Introduction
Many times, we need to use AVR in some electronic projects. However, if you are a beginner, you may find it difficult to understand how to upload or burn a code in an AVR IC. Burning bootloaders onto an AVR can be done with the help of an Arduino board when no other programming hardware is available. It’s also useful for creating and evaluating AVR programs. So, in this article, we will use Arduino as ISP to Burn the Bootloader on AVR Microcontrollers
In order to burn the bootloader, you must connect the Arduino board to the AVR microcontroller using the correct pins. This topic is covered, and step-by-step directions on how to carry it out are included in the article. So, let’s jump right into it!
Arduino as ISP Bootloader?
Arduino boards can be used as an In-System Programmer (ISP) to burn bootloaders onto AVR microcontrollers. A bootloader is a small program that runs when a microcontroller starts up, allowing the microcontroller to be programmed over a serial connection without needing external programming hardware.
To use an Arduino board as an ISP, you will need to install the ArduinoISP sketch on the Arduino board. This sketch contains the firmware that allows the Arduino board to act as an ISP. Once the sketch is installed, you can use the Arduino IDE to burn the bootloader onto the AVR microcontroller.
Hardware Components
You will require the following hardware to use Arduino as ISP to Burn Bootloader on AVR Microcontrollers.
| S.no | Component | Value | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Arduino UNO | – | 1 |
| 2. | PU DIP IC Microcontroller | ATMEGA8A | 1 |
| 3. | Crystal | 16 MHz | 1 |
| 4. | Push Button | 6x6x4.3 | 1 |
| 5. | LED | Red | 1 |
| 6. | Ceramic Capacitor | 22PF | 1 |
| 7. | Electrolytic Capacitor | 10 uF | 1 |
| 8. | Resistor | 10KΩ | 1 |
| 9. | Breadboard | – | 1 |
| 10. | Jumper Wires | – | 1 |
Arduino ISP Bootloader
To use Arduino as an ISP to burn a bootloader on an AVR microcontroller, you need to follow the given steps:
Schematic
Make connections according to the circuit diagram given below.
Installing Arduino IDE
First, you need to install Arduino IDE Software from its official website Arduino. Here is a simple step-by-step guide on “How to install Arduino IDE“.
Installing Libraries
Before you start uploading a code, download and unzip the following libraries at /Progam Files(x86)/Arduino/Libraries (default), in order to use the sensor with the Arduino board. Here is a simple step-by-step guide on “How to Add Libraries in Arduino IDE“.
Code
Now copy the following code and upload it to Arduino IDE Software.
/*
Made on 18 may 2021
Home
based on Arduino Library
*/
// ArduinoISP
// Copyright (c) 2008-2011 Randall Bohn
// If you require a license, see
// http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.php
//
// This sketch turns the Arduino into a AVRISP using the following Arduino pins:
//
// Pin 10 is used to reset the target microcontroller.
//
// By default, the hardware SPI pins MISO, MOSI and SCK are used to communicate
// with the target. On all Arduinos, these pins can be found
// on the ICSP/SPI header:
//
// MISO °. . 5V (!) Avoid this pin on Due, Zero...
// SCK . . MOSI
// . . GND
//
// On some Arduinos (Uno,...), pins MOSI, MISO and SCK are the same pins as
// digital pin 11, 12 and 13, respectively. That is why many tutorials instruct
// you to hook up the target to these pins. If you find this wiring more
// practical, have a define USE_OLD_STYLE_WIRING. This will work even when not
// using an Uno. (On an Uno this is not needed).
//
// Alternatively you can use any other digital pin by configuring
// software ('BitBanged') SPI and having appropriate defines for PIN_MOSI,
// PIN_MISO and PIN_SCK.
//
// IMPORTANT: When using an Arduino that is not 5V tolerant (Due, Zero, ...) as
// the programmer, make sure to not expose any of the programmer's pins to 5V.
// A simple way to accomplish this is to power the complete system (programmer
// and target) at 3V3.
