Arduino

Arduino Uno R3: This is the fancy Make: magazine version so all components are SMD. It has an ATmega328P as its main controller and an ATMega16 to talk to the USB port.

Here's its schematic. https://www.arduino.cc/en/uploads/Main/Arduino_Uno_Rev3-schematic.pdf

littleBits kit: from Signal 2015 I think

Arduino Mini: $5 clone board

Arduino as AVR development board

I have a FutureKit Temperature Controller, which is based on an Atmel AVR controller. I'd like to be able to write code for it too, by leveraging the Arduino environment.

Writing programs for Arduino

I know I can use the official Arduino IDE but I also want to know more about [Atmel Studio http://www.atmel.com/tools/atmelstudio.aspx]. Are there advantages for me to use one or the other since I intend to develop for both the Arduino and just plain Atmel AVR controllers.

Atmel Studio

It looks like Atmel Studio is Windows only? How can this be? How sad! Here are instructions to use it on Mac: http://www.thinkcreate.org/index.php/avr-studio-on-mac-os/ There is a toolchain supported for Linux, but no IDE: http://www.atmel.com/tools/ATMELAVRTOOLCHAINFORLINUX.aspx but I am more inclined to try Windows first.

Maybe I don't care, if the Arduino IDE works for me.

Arduino IDE

It starts up on Mac OS/X, more than I can say for Microchip's MPLAB X! (1-2017)

Arduino has a simple IDE that works. I did indeed write a little program using the Make: Getting Started With Arduino book while sitting at the patio table at California Flora Nursery in Fulton. What a lovely place it is.

Now I wonder if the Arduino IDE works with a plain vanilla ATmega328P. I think I have to install the bootloader first.

Loading programs into Arduino

Apparently the Arduino model is to put code into EEPROM and then use a bootloader in flash to load it?

I am used to working directly with Microchip PIC controllers, programming them with a PicKit3. Using an ICSP programmer is also possible with Arduino / Atmel.

Neopixels

I have an 8x8 Nulsom WS2812 board and a custom board from Signal that has Neopixels soldered onto it, 4 x 4 I think. Have to look.

8*8*RGB = 64*3 = 192 LEDs * 20mA = 3.8A If I light up every LED in WHITE then it's going to require a 4AMP 5V supply.

Shields

Sparkfun Arduino Protoshield V2

This is a (discontinued) blank board with a few components including a couple pushbuttons and a couple LEDs. It has an area for a bluetooth bluesmirf thingie that's expensive and kind of obsolete.

They make a newer version.

Working with the multifunction shield

I bought this shield from MPJA. Here's a copy of the docs: File:Hacktronics multifunction shield.pdf

Code is here: http://files.cohesivecomputing.co.uk/MultiFuncShield-Library.zip

Features

(Test program in parentheses.)

• 4 digit 7 segment LED display (connected via two 74HC595 drivers. (led_display)
• DS18B20 temperature sensor interface
• LM35 temperature sensor interface (Temp_sensor) there is an interface but no sensor. Flat side of TO92 goes up.
• 3296 precision adjustable potentiometer, analog input port
• socket for infrared receiver
• Three separate programmable buttons (Buttons)
• Piezo buzzer (beeper)
• Socket for a serial device, for example an APC220 RF module (420-450 MHz) or voice recognition module.
• Servo interface (really?)
• 4 LEDs (led_lights)

Serial port

The APC 220 ($40) is described here: https://www.dfrobot.com/product-57.html The pinouts are

1 GND
2 VCC
3 Power enable
4 UART RX (TTL)
5 UART TX (TTL)
6 MUX
7 SET
8 NC
9 NC

Pin block

(I think this is the "servo interface".) This block of pins has 4 rows with gnd and +5v and an IO pin in each row. The IO pins are marked: ~5, ~6, ~9, A5. I believe 5 6 and 9 are PWM outputs.

Buttons

In the "buttons" app, output is sent to the serial port. You can see it by running 'screen /dev/cu.usbmodem1411 9600' on the Mac. (Check "ls /dev/cu*" to find the right dev.)

Output looks like

BUTTON_1_PRESSED
BUTTON_1_SHORT_RELEASE
BUTTON_2_PRESSED
BUTTON_2_SHORT_RELEASE
BUTTON_3_PRESSED
BUTTON_3_SHORT_RELEASE
BUTTON_2_PRESSED

• http://hobbycomponents.com/shields/461-multifunction-shield-for-arduino-uno-leonardo
• http://arduinolearning.com/code/multi-function-shield-examples.php
• http://www.cohesivecomputing.co.uk/hackatronics/arduino-multi-function-shield/part-1/
• http://www.sniff.org.uk/2015/04/arduino-multifunction-shield.html