Introduction to PICAXE Microcontrollers

This presentation was given at Boise Code Camp 2013 as an introduction to six popular PICAXE microcontrollers.

1. PICAXE Microcontrollers
An Introduction by NearSys

2. What is a PICAXE?
•A family of microcontrollers
•Based on the PIC microcontroller
•Internally programmed with an interpreter and
communications program
•Program stored in the PIC’s internal EEPROM
•Interpreter operates on one instruction at a time

3. PICAXE Variations
PICAXE-08M2
PICAXE-14M2
PICAXE-18M2
PICAXE-20M2
PICAXE-28X2
PICAXE-40X2

4. PICAXE Voltages
Five volt chips, but can operate at 1.8 volts

5. PICAXE Multiple Programs
PICAXE-08M2
PICAXE-14M2
PICAXE-18M2
PICAXE-20M2
PICAXE-28X2
PICAXE-40X2

6. PICAXE Multiple Programs
PICAXE-08M2
PICAXE-14M2
PICAXE-18M2
PICAXE-20M2
PICAXE-28X2
PICAXE-40X2

7. PICAXE Clock Speed
PICAXE-08M2
PICAXE-14M2
PICAXE-18M2
PICAXE-20M2
PICAXE-28X2
PICAXE-40X2

8. PICAXE Clock Speed
PICAXE-08M2
PICAXE-14M2
PICAXE-18M2
PICAXE-20M2
PICAXE-28X2
PICAXE-40X2

9. PICAXE Pins
•Logic low < 1.4 V
•Up to four banks, A, B, C, and D
depending on variation
•Most I/O pins are bidirectional
•Hardware interrupts on the X2
•Software interrupts on both the M2 and X2

10. PICAXE Memory
•Program
•RAM
•Data
•Scratch Pad

11. PICAXE Memory
•Program
•RAM
•Data
•Scratch Pad

12. PICAXE Memory
•Program
•RAM (variables)
•Data
•Scratch Pad

13. PICAXE Memory
•Program
•RAM
•Data
•Scratch Pad

14. PICAXE Memory
•Program
•RAM (variables)
•Data
•Scratch Pad

15. Code Examples
Input Commands
•PIN
•COUNT
•PULSIN
•SERIN
•READI2C
•READADC and READADC10
•IRIN
•RFIN

16. Code Examples
Output Commands
•HIGH and LOW
•PULSOUT
•SEROUT
•WRITEI2C
•PLAY and TUNE
•SERVO
•PMWOUT
•IROUT
•RFOUT

17. Code Examples
Program Flow Control Commands
•GOTO
•GOSUB-RETURN
•FOR-NEXT
•DO-LOOP (UNTIL or WHILE)
•IF-THEN-ELSEIF
•ON-GOTO (GOSUB)
•SELECT-CASE
•BRANCH

18. Code Examples
Communications Commands
•I2cslave 10100000,i2cfast,i2cword
•writei2c 0,("hello")
•readi2c 0,(b0,b1,b2,b3,b4)

19. Code Examples
Communications Commands
•debug
•serout B.0, T1200_4,(“Testing”)
•serin C.1, T1200_4,(“X”),B.0, B.1, B.2
•sertxd (“Value: ,”B.5)
•serrxd (B.0, B.1, B.2, B.3)
•hsersetup b9600_4, %10
•hserout 0,(b.0)
•hserin 0,50

20. Code Examples
Memory Commands
•PEEK-POKE
•READ-WRITE
•GET-PUT

21. The Editor

22. Editor
Selecting the Mode

23. Editor
Selecting the Serial Port

24. Editor
Example of a Text Program

25. Editor
Example of a Flowchart Program

26. Editor
Example of a Wizard

27. Editor
Example of Syntax Check

28. Editor
Downloading Program

29. Editor
Simulating a Program

30. Editor
Debugging a Program

31. Editor
Terminal Program

32. Want to Learn More?
Boise Robotics Group (The BoRG)
Third Saturday of the Month
Hobby Town at Cole and Ustick
10:00 AM to noon
Learn to Make a Robot
A community education class

33. “Whether we're fighting climate change or
going to space, everything is moved
forward by computers, and we don't have
enough people who can code”.
Richard Branson