Assigning values to variables
• Subroutines
• Code structures
• Sequence
• Selection
• Looping
• Data conversation
  • Lookup
  • Lookdown
• Binary to ASCII
  • Binary integers
  • Binary fractions
  • Binary negative numbers
• ASCII to binary
  • ASCII integers
  • ASCII fractions
  • ASCII negative numbers
• Number systems
  • Decimal
  • Binary
  • Binary coded decimal (BCD)
  • Octal
  • Hexadecimal
• Logical operations
  • Example 1
  • Example 2
  • Example 3
  • Example 4
  • Example 5
• Interrupts
• Debugging

3. PICAXE arithmetic

• Unsigned integer arithmetic
• Signed integer arithmetic
• Comparing signed numbers
• Arithmetic with fractions
• Adding and subtracting fractions
• Multiplying fractions
• Dividing fractions

4. Interfacing and input/output techniques

• PICAXE input and output
• Hardware interfacing
• Software interfacing
  • Digital output
  • Digital input
• Input/output pins
• Analog input
  • Low-resolution analog inputs
  • High-resolution 8-bit analog inputs
  • High-resolution 10-bit analog inputs
• Infrared
• Serial input and output
• One-wire bus
• IC bus
• Keyboard
• Pulses
• Servo

5. Using programming editor

• The programming editor window
• Creating a program
• Saving a program
• Opening a program
• Editing a program
• Syntax-checking a program
• Downloading a program to the PICAXE
• Setting programming editor options
• Flowcharting
  • Creating a flowchart
  • Saving a flowchart
  • Opening a flowchart
  • Editing a flowchart
  • Downloading a flowchart
  • Watching a flowchart executing
• Templates
• The programming editor menu structure

6. Programming, powering, and resetting the PICAXE

• Programming the PICAXE via the serial port
• Programming the PICAXE via the USB port
• Powering the PICAXE
• Powering the PICAXE from batteries
• Powering the PICAXE from the mains
• Resetting the PICAXE

7. Basic experiments

• Light-emitting diode (LED) output
  • Circuit description
  • Code analysis
• Flashing lights
  • Circuit description
  • Code analysis
• Traffic lights
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Piezo beeper
  • Circuit description
  • Code analysis
• Switch input
  • Circuit description
  • Code analysis
• LED and piezo output with switch input
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Speaker output, low power
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Transistor output driver
• Speaker output, high power
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
• Door chime
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Lamp driver
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Relay driver
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
• Motor driver
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
• Solenoid driver
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis

8. Intermediate experiments

• Water detector
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Light detector
  • Circuit description
  • Code analysis
• Analog input
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Controlling lamp brightness
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Controlling lamp brightness with a potentiometer
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Controlling motor speed
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Controlling motor speed with a potentiometer
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Controlling motor speed and direction
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Two-amp motor speed controls
  • Circuit description
  • Code analysis
• Playing music with the PICAXE
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Radio control
  • Transmitter Circuit description
  • Transmitter code description
  • Transmitter Code analysis
  • Receiver Circuit description
  • Receiver Code description
  • Receiver Code analysis
• Infrared control
  • Transmitter Circuit description
  • Transmitter code description
  • Transmitter Code analysis
  • Receiver Circuit description
  • Receiver Code description
  • Receiver Code analysis
• Telephone keypad
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis

9. Advanced experiments

• Digital interfacing
  • Light-emitting diodes
  • Incandescent lamps
  • Sound
  • Integrated driver circuits
• Using switches for input
• Driving transistors from the PICAXE
  • NPN bipolar transistors
  • N-channel MOSFETs
• Relays
  • Monostable relays
  • Bistable relays
  • Using a PICAXE to operate monostable relays
  • Using a PICAXE to operate bistable relays
  • Using a PICAXE to operate solid-state relays
• Input and output expansion
  • Output expansion
  • Code analysis
  • Code analysis
  • Code analysis
  • Code analysis
  • Code analysis
  • Input expansion
  • Code analysis
  • Code analysis
  • Input and output expansion
  • Code analysis
• Seven-segment LED displays
  • Segment codes
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)
  • Initializing LCDs
  • Code analysis
  • Code analysis
  • Code analysis
• Stepper motors
  • Identifying the windings
  • Identifying the winding sequence
  • Using a PICAXE to control stepper motors
  • Circuit description
  • Code analysis
• Analog input
• Digital voltmeter
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• The one-wire bus
• The one-wire serial number
  • Code analysis
• One-wire timer
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• One-wire temperature
  • Code analysis
• Asynchronous serial communication
• A simple ASCII terminal
• Radio frequency identification, RFID
  • The circuit
  • Construction
  • If it doesn't work
  • Code description
• The IC bus
• IC memory expansion
  • Circuit description
  • Code description
  • Code analysis
• Clock calendar
• Telephone intercom
  • Connecting two phones
  • Circuit description
  • Testing
  • If it doesn't work
  • Connection phone lines