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 Posted: May 26, 2012 - 02:57 AM |
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 15
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Hi Everybody. as topic states im new to Atmel and need ur assistance for products selection. I dont have any problems with Cortex-M3 MCU.. I dont have any problem with any MCU in fact:P The only problem i have i just dont know which one to choose:) Im from Azerbaijan. MCU isnt very popular here. I have a task to make tutorial series on MCU C programming and applications on my Website. Have been working with PIC18F series for a while and have general grip of MCU. Moved to ATMEL because its cheaper and compiler is totally free. Im trying to create a new inexpensive easy to DIY dev board and conduct my tutorials on it. Could u please help me to choose a device? My requirements are as follows:
1. At least 16 bit FLASH MCU
2. As much I/O ports as possible
3. USB built in..
4. UART
5. I2C
6. in circuit programming
7. EEPROM
8. Books available for referencing
9. not necessarily but would be cool to have Qtouch capabilities:)
The board is going to host power supply module, motor driver, Special connector for Xbee, Servo ports. A general purpose pick and play dev board. Im also designing a PC Software for board controlling via USB.
Waiting forward for any suggestions.
Thanx for ur attention and sorry for weak English:) |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 04:05 AM |
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Joined: Sep 04, 2002
Posts: 21257
Location: Orlando Florida
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Sciencefiction68 wrote:
My requirements are as follows:
1. At least 16 bit FLASH MCU
2. As much I/O ports as possible
3. USB built in..
4. UART
5. I2C
6. in circuit programming
7. EEPROM
8. Books available for referencing
9. not necessarily but would be cool to have Qtouch capabilities:)
1)All AVRs have 8 bit data, but 16 bit instructions
2)ATmega2560 has 51 IOs (see xls file on Atmel web site)
3)Many ATmegas with a U in the part number have USB
4)There are ATmega AVRs with 1,2,and 4 uarts (See xls file on Atmel web site)
5)Atmel calls I2C TWI because of some legal flap. All AVRs have TWI
6)All AVRs have ISP
7)All AVRs have eeprom
8)All AVRs have excellent complete datasheets for referenceing
9)I 'think' qtouch is a software library, but someone else can explain this better. |
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Imagecraft compiler user
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 08:31 AM |
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Joined: Mar 28, 2001
Posts: 20347
Location: Sydney, Australia (Gum trees, Koalas and Kangaroos, No Edelweiss)
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| Darned I have to swear now, Smiley will be happy...Arduino... |
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John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 03:26 PM |
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Joined: Oct 05, 2006
Posts: 2243
Location: Poland
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Sciencefiction68 wrote:
I dont have any problems with Cortex-M3 MCU..
Welcome! I think you are the only freak in here who knows ARMs CM and have no idea about AVRs.
Sciencefiction68 wrote:
Have been working with PIC18F series(..)Moved to ATMEL because its cheaper and compiler is totally free.
You mean avr-gcc is open-source and free, but it is not Atmel's product!
Is it a remark about tools, dongles or the chips actually?
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcpl ... e=en010014
Microchip wrote:
The Standard-Eval Version is free! (..) After 60 days, the optimizations (..) will be disabled. Code compiled after the expiration date will function but may occupy more memory space.
Sciencefiction68 wrote:
1. At least 16 bit FLASH MCU
There is nothing 16-bit in AVRs.
EDIT: Oh, wait, some of them have a 16-bit timer. |
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No RSTDISBL, no fun!
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 06:30 PM |
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Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 18545
Location: Lund, Sweden
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Quote:
There is nothing 16-bit in AVRs.
As has been said above, instructions are 16 bits wide. This suggests that the flash memory bus might very well be 16 bits wide. Not that it would matter much..
Quote:
At least 16 bit FLASH MCU
It would be illuminating to understand the underlying reasons for this requirement.
If there is an absolute requirement that e.g. the processor registers are 16 bits then all 8-bit AVRs are out. Not sure about the XMegas - never bothered about those. In my world the jump up from AVRs are to ARMs - the Cortex families seems to be the future. |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 06:39 PM |
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 15
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Thanx everybody for reply:)
I actually wrote the same text to ARM community. Just forgot to change that ARM Cortex stuff:D It would be nicer to have one community for all instead of dividing it:)BTW ARM guys haven't replied yet:) AVR has faster support:P Who cares if Gcc is atmels product or not! Personally i dont cos its just doing its job well which is to compile C data to hex for ATMEL:). And why the hek my code should occupy more space and should not be optimized? Its kinda frustration for a beginner:) BTW loved the design of Atmel Studios Visual Studio layout. PICs have 16 bit MCU i thought maybe Atmel have eather. I have question. Why 32 bit MCU s doesnt have EEPROM? the same was with PIC. They also doesnt have EEPROM. |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 07:51 PM |
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Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 18545
Location: Lund, Sweden
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Quote:
And why the hek my code should occupy more space and should not be optimized?Smile Its kinda frustration for a beginner
Because the programmers that did that compiler and IDE wants to be paid for their work. Face it, evaluation versions and restricted/hampered free versions of software are there for
EITHER to be a bait to buy the real stuff
OR to somewhat hold off the competition from open source ("free") software
OR as a possible investment in the future (e.g as in "if students use Visual Studio Express now they will i) be more likely to go on the C#/.NET track, and less likely to go down the Java track, and will create real business for Microsoft in the future").
