Questions about programming parts (FPGAs, Flash, etc.) Many software programming questions should be asked instead on Stack Overflow.
32
votes
5answers
12k views
Programming microcontrollers: JTAG, SPI, USB oh my!?
I've noticed, with regards to microcontrollers, there are several way to program them. I am sorta familiar with USB as my Arduino's can be programmed via USB.
What is a JTAG or SPI interface?
...
31
votes
2answers
16k views
FPGA programming, where to begin
I'm a software developer (C, C++, objective-c, java ...) and I am interested in learning to program FPGAs. Now the question may appear simple to you but please do take time to help me on this one as ...
21
votes
10answers
20k views
Programming languages for electronics engineers
I am an Electronics and Communications Engineering student, before I got to college, I have been interested in programming and computer applications. I had focused on designing Windows applications ...
18
votes
5answers
3k views
Survey of High-Level Language Interpreters/Compilers for Microcontrollers
I would like to generate a list of high-level language interpreters and compilers (e.g. something that compiles LISP to C code) for microcontrollers.
I've done a bit of research so far that I will ...
15
votes
11answers
2k views
Why is Embedded Strictly C/C++ [closed]
I didn't like this question since it can't be easily answered but perhaps I can rephrase:
"What keeps Embedded from changing languages?"
For instance, we pretty much see C/C++ for embedded (I think ...
14
votes
10answers
4k views
Do Electrical Engineers use microcontrollers? [closed]
I've always loved to program, and I just recently became interested in electronics and programming microcontrollers. It is very fun, but I am wondering if I am learning something useful that can get a ...
14
votes
3answers
10k views
What is bit banging
I am new to microcontroller programming. I am using ATmega32-A controller and CodeVisionAVR compiler. I am using the waveform generator(AD9833) to generate a sinewave signal using SPI communication. I ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
How do companies pre-program chips?
In particular I'm interested in SMD packages. A DIP package I would assume is simply put into a socket and programmed that way.
Of course you could get around this by designing a programmer header ...
10
votes
2answers
389 views
Inbuilt flash memory size not enough
I am using TM4C1230C3PMI controller from Texas instrument in one of my project. It has 32KB of internal flash, which is not sufficient for my application. Higher flash sized micro-controller are ...
10
votes
3answers
16k views
Which programming languages are supported to program Arduino?
I would like to start to play with Arduino.
I've read that C and C++ are the official languages but I've also found other way to communicate using Python or Java for example.
Which programming ...
10
votes
3answers
6k views
How to Sleep Arduino
How do you program a sleep mode for your Arduino?
Especially for battery powered designs, what are good techniques for sleeping the CPU but waking up only when needed?
10
votes
2answers
2k views
Is it possible to program an Arduino in other languages?
Is it possible to program an Arduino with other languages that aren't C/C++ based? What would be required to do so? I know that other IDE's are available, I'm curious about actual programming ...
9
votes
4answers
660 views
ICSP or Pre-Programmed Microcontroller
I've designed a PCB for small scale production; currently I'm hand soldering them in batches of 20 at a time. This PCB uses an ATMEGA168 microcontroller which I program before soldering to the board - ...
9
votes
5answers
10k views
ATTiny13 — avr-gcc Hello World uses over 100 bytes?
I'm trying to write a program for the ATTiny13. My problem is that it has huge size constraints. Well, when making my first Hello World program, it took 100 bytes of program space just to make a light ...
9
votes
7answers
4k views
Functional Programming with MCU(s)
Functional languages like Haskell, LISP, or Scheme allow a programmer to work quickly using the functional programming paradigm. They do have their inefficiencies, but my application places greater ...
9
votes
5answers
19k views
How different are 8-bit microcontrollers from 32-bit microcontrollers when it comes to programming them
Right, so we have 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers in this world at the moment. All of them are often used. How different is it to program 8-bit and 16-bit micrcontrollers? I mean, does it ...
