Creating a PWM signal using PIC18F4520

Question

I am trying to create a 100ms period pwm signal (10Hz) with a PIC18F4520, I followed the PR2 equation to help me create this signal

I have a 20MHz clock frequency with a prescaler of 16 and a PWM period of (100 x 10^-3 s) and when I use these values in this equation:

\$ \Large PR2 = ( \frac{PWM Period}{( TOsc \times 4 \times TMR2 Prescaler )} ) - 1 \$

I get 0x31249

I am also trying to run this PWM signal at 50% duty cycle [so 50ms off and 50ms on] by using the duty cycle equation:

Duty Cycle = ((CCPR1L << 7 ) | (CCP1CON bits <5:4>) ) \$ \times \$ TOSC in MHz \$ \times \$ Prescale

Which gives 62500 as a value for the duty cycle.

This whole exercise is for me to learn better about using PWM signals. I am programming the PIC in C18 and simulating it on PROTEUS VSM.

enter image description here

that is a picture of what the oscilloscope is picking up off the PWM signal which DOES NOT LOOK LIKE 50% duty cycle or 10 Hz frequency.

This is the code that I am using on PROTEUS VSM:

include p18cxxx.h 
include pwm.h 
include timers.h 
pragma config OSC = HS 
pragma config MCLRE = ON 
pragma config WDT = OFF 
pragma config LVP = OFF 
pragma config DEBUG = OFF 
pragma config PBADEN = OFF 
unsigned char period = 0x31249; // assign PR2 to 31249 used to get 100ms period
unsigned int duty_cycle = 62500; // used to get 50ms on/off
void main(void)
{ 
 OpenTimer2(TIMER_INT_OFF & T2_PS_1_16 & T2_POST_1_1); 
 OpenPWM1 (period); 
 SetDCPWM1 (duty_cycle); 
 while (1);
} 

As it can be seen I am using the PWM library as I heard it was easier to work with.

I am sorry if I appear too unacquainted with how questions are made on this forum or as to how I presented my problem.

• Roger Rowland: unsigned char period = 0x31249; That value is far too big for an unsigned char, which is possibly part of the problem.
• Opscurus Lucetti: Even I thought it was way too big and I went with it only not to work , have you got a different value than that? If you do how did you get it?

Answer 1

You cannot get a 100ms PWM period with a 20MHz clock. The maximum will be something like 16ms. You can run the micro slower or use a faster period. Generally the period is not too important and you want to maximize the resolution.

Please read the datasheet and reference manual sections on the timers carefully, there are too many issues with your understanding.

Also note that you have confused 0x31249 (201289 decimal) with 31249.