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ATmel

Micro Controllers Atmel/Microchip Studio Mplab X

TinyAVR

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ATmega

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Xmega

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Atmel is a company that designs, manufactures, and sells a wide range of microcontrollers and touch-based products. Atmel's products are based on a variety of different technologies, including 8-bit, 32-bit, and ARM Cortex-M processors.

Atmel's AVR microcontrollers are based on RISC architecture and were designed with the intention of providing increased performance with low power consumption. These devices became popular due to their simplicity, robust features, and extensive community support. The AVR family consists of several series, including TinyAVR, MegaAVR, and XMEGA, each with its unique features and advantages.

Atmel also offered a range of microcontrollers based on ARM cores, which are widely used in the industry. These included the SAM series of microcontrollers, featuring Cortex-M cores, and offered a high degree of flexibility and power, suitable for more advanced applications.

These products include microcontrollers, touch controllers, and touch-based systems for a variety of applications, such as automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Atmel (now Microchip) controllers, including the AVR, Atmega, Xmega, and AVR32 series, have gained popularity for a number of reasons:

Performance
These controllers are designed to deliver high performance and low power consumption, making them well-suited for a wide range of applications.
Flexibility
They offer a wide range of memory options and advanced peripherals, allowing designers to choose the best microcontroller for their specific application.
Ease of use
Atmel controllers are well-documented and supported by a large community of developers, making them relatively easy to use and program.
Cost-effective
Atmel controllers are relatively inexpensive, which makes them an attractive option for a wide range of applications, including hobby projects and small-scale production.
Widely available
Atmel controllers are widely available from various distributors and suppliers, which makes them easy to purchase and use in a variety of projects.
Compatibility
Atmel controllers are compatible with a wide range of development platforms, such as Arduino boards, which makes it easy to access for beginners and advanced users.

Acquisition by Microchip Technology

In 2016, Atmel was acquired by Microchip Technology, another prominent semiconductor manufacturer. This acquisition allowed Microchip to expand its product portfolio and customer base. Post-acquisition, the Atmel brand was phased out, but the AVR and ARM families of microcontrollers continue to be developed and sold under the Microchip brand.

ATmel Legacy

Despite the brand no longer existing, the impact of Atmel in the world of microcontrollers is undeniable. Many of the features and design choices pioneered by Atmel continue to influence microcontroller design today. The AVR family, in particular, remains popular for its simplicity and ease of use, particularly in education and among hobbyists.

Atmel's legacy continues to live on through Microchip Technology. The same high-performance, low-power microcontrollers that Atmel was known for continue to be developed and improved under the Microchip brand, ensuring that Atmel's pioneering spirit lives on in the products it originally created.

Whether you're a professional engineer, a student, or a hobbyist, if you've worked with microcontrollers, it's likely that you've encountered Atmel's products. Their continued popularity is a testament to Atmel's impact on the industry and the lasting value of its products.

Environment Setup for Atmel Devices

When developing applications for Atmel microcontrollers, you'll need to set up an appropriate development environment. This will typically involve installing software for writing, building, and debugging code, and hardware for programming the microcontroller. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up a development environment for Atmel devices:

Step 1: Install Atmel Studio

Atmel Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Atmel. It is based on Microsoft's Visual Studio and is specifically designed for developing and debugging Atmel AVR and ARM microcontroller applications.

Atmel microcontrollers can be programmed using a variety of tools such as

Atmel studio Logo Microchip Studio Logo Atmel Studio(now Microchip Studio) with AVR GCC Toolchain

mplab x ide logo Mplab X with AVR GCC Toolchain And XC-Toolchain

AVR studio Logo AVR Studio with AVR GCC toolchain.

You can download Atmel Studio for free from Microchip's website. After downloading the installer, run it and follow the instructions to install Atmel Studio on your computer.

