I/O Ports

ECET 209 – Lecture 2

Introduction to Microcontrollers
 Overview

• Basic Microcontrollers
• Input / Output Operations

ECET 209 Purdue University 2

I/O

ECET 209 Purdue University 3

 Input / Output

• Microcontrollers are used to control devices

or machines.

• Need the ability to:

– monitor or read inputs like switches or sensors
– control devices like actuators or motors

ECET 209 Purdue University 4

 I/O Ports

• Allows the micro to see the “World” and to

modify or change the “World”

ECET 209 Purdue University 5

 Quiz

ECET 209 Purdue University 6

ECET 209 Purdue University 7
 Port Configuration

• The Atmel AVR Family of

microcontrollers requires that the ports
be configured for either input or output.

ECET 209 Purdue University 8

 Port Configuration

• The microcontroller has a data direction

register for each port that controls the
direction (input or output) of the desired
port.

ECET 209 Purdue University 9

ECET 209 Purdue University 10
 Simplified IO Port Diagram
PULLUP

DATA BUS

5 2
Q D

6 3

CLR
Q CLK
Write DDRn

1
RESET

Read DDRn

PORT PIN 5 2
Q D

6 3

CLR
Q CLK
Write PORTn

1
RESET

Read PORTn Register

Read PORTn PIN

ECET 209 Purdue University 11

 Port Registers

ECET 209 Purdue University 12

 Data Direction Registers

• Port's Data Direction is the DDRn

register
– Controls whether or not it is an input or an
output
– Setting (writing a one) to a bit in the DDRn
configures the pin as an Output
– Clearing (writing a zero) to a bit in the DDRn
configures the pin as an Input

ECET 209 Purdue University 13

 How is this Accomplished?

• Remember

– We are going to use C as a Tool.

ECET 209 Purdue University 14

 Port Registers

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

ECET 209 Purdue University 15

 C to Configure Ports

• PORTC as an Output (write 1’s to DDRC)

DDRC = 0xFF; // configure PORTC as Output

ECET 209 Purdue University 16

 C to Configure Ports

• PORTA as an Input (write 0’s to DDRA)

DDRA = 0x00; // configure PORTA for Input

ECET 209 Purdue University 17

 Internal Pull-up Resistors

• To Float or not to Float

– Largely depends on the design
– For this class, We will use the Pull-up Option

ECET 209 Purdue University 18

 Configuring Pull-ups

ON

ECET 209 Purdue University 19

 Configuration

• The PORTn register controls if the Pull-up

is activated or not.

– Writing a one to the PORTn register will

activate the internal pull-up resistor.

– Writing a zero to the PORTn register will

deactivate or turn off the internal pull-up
resistor.
ECET 209 Purdue University 20
 The C Code

• PORTA configured as an input with the

internal pull-up resistors on.

DDRA = 0x00; // configure PORTA for Input

PORTA = 0xFF; // turn on the pull-up resistors

ECET 209 Purdue University 21

Any Questions about Configuring
Ports ?

ECET 209 Purdue University 22

 Reading and Controlling Ports

• Now we are ready to actually use the ports.

• When using the port as an input, we read

from the input PINS.
• When using the port as an output, we write
to the output PORT register.

ECET 209 Purdue University 23

 The C Code

• Reading and writing to and from Ports

PORTC = PINA; // echo value on PortA to PortC

ECET 209 Purdue University 24

 Block Diagrams

PORTB PORTA

PORTD PORTC

ECET 209 Purdue University 25

ECET 209 Purdue University 26
 Picking the Right Micro

• The AVR 8-Bit RISC family has ~35

members
– # of I/O pins range from 6 to 54
– Flash from 1K to 128K
– Supply voltage from 1.8V to 5.5V
– Frequency range from 1 to 20 MHz
– …

ECET 209 Purdue University 27

 Picking the Right Micro

• The right microcontroller can make or break

your project.

• Influence the development time

• Influence the budget

• Influence your Senior Design Grade!!

ECET 209 Purdue University 28
 Questions?

ECET 209 Purdue University 29