OSCCAL Value Finder

Introduction

When working with microcontrollers that require a factory calibrated osccal value stored in memory, it’s very normal that once in a while this setting could be lost during an upload of a new program or when accidentally erasing the device.

I’m no exception and erased many times this value by mistake in several devices. Once this value is erased, it’s not possible to recover it unless it was written on a sheet of paper or in our own memory and use it to record it back.

This project has the ability to calculate what is the appropriate osccal value for the 12F675 microcontroller.

Schematic

Parts List

R1                   300 ohms resistor
R2                  1K ohms resistor
R3                  10K ohms resistor
P1                   10K Potentiometer
C1                   15pF capacitor
C2                  15pF capacitor
C3                  10uF capacitor
Led1               3mm green led
LCD               8X2 LCD
XTAL            8Mhz cristal
IC1                 16F88 microcontroller from Microchip
S1                   Push button

Others:

Box
8 PIN IC SOCKET
PCB
Hex program for the microcontroller

How it works

The program loaded in the 12F675 device which has no osccal value will force a pulse on GPIO.4 and it will make a loop while increasing the osccal value internally.
GPIO.5 will send the current osccal value used for each pulse sent. Because the device has no calibrated osccal value, the pulse will be variable. The circuit will wait until it receives the correct pulse. When the correct pulse is received, it will stop the test and display the osccal value used when the correct pulse was measured.
 
The value displayed is in Hexadecimal format which means it can be used without conversions directly to the device’s memory.

HEX Program

The Hex program named Oscfind1 must be saved in the 16F88 microcontroller’s memory before soldering on the PCB.
 
The Hex program named Oscfind2 must be saved in the device’s memory ( 12F675 ).

Testing

Turning on the circuit, it will display the name of the project and then it will display the message “ Put Pic – Hit But “. At this point it’s possible to place the 12F675 device on the socket and press the push button.

Pressing the push button S1 the circuit will start to measure the signal from the 12F675 device and will count the pulses. The display shows the pulse signal being measured and the current Osccal value.

When the pulse sent by the 12F675 device matches the requested pulse length the circuit will stop the device and display the recommended osccal value.

Since the circuit controls the power of the 12F675 device, at this point is possible to remove the device from the socket and place a new one. Pressing S1 the circuit will start a new test.

Conclusion

This is a very interesting circuit for the microcontroller beginner. Not only for recovering lost osccal values but also to understand some microcontroller characteristics.
The crystal must be a good quality crystal or precise results may not be ensured.
The circuit uses an 8X2 LCD making it a portable project.

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