AVR to get data from ultrasonic range finder

Development Boards MicroMod
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Can I use an AVR to get data from the ultrasonic range finder and update a 7 segment led display?

Someone from the homeseer forum or another one mentioned that the range finder reports data so often that it increased cpu load. So maybe it’s not as simple as hooking it to an AVR programmed to do the right thing?

Can I program the arduino with gcc-avr instead of adruino language?

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hagna:
Can I use an AVR to get data from the ultrasonic range finder and update a 7 segment led display?

Definitely. Most rangers output the range either as a serial stream or an output voltage that varies with the distance to the object detected.

hagna:
Someone from the homeseer forum or another one mentioned that the range finder reports data so often that it increased cpu load. So maybe it’s not as simple as hooking it to an AVR programmed to do the right thing?

These devices are easy to connect to a processor and I can't see why there would be an issue here. Just because it is possible to have the ranger report data frequently, it doesn't have to be that way. For example, the Maxbotics ranger can be wired so it only reports data when the processor requests it. As a jumping off point, here is the [url=[http://www.maxbotix.com/MaxSonar-EZ1__FAQ.html](http://www.maxbotix.com/MaxSonar-EZ1__FAQ.html)]Maxbotics FAQ[/quote] for the sensor sold by SparkFun.

hagna:
Can I program the arduino with gcc-avr instead of adruino language?

As the Arduino uses an Atmel ATMega8, you can use tools that target that processor. However, you would be losing an important advantage that comes with the Arduino, the bootloader and Wiring tool.
3

hagna:
Can I program the arduino with gcc-avr instead of adruino language?

The Arduino IDE actually does [[use gcc to compile your sketch](http://www.arduino.cc/en/Hacking/BuildProcess). Most of the Arduino environment is built out of the same tools you might end up using to program an AVR anyway (gcc, avrdude, avr-libc).](http://www.arduino.cc/en/Hacking/BuildProcess)
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im using a atmega88 to report the range of one of these http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8504 to a LCD right now. Im using the analog out of the sensor with the ADC of the AVR