Back to Basics
After spending so long working on all the complications of USB, some times it’s just nice to get back to basics a little. Ask anyone new to AVRs (not “microcontrollers”, as that would include all the inbred PIC users) what they started out with and they’ll answer a blinking LED. Therefore through simple deduction, it can be concluded that the most awesome thing on the planet can be solved by the formula:
Awesomeness = LEDS x Frequency
Thus I’ve had a go at producing something a fraction of pure awesome; a simple LED matrix message scroller. It was a fun afternoon, after the rather unconfortable morning (getting my braces off for the second time), and it gave me a chance to use some of the gear that Matt over at AVROpendous sent me.
Actually, I have to admit, I’m very impressed by the AVROpendous boards. Cheap, easily breadboardable and bare-bones, these are great little things for both USB experimentation, and just normal AVR development. You can see that my chaser actually uses an AVROpendous as both the processor and the power source (via USB) for the matrix. I think Matt’s designed a fantastic product which I hope people will latch on to; while it lacks the extras of the USBKEY (such as Dataflash, joystick, etc.) it is exactly that which makes is useful, as all the I/O pins are easily accessable and, of course, nothing stops you from adding your own more interesting peripherals. The on-board DebugWire connector pin, HWB and RESET buttons (similar to the USBKEY) and selectable 3.3V and 5V operation makes it a great starter board for all AVR users.
What are you waiting for? Go buy one already and try it out yourself!
Matt was also kind enough to send me a complete kit to build an AVROpendous from scratch so I can hone my surface mount soldering skills, but also some extra components to build Donald’s Benito boards that he sent me. With any luck I’ll have enough bits and bobs left over to populate the DorkBoards too. Whoopee!
