Overview

MikroElektronika's BIGPIC6 makes developing with Microchip's high pin-count 64 and 80-pin PIC microcontrollers incredibly straightforward and is ideal for those users having memory and I/O intensive applications that can't be satisfied using DIP-packaged PICs. It's low cost and versatility also makes it an ideal training board for use within educational establishments. The BIGPIC6 is also supported by several easy-to-use PIC compilers and an extensive range of I/O add-on boards.

 

General Board Features

The BIGPIC6 is a powerful three-in-one development board incorporating a high-speed USB 2.0 programmer, mikroICD in-circuit debugger and useful selection of built-in I/O devices. The BIGPIC6 supports TQFP-packaged PICs in the PIC18F family via plug-in SIMM-style MCU cards and is supplied with an 80-pin PIC18F8520 card.

Very fast on-board USB 2.0 programmer with mikroICD in-circuit debugger - no need for separate programmer.	64 and 80-pin SIMM-style TQFP MCU cards used for connecting microcontroller. Cards can be easily replaced.	Selectable power source - can be from either PC's USB port or external mains adapter. Also features on/off switch.
External power supply can be used if required (9-32V DC or 7-23V AC 500mA with 2.1mm DC plug).	On-board reset circuit and switch that is connected to the MCLR pin of the microcontroller.	System can be easily configured via clearly marked DIP switches. Each DIP switch configures part of board.
There are jumpers on-board that are used for pull-up or pull-down port defining. These jumers are provided for all pins.	On-board connector for connecting external ICD if required - connected to PIC's PGD and PGC pins.	All pins are clearly marked on the back of the board describing connections, modes of use and other useful information.

 

On-board I/O Features

The BIGPIC6 provides a number of built-in I/O devices to make developing with PICs fast and easy. LEDs, pushbutton switches and analogue potentiometer allow for easy simulation of many forms of input/output. Communications features include two RS-232 interfaces and other devices include serial EEPROM and real-time clock. The board also provides connectors for optional character and graphic LCDs, touchscreen and DS1820 temperature sensor.

67 LEDs allow for displaying the states of all the PIC's I/O pins simultaneously (can be disabled when not required).	67 pushbutton switches for simulating digital inputs are connected to all the PIC's I/O pins.	Menu keypad enables easy and fast menu browsing within your project.
Optional 16x2 character LCD can be easily connected via connector provided on-board.	Optional 128x64 graphic LCD can be easily connected via connector provided on-board.	Optional touchscreen can be connected to the board via touchscreen connector and controller.
Optional DS1820 digital thermometer for measuring temperature from -55°C to 125°C can be easily fitted.	Analogue potentiometer provided for testing A/D conversion. Input can be configured via jumpers.	4.096V voltage reference for A/D conversion available if required.
RS-232 communication with PC or another microcontroller is available via two DB9 connectors.	Serial EEPROM (24AA01) on-board that can store up to 1Kbit of data and uses I2C communications.	Keep track of the current time using a Real-Time Clock (RTC) based on DS1307 with battery back-up.
16-bit port expander with SPI interface providing more I/O lines.	All pins are connected to IDC10 connectors for further expansion and are clearly marked on-board.

 

High-Speed USB-2.0 Programmer

The BIGPIC6 features an on-board state-of-the-art very fast USB 2.0 PICFlash2 programmer (also compatible with USB1.1) and is supplied with easy to install drivers and Windows-based PICFlash2 programmer software. Programming support is provided for many PICs with software updates freely available for continued support of future PICs. If you're using one of MikroElektronika's mikroBASIC, mikroC or mikroBASIC PRO for PIC compilers then you can compile your project and program a PIC with a single click.

 

mikroICD In-Circuit Debugger

The smart choice for PIC microcontroller debugging, mikroICD is MikroElektronika's highly effective tool for real-time debugging on a hardware level and comes integrated on the BIGPIC6. mikroICD enables you to execute a mikroBASIC, mikroC or mikroPascal PRO for PIC program on a target PIC with a visual feed-back of the values of your program's variables and the contents of the PIC's Special Function Registers (SFRs), program, data and EEPROM memory on your PC screen. Functions include stepping into and over code, running code to cursor and the setting of breakpoints.

 

Supported Microcontrollers

The BIGPIC6 supports popular 64 and 80-pin TQFP-packaged PICs in the PIC18F family. Newly released PICs are supported by regularly updated versions of the PICFlash2 programmer software. The following PICs are currently supported by the BIGPIC6:

PIC18F MICROCONTROLLER FAMILY
PIC18F6310	PIC18F6390	PIC18F6410	PIC18F6490	PIC18F6585	PIC18F6620
PIC18F6680	PIC18F6720	PIC18F8310	PIC18F8390	PIC18F8410	PIC18F8490
PIC18F8520	PIC18F8527	PIC18F8585	PIC18F8620	PIC18F8620	PIC18F8627
PIC18F8680	PIC18F8720	PIC18F8722

 

Package Contents

The BIGPIC6 comes packed in a protective box along with documentation and software CD-ROM. Package contains:

• BIGPIC6 development board.
• USB cable.
• CD-ROM with software, drivers and examples in BASIC, C and Pascal.
• Printed documentation that includes: BIGPIC6 User Manual, BIGPIC6 Schematic Diagram, PICFlash2 Programmer Manual, mikroICD Manual and Quick Guide for Installing USB Drivers).

Also included are fully functional demonstration versions of MikroElektronika's mikroC, mikroBASIC and mikroPascal PRO for PIC compilers (HEX output is limited to 2K program words).

 

It Doesn't End There

The BIGPIC6 is supported by an extensive and ever-increasing range of optional I/O add-on boards that connect easily to it's expansion connectors to further extend its functionality and offer support to whatever project you may be working on. The range of boards currently include:

• CAN SPI (CAN controller and transceiver with SPI interface for PICs without CAN controller).
• Ethernet (Ethernet controller with SPI interface).
• RS-485 (RS-485 transceiver for connection to PIC's USART).
• LIN (LIN transceiver for connection to PIC's USART).
• EasyBee (ZigBee module for connection to PIC's USART).
• EasyBee3 (ZigBee/MiWi/MiWi P2P module with SPI interface).
• EasyBT (Bluetooth module for connection to PIC's USART).
• IrDA (IrDA compliant module for connection to PIC's USART).
• IrDA2 (wireless RS-232 over infrared board for connection to PIC's USART).
• RFid reader.
• Bipolar stepper motor driver.
• Digital potentiometer.
• mikroDrive (Darlington array for high-power control).
• ADC (12-bit A/D converter with SPI interface).
• DAC (12-bit D/A converter with SPI interface).
• R2R DAC (low-cost D/A add-on board based on an R/2R network).
• Compact Flash card reader.
• mikroSD card reader.
• MMC/SD card reader.
• Serial RAM.
• SmartGPS.
• SmartGSM/GPRS.
• SmartMP3.
• RTC (real-time clock based on Philips/Maxim PCF8583 RTC with I2C interface).

Plus:

• Adapters for various character and graphic LCDs.
• Interfacing adapters.
• Prototyping boards and adapters.

 

Please note that character and graphic LCDs, touchscreen overlay, DS1820 temperature sensor and RS-232 serial cable are not included with the BIGPIC6 and should be ordered separately if required - see accessories for details and to order. Alternatively, see one of our BIGPIC6 Starter Packs for a more comprehensive package!