Technology Simplified: All About AVR Microcontroller

In this Technically advancing world every techie like YOU and ME have many ideas that we want to try and execute. But as we know that car can't be repaired or customized in garden, it needs a garge with tools rather for fast and perfect work Advanced tools. So lets discuss about AVR ,its tools and projects.

A small introduction about AVR. Its a Microcontroller.

Its features:

Its Processor is based on RISC architecture.
It has onchip ADC.
It has onchip PWM and timers.
Etc Etc.

In this page I am going to discuss about the tools, softwares, programmers which are used in developing AVR projects. And the basic projects too.

So make up your mind, lets enjoy the AVR....!!

Lets first look at the various toolsets required for AVR development:

Coding softwares:

AVRStudio --> It is free and can be downloaded from ATMEL site.
CodeVision AVR --> Its Evalution version is available. Good software if you are shifting from KEIL or MPLab.
FLOWCODE-AVR --> Now this is really very intresting software. Easy to use. You just have to draw flow chart and the code will be generated automatically in either C format or directly to HEX file.
BASCOM-AVR -->People who are familier with BASIC have a great opportunity to use their creativity for developing AVR code in BASIC using BASCOM-AVR.

Programming Softwares:

AVRDUDE --> Mostly used software. Only problem is you must know how to use command prompt.
SinaProg --> My favourite. Its a GUI version of AVRDUDE. Supports every available programmer USBasp and USBtiny too. Its easy to use and program.
PonyProg --> It is used for Serial or Parallel Programmer. But nice software. It has helped me in developing my USBasp at home.

Programmer:

If you have bought AVR Development board, then its well and good. Else if you like tinkering with PCBs, i.e. designing your own, you are on right blog. Here I will tell you how to build your own Evalution board as well as USBasp Programmer at home. You are just going to need some tools for PCB designing, breadboard for testing etc etc.

I personally use three programmers which I feel every programmer should have,

USBasp Programmer. -- (Very useful as can be connected to any laptop or PC).
Serial Programmer. -- (Required to build USBasp and can be used with old Laptops and all PCs)
Parallel Programmer. -- (If you have old PC at home then feel lucky for that, because that machine got this port which has power to unlock the Locked AVR uC. If anytime your friend locks up his AVR just ask him to give it to you for free or you can create some money by unlocking it for him. And if its HER AVR then you got a chance to go on next date. ;-) )

My AVR Board(Dual layer home brewed PCB) (Its just a test board, final Prototype is yet to come):

Features:

ATMEGA 16, 32 supported with 16MHz clock.
Onboard RF Transmitter, Reciver.
Push-buttons, LEDs
4-bit onboard encoder/decoder for RF modules.
Onboard USB programming.( ISP slot will be provided for external uC programming in next version)
USART through USB-Serial interface.
10cm x 10cm size. ( Will be reduced upto 7x7).
Onboard Motor Interface with PWM support.
16x2 LCD.
Buzzer.
High efficiency, SMD components are used.
2 Power and Ground points for external devices.
Direct port interface is also included.
8 of 4-ADC i/p with capacitive filters included.