PIC18f4550 Pinguino Board

(Original project, ahmedebeed555: licensed NonCommercial-ShareAlike)

Introduction

This project uses the PIC18F4550 chip with an Arduino compatible compiler that loads programs from a computer's USB port - no hardware programmer is needed. Although the original design goal was to build a permanent circuit on a copper board, it was later decided to do a proof of concept on a perf board circuit - ASAP!

Useful Links

    Pinguino reference

    Pinguino.cc IDE

    Olimex Pinguino Forum

Material List

• 1  Copper Board ( VeroBoard or Stripboard or Perfboard )

• 1  PIC 18F4550

• 1  40 Pin IC Socket

• 1  USB Type B Socket

• 1  20MHz Crystal

• 1  220nF Capacitor

• 1  100nF Capacitor

• 2  22pF Capacitors

• 1  Push Button

• 1  Dip Switch

• 1  10k Ohm Resistor

• 1  7805 Voltage Regulator

• 1  9v Battery Connector

• 1  Female Pin Header

• 1  1N4001 Diode ( or any other general purpose diode )

• 2  Rows of Pin Headers

Circuit Diagram

Pinguino Boot loader

The boot loader is the initial software that enables the Microcontroller to communicate with the PC through the USB port. It also enables the Microcontroller to self update its own boot software via the USB port.

Boot Loader Link

PIC Hardware Programmer

Initially, the Microcontroller cannot directly communicate with PC using its USB port, so the boot loader must be programmed into the chip using a traditional chip programmer. The best way to do this is to borrow a friends programmer, or you can even send somebody your chip and they can program it and send it back to you.

You can program your chip on an external USB or Serial Microcontroller programmer. If you do not know someone with a programmer or are impatient to get started, a simple and reliable programmer called the "JDM" can be made or purchased off eBay and other sources for less than $3.

This link provides instructions for building it.

Loading the Boot Loader

The PICPgm software for using the JDM serial programmer is here.

Pinguino IDE

Once the boot loader is programmed, the chip no longer needs a programmer. It can be programmed directly from a computer using the USB cable and the Pinguino IDE.

The Pinguino program for this is located here

Pinguino Test

Included below is a quick test program that will blink the on board led. This program should be copied to the Pinguino IDE and compiled, then loaded into the chip using the USB cable.