M Section 9. I/O Ports HIGHLIGHTS This section of the manual contains the following major topics: 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 Introduction ....................................................................................................................9-2 PORTA and the TRISA Register ....................................................................................9-4 PORTB and the TRISB Register ....................................................................................9-6 PORTC and the TRISC Register....................................................................................9-8 PORTD and the TRISD Register....................................................................................9-9 PORTE and the TRISE Register ..................................................................................9-10 PORTF and the TRISF Register ..................................................................................9-11 PORTG and the TRISG Register .................................................................................9-12 GPIO and the TRISGP Register ..................................................................................9-13 I/O Programming Considerations.................................................................................9-14 Initialization ..................................................................................................................9-16 Design Tips ..................................................................................................................9-17 Related Application Notes............................................................................................9-19 Revision History ...........................................................................................................9-20 9 I/O Ports 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A page 9-1 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.1 Introduction General purpose I/O pins can be considered the simplest of peripherals. They allow the PICmicro™ to monitor and control other devices. To add flexibility and functionality to a device, some pins are multiplexed with an alternate function(s). These functions depend on which peripheral features are on the device. In general, when a peripheral is functioning, that pin may not be used as a general purpose I/O pin. For most ports, the I/O pin’s direction (input or output) is controlled by the data direction register, called the TRIS register. TRIS<x> controls the direction of PORT<x>. A ‘1’ in the TRIS bit corresponds to that pin being an input, while a ‘0’ corresponds to that pin being an output. An easy way to remember is that a ‘1’ looks like an I (input) and a ‘0’ looks like an O (output). The PORT register is the latch for the data to be output. When the PORT is read, the device reads the levels present on the I/O pins (not the latch). This means that care should be taken with read-modify-write commands on the ports and changing the direction of a pin from an input to an output. Figure 9-1 shows a typical I/O port. This does not take into account peripheral functions that may be multiplexed onto the I/O pin. Reading the PORT register reads the status of the pins whereas writing to it will write to the port latch. All write operations (such as BSF and BCF instructions) are read-modify-write operations. Therefore a write to a port implies that the port pins are read, this value is modified, and then written to the port data latch. Figure 9-1: Typical I/O Port Data bus D Q VDD WR PORT Q CK P Data Latch I/O pin WR TRIS D Q CK Q N VSS TRIS Latch TTL or Schmitt Trigger RD TRIS Q D EN RD PORT Note: I/O pin has protection diodes to VDD and VSS. DS31009A-page 9-2 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports When peripheral functions are multiplexed onto general I/O pins, the functionality of the I/O pins may change to accommodate the requirements of the peripheral module. Examples of this are the Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter and LCD driver modules, which force the I/O pin to the peripheral function when the device is reset. In the case of the A/D, this prevents the device from consuming excess current if any analog levels were on the A/D pins after a reset occurred. With