9
votes
2answers
544 views
What is the physical representation of the heap and the stack?
I can easily understand how .bss and the code have physical representations in the processor which has a memory bank for the instructions that a program counter can count up and the bss (block ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
Freescale Kinetis KE - writing to flash
I've been using various microcontrollers and microprocessors for many, many years now but I seem to be stymied by the Kinetis KE series (specifically the S9KEAZN64AMLC).
Jan 17, 2015 TL;DR:
...
8
votes
2answers
5k views
LTSpice Automation
I have a battery-powered boost converter and I'm attempting to measure the maximum input (battery) voltage droop under various load conditions of high current draws (different ...
7
votes
7answers
19k views
How do I write to SPI flash memory?
I'm working on an audio application where instead of storing audio data on an SD card (Waveshield on Arduino) I'm storing it on an SPI flash memory IC and rolling my own board with MCU, DAC, and amp.
...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
How to start reverse engineering a circuit?
I have an old controller card from a pc which had to control some stepper engines. But there are several problems with it:
The pc isn't working anymore, and I have no access to the program which ...
7
votes
2answers
5k views
Using multiple external interrupts in PIC
I've used PIC16F877 (datasheet) for several projects. For a single external pin change interrupts, you can use PORTB0 interrupt. ...
6
votes
8answers
2k views
Embedded C programming material
I am looking for some material (books/sites) related to embedded system programming in C language.
Here in the lab we have available three plataforms: one Microchip PIC18f4550, one Freescale HC12 and ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
What causes turning ON a single output pin on Microchip PIC16F690 to spontaneously turn OFF another pin on the same port?
What causes turning ON a single output pin on Microchip PIC16F690 to spontaneously turn OFF another pin on the same port? I can work around this problem by writing a byte to the entire port, ...
6
votes
5answers
267 views
Programs resistant to hardware issues
I recall at one point reading about embedded development where the programmer took into account things like memory corruption and possibly other hardware issues. For example:
If an instruction in ...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
How do I program a PIC12?
I have a PIC12F675 that I need to program. I'm using a Pickit 2 and the Pickit 2 software. Supposedly I should be able to program it using this circuit, but the Pickit 2 software is not detecting the ...
6
votes
5answers
7k views
Failed to get Device ID - PICkit 3 & PIC16F684-ICD & AC16205
Like it is already mentioned in the title I have question regarding this dev stack:
MPLAB X IDE v1.80
PICkit 3
PIC16F684-ICD (datasheet)
AC16205
There is image of how things are connected (I don't ...
6
votes
4answers
559 views
How to think while working with VHDL or Verilog
All of my experience belong to general purpose programming languages e.g; c/c++ etc where each instructions are executed one after the other but it seems in VHDL/Verilog, all the instructions are ...
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Cycle counting with modern CPUs (e.g. ARM)
In many applications, a CPU whose instruction execution has a known timing relation with expected input stimuli can handle tasks that would require a much faster CPU if the relationship were unknown. ...
6
votes
5answers
488 views
How to know usb connection is lost
I am working with AT90USB1287 controller with USB communication to PC. I am sending some commands from PC to controller using USB communication to activate some controlled switch. I am able to change ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Possible to re-program microcontroller over Bluetooth?
I am looking at making an embedded design featuring an ARM Cortex M3 MCU and bluetooth. I would like to be able to update its firmware over Bluetooth periodically.
Is this possible with the following ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
Why does my ATtiny13 report wrong device ID?
I am using an Arduino (with ATmega168) as an ISP programmer to program ATtiny13. When I try to do this, avrdude reports:
...
6
votes
1answer
322 views
Multi-Device JTAG
I am designing a circuit. it will include ARM LPC1769 and AVR ATmega2560. I want to program these chips with JTAG. Now, the question is:
Is that possible to do it with a single JTAG programmer ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
Better workflow in Atmel Studio 6 for building and transferring program
After having modified my code in Atmel Studio 6, I write the program to my MCU in the following steps:
Click Build or F7
Click Device Programming or Ctrl+Shift+P
Click Apply (to choose ...
