Electronics Newbie needs help.

[sadams]

I have just a very basic understanding on electronics, but I need to learn more in order to complete a project that I am working on for a consumer product I am building.

This is what I am looking to do:

I will have three "black box" electronic circuits/devices. I'll call them BB1, BB2, and BB3.

BB1 is an electronic device that I already have. This device puts out a number between 20 and 100. It sends this number to BB2. BB2 does some calculations using the number from BB1, and then sends a new number to BB3. BB3 is an LCD screen, composed of a grid of pixels, which will turn on different pixels depending on the number sent to it from BB2.

Assume device BB1 and BB3 are already made. What I want to know is if there is some kind of chip programming kit I can buy, which would include a programmable chip, a connection for hooking that chip up to my computer, and a software package that will allow me to program the chip. This chip would essentially be BB2 in the scenario I described above. This would allow me to program different mathematical algorithms into BB2, so I could test how the whole system works using different algorithms.


Is what I am asking possible? Or should I be going about this a different way?

Thanks.

 

[divideby0]

You need a microcontroller.
Look at the "Microcontroller" section of this forum.
You probably won't need those BB1 or BB3 parts anymore, but you will spend a lot of time and effort making the PIC programmer behave, and choosing, understanding and programming the PIC or AVR.
That is why there are so many messages there :|

 

[sadams]

You need a microcontroller.
Look at the "Microcontroller" section of this forum.
You probably won't need those BB1 or BB3 parts anymore, but you will spend a lot of time and effort making the PIC programmer behave, and choosing, understanding and programming the PIC or AVR.
That is why there are so many messages there :|

Ok, thanks. I wasn't sure where to post this because all of the acronyms and terms people were using were confusing. I'm a total newbie to this stuff.

I wish there was some kind of FAQ or forum for beginners to learn how to program the microcontrollers. I was looking at the microchip.com website and saw their products, like Mplabs, and figured that is what I need.

I have experience programming in C++ and other languages on the PC, but I've never programmed any microchips before. Does the Mplaps products come with good tutorials on learning how to program their chips? Thank you!

 

[RollingEEE]

if you have a good idea of C, then it will be easy. Try reading some books, like Mazidi

 

[sadams]

if you have a good idea of C, then it will be easy. Try reading some books, like Mazidi

Thank you. I will see if I can find that book.

Will something like the MPLAB Real ICE In Circuit Emulator allow me to program microcontrollers?

It would probably help if I explained that this project is for a device my company is designing for the consumer market. We plan on applying for a patent with this device, so I am trying to figure out a way to make a prototype in house, so nobody copies our idea.

ETA: By the way. I apologize because I realize now that this is probably the wrong forum. Maybe a moderator can move it to the appropriate place? Thank you.

 

[ahmad_abdulghany]

Hi,

I think Mazidi's book is much dedicated towards microprocessors and assimbly language, it's better to read tutorials and/or application notes made by either Atmel or Microchip, depending on which microcontroller u will choose.

Best Wishes,
Ahmad,

 

[RollingEEE]

if you have a good idea of C, then it will be easy. Try reading some books, like Mazidi

Thank you. I will see if I can find that book.

Will something like the MPLAB Real ICE In Circuit Emulator allow me to program microcontrollers?

It would probably help if I explained that this project is for a device my company is designing for the consumer market. We plan on applying for a patent with this device, so I am trying to figure out a way to make a prototype in house, so nobody copies our idea.

ETA: By the way. I apologize because I realize now that this is probably the wrong forum. Maybe a moderator can move it to the appropriate place? Thank you.

Yes. I think you should try Proteus. It is the best simulation program I have ever seen

 

[sadams]

Do you have a link to the Proteus software? Thanks.

 

[RollingEEE]

go to h**p://www.labcenter.co.uk/

you can download the demo version, that does not allow you to save. If you like it you can buy it