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  • Global fossil fuel emissions set to fall in 2026, but total CO2 keeps rising
    Global fossil fuel emissions are projected to fall in 2026 as renewable energy and electric vehicles gain ground, but rising emissions from deforestation threaten to push total CO2 emissions to a new record. Scientists warn that the world's remaining carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.5°C could be exhausted in less than four years, even […]
  • A hidden limit of space and time could unlock electronics 100,000 times faster
    Scientists have discovered a surprising quantum limit that prevents electrons from being tracked with unlimited precision in both space and time. The breakthrough could pave the way for manipulating chemical reactions and developing electronics hundreds of thousands of times faster than today's technology.
  • Scientists discover that a clogged filter could revolutionize oil refining
    Scientists have developed a remarkable new membrane that separates crude oil at room temperature, using the oil itself to create microscopic filtration channels. The breakthrough could cut refining energy consumption by nearly 32%, carbon emissions by almost 38%, and operating costs by 36%, potentially transforming one of the world's most energy-intensive industries.
  • SLAC scientists find conclusive proof of a mysterious third type of magnetism
    For nearly 90 years, scientists believed magnetism fell into just two categories, but researchers have now confirmed a remarkable third type called altermagnetism. Using specialized X-rays, they uncovered a unique magnetic signature that proves these materials behave differently from conventional magnets. Altermagnets combine stability with the ability to efficiently carry information, potentially overcoming major limitations […]
  • Scientists just broke a textbook rule of physics
    Scientists have defied a long-standing rule of laser physics by generating X-rays with much higher energies than conventional theory predicts. The surprising discovery reveals how two electrons working together can overcome a previously accepted limit, opening new possibilities for quantum research.
  • New 3D thermal invisibility cloak makes objects disappear from infrared cameras
    Researchers have developed a groundbreaking 3D invisibility cloak that can hide complex objects from infrared cameras while protecting them from extreme heat and cold. Instead of blocking heat, the device guides it around an object, making the object appear invisible to thermal imaging from virtually any direction. Successfully built and tested, the cloak could transform […]
Educational graphic showing the analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) process using the PIC16F877A microcontroller. On the left is a graph of a smooth analog voltage waveform sampled at discrete points (shown as red dots), and on the right is the PIC16F877A chip with MPLAB X IDE branding. The image illustrates how analog voltages are digitized for processing in microcontroller-based systems.

PIC16F877A Analog to Digital Converter (ADC)

The ADC module in microcontrollers indeed allows them to interface with the analog world by converting continuous analog signals into discrete digital values. This capability is crucial for various applications such as sensing, control systems, and communication. It is distinct from PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), which uses discrete pulses to ...
Graphical illustration of PWM signal showing narrow and wide pulses with varying duty cycles. Includes a 10V signal graph, labels for voltage levels, and mentions PIC16F877A microcontroller and MPLAB X IDE.

Using PWM in PIC16F877A

Digital signals (0 or 1) and analog signals (range of values) are both used in electronics. Analog inputs can be converted to digital through an ADC. To control analog devices with a microcontroller, DACs are used but they're costly and space-consuming. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is a cost-effective technique that ...
Educational slide introducing Timer2 of the PIC16F877A microcontroller. It includes a stopwatch icon with the phrase “Alarm, Timers, how does it work?” on the left, and an image of the PIC microcontroller with MPLAB X IDE branding on the right. The tutorial focuses on Timer2's use in generating precise delays and pulse-width modulation (PWM).

PIC16F877A Timer2 tutorial

The Timer2 module is an 8-bit timer/counter within most PIC MCU devices. Timer2 can increment up to a value of 255 before it overflows back to zero. Timer2 has other built-in features that make it very useful for many different applications.
Educational slide introducing the Timer1 module of the PIC16F877A microcontroller. The left side shows a stopwatch icon and the question “Alarm, Timers, how does it work?”, while the right side features the microcontroller image and MPLAB X IDE logo. The tutorial focuses on Timer1's role in timing, delays, and interrupts.

PIC16F877A Timer1 Tutorial

The Timer1 module is a 16-bit timer/counter within most PIC MCU devices. Timer1 can increment up to a value of 65535 before it overflows back to zero. Because the timer is built into an 8-bit device, the 16-bit timer register is broken into two 8-bit registers (TMR1L and TMR1H) and ...
Educational slide introducing the use of hardware timers in the PIC16F877A microcontroller. The left side features a stopwatch icon and the question “Alarm, Timers, how does it work?”, while the right side shows the microcontroller and MPLAB X IDE logo. The image sets the stage for learning about Timer0, Timer1, and Timer2 functionality.

PIC Microcontrollers Timers

In this tutorial, we will learn what are "Timers"; we will explain this with examples using the Microcontroller PIC16F877A. For this tutorial is may be helpful to understand the basics of turning an LED on and off, which is explained in one of my previous tutorials on LEDs. In this ...
Educational graphic showing how to interface 4x3 matrix keypads with a PIC16F877A microcontroller. The image includes two physical keypads, a schematic layout of the 4x3 keypad connections, the PIC16F877A chip, and the MPLAB X IDE logo. Text reads "Interfacing PIC16F877A with 4x3 keypads."

Interfacing 4×3 keypads with PIC16F877A

In this tutorial, we will provide an overview of the 4x3 membrane keypad. The keypad serves as a reliable and budget-friendly tool for having inputs in your project. Understanding how to interface with the keypad will prove useful in future projects that require menu selection or similar inputs. Our guide ...
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