Hi guys

I am using pic18f, are there some special register than I can use to store 2 bytes data and the values won't change after reset instruction? I really don't want to use an eeprom.

Thanks guys!

 

RAM will not change during reset unless you power-cycle the PIC.

 

There should also be bits to tell you what kind of RESET there has been. You are interested in the difference between POWER ON RESET, MANUAL RESET, and WATCHDOG RESET.

 

RAM will not change during reset unless you power-cycle the PIC.

And then make sure that you retrieve the data prior any initialization routines starts. Honestly have no idea if RAM, in commercial applications, is initialized in any way.

 

Isn't there some user EEPROM in the PIC18F....?

 

really don't want to use an eeprom.

You can write it to flash. You can write to outboard storage, ...

 

Hi guys

I am using pic18f, are there some special register than I can use to store 2 bytes data and the values won't change after reset instruction? I really don't want to use an eeprom.

Thanks guys!

simple do, using mplab xc8
int Adress[2];
int Data[2];
int n=0; // read zero or 1
// write before reset
eeprom_write(Address[n],Data[n]);
// read it back
value[n]=eeprom_read(address[n]);

 

Isn't there some user EEPROM in the PIC18F....?

Not in my one, but I can use program space tho if I really want to.

 

RAM will not change during reset unless you power-cycle the PIC.

For 2 bytes; you can use a couple of bus-wide D latch packages or shift it into a shift register.

A supercapacitor could sustain that for a day or 2 with the power removed.

 

Which PIC18?
What language tool?
Warm or cold reset?

What you are asking is not hard to do but the method varies depending on the PIC and which assembler/compiler you are using AND whether you want to maintain the RAM during warm resets (by instruction or MCLR/) or power-on (cold) resets in which case, you have to either keep the RAM alive or keep the data in some sort of non-volatile storage.

With warm resets:
Assembler is easy, just don't initialize that RAM until you've examined the reset source. C is a little more involved - many compilers initialize RAM to 00h (to conform to the language requirement that uninitialized variables are 00) others recognize that that takes code and is not necessarily desirable in an embedded system so the compiler will provide an option to initialize or not. Some compilers provide a way to initialize some variables and not others.

With hard reset from power off condition.
The RAM will be corrupted.
You'll have to detect dropping power and try to store what you want or better, always keep a current value in some nonvolatile storage (EEPROM, flashROM etc.) OR keep the RAM alive with some backup supply.

What are you using?
Good luck.

 

RAM will not change during reset unless you power-cycle the PIC.

Isn't it XC8 automatically initially all variable to 0 when declare?

Which PIC18?
What language tool?
Warm or cold reset?

• PIC18F46J50
• XC8 - Free mode
• RESET by RESET instruction (warm?)

I believe XC8 initial variable to 0 when declare, but I haven't found how not to do it yet XC8. Mainly I don't know where to look. (Still in the process of reading the xc8 user guild to find what I need)

 

Isn't it XC8 automatically initially all variable to 0 when declare?

• PIC18F46J50
• XC8 - Free mode
• RESET by RESET instruction (warm?)

I believe XC8 initial variable to 0 when declare, but I haven't found how not to do it yet XC8. Mainly I don't know where to look. (Still in the process of reading the xc8 user guild to find what I need)

You have to customize the C startup file. This is usually an assembly language file that calls _main()

 

Isn't it XC8 automatically initially all variable to 0 when declare?

If you use C then all the variables are initialized. But the memory outside the C variables isn't.

Also, if I remember correctly you can declare a variable as "persistent" to avoid initialization.

 

If you use C then all the variables are initialized. But the memory outside the C variables isn't.

Also, if I remember correctly you can declare a variable as "persistent" to avoid initialization.

True. Non-initialized variables declared as 'persistent' are not affected by the startup code in XC8. XC8 also provides facilities to save the STATUS register to be able to inspect PD and TO bits for processors that have them in the STATUS reg. See 'MAIN, RUNTIME STARTUP AND RESET' in the XC8 Compiler User's Guide (DS520053). It's section 5.10 in my old one and describes how all variables are treated at startup.

And yes, executing the 'reset' instruction would be considered a 'warm' restart, the distinction being that at a warm restart, the RAM is not changed by the reset action. Contrast that with a cold start i.e. from a power off condition. In that case, the contents of the RAM are indeterminate. Either way, it is the job of the initialization code to set up the RAM and start the program (by jumping to main() ) with any explicitly initialized variables loaded and the rest zeroed (according to C convections) unless you explicitly tell it to leave some variables unchanged.

 

The PIC18F46Jxx series do not have eeprom on board however; you can easy steal two bytes from program flash. go to microchip applications and software support. (An example should be available)
Picbuster.

 

The PIC18F46Jxx series do not have eeprom on board however; you can easy steal two bytes from program flash. go to microchip applications and software support. (An example should be available)
Picbuster.

Some parts have EEPROM scratch pad memory which would be exactly right for this use.

Program memory is usually flash and has a finite number of write cycles.

 

Some parts have EEPROM scratch pad memory which would be exactly right for this use.

Program memory is usually flash and has a finite number of write cycles.

You are correct about this program memory spec is100K times according to microchip.


Picbuster

 

Data EEPROM is typically 100K. Flash is usually between 10K and 20K, but on some PIC18s may be as low as 100 (sic!).

 

but on some PIC18s may be as low as 100 (sic!).

In the newest ones?

 

In the newest ones?

Not in the newest ones - from some 7-8 years ago - such as PIC18F87J10.