ATMEGA328P-PU IC for Arduino 

ATMEGA328P-PU IC for Arduino – Description

The high-performance Microchip picoPower 8-bit AVR RISC-based microcontroller combines 32KB ISP flash memory with read-while-write capabilities,

1024B EEPROM, 2KB SRAM, 23 general purpose I/O lines,

32 general purpose working registers, three flexible timer/counters with compare modes,

Internal and external interrupts, serial programmable USART,

A byte-oriented 2-wire serial interface,

SPI serial port,

6-channel 10-bit A/D converter (8-channels in TQFP and QFN/MLF packages),

Programmable watchdog timer with internal oscillator,

And five software selectable power saving modes.

The device operates at 1.8-5.5 volts.

Arduino is nowadays an easy tool for e-hobbyists.

As an open platform and a “ready to use” circuit.

Everyone follows various arduino boards for realization of embedded designs.

But sometimes it is difficult and anaesthetic to use such large board as the basic circuit of our project.

Such as making a home automation system using an arduino board will not be professional.

Any arduino board consists of two basic blocks namely the programmer and the microcontroller.

The microcontroller is nothing but a standalone microcontroller (Atmega328 in arduino uno).

And the programmer is the programming circuit which do the programming of our microcontroller.

When we are making an application level electronic product.

We don’t need the entire arduino in the design.

Only we need the microcontroller programmed as per our application and we don’t need the programming circuit of the arduino board.

So, in this instructable we going to program a 328 microcontroller for led flashing and using the microcontroller alone on a breadboard.

Step 1: Bill of Materials

• Arduino Uno.
• USB A to B cable.
• ATmega328 microcontroller.
• 22 pF capacitors.
• 16 MHz crystal.
• 9V battery.
• Jumper wires.

Step 2: Boot loading the Microcontroller

In non-technical words, boot loading is nothing.

But making a bridge of communication between the arduino board and the microcontroller.

The microcontroller 328 that we buy in market may or may not be boot loaded.

It is already boot loaded.

Then we can directly use it with the arduino otherwise we have to boot load it first.

Boot loading can be done with the same arduino Uno.

Now connect the arduino board to the computer

The arduino in powered up also the 328 on breadboard is powered up.

The circuit is ready and we have to boot load, open the arduino IDE for that.

Step 3: Programming

Remove all the connections from arduino board to the breadboard we’ve done for boot loading.

We need some new and a few connections for programming 328.

Now we’ve to make some changes in the IDE also, as follows,

Remove all the arduino connections, provide a separate 5 VDC power supply to the breadboard and we’ve an independent 328 microcontroller in action.

Step 4: An Important Pitfall

In the arduino IDE, pin number 5 means the fifth pin of the arduino board not the fifth pin of 328 microcontroller.

It is actually 11th pin of the 328.

Since we are coding for a standalone 328, we’ve to put keen attention in accessing the I/O pins.

View our Newsfeed on Facebook

Additionally see our accessories – Click to view