Microchip PIC32CM MC microcontroller for power electronics from Udemy

The course will describe how to use the The The purpose of this course is to provide young engineers with exposure to microcontrollers used in industry, and help them land their first jobs as power electronics engineers or firmware engineers. The course can also be used as training material by companies to train their engineers in using PIC32 microcontrollers from Microchip. The course covers both theory and programming, with details on the architecture of the microcontroller and its peripherals, as well as code sessions where projects are built from the ground up. The projects are accompanied by experiments with the results being observable either through blinking LEDs or through waveforms on the oscilloscope.

The course describes how students can setup a low-cost electronics lab with components available from online marketplaces. The microcontroller kit (Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit) needed for the course is readily available in many online marketplaces and costs merely USD 16. The course will begin with very simple examples such as how to make LEDs glow and flash. The course will then progress towards generating Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) gating signals and using the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) for closed-loop control. The course will use the The course will describe how necessary software can be downloaded and how the student can interpret and understand the example projects.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Architecture of the pic32cm1216mc00032 microcontroller
Installing mplab x ide and other sdk
Understanding project setup and libraries
Overview of the peripherals used in power electronics applications
Using gpio pins through the port peripheral

Configuring and setting up interrupts and interrupt service routines (isr)
Using timers through the timer counter (tc) module
Generating pwm pulses through the timer counter for control (tcc) module
Using the analog to digital converter (adc) for measured signals and control implementation
Using the event system module

Architecture of the pic32cm1216mc00032 microcontroller
Installing mplab x ide and other sdk
Understanding project setup and libraries
Overview of the peripherals used in power electronics applications
Using gpio pins through the port peripheral
Configuring and setting up interrupts and interrupt service routines (isr)
Using timers through the timer counter (tc) module
Generating pwm pulses through the timer counter for control (tcc) module
Using the analog to digital converter (adc) for measured signals and control implementation
Using the event system module

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome

Target audience of the course

Hardware requirements of the course

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides young engineers with exposure to microcontrollers used in industry, which can help them land their first jobs in power electronics or firmware engineering

Can be used as training material by companies to train their engineers in using PIC32 microcontrollers from Microchip, which is valuable for professional development

Describes how students can set up a low-cost electronics lab with components available from online marketplaces, making it accessible for independent learning

Begins with very simple examples such as how to make LEDs glow and flash, which builds a strong foundation for beginners in microcontroller programming

Progresses towards generating Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) gating signals and using the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) for closed-loop control, which are essential skills in power electronics

Requires the Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit, which, while low-cost, may still represent a barrier to entry for some students depending on their financial situation

Reviews summary

Pic32cm microcontroller for power electronics

According to learners, this course offers a focused and practical guide to using the Microchip PIC32CM MC microcontroller, particularly for power electronics applications. Students highlight the in-depth coverage of crucial peripherals like TCC for PWM and the ADC, finding it directly relevant for firmware and power electronics engineering roles. The hands-on projects utilizing the affordable Curiosity Nano kit are seen as a major strength, helping solidify understanding. However, some students noted difficulties with the initial software setup using MPLAB X and mentioned that the course assumes some prior embedded C knowledge, which might be a hurdle for beginners. Overall, it's considered a valuable resource for its specific niche.

Utilizes an affordable and accessible development kit.

"The low-cost Curiosity Nano board was a great choice."

"Easy to get started with the affordable hardware requirements."

"Using standard, cheap hardware made the experiments feasible."

Provides valuable practical coding and hardware projects.

"Projects were hands-on and practical."

"The hands-on coding and projects are the strongest part of the course for me."

"Learning by doing with the hardware was essential."

Excellent detail on key power electronics peripherals.

"The lectures on TCC and ADC were incredibly detailed and useful."

"Excellent explanation of the Timer Counter for Control module."

"Covers key peripherals well. The PWM generation (TCC) part was very well done. ADC section was also good."

Content is highly applicable for engineering roles.

"Highly recommend for firmware engineers."

"As a power electronics engineer, I found this course directly relevant."

"Great course if you are targeting power electronics firmware jobs."

Course may require some prior embedded C knowledge.

"Assumes some prior knowledge of microcontrollers and embedded C, which wasn't fully clear from the description."

"Wish there was more coverage on basic embedded C."

"Could benefit from a quick refresher on microcontroller basics."

Initial IDE setup can be difficult or unclear.

"Software setup with MPLAB X was a bit challenging initially, but manageable."

"Struggled significantly with the software setup. The instructions for MPLAB X weren't very clear or up-to-date."

"Setup was annoying, but the rest of the course was valuable."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Microchip PIC32CM MC microcontroller for power electronics with these activities:

Review Microcontroller Architecture Fundamentals

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Solidify your understanding of microcontroller architecture to better grasp the specifics of the PIC32CM1216MC00032.

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Review basic microcontroller components (CPU, memory, peripherals).
Study different memory types (RAM, ROM, Flash).
Understand the fetch-decode-execute cycle.

Practice C Programming Fundamentals

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Sharpen your C programming skills, as the course involves coding for the PIC32 microcontroller.