Users of "free" open source software pay too. E.g. with their time, since support is likely slower and less to the point. Some also actually pay back by joining the contributing community - e.g. submitting bug fixes, or writing documentation.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Quote:
Why 32 bit MCU s doesnt have EEPROM?
Is this true for all 32-bit MCU's? |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 08:46 PM |
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Joined: Dec 06, 2007
Posts: 2512
Location: Redmond, WA USA
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Brutte wrote:
Welcome! I think you are the only freak in here who knows ARMs CM and have no idea about AVRs.
That makes two of us, I was coming from ARM too. Also PIC/PIC32.
JohanEkdahl wrote:
As has been said above, instructions are 16 bits wide. This suggests that the flash memory bus might very well be 16 bits wide. Not that it would matter much.
It would be nice to know the details of that, just for the sake of curiosity. |
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Larry
Those afraid to embrace the future will quickly fade into the past. - larryvc
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 08:56 PM |
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 15
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Thanx for explanation I knew somebody is going to say that:) Of course i know there is not any totally "free" stuff in this world. We all are paying somehow to somebody for something. But its too expensive for a student. As i said MCu isnt popular in my country (among hobbyists and students) . People whom im trying to "teach" MCU, students and hobbyist in my country would never pay more than 50$ to something which is not commonly known and popular well documented and fully understood by community. I didnt paid either. my task is to bring a totally new product to local community and say "hey guys look its a cool stuff! U dont have to be a professor or a genius to make a simple robot or even more complex devices... Everybody can do it!" As a new product in the market it must be as cool as possible + as cheap as possible. Even free! Im not professional in this field but somebody has to do that! Our guys (and girls of course ) are really smart. they just need some guidenes to knowledge. show them a paths and they'll start digging in!
Have been looking for 32bit Atmel MCU with EEPROM for allmost 3 days but couldn't find it so far. Does anybody knows any with EEPROM??
Ill design a main board with a brain (MCU) and power management module. and extra pick and play modules as peripheral devices. Do i need EEPROM at all? how do u thing? can u imagine Arduino having a brain with no EEPROM? |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 09:05 PM |
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Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 18545
Location: Lund, Sweden
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Quote:
would never pay more than 50$ [...] my task is to bring a totally new product to local business and say "hey guys look its a cool stuff! U dont have to be a professor or a genius to make a simple robot or even more complex devices... Everybody can do it!" As a new product in the market it must be as cool as possible + as cheap as possible. Even free!
Apart from the "totally new" I'd say that the Arduino looks like it fits the bill almost perfectly.
It has the "not a professor or a genius" attribute. Development software at no monetary cost. Hardware: A Arduino Uno "base board" is about €20.
I still don't understand your 16-bit requirement. Even less so when you have explained that it is for entry level or hobbyist work with e.g. robots. |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 09:22 PM |
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 15
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so reasons why i dont want to use Arduino...
1. You have to stick to particular types of MCU which are on arduino models
2. arduino has its own "programming language" which is actually C but lilbit edited and simplified. its easier to learn but once u want to design something ur own u got stuck cos u dont know anything about any other MCU and other compiler code structures. it happened to me when i was using PICAXE. it was my friends one. i borrowed it for a week, worked day and night do get used to it and when i returned it back i left with nothing...
3. I dont thing there is any single arduino board in my country in any shop:D i have already been in almost all of them:P
4. i want to design my own board |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 09:47 PM |
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Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 18545
Location: Lund, Sweden
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1. If you are designing a board on your own you are also "stuck with a particular MCU".
2a. The programming language of the Arduino software is C++.
2b. You can use avr-gcc to write a program, in C, that you can flash to an Arduino board. All that is needed in hardware is an Arduino board and an USB cable.
3. Is your country isolated from the rest of the world? (Where on earth did that international broadcast today then come from?  ). Are AVRs generally available then? You won't have to import those? (Especially since you seem to have a desire to cover many models.)
4. THAT is a good reason!
I still don't understand your 16-bit requirement. And it rules out all 8-bit AVRs so wy are we even continuing this discussion? |
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Posted: May 26, 2012 - 11:05 PM |
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Joined: Mar 28, 2001
Posts: 20347
Location: Sydney, Australia (Gum trees, Koalas and Kangaroos, No Edelweiss)
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Quote:
ur own u got stuck cos u
Please, if at all possible, TRY and use your best English even though I understand it is not your first language. It makes us think we are dealing with a mature adult when people don't use short cut speak.
