Interfacing PIC Microcontrollers

and a development system, for writing and testing programs, can be down-

loaded free from the Microchip website (www.microchip.com).

Processor System

The microcontroller contains the same main elements as any computer system:

• Processor

• Memory

• Input/Output

In a PC, these are provided as separate chips, linked together via bus connec-

tions on a printed circuit board, but under the control of the microprocessor

(CPU). A bus is a set of lines which carry data in parallel form which are

shared by the peripheral devices. The system can be designed to suit a partic-

ular application, with the type of CPU, size of memory and selection of

input/output (I/O) ...