Browse courses on Embedded C

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Review data types, operators, and control flow statements.
Practice writing functions and using pointers.
Work through basic C programming exercises.

Read 'Embedded Systems Architecture' by Tammy Noergaard

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Gain a broader understanding of embedded systems architecture to contextualize the PIC32's design and functionality.

View Embedded Systems Architecture: A Comprehensive... on Amazon

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Read chapters on microcontroller architecture and memory management.
Focus on sections related to peripherals and interrupt handling.

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Implement PWM Generation Examples

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Reinforce your understanding of PWM generation by implementing various examples on the PIC32.

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Write code to generate PWM signals with varying duty cycles.
Experiment with different PWM frequencies.
Use an oscilloscope to observe the generated PWM waveforms.

Document Your Learning Journey

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Improve retention by documenting your learning process, challenges, and solutions encountered during the course.

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Create a blog or online journal.
Regularly document your progress, code snippets, and debugging steps.
Share your insights and ask questions in online forums.

Develop a Simple Motor Control Application

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Apply your knowledge by building a project that utilizes PWM and ADC for motor control.

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Design a circuit to control a DC motor using the PIC32.
Implement PWM generation for motor speed control.
Use the ADC to read motor current or voltage for feedback control.
Tune the control parameters for stable motor operation.

Read 'Programming 32-bit Microcontrollers in C' by Lucio Di Jasio

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Deepen your understanding of 32-bit microcontroller programming in C, complementing the course's practical coding sessions.

View Programming 32-bit Microcontrollers in C:... on Amazon

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Review chapters on memory management and peripheral configuration.
Study examples of interrupt handling and real-time programming.

Contribute to a PIC32 Open Source Project

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Solidify your skills by contributing to an open-source project that uses the PIC32 microcontroller.

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Find an open-source project on GitHub that uses the PIC32.
Identify a bug or feature to work on.
Contribute code, documentation, or testing to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Microchip PIC32CM MC microcontroller for power electronics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Power Electronics Engineer

A power electronics engineer designs and develops electronic circuits and systems for power conversion and control. This course is specifically designed to help young engineers land their first jobs as power electronics engineers. With its focus on Pulse Width Modulation generation and using the Analog to Digital Converter for closed-loop control, the course provides relevant skills for designing power electronic systems. The course's instruction on setting up a low-cost electronics lab equips students with the ability to prototype and test their designs. Power electronics engineers may find the discussion of the event system module to be helpful.

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Firmware Engineer

A firmware engineer specializes in writing and debugging the low-level software that controls hardware devices. This course directly addresses the needs of a firmware engineer by providing an overview of the architecture of the PIC32CM1216MC00032 microcontroller and practical experience in programming it. The course's focus on generating PWM gating signals, using the ADC for closed-loop control, and setting up interrupts translates into a stronger understanding of firmware development. By learning to install the necessary software and interpret example projects, a prospective firmware engineer gains a practical advantage. The course may be useful for developing skills in reading header files and writing initialization functions.

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Embedded Systems Engineer

An embedded systems engineer designs, develops, and tests the software and hardware for embedded systems, which are specialized computer systems within larger devices or machines. This course helps build a foundation in microcontrollers, specifically the PIC32CM MC, which is widely used in embedded applications. The course's hands-on projects involving PWM signal generation, ADC usage, and interrupt handling are directly applicable to the tasks of an embedded systems engineer. Furthermore, the course helps one to configure timers, oscillators, and clocks, which are essential for precise control in embedded systems. Learning to set up a low-cost electronics lab, as covered in the course, may be useful for prototyping and debugging embedded systems projects.

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Control Systems Engineer

A Control Systems Engineer designs and implements control systems for various applications, such as industrial processes and robotics. This course can equip aspiring control systems engineers with the knowledge of how to use microcontrollers for implementing control algorithms. The course's coverage of ADC for measured signals and PWM for control implementation addresses the core requirements for the control systems design. The projects in the course offer hands-on experience in implementing closed-loop control systems. The course's examples may be useful for interpreting technical documentation.

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Mechatronics Engineer

A mechatronics engineer integrates mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering principles to design and develop automated systems. This course provides a relevant introduction to the use of microcontrollers in mechatronic systems. The course's hands-on projects, involving PWM signal generation and ADC usage for control, translate directly into the skills needed to control motors, sensors, and other mechatronic components. The course builds a foundation for developing embedded control systems. The mechatronics engineer may find the discussion of the event system module to be helpful.

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Technical Trainer

A technical trainer develops and delivers training programs on technical topics, such as software, hardware, or engineering concepts. This course, designed to train engineers in using PIC32 microcontrollers, may be useful for a technical trainer who needs to create or deliver training on embedded systems. The course's comprehensive coverage of microcontroller architecture, peripherals, and programming provides a solid foundation for developing training materials. The trainer may find the course’s structure and example projects helpful for designing their module. The course also describes how necessary software can be downloaded.

