Topic: Simple microcontrollers

[Mike]

Probably another Rob question but...

Looking for a simple microcontroller.  Only need a few I/O pins and a small amount of program storage and a tiny bit of variable memory.  The microcontrollers I've been using so far are just too much.  It'd be like using a supercomputer when you need a four banger calculator.

I found http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/product_card.asp?part_id=3954&category_id=163&family_id=604&subfamily_id=1679 which is based on 8051 controller but wasn't sure how well it'd fit my needs.  Would be nice to get one that gcc can compile C code for.

[Dumah]

Try arduino. Cost about £20. Open spec. Amtel AVR chip. GCC build set (for AVR). USB/Serial port as standard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino

[Mike]

Try arduino. Cost about £20. Open spec. Amtel AVR chip. GCC build set (for AVR). USB/Serial port as standard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino

That is based on the atmega series which is way way way more than I need for the project I have in mind.

[Rob]

I've used these in the past. Downside is that they need some hardware to program them.

http://www.nxp.com/#/pip/pip=[pip=P89LPC901_902_903,jp=]|pp=[t=pip,i=P89LPC901_902_903]

Would be nice to get one that gcc can compile C code for.

http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/

Try arduino. Cost about £20. Open spec. Amtel AVR chip. GCC build set (for AVR). USB/Serial port as standard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino

No. Just no. (sorry, I have an aversion to the Arduino love-fest for some reason. Just ignore me.)

[Rob]

You might find these interesing as well.

http://ics.nxp.com/lpcxpresso/

http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/ToolStick.aspx

Actually, the toolstick would probably be a pretty good fit. You could integrate the daughterboard into your design. It also has on-chip debugging (which is a real bonus, trust me). You run the code on the actual hardware while debugging on the PC. An Emulator as opposed to a Simulator.

edit>> See data sheet. http://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/ToolStick_F300DC_UG.pdf

[Dumah]

No. Just no. (sorry, I have an aversion to the Arduino love-fest for some reason. Just ignore me.)

How so?

[Rob]

No. Just no. (sorry, I have an aversion to the Arduino love-fest for some reason. Just ignore me.)

How so?

I honestly don't know.

Edited to say: I assume you were asking why I have an aversion. I think it's to do with enjoying the hardware design aspect, so why would I want something pre-built? Takes all the fun out of it.

[Mike]

I've used these in the past. Downside is that they need some hardware to program them.

Anything specific?  With my ATMega I was able to just map some pins and got a USB programmer.

http://www.nxp.com/#/pip/pip=[pip=P89LPC901_902_903,jp=]|pp=[t=pip,i=P89LPC901_902_903]

Is that another 8051 type device?  I like the smaller package.  For this particular project I'm hoping to get in the quarter to half dollar size (so about 1-1.25 inches).

Would be nice to get one that gcc can compile C code for.

http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/

Thanks, I'll take a look

Try arduino. Cost about £20. Open spec. Amtel AVR chip. GCC build set (for AVR). USB/Serial port as standard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino

No. Just no. (sorry, I have an aversion to the Arduino love-fest for some reason. Just ignore me.)

My buddy got an Arduino and I think it is a good starting place for him as he didn't do any circuit or embedded stuff at college.  So a good starting platform.

[Rob]

I've used these in the past. Downside is that they need some hardware to program them.

Anything specific?  With my ATMega I was able to just map some pins and got a USB programmer.

http://forum.flashmagictool.com/index.php?topic=638.0

http://www.keil.com/mcb900/

www.flashmagictool.com/assets/resources/AN10258_2.pdf

http://www.nxp.com/#/pip/pip=[pip=P89LPC901_902_903,jp=]|pp=[t=pip,i=P89LPC901_902_903]

Is that another 8051 type device?

Yep. Low pin count 8051.