5
votes
2answers
808 views
Why is PIC Programming Voltage Higher Than Vsupply
I work with PIC microcontrollers quite a bit and have never understood why Vpp (programming voltage) is higher than the max supply voltage that powers the PIC?
5
votes
3answers
9k views
C/C++/C# programming for interfacing USB to PIC microcontroller
I am a computer sciences student looking to do some PIC microcontroller programming for some small home projects . I am fluent in C/C++/C#/Java and i also have an understanding of programming ...
5
votes
2answers
642 views
What's the correct form of this CRC algorithm
We are working on communication between AVR and a Crous PTZ.
We found its protocol and now we can turn it on and so.
We have problem with its CRC. This is Crous protocol doc (Got it here), at end of ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
Best practices for production programming of data/NAND flash devices
A project has finally reached the point where prototypes are operational and ducks are lining up in rows for the first pre-production lot of boards. It uses a SOC device that boots its ARM core from ...
5
votes
1answer
842 views
Led Matrix using PIC
For a project I am working on, I want to build a 9x9 monocolor LED matrix also with 9 push buttons to control the LEDs using the PIC. So far I have gathered that I think I will be needing shift ...
5
votes
1answer
603 views
Electronic Circuit Simulator API/Libraries
Are there any Electronic circuit simulator libraries/API that I can use to construct virtual circuit simulators like SPICE etc? My main research area is not Electronic simulation since I'm a Computer ...
4
votes
2answers
612 views
ISR - to flag or not to flag?
From what I read on the internet we should respond to interrupts as quickly as possible, when programming microcontrollers; and that flags should be avoided because they tend to compound over time.
...
4
votes
3answers
540 views
Why set PORTx before TRISx?
I was browsing through the example code that MikroE provides for PIC programming using MikroC, and they always set PORTx before setting TRISx. What is the reason for this?
Since TRIS just selects ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Will my HEX file fit in my microcontroller?
I have a hex file with a size of 42 kB. Does the size matter while loading it in a microcontroller? Can I load 42 kB hex file in a ATMEGA32 chip which has a memory of 32 kB?
4
votes
3answers
8k views
How to start embedded Programming? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to become an embedded software developer?
I am really a new bie and have some idea about embedded C. I want to program embedded devices using my computer and even ...
4
votes
7answers
1k views
Open source pic programmer in windows
I started a project with my students to build a full open source PIC IDE in windows. My first try was to port Piklab to windows but it is dependent on Qt and KDE. We decide then to use Eclipse CDT as ...
4
votes
3answers
566 views
microcontroller programming
In reference to this question
Is it possible to program the LEDs each to flash on consecutively each with its own activation speed in the sequence chase then add some sort of a randomizer ...
4
votes
2answers
981 views
If YOU were starting out now, what PIC16F-compatible IDE and compiler would you choose, and why?
This is going to be a bit long as I wanted to cover all the obvious questions before they arise, give a rationale to some of my thinking, and prove I've done my groundwork! If time is short, skip down ...
4
votes
1answer
355 views
Why are there more than one programming channels on PIC32?
Previously, I was working with PIC16 and PIC18 series, and none of them provided multiple channels for programming. Now, I am designing my first PIC32 circuit, and I'm very confused with these ...
4
votes
3answers
6k views
How to Debouce Six Buttons on One Analog Pin With Arduino
I'm using analog pin 5 on Arduino to detect presses from 6 push-buttons. On the picture top-right button is number 1 and then from right to left they go as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Program should print 0 when ...
4
votes
4answers
5k views
Delay function in ARM programming
I have just started programming on ARM, I had some experience on AVR but not that much. The question is probably too trivial but the material about ARM is too little on the net... sorry anyways.
I ...