Step 2: Install a Toolchain

A toolchain is a set of programming tools that work together to build and compile your code into a format that the microcontroller can understand. Atmel Studio comes with the AVR-GCC and ARM-GCC toolchains pre-installed, so you typically won't need to install these separately.

Step 3: Set Up Hardware

You'll need a way to program your Atmel microcontroller. This usually involves a hardware programmer/debugger.

For AVR microcontrollers, you can use an Atmel-ICE, AVRISP mkII, or a USBasp. For ARM microcontrollers, you'll typically use an Atmel-ICE.

You will need a programmer to transfer the code from your computer to the microcontroller. Common programmers include the Atmel-ICE , AVR Dragon, and USBasp .

Connect the programmer/debugger to your computer via USB, and connect it to your microcontroller as per the instructions for your specific programmer/debugger and microcontroller.

Step 4: Install Drivers

Ensure that your programmer/debugger is recognized by your computer. You might need to install drivers for the hardware. These should be available from the manufacturer's website or they might come bundled with Atmel Studio.

Step 5: Start a New Project

Once you've installed Atmel Studio and set up your hardware, you're ready to start a new project.

In Atmel Studio, go to "File" -> "New" -> "Project". You'll be able to select the type of project you want to create (e.g., a C/C++ executable for an AVR or ARM microcontroller), and specify your microcontroller model.

Step 6: Write, Build, and Upload Code

You can now write code for your Atmel microcontroller in Atmel Studio. Once you've written your code, you can build it using the Build command. If the code compiles successfully, you can upload it to your microcontroller using your hardware programmer/debugger.

ATmel Devices

Atmel Corporation, prior to its acquisition by Microchip Technology in 2016, was known for producing a wide range of semiconductor devices, not just microcontrollers. These included:

  1. Memory ICs

    Atmel produced a range of memory devices including Flash memory, EEPROMs, and SRAMs. They had a wide variety of serial and parallel interface options, voltages, and package types.

  2. Radio Frequency (RF) Devices

    Atmel manufactured a range of RF devices including transceivers, receivers, and transmitters for various wireless communication standards such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

  3. Capacitive Touch Controllers

    Atmel's capacitive touch controller ICs, such as those in the QTouch and maXTouch series, were widely used in touch-sensitive human interface applications.

  4. ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits)

    Atmel provided custom and semi-custom ASICs for a variety of applications. ASICs are ICs designed for a particular use, rather than for general-purpose use.

  5. Security ICs

    Atmel produced secure microcontrollers and crypto memory devices, which are used in applications that require secure data storage and transmission.

  6. Automotive Solutions

    Atmel provided a wide range of automotive electronics solutions including car access, car networking, in-vehicle systems, power management, and sensors.

news Since the acquisition by Microchip Technology, many of these product lines have continued under the Microchip brand. Some have been integrated into Microchip's existing product offerings, while others have continued to evolve and develop under the new company. Despite the change in ownership, the high-quality and innovative spirit of Atmel's semiconductor devices live on.

TinyAVR

TinyAVR is a sub-series of the AVR microcontroller family developed by Atmel (now Microchip) that focuses on small form factors, low power consumption, and cost-effective solutions.

TinyAVR microcontrollers are typically used in applications that require minimal processing power, such as simple control systems, sensor networks, and low-end consumer electronics. They have limited features compared to other AVR microcontroller families and have smaller memory sizes, but they are smaller in size and lower in cost.

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ATmega

The ATmega series of microcontrollers is a product line developed by ATmel (now Microchip) that includes a wide range of devices with varying amounts of memory, peripherals, and power consumption. These microcontrollers are based on the AVR architecture and are commonly used in a wide variety of embedded systems and hobby projects.

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Xmega

The Xmega series of microcontrollers is a product line developed by ATmel (now Microchip) that is based on the AVR architecture. Xmega microcontrollers offer a range of memory options, advanced peripherals and low power consumption, it's focused on applications that require high performance and advanced communication interfaces.

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