Summary of VGA monitor tester using ATTiny2313 microcontroller
This article describes a compact embedded VGA monitor tester designed for computer technicians to eliminate the need for a bulky PC. The device utilizes an ATTiny2313 microcontroller running at 20MHz to generate test patterns. It drives horizontal and vertical synchronization signals directly from the microcontroller ports while deriving analog RGB signals through a simple resistor network D/A converter. The software is developed using AVRStudio and assembled with AVRASM V2.x.
Parts used in the VGA Monitor Tester:
- ATTiny2313 microcontroller
- Resistor network (for D/A conversion)
- AVRStudio software
- AVRASM V2.x assembler
If you are a computer technician and want to avoid the need of a PC on your desk to generate test rasters, this is something you need to build. This is an embedded monitor tester that you can use to test if a VGA monitor is working or not. You don’t need a bulky computer on your working desk anymore.
It uses an ATTiny2313 microcontroller from Atmel running at 20MHz. Synchro H and Synchro V signals are driven directly from uC ports. The analog R,G,B signals are derived using simple D/A converter using resistor network. The software for AVr is written using AVRStudio and assembled with AVRASM V2.x.
For more detail: VGA monitor tester using ATTiny2313 microcontroller
- What is the purpose of this project?
To allow computer technicians to test if a VGA monitor is working without needing a PC on their desk. - How does the device generate test rasters?
It uses an embedded system driven by an ATTiny2313 microcontroller instead of a bulky computer. - Which microcontroller is used in the design?
The project uses an ATTiny2313 microcontroller from Atmel running at 20MHz. - How are the Synchro H and Synchro V signals generated?
These signals are driven directly from the uC ports. - How are the analog R,G,B signals derived?
They are derived using a simple D/A converter constructed with a resistor network. - What software is used to write the code?
The software for AVr is written using AVRStudio. - Which tool is used to assemble the code?
The code is assembled with AVRASM V2.x. - Can this device replace a PC for testing monitors?
Yes, it allows users to avoid the need of a PC on their desk to generate test rasters.

