AVR DRAGON is a debugger that Atmel company is launched. Generally genuine emulator or debug tools are all prices, they need thousands or even thousands of dollars, and AVR Dragon is a new standard set by Atmel's low-cost development tools, although the price is $ 49 (about 3,400) RMB, but performance is not discounted, even more practical. It supports all programming modes of the AVR series microprocessor (ISP, HVSP (high voltage serial), HVPP (high voltage parallel), JTAG, supports JTAG and DW (Debugwire) on-chip debugging capabilities, basically develop full range of AVR devices (Only very small number does not support, see the AVR Studio Help File)
Why is the price be so cheap? AVR Dragon's packaging is simple, which is different from the usual development tools (but not a stealing process), which saves gorgeous packaging and complex accessories. It is like a "semi-finished product" or a prototype development board, and the AVR Dragon we get is a bare PCB board. There is no housing, no connecting lines, no instructions, drivers and software discs, everything needs you to get it. It is worthwhile to spend time with respect to such a low price. (After all, it is money).
Hardware parts
Unfortunately, Atmel did not disclose the schematic of AVR Dragon, it could not understand its design details. But still take a look at the hardware of AVR Dragon. After all, it is the original design, although it is a low cost tool, AVR Dragon's production is still very sophisticated. The rectangular PCB plate size has 53mm x 105mm, a plate thickness of 15mm, and a 4-layer board design is used, so that there is good signal integrity.
AVR DRAGON is powered by USB port. There is a USB B interface on the board (now the B-type interface is not popular, the download line is still difficult to find, can have the Mini USB port or Micro USB port, is it a cost consideration? ). The USB port of the computer generally provides 500mA current, and the AVR Dragon is designed to be 150mA current, and can provide 300 mA 5V voltage through the power foot. However, in high pressure programming mode, the Rush current may exceed 500mA, the most insurance method is to receive a USB HUB to power.
Most of the device on the AVR Dragon is 4.5V ~ 5.5V, and the output voltage specified by the USB protocol may be less than 4.5V, in order to adapt to various situations, the AVR Dragon uses TI's DC-DC boosting. TPS61020DRCRG4, and protected circuits also improve reliability.
AVR DRAGON also uses Maxim's voltage comparator MXA942, Anni Mei's simulation switch NLAS2066-D, AVR Dragon can automatically adjust signal level (1.8V ~ 5.5V) to match external target board, although low Cost tools but not a little bit.
The USB interface chip is NXP's PDIUSBD12, which is a single-chip that is converted in parallel communication, in line with USB2.0 specification, and the parallel bus speed reaches 2 MByte / s. The parallel bus is connected to the plate microcontroller ATMEAG128A.
There is also a microcontroller atmega2560 on AVR Dragon, and a 1MB (128kx8) high-speed SRAM CYPRESS CY7C1019D, 8-bit bus latch 74ahc573.
There are 2 LEDs on AVR Dragon. One of the smaller green LEDs indicates the communication state of the USB, and there are 4 modes of the large three-color LEDs:
LED color
state
Red
Free, no communication with AVR Studio
not bright
Idle, communicate with AVR Studio
yellow
Initialization or firmware upgrade
green
Communication with target boards, transfer data
Interface part
The reason for AVR Dragon supports so many programming and debug modes because the board is set, especially those who have no welding, allowing us to flexibly configure programming interfaces.
There are mainly three pins that have been welded and 3 unweltable areas.
Power pin: 2x3 (2.54mm pitch) pin, provides a 5V voltage for the external target board, or provides a voltage for the unbelled socket (on the board).
JTAG port: 2x5 (2.54 spacing) pin for JTAG mode debugging and programming. The connection with the external target board is the matching of the target board according to the level of the target board, and the voltage of the target board can be determined by the fourth pin VTREF.
ISP interface: 2x3 (2.54mm pitch) pin, this pin can achieve a variety of programming and debug mode.
1) ISP programming: Programming the target board via the SPI interface, the signal level can automatically match the target board.
2) Debugwire debugging: DW debugging and target board only requires 3 signal lines (RESET, VTG, GND) connections, which can also be easily debugged and programmed by ISP interfaces. Be
Unbelled area: The extended interface is connected to the reserved socket port (40 or 28 feet), and the reserved socket port (socket) can be installed 40 or 28 foot socket. The signal of the high voltage programming interface is free to connect to the expansion port.
