Getting on with microcontrollers

[mcufreak]

Hello,

I recently bought a AT89c51 development board with has rs232 chip and has DB9 slot.

After researching lot I came to know that AT89C51 can be programmed via programmer hardware - (**broken link removed**)

I also came to know about microcontrollers which has ISP suport thus reduces the need for the programming hardware.

The question is -
1. What is the use of the RS232 on my development board even if I connect my board containing AT89C51 to computer via DB9 whats the use??

2. Which ISP microcontroller are good to start up with provided along with ISP interfacing guide.

 

[ckshivaram]

answer to questions
1. max232 chip is required to perform serial communication between pc and controller or controller and any serial communication device...
2. it is better to start with P89v51rd2bn series of controller from philips as it is same as AT89c51/52 etc.. its has ISP and has more features then normal atmel controllers.....

---------- Post added at 19:37 ---------- Previous post was at 19:35 ----------

AT89c51 does not support ISP. so you need a seperate programmer for that.. so the programmer should be connected to controller board via max232 IC on controller board....

So go for P89v51rd2bn controller...

 

[mcufreak]

answer to questions
1. max232 chip is required to perform serial communication between pc and controller or controller and any serial communication device...
2. it is better to start with P89v51rd2bn series of controller from philips as it is same as AT89c51/52 etc.. its has ISP and has more features then normal atmel controllers.....

thanks for the second answer.

Can we transfer hex file using this serial communication?

 

[ckshivaram]

yes serial communication is needed to transfer the hex file to the controller... the hex file generated in the pc needs max232 at controller end as well as pc end to be transferred....

 

[mcufreak]

yes serial communication is needed to transfer the hex file to the controller... the hex file generated in the pc needs max232 at controller end as well as pc end to be transferred....

Can you give some reference material that explains to do this.

Which software is used to tranfer file on computer?

 

[ckshivaram]

you can use "flash magic" or "proload" software to download the hex file...

---------- Post added at 21:47 ---------- Previous post was at 21:46 ----------

Flash Magic - Welcome

---------- Post added at 21:49 ---------- Previous post was at 21:47 ----------

Sunrom Technologies Software Informer: Latest Sunrom Technologies software updates and reviews: ProLoad, Sunrom Progr...

 

[Medtronic]

I Think he ask about firmware hex file transfer .... 89c51,52,55 can not be programmed by serial communication ..... but it can be communicate serially with any data (hex file or other )

 

[ckshivaram]

Hi medtronic...

even if it is firmware hex file. it needs to be programmed.. afterall it is a hexfile that has to be out in flash memory.... what is meant by 89c51 52 cant be programmed by serial communication... do we connect the programmer to port of PC either serial or parallel... Does not the programmer have a max232??? then how does it communicate with pc???

i dont understand what you are telling???? be more clear so that i can correct you???

 

[Medtronic]

My friend i speak about something like bootloader ..... is it clear ?

 

[ckshivaram]

Nowhere is the OP mentioned about boot loader... he is clear about HEX file downloading using a programmer.....

 

[paavithra]

let us wait for the OP to clear this issue, whether he talks about hex file programming which is generated by user of the program or bootloader.. let us not jump into any conclusion as there is a difference in opinion.

 

[mcufreak]

I Think he ask about firmware hex file transfer .... 89c51,52,55 can not be programmed by serial communication ..... but it can be communicate serially with any data (hex file or other )

let us wait for the OP to clear this issue, whether he talks about hex file programming which is generated by user of the program or bootloader.. let us not jump into any conclusion as there is a difference in opinion.

I'm getting this new curve from your discussion.What is bootloader & firmware why do I need it?

I want to transfer the hex file which contains the logic to do some actions for eg.line following robot, led light blinking.etc

Do I need bootloader for that?

And also,

I saw this **broken link removed** in this programmer circuit the other microcontroller(which has ez52.hex firmware) how do I transfer that hex file?

Is there any good solution for this mess?

 

[ckshivaram]

In your case the bootloader is inbuilt in the 8051 IC itself.. so there is nothing to worry about it...

your intention is to transfer the hex file which you created by compiling the source code...

 

[mcufreak]

In your case the bootloader is inbuilt in the 8051 IC itself.. so there is nothing to worry about it...

your intention is to transfer the hex file which you created by compiling the source code...

Im not getting you, does the microcontroller comes with bootloader?

IMHO when microcontroller are powered up they lookup ROM section for some piece of code and that's where they start executing or perform actions based on code?

What is the point of bootloader?

 

[ckshivaram]

usually bootloader is a piece of software that is written by the manufacturer.. it resides in the ROM region..

when you power ON the controller, it will initialise all the internal peripherals like timer, counter, UART, etc... and check if the controller is working properly or not...

It is much similar to BIOS where when you power on the PC it will initialise keyboard , mouse, USB etc...

Is it clear now... In some higher end controller user can put his boot code program also.. so usually every controller has this inbuilt program called boot loader...

---------- Post added at 21:44 ---------- Previous post was at 21:36 ----------

**broken link removed**

 

[mcufreak]

So now the intention is clear can I transfer the hex through the serial communication.

 

[ckshivaram]

yes.. connect the programmer to PC serial port... insert the 89c51 into the programmer device and using flash magic or proload download the hex file from pc to controller...

if you use p89v51rd2bn, you no need to use a programmer device.. you can connect the controller board UART to pc serial port using serial cable and using flash magic software download it directly.......