A typical approach to teaching embedded programming might take the following form when based on our tools. The 8051 is used as an example here but a similar route is possible with the 16-bit Siemens 80C166.
For more information on Hitex
tools for microcontroller training...
The HiSIM51D 8051 core simulator running on the IBM-PC is an excellent way of introducing student engineers to the 8051 family with minimal cost and resources.
At the very simplest level, programs can be hand-assembled in the memory window, using HEX code, with the 8051 mnemonics appearing immediately in the instruction window. The program can then be executed.
Obviously, this is very much the "hard" way of doing it but does give an appreciation of the need for assemblers!
Building on this very basic programming method, assembler programs can be constructed directly in the instruction window and then executed in much the same way as in a BASIC interpreter, with which many students will be familiar from the BBC micro etc.. The full Intel-defined instruction set is supported. In both cases, the program can be single stepped and register/memory locations watched. As the 8051 core is fully simulated, the effect on the carry flag, for instance, of addition and subtraction can be illustrated, plus many other basic microprocessor operations.
The next stage is to use a PC-based C compiler such as Keil's C51 to write high level language programs. We strongly recommend the use of this compiler as it is a proper implementation of ANSI C for the 8051 and so makes the transfer from PC-based compilers more straightforward. Unlike low cost 8051 compilers Keil has many language extensions which allow students to really get to grips with the internal features of the microcontroller, without using assembler. As this is by far the most popular 8051 compiler, the techniques learnt will be of real use once out in industry. As special functional but 2KB restricted version of C51 is available free of charge from Hitex which is in fact adequate for simple laboratory work.
The resulting absolute file from C51 is then loaded into HiSIM51D for execution and debugging.
The C source debugging in HiTOP51 is excellent and for learning about how the compiler drives the 8051, the interleaved C and assembler facility in the instruction window is particularly useful. The lack of any support for 8051 peripherals and interrupts is not a major limitation for an introductory version as data input can be from arrays held in RAM. For example, printf() can be made to print to a RAM buffer which can then be accessed via the watch or examine windows. The basics of microcontroller programming in either C or assembler can thus be acquired without needing 8051 hardware of any sort.
To really get to grips with the realities of 8051 programming, i.e., dealing with real world inputs, interrupts etc., HiSIM51D can be discarded and the HiTOP51 ROM monitor version used. This is hosted on a development board such as the KIT515C (from Hitex0 and makes use of the C515's serial port to communicate with the host PC. This combination of HiTOP51 and the KIT515C is a good platform for undergraduate laboratory work or even complete final year projects - the integral CAN peripheral extends its use into the areas of microcontroller communications (CAN).
The choice of the Siemens C515C variant of the 8051 provides on-chip 10bit A/D convertors, 5PWMs, large amounts of high speed IO. All the IO is brought out around the perimeter of the board, making it very easy to interface to experimental hardware . Its on-board 5v regulator prevents accidental damage by inexperienced users!
For projects with a very strong real-time element or those demanding customised hardware, the in-circuit emulator version of HiTOP51 is used in conjunction with the MX51 in-circuit emulator. The transparent emulation environment allows the 8051 to run exactly as in a commercial end-product and places no restrictions on memory size. As the user interface remains the same in simulation, monitor and emulator versions, students do not need to keep re-learning the debugger.
To keep hardware costs down for real project work, Hitex can provide a bare-board C515C CAN microcomputer card which can host the HiTOP51 monitor EPROM. The board can be supplied fully assembled or as just a bare board with the C5151C microcontroller soldered down and a comprehensive parts list for self-build. In the the latter format, the KITC515C is cheap enough to be purchased by students for final year projects. Software examples for PWM, CAN etc. are included for use with the Keil C51 compiler.
This is priced at £40. and can be built from standard components by the student, for an additional cost of approximately £20.
Finally, our widely praised "C51 Primer" book is available copyright-free in an A4 format for easy duplication by course tutors. This is a small book designed to fill the embedded gaps left by Kernighan And Ritchie. It is essential reading for anybody learning C51 programming. Bound copies are available at £4.50 each.
