In-Circuit Serial Programming

ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) or ISP (In-System Programming) is a method for programming electronic devices directly in the target circuitry. This is recommended programming style for today's MCU and PLD-based applications.

Comprehensive description of ICSP/ISB is available here:

• Reference Guide for ASIX programmers and programming software (PDF format, ~1 MB)
• Help file for program UP (compiled HTML format, ~120 KB)

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS NOW OBSOLETE AND WILL BE REMOVED SOON.

The application must meet following conditions:

• -MCLR/VPP pin of the microcontroller must be isolated from reset circuitry (e.g. by 47 kOhm resistor). During the programming +13 V is applied to this pin and rising edge of this signal must not be affected by the application circuitry.
• RB6 and RB7 pins must be disconnected from the application circuitry during the programming (e.g. can be used as inputs).

All our PIC programmers with the parallel port interface (PICCOLO, PICCOLO GRANDE, PICQUICK and CAPR-PI) use the following ICSP Cable with 6 pin/5 signal single line header, 2.54 mm raster.

NOTE: The USB programmer PRESTO uses the enhanced 8-pin connector, upwardly compatible with the one described below.

ASIX ICSP Cable pinout:

The part to be programmed connects to ICSP connector of the programmer using a cable according to following chart:

Further, it must be ensured that there is log.0 on the "Low Voltage Programming" pin (e.g. by using pull-down resistor connected to this pin). Placement of this pin for particular device:

Blocking capacitor between VCC and GND should not exceed 100 μF. Power consumption of application circuitry connected to VCC should not exceed 10 mA during the programming. -MCLR pin must not be connected directly to VCC (it may be connected through resistor of 47 kOhm), the application circuitry must be tolerant to +13 V supplied to -MCLR.

	ICSPCAB 6 pin <-> 6×1 pin
	ICSPCAB66 6 pin <-> 6 pin

Example schematics of ICSP interface