Microcontroller Schematic Design Software is a electronics design software(EDS) that is used for the prototyping and simulation of embedded system that contains microcontrollers.
The usual steps taken for designing microcontroller based embedded system using microcontroller circuit design software are-
1. Create a schematic of the design
2. Create Program for the microcontroller
3. Upload the program to the microcontroller
4. Stimulate the design
5. Fix errors and restimulate
6. Create PCB and implement the physical design
7. Burn the microcontroller using for example USB programming device
8. Check the final design using the signals generators and oscilloscope
2. Create Program for the microcontroller
3. Upload the program to the microcontroller
4. Stimulate the design
5. Fix errors and restimulate
6. Create PCB and implement the physical design
7. Burn the microcontroller using for example USB programming device
8. Check the final design using the signals generators and oscilloscope
An example is Proteus(see download Proteus 8 Microcontroller Simulation Software blogpost) and how to use such microcontroller schematic design software is explained. With Proteus, microcontrollers can be drawn into the schematic editor and external circuitry around it can be drawn by wiring the components to the microcontroller and stimulated to see how the microcontroller behaves in real time. The external circuit depends upon the application for which the microcontroller is used. Controlling LEDs and LCD for display are simple examples but is not limited to this. Complex automation design such as robotic design uses microcontroller and this is where schematic design software really sparks. An example would be the control of motors and wheels of a toy car or automatic control of temperature within a room.
It has the following editors-
1. Schematic Editor
2. PCB Editor
3. Programming Editor
1. Schematic Editor
2. PCB Editor
3. Programming Editor
During the Project creation, the project wizard ask what kind of project it is whether it is schematic design only, PCB design only or Firmware programming only or a complete project that requires all of these.READ Free programming software for various of the MicroChip PIC series of micro-controllers by Nigel Goodwin.
Schematic with Microcontroller
An example of microcontroller schematic drawing software(Proteus) interface is shown below-
The above picture contains the PIC16F8A microcontroller which will be programmed and stimulated.
The schematic of microcontroller with external circuit is shown below-
This is a simple illustration of how the schematic design software is used for simulation of microcontroller. In the above diagram, PIC16F84A microcontroller is used and it connection to the external circuit is also shown. The external circuit consist of driving power supply regulated by the 7805 voltage regulator and LEDs are connected at the output ports. The LEDs in the schematic can be controlled using the microcontroller.
In the schematic editor, the components along with the microcontroller(s) are placed and connected together with electrical wires. Below pictures shows the active component panel, the signal generator, the graph panels for viewing the outputs, power supply and ground terminals
Power supply and Ground terminal panel-
The Output graph terminal panel-
The Signal Generator Panel-
The PCB design editor is for creating printed circuit board for the designed system and is not discussed here. The programming editor is for programming the microcontroller and will be explained below. But before programming the microcontroller firmware is explained the library of microcontroller is described.
Microcontroller Library
A microcontroller based schematic design software should have support simulation of large number ofr microcontrollers from different vendors. As an example the proeteus microcontroller library is shown below-