Archive for the 'AVR Microcontrollers' Category

Testing AVR universal bootloader on Atmega128

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

After project source code is developed there is always need to flash it to microcontroller. There are few ways to program AVR microcontrollers. Usually we used to flash AVR’s with ISP adapter (or other programmer) that is not always handy especially when designing device for the end user who doesn’t have ISP adapter or doesn’t [...]

AVR based TDA7313 Audio processor control

Thursday, August 9th, 2007

Introduction
TDA7313 audio processor have been used for more than ten years in the industry because of its simplicity, functionality and good parameters like low distortion, low noise. Chip is based on BIPOLAR/CMOS technology and can be used in various applications including car radios, Hi-FI, simple mixers.
TDA7313 chip has 3 external stereo inputs, that allows to [...]

Updated USBspi bridge adapter

Friday, August 3rd, 2007

USBspi is a general purpose SPI bridge for USB designed by ChaN. Adapted have been updated from older one by replacing older MCU to Attiny2313 and instead COM port there is USB adapter attached which works through FT232RQ USB to RS232 bridge. So writing time is faster now.

Also adapter board is placed in small box [...]

Simulate KS0108 graphical LCD with Proteus simulator

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

Today it is very popular to use various circuit and microcontroller simulators when developing programs. Using simulators you have several benefits comparing to real prototype boards like you don’t have to connect any hardware to test a piece of code, you don’t have to be in same place when working – you can have simulator [...]

Controlling graphical 128×64 LCD based on KS0108

Friday, July 20th, 2007

HQM1286404 is pretty old graphical LCD module but it is still popular. This LCD is controlled by KS0108 lcd controller via two segment drivers. LCD backlight color is yellow-green. I think this is good choice for many projects where graphical information needed because of several reasons – you can find libraries around the internet to [...]

What is DebugWire interface

Tuesday, June 5th, 2007

Debug wire is an interface which enables debugging AVR microcontrollers by using one wire. All new AVR microcontrollers with less than 16kByte memory have built in one wire bidirectional debugging interface which allows debugging devices at the real time.
Like JTAG interface DebugWIRE can handle full execution and program flow control. It also supports unlimited number [...]

Major programmer types for 8 bit AVR microcontrollers

Monday, June 4th, 2007

AVR microcontrollers have many ways to be programmed. One type adapters are used only to
program AVR memory other are used to program and debug.
AVRISP
Most known and common programming adapter is AVRISP, which is the basic tool and can be used to program Flash, EEPROM memory, most of fuses, lock-bits for probably all 8bit AVR MCU’s.

 
Programmer [...]

Building and installing USBASP-USB programmer of AVR microcontrollers

Monday, February 26th, 2007

USBASP is well known USB programmer for Atmel AVR microcontrollers originally supported by Thomas Fischl. USB ASP is made of an Atmega8 and few components. The programmer uses a firmware driver that makes this programmer attractive to many amateurs.
Another thin why this programmer is so popular – because it is officially included and supported [...]

ATTiny2313 Monitor tester

Friday, January 12th, 2007

This project was born for repairing broken PC monitors. This allows to avoid using a computer while testing monitor patterns. The Tiny monitor tester uses ATTiny2313 AVR MCU running at 20MHz speed. Such speed allows running synchro H and V signals directly form MCU ports. Also circuit converts R,G,B signals to analog using simple R-2R [...]

AVR Laser video projector

Friday, January 12th, 2007

This project is made by Håkon A. Hjortland. The idea is pretty simple and original. He used rotating mirrors to create a video projection. 16 differently tilted mirrors were fixed on a round drum that spins at about 20 – 30 s-1. Each mirror draw a separate line on a screen. For each pixel, the [...]