some peripherals, the TRIS bit is overridden while the peripheral is enabled. Therefore, read-modify-write instructions (BSF, BCF, XORWF) with TRIS as destination should be avoided. The user should refer to the corresponding peripheral section for the correct TRIS bit settings. PORT pins may be multiplexed with analog inputs and analog VREF input. The operation of each of these pins is selected, to be an analog input or digital I/O, by clearing/setting the control bits in the ADCON1 register (A/D Control Register1). When selected as an analog input, these pins will read as ‘0’s. The TRIS registers control the direction of the port pins, even when they are being used as analog inputs. The user must ensure the TRIS bits are maintained set when using the pins as analog inputs. Note 1: If pins are multiplexed with Analog inputs, then on a Power-on Reset these pins are configured as analog inputs, as controlled by the ADCON1 register. Reading port pins configured as analog inputs read a ‘0’. Note 2: If pins are multiplexed with comparator inputs, then on a Power-on Reset these pins are configured as analog inputs, as controlled by the CMCON register. Reading port pins configured as analog inputs read a ‘0’. Note 3: If pins are multiplexed with LCD driver segments, then on a Power-on Reset these pins are configured as LCD driver segments, as controlled by the LCDSE register. To configure the pins as a digital port, the corresponding bits in the LCDSE register must be cleared. Any bit set in the LCDSE register overrides any bit settings in the corresponding TRIS register. Note 4: Pins may be multiplexed with the Parallel Slave Port (PSP). For the PSP to function, the I/O pins must be configured as digital inputs and the PSPMODE bit must be set. Note 5: At present the Parallel Slave Port (PSP) is only multiplexed onto PORTD and PORTE. The microprocessor port becomes enabled when the PSPMODE bit is set. In this mode, the user must make sure that the TRISE bits are set (pins are configured as digital inputs) and that PORTE is configured for digital I/O. PORTD will override the values in the TRISD register. In this mode the PORTD and PORTE input buffers are TTL. The control bits for the PSP operation are located in TRISE. 9 I/O Ports 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-3 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.2 PORTA and the TRISA Register The RA4 pin is a Schmitt Trigger input and an open drain output. All other RA port pins have TTL input levels and full CMOS output drivers. All pins have data direction bits (TRIS registers) which can configure these pins as output or input. Setting a TRISA register bit puts the corresponding output driver in a hi-impedance mode. Clearing a bit in the TRISA register puts the contents of the output latch on the selected pin(s). Example 9-1: Initializing PORTA CLRF CLRF STATUS PORTA BSF MOVLW MOVWF STATUS, RP0 0xCF TRISA ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Bank0 Initialize PORTA by clearing output data latches Select Bank1 Value used to initialize data direction PORTA<3:0> = inputs PORTA<5:4> = outputs TRISA<7:6> always read as '0' Figure 9-2: Block Diagram of RA3:RA0 and RA5 Pins Data bus D Q VDD WR PORT Q CK P Data Latch I/O pin WR TRIS D Q CK Q N VSS Analog input mode TRIS Latch TTL or ST input buffer RD TRIS Q D EN RD PORT To Peripheral Module(s) Note: I/O pin has protection diodes to VDD and VSS. DS31009A-page 9-4 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports Figure 9-3: Block Diagram of RA4 Pin Data Bus WR PORT D Q CK Q RA4 pin N Data Latch VSS WR TRIS D Q CK Q Schmitt Trigger input buffer TRIS Latch RD TRIS Q D EN RD PORT To Peripheral Module Note: I/O pin has protection diodes to VSS only. 9 I/O Ports 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-5 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.3 PORTB and the TRISB Register PORTB is an 8-bit wide bi-directional port. The corresponding data direction register is TRISB. Setting a bit in the TRISB register puts the corresponding output driver in a high-impedance input mode. Clearing a bit in the TRISB register puts the contents of the output latch on the selected pin(s). Example 9-2: Initializing PORTB CLRF CLRF STATUS PORTB BSF MOVLW MOVWF STATUS, RP0 0xCF TRISB ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Bank0 