ATtiny85 Programming with Arduino : LED Blink tutorial

If you are new to the ATtiny85 microcontroller, here's a quick guide to get you started blinking a LED with ATtiny85.

Required Tools:

• ATtiny85 Microcontroller
• Arduino Uno (as ISP Programmer)
• Breadboard and Jumper Wires
• USBasp Programmer (Optional)
• Arduino IDE

Programming Steps:

1. Setup Arduino IDE:

Install the ATtiny85 board package by navigating to File > Preferences, and adding the following URL to Additional Board Manager URLs:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/damellis/attiny/ide-1.6.x-boards-manager/package_damellis_attiny_index.json

• Go to Tools > Board > Board Manager and search for ATtiny. Install the package.

2. Upload Bootloader (Optional):

• Connect the ATtiny85 to the Arduino Uno for programming as shown in the circuit diagram below.

 

ATtiny85 Pin | Arduino Uno Pin
-------------|-------------
1 (RESET)    | 10
5 (MOSI)     | 11
6 (MISO)     | 12
7 (SCK)      | 13

Don't forget to connect the ATtiny85 ground to Arduino Uno ground, and the ATtiny85 Vcc to Arduino Uno Vcc.

•  Select Arduino as ISP from Tools > Programmer.
• Choose the ATtiny85 board and 8 MHz internal clock.
• Click Burn Bootloader to prepare the chip.

3. Write and Upload Code:

• Use the Arduino IDE to write your code.
• Select the appropriate board settings.
• Upload the code using the Arduino as ISP setup.

Here's a simple example code to blink an LED connected to the ATtiny85:

void setup() {
  pinMode(0, OUTPUT); // Set pin 0 as output
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(0, HIGH); // Turn LED on
  delay(1000);           // Wait for 1 second
  digitalWrite(0, LOW);  // Turn LED off
  delay(1000);           // Wait for 1 second
}

Conclusion

The ATtiny85's combination of affordability, versatility, and community support makes it a go-to choice for many electronics projects. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn about microcontrollers or an experienced maker building complex systems, the ATtiny85 offers a robust platform to explore and create innovative solutions.

If you have any specific questions or need further information about the ATtiny85, feel free to ask!