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MATLAB to PIC serial interface

by leevonk on March 29, 2006 Table of Contents MATLAB to PIC serial interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: MATLAB to PIC serial interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Code with comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 4 4

http://www.instructables.com/id/MATLAB-to-PIC-serial-interface/

Author:leevonk
www.leevonk.com

author's website

Intro: MATLAB to PIC serial interface

some code to let MATLAB talk to a PIC16f877 via the serial port. This isn't that hard nor is it much code, but I spent a decent amount of time figuring it all out (starting from scratch), so I figured it would be helpful. Enjoy.

Step 1: Code with comments

below is some code I pasted in. Download the .txt file if you want the code. See the pictures for help witht he serial interface. One shows the 22kohm resistor method of connecting your serial port to a PIC. The other shows the max232 method of connecting your serial port to a PIC. With serial connections the most common problem is not setting the computer and the PIC to the same Baud Rate, so make sure you do that (as it's done in my code). Also, make sure you've connected all of the GNDs together (PIC, MAX232, and Computer GNDs all connected). Also, make sure that you're using the right capacitor value for the max232 (max232 vs. max232A), see diagram in the instructable for the proper values. Also, make sure that your computer is sending the values you think it is sending. To do this, stick wires into your DB9 cable to make a serial loopback. This will make the computer get back exactly what it has just sent. Here's a diagram of how to wire this up: http://electrosofts.com/serial/loopback.jpg So make your matlab code do a serial read right after the serial write. You can also use free serial port monitoring software to makesure serial communications are occuring properly (here's one example http://www.batchconverter.com/FreeSerialPortMonitor-download-20643.shtml). Anyway, here's the code: %########################################################################## %########################--MATLAB CODE--################################### %########################################################################## %This code assumes that you have MATLAB hooked up to a PIC microcontroller via the PC's serial port through a %MAX232 IC _OR_ if you don't use a max232 all you need is a 22 kohm limiting resistor on %the serial line which connects the computer to the PIC (aka Pin 3 and/or Pin 2, see below). %Pin 3 or the DB-9 port is the TX line, aka the line that carries serial data from the PC to the PIC. %Pin 2 carries serial data the other way (PIC to PC) if you want to do that. %Pin 5 is the DB-9 ground pin which you should use to connect the PC ground with the PIC ground. %This code also assumes that you're using COM3 for serial communication with the PIC. SerPIC = serial('COM3'); %<--change this appropriately set(SerPIC,'BaudRate', 9600, 'DataBits', 8, 'Parity', 'none','StopBits', 1, 'FlowControl', 'none'); fopen(SerPIC); %--open the serial port to the PIC fprintf(SerPIC, '%s', '003'); %--send a _three_ digit string to the PIC with no terminator ('%s') %-- 003 = 00000011 in binary, so first two LEDs of PIC will light fclose(SerPIC) %--close the serial port when done delete(SerPIC) clear SerPIC %NOTE 1: %if MATLAB ever gives a serial error, it will most likely say 'unable to open serial port' next time you

http://www.instructables.com/id/MATLAB-to-PIC-serial-interface/

%run the program, so you have to restart MATLAB %NOTE 2: %the number must always be sent as a three digit number because for some reason I couldn't get my PIC to receive %the number when it wasn't of a specified length (see PIC code: DEC3) %========================================================================== %========================================================================== '########################################################################## '#############################--PIC16F877 CODE--########################### '########################################################################## 'This code assumes you have the PIC16F877 set up with one LED on each line of Port D (8 lines). 'This way the PIC will light up a different pattern of LEDs according to the number send via serial from MATLAB. 'Each LED should be in series with a 470 ohm resistor (see pic below) '_ '' ' '------LED---\ 470 ohm 'PIC' >------/\/\/\------GND ' '------LED---/ '---' ' 'This code also assumes that you have the TX line of the DB-9 serial port connected to pin 0 of port C (PORTC.0) Include "bs2defs.bas" 'has some useful stuff in it 'DEFINE OSC 4 'Oscillator speed in MHz, this isn't needed I guess SerI var PORTC.0 'make an easy name to refer to the serial pin TRISD = %00000000 'set PortD as an output port PortD = %00000000 'set LED port to all zeros GetGhost: Serin2 SerI, 84, (DEC3 B0) 'get a three digit number from serial pin and put it into B0 variabl PortD = B0 'set the lines of PortD according to this three digit number GOTO GetGhost '=========================================================================== '===========================================================================

File Downloads

Lee_PIC_To_MATLAB_serial_communication.txt (3 KB) [NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'Lee_PIC_To_MATLAB_serial_communication.txt']

http://www.instructables.com/id/MATLAB-to-PIC-serial-interface/

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Comments
15 comments Add Comment

annisajamali says:

Feb 23, 2011. 6:07 AM REPLY Hi.. My system has 6 servos and 1 dc motor. Value for servos to turn will always change according to the program i write in Matlab.So mean that i have to interface my servo motor to PIC16F877A by connecting servo controller to it right? And for DC motor i have to build H-bridge and attached them on PIC as usual? How to write program on this in matlab? how to send signal to move the motor? please help!!i have been looking for this about a month...hu hu

hani_aast says:
I want the complete circuit how we connect max232 with pic with serial

