Data Sheet

Blinking Light (Programming Snapino
™
) Project 3
This project explains the procedure for programming the Snapino
T
M
module (U31). The microcontroller can be re-programmed in ANY
circuit that uses it, by attaching the programming cable to it. When
you initiate a new program download, any program currently running
in the microcontroller is interrupted. When a new program download
is complete, the new program will begin running.
The USB cable is needed to download new programs to the
microcontroller, and to allow some programs to transfer information
to/from the computer’s display. The USB also provides power to your
circuits, so the 9V battery connector is ignored while you are
connected to a USB device. Once Snapino
TM
has been
programmed, you may disconnect the USB cable and run the circuit
using the 9V battery connector.
Installing Software and Programming Cable
Install the Arduino software - called the Integrated Development Environment
(IDE) from the Arduino website (www.arduino.cc/en/main/software). Choose
the appropriate version for your computer’s operating system (most users will
pick “Windows installer” or “Mac OS X”), then follow the installation instructions
there. Depending on your operating system, you may be asked to agree to a
license agreement, or to give permission to install drivers.
When the IDE installation is complete, build the circuit shown here (which
includes the red snap-to-pin wire, which is plugged into slot 13 of the black
connector on the circuit board on the Snapino
TM
module (U31)), connect the
USB cable to your computer. The green LED (marked ON) on the circuit board
should be on, and other lights may be on if the board had previously been
programmed. Your computer should automatically find the drivers it needs. Run
the Arduino IDE.
Now select the port for communicating with Snapino
TM
. In the Tools menu in
the Arduino IDE, select Port, then pick the one that shows an Arduino UNO
(Windows users) or either of the following:
/dev/tty/usbmodem or /dev/cu.usbmodem5dll (Mac users).
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