There are different types of microcontrollers in the PIC family and one of the most familiar PIC families would be the dsPIC33.

The reasons why the microchip dsPIC33 frequently being used in the digital signal controller related projects because it runs at 40 MIPS, and with up to 256 Kbytes of self-programming Flash, more than 30 Kbytes of RAM and 64 to 100-pin packages. Beside that, it’s including an 8-channel non-intrusive DMA and the option of 1.1 Msps high performance A/D converters too!

Today, you will try to apply this dsPIC33 into a breakout box or BoB, which it’s usually a box that a compound electrical connector is totally separated into its component connectors.

Basically, the compound connectors are used where sufficient space for connections is unavailable, such as on personal computer sound cards! This means if there are only a few connections, then a breakout cable will be used here, as it’s a common matter on a smaller notebook computers.

For your information, a breakout box can also mean a piece of electronic test equipment, which has been used for diagnosing problems in computer communications, especially over a serial port.

Do you have a dsPIC oscilloscope and Spectrum analyzer in your lab, but you still think that you didn’t fully used it for a great purpose?

Well, then it’s time to use some of your creativity and effort to combine these two stuffs together and transform it into a magnificent Scopey II!

Before it, do you know the main function of the Spectrum analyzer? Technically, it is a device used to examine the spectral composition of some electrical, acoustic or optical waveform. Sometimes, it can be also measured the power spectrum as well! Basically, the spectrum analyzer can be divided into two main types and there is analog and digital spectrum analyzer.

This is how the Scopey II works…

Everything is comes in through the BNC jack on the front and the signal is than attenuated or amplified by the attenuator and amplifier. The gain of the input stage is fully controlled by the PIC and the input stage level will shift the input so it can centers around 2.5v to enable reading negative voltages. Furthermore, the ADC is also reading the front panel controls. As the result, all the exciting information, where the PIC gathers is displayed on a handy 128×64 graphics LCD!

If you’re looking for a suitable player that continuously playing your favorite songs in WAV format, then you have found it here.

Today, you’ll learn the simplest way to create a dsPIC WAV player. This project is based on the microchip MDDFS library (Memory Disk Drive File System). The Integrated C source code can easily manage a FAT12, FAT16 or FAT32 file system and interface to a SD, CF memory card or an IDE hard drive. And, the best part about this application: its totally free of charge! The only disadvantage for this application, is the amount of memory it needs, where it can takes up a huge 23KB in flash or 1.4KB of RAM!

First of all, you will need a way to output an analog voltage out of the PIC, and the PWM is the easiest method for this purpose.

Next, you have to know how to get audio data from a *.WAV file. All you need it for now, is some link between the raw data from the WAV file to the PWM output.

Lastly, the audio will come out of the PWM pin on the pic. What are you waiting for? Just plug in the audio jack and enjoy the music