//
// Put an LED (with resistor) on the following pins:
// 9: Heartbeat - shows the programmer is running
// 8: Error - Lights up if something goes wrong (use red if that makes sense)
// 7: Programming - In communication with the slave
//
#include "Arduino.h"
#undef SERIAL
#define PROG_FLICKER true
// Configure SPI clock (in Hz).
// E.g. for an ATtiny @ 128 kHz: the datasheet states that both the high and low
// SPI clock pulse must be > 2 CPU cycles, so take 3 cycles i.e. divide target
// f_cpu by 6:
// #define SPI_CLOCK (128000/6)
//
// A clock slow enough for an ATtiny85 @ 1 MHz, is a reasonable default:
#define SPI_CLOCK (1000000/6)
// Select hardware or software SPI, depending on SPI clock.
// Currently only for AVR, for other architectures (Due, Zero,...), hardware SPI
// is probably too fast anyway.
#if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_AVR)
#if SPI_CLOCK > (F_CPU / 128)
#define USE_HARDWARE_SPI
#endif
#endif
// Configure which pins to use:
// The standard pin configuration.
#ifndef ARDUINO_HOODLOADER2
#define RESET 10 // Use pin 10 to reset the target rather than SS
#define LED_HB 9
#define LED_ERR 8
#define LED_PMODE 7
// Uncomment following line to use the old Uno style wiring
// (using pin 11, 12 and 13 instead of the SPI header) on Leonardo, Due...
// #define USE_OLD_STYLE_WIRING
#ifdef USE_OLD_STYLE_WIRING
#define PIN_MOSI 11
#define PIN_MISO 12
#define PIN_SCK 13
#endif
// HOODLOADER2 means running sketches on the ATmega16U2 serial converter chips
// on Uno or Mega boards. We must use pins that are broken out:
#else
#define RESET 4
#define LED_HB 7
#define LED_ERR 6
#define LED_PMODE 5
#endif
// By default, use hardware SPI pins:
#ifndef PIN_MOSI
#define PIN_MOSI MOSI
#endif
#ifndef PIN_MISO
#define PIN_MISO MISO
#endif
#ifndef PIN_SCK
#define PIN_SCK SCK
#endif
// Force bitbanged SPI if not using the hardware SPI pins:
#if (PIN_MISO != MISO) || (PIN_MOSI != MOSI) || (PIN_SCK != SCK)
#undef USE_HARDWARE_SPI
#endif
// Configure the serial port to use.
//
// Prefer the USB virtual serial port (aka. native USB port), if the Arduino has one:
// - it does not autoreset (except for the magic baud rate of 1200).
// - it is more reliable because of USB handshaking.
//
// Leonardo and similar have an USB virtual serial port: 'Serial'.
// Due and Zero have an USB virtual serial port: 'SerialUSB'.
//
// On the Due and Zero, 'Serial' can be used too, provided you disable autoreset.
// To use 'Serial': #define SERIAL Serial
#ifdef SERIAL_PORT_USBVIRTUAL
#define SERIAL SERIAL_PORT_USBVIRTUAL
#else
#define SERIAL Serial
#endif
// Configure the baud rate:
#define BAUDRATE 19200
// #define BAUDRATE 115200
// #define BAUDRATE 1000000
#define HWVER 2
#define SWMAJ 1
#define SWMIN 18
// STK Definitions
#define STK_OK 0x10
#define STK_FAILED 0x11
#define STK_UNKNOWN 0x12
#define STK_INSYNC 0x14
#define STK_NOSYNC 0x15
#define CRC_EOP 0x20 //ok it is a space...
