LAWICEL Soft- & Hardware

StAVeR-24M32 is a microcontroller module based on an Atmel ATmega32 in a small DIP24 package with a standard pin out. This DIP24 module doesn't have an interpreter built in. It needs a compiler such as a C compiler, BASIC compiler or it can be programmed directly in Assembler. Downloading code is done via the built in RS232 interface, so no need for an external programmer.

Features of the StAVeR-24M32:

30Kbytes of Flash code memory
2Kbytes of Flash BOOT code (for downloading code)
1Kbytes EEPROM
2Kbyte SRAM
On board 14.7456MHz Chrystal
16 I/O lines on the edge connectors plus 3 more I/O lines (SPI bus) on the red ISP connector
One external interrupt sources
Two 8-bit Timers
One 16-bit Timer
8 ea 10bit ADC channels
I2C hardware interface
Master SPI interface via 6pin connector according to original Atmel ISP programmer but with a smaller header
Programmed via RS232, no need for external programmer
ESD protected RS232 up to 115.2Kbaud
Extended temp. range -40C to +85C
On board Green, Yellow and Red LED.

Variable Space

The StAVeR-24M32 has 2Kbytes if SRAM. This allows your programs to be more complex and contain more data for e.g. data aquisition from sensors etc.

Program memory

The StAVeR-24M32 has originally 32K of FLASH program memory, but 2Kbytes are reserved for the BOOT loader which enables you to download code via RS232 instead of using a programmer. The program space (30Kbyte) can be used by one large program filling all 30Kbyte. There are no page boundaries or 2K limits (as on the PICmicros) to be concerned with when using the StAVeR-24M32. A program can jump or call a routine from one point to the next anywhere in the whole program memory.

Speed

There are several ways to rate a microcontrollers speed. One method that is widely used with interpreter chips, is to use the fastest instruction. So unless your program is nothing more than a series of fast commads, this speed rating is useless. Interpreter chips also have to fetch the commands stored in an external memory (EEPROM) via e.g. SPI or slow I2C, then look up what they shall do and then execute the command, therefor you get a very slow microcontroller compared to using a Compiler which translates your code directly into instructions that the microcontroller knows directly at runtime and doesn't need to be translated. The StAVeR-24M32 does 1 million instructions per Megahertz, meaning it does more than 14 milion instructions per second making it more than several 100 times faster than an interpreterchip.

No ISP (In System Programmer) programmer needed

The StAVeR-24M32 doesn't need any external programmer that occupies a parallel port or an extra COMx port. Further you do not have to lift it out from your system to be able to program it. Simply connect a standard straight Male/Female RS232 cable to your PC and dowload programs via the download software that comes with StAVeR-24M32 or from within BASCOM-AVR or ICCAVR directly. The StAVeR-24M32 could be used with all those motherboards or activity boards that excist on the market today for DIP24 sized modules and you do not have to adjust or modify these boards to be able to program (download code to) the StAVeR-24M32. The StAVeR-24M32 is delivered with a BOOT software programmed into the chip that enables true IAP (In Application Programming), however you do not need to use this feature and can program the StAVeR-24M32 with a standard ISP programer for AVR through the SPI port connecting to the RED 6 pin ISP connector. This connector contains MOSI/MISO/CLK/RESET/VCC/GND. This RED 6 pin ISP connector has the same pin configuration as the original 6pin Atmel IDC6 connector even though the connector type is new it has the same pin out, so you can easily crimp the new AMP style connector on the excisting cable and be able to program it with ISP. The mother board also have the other 10pin ISP connector (similar found on STK200/300/500 and many other 3:rd party programmers). In order to use the Boot loader from BASCOM, you need version 1.11.7.4 or later (select Lawicel bootloader of the availible programmers in BASCOM-AVR). In order to use the Boot loader from ICCAVR, you need version 6.29 or later (select staver of the availible programmers in ICCAVR).

Boot loader

The StAVeR-24M32 comes preprogrammed with a boot loader capable of dowloading code via the serial port at 115,200baud (16Kbytes in less than 3 seconds). Both BASCOM-AVR and ICCAVR supports this boot loader made by LAWICEL specially designed for the StAVeR modules. The on board LED's of the StAVeR-24M32 indicates the process of programming. If the user decide to use the regular ISP programmer instead of the boot loader, they may erase the boot loader and change fuse bits accordingly, however we do not support problems that might occur when doing so, nor if fuse bits are programmed in the wrong way causing the ATmega32 to be unreachable via ISP (i.e. setting wrong clock/chrystal settings etc.). Those who does this are on their own. However if the user wants to do this and at a later point want to re-program the boot loader into the StAVeR-24M32 module and reset the fusebits, we have here some information on how the fusebits shall be set and the boot loader application in a hex file. Please follow this link for more info.

Floating Point Math

The StAVeR-24M32 can do floating point maths and is not limited to Integers such as many other similar products. The StAVeR is capable of handling integers up to 4,294,297,295 (32bit). The floating point math is fast due to compiled code instead of interpreted code. All compilers on the market (BASCOM-AVR, ICCAVR, CodeVision AVR, GCC etc.) supports floating point.

Interrupts

The StAVeR-24M32 has several "built-in" hardware interrupt sources, such as Timer, USART, ADC, External etc. Interrupts allow you to trigger on an event instead of polling which could lead to that you miss the event such as a new character to be fetched in the USART or that an external hardware is ready to accept a new value or is ready to send you a value (this enables fast transfers without any unneccessary delays).

Power Supply and Electrical characteristics

The StAVeR-24M32 can be supplied with 8-12VDC on the Vin (pin 24) and has an on board 5VDC/100mA regulator. In this case 5VDC is generated and can be used for general purpose on VCC (pin 21) with max 20mA!.

The StAVeR-24M32 can alternativly be supplied with 5VDC instead, but then on VCC (pin21). It is then important that no power is connected on Vin (pin24).

For electrical characteristics on I/O pins etc. we refer to the ATmega32-16AI Datasheet found on Atmels webpage, here is a direct link to it: ATMEGA32-16AI

© Copyright 1997-2006 LAWICEL. All rights reserved.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.

StAVeR-24M32	DIP24 module with ATmega32 (preprogrammed with boot loader)
StAVeR-24M32/DevKit2	StAVeR-24M32 with Motherboard (LCD, Piezo & cables included)
StAVeR-24M32/BASCOM	StAVeR-24M32/DevKit2 with BASCOM BASIC Compiler