CCS C Programming Basics

Study Notes

Device Definition File

A CCS C program begins with pre-processor directives like #include, #fuses, and #use delay.
The directive #include includes the system header file 18F452.H, which is essential for specifying the Special Function Registers (SFRs).
This device-specific file also holds the values to be written to these registers.

Fuses

The #fuses directive allows configuration of the PIC microcontroller's fuse settings.
Example settings explained:
- HS: High-speed crystal or resonator used for the clock.
- NOWDT: Disables the watchdog timer, preventing it from resetting the PIC unexpectedly.
- NOBROWNOUT: Deactivates the brown-out detector, which protects the microcontroller from low voltage conditions.
- NOPROTECT: Disables code protection, allowing the code to be read from memory.
- PUT: Enables the power-on timer function.

Delays

Delay functions in CCS C include delay_us() and delay_ms(), which introduce delays measured in microseconds and milliseconds respectively.
These functions rely on the clock frequency to calculate the appropriate number of machine cycles for accurate timing.
The directive #use delay(clock=20000000) defines a clock frequency of 20 MHz for the PIC microcontroller.

Multiple Source Code Files

CCS C does not facilitate separate compilation and linking of different source code files.
To enhance code organization and reuse, commonly-used library functions can be stored in separate files.
The directive #include "lcd.c" incorporates the lcd.c library file into the current file, ensuring that it is available during compilation.
Although this method of including library files can be less efficient due to repeated compilation, typical compilation times for PIC programs remain short, usually just a few seconds.

Description

This quiz covers the basics of CCS C programming, focusing on device definition files and directives. It includes information about pre-processor directives, fuse settings, and how to include necessary libraries for programming specific microcontrollers. Test your knowledge on how to properly set up your programming environment!