Microprocessor platform based on ATMEL ATMega103

I have made up a platform based on ATMEL ATMega103 for my diploma thesis. The goal was to design and implement a platform for location based services using Bluetooth Infrastructure. As proof-of-concept, I built a small hardware module consisting of a microprocessor and a Bluetooth module. As MCU, I chose ATMEL ATMega103.

Developing Environment for the Platform

There are quite a few IDE's both commercial and shareware available for AVR. In general, these are based on Microsoft Windows platform. Fortunately, Serge Vukalenko started to enhance the GNU gcc compiler for AVR Support.
As of gcc version 3.0, AVR support is built in by default. Since gcc 3.0 is only available as CVS beta download, I have built an INSTALL script to build a GNU AVR IDE including avr-gcc, avr-ld, avr-as

Following references helped me getting started:

• GCC crosscompiler FAQ
• Ollis Page on AVR gnutools
• Web Archive of the AVR libc maintainer
• Getting Started Programming with AVR-GCC using AVR Studio

Driver Support for the platform

At this time, I found very little OpenSource software in C for the AVR. For my projects, I have programmed a few drivers for the AVR MCU. For a rather extensive discussion, why I did what, have a look at my diploma thesis.

• Avr.h,Avr.c - general functions / defines
• Avr_Debug.h,Avr_Debug.c - debugging functions over UART
• Avr_Power.h,Avr_Power.c - power management
• Avr_SUart.h,Avr_SUart.c - driver for interrupt driven SW UART
• Avr_Time.h,Avr_Time.c - pseudo RTC with attached 32.786kHz XTal
• Avr_Uart.h,Avr_Uart.c - driver for an interrupt driven HW UART

Further References

• AVR Monitor for gdb
• AVR libc Documentation
• avr-gcc MiniFAQ
• The avr-gcc-list Archives
• Atmel for Dummies