The Quintessential PIC® Microcontroller (Computer Communications and Networks) [Paperback]

Sidney J. Katzen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2003 | ISBN-10: 185233309X | ISBN-13: 978-1852333096

The Quintessential PIC® Microcontroller looks at one of the central technologies in many embedded computer and communication systems: the microcontroller. It approaches microcontrollers as the "intelligence" of smart digital systems and gives readers the confidence to design, construct and program a real working system using the popular PIC device as the exemplar. Written specifically for students with no prior knowledge of computing, electronics, or logic design, it is ideally suited as a textbook for relevant modules on Computer Science and Electronic Engineering degree courses. It is also relevant to students carrying out project work at final year undergraduate and postgraduate level, and to those on conversion MScs.Key features include:- The use of real-world hardware and software products to illustrate the material- Numerous fully worked examples and self-assessment questions- An associated web site providing solutions, further examples, and useful resources (click on authors' manual on the left!) - Clear and concise presentation of key points and underlying concepts

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Quintessential PIC® Microcontroller deals with the central `intelligence’ of most smart embedded digital systems and aims to give the reader the confidence to design, construct and program a real working system using the industrial standard and popular Microchip PIC family of devices as the exemplar. Aimed specifically at a readership with no prior knowledge of software, electronics or logic design, this book is suitable for both industrial engineers and hobbyists. Students of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, taking relevant courses or engaged in project work at either an under- or postgraduate level, will find it an ideal textbook. The second edition has been extensively rewritten to both rationalize and clarify the introductory chapters and to update and extend the core material. Whilst the thrust remains with the Mid-range devices, an additional chapter has also been added on the Extended-range family. Key features include: • The use of current real-world hardware and software products to illustrate the material • Numerous fully worked examples as well as self-assessment questions • An associated web site providing solutions, further examples, listings and useful resources at http://www.engj.ulst.ac.uk/sidk/quintessential • Clear and concise presentation of key points and underlying concepts --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 486 pages
• Publisher: Springer (September 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185233309X
• ISBN-13: 978-1852333096
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,318,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #76 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Microprocessors & System Design > PIC Microcontroller

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and knowledgeable treatment of PICs, March 27, 2002

By 

gee the PIC person (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Quintessential PIC® Microcontroller (Computer Communications and Networks) (Paperback)

This is a very thorough treatment of PICs. There are so many great aspects to this book it is hard to know where to begin. The book starts at the beginning, talking about logic circuits and essential micro theory, such as address decoding and so on. The PIC architecture and instruction set is covered in detail and the many well crafted diagrams are used to convey the relevant information.

I particularly enjoyed the later chapters on interfacing, parallel, serial and A/D. A whole chapter on using timers is also very welcome. These chapters offered real practical advice and examples. In fact there are many examples throughout the book and all have been tried and tested. It goes without saying that programming the PIC (instruction set, bank addressing, assembly code, timing, modules and subroutines and so on...) is well covered and a whole chapter is devoted to interrupt handling.

This book is dense with a lot of great info packed beautifully into about 500 pages. There is an accompanying website which has extensive resources such as instruction sets that can be downloaded and printed out. There is also an comprehensive errata section and solutions to self assessment questions that appear at the end of nearly all the chapters. I really like this as most books are very quick to ask questions but rarely do they give the answers. Since most of us are not monks we don't want to spend the rest of our lives thinking of what an answer might be. Much better to understand the problem and be guided to the answer when we are in a hurry.

MPLAB, available free from Microcontroller's website (or indeed the authors) is used throughout so you don't need to worry about [the] software.

Make no mistake, this is not a hobbyists cookbook. This is a serious treatment of a serious subject. Professionals should note that in addition to a chapter devoted to assembly programming there is also a chapter on using a high level language (C in this case). Of course there are many, many code examples throughout the text.

I really like this book, at the price I think it is a real bargain. Especially when you compare this with the many hobby PIC books which only offer a cursory treatment of PICs and tend to concentrate on 8-bit versions. This book also covers the 14 and 16 bit cores.

A great discovery!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completed Reference, July 31, 2003

By 

"vequalir" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Quintessential PIC® Microcontroller (Computer Communications and Networks) (Paperback)

I am fairly new to the PIC world. While trying to pic (pun intended)out a suitable MCU book I came across this particular book. This is a great reference book for both advanced and begginers. I also purchased PROGRAMMING AND CUSTOMIZING PICmicro MICROCONTROLLERS by Myke predko. The combination of these book had me writting softwre and building complex circuitry in no time. I was able to build a small robot which uses the following:
Pulse width modulation, Seven Segment Display control, Playback/Recording, push buttons, servo contol, DC motor control.
These are both great books I reccomend them highly.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK FROM AMAZON, July 2, 2007

By 

Rossana J. Sotolongo (hialeah, fl United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Quintessential PIC® Microcontroller (Computer Communications and Networks) (Paperback)

Amazon is trying to pass on the older edition of this book as the new edition. I tried two times and I keep getting the orange cover book, which is a 2002 edition not the 2007. Once you get this book you will have a hard time getting your money back.