PICAXE Manual Section 1 - TechnoPujades - Free

www.picaxe.co.ukSection 1 12GETTING STARTEDWhat is the PICAXE system?The PICAXE system exploits the unique characteristics of thenew generation of low-cost ‘FLASH’ memory basedmicrocontrollers. These microcontrollers can be programmedover and over again (typically 100 000 times) without the needfor an expensive programmer.The PICAXE uses a simple BASIC language (or graphical flowcharts) that youngerstudents can start generating programs with within an hour of first use. It is mucheasier to learn and debug than industrial programming languages (C or assemblercode).Unlike other BASIC ‘module’ based systems, all PICAXE programming is at the‘chip’ level. Therefore instead of buying an expensive pre-assembled (and difficultto repair) surface mount module, with the PICAXE system you simply purchase astandard chip and use it directly in your project board.The power of the PICAXE system is its simplicity. No programmer, eraser orcomplicated electronic system is required - the microcontroller is programmedvia a 3-wire connection to the computers serial port. The operational PICAXEcircuit uses from just 3 components and can be easily constructed on aprototyping breadboard, strip-board or PCB design.The PICAXE ‘Programming Editor’ software is free and so the only cost percomputer is the low-cost download cable. In the educational environment thisenables students to buy their own cable and for schools to equip every singlecomputer with a download cable. Other systems that require an expensiveprogrammer or ‘module’ are generally too expensive to implement in this way.Finally as the PICAXE chip never leaves the project board, all leg damage (as canoccur when the chip is moved back and forth from a programmer) is eliminated.Building your own circuit / PCBThe PICAXE system has been designed to allow students / hobbyists to build theirown PCB circuits for the PICAXE system. However if you do not wish to makeyour own circuit a number of project board kits and PCBs are available - pleasesee the current PICAXE catalogue for more details.If you wish to make your own PCB some reference designs are available at thePCB section of the PICAXE website at www.picaxe.co.ukPCB samples are available for educational use in the popular realPCB and PCBWizard formats.If you wish to ‘bread-board’ a prototypecircuit the AXE091 Development kit is highlyrecommended.revolution(c) Revolution Education Ltd. Email: info@rev-ed.co.uk Web: www.rev-ed.co.ukVersion 6.9 07/2009All rights reserved.12