Initialize PORTB by clearing output data latches Select Bank1 Value used to initialize data direction PORTB<3:0> = inputs, PORTB<5:4> = outputs PORTB<7:6> = inputs Each of the PORTB pins has a weak internal pull-up. A single control bit can turn on all the pull-ups. This is performed by clearing bit RBPU (OPTION<7>). The weak pull-up is automatically turned off when the port pin is configured as an output. The pull-ups are disabled on a Power-on Reset. Figure 9-4: Block Diagram of RB3:RB0 Pins VDD RBPU(2) Data bus WR Port weak P pull-up Data Latch D Q I/O pin(1) CK TRIS Latch D Q WR TRIS TTL Input Buffer CK RD TRIS Q RD Port D EN To Peripheral Module Schmitt Trigger Buffer RD Port Note 1: I/O pins have diode protection to VDD and VSS. 2: To enable weak pull-ups, set the appropriate TRIS bit(s) and clear the RBPU bit (OPTION<7>). DS31009A-page 9-6 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports Four of PORTB’s pins, RB7:RB4, have an interrupt on change feature. Only pins configured as inputs can cause this interrupt to occur (i.e. any RB7:RB4 pin configured as an output is excluded from the interrupt on change comparison). The input pins (of RB7:RB4) are compared with the old value latched on the last read of PORTB. The “mismatch” outputs of RB7:RB4 are OR’ed together to generate the RB Port Change Interrupt with flag bit RBIF (INTCON<0>). This interrupt can wake the device from SLEEP. The user, in the interrupt service routine, can clear the interrupt in the following manner: a) b) Any read or write of PORTB. This will end the mismatch condition. Clear flag bit RBIF. A mismatch condition will continue to set flag bit RBIF. Reading PORTB will end the mismatch condition, and allow flag bit RBIF to be cleared. This interrupt on mismatch feature, together with software configurable pull-ups on these four pins allow easy interface to a keypad and make it possible for wake-up on key-depression. The interrupt on change feature is recommended for wake-up on key depression and operations where PORTB is only used for the interrupt on change feature. Polling of PORTB is not recommended while using the interrupt on change feature. Figure 9-5: Block Diagram of RB7:RB4 Pins VDD RBPU(2) Data bus WR Port weak P pull-up Data Latch D Q I/O pin(1) CK TRIS Latch D Q WR TRIS TTL Input Buffer CK RD TRIS ST Buffer 9 Latch Q D EN RD Port Q1 From other RB7:RB4 pins Q D RD Port EN Q3 RB7:RB6 in serial programming mode Note 1: I/O pins have diode protection to VDD and VSS. 2: To enable weak pull-ups, set the appropriate TRIS bit(s) and clear the RBPU bit (OPTION<7>). 3: In sleep mode the device is in Q1 state. 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-7 I/O Ports Set RBIF PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.4 PORTC and the TRISC Register PORTC is an 8-bit bi-directional port. Each pin is individually configurable as an input or output through the TRISC register. PORTC pins have Schmitt Trigger input buffers. When enabling peripheral functions, care should be taken in defining TRIS bits for each PORTC pin. Some peripherals override the TRIS bit to make a pin an output, while other peripherals override the TRIS bit to make a pin an input. Example 9-3: Initializing PORTC CLRF CLRF STATUS PORTC BSF MOVLW MOVWF STATUS, RP0 0xCF TRISC ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Bank0 Initialize PORTC by clearing output data latches Select Bank1 Value used to initialize data direction PORTC<3:0> = inputs, PORTC<5:4> = outputs PORTC<7:6> = inputs Figure 9-6: PORTC Block Diagram (Peripheral Output Override) PORT/PERIPHERAL Select(1) Peripheral Data-out 0 VDD 1 Data Bus WR PORT D Q CK Q P Data Latch WR TRIS D Q CK Q I/O pin N TRIS Latch Peripheral OE(2) VSS RD TRIS Schmitt Trigger Q D RD PORT EN Peripheral input Note 1: Port/Peripheral select signal selects between port data and peripheral output. 2: Peripheral OE (output enable) is only activated if peripheral select is active. 