CH552 USB Multi-Protocol Programmer

Supports AVR, ARM (CMSIS-DAP), and CPLD (MAX II)

This project provides firmware for a USB-based programmer built on the CH552 microcontroller, supporting multiple programming targets and protocols, including AVR, ARM Cortex-M, and CPLD devices. The device includes target voltage selection (3.3V / 5V) and can be configured with different firmware to suit specific microcontroller families.

🔌 Hardware Overview

• Microcontroller: CH552G / CH552E / CH552P
• USB Full-Speed Interface (CDC / HID depending on firmware)
• Voltage Selector: 3.3V / 5V target supply switch
• Programmable firmware profiles:
  • AVR Programmer (USBasp or Serial UPDI)
  • ARM CMSIS-DAP Debugger (picoDAP firmware)
  • CPLD JTAG Programmer (Quartus-compatible)

🔧 Firmware Profiles

🔹 AVR Programmer Firmware

• Protocols: USBasp, SerialUPDI
• Target Devices: ATmega, ATtiny, and other AVR MCUs
• USB Interface: libusb-compatible
• Tool Compatibility:
  • avrdude
  • PlatformIO
  • Windows (Zadig/libusb)
• Voltage: Selectable 3.3V or 5V

Build Options:

• Compile with SDCC
• Or flash precompiled binaries using tools/chprog.py

USBasp mode enumerates as USB HID device; Serial UPDI uses CDC port.

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🔹 CMSIS-DAP Debugger Firmware (picoDAP)

• Protocols: SWD, JTAG (CMSIS-DAP)
• Target Devices: ARM Cortex-M (e.g., STM32, SAM, nRF52)
• Tool Compatibility:
  • OpenOCD
  • PyOCD
  • Keil µVision, SEGGER Ozone
• USB Interface:
  • CMSIS-DAP via HID
  • CDC UART (optional, for logging or VCP)
• Drivers:
  • Linux/macOS: Native

Device appears as HID with optional serial COM port.

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🔹 CPLD Programmer Firmware (JTAG, Quartus-Compatible)

• Target Devices: Intel/Altera MAX II (e.g., EPM240)
• Protocol: JTAG via USB-Blaster protocol
• Tool Compatibility:
  • Intel Quartus Programmer (via USB-Blaster emulation)
• USB VID/PID Options:
  • Safe distribution mode (default): 0x16C0:0x05DC
  • Compatibility mode: 0x09FB:0x6001 (for full Quartus support)
• Voltage Selection: 3.3V / 5V via hardware switch
• Build System:
  • Compile with SDCC
  • Flash via WCH bootloader or chprog.py

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🛠️ Toolchain & Flashing

Dependencies

• SDCC Compiler
• Python 3 with pyusb

sudo apt install build-essential sdcc python3 python3-pip
pip3 install pyusb

Flashing Firmware (Linux/Windows/macOS)

# For bootloader mode
python3 tools/chprog.py <firmware.bin>

Or use WCHISPTool for Windows.

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📌 Bootloader Mode (CH552)

To enter USB bootloader mode:

1. Disconnect all power.
2. Hold BOOT button.
3. Reconnect USB while holding BOOT.
4. Release button — the device enters bootloader mode.

Linux users: set proper udev rules if needed.

echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="4348", ATTR{idProduct}=="55e0", MODE="666"' | sudo tee /etc/udev/rules.d/99-ch55x.rules
sudo udevadm control --reload
sudo udevadm trigger

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✅ Summary of Firmware Capabilities

Firmware	Protocols	Targets	USB Mode	Tools Supported
AVR Programmer	USBasp / UPDI	AVR (ATmega, ATtiny)	CDC / HID	avrdude, PlatformIO
CMSIS-DAP	SWD, JTAG	ARM Cortex-M	HID + CDC	OpenOCD, PyOCD
CPLD Programmer	JTAG (Blaster)	EPM240 / MAX II	HID	Quartus Programmer

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🪪 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License or Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, depending on the firmware base used. Refer to each firmware subproject for license specifics.