CMR Projects (Pty) Ltd. - Microchip PIC development boards

MICROCHIP PIC Development Boards

Low cost development boards for Microchip® PIC series of microcontrollers.

Supplied ready built (less the PIC) and tested the range includes RS-232 and USB options with on-board power supply, direct I/O pin connections and protyping area for discrete components.

The ProtoPro series is a range of development PCBs for PIC Microcontrollers - complementing each other owing to a similar design features.

The ProtoPro XCL series is an enhanced range of development PCBs for PIC Microcontrollers. The series offers SMD assembly, USB to RS232 emulation. LDO power supply and a prototyping area where all the solder pads are conencted horizontally. The ProtoPro XCL interfaces wil industry standard tools such as the PICKIT 2 and, via an interface cable, to ICD2, and provides a user friendly development experience.

The PCBs are manufactured to the highest standard of quality using the best quality manufactuers and materials.

The ProtoPro Series started with the development of the ProtoPro 20, which was designed as a compact, feature rich development PCB. This has proved particularly true as the compact design offers features from the most basic I/O (push-button and led), to more advanced features like ICSP and RS232.

The design concept was so well received that the basic architecture was expanded to be the basic design of 3 other similar PCBs that support 18, 28 and 40 pin DIP PIC packages and, due to many requests, will shortly include 44, 64 and 80 pin TQFP and will have the codes ProtoPro44, ProtoPro64 and Protopro80.

Product pricing is such that the boards can be used permanently in a prototype project thus alleviating the need to design and manufacture a special PCB for the project.ProtoDev - DX

The ProtoDev-DX is a compact and feature rich development PCB designed for the hobbyist and professional. Supporting both 28 and 40 PIN DIP packages, the ProtoDev – DX offers a cost effective, practical solution to PIC embedded development.

Delivered fully assembled (PIC sold separately) and capable of supporting both standard F and J type PIC devices for both 16Fxx and 18 Fxx families, the PCB has 2 power supplies (3v3 and 5 Vdc), RS 232 to USB emulation, ICSP, ICD, Reset button, 2 Push Button switches, 2 LEDs and a watch crystal for additional timing applications. A prototyping area with horizontally connected pads makes for easy proof of concept design and development with additional devices e.g. LCD display or LM35 temperature sensor.

The PCB can be powered from a standard wall socket. The hosted device can be programmed using an ICSP or ICD compatible on PCB socket or header. Communications to a PC is simple and easy using the FTDI USB to RS232 emulator and mini USB connector makes connection simple. The adjacent prototyping (like vera board) area enables the developer to soldering in additional components and devices. All PIC I/O is tracked to the connector strip and labelled, which is located conveniently close to the prototyping area.

Image is for illustrative purposes only, all accessories sold separately, PIC microcontroller is also available separately.

ProtoDev Features:

Power Supply 5Vdc / 3v3
Programming ICSP and ICD 2 compatible interfaces
Communications FTDI RTL232 USB to RS232
Emulation I/O 2 LEDs + 2 Push Buttons
PIC Support 28 PIN DIP | 40 PIN DIP Families F: 16Fxx | 18Fxx | J:18FXX
Oscillator 8Mhz Crystal | Watch crystal

ProtoPro ADV

New release ProtoPro ADV for the PIC18F 28 and 40-pin with on board USB and RS232

STOP PRESS:

After a high level of requests from this site a new 44-pin TQFP PCB (ProtoPro44) is being designed and will be available in Q3 2009, for those interested in this product, seemingly this will be very popular for those users of PIC18F46Jxx, please fill out the Microchip PIC enquiry form.

Both 64-pin and 80-pin TQFP boards, for PIC24, will be available Q3 2009.

Enquiry for Microchip development boards here

Common features include:

Standard

On-board 5V PSU (RPP)
Power LED

System I/O

3 LEDs
3 push-buttons
Sizeable proto area
All I/O pins tracked to proto area - labelled for use
270° variable resistor - useable as analogue input or contrast trim for LCD

Communications

RS232 interface
DB9 connector
Type B USB connector (ProtoPro28)

Programming

ICSP header for direct connection to PICkit 2 or, via an interface cable, to ICD2 etc.

ProtoPro Family	ProtoPro 18	ProtoPro 20	ProtoPro 28	ProtoPro 40
On board 5v power pupply	Y	Y	Y	Y
Power LED	Y	Y	Y	Y
3 x LEDs	Y	Y	Y	Y
3 x push-buttons	Y	Y	Y	Y
Sizeable prototyping area	Y	Y	Y	Y
I/O lines tracked + labelled to prototyping area	Y	Y	Y	Y
Variable resistor (for A2D or LCD)	Y	Y	Y	Y
8-pin footprint	Y	Y	N	N
MAX-232 + DB-9	Y	Y	Y	Y
USB (Type-A connector)	N	N	Y	N
ICSP header	Y	Y	Y	Y

ProtoPro18

The ProtoPro 18 is ideally suited to low pin count design and is able to support the traditional 18-pin device. The ProtoPro 18 shares a common architecture for all the PCBs. This ensures that a developer can start with a smaller board and migrate their project through the range.

ProtoPro20

The ProtoPro 20 is ideally suited to low pin count design and is able to support 8, 14 and 20-pin device. The ProtoPro 20 shares a common architecture for all the PCBs. This ensures that a developer can start with a smaller board and migrate their project through the range.

ProtoPro28

The ProtoPro 28 is ideally suited for meduim I/O requirement designs with the added flair of USB integration. The ProtoPro 28 shares a common architecture for all the PCBs. This ensures that a developer can start with a smaller board and migrate their project through the range.

ProtoPro40

The ProtoPro 40 supports the 40-pin DIP package PIC microcontrollers e.g. 16F887, 18F4520/4550, etc. The ProtoPro 40 shares a common architecture with all the PCBs and this ensures that a developer can start with this board for a larger device and migrate their project through the range.

ProtoPro XCL

The ProtoPro XCL is the "big brother" in the product range supporting both the 28-pin and the 40-pin DIP package PIC microcontrollers e.g. 16F887, 18F4520/4550, etc. The ProtoPro XCL shares a common architecture with all the PCBs and this ensures that a developer can start with this board for a larger device and migrate their project through the range.

The ProtoPro XCL series is the next step in the evolution of a Premier PIC Development product. This is the replacement product for the ProtoPro 40. This new product line offers enhancements and features, such as:

ProtoPro44 (TQFP) - to be released shortly

Watch this space for more details ProtoPro44

The ProtoPro 44 will support the 44-pin TQFP package PIC microcontrollers e.g. 18F46Jxx, etc. The ProtoPro 44 will share a common architecture with all the PCBs and this ensures that a developer can start with this board for a larger device and migrate their project through the range.