Custom Programming Rig for Flashing ATMega32U4s with Unique Memory Contents
If you’ve been following the successfully-funded story of the Multipass Mini you can expect to get your device relatively soon – for everyone else the product will be available later this month on Tindie. That’s the story of a fantastic ‘maker pro’ product already. But also interesting is the story behind what goes into programming a Multipass Mini, namely the custom memory contents in the ATMega32U4’s flash and EEPROM. To do so required building this custom programming rig, documented here on limpkin.fr with files available here on GitHub. If you needed a rig for anything similar you’ll definitely want to have a look at this design!
Each programming tile is therefore composed of :
– one 6 pin ISP connector
– one current-limited power switch
– one QFN44 programming socket
– one 16MHz crystal and its 2 load capacitors
– one button used by the user to start the programming process
– 3 LEDs rows: green / orange / red displaying the programming status
– one I2C GPIO expander to control these LEDs, power switch, button
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