Mar 10, 2009. 2:07 AM REPLY

crapper says:

Sep 6, 2008. 10:33 AM REPLY thanks for the instructable. but i have problem. my laptop doesnt have a serial port, only usb. how can i connect to my laptop? i dont think i can use a usbserial converter since its +5v 0. helpppp Jan 21, 2008. 12:43 AM REPLY Help me with COM in Matlab! In Matlab command window,I type: set(COM1,'BaudRate',9600,'DataBit',8,'Parity','none','StopBit',1,'Flowcontrol','none'); fopen(COM1) then error: ??? Undefined function or variable 'COM1'. Some body can help me about that! I'm very new with Matlab and conputer interface! Thanks!

duyngdang says:

morteza.jalalat says:
my dear,you must type as below for creating a serial port object : s=('COM1','BaudRate',9600,'DataBit',8,'Parity','none','StopBit',1,'Flowcontrol','none'); fopen(s) where s is your object !!

May 6, 2008. 6:03 AM REPLY

duyngdang says:

Jan 21, 2008. 7:59 PM REPLY Now I can open port with Matlab. Now I have to put an hex file to Pic16F88? Would you please share for me the the hex file to put in the Pic16F877? I have programmer kit and soft for pic but I don't have any software to program and convert to hext files After that, I have to put some led to pins of pic16F877 for this command: fprintf(SerPIC, '%s', '003'); ? Would you please send me the schematic for that? I'm a mechanic guy,so I'm trying to know about computer interface. Please help me for that! Thanks! Jan 21, 2008. 7:07 AM REPLY

leevonk says:
uhm, how bout using my code that's staring you right in the face on the next page: SerPIC = serial('COM3'); %<--change this appropriately set(SerPIC,'BaudRate', 9600, 'DataBits', 8, 'Parity', 'none','StopBits', 1, 'FlowControl', 'none'); !!!!!!!! note the very important SerPIC = serial('COM3'); !!!!!!!!

BlessedtoknowHim says:

Apr 3, 2008. 9:43 PM REPLY I want to continuously send a x and y coordinate from Matlab via a USB-RS232 cable to a pan-tilt servo assembly controlled by an ooPIC-R. Does the ooPIC-R convert the RS232 +-10V to TTL +-5V? Should the concept of your code work for this application? I can send one value from Matlab and get a servo to react but the system acts up when I try to send values continuously. Sometimes I get a "timed out" error in Matlab.

http://www.instructables.com/id/MATLAB-to-PIC-serial-interface/

behrouz2007 says:

Apr 2, 2008. 1:47 AM REPLY I want use 9bit USART (9th bit set) for sending command to PIC and (9th bit zero) for sending data to PIC. So i want use Parity bit of serial port as 9th bit. But when i execute herein commands in MATLAB 6: >> e=serial('COM1') >> fopen(e) >> set(e,'Parity','mark') This error occured: ??? Error using ==> serial/set Parity could not be set to the specified value. Please help me. Why i can not change parity to 'mark' and 'space'.

duyngdang says:

Jan 22, 2008. 6:11 PM REPLY Now I can open port with Matlab. Now I have to put an hex file to Pic16F88? Would you please share for me the the hex file to put in the Pic16F877? I have programmer kit and soft for pic but I don't have any software to program and convert to hext files After that, I have to put some led to pins of pic16F877 for this command: fprintf(SerPIC, '%s', '003'); ? Would you please send me the schematic for that? I'm a mechanic guy,so I'm trying to know about computer interface. Please help me for that! Thanks! Nov 23, 2006. 9:04 PM REPLY

jnk101 says:
gr8 begining chk out : http://www.dspaceinc.com/ww/en/inc/home/products/systems/controld.cfm have u come across diy / open source for this stuff really keen on this stuff

finly says:

Jun 1, 2007. 1:59 AM REPLY Hello, that's a great tutorial. Do you have any tutorial about how to display signal generated by function generator and A/D converted by PIC ? The PIC will be connected to the PC using serial. Thank you.

ppsh04 says:

Apr 20, 2007. 4:56 PM REPLY Thank you for the experience you have shared here. This post is really effective for my program. :D Hope you can contribute more. Good Luck!

ferasmetib says:
would you please add this file bs2defs.bas and in what software enviromint is the pic code : mplap ide, picbasic,....?

Mar 29, 2007. 2:06 AM REPLY

leevonk says:

Mar 29, 2007. 7:46 AM REPLY I used MPLAB with PICBasic set as the compiler. If you have the PICBasic compiler you'll have the bs2defs.bas file, if you don't have PICBasic the file is useless so I won't post it (I'm not sure if it's legal to post it). It's not really an important file anyway, If you delete its include from my code, all you have to change is to declare your own variable in place of B0 (B0 is a predefined variable when using bs2defs.bas).

http://www.instructables.com/id/MATLAB-to-PIC-serial-interface/