Engineers Garage

  • Electronic Projects & Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Microcontroller Programmer/Burner

By Himanshu Choudhary July 29, 2011

A microcontroller programmer or microcontroller burner is a hardware device accompanied with software which is used to transfer the machine language code to the microcontroller/EEPROM from the PC. The compiler converts the code written in languages like assembly, C, java etc to machine language code (which is understandable by the machines/microcontrollers) and stores it in a hex file. A microcontroller programmer acts as an interface between the PC and the target controller. The API/software of the programmer reads data from the hex file stored on the PC and feeds it into the controller’s memory. The target controller on which the program needs to be burned is placed on the programmer using a ZIP socket. The software transfers the data from the PC to the hardware using serial, parallel or USB port.
Block Diagram of a Microcontroller Programmer

Fig. 1: Block Diagram of a Microcontroller Programmer

Depending on the way it interacts with PC, there are three types of microcontroller programmers:
 
Parallel Programmer uses the parallel port of the PC. They are low cost programmer but not widely used.
 
Serial Programmers uses the serial port to interact with PC via RS232 protocols. They are more popular among hobbyist working on PC. However both the serial and parallel programmers will become obsolete in near future. The major reason being unavailability of parallel and serial ports in the PCs & Laptops in the coming years.
 
USB Programmer uses the USB interface to transfer the data from PC. The main advantage of the USB burner is that they are powered from the PC itself and there is no need of any additional supply.  The USB programmers have already become popular and will soon replace the serial and parallel programmer.
 
The programmer generally contains a microcontroller which is preprogrammed to take data from the PC and program the target controller. The programmer burns the target controller using any of the protocols like SPI, parallel interfacing, I2C/TWI or CAN. The speed of burning depends on the way of programmer is interfaced with PC and the protocols used to burn the target controller.
 
The conventional method to burn a controller is to take it out the circuit, place it on burner and then dump the hex file into the controller using the API. In order to remove this problem of removing the controller from the circuit every time it needs to be programmed, the controllers have now been upgraded with In System Programmer (ISP) feature. This allows burning/programming a controller without removing the controller from the circuit it is used in.  The latest controllers are coming with the feature like bootloader memory which allows self burning capabilities, i.e. such microcontroller controller does not need any additional programmer hardware. They need only an API to transfer the program to the target controller. This API can also be incorporated in the compiler and hence the compiler can directly burn the target controllers.

You may also like:

  • battery selection low power design
    What are the battery-selection criteria for low-power design?

  • How to extend solar and battery power in a weather…

  • What is a low power design?

  • What is MicroPython?

  • Application Layer Protocols for IoT : IoT Part 11

Filed Under: Tutorials
Tagged With: burner, microcontroller, programme
 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Questions related to this article?
👉Ask and discuss on Electro-Tech-Online.com and EDAboard.com forums.



Tell Us What You Think!! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“engineers
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a technical question about an article or other engineering questions? Check out our engineering forums EDABoard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com where you can get those questions asked and answered by your peers!


RSS EDABOARD.com Discussions

  • Inconsistent Charge Termination Voltage with battery charger
  • 21V keeps getting shorted to my UART line.
  • Voltage mode pushpull is a nonsense SMPS?
  • Voltage mode push pull with extra DC blocking capacitor
  • NXP library issue in awr

RSS Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Is AI making embedded software developers more productive?
  • Why can't I breadboard this oscillator?
  • using a RTC in SF basic
  • Parts required for a personal project
  • Cataract Lens Options?

Featured – RPi Python Programming (27 Part)

  • RPi Python Programming 21: The SIM900A AT commands
  • RPi Python Programming 22: Calls & SMS using a SIM900A GSM-GPRS modem
  • RPi Python Programming 23: Interfacing a NEO-6MV2 GPS module with Raspberry Pi
  • RPi Python Programming 24: I2C explained
  • RPi Python Programming 25 – Synchronous serial communication in Raspberry Pi using I2C protocol
  • RPi Python Programming 26 – Interfacing ADXL345 accelerometer sensor with Raspberry Pi

Recent Articles

  • GigaDevice launches GD32C231 MCU series with 48MHz Cortex-M23 core and 64KB Flash
  • Advanced Energy releases 425 W CF-rated medical power supply in 3.5 x 6 x 1.5-inch format”
  • LEM combines shunt and Hall effect sensing in 2000 A current measurement unit
  • What is AWS IoT Core and when should you use it?
  • AC-DC power supply extends voltage range to 800 V DC

EE ENGINEERING TRAINING DAYS

engineering

Submit a Guest Post

submit a guest post
Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC TIps
  • Connector Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • EE World Online
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • 5G Technology World
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search Engineers Garage

  • Electronic Projects & Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe