LEARN HARDWARE FIRMWARE AND SOFTWARE DESIGN – BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Edition 5 of LHFSD [ISBN 978 606 92185 32] has been specifically designed to become an educational/pedagogical manual for teachers, instructors, and also for ordinary citizens. Have no fear, dear readers: LHFSD is still addressed to beginners, since EVERYTHING starts from a white page, and then things are developed/explained only gradually [and logically], step by step.

Our book continues to deliver exactly as the title says: the readers will learn hardware design, plus firmware and software development! In addition to being a practical project explained in sharp/complete details, each chapter in LSEG5 contains additional simple practical exercises/applications to wade the readers gently throughout the HFS design work. On this Internet page there is a summary presentation of the main parts in LHFSD 5th edition.

Hardware Design starts from an empty Schematic page, then it builds up gradually the LHFSD-HCK [Hardware Companion Kit]. The novelty in the 5th edition is that it advises the readers to build (alternatively) the LHFSD-HCK kit on a breadboard, instead of a PCB. Things are this way.

Some readers may decide to become perfectly groomed hardware designers; therefore they should build the LHFSD-HCK PCB as it is explained in minute details in our book. However, other readers may prefer to train mostly as firmware and/or software developers. For them, it is advisable to build LHFSD-HCK on a breadboard instead [or on any material that stands to solder temperature]. Note that building LHFSD-HCK is mandatory in order to continue working with the firmware and software development parts in LHFSD5.

LHFSD-HCK has a fair degree of moderate hardware complexity, in order to help beginners most. Consequently, the hardware design work is divided into “modules”, and each hardware-module is explained in sharp details, functionally. Fact is, the Hardware Design part is the easiest one to accomplish!

1. a power supply module having two power levels: unregulated +9V, and regulated +5V DC;
2. an oscillator circuit using a ceramic resonator (the crystal oscillator version is also presented);
3. the ICD2 programming interface using a standard RJ-45/6-6 female connector;
4. the RS232 serial communications module working over USB is presented in 2 versions: using the standard MAX232N IC; plus via a custom RS232 hardware driver built out of discrete components;

5. a few discrete I/O modules for buttons, leds, buzzer, etc.;
6. a few serialized I/O  modules working over a custom SPI Bus–this last application is extremely important!
7. a programmable digital potentiometer working as an 8 bits Digital to Analog Converter controlled via the SPI Bus;
8. a Bargraph module using eight comparator Operational Amplifiers, and controlling an array of nine leds;
9. one Seven Segments three numbers led display using multiplexing, Shift-Registers, and the SPI Bus;
10. visual and audio indicators needed for testing and debugging;
11. one temperature sensor analog channel;
12. one linear potentiometer analog channel;
13. an universal unipolar/bipolar stepper driver module for steppers of 9-12V, and 20-200mA;
14. interface connectors for extended functionality;
15. the SPI Bus employing standard logic ICs–this is one of the most important lessons in hardware and firmware programming;
16. the microcontroller dsPIC30F4011/dsPIC30F3011.

For more detail: LEARN HARDWARE FIRMWARE AND SOFTWARE DESIGN – BRIEF DESCRIPTION