It's not my 1st language either or that of many helping here but we try our best. |
_________________
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
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Posted: May 28, 2012 - 09:05 PM |
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 15
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Sorry for late reply guys:)
okay js:) Im sorry about that. Just got used to using shorter words. Im from Azerbaijan. And no Thanks to GOD we are not isolated. Its just youth not being introduced to embedded systems. We dont have this course in our universities. And "Wow that must be very difficult, i better keep away from that" way of thinking...I didnt even knew about MCU even thou i have been interested in electronics for couple of years then before going abroad for studying. Just saw a PIC on a shelve in one of shops in Malaysia and just out of curiosity started digging in details. The shopper reacted in the same way:D Were u isolated or what? In our electronic shops we only have products are used by repair stations mainly TV parts, power electronics. Special parts like MCU are being ordered by people who need it like a few electronic hobbyists or some industries. The project in my mind is more a boot and PC software (or IDE if you wish:)) than a standard board. You see, every part in my design is interchangeable including brain itself as long as it meets my designs requirements (which are not so much) The IDE im working on is more advanced and a lot more easier for beginners to learn. U can even create very complex systems with 0 line of coding:) All i need to have is a starter version. I came up with 2 choices..
1. ATXmega128A1U http://www.atmel.com/devices/ATXMEGA128A1U.aspx
8/16 bit with EEPROM
100 pin
max i/o 78 pin super:)
UART 2 (Would be better to have more:))
TWI 1 (Would be better to have more:))
PicoPower excellent feature
PWM modules 24 good!
Externel Bus Interface 1
Temp sensor kinda useless but still cool:P
2. AVR SAM3X8E http://www.atmel.com/devices/SAM3X8E.aspx?tab=parameters
32bit Cortex M3 (sounds cooler:P) but no EEPROM
100 pin
i/0 pins 60 still okay:)
UART 5 nice!
TWI 2 better:)
PWM 8 its okay...
Externel Bus Interface 1
ethernet
Can work as USB host
and many more extra connectivity functions:)
Honestly i liked Second one since It offers more connectivity:) there is a problem. cant seem to find any DIY programmers for it. Do you know any?
And also need a good book. Since im new to Atmel myself. Can you recommend ?
Are the instruction sets of both AVR and ARM same? I mean the syntactic structure of codes. Will simple led blinking program work on both with no modification to code? Can i study AVR book and work with ARM? |
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Posted: May 29, 2012 - 12:06 AM |
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Joined: Mar 28, 2001
Posts: 20347
Location: Sydney, Australia (Gum trees, Koalas and Kangaroos, No Edelweiss)
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Quote:
Can i study AVR book and work with ARM?
Can you learn to ride a bicycle and then drive a Ferrari? |
_________________
John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
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Posted: May 29, 2012 - 01:27 AM |
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 15
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LoL:D I hoped they are not that much different:S At least like bicycle and motorbike perhaps:P are the codding different from each other? |
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Posted: May 29, 2012 - 01:52 AM |
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Joined: Mar 28, 2001
Posts: 20347
Location: Sydney, Australia (Gum trees, Koalas and Kangaroos, No Edelweiss)
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Quote:
are the codding different from each other?
At the hardware and assembler level absolutely different.
Also the tools used are different, even if you stick with Atmel ARM devices the tools will be quite different from an AVR device.
Never mind going from one manufacturer to another. The simplest things like setting up the chip's clock or I/O pins can be somewhat mind boggling.
But my brain is old, it may just be very simple for the young. |
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John Samperi
Ampertronics Pty. Ltd.
www.ampertronics.com.au
* Electronic Design * Custom Products * Contract Assembly
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Posted: May 29, 2012 - 02:09 AM |
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Joined: Sep 04, 2002
Posts: 21257
Location: Orlando Florida
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| Once some smart guy gets the c compiler ported to run on that model of cpu, regular old comp sci guys can stert writing c and c++ programs that call malloc to grab 100s of K of ram to run the hardware abstraction layer that they are used to and they are happy as can be. |
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Posted: May 29, 2012 - 03:00 AM |
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 15
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| Then i guess for beginning i have to start with AVR ATXmega128A1U:) It seems there are more resources for AVR than ARM. And plenty of free programmers available. Which book would u recommend for me? |
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Posted: May 29, 2012 - 03:29 AM |
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Joined: Sep 04, 2002
Posts: 21257
Location: Orlando Florida
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| If you can write console apps for visual c on a pc, you are about 90% there. The AVRs can have code and data in flash, but can only have data in ram. The syntax of interrupt handlers is different in every avr c compiler. The reading and writing of the registers is sort of unique to microcontroller programming. You can program on a pc for months and never need to do an output or input from an IO port. ANSI C is ANSI C. Supposed to compile up and run on every target that has a c compiler for it. Got an app you want to try? |
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