BASIC stamp manual v2.2

1: Introduction to the BASIC Stamp
BASIC Stamp Syntax and Reference Manual 2.2 • www.parallax.com • Page 7
Welcome to the wonderful world of BASIC Stamp
®
microntrollers. BASIC
Stamp microcontrollers have been in use by engineers and hobbyists since
we first introduced them in 1992. As of November 2004, Parallax
customers have put well over three million BASIC Stamp modules into
use. Over this 12-year period, the BASIC Stamp line of controllers has
evolved into six models and many physical package types, explained
below.
General Operation Theory
BASIC Stamp modules are microcontrollers (tiny computers) that are
designed for use in a wide array of applications. Many projects that
require an embedded system with some level of intelligence can use a
BASIC Stamp module as the controller.
Each BASIC Stamp comes with a BASIC Interpreter chip, internal memory
(RAM and EEPROM), a 5-volt regulator, a number of general-purpose I/O
pins (TTL-level, 0-5 volts), and a set of built-in commands for math and
I/O pin operations. BASIC Stamp modules are capable of running a few
thousand instructions per second and are programmed with a simplified,
but customized form of the BASIC programming language, called
PBASIC.
PBASIC Language
We developed PBASIC specifically for the BASIC Stamp as a simple, easy
to learn language that is also well suited for this architecture, and highly
optimized for embedded control. It includes many of the instructions
featured in other forms of BASIC (GOTO, FOR...NEXT, IF...THEN…ELSE)
as well as some specialized instructions (SERIN, PWM, BUTTON, COUNT
and DTMFOUT). This manual includes an extensive section devoted to
each of the available instructions.
Hardware
At the time of this writing, there are currently seven models of the BASIC
Stamp; the BS1, BS2, BS2e, BS2sx, BS2p, BS2pe, and the BS2px. The tables
below are provided to easily compare their specifications, followed by
diagrams that detail the various package types of these modules.
Schematics for the SIP/DIP packages of all models can be found in
Appendix D.