In line programming?

Guest · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:47 am

Hi

I am new and have never done in line programming.
In my limited experience I have always used:
PICC then MPLAB and then burnt the chips using PICSTART

Recently I have found out that I can solder the Pic onto a board and by attaching power, ground and one data line I can program the Pic "in line".

Could some please tell me the details of how to do this?
Preferably I would like to use
PICC to generate hex code. Load the hex code into MPLAB and then "somehow" transfer this into the soldered Pic.

Thank you in advance
Alex

Ttelmah · Guest

The term is 'ICSP' (in circuit serial programming). It needs two data lines, not one, aqnd a little peripheral board for your computer to actually generate the signals. Look at:
<http://www.beyond-designs.com/microchip.htm>
A web search for 'PIC ICSP', should find dozens of other examples.

Best Wishes

Guest · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 2:00 pm

Hi Ttelmah

Will I loose the pins B6 and B7 if I do ICSP?

Also, would you know any place where I can get the firmware (on the PIC circuit) that will interface between the PC and my PIC board?

Thank you
Alex

PCM programmer · Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 21708

Download the ICD2 poster and look at the Guidelines section
on the right side of the page.
http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/51265e.pdf

Guest · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 8:16 am

Hi

Thank you for your replies.

I must be quite slow- but I am not certain what I need to do.
My aim is:
*Generate a HEX file from PICC- this I know how to do
*Download the hex file into a soldered in PIC- this I dont know how to do
(Do I need to use MPLAB of somethign else?)

Regards
Alex

jecottrell · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 559 Location: Tucson, AZ

I'll try to give you the basics quicky.....

First you need some sort of header on your board to ICSP (In Circuit Serial Program). The header will depend on which progammer you decide to use. Adapters are avialable to adapt to and from many of the common ICSP header configs.

Next you need a ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programmer). I use and EPIC from MELabs. However, there are many different available. ICD2 from MicroChip, ICDU40? form CCS, etc. (EPIC comes with its own software for programming, ICD2 uses MPLab I believe, and any other programmer will have associated software.)

Then of course you will need some knowledge. This probably won't all be available here. Do some Googling and reading on ICSP and return with some specific questions....

Good Luck,

John

EDIT:

BTW, If you ever plan to use an ICD2, don't pull-up any of the programming lines. ICD2 has pull-downs internally and they will cause problems. I, as a matter of routine, pull-up most anything and I could never figure out why I couldn't get the ICD2 to work on my projects....

newguy · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 1907

Take a look at one of MicroEngineering Labs prototyping boards to see how they incorporate the ICSP header.

http://www.melabs.com/downloads/labx1sch.pdf

Look at header J3 up in the top left corner, and trace where each line on that header goes.

Guest · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:23 am

Hi All

I have been battling with this ICSP.

Basically "I have implemented the circuit in:

http://www.jdm.homepage.dk/newpics.htm

The circuit works with the software found in:

http://www.ic-prog.com/index1.htm

I tried to program the PIC16F84A chip and it worked well the first and second time. Subsequently it did not work. I tried to reprogram using PICSTART PLUS and then the built circuit and it worked again. Once again not 100%.

I then tried to program the PIC16F873. Using pins RB7 and RB6.
This did not work at all with the above circuit and code.
Can someone please tell me why?

I now found the low cost option from Sparkfun:
http://www.sparkfun.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cart=436222&cat=3&
Serial Port Programmer - Socketed product

I was wondering can I use this to program the PIC16LF873?

Alex