CHIPINO - The Microchip PIC Based Arduino Style Module

                       Getting Started | Simple C | PBP3 | Great Cow Basic

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Version 2.2

CHIPINO Mini

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The CHIPINO Mini is a breadboard version of the CHIPINO. It has the same 28 pin socket with PIC16F886, 10k pull-up on MCLR and 16 Mhz resonator in place of the crystal. All the I/O are brought out to 0.600" dual row headers. The module doesn't have the 5v or 3v power regulator or on/off switch. This simplifies the design and makes it cheaper. The idea is to develop your creation with a CHIPINO module and when you are ready to build it into a permanent project, then the CHIPINO mini can save you cost and space.
Feature
Chipino
Arduino
Free IDE
Yes
Yes
Free Compiler
Yes
Yes
Open Source Board Layout
Yes
Yes
Open Source Schematic
Yes
Yes
Sample Code
Yes
Yes
USB Programmed
Via USB ICSP Programmer
Via Bootloader
USB/External Power
Yes
Yes
28 pin chip
Yes
Yes
Open Source Programmer/Bootloader
Yes,
 PICkit 2
Yes,
Arduino
Program in C
Yes
Yes
Run-Time In-Circuit Debugger
Yes (via Free MPLAB IDE)
No
Uses low cost blank
 28 pin microcontroller
Yes
No
Program in language other than C
Yes
No
Program in Graphical/Flowchart Software
Yes
Flowcode C
and
GreatCow Graphical BASIC
No
Chipino is an electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, students, technicians, engineers and anyone else interested in creating interactive gadgets.

Chipino vs Arduino
Chipino is not designed to replace Arduino, it's just another option. Arduino is a great platform based on the Atmel microcontrollers. But many people prefer the Microchip PIC microcontrollers. There is a seemingly endless supply of software examples and application notes available for the Microchip PICs but a common hardware platform was missing. With the success of the Arduino hardware, an opportunity existed to bridge the two worlds and connect the Arduino with the PIC and that is what Chipino is all about. Chipino is actually designed to use the same footprint as Arduino so all the Ardunio shields can also be used with Chipino. The Chipino is just another alternative for this great common hardware development format Arduino created. 

Chipino Starter Package
The best way to get started is to get a CHIPINO and a PIC programmer. There are many PICkit 2 Clone programmers that work great. The starter set below is a great place to start.
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Available at Howtronics.com
Chipino Proto-Shield
Chipino  Proto-Shield is shorter than most Arduino prototype shields. It's designed to allow access to the on/off switch and the communication connections for the PICkit 2 UART and Logic Tool features.

Beginner's Guide to Embedded C Programming - Volume 3

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Volume 3 Book
The CHIPINO and CHIPINO mini are both used for the projects in Chuck Hellebuyck's book Beginner's Guide to Embedded C Programming - Volume 3 where he shows you how he created the Simple C library and how to use it with the CHIPINO modules.