void pulse(int pin, int times);
#ifdef USE_HARDWARE_SPI
#include "SPI.h"
#else
#define SPI_MODE0 0x00
class SPISettings {
public:
// clock is in Hz
SPISettings(uint32_t clock, uint8_t bitOrder, uint8_t dataMode) : clock(clock) {
(void) bitOrder;
(void) dataMode;
};
private:
uint32_t clock;
friend class BitBangedSPI;
};
class BitBangedSPI {
public:
void begin() {
digitalWrite(PIN_SCK, LOW);
digitalWrite(PIN_MOSI, LOW);
pinMode(PIN_SCK, OUTPUT);
pinMode(PIN_MOSI, OUTPUT);
pinMode(PIN_MISO, INPUT);
}
void beginTransaction(SPISettings settings) {
pulseWidth = (500000 + settings.clock - 1) / settings.clock;
if (pulseWidth == 0)
pulseWidth = 1;
}
void end() {}
uint8_t transfer (uint8_t b) {
for (unsigned int i = 0; i < 8; ++i) {
digitalWrite(PIN_MOSI, (b & 0x80) ? HIGH : LOW);
digitalWrite(PIN_SCK, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(pulseWidth);
b = (b << 1) | digitalRead(PIN_MISO);
digitalWrite(PIN_SCK, LOW); // slow pulse
delayMicroseconds(pulseWidth);
}
return b;
}
private:
unsigned long pulseWidth; // in microseconds
};
static BitBangedSPI SPI;
#endif
void setup() {
SERIAL.begin(BAUDRATE);
pinMode(LED_PMODE, OUTPUT);
pulse(LED_PMODE, 2);
pinMode(LED_ERR, OUTPUT);
pulse(LED_ERR, 2);
pinMode(LED_HB, OUTPUT);
pulse(LED_HB, 2);
}
int error = 0;
int pmode = 0;
// address for reading and writing, set by 'U' command
unsigned int here;
uint8_t buff[256]; // global block storage
#define beget16(addr) (*addr * 256 + *(addr+1) )
typedef struct param {
uint8_t devicecode;
uint8_t revision;
uint8_t progtype;
uint8_t parmode;
uint8_t polling;
uint8_t selftimed;
uint8_t lockbytes;
uint8_t fusebytes;
uint8_t flashpoll;
uint16_t eeprompoll;
uint16_t pagesize;
uint16_t eepromsize;
uint32_t flashsize;
}
parameter;
parameter param;
// this provides a heartbeat on pin 9, so you can tell the software is running.
uint8_t hbval = 128;
int8_t hbdelta = 8;
void heartbeat() {
static unsigned long last_time = 0;
unsigned long now = millis();
if ((now - last_time) < 40)
return;
last_time = now;
if (hbval > 192) hbdelta = -hbdelta;
if (hbval < 32) hbdelta = -hbdelta;
hbval += hbdelta;
analogWrite(LED_HB, hbval);
}
static bool rst_active_high;
void reset_target(bool reset) {
digitalWrite(RESET, ((reset && rst_active_high) || (!reset && !rst_active_high)) ? HIGH : LOW);
}
void loop(void) {
// is pmode active?
if (pmode) {
digitalWrite(LED_PMODE, HIGH);
} else {
digitalWrite(LED_PMODE, LOW);
}
// is there an error?
