AVR

Modern

RISC architecture: Compact and FAST.

Tuned for high level languages.
Consistent architecture across entire line.
Small AVR are subsets of larger chips: Same
hardware and code works across all chips.
I/O structure reduces need for external components.
Flash based, ultra trivial downloading of code.

AVR RISC Architecture

Single

Cycle Instructions:
8mhz = 8mips.
Large register file (32).
Every register an
accumulator.
3 index register pairs
Register & IO are mapped
in SRAM space.

Typical Hardware Support

Internal

or External
Oscillator/Clock
Brown Out Detector
One or more timers
Two or more PWM
One or more USART
I2C

Real

time clock
10bit ADC
Analog Comparator
External interrupts
Pulse timing capture
EEPROM
USB/CAN/RF

Tools
Atmel

Studio: IDE & Simulator/debugger.

BASCOM: Basic compiler & IDE with
programmer.
GNU C compiler (free, very high quality).
Third party C compilers vary from cheap to very
expensive.
FLASH programmers are trivial to make.

Availability & Price

www.digikey.com has everything (single unit price):
Attiny26 (2k, ADC, USI, 2 PWM, 2 ports) $2.58
ATmega16 (16k, ADC, etc, 4 ports) $7.74
ATmega128 (128k, 6 ports, oodles of stuff) $16.34
STK500 (development board) $79
ICE200 (In circuit emulator) $100
ATAVRISP (serial programmer) $29

I/O Example: simple switch

No

external parts

Input Example: Trinary Input

Three

states with one input.

Useful way to expand IO.
Switch internal resistor on/off
to determine state of pin.
Off:

If input high, then J1-2.

On: if low, then J2-3.
On: If high, then no jumper.

Input example: Photo-detector

Schmitt

trigger inputs on all

lines.
No additional signal
conditioning needed.
Stable, well defined trip
points.
Basic circuit works well for
Quadrature encoders.

Input Example: Variable Input

Useful for

parts without ADC.

Set pin to output, low to
discharge capacitor.
Set pin to input, no pull-up.
Increment counter until input
reads 1.
Linear conversion.

Case Studies
BASCOM

based multi-tasking Minisumo code in

less than 2k
Dilbert II written with GCC in less than 6k
Gyrobot written with GCC in less than 6k
LCD

user interface
PID based motion control
Sensor tasks managing tilt, gyro and wheel encoders
R/C Tether

uses variable input (PC Joystick)

Resources
www.barello.net/ARC
www.barello.net/Papers
www.avrfreaks.net
www.mcselec.com/download_avr
www.atmel.com/

Cool projects & pages

http://www.mysunrise.ch/users/pfleury/index.html
http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/ee476/
www.barello.net/Robots
www.egnite.de

(ethernet & web software)

www.avrfreaks.net (Academy tab, must register)