Programming MCU

Programming Atmel ATmega8l microcontroller

Intro

For the next article I've decided to go further into the hardware. For my next project I've chosen to program a micro controller (MCU). I've got no experience with MCUs before and this article will show my whole process.

First steps

My colleague advised me a usb-avr programmer which is compatible with AVR Atmel micro controllers.

So I ordered this usb-avr programmer, ATmega8L microcontroller, some resistors, leds and a breadboard.
I prefer using IDEs (syntax highlights, build from one place, save time and trees) so I chose Eclipse. There is a nice tutorial how to setup an Eclipse plugin for avr programming, but mainly you just need to install these libraries.


  • gcc-avr -> library for use with GCC on Atmel AVR micro controllers
  • binutils-avr -> cross compiling version of GNU binutils
  • gdb-avr -> GDB for (remote) debugging avr binaries
  • avr-libc -> C library for use with GCC on Atmel AVR micro controllers
  • avrdude -> transfers hex file onto microcontroller

work with MCU

This MCU ATmega8l is a 8-bit RISC Architecture Microcontroller with 8Kbytes of Flash program memory. It has many cool features (timer, ADC, 3 PWM channels etc. ). Here is a full documentation.

Anyway, it has 28 pins from which 23 can be used as GPIO. These 23 pins are divided into 3 ports. Each port has 8 bits (one of ports allows only 7 bits). Setting up these ports allows us to use pins as input or output. Here is a very helpful page about avr programming.

At the end, the program is compiled into hexadecimal format, and then written onto the flash memory of a micro controller.

Testing, first project

I used 20 red LEDs (5mm) and make a field 5 x 4 of them. Each led was joined to separate pin of micro controller. After making a mapping method for each led I created some basic effects and snake with backtrack search. You can download the source code below.

download source code here


              















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