Skip to content

This page is archived material from a previous course. Please check for updated material.

    Checklist, Bugs and Revisions

    Upload Checklist

    A brief list of items before compiling and uploading programs to the TINAH boards:

    1. DO NOT MODIFY ANY JUMPERS – for the time being, unless you verify your design with one of the course instructors please do not modify any of the jumpers on your board.
    2. DO NOT USE digitalWrite or portWrite COMMANDS – there is the potential for the board to have issues with the digital buffers and the wiring board if the digital output lines are used without resetting the jumper.  Unless you have your board design verified by one of the course instructors, refrain from using these two commands with Digital Ports 0 or 1.  Instead, write to one of the unused PWM lines (PWM 3 or PWM4) to gain an additional output line.

    Bugs and Code Revisions

    1. BUZZER – There is an onboard buzzer (located just under the LCD screen) which is connected to PWM3.  Originally, it was intended to use the pulseOut function to vary the frequency of the PWM output and change the sound of the buzzer.  There is currently a conflict with the signal generated by the pulseOut function and the DC motor outputs (which use PWM0, 1, 4, and 5), so that when the buzzer is connected there is always some audible “clicking” which currently cannot be turned off without disabling two of the DC motors.  The buzzer is connected by a jumper connection, and is currently disabled until the software is corrected.
    2. BUFFERS FOR DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT –  at present, the buffer chips (74ls245 octal bus transceivers) were used to connect the wiring board digital i/o lines to the pinouts on the TINAH board.  However, no series resistors were put in line between the 74ls245 pins and the wiring board pins.  This results in the situation whereby the jumper pins on the digital ports (used to select the input or output lines) must be changed in conjunction with changing the status of the ports using the “portMode” command.  Not doing so means that both the 74ls245 and the ATmega128 pins are both driving the same line, which may result in damage to either or both of the pins.  Care must be taken before changing the jumper pins on these settings..