11910e2fa1
Includes a general overview, a quickref, pinout tables, and the beginnings of a tutorial.
85 lines
3.3 KiB
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85 lines
3.3 KiB
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.. _samd_intro:
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Getting started with MicroPython on the SAMD
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==============================================
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Using MicroPython is a great way to get the most of your SAMD board. And
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vice versa, the SAMD chip is a great platform for using MicroPython. This
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tutorial will guide you through setting up MicroPython, getting a prompt, using
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the hardware peripherals, and controlling some external components.
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Let's get started!
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Requirements
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------------
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The first thing you need is a board with an SAMD chip. The MicroPython
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software supports the SAMD chip itself and any board should work. The main
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characteristic of a board is how the GPIO pins are connected to the outside
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world, and whether it includes a built-in USB-serial converter to make the
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UART available to your PC.
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Names of pins will be given in this tutorial using the board names ("D0")
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and it should be straightforward to find which pin this corresponds to on your
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particular board.
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Powering the board
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------------------
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If your board has a USB connector on it then most likely it is powered through
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this when connected to your PC. Otherwise you will need to power it directly.
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Please refer to the documentation for your board for further details.
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Getting the firmware
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--------------------
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Firmware versions are provided at the
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`MicroPython download page <https://micropython.org/download/?port=samd>`_.
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You can download the most recent MicroPython firmware .uf2 file to load
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onto your SAMD device. From that download page you have two main choices:
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* stable firmware builds
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* daily firmware builds
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If you are just starting with MicroPython, the best bet is to go for the stable
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firmware builds. If you are an advanced, experienced MicroPython SAMD user
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who would like to follow development closely and help with testing new
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features, there are daily builds. They run through the same rigid internal
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test sequence as the stable builds, but the firmware features may change.
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Deploying the firmware
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----------------------
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Once you have the MicroPython firmware you need to load it onto your
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SAMD device. Most of the boards support the following easy procedure for
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firmware upload.
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- Connect the board by an USB-A/USB-Micro cable to your PC.
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- Push the reset button twice. Then, a drive should pop up at the
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PC's file manager. Many boards have a on-board RGB LED, which first lights up
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red, and then changes it's colour to green. The timing of the double push is
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sometimes tricky. So you may have to try to get the proper rhythm.
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- Copy the .uf2 file to that newly opened drive. A LED on the board may
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flash a while. When the copy is finished, the board drive will disappear and the
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RGB led will turn from green to the initial state.
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Serial prompt
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-------------
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Once you have the firmware on the device you can access the REPL (Python prompt)
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over USB.
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From there you can follow the SAMD tutorial.
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Troubleshooting installation problems
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-------------------------------------
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If you experience problems during flashing or with running firmware immediately
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after it, here are some troubleshooting recommendations:
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* Be aware of and try to exclude hardware problems. There are two common
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problems: bad power source quality, and worn-out/defective Flash ROM.
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Speaking of power source, not just raw amperage is important, but also low
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ripple and noise/EMI in general. The most reliable and convenient power
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source is a USB port.
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