AVR Dragon and ATmega32U4

[vj90]

I am an EE student and I have a little of experience with the MSP430, just the very basics.

I want to get started and get experience on my own. I have project in mind and I have been investigating and I have come to choose ATmega32U4 as the MCU that I am going to use. AVR Dragon would be the interface that I would use to debug/program.

Now, I am not too sure how would I do this.

How would I connect an ATmega32U4 (which comes in a TQFP 44 packaging) to the AVR Dragon?

[Spikee]

Via the ISP pins on the micro ? -> see datasheet and look for programming

[form]

I think he means the bare micro.
To program it that way you need an (expensive) TQFP-socket.

The usual way is to program (or debug) it while it is soldered to your final PCB via an JTAG-pinheader.

[fudgebobs]

Now, I am not too sure how would I do this.

How would I connect an ATmega32U4 (which comes in a TQFP 44 packaging) to the AVR Dragon?

Surface mounts can be a real pain. I found this site last year doing a project which helped me out tons: http://www.proto-advantage.com/store/

They are based off Ontario, Canada. They basically sell breakout boards for various surface mount packages. They break them out into standard 2.54'' spaced slots. You can then solder male or female header breakouts and wire them to the AVR Dragon.

To see how to wire them to Dragon, take a look at the PDF guide that comes with the Dragon and also at the specific datasheet for the ATMega32U4.

All the best.