Embedded Systems Design with the Atmel AVR Microcontroller (Synthesis Lectures on Digital Circuits and Systems, 24)
This textbook provides practicing scientists and engineers an advanced treatment of the Atmel AVR microcontroller. This book is intended as a follow-on to a previously published book, titled Atmel AVR Microcontroller Primer: Programming and Interfacing. Some of the content from this earlier text is retained for completeness. This book will emphasize advanced programming and interfacing skills. We focus on system level design consisting of several interacting microcontroller subsystems. The first chapter discusses the system design process. Our approach is to provide the skills to quickly get up to speed to operate the internationally popular Atmel AVR microcontroller line by developing systems level design skills. We use the Atmel ATmega164 as a representative sample of the AVR line. The knowledge you gain on this microcontroller can be easily translated to every other microcontroller in the AVR line. In succeeding chapters, we cover the main subsystems aboard the microcontroller, providing a short theory section followed by a description of the related microcontroller subsystem with accompanying software for the subsystem. We then provide advanced examples exercising some of the features discussed. In all examples, we use the C programming language. The code provided can be readily adapted to the wide variety of compilers available for the Atmel AVR microcontroller line. We also include a chapter describing how to interface the microcontroller to a wide variety of input and output devices. The book concludes with several detailed system level design examples employing the Atmel AVR microcontroller. Table of Contents: Embedded Systems Design / Atmel AVR Architecture Overview / Serial Communication Subsystem / Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC) / Interrupt Subsystem / Timing Subsystem / Atmel AVR Operating Parameters and Interfacing / System Level Design
Why Read This Book
You will learn how to move beyond isolated examples to design complete, reliable embedded systems using the Atmel AVR line—particularly the ATmega164—focusing on real-world interfacing, firmware structure, and system-level tradeoffs. The book emphasizes practical engineering skills (timing, interrupts, peripheral integration, and hardware–software boundaries) so you can build robust, production-ready AVR-based devices.
Who Will Benefit
Practicing embedded engineers or senior students with some microcontroller experience who want to master system-level AVR design, advanced peripheral interfacing, and production-focused firmware techniques.
Level: Advanced — Prerequisites: Working knowledge of C programming and basic digital electronics; familiarity with microcontroller fundamentals (I/O, timers, interrupts) — the content builds on the author's AVR Primer or equivalent background.
Key Takeaways
- Design system-level embedded applications around an AVR (ATmega164) including partitioning, timing budgets, and hardware/software interfaces
- Implement and optimize interrupt-driven firmware and real-time task coordination for responsive, deterministic behavior
- Interface and configure common peripherals (timers/PWM, ADC, USART, SPI, I2C/TWI) and design reliable sensor/actuator I/O
- Optimize code and memory using AVR C and assembly techniques and understand the AVR instruction set and architecture constraints
- Build and debug multi-subsystem embedded projects using in-circuit programming, on-chip debugging, and instrumentation techniques
- Apply power management, bootloading, and hardware integration practices to move from prototype to deployable product
Topics Covered
- 1. The Embedded System Design Process
- 2. AVR Architecture and Instruction Set (overview of ATmega164)
- 3. Memory, I/O Ports, and Hardware Interfacing
- 4. Timers, Counters, PWM, and Real-Time Control
- 5. Interrupts, Scheduling, and Firmware Architectures
- 6. Analog Interfacing: ADCs, Signal Conditioning, and Sampling
- 7. Serial Communications: USART, SPI, and I2C/TWI
- 8. Low-Level Coding: AVR C and Assembly Optimization
- 9. In-Circuit Programming, Debugging, and Toolchains
- 10. Power Management, Bootloaders, and Reliability
- 11. Multi-MCU Systems, Networking, and Case Studies
- 12. System Integration: PCB, EMI, and Hardware-Software Tradeoffs
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
This book is more system-focused than Mazidi's AVR textbooks (which are strong on assembly and peripheral tutorials) and serves as a practical follow-on to Barrett's own AVR Primer by emphasizing system design and integration rather than introductory material.
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