PEC and PICs

[Stargazer292]

Hi everybody,
I was doing some research on the net about PIC programming which is intriguing me quite a big deal. I got myself a PIC programmer and I will start playing around with this very powerful toy.
My attention is focused on trying to find something regarding some techniques about the Periodic Error Correction (PEC) of the worm gear.
I was actually after a sort of algorithm that can be translated in PIC programming language so that can be implemented in some of the cheap hand pad controllers like the Eq5 and all the basic set up mounts in the market.
By the way: for anybody that need to replace the hand pad controller for the Eq5 I found a link that it's a saving grace!!

http://telescope.marford.me.uk/Proje...controller.htm

Cheers, Andrew.

[citivolus (Ric)]

The first obstacle will be the time base. The internal oscillator in the PICs is highly variable based on the supply voltage and temperature, so you will likely need an external clock source.

You'll find that you are essentially creating a lookup table, which takes each of the four output lines high or low for a variable period of time while stepping through the table, say one byte for control line state/direction enable, and one for the time interval to take the line high (milliseconds, etc). You'll also want to code a highly accurate delay loop to handle this part.

You will also need to have an interface to an index on the worm, so that you can calculate where it is in its rotation. Typically this is via a magnet; you could probably use a reed switch or hall effect sensor, or even an LED/photodiode pair if there is adequate room.

The PIC will need 4 outputs for guider control, which double as inputs during programming. It will also need one input for the gear index, and assorted inputs for playback and record modes, and start/stop. I'd also recommend mounting the PIC in a DIP socket, so that you can pull it out to read/modify the stored PEC data if the urge strikes.

You can probably handle going to the index point on the gear by switching the mount to a faster drive rate and then having the PIC send guide signals until the index is found, and then manually switch the drive back to sidereal before starting record or playback mode.

Final note for today: Program it in C. The compilers are cheap, and your brain will thank you. I'll be interested to see where this goes.

Regards,
Eric

[Ian Robinson]

Originally Posted by citivolus

Final note for today: Program it in C. The compilers are cheap, and your brain will thank you. I'll be interested to see where this goes.

Regards,
Eric

Wouldn't it be easier to code it up in Java ?

Java is available for free , compilers like BlueJ or JGrasp (both free) make compiling easy.

[citivolus (Ric)]

My PIC compiler of choice is BoostC, here is the license page for it: http://www.sourceboost.com/Products/...mitations.html

Java isn't going to be an ideal language for PICs, due to very limited system resources. I doubt that there is a Java interpreter that will run on a PIC12/PIC16 as a result. A quick check on embedded Java found Jcontrol, requiring a minimum of 60KB just for the interpreter, and several others that were even more resource hungry.