0 Tools

0.1 SimulIDE

You can find the free electronics simulation program SimulIDE in ILIAS under (DE/EN) Software.
Alternatively, the program can also be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. There, a “small contribution” must be entered, which can also be 0€.


In contrast to TINA TI, SimulIDE has a different focus and therefore the following advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• Microcontrollers are simulated well (including Atmel chips). This is not possible in TINA TI.
• The microcontrollers can also be programmed. This means that microcontroller-suitable source files (hex files) can be used.
• Interaction between software and hardware is possible.

Disadvantages:

• Simulation of various electronic components is only implemented in a simplified way (e.g. operational amplifiers or FETs)
• The software is still being heavily developed. This means it is a good idea to use the version specified above in order to avoid compatibility problems.

To get started with SimulIDE, it helps to watch the developer's playlist.

Tips for Using SimulIDE - Configuration

• If the text is displayed too small after opening the program, one of the following approaches may help:
  • In SimulIDE, after opening the program, click on the gear icon. Select the App tab. There, enter for example 2.0 for Font Scale and restart the program.
  • In Explorer: right-click » Properties » Compatibility » Change high DPI settings » Override high DPI scaling behavior » check the box » select “System”. (if necessary, choose “System (Enhanced)”)

0.2 Microchip Studio

Microchip Studio is a programming environment for creating a microcontroller-suitable source file (hex file) from C or C++.

Installation

Installation Guide

The current version of the program can be found on the Microchip homepage.

1. If nothing happens after pressing the Download Microchip Studio button: simply scroll down to Downloads and Documents
2. With fast internet connections, the web installer can be chosen; with slower connections, the offline installer allows the entire package to be downloaded before installation.
3. During installation, only the “AVR” architecture is required.
4. “Advanced Software Framework and Example Projects” are not required.
5. Depending on the speed of the computer and the internet connection, installation takes about 5 minutes.
6. If it is not already installed, Visual Studio will also be installed during installation.
7. The question about licenses for the C compiler should be skipped with Next >
8. In addition, various device drivers may also be installed. These make it possible to write to the chips using a programming device.
9. Afterwards, open Microchip Studio directly so that you can make the first important settings.

for Mac Users

The following procedure is especially recommended for Mac users:

1. Open a browser.
2. Establish a VPN connection via eduVPN.
3. Go to fernzugriff-pools.hhn.hs-heilbronn.de
4. Log in and select a computer.
5. Select Mr. Ziegler's image with “uC_PCB” (search for Ziegler)
6. Then it will take a little while, because the pool computer now starts the Windows image.
7. You can now access a PC with Microchip Studio through your browser.
8. Please note that all data is deleted after ending the session.
   This means it is a good idea to set up the “U:” drive (“home directory”). Please contact Mr. Ziegler for this.

First Test of the Connection to the AVR-USB-Progi

Carry out the following steps to perform an initial test with the hardware.

1. Preparations
   1. Connect the MiniMEXLE
      1. to the Progi (black box) via ribbon cable
      2. to the power outlet via charging cable with the barrel connector
   2. Open Microchip Studio (for example by pressing the <WIN> key, entering Microchip Studio, and pressing <Return>).
   3. Download the file 5._menufuehrung.hex.
   4. After opening the program, connect the Progi to the PC / laptop via USB cable. This step must be done before the following ones!
   5. The green LED for USB communication should light up on the Progi.
2. Enter USB connection
   1. Without creating a project, go directly to Tools » Add Target...
   2. In the displayed window, you should select STK500 as the tool in the dropdown menu, which was previously empty.
   3. For the selection of the “Serial Ports”, choose the first available one, e.g. COM3, and confirm the selection with Apply.
      If no port is shown here, check whether the connection to the USB-Progi was successful.
      If the green LED is lit and the USB cable is connected correctly, refer to the instructions under 4.d.
3. First connection attempt
   1. Select Tools » Device Programming in the menu.
   2. Under Tools, select the corresponding USB connection, e.g. STK500 COM3.
   3. Under Device, you must select ATmega88; you can enter 88 and then click the correct value in the dropdown menu.
   4. Under Interface, ISP should now be shown.
   5. Now press Apply.
4. In case of error:
   1. If it takes longer after pressing Apply, the connection did not work. An error message Unable to connect tool STK500 (COMx) will then be displayed.
   2. You can acknowledge the error message, but after that it takes a few more seconds until the program responds correctly again.
   3. Then close the Device Programming window. Go back to point 2 in this guide and try the next serial port.
      Remember the number of the port, as this is needed under 3.b.
   4. If all available COM ports have been tested, or none were displayed from the beginning, installing a Virtual COM Port Driver may help. One can be found at FTDI.
5. If it works:
   1. You should now see a bit more in the Device Programming window.
   2. Before the next steps, connect the MiniMEXLE (= board with display and buttons) to the Progi with the ribbon cable and to the power supply with the barrel connector. Also plug the power supply into an outlet.
   3. Now press Read at the top next to Device Signature.
   4. A hexadecimal number 0x…. should appear. Your computer can now establish a connection to the MiniMEXLE for flashing.
   5. In the Device Programming window, go to Memories. Under Flash, insert the path to the downloaded file 5._menufuehrung.hex. You can also select the path using the … button to the right.
   6. Press Program
   7. The MiniMEXLE should now display
      - Experiment 5 -
Program Menu
      and then
      Main Level
P1 P2 P3 P4
   8. This means you have successfully tested the connection and the flashing process

Important Settings

• Use the display of line numbers: Tools » Options » Text Editor » All languages » General » Line numbers
• As soon as you work on the first project: Make sure to disable compiler optimization. This can be done with the following steps:
  • Menu Project » <ProjectName> Properties… » AVR/GNU Compiler » Optimization
  • The optimization level should be set to None (-O0)
• I recommend using ATMEL Studio in English. This makes the instructions in this course easier to follow correctly. If you accidentally selected German (e.g. during installation), you can correct it under Tools » Options » environment » international settings » Language.

Tips

• If the Solution Explorer (display of the files in the project) is not present on the right-hand side, you can find it under
  View » Solution Explorer (<CTL>+<ALT>+<L>)

0.3 MEXLE GitLab