AVR-Chat

You use the GPIO Controller to assign the pins to a function then you use them. For this application, if you have a USART available, you'll want to find the pins for that function, enable that function for those pins with the GPIO Controller, then use the USART normally in software. That gives you the port function you're looking for by using that USARTs registers.

If you don't have an available USART, you can still bit-bash the serial by assigning the chosen pins as inputs and outputs then writing the software to operate those pins appropriately.

I recommend looking at the Getting Started doc, AVR32119:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc32086.pdf

That gives an overview of the process. Then refer to your specific chip's data sheet and summary for the details of what you'll need to do.

Given that the AT32s have from 2 to 5 UARTs on board, I think you'll be OK.

-Mark G.
saundby.com


--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, Philippe Habib <phabib@...> wrote:
>
> I'm looking at a project using the AT32 for the first time and trying  
> to work through pin assignments.  The part I'm looking at is the 144  
> pin AT32U3A0512.   I have a parallel interface serial display to talk  
> to.  On an 8 bit processor, I'd just assign an entire port to it and  
> write a byte to that port and life would be easy.
> 
>  From what I can see on this part, there are GPIO ports and, like on  
> the 8 bit parts, the pins can have different functions.  Is there a  
> way to group 8 pins into a group that behaves like an 8 bit port?  I  
> was thinking I could use EBI data 0-7, but I don't know if that will  
> wind up impacting the other EBI related pins.
> 
> Of course its a rush project and they're waiting for my response on  
> pin assignment to do the layout.
> 
> Thanks.
>