Simple programmer for ATSam Microcontrollers

[ifrenide]

Hello,
I want to know if there is a simple programmer for ATSam3u2CA-AU if not, what is the cheepest programmer to do the work, and what is the software used here to upload the code, thanx
best regards.

[ogden]

First thing you do - open product page in the manufacturer's web,

https://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/ATSAM3U2C

All answers are there.

[ifrenide]

secondly? hahahahaha   
thank you

[ogden]

Secondly you demonstrate that you did try to find answer yourself, do not sit waiting for someone to do homework for you.

[ifrenide]

I saw this website without finding any schemtic for a DIY project as a programmer for Atmel SAM series microcontrollers. officialwebsites can't give you an alternative option; they support their products.
Dogen 

[ogden]

If you expect to DIY "simple programmer" using passive components, then you are out of luck. Today programmers are much more complex than that. Simplest way to get cheap JTAG adapter for non -stm32 MCU's: you buy ~4$ ST-Link and "hack" it into black magic probe:

https://embdev.net/articles/STM_Discovery_and_Nucleo_as_Black_Magic_Probe#Building_Firmware_for_ST_Link_V2_Clones_and_Flash_Using_Two_Cheap_Clones

Other option would be to drop ATSAM idea and use stm32 MCU instead

[ifrenide]

I searched the entire google to find a simple programmer without any postive result. I decided to make a post here hoping I can find any suggestion .
I can't use a microcontroller other than ATsam because the project is already done by someone I want just make it for myself.
the cheepiest debugger/programmer is this  https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32996278504.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.2.4a1ae824cDT4XE&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.13338.115306.0&scm_id=1007.13338.115306.0&scm-url=1007.13338.115306.0&pvid=01a34239-8ba4-4fba-ac06-36a9836be78b
 Dogen If you find any alterbative solution please tell me.
 

[ataradov]

It really depends on how much time you are willing to invest into messing with this vs use vendor tools. My project https://github.com/ataradov/edbg will program that device and works with any CMSIS-DAP compatible hardware. The cheapest widely available hardware that I know of is LPC-Link2, which can be turned into a CMSIS-DAP programmer.

[ogden]

Dogen If you find any alterbative solution please tell me.
 

I already told you.  2$ ST-Link clone + little work.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32792513237.html

 

[westfw]

if there is a simple programmer for ATSam3u2CA-AU

The SAM3U chips have a bootloader built into ROM which supports serial and USB, so if all you want to do is program them, you don't need a programmer at all.

[ifrenide]

Yes, that's rigth WESTFW the great  .
Thank you very much, you confirmed what I read about it. we don't need a programmer at all, only a software and the microcontroller connectes to PC via USB cable , and it's done. the built in bootloader will do what the programmer suposed to do.
And you Ataradov you're not wrong but, you did something unessecery since here is a bootloader, but not a problem,good attemt.

[ifrenide]

Mr WESTFW, can we solder the 4 wires " +5v,GND,D+,D-"of the USB cable directely to the ATsam3u microcontroller and upload the code, using BOSSA?

[ataradov]

SAM 3U is a 3.3V-only device. And it will need a lot of bypass capacitors to actually run anything. Also, USB operation requires 12 MHz crystal.

Also, I'm not sure what BOSSA is, but those devices use SAM-BA. There is a corresponding PC tool with the same name.

But the chances of making it work outside of a board are slim.

[ifrenide]

Hi atardov, suposing that I will make a pcb for ATsam microcontroller and then i will desolder it  .the PCB will include 3.3 regulator , and the filtering caps, should I solder the 12 Mhz crystal and the 2 caps as known to ATsam?
I mean what is the practical configuration to upload the code to ATsam3u ?
concerning BOSSA i'm sure that is an excelent alternative for SAM-BA and it is simple to use compired to it.
best regards.

[ataradov]

If you want to use SAM-BA over UART, then you don't need a crystal. If you want to use USB, then you do need a crystal and load capacitors.

You probably won't need all the bypass caps just for programming, but you will absolutely need all the capacitors on the VDDCORE. They are a part of the internal LDO circuit.

If you follow all the guidelines in the schematic checklist of the datasheet, then I see no reason for it to not work.

[ifrenide]

Thank you very much Mr ataradov.
If you don't mind , is this the same procedure for AT90USB162?
 I posted a topic by the way about it , and I got answers but I need a practical confirmation from you Mr ataradov.
best regards.

[ataradov]

AT90USB162 does not have SAM-BA, but I think it has some sort of default loader. But you may want to double check that.

[ifrenide]

thank you very much Mr ataradov