>
>Also I am looking at using a standard 16x2 LCD with these switches to
>allow menu selection and configuration settings - has anyone done
>anything that allows the PIC to communicate with a host processor (in
>this case it is ACORN podule bus) to download menu choices, selections
>etc. I am trying to reduce the amount of processing done by the host so
>that the PIC can deal with most of the menu control if poss........
>
I did this a while ago - for this type of app, throughput isn't
usually an issue, so I used a 4 bit port (part of a GAL) on the podule
bus to do synchronous serial to the PIC, bnit-bashed by the ARM with
req/ack handshaking.
higher-end 40 pin PICs have a bus interface, which makes life easier,
but read the errata sheets - there were some serious bugs in early
versions!