Component identification in a touch operated light switch

Dr Bob said:

I thought about that, as I have actually done some Arduino programming, but I don't know of an 18 pin Micro-controller like the Arduino? I did find one 18 pin one called the Geni 18, power pins the same, but clk and dta on the wrong pins, I wonder if this chip is some Chinese obscure little controller like a mini Arduino, the Seeduino is to small, there are just too many types to troll through, Just for a giggle I emailed the customer service and asked them if they would be so kind as to inform me which Microcontroller is used in the switch, Nothing yet Can bootloaders be used with some pic chips then Nigel? I guess if they program them at the factory from the edge connector then surely the bootloader will still be in it?

Click to expand...

Yes, PIC's can use bootloaders, I presume most controllers are capable of it. I played with PIC bootloaders a VERY long time ago - I even wrote a version of WinPicProg that would upload files to a PIC with a (specific) bootloader installed.

There are a number of PIC bootloaders available here:


or here:


I even seem to remember MicroChip themselves provided one, as an appnote perhaps?.

The Arduino isn't actually a micro-controller - it's a development system that includes a micro-controller - often an AVR, but also a wide range of other processors, including some PIC's. Apparently the original idea for the Arduino was PIC based, but MicroChip weren't prepared to provide a free compiler for it - Atmel were, the rest is history

However, thinking on - it wouldn't help you anyway, bootloaders can only upload code (as far as I know), so you couldn't use one to read the contents, even in the unlikely event that it's not write protected.

I added ann edit with another idea

LVP still uses MCLR - see:

Nigel Goodwin said:

LVP still uses MCLR - see:

Low-Voltage Programming of 8-Bit PIC® Devices - Developer Help

microchipdeveloper.com

Click to expand...

Yes but from what I read it is held low, which it is by merit of the fact it's connected to something, Am I missing something? I understood MCLR only has to go high to put the chip into the LVP mode by setting the bit, but if it is already set up for LVP then MCLR stays low?