Overview

The original purpose behind this circuit was to provide manual switching of three relays such that only one relay was on at any time.  It was also a requirement that there was a specific overlap (or make-before-break) period.  The code was then further developed to provide deadband (break-before-make) as well as overlap switching.  The mode and timing delay are stored as parameters in the PICs EEPROM memory making editing of these straightforward without the need to reassemble the source code.

This circuit controls up to three outputs using a 'radio button' type switching control.  When any one of the channel inputs is selected, the corresponding output is turned on and all other outputs are turned off.

If you're not familar with 'radio' buttons they work like this:

Output 1
Output 2
Output 3

In addition to this the controller features adjustable deadband or overlap of the outputs during switchover.

• With dead band delay or break-before-make operation the active output is turned off before the new output is turned on.
   
• With overlap or make-before-break operation the new output is turned on before the active output is turned off.

The delay is configurable in 0.512mS intervals from 0 to 130.56mS

The control inputs also feature a configurable debounce timer with the same range of timings making it suitable for use with simple switches directly attached to the PIC or logic interface.

Although designed to control relays the firmware is quite generic and can be used in any application where 'radio button' functionailty is needed.

(14/11/2012 - Source code and firmware for 8 Channel version for PIC16F628A)
 

Schematic

3 Channel evaluation circuit	Evaluation circuit from schematic #1  built on prototype board
schematic #1
3 Channel Relay Control
schematic #2
8 Channel evaluation circuit
schematic #3

The schematics above are intended to show the general application of the Radio Button Switch Control. Schematic #1 and #3 in particular can be used to build a simple firmware evaluation circuit.

Mode Examples

In this section I've used a Saleae Logic tool to illustrate the output operating modes and effect of input switch debounce delay.

• Make-before-break
• Break-before-make
• No-delay output switching
• Control input switch debounce

Make-before-break

In the example below Output 3 turns on before Output 2 turns off.  The overlap is 99.36mS as the T1-T2 marker flags show

made with a  Saleae USB 8 channel logic analyzer for mac, PC or linux

Break-before-make

In the example below Output 2 turns off before Output 3 turns on.  The deadband is 124mS as the T1-T2 marker flags show

made with a  Saleae USB 8 channel logic analyzer for mac, PC or linux

No-delay output switching.

In the example below there is no delay.  Output 2 turns off at the same time as Output 3 turns on.  Within the code new output values are written to the PICs GPIO port by a single instruction.

made with a  Saleae USB 8 channel logic analyzer for mac, PC or linux

Control input switch debounce

In the example below you can see the debounce delay on the switch input.  T1 marker flag shows the point where the Switch 3 button is pressed, the input goes low.  At the T2 marker flag, 20.56mS later outputs 2 and 3 change state (the firmware is configured for zero delay so the outputs change simultaneously)

made with a  Saleae USB 8 channel logic analyzer for mac, PC or linux

  Firmware notes:

• All timings are derived from the PICs internal RC oscillator and accuracy is dependant on the same.
   

• The main code is interrupt driven so all switching events are synchronous with the interrupt interval of 512uS (0.512mS)
   

• The switch inputs are only sampled at each interrupt so even with the switch debounce timer set to zero there may be a delay of up of up to 512uS before a output switching event occurs.
   

• Within the interrupt handler there are additional delays depending on the mode and switch debounce timing. These are not specified but fall in the range of 10-30 microseconds and are deterministic.
  
  Since the firmware code was originally written to operate mechanical relays under the control of manual push button switches this timing accuracy was considered sufficient and is likely to be so for any similar application.
  However, you should take this into account when considering it for use in a specific application.
   

Configuration

• EEPROM Address 0x00
  Make/Break delay time interval in 0.512mS steps.
  Range from 00 to FF (0 to 255 decimal)
  
  HEX code download set to FF (255) = 0.512mS x 255 = 130mS
   

• EEPROM Address 0x01
  Output mode:
    00 -> Make-Before-Break MBB
    01 -> Break-Before-Make BBM
  
  HEX code download set to 00 (0) = MBB mode
   

• EEPROM Address 0x02
  Input switch debounce timer interval in 0.512mS steps.
  Range from 00 to FF (0 to 255 decimal)
  
  HEX code download set to 28 (40) = 0.512mS x 40 = 20.48mS
   

 

To convert decimal values to hexadecimal you can use Google.  Ignore the '0x' part of the answer and use the two alpha-numerics.  e.g.  0xA0  enter A0 in the EEPROM data.

Firmware

You will need a PICkit2/3 programmer and the free software that comes with the programmer.  The latest versions of MPLAB and PICkit2 standalone application can be downloaded from the Microchip website

3 Channel version for PIC12F629

8 Channel version for PIC16F628A

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