3: I/O pins have diode protection to VDD and VSS. DS31009A-page 9-8 RD PORT 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports 9.5 PORTD and the TRISD Register PORTD is an 8-bit port with Schmitt Trigger input buffers. Each pin is individually configurable as an input or output. Example 9-4: Initializing PORTD CLRF CLRF STATUS PORTD BSF MOVLW MOVWF STATUS, RP0 0xCF TRISD ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Bank0 Initialize PORTD by clearing output data latches Select Bank1 Value used to initialize data direction PORTD<3:0> = inputs, PORTD<5:4> = outputs PORTD<7:6> = inputs Figure 9-7: Typical PORTD Block Diagram (in I/O Port Mode) Data Bus WR PORT D Q CK Q I/O pin Data Latch WR TRIS D Q CK Q Schmitt Trigger input buffer TRIS Latch RD TRIS Q D EN 9 RD PORT Note: I/O pins have protection diodes to VDD and VSS. I/O Ports 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-9 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.6 PORTE and the TRISE Register PORTE can be up to an 8-bit port with Schmitt Trigger input buffers. Each pin is individually configurable as an input or output. Example 9-5: Initializing PORTE CLRF CLRF STATUS PORTE BSF MOVLW MOVWF STATUS, RP0 0x03 TRISE ; ; ; ; ; ; Bank0 Initialize PORTE by clearing output data latches Select Bank1 Value used to initialize data direction PORTE<1:0> = inputs, PORTE<7:2> = outputs Figure 9-8: Typical PORTE Block Diagram (in I/O Port Mode) Data Bus WR PORT D Q CK Q I/O pin Data Latch WR TRIS D Q CK Q Schmitt Trigger input buffer TRIS Latch RD TRIS Q D EN RD PORT Note: I/O pins have protection diodes to VDD and VSS. Note: DS31009A-page 9-10 On some devices with PORTE, the upper bits of the TRISE register are used for the Parallel Slave Port control and status bits. 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports 9.7 PORTF and the TRISF Register PORTF is a digital input only port. Each pin is multiplexed with an LCD segment driver. These pins have Schmitt Trigger input buffers. Example 9-6: Initializing PORTF BCF BSF BCF BCF STATUS, RP0 STATUS, RP1 LCDSE, SE16 LCDSE, SE12 ; Select Bank2 ; ; Make all PORTF ; digital inputs Figure 9-9: PORTF LCD Block Diagram LCD Segment Data Digital Input/ LCD Output pin LCD Segment Output Enable LCDSE<n> Schmitt Trigger input buffer Data Bus Q D EN RD PORT VDD RD TRIS Note: I/O pins have protection diodes to VDD and VSS. 9 I/O Ports 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-11 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.8 PORTG and the TRISG Register PORTG is a digital input only port. Each pin is multiplexed with an LCD segment driver. These pins have Schmitt Trigger input buffers. Example 9-7: Initializing PORTG BCF BSF BCF BCF STATUS, RP0 STATUS, RP1 LCDSE, SE27 LCDSE, SE20 ; Select Bank2 ; ; Make all PORTG ; and PORTE<7> digital inputs Figure 9-10: PORTG LCD Block Diagram LCD Segment Data Digital Input/ LCD Output pin LCD Segment Output Enable LCDSE<n> Schmitt Trigger input buffer Data Bus Q D EN RD PORT VDD RD TRIS DS31009A-page 9-12 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports 9.9 GPIO and the TRISGP Register GPIO is an 8-bit I/O register. Only the low order six bits are implemented (GP5:GP0). Bits 7 and 6 are unimplemented and read as ‘0’s. Any GPIO pin (except GP3) can be programmed individually as input or output. The GP3 pin is an input only pin. The TRISGP register controls the data direction for GPIO pins. A ‘1’ in a TRISGP register bit puts the corresponding output driver in a hi-impedance mode. A ‘0’ puts the contents of the output data latch on the selected pins, enabling the output buffer. The exceptions are GP3 which is input only and its TRIS bit will always read as '1'. Upon reset, the TRISGP register is all ‘1’s, making all pins inputs. A read of the GPIO port, reads the pins not the output data latches. Any input must be present until read by an input instruction (e.g., MOVF GPIO,W). The outputs are latched and remain unchanged until the output latch is rewritten. Example 9-8: Initializing GPIO CLRF CLRF STATUS GPIO BSF MOVLW MOVWF STATUS, RP0 0xCF TRISGP ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Bank0 Initialize GPIO by clearing output data latches Select Bank1 Value used to initialize data direction GP<3:0> = inputs GP<5:4> = outputs TRISGP<7:6> always read as '0' Figure 9-11: Block Diagram of GP5:GP0 Pins Data Bus D WR Port W Reg Q Data Latch CK VDD Q P N D Q TRIS Latch TRIS ‘f’ CK I/O pin(1) VSS 9 Q I/O Ports Reset RD Port Note 1: I/O pins have protection diodes to VDD and VSS. GP3 is input only with no data latch and no output drivers. The configuration word can set several I/O’s to alternate functions. When acting as alternate functions the pins will read as ‘0’ during port read. The GP0, GP1, and GP3 pins can be configured with weak pull-ups and also with interrupt on change. The interrupt on change and weak pull-up functions are not pin selectable. Interrupt on change is enabled by setting INTCON<3>. If the device configuration bits select one of the external oscillator modes, the GP4 and GP5 pin’s GPIO functions are overridden and these pins are used for the oscillator. 