if (error) {
digitalWrite(LED_ERR, HIGH);
} else {
digitalWrite(LED_ERR, LOW);
}
// light the heartbeat LED
heartbeat();
if (SERIAL.available()) {
avrisp();
}
}
uint8_t getch() {
while (!SERIAL.available());
return SERIAL.read();
}
void fill(int n) {
for (int x = 0; x < n; x++) {
buff[x] = getch();
}
}
#define PTIME 30
void pulse(int pin, int times) {
do {
digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);
delay(PTIME);
digitalWrite(pin, LOW);
delay(PTIME);
} while (times--);
}
void prog_lamp(int state) {
if (PROG_FLICKER) {
digitalWrite(LED_PMODE, state);
}
}
uint8_t spi_transaction(uint8_t a, uint8_t b, uint8_t c, uint8_t d) {
SPI.transfer(a);
SPI.transfer(b);
SPI.transfer(c);
return SPI.transfer(d);
}
void empty_reply() {
if (CRC_EOP == getch()) {
SERIAL.print((char)STK_INSYNC);
SERIAL.print((char)STK_OK);
} else {
error++;
SERIAL.print((char)STK_NOSYNC);
}
}
void breply(uint8_t b) {
if (CRC_EOP == getch()) {
SERIAL.print((char)STK_INSYNC);
SERIAL.print((char)b);
SERIAL.print((char)STK_OK);
} else {
error++;
SERIAL.print((char)STK_NOSYNC);
}
}
void get_version(uint8_t c) {
switch (c) {
case 0x80:
breply(HWVER);
break;
case 0x81:
breply(SWMAJ);
break;
case 0x82:
breply(SWMIN);
break;
case 0x93:
breply('S'); // serial programmer
break;
default:
breply(0);
}
}
void set_parameters() {
// call this after reading parameter packet into buff[]
param.devicecode = buff[0];
param.revision = buff[1];
param.progtype = buff[2];
param.parmode = buff[3];
param.polling = buff[4];
param.selftimed = buff[5];
param.lockbytes = buff[6];
param.fusebytes = buff[7];
param.flashpoll = buff[8];
// ignore buff[9] (= buff[8])
// following are 16 bits (big endian)
param.eeprompoll = beget16(&buff[10]);
param.pagesize = beget16(&buff[12]);
param.eepromsize = beget16(&buff[14]);
// 32 bits flashsize (big endian)
param.flashsize = buff[16] * 0x01000000
+ buff[17] * 0x00010000
+ buff[18] * 0x00000100
+ buff[19];
// AVR devices have active low reset, AT89Sx are active high
rst_active_high = (param.devicecode >= 0xe0);
}
void start_pmode() {
// Reset target before driving PIN_SCK or PIN_MOSI
// SPI.begin() will configure SS as output, so SPI master mode is selected.
// We have defined RESET as pin 10, which for many Arduinos is not the SS pin.
// So we have to configure RESET as output here,
// (reset_target() first sets the correct level)
reset_target(true);
pinMode(RESET, OUTPUT);
SPI.begin();
SPI.beginTransaction(SPISettings(SPI_CLOCK, MSBFIRST, SPI_MODE0));
// See AVR datasheets, chapter "SERIAL_PRG Programming Algorithm":
// Pulse RESET after PIN_SCK is low:
digitalWrite(PIN_SCK, LOW);
delay(20); // discharge PIN_SCK, value arbitrarily chosen
reset_target(false);
// Pulse must be minimum 2 target CPU clock cycles so 100 usec is ok for CPU
// speeds above 20 KHz
delayMicroseconds(100);
reset_target(true);
// Send the enable programming command:
delay(50); // datasheet: must be > 20 msec
spi_transaction(0xAC, 0x53, 0x00, 0x00);
pmode = 1;
}
void end_pmode() {
SPI.end();
// We're about to take the target out of reset so configure SPI pins as input
pinMode(PIN_MOSI, INPUT);
pinMode(PIN_SCK, INPUT);
reset_target(false);
pinMode(RESET, INPUT);
pmode = 0;
}
void universal() {
uint8_t ch;
fill(4);
ch = spi_transaction(buff[0], buff[1], buff[2], buff[3]);
breply(ch);
}
void flash(uint8_t hilo, unsigned int addr, uint8_t data) {
spi_transaction(0x40 + 8 * hilo,
addr >> 8 & 0xFF,
addr & 0xFF,
data);
}
void commit(unsigned int addr) {
if (PROG_FLICKER) {
prog_lamp(LOW);
}
spi_transaction(0x4C, (addr >> 8) & 0xFF, addr & 0xFF, 0);
if (PROG_FLICKER) {
delay(PTIME);
prog_lamp(HIGH);
}
}
unsigned int current_page() {
if (param.pagesize == 32) {
return here & 0xFFFFFFF0;
}
if (param.pagesize == 64) {
return here & 0xFFFFFFE0;
}
if (param.pagesize == 128) {