High voltage programming interface: 2x10 (2.54 spacing) is not welded, including all signals required for high-voltage serial and parallel programming, and the user is connected to the programming device based on the specific chip. The signal of the high-voltage programming port cannot be automatically adjusted, so that the external target board cannot be received, only the reserved socket on the board to program the device.
Different chip high-pressure programming have different signal connections, please refer to the help file of AVR DRAGON. Usage of high-voltage programming can be seen below, the signals of the interface are connected to the extended interface through the wire.
software
AVR DRAGON does not include a cable or software, driver, etc., so you need to prepare yourself and download the program online. The strange thing is to find any manual or driver under the official website AVR DRGON page. Its drivers and help are all integrated into AVR Studio, and the development software must be installed first.
There is no way, you must first download the integrated development software, the latest version is AVR Studio5.1. The installation package of AVR Studio5.1 is a bit large, completely installed with a space of 1 G, which is still relatively rare in single-chip development software. However, in addition to software resources, it is necessary to install .NET4.0, only some of the shortcomings such as Windows systems, AVR Studio5.1 is still very good for the development of the AVR system:
This is a completely free integrated development environment, integrated with various tools such as C / C ++, compilation, compile, simulation, and debugging, and can easily extend support for third-party software.
Support 8-bit, 32-bit full range of AVR controllers, as well as various debugging programmers and development evaluation boards of Atmel.
A large number of routines, Visual Studio style engineering management, easy to use
Powerful help system and online help and resources
After downloading AVR Studio5.1, click the installation, the installation process is simple, will prompt to install the USB package (connected to the Atmel tool after installation) and Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 (if the computer is not .NET).
After the installation is complete, open avr studio5.1 to find the AVR DRAGON user manual in the AVR Tools Help in the Start Interface, which is the only official help file (really strange).
Click AVR DRAGON User Guide to pop up the help system, there is a detailed instruction file.
Select Tools->avr Tools Firmware Upgrade to provide free upgrades for AVR Dragon's firmware to support updated chips.
Let's take a look at the two programming modes of AVR Dragon.
JTAG
First connect to the computer USB port (USB transfer B interface), at this time, the small LED brightening shows that the USB is connected, and the large LED is red. The AVR Dragon has not communicated with the AVR Studio 5.1 software. (USB driver is automatically installed).
Connecting AVR Dragon with Ateml target board (here a Atmel evaluation board XPLAIN), did not find a suitable JTAG cable, so use DuPont line (not too long in the JTAG line).
Select Tools->avr Programming in AVR Studio5.1.
The pop-up window, select the target board microcontroller in the Tool drop-down menu, the Device drop-down menu, the interface drop-down menu Select JTAG, then click Apply, AVR DRAGON with the AVR Studio connection, the red LED on the board is off.
On the right device, click Read to read the chip ID and the reference voltage of the target board. If the incorrect connection is connected, it will report an error.
Under the Memories interface, you can select the target file to program to the target board. When programming, the big LED on AVR Dragon turns yellow, and the small LED will flash all the communication.
ISP
The AVR Dragon to the target board is also connected via the ISP interface (here a board card with an Arduino). Connect the software to read the target board information.
If the ID identity of the chip is read out to "0x00 0x00 0x00", you can set low ISP clocks at the interface.
summary
AVR Dragon Debugger is a low-cost high-quality development tool at ATMEL, combined with free integrated development environment AVR Studio5.1 and free firmware upgrades, users can have a low cost to build an AVR controller development platform. AVR DRAGON although there is a part of the non-welded part, it is like a semi-finished product, and its use is very simple, and the DIY programming platform is also very easy, you can even diy packaging to make a debugger. The AVR Dragon feature is very complete, but due to the exposure of the PCB board, be careful when using it, it is useful when developing design, but it is not suitable for a large amount of burnt chip programs. In short, AVR Dragon is very suitable for beginners to use or as a backup commissioning tool. The enthusiasts who like to do it will also like it. After all, I only need three or four hundred yuan (guide price 49).
Reference link
AVR DRAGON
AVR Studio5.1
Original declaration: This article is originally created by the panel network, declined!
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