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-13 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.10 I/O Programming Considerations When using the ports (and GPIO) as I/O, design considerations need to be taken into account to ensure that the operation is as intended. 9.10.1 Bi-directional I/O Ports Any instruction which performs a write operation actually does a read followed by a write operation. The BCF and BSF instructions, for example, read the register into the CPU, execute the bit operation, and write the result back to the register. Caution must be used when these instructions are applied to a port with both inputs and outputs defined. For example, a BSF operation on bit5 of PORTB will cause all eight bits of PORTB to be read into the CPU. Then the BSF operation takes place on bit5 and PORTB is written to the output latches. If another bit of PORTB is used as a bi-directional I/O pin (e.g., bit0) and it is defined as an input at this time, the input signal present on the pin itself would be read into the CPU and rewritten to the data latch of this particular pin, overwriting the previous content. As long as the pin stays in the input mode, no problem occurs. However, if bit0 is switched to an output, the content of the data latch may now be unknown. Reading the port register, reads the values of the port pins. Writing to the port register writes the value to the port latch. When using read-modify-write instructions (ex. BCF, BSF, etc.) on a port, the value of the port pins is read, the desired operation is performed on this value, and the value is then written to the port latch. Example 9-9 shows the effect of two sequential read-modify-write instructions on an I/O port. Example 9-9: Read-Modify-Write Instructions on an I/O Port ; Initial PORT settings: PORTB<7:4> Inputs ; PORTB<3:0> Outputs ; PORTB<7:6> have external pull-ups and are not connected to other circuitry ; ; PORT latch PORT pins ; ---------- --------BCF PORTB, 7 ; 01pp pppp 11pp pppp BCF PORTB, 6 ; 10pp pppp 11pp pppp BSF STATUS, RP0 ; BCF TRISB, 7 ; 10pp pppp 11pp pppp BCF TRISB, 6 ; 10pp pppp 10pp pppp ; ; Note that the user may have expected the pin values to be 00pp ppp. ; The 2nd BCF caused RB7 to be latched as the pin value (high). A pin configured as an output, actively driving a Low or High should not be driven from external devices at the same time in order to change the level on this pin (“wired-or,” “wired-and”). The resulting high output currents may damage the chip. DS31009A-page 9-14 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports 9.10.2 Successive Operations on an I/O Port The actual write to an I/O port happens at the end of an instruction cycle, whereas for reading, the data must be valid at the beginning of the instruction cycle (Figure 9-12). Therefore, care must be exercised if a write followed by a read operation is carried out on the same I/O port. The sequence of instructions should be such to allow the pin voltage to stabilize (load dependent) before the next instruction which causes that file to be read into the CPU is executed. Otherwise, the previous state of that pin may be read into the CPU rather than the new state. When in doubt, it is better to separate these instructions with a NOP or another instruction not accessing this I/O port. Figure 9-12: Successive I/O Operation Q1 PC Instruction fetched Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 PC Q2 Q4 Q3 Q1 PC + 1 MOVWF PORTB write to PORTB Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 PC + 3 PC + 2 MOVF PORTB,W NOP NOP RB7:RB0 Port pin sampled here TPD Instruction executed NOP MOVWF PORTB write to PORTB MOVF PORTB,W This example shows a write to PORTB followed by a read from PORTB. Note: Data setup time = (0.25TCY - TPD) whereTCY = instruction cycle TPD = propagation delay Therefore, at higher clock