Microcontroller based RF transmitter from Atmel
Atmel have released 8-bit microcontroller based RF transmitters aimed at transducer telemetry for 315Mhz and 433Mhz. Claimed to be the First Microcontroller-transmitter RF IC, the ATA6285/ATA6286 have provision for three sensors.
New AVR development tool - AVR Dragon
The Atmel ® Corporation this month released a new low cost development tool for AVR ® Microcontrollers - the AVR Dragon.
(AVR, Atmel, 8 bit Microcontrollers)
It supports In-System Programming, High Voltage Serial Programming, Parallel Programming, JTAG Programming.
While this is a welcome addition to the toolset available for development of AVR 8 bit microcontrollers, a couple of issues should be considered.
Low cost USB interfaces for AVR microcontrollers
While there are many chips available for interfacing USB to microcontrollers, most of them involve some costs in both development and component count.
Two low cost alternatives to interfacing ATmega microcontrollers to USB are AVR-USB from Objective Development, and the range of USB interface chips from FTDI Chip.
(USB, FTDI, AVR-USB, FT245R, AVR, ATmega, ATtiny)
Printed Circuit Board production for prototypes - Toner transfer method
Printed circuit boards using toner transfer method.
While there are many sites on the web describing the toner transfer method of circuit board manufacture, none of them worked exactly as I wanted. The following is the method I have perfected to suit my needs for one off prototyping. (PCB toner transfer method)
USB based data acquisition module
Soon to be available, a small USB 1.0 based module with 8 channel analog inputs.
Interfacing to Windows, OS X, and Linux operating systems.
Expected price approximately $100 USD
(device ATmega88)
Audio line level switcher using ATmega32
This was a first attempt at making a solid state switching or multiplexing device for audio signals.
It uses 4051 chips for the actual multiplexing of signals, As such it can switch 2 banks of 8, or using th INH pin of the 4051, and connecting the inputs as common, 1 bank of 16 channels.
Atmel USB controllers AVR MCUs
AT90USB1286 and AT90USB646 have USB, and AT90USB1287 and AT90USB647 have USB OTG interfaces built-in to 8 bit AVR microcontrollers.
eZ430-F2013 Development tool
This looks like a unique development tool by Texas. Containing a development platform for an MSP430F2013 on what looks like a USB memory stick.
It is self contained, deriving its power from the USB bus, and has a removable target device board.
TI are offering it for $20 USD including software.
Socket for 8 pin SOIC AVR to suit STK500 programming board
Should an 8 pin AVR device in the SOIC package require programming other than ISP programming, it is necessary to connect directly to the STK500 board. This situation could arise due to accidental programming of various fuses.
Notes on converting AVR IAR style code to AVR-GCC style code
The previous entry Notes on AVR interrupt grew to larger than expected, so now this entry covers other problem areas and their possible solutions. This included compiling a complete new toolchain. (device ATtiny13)