return here & 0xFFFFFFC0;
}
if (param.pagesize == 256) {
return here & 0xFFFFFF80;
}
return here;
}
void write_flash(int length) {
fill(length);
if (CRC_EOP == getch()) {
SERIAL.print((char) STK_INSYNC);
SERIAL.print((char) write_flash_pages(length));
} else {
error++;
SERIAL.print((char) STK_NOSYNC);
}
}
uint8_t write_flash_pages(int length) {
int x = 0;
unsigned int page = current_page();
while (x < length) {
if (page != current_page()) {
commit(page);
page = current_page();
}
flash(LOW, here, buff[x++]);
flash(HIGH, here, buff[x++]);
here++;
}
commit(page);
return STK_OK;
}
#define EECHUNK (32)
uint8_t write_eeprom(unsigned int length) {
// here is a word address, get the byte address
unsigned int start = here * 2;
unsigned int remaining = length;
if (length > param.eepromsize) {
error++;
return STK_FAILED;
}
while (remaining > EECHUNK) {
write_eeprom_chunk(start, EECHUNK);
start += EECHUNK;
remaining -= EECHUNK;
}
write_eeprom_chunk(start, remaining);
return STK_OK;
}
// write (length) bytes, (start) is a byte address
uint8_t write_eeprom_chunk(unsigned int start, unsigned int length) {
// this writes byte-by-byte, page writing may be faster (4 bytes at a time)
fill(length);
prog_lamp(LOW);
for (unsigned int x = 0; x < length; x++) {
unsigned int addr = start + x;
spi_transaction(0xC0, (addr >> 8) & 0xFF, addr & 0xFF, buff[x]);
delay(45);
}
prog_lamp(HIGH);
return STK_OK;
}
void program_page() {
char result = (char) STK_FAILED;
unsigned int length = 256 * getch();
length += getch();
char memtype = getch();
// flash memory @here, (length) bytes
if (memtype == 'F') {
write_flash(length);
return;
}
if (memtype == 'E') {
result = (char)write_eeprom(length);
if (CRC_EOP == getch()) {
SERIAL.print((char) STK_INSYNC);
SERIAL.print(result);
} else {
error++;
SERIAL.print((char) STK_NOSYNC);
}
return;
}
SERIAL.print((char)STK_FAILED);
return;
}
uint8_t flash_read(uint8_t hilo, unsigned int addr) {
return spi_transaction(0x20 + hilo * 8,
(addr >> 8) & 0xFF,
addr & 0xFF,
0);
}
char flash_read_page(int length) {
for (int x = 0; x < length; x += 2) {
uint8_t low = flash_read(LOW, here);
SERIAL.print((char) low);
uint8_t high = flash_read(HIGH, here);
SERIAL.print((char) high);
here++;
}
return STK_OK;
}
char eeprom_read_page(int length) {
// here again we have a word address
int start = here * 2;
for (int x = 0; x < length; x++) {
int addr = start + x;
uint8_t ee = spi_transaction(0xA0, (addr >> 8) & 0xFF, addr & 0xFF, 0xFF);
SERIAL.print((char) ee);
}
return STK_OK;
}
void read_page() {
char result = (char)STK_FAILED;
int length = 256 * getch();
length += getch();
char memtype = getch();
if (CRC_EOP != getch()) {
error++;
SERIAL.print((char) STK_NOSYNC);
return;
}
SERIAL.print((char) STK_INSYNC);
if (memtype == 'F') result = flash_read_page(length);
if (memtype == 'E') result = eeprom_read_page(length);
SERIAL.print(result);
}
void read_signature() {
if (CRC_EOP != getch()) {
error++;
SERIAL.print((char) STK_NOSYNC);
return;
}
SERIAL.print((char) STK_INSYNC);
uint8_t high = spi_transaction(0x30, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00);
SERIAL.print((char) high);
uint8_t middle = spi_transaction(0x30, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00);
SERIAL.print((char) middle);
uint8_t low = spi_transaction(0x30, 0x00, 0x02, 0x00);
SERIAL.print((char) low);
SERIAL.print((char) STK_OK);
}
//////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////
void avrisp() {
uint8_t ch = getch();
switch (ch) {
case '0': // signon
error = 0;
empty_reply();
break;
case '1':
if (getch() == CRC_EOP) {
SERIAL.print((char) STK_INSYNC);
SERIAL.print("AVR ISP");
SERIAL.print((char) STK_OK);
}
else {
error++;
SERIAL.print((char) STK_NOSYNC);
}
break;
case 'A':
get_version(getch());
break;
case 'B':
fill(20);
set_parameters();
empty_reply();