frequencies, a write followed by a read may be problematic due to external capacitance. Figure 9-13 shows the I/O model which causes this situation. As the effective capacitance (C) becomes larger, the rise/fall time of the I/O pin increases. As the device frequency increases or the effective capacitance increases, the possibility of this subsequent PORTx read-modify-write instruction issue increases. This effective capacitance includes the effects of the board traces. The use of NOP instructions between the subsequent PORTx read-modify-write instructions, is a lower cost solution, but has the issue that the number of NOP instructions is dependent on the effective capacitance C and the frequency of the device. Figure 9-13: I/O Connection Issues BSF PORTx, PINy PIC16CXXX Q2 I/O Q3 Q4 BSF PORTx, PINz Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 VIL C(1) PORTx, PINy Read PORTx, PINy as low Note: This is not a capacitor to ground, but the effective capacitive loading on the trace. 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. BSF PORTx, PINz clears the value to be driven on the PORTx, PINy pin. DS31009A-page 9-15 I/O Ports The best way to address this is to add an series resistor at the I/O pin. This resistor allows the I/O pin to get to the desired level before the next instruction. 9 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.11 Initialization See the section describing each port for examples of initialization of the ports. Note: DS31009A-page 9-16 It is recommended that when initializing the port, the data latch (PORT register) should be initialized first, and then the data direction (TRIS register). This will eliminate a possible pin glitch, since the PORT data latch values power up in a random state. 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports 9.12 Design Tips Question 1: Code will not toggle any I/O ports, but the oscillator is running. What can I be doing wrong? Answer 1: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Have the TRIS registers been initialized properly? These registers can be written to directly in the second bank (Bank1). In most cases the user is not switching to Bank1 (BSF STATUS,RP0) before writing zeros to the TRIS register. If you are setting up the TRIS registers properly in Bank1 (RP0 = 1), you may not be returning to Bank0 before writing to the ports (BCF STATUS,RP0). Is there a peripheral multiplexed onto those pins that are enabled? Is the Watchdog Timer enabled (done at programming)? If it is enabled, is it being cleared properly with a CLRWDT instruction at least every 9 ms (or more if prescaled)? Are you using the correct instructions to write to the port? More than one person has used the MOVF command when they should have used MOVWF. For parts with interrupts, are the interrupts disabled? If not, try disabling them to verify they are not interfering. Question 2: When my program reads a port, I get a different value than what I put in the port register. What can cause this? Answer 2: 1. 2. 3. When a port is read, it is always the pin that is read, regardless of its being set to input or output. So if a pin is set to an input, you will read the value on the pin regardless of the register value. If a pin is set to output, say it has a one in the data latch; if it is shorted to ground you will still read a zero on the pin. This is very useful for building fault tolerant systems, or handling I2C™ bus conflicts. (The I2C bus is only driven low, and the pin is tristated for a one. If the pin is low and you are not driving it, some other device is trying to take the bus). Mid-Range MCU devices all have at least one open drain (or open collector) pin. These pins can only drive a zero or tristate. For most Mid-Range devices this is pin RA4. Open drain pins must have a pull-up resistor to have a high state. This pin is useful for driving odd voltage loads. The pull-up can be connected to a voltage (typically less than VDD) which becomes the high state. Question 3: I have a PIC16CXXX with pin RB0 configured as an interrupt input, but am not getting interrupted. When I change my routine to poll the pin, it reads the high input and operates fine. What is the problem? 9 Answer 3: I2C is a trademark of Philips Corporation. 