Most 8051 tools are subject to substantial discounts for bonafide education users. Keil C51 is charged at the normal price for the first user but at a 60% discount for subsequent licences.
The basic hardware-based HiTOP51 kit KiT515CEV comprises the KITC151C development board, HiTOP51Lite debugger, Keil PK51Lite 2K restricted C compiler/assembler and the necessary cabling. An unlimited licence for HiTOP51D is included free of charge. The basic charge is £325.
When combined with the full CA51 C51 compiler, the first KiTC515C is priced at £895, with subsequent kits at £495. each. It is thus possible to equip a 10 station undergraduate laboratory for 8051-based C training for under £6000.
Emulators are the mainstay of microcontroller debugging in industry and they are useful for undergraduate training as well. This is especially true of serious project work as the limitations of monitor debuggers can hamper the students progress working on complex, real time applications. As the emulators share the same HiTOP51 debugging interface as the simulators and montitors, moving between the different tools is straight forward.
Substantial discounts are available on Hitex's
powerful 8051 emulator systems.
A typical 10-seat educational package would comprise:
A typical 10-seat Monitor/Simulator-Based package comprises:
Please contact us if you require any further information on our range of teaching tools for the 8051 or any other microcontroller family.
Many higher education courses have included microcontroller programming and application modules for many years now. With the microprocessor have been on syllabi since the early/mid eighties, the cash-strapped nature of university funding means that a distressing number of establishments are still using the teaching aids and equipment that date back up to 15 years. With the microcontroller now being the most common microcomputing unit in general use in the engineering industry, the antiquated 8086 and 68000 devices that tuition is commonly based on is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
The typical 8086-based embedded system from the eighties had a considerable amount of discrete external logic such as bus and interrupt controllers, decoders, buffers, DRAM etc.. The software would be written in assembler or possibly PLM. The current embedded system in industry wil be based on a micrcontroller with minimal external logic, possibly on-chip RAM and FLASH ROM. The programming with be in C and the processing performance may be up to 40 times that of the old 4MHz 8086.
In the early eighties when many university departments first established microprocessor labs for undergraduate use, the major players, Intel and Motorola were very generous with handouts of microprocessor development systems and software that would normally have cost industry tens of thousands of pounds. This made the start-up cost relatively low.
Now in the late nineties when much of this equipment is highly obsolete, unreliable and unsupportable, educators are faced with the expense of re-establishing training facilities using more up-to-date and thus relevant microcontrollers.
Hitex has been involved with lecturers in several university departments in the development of microcontroller training hardware and material that both equips new engineers for the needs of industry and fits within tight educational budgets. As a provider of microcontroller training services to industry, Hitex is well placed to judge what is really required. With a large library of application programs, the preparation of new courses is relatively straight forward.
In previous years, Hitex has offered microcontroller training based on both the 8051 (8-bit) and Siemens C166 (16-bit). However, the demands from industry for 8-bit training fell away sharply from 1994 and so all efforts have been concentrated in the 16-bit field.
The Siemens C167 is very widely used in demanding applications such as engine management systems and motor drives where its very high CPU throughput and excellent real time performance have made it the European leader. It is now becoming popular in the great mass of industry, especially amongst existing 8-bit microcontroller users. The core design is innovative and the 167 version has a huge range of on-chip peripherals. It is therefore all-in-all a good choice as a basis for the education of new engineers.
The
course material is centred on the specially-design 167IO2 training
board. This is attached to a standard Ertec C167CR microcomputer
card and provides a large number of signal sources and outputs
which students must interface to in C.
It has been designed to teach basic microcontroller techniques of:
Programming examples are entirely in the C language and are fully documented. A comprehensive set of course notes are provided to allow the development of custom courses, either by course tutors independently or with assistance from Hitex.
A typical undergraduate seat costs around £600, including all compiler and debugging software plus hardware, training notes. The only additional item required is the host PC, although Hitex can include a suitable unit at extra cost. This configuration is suitable for basic microcontroller introduction and more advanced undergraduate laboratory work. It is also possible to add more professional tools such as in-circuit emulators to allow complex post-graduate projects and research to be undertaken.
Hitex is happy to discuss your educational requirements - please contact us
