PIC18F2550/4550 Built-In USB Compiler Support

[Guest]

Hi,

I've been tasked to do a project using the PIC. Its role, will actually be quite limited... its only acting as an interface between the user (via USB) and another (non-PIC) processor (via i2c).

My idea is for the user to use hyperterm or any other serial terminal, and have the USB (connected to the PIC) look like a COM port to the windows application.

My question is, how USB-ready is the CCS compiler? My main efforts will be on the other processor, so I don't really have too much time to get wrapped up into the details of USB, so I'm looking for a compiler that will have examples (or a comprehensive library) that will make the USB portion of it seemless. Is the CCS toolset ideal for me? Would another compiler suite be better for my situation?

BTW, since my employer will be picking up the tab for the compiler itself, I'm not too worried about cost (although I was surprised by a recent quote from IAR, its an 8-BIT processor!!)

Anyways, interested in hearing anyones thoughts on this.
Thanks!

[Ttelmah]

EX_USB_SERIAL, and EX_USB_SERIAL2, are complete examples, with code, to use these PICs (and others using the National USBN960x driver), as USB CDC devices. The drivers for these, are supplied as a generic CDC driver, in usb_cdc.h, which itself uses either pic18_usb.h, or usbn960x.c, which provide the physical interface layer to the USB peripheral involved. You can simply load these drivers, and use usb_cdc_putc, usb_cdc_getc, and usb_cdc_kbhit, to talk to the device. You need to add just a little 'extra', compared to talking to a serial interface (checking that the USB is initialised, connected, and enumerated), but the include file has commands for these as well. I really is very simple. Where it gets 'complex', is if you start wanting to change the nature of the USB device....

Best Wishes

[delebel]

Hi I'm also trying use the ex_usb_serial.c example and I think its working because my windows (2k) environment flag new found hardware but its looking for a driver " CCS RS232 DEMO"
Anyone can help me as to a source location for it?

[Ttelmah]

It is not called 'CCS RS232 DEMO'. It is just a .inf file, to tell windows, how to use it's own drivers, and is called cdc_NTXP.inf (for win NT, 2K, and XP), in the same directory, as the PIC driver code. :-)

Best Wishes