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-17 I/O Ports PORTB accepts TTL input levels (on most parts), so when you have an input of say 3V (with VDD = 5V), you will read a one. However the buffer to the interrupt structure from pin RB0 is Schmitt Trigger, which requires a higher voltage (than TTL input) before the high input is registered. So it is possible to read a one, but not get the interrupt. The interrupt was given a Schmitt Trigger input with hysteresis to minimize noise problems. It is one thing to have short noise spikes on a pin that is a data input that can potentially cause bad data, but quite another to permit noise to cause an interrupt, hence the difference. PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY Question 4: When I perform a BCF instruction, other pins get cleared in the port. Why? Answer 4: 1. 2. DS31009A-page 9-18 Another case where a read-modify-write instruction may seem to change other pin values unexpectedly can be illustrated as follows: Suppose you make PORTC all outputs and drive the pins low. On each of the port pins is an LED connected to ground, such that a high output lights it. Across each LED is a 100 µF capacitor. Let's also suppose that the processor is running very fast, say 20 MHz. Now if you go down the port setting each pin in order; BSF PORTC,0 then BSF PORTC,1 then BSF PORTC,2 and so on, you may see that only the last pin was set, and only the last LED actually turns on. This is because the capacitors take a while to charge. As each pin was set, the pin before it was not charged yet and so was read as a zero. This zero is written back out to the port latch (r-m-w, remember) which clears the bit you just tried to set the instruction before. This is usually only a concern at high speeds and for successive port operations, but it can happen, so take it into consideration. If this is on a PIC16C7XX device, you have not configured the I/O pins properly in the ADCON1 register. If a pin is configured for analog input, any read of that pin will read a zero, regardless of the voltage on the pin. This is an exception to the normal rule that the pin state is always read. You can still configure an analog pin as an output in the TRIS register, and drive the pin high or low by writing to it, but you will always read a zero. Therefore if you execute a Read-Modify-Write instruction (see previous question) all analog pins are read as zero, and those not directly modified by the instruction will be written back to the port latch as zero. A pin configured as analog is expected to have values that may be neither high nor low to a digital pin, or floating. Floating inputs on digital pins are a no-no, and can lead to high current draw in the input buffer, so the input buffer is disabled. 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. Section 9. I/O Ports 9.13 Related Application Notes This section lists application notes that are related to this section of the manual. These application notes may not be written specifically for the Mid-Range MCU family (that is they may be written for the Base-Line, or High-End families), but the concepts are pertinent, and could be used (with modification and possible limitations). The current application notes related to I/O ports are: Title Application Note # Improving the Susceptibility of an Application to ESD AN595 Clock Design using Low Power/Cost Techniques AN615 Implementing Wake-up on Keystroke AN528 Interfacing to AC Power Lines AN521 Multiplexing LED Drive and a 4 x 4 Keypad Sampling AN529 Using PIC16C5X as an LCD Drivers AN563 Serial Port Routines Without Using TMR0 AN593 Implementation of an Asynchronous Serial I/O AN510 Using the PORTB Interrupt on Change Feature as an External Interrupt AN566 Implementing Wake-up on Keystroke AN522 Apple Desktop Bus AN591 Software Implementation of Asynchronous Serial I/O AN555 2C AN515 Communicating with the I Bus using the PIC16C5X Interfacing 93CX6 Serial EEPROMs to the PIC16C5X Microcontrollers AN530 Logic Powered Serial EEPROMs AN535 Interfacing 24LCXXB Serial EEPROMs to the PIC16C54 AN567 Using the 24XX65 and 24XX32 with Stand-alone PIC16C54 Code AN558 9 I/O Ports 1997 Microchip Technology Inc. DS31009A-page 9-19 PICmicro MID-RANGE MCU FAMILY 9.14 Revision History Revision A This is the initial released revision of the I/O Ports description. DS31009A-page 9-20 1997 Microchip Technology Inc.