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I am building an evaluation board for ATmega32, I am designing an embedded USBasp programmer (The programmer will be also in the board and they will be a micro-usb header to connect the board to PC). Here is the programmer I'll be using. (Note that it will not be separate like it appears on the image, it will be within the board, this is just to show you the components of the programmer) USBasp programmer

I am wondering how I will be able to burn the first firmware for the programmer inside the programming chip above. I don't want to take out the chip, program it out then solder it back, I want to program it in board. How I will be able to do so? (I have an external programmer but how I will be able to connect it?)

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You could program it before you solder it in, using a ZIF socket programmer. If making many of the board, then your supplier can program them for you. ZIF socket programmers are available for QFN and MFN packages.

Alternatively you can provide an ISP header on the PCB, or equivalent pads for pogo-pins to program in circuit. Using just pads for pins takes up much less board space.

If it's a one-off prototype and you have already soldered it onto the board, you can also solder bodge wires from the pins of the MCU to a loose ISP header.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ As I said before I want to program it in-board. I can not use ZIF socket for MLF chips! \$\endgroup\$
    – A. Kier
    Commented Mar 15, 2017 at 11:49
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    \$\begingroup\$ @A.Kier you can get ZIF sockets for MLF chips, though I did assume from your photo that you would be using the TQFP (I've used TQFP ZIF socket programmers for AVR but not MLF ones). Or you could use one of the other suggestions. Why do you want to program it in-board? \$\endgroup\$
    – Pete Kirkham
    Commented Mar 15, 2017 at 12:00
  • \$\begingroup\$ Because I will have someone else to do the hardware for me in another country, and I have to burn the firmware for the programmer by myself after that. \$\endgroup\$
    – A. Kier
    Commented Mar 15, 2017 at 12:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ can I program a microcontroller using USBasp regardless of the circuit connected with it? \$\endgroup\$
    – A. Kier
    Commented Mar 15, 2017 at 12:27
  • \$\begingroup\$ @A.Kier Trivially if you connect all the pins to 0V then you won't be able to program the chip. You have to ensure that whatever else is connected to the programming pins doesn't interfere with the programming or visa-versa. See atmel.com/Images/… \$\endgroup\$
    – Pete Kirkham
    Commented Mar 15, 2017 at 15:02

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