break;
case 'E': // extended parameters - ignore for now
fill(5);
empty_reply();
break;
case 'P':
if (!pmode)
start_pmode();
empty_reply();
break;
case 'U': // set address (word)
here = getch();
here += 256 * getch();
empty_reply();
break;
case 0x60: //STK_PROG_FLASH
getch(); // low addr
getch(); // high addr
empty_reply();
break;
case 0x61: //STK_PROG_DATA
getch(); // data
empty_reply();
break;
case 0x64: //STK_PROG_PAGE
program_page();
break;
case 0x74: //STK_READ_PAGE 't'
read_page();
break;
case 'V': //0x56
universal();
break;
case 'Q': //0x51
error = 0;
end_pmode();
empty_reply();
break;
case 0x75: //STK_READ_SIGN 'u'
read_signature();
break;
// expecting a command, not CRC_EOP
// this is how we can get back in sync
case CRC_EOP:
error++;
SERIAL.print((char) STK_NOSYNC);
break;
// anything else we will return STK_UNKNOWN
default:
error++;
if (CRC_EOP == getch())
SERIAL.print((char)STK_UNKNOWN);
else
SERIAL.print((char)STK_NOSYNC);
}
}
Working and Testing
- We want to program with an Arduino Uno board. First, we use the “tools” menu in the Arduino IDE to choose the right board and port.
- We choose “Arduino as ISP” from the “Programmer” section of the same menu.
- Now, paste the code that we have provided above
- Now that everything is ready, we can add a microcontroller so that the bootloader can be burned onto it. Here’s what we do about it:
- First, go to this Github link and find out which AVR category your microcontroller is in. For instance, ours is the Atmega8, which is in the MiniCore group.
- Below is the instruction on How to install
- Open the Arduino IDE and go to the “Files” menu. Then go to “Preferences” and click on it. When the page opens, click on “Additional Boards Manager URLs” and paste the link you copied in the last step.
- Open the “Board Manager” icon by going to “Tools” > “Board” > “Board.”
- Wait for the downloading to finish. Then, look for “MiniCore” in a search engine and install it.
- Go to “Tools > Board” and click on the MiniCore icon. Then, select your target microcontroller, which in our case is “Atmega8.”
- At the end of the “Tools” menu, click on “Burn Bootloader.” Wait until the fire is finished. After following the steps above correctly, the words “Done Burning Bootloader” will appear.
- Once the bootloader is burned into your microcontroller, you can use a USB to TTL adapter and the Arduino IDE to program it. Now, we’ll put a simple code on the microcontroller and see how it works.
- We can use the Arduino Board as a USB-to-TTL converter and program the microcontroller through the RX and TX pins.
- Connect the Arduino Board to the computer again after setting up the circuit, and check the settings in the “Tools” menu: Choose Atmega8 under “Tools” > “Board.”
- Choose the port where the Arduino Uno is connected in under “Tools” > “Port.” To ensure everything has been done correctly, we’ll upload a simple “Blink” code to the Atmega8 microcontroller and see what happens.
- Copy and paste the below-given code onto your microcontroller.
void setup() {
// initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output.
pinMode(8, OUTPUT);
}
// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
digitalWrite(8, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
delay(100); // wait for a second
digitalWrite(8, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
delay(100); // wait for a second
}- If you follow all of the steps, the LED will start blinking. You can change the delay time and upload again to ensure everything is working well.
Applications
- AVR projects
Conclusion.
We hope you have found this Arduino ISP Bootloader Circuit very useful. If you feel any difficulty in making it feel free to ask anything in the comment section.
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