It has factory programmed firmware to be a USBtiny programmer. We have to install drivers for Windows and Linux is already to go.
ATtiny44 AVR ISP ModuleYou have to solder a 6pin header on to the board. Let's look at the pins. The manufacturer provides this image.
Notice how one of the holes is marked with a square and a dot. This is pin1 for our ISP in system programmer connector. We have to be careful connecting board-to-board to maintain orientation.
ICSP In Circuit System ProgrammerArduino Corporation provides this image of the ICSP programming port on the Uno board. Pin1 is clearly marked. Our purple programming module has the same pins even if the name sounds slightly different.
To program an AVR processor you reset the unit and write your new program to the device memory using SPI serial peripheral interface. SPI uses MOSI master out slave in, MISO master in slave out and SCK clock.
We can put the same pins on a 10pin header. Adaptors and 10pin programmers are available.
Plug the ATtiny board into a PC and you may see this in Device Manager. No drivers found by Windows Update.
FabISP because it is designed for fabrication of electronics. ISP for in system programming. Earlier MCU chips needed to be removed and placed in a programmer.
Adafruit makes a USBtiny programmer that has a driver that will work. Their programmer may look different but it contains the same circuit. Arduino-ISP offers driver downloads. Sparkfun uses Zadig.
After driver installation Windows is ready to use the programmer. Linux will automatically recognize the device as a USBtiny programmer.
Connect the programmer to an Arduino Uno board ISP to ICSP port. Make sure you orient the connectors and LEDs light properly on your board. The programmer can deliver enough current to power an ordinary Arduino.
Open a command terminal screen and type > avrdude -p m328p -c usbtiny -U flash:r:uno.hex:i watch the screen for messages. LEDs should light on your boards. You do not need a port number with a usbtiny.
The flash contents of your Uno board microcontroller are copied into a hex format file on your computer.
Arduino IDEOpen an Arduino sketch. Menu Tools->Programmer->USBTinyISP to select the programmer.
Menu Sketch->Upload Using Programmer or Ctrl+Shift+U watch for messages at the bottom of the screen.
This circuit design uses an ATtiny44 MCU to talk on the USB port and convert to SPI serial format. It is very much like the ArduinoISP with our ATtiny board running an ISP sketch.
The job of uploading and downloading is described at the Arduino site. Websearch will find diagrams, instructions on building the circuit and programming. Arduino made a branded version.
The inexpensive purple board comes with a firmware already installed that makes it a programmer, permanently.
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