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Robotics Engineer

A robotics engineer designs, builds, and programs robots and robotic systems for various applications. This course builds a foundation in microcontroller programming and hardware interfacing, which are essential skills for robotics. The course's coverage of PWM signal generation, ADC usage, and interrupt handling gives the prospective robotics engineer the tools to control motors, sensors, and other robotic components. By working through the course's projects, one gains practical experience in developing embedded control systems. By learning to configure timers, oscillators, and clocks in the course, robotics engineers may find themselves able to perform precise control.

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Automation Engineer

An Automation Engineer designs, develops, and implements automated systems and processes to improve efficiency and productivity. This course introduces the use of microcontrollers for control applications, which is a core skill for automation. The course's practical examples of generating PWM signals and using the ADC module are directly applicable to controlling actuators and sensors in automated systems. The course may be useful for understanding how to program GPIO pins and set up interrupts, which are common tasks. The course may give students insights into generating gating signals.

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Hardware Engineer

A hardware engineer is involved in the design, development, and testing of computer hardware and related components. This course provides a practical introduction to microcontroller architecture and peripheral configuration, which are relevant to the work of a hardware engineer. The course's projects, which involve generating PWM signals and using ADCs, offer hands-on experience with microcontroller-based hardware control. The course may be useful for understanding project setup and libraries, which are valuable skills for hardware development. The course may be helpful in understanding how software interacts with the hardware.

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Electrical Engineer

An electrical engineer researches, designs, develops, and tests electrical equipment and systems. This course gives prospective electrical engineers practical experience with microcontrollers, which are increasingly important in modern electrical engineering applications. The course's exploration of PWM signal generation and ADC usage builds a solid foundation for designing and implementing control systems. The course may be useful for understanding how to set up oscillators and clocks, which are essential for timing and synchronization in electrical systems. Electrical engineers may find the experiments with LEDs to be helpful for designing visual indicators.

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Internet of Things Engineer

An Internet of Things Engineer designs and develops connected devices and systems that collect and exchange data. This course may be useful for building a foundation in microcontroller programming, which is essential for IoT device development. The course's focus on using the ADC, generating PWM signals, and handling interrupts translates into useful skills for interfacing with sensors and actuators in IoT applications. The course's practical examples involving microcontroller configuration and programming may be useful for developing custom IoT solutions. Furthermore, the course may be useful for enabling communication between devices.

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System Validation Engineer

A system validation engineer validates that a system or product meets its specified requirements and performs as intended. This course may be useful for understanding the architecture and functionality of microcontroller-based systems, which is essential for system validation. The course's hands-on projects involving PWM signal generation and ADC usage may give insights into how to validate the performance of control systems. The system validation engineer may find the course's examples of using timers and interrupts to be helpful for validating real-time behavior. The course’s discussion of project setup and libraries may be useful for reverse engineering.

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Product Development Engineer

A product development engineer is involved in the process of bringing new products to market, from initial concept to mass production. This course helps develop skills in using microcontrollers, which are often at the heart of new electronic products. The course’s focus on hands-on projects, such as generating PWM signals and interfacing with ADCs, may be useful for prototyping and testing product designs. The course’s experience in setting up a low-cost electronics lab also assists in rapid prototyping. The product development engineer may find the discussion to be helpful in producing products that use event systems.

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Test Engineer

A test engineer designs and implements tests to ensure the quality and reliability of products. This course may be useful for understanding how to test microcontroller-based systems. The course's focus on setting up a low-cost electronics lab may be useful for creating test fixtures. The course's projects involving PWM signal generation and ADC usage may be helpful for developing test procedures. Specifically, the course may be useful for evaluating embedded systems that use timers, clocks, and oscillators. The test engineer may find examples of using GPIO pins to be helpful.

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Application Engineer

An application engineer works closely with customers to understand their needs and provide technical solutions using a company's products. This course gives prospective application engineers familiarity with a specific microcontroller family, the PIC32CM MC, which may be useful if their company uses these microcontrollers in their products. The course’s hands-on projects involving PWM signal generation and ADC usage may be useful for demonstrating the capabilities of the microcontroller. The course may be useful for understanding the technical documentation. The application engineer may find the course helpful for understanding how to use MPLAB IDE.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Microchip PIC32CM MC microcontroller for power electronics.

Programming 32-bit Microcontrollers in C

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Provides practical guidance on programming 32-bit microcontrollers using the C language. It covers essential topics such as memory management, peripheral configuration, and interrupt handling. While not specific to the PIC32CM series, the concepts and techniques discussed are broadly applicable. This book useful reference for understanding the software aspects of microcontroller programming.

Programming 32-bit Microcontrollers in C: Exploring...

Kindle Edition

Embedded Systems Architecture

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Provides a comprehensive overview of embedded systems architecture, covering topics relevant to microcontroller programming. It offers a deeper understanding of the underlying hardware and software interactions. While not specific to the PIC32, it provides valuable background knowledge for understanding the microcontroller's architecture and peripherals. This book is useful as additional reading to expand on the course material.

Embedded Systems Architecture: A Comprehensive...

Paperback

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