(a) Briefly describe the following terms with respect to software design.
(i) Programming Goals
(ii) Top-Down Design & Bottom-up implementation
(iii) Flow Chart
(iv) Structure Chart
(v) Software Documentation
(b) The PIC18 microcontroller supports several external interrupt inputs and many internal interrupt sources.
External interrupts
(i) Identify one external interrupt input on the PIC18
(ii) Briefly describe the features of the interrupt.
(iii) Give an example of a device or type of interrupt source which the interrupt might typically be connected.
Internal interrupts
(iv) Identify two interrupt sources internal to the PIC18
(v) Briefly describe a typical function of each interrupt
(c) Briefly explain the features of the mikroC debugger that you would use to debug a C program, where the program reads an 8bit value from PORTB which specifies the maximum number of loops required in the next part of the program, but the number of loops executed is 1 less than what is expected. Assume any information about the program you wish in order to assist in your explanation.
(d) You have studied several built in Input/Output devices in the PIC18 microcontroller. For one (1) only of the following devices, briefly explain the operation and main features of the device making reference to at least 3 registers of the selected device
Select one device from:
ADC – Analogue to Digital Converter
TIMER – Programmable Timer
SCI – Serial Communications Interface
Expert Answer
1. Correct – should cater to the problem statement
2. Robust – It should have tolerance in case of misuse,
3. Flexible – it should be adapting to the shifting requirements
4. Reusable
5. Efficient – It should be memory optimizing
ii) there are two software design apporaches:
iii) The flowchart depicts flow of control in program modules.
iv)
it derived from Data Flow Diagram. which represents the system in more detail than Data Flow Diagram. It breaks down the entire system into lowest functional modules, describes functions and sub-functions of each module of the system to a greater detail than DFD.
v) Software documentation is written text or illustration that accompanies computer software. It either explains how it operates or how to use it, and may mean different things to people in different roles