Tony Dickinson <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote:

> I need to measure the time between two events to 100th second and
> display the time on a 5 digit display as sss:ss Which PIC would be
> the best choice for this very low volume application?

    The smallest one you can find, Tony... I'd probably use an 8-pin
    12C508 and a 3-wire serial display driver (like the MM5486 and
    its ilk).

> Would I be better off using one PIC to handle the timing and
> another to handle the system control and the display which should
> be updated whilst the measurement is taking place?

    No; I don't see how that division of labor would simplify
    anything.

> I will eventually want to use very large display panels and these
> require quite a large drive current would I be better using an
> external shifter and driver from the start or can the PIC drive
> these currents?

    Use an external display driver... It'll handle more current than
    the PIC's own I/O pins, and it will simplify your program
    DRAMATICALLY.

    -Andy

=== Andrew Warren - fastfwd@ix.netcom.com
=== Fast Forward Engineering - Vista, California
=== http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499