This page is dedicated to everybody needs to program a PIC (Microchip) device via USB port. Looking on the web for ready-to-use projects, I found a good one called Open Programmer, coming with several schematics, PCBs and Open Source code. The original link is http://openprog.altervista.org/OP_ita.html
What concerned me was the need to mount, on the mainboard, a specific socket board depending on the model of PIC being programmed. Moreover, the proposed layout did not meet my personal "compact look" ideas. So, I propose hereafter a small layout version of that circuit, adopting a single smart on-board ZIF socket. This version sacrifices many non-PIC microcontroller models. I will thank everybody proposing a larger range implementation, suitable to program Atmel and other devices. Anyway, if your goal is to program PIC devices, you are on the good site.
A small box, a USB connector, a ZIF socket, two leds. That'all in my compact proposal.
The
details are available on the original project mentionned above.
Hereafter, I shown my Compact version, with a schematic, PCB layout and
instruction for assemby and inserting it in a very common little
plastic box. At the bottom of this page, I supply a copy of the program
to load on the PIC18F2550 used to manage the programming functions, as
well as a copy of the PC side program. I tested the program up to Win-8
without problems. Take into account that, on the original site, a newer
version of both Firmware and Software is available.
Download schematic in pdf format
Download the PCB + Components image
As
said before, the original site offers both the firmware and the PC side
software. Anyway, to start using this programmer, I suggest you to use
the versions I used at time of project editing, available hereafter for
downloading. After some tests, you can try the new updated versions
available on the original site. Of course, if you have not a programmer
yet, a friend should program the programmer first, for you. After that
first step, you will be automous!
HEX file to upload on the programmer's PIC
Connect
the programmer to the PC with a male-male A-Type USB cable. The device
is seen as a generic one. The green led blinks speedy first, announcing
the connection in progress. Than slowly, indicating that the connection
phase is completed. The PC software allows bot writing and reading the
EEPROM of any PIC mounted on the ZIF socked. The test functions allow
to measure the Vpp high voltage generated by the step-up converter
present on the main circuit. That voltage is anyway already verified by
the firware itself.
The PIC to be programmed has to be positionned on the ZIF socket as shown by the following picture. An hi-res version of this picture is available HERE for being printed and attached on the back of the programmer itself.