Microchip Technology ATSTK594

Overview

ATSTK594 from Atmel (now Microchip) is a top-module development board designed to extend the STK500 starter kit with full hardware support for AT94K FPSLIC® devices - hybrid FPGA + AVR microcontroller SoCs. It provides dedicated I/O headers for Port E, UART0/UART1, TWSI, external interrupts, JTAG debugging, 32 kHz RTC crystal, and split-voltage power configuration for AL/AX variants. It enables co-design of embedded firmware and programmable logic on a single target platform.

For engineers reviewing the ATSTK594 datasheet, ATSTK594 pinout, ATSTK594 application, or ATSTK594 equivalent, this page delivers verified technical context, hardware interface details, FPGA-AVR integration guidance, configuration memory interface mapping, and STK500 expansion compatibility requirements - all specific to the AT94K FPSLIC development workflow.

Technical Context

The ATSTK594 interfaces exclusively with AT94K FPSLIC devices (e.g., AT94K10AL-25DQC), supporting both AL (3.3V core) and AX (1.8V core / 3.3V I/O) variants via jumper-selectable VDD. It routes dedicated signal paths for FPGA-AVR communication including IOSELA0, INTA0, GCLK5, FIOWEA, and ADINA[7:0], enabling synchronized interrupt-driven data exchange between the AVR core and FPGA logic.

Hardware features include dual RS-232 ports (one with RTS/CTS), on-board AT17LV010-10CC 1-Mbit TWSI-configurable EEPROM for bitstream storage, JTAG connector compliant with Atmel JTAG ICE pinout, and configurable XTAL/TOSC switching for clock source selection - all implemented without modifying the STK500 base board.

Key Specifications

Availability

ATSTK594 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for FPGA-AVR co-design validation, FPSLIC-based industrial controller prototyping, and legacy Atmel FPSLIC migration projects requiring stable component supply and documented STK500 interoperability.

Supply support for ATSTK594 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Atmel Corporation - acquired by Microchip Technology in 2016 - specialized in microcontrollers, programmable logic, and mixed-signal SoCs for embedded systems.

The ATSTK594 belongs to Atmel's FPSLIC development tool ecosystem, designed specifically to accelerate hardware-software co-verification of FPGA-augmented AVR microcontroller applications before tape-out.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the ATSTK594 in an STK500-based development setup?

The ATSTK594 serves as a top-module expansion board that adds full hardware support for AT94K FPSLIC devices to the STK500 starter kit. It provides dedicated physical interfaces - including Port E, dual UARTs, TWSI, JTAG, and split-power jumpers - required to configure, debug, and validate FPGA-AVR co-designs. The ATSTK594 does not operate standalone; it must be correctly mounted on STK500 expansion headers 0 and 1 to enable AT94K device programming and real-time co-verification using System Designer tools.

Which AT94K device variants are supported by the ATSTK594, and how is voltage configuration handled?

The ATSTK594 supports both AT94KAL (3.3V core) and AT94KAX (1.8V core / 3.3V I/O) variants. Voltage configuration is managed via a physical jumper labeled "AL/AX" on the board: setting it to AL supplies 3.3V to VDD, while AX position enables 1.8V core voltage through an onboard regulator. This ensures safe operation across process generations without requiring STK500 modifications. The ATSTK594 documentation explicitly confirms compatibility with AT94K10AL-25DQC and AT94K40AL-25DQC devices found on shipped boards.

Does the ATSTK594 provide a second RS-232 port with full hardware flow control?

The ATSTK594 includes a second RS-232C port with RTS and CTS signal lines physically present on the connector, but the underlying AT94K device does not implement hardware RTS/CTS control in silicon. Flow control must be handled in software - either by the AVR firmware or FPGA logic - using those pins as general-purpose I/O. If external equipment requires hardware handshake, a jumper shorting RTS to CTS may be used to satisfy level-sensitive protocol expectations, though true bidirectional handshaking requires custom implementation. This limitation is documented in Section 2.6.1 of the ATSTK594 User Guide.

How is configuration data loaded into the AT94K device when using the ATSTK594?

Configuration data for the AT94K device is loaded from the on-board AT17LV010-10CC 1-Mbit EEPROM via its TWSI interface. During power-up or reset, the AT94K initiates master-mode auto-configuration using its internal oscillator to drive CCLK, reading the combined bitstream containing FPGA logic, AVR program SRAM, and FPSLIC data SRAM. The ATSTK594 exposes the TWSI pins (SCL/SDA) on a 4-pin CONFIG header, allowing connection to the embedded AVR's I/O for runtime reconfiguration or non-volatile data storage access - all managed by the Bitstream Generator utility within System Designer.

Is the ATSTK594 compatible with modern development tools like Atmel Studio or Microchip MPLAB?

No - the ATSTK594 is designed exclusively for use with Atmel's legacy System Designer suite (v3.x), which includes Mentor Graphics tools (ModelSim, LeonardoSpectrum) and the Configuration Programming System (CPS). It predates Atmel Studio and is incompatible with current Microchip MPLAB environments. Required software - including System Designer, CPS, and AVR Studio 3.2+ - is distributed on CD-ROM and depends on Windows 95/98/2000/NT 4.0. No official drivers, plugins, or migration paths exist for modern IDEs; continued use requires maintaining a legacy OS environment as specified in Section 3.1 of the ATSTK594 User Guide.