Week 8: Embedded Programming [FabNotes016]

This week we will learn embedded programming.

Let’s continue to experience the classroom notes filled with new terminology!

Microprocessors/Microcontrollers

• Memory: registers, SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), FLASH, fuse

• Peripherals: A/D (Analog to Digital), comparator, D/A, timer/counter/PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), USART (Universal Synchronous/Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter), USB

• Word size: 8, 16, 32, 64

• Chip families: 8051, PIC, MSP, AVR (used in the course), ARM, STM32, mbed, PSoC, xCORE, Propeller

• Suppliers: Octopart, Digi-Key, Mouser, Newark, Farnell, SparkFun, Adafruit

• Clock

• RC (10%, 1% calibrated)

• Ceramic (0.5%)

• Quartz (50 ppm)

• PLL (Phase-Locked Loop)

• Instruction cycles

• Overclocking

Development

• In-system development (loading programs to the processor)

• Bootloader: Arduino, DFU, Micronucleus

• JTAG controller, PDI (Parallel Data Interface)

• ICE (In-Circuit Emulator)

• ISP (In-System Programming): program used to interact with the programmer

• Programmers

• FabISP

• avrdude

• Atmel-ICE

• JTAG, PDI

• ISP

• Assembly language: hex file, instruction set, opcodes, mnemonics, directives, expressions, avr-as, gavrasm

• C language (Arduino low-level language): requires a compiler to convert C code into hexadecimal code (hex codes)

• AVR is designed based on GCC (the GNU Compiler Collection). AVR Libc provides libraries for C language and AVR communication.

• For OS X, use CrossPack for AVR

• In this course, we use GCC to compile C code into hexadecimal code that AVR can understand

• IDE

• Write programs, compile, load to the processor

• Atmel Studio, Eclipse, AVR, CodeBender

• Interpreters (generally slow): Python, BASIC, FORTH, AVRSH, Javascript (Espruino, Tessel, iop.io)

Host Communication

• There are some libraries for serial communication, such as Python’s pyserial

• FTDI: provides USB communication connections with other modules (including modules, cables, integrated circuits, etc.)

• Connection cables



• libFTDI

Boards

• AVR

• Toolchain: CrossPack for OS X

• The Atmel AVR series is a microcontroller based on an improved Harvard architecture, 8-bit to 32-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing).

• Arduino: development board + C language library + IDE + burning program + header files

  

• XMEGA: newer series of AVR

• ARM

• ARM is the mainstream mobile processor architecture

• STM32

• Raspberry Pi



• PSoC: Programmable System on Chip (Windows only)

Notes List

• What can you learn from FabAcademy? [FabNotes001]

• Week 1: Overview and Project Management [FabNotes002]

• Assignment 1: Upload your website using Git [FabNotes003]

• Week 2: CAD [FabNotes004]

• Assignment 2: Create a model of a Theremin using CAD [FabNotes005]

• Week 3: Machine Cutting [FabNotes006]

• Assignment 3: Laser Cutting [FabNotes007]

• Week 4: Making Circuit Boards [FabNotes008]

• Are you clumsy? Come, make a circuit board to calm your nerves [FabNotes009]

• Week 5: 3D Scanning and Printing [FabNotes010]

• Assignment 5: 3D Scanning and Printing [FabNotes011]

• Week 6: Circuit Design [FabNotes012]

• Assignment 6: Circuit Board Design and Production [FabNotes013]

• Week 7: CNC Machines [FabNotes014]