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Feb 11, 2026
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Arduino: Updated for better way handling DA chips and Teensy firmware. #205

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68 changes: 60 additions & 8 deletions _pages/Arduino.md
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -62,6 +62,41 @@ connection of a DA chip and requires constructions of a
2](/media/Micro-manager_bb.png "fig:Figure: Functional pinout set by firmware version 2")
([Image source .svg file](/media/files/Micro-manager_bb.svg.tar.gz))

## Pin Assignments

Each firmware version maps functions to different physical pins. The
Teensy boards offer more channels (8 analog outputs, 8 digital outputs)
compared to the original Arduino (up to 4 analog outputs, 6 digital
outputs).

### Arduino Uno

| Function | Pins | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger input | 2 | TTL input for blanking/sequencing |
| Digital outputs | 8-13 | 6 pins, directly mapped to PORTB |
| Analog outputs | 3 (data), 4 (clock), 5-6 (CS) | Directly mapped to the TLV5618/TLV56x8 chip |
| Analog inputs | A0-A5 | 6 channels, 10-bit ADC |

### Teensy 3.5/3.6

| Function | Pins | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger input | 2 | TTL input for blanking/sequencing |
| Analog outputs | A21, A22 (channels 0-1) | True 12-bit DAC |
| Analog outputs | 3-8 (channels 2-7) | 12-bit PWM |
| Digital outputs | 9-16 | 8 pins |
| Analog inputs | 17-22 | 6 channels (A3-A8), 10-bit ADC |

### Teensy 4.0/4.1

| Function | Pins | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger input | 0 | TTL input for blanking/sequencing |
| Analog outputs | 1-8 | 8 channels, all 12-bit PWM |
| Digital outputs | 9-16 | 8 pins |
| Analog inputs | 17-22 | 6 channels (A3-A8), 10-bit ADC |

## Installation

### Arduino Software (IDE)
Expand All @@ -76,13 +111,30 @@ Arduino.

### Firmware

For the Arduino Uno and similar boards, download the [firmware source
code](https://github.com/micro-manager/mmCoreAndDevices/blob/main/DeviceAdapters/Arduino/AOTFcontroller/AOTFcontroller.ino).
Bonno Meddens wrote compatible firmware for the ESP32, ItsyBitsy M4, and
Teensy 3.x boards that can be found
[here](https://github.com/bonnom/Micro-manager-Arduino). Copy the
firmware into a blank Arduino Sketch window. Send to the Arduino, and
your Arduino is programmed to work with Micro-Manager.
Firmware source code is available for three board families:

- **Arduino Uno** and similar ATmega328-based boards: [AOTFcontroller.ino](https://github.com/micro-manager/mmCoreAndDevices/blob/main/DeviceAdapters/Arduino/AOTFcontroller/AOTFcontroller.ino)
- **Teensy 3.5/3.6**: [AOTFController_Teensy35_36.ino](https://github.com/micro-manager/mmCoreAndDevices/blob/main/DeviceAdapters/Arduino/AOTFController_Teensy35_36/AOTFController_Teensy35_36.ino)
- **Teensy 4.0/4.1**: [AOTFController_Teensy40_41.ino](https://github.com/micro-manager/mmCoreAndDevices/blob/main/DeviceAdapters/Arduino/AOTFController_Teensy40_41/AOTFController_Teensy40_41.ino)

Copy the appropriate firmware into a blank Arduino/Teensyduino Sketch
window. Send to the board, and it is programmed to work with
Micro-Manager.

#### Arduino Uno DAC support

The Arduino Uno firmware supports optional external DAC chips for true
analog output. To enable DAC support, uncomment the appropriate
`#define` near the top of the firmware source:

- `#define TLV5618` -- for a single TLV5618 (2 channels, using pin 5
as chip select)
- `#define TLV56x8` -- for dual TLV56x8 chips (4 channels, using pins
5 and 6 as chip selects)

If neither is defined, the firmware reports 0 DA channels and the
DAC devices will not appear in Micro-Manager. See [DAC](#dac) below
for wiring details.

## Hardware Configuration Wizard

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -118,7 +170,7 @@ queries the Arduino every second).
| Arduino-Shutter | Toggles the digital outputs pattern across pins 8 to 13. Set all pins off when the shutter is closed, and restores the value set in `Switch-State` when the shutter is opened. |
| Arduino-Input | Reports, both, the digital and analog (0-1023) state of the analog input pins 0 to 5. |
| Arduino-Magnifier | Used to couple a change in the digital input to a change in magnification. Required Arduino-Input. Provide the magnification for each digital state in the Syste,-Startup group. |
| Arduino-DAC{1,2} | (Not usually used) Reserved for TLV5618 AOTF Peripheral. TLV5618 is a chip acting as a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that can be added as a shield to the Arduino. This way, the Arduino can be used to control analog devices such as AOTF or stages. See [DAC](#dac). |
| Arduino-DAC{1-8} | Analog output channels. On Arduino Uno, requires an external DAC chip (TLV5618 or TLV56x8) and the corresponding `#define` in the firmware; see [DAC](#dac). On Teensy boards, all 8 channels are available using built-in DAC and/or PWM. The firmware reports the number of available channels, and only those will appear in Micro-Manager. |

| Initialization Properties | Description |
|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Expand Down