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- Syllabus
- The course content is all contained in the webCT page for this course. If you are
not enrolled, this is not accessible, but you can email the instructor at rennolet@ece.umn.edu
and ask for anything you need.
Meanwhile, here's the first announcement:
Welcome to EE2361, Introduction to Microcontrollers.
I'm going to start off with a treasure hunt.
Here are the tasks in the treasure hunt:
Find and read the syllabus (this should be easy). Yes, we're going to
cover the entire thing.
Second, you should find and download the datasheet for the processor. (See below
for Microchip's web site. You are looking for the datasheet for the pic18f4550
microcontroller.) It probably won't make much sense
just yet, but try.
Concentrate on sections 1, 5 and 26. Read them several times, in various
order (section 1, then 26, then 5, then 26, then 1 again, and so forth.)
Next, go to Microchip's web site, and find out
how to obtain two necessary things (look under the "design" tab, for
"development tools"). One of these is the MPLAB IDE (Integrated
Development Environment.) The other is the C18 C compiler, student version.
Both of these are free. You are, of course, welcome to purchase the C18
C compiler. A single-person license is only about 500 dollars.
What makes this a treasure hunt is that the versions of these tools
change very often, so I can't simply make a link. They will very
likely change, in fact, between now and the end of this class, and
quite possibly between now and the first week. Also, you need to sign
up with Microchip to download them. This is just a formality -- unlike
many companies on the web, Microchip doesn't bombard you with product
announcements and the like.
An advantage to signing up is that you can, if you like, order
samples at reduced prices.
IMPORTANT: install the MPLAB IDE FIRST!
It would also be wise to download the User's Guide for C18, and the C18
Library Manual. If you feel exceptionally eager, you can then try some
of their tutorials.
One of the goals of this course is to get the student to the point
where they can do all this and become productive on their own. As
you'll see, that can be a daunting prospect.
See you next week.
Charles.
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