Computer Solutions Ltd

After supplying all your Embedded Development Tool needs for 42 years
Computer Solutions Ltd and its web shop are now closed.

Having reached the grand old age of 75 it is time to relax and fulfil other ambitions.

Its been an exciting ride with you, our customers, often on the bleeding edge of technology
and I thank you for your friendship, your trust, and your orders.

Stay well I wish you all success in your future projects.

Chris Stephens.

But what to do with the web site ? It has taken >12 man years of work to create a repository of knowledge on many aspects of the art and science of embedded microprocessor development and even after closing the shop it still gets over 4,000 visitors per month. So as a service to my customers I have decide to keep it live providing my technical insights on the products and then redirecting viewers to sites where they can purchase the items they used to buy from us. Follow the link "Home"

The "Information zone" consists of articles produced as background tutorials on subjects of interest to those designing new products. As different CPUs have became available this has lead to new development techniques and in particular to new ways of communicating between nodes.

Home

Information Zone

68HCS08 & RS08 development tools

NXP/Freescale have developed a chip family based on the 68HC08 range that uses newer technology - the HCS08 its faster and with a lower minimum voltage. A major enhancement for this new range is that it uses a true BDM interface rather than the MON08 monitor based debugger used on the 68HC08. The latest family of chips released are the RS08 (Reduced S08) this also uses the same BDM interface.

The USB Multilink Universal Interfaces

These greatly simplify the task of programming and debugging embedded target systems. They allow a PC to communicate with a target processor through a high-speed USB interface at the PC and a debug port at the micro. The PC can then control the microprocessor via the debug port of the target MCF55xx/56xx/57xx processor.

If you are unfamiliar with the use of "On-Chip-Debugging" we have a short tutorial

There are two models in the range - The Universal which is lower cost and the Universal - FX which provides significant performance improvements.

Both support the Cortex (see below † ) as well as the NXP/Freescale architectures

Kinetis (JTAG and SWD), HCS08, RS08, HC(S)12(X), S12Z, ColdFire V1, +V1 and V2 - 4, Qorivva and DSC

And have these Features

Fast, hassle-free USB 2.0 communications interface

Draw their power directly from the USB port – no external power supply needed

Multi-voltage support for targets ranging from 1.6 to 5.25 Volts

Target Frequency: 16Khz-50Mhz (applies to HCS08, RS08, ColdFire V1, S12Z, or HCS12X only)

Target Auto-frequency detection for HC(S)12(X,Z), HCS08 + trimming capabilities for HCS08 devices.

Generates programming voltage on RESET line for RS08 devices.

Includes ribbon cables for all supported architecture

The USB Multilink Universal FX

As well as supporting all the architectures listed for the Universal, in addition, these are supported:-

683xx / CPU32, HC16, MPC5xx/8xx and Power Architecture® PX series

For Synchronous architectures such as the Cortex, Kinetis, Qorivva, Coldfire V2-V4, 683xx, HC16, Power Architecture PX Series and the DSC the communications can run at 4 to 10 times faster than the USB Multilink Universal or the older parallel Multilink interfaces.

Also it can provide 200 mA power to target MCU and it provides I/O line clamping for added protection

Development Software support

By adding the Flash Programming Software these units can program Flash memory and EEPROMs on the chip or attached to it. They are suitable for both development and small production runs

PEmicro Products support a wide range of HCS08 & RS08 Development options

NXP/Freescale CodeWarrior 10.6, Cosmic

-- Built in support for Multilink Universal & FX as well as Cyclone Universal LC and FX for both Debugging and Programming

Assembler

A simple command line assembler adequate for many small applications ( no linker but the source file can have multiple includes). It provides macros and conditional assembly.

Integrated Development Environment

WinIDE is a windows package that includes a configurable text editor and provides the ability to launch a range of other programs from within its centralised operation. Includes the Assembler.

In Circuit Debugger

A windows package that via the cable provides all the services of a debugger providing as it does access to the contents of variables and registers along with control of the CPU's execution via Breakpoints and Run commands.

Flash Programmer

Using the BDM cable to interface between a PC and a target processor this windows software package will program either on chip or external flash memory or on chip EEPROM.

Unit programs A set of C library calls that provide an API for using the BDM interface. Ideal for those who need to write their own PC based test or diagnostics programs. The standard version includes a license for 5 units. The distribution version provides unlimited production of applications.

HCS08 & RS08 Programming Software

An interactive flash programming software package that allows you to program/reprogram both internal and external flash devices in-circuit, via a PEmicro interface cable. Perfect for development, production line programming, or field firmware upgrades. PEmicros products contains our entire library of setup files for this processor, and includes both interactive and command-line versions for use in development and production.

To see which Flash devices PEmicro support follow this link .

Flash memory functions are :

Program
Verify
Blank check
Upload
Display
Erase

Cyclone Universal On Chip flash programmer and Debugger

Works with Kinetis, ARM Cortex † , ColdFireV1--4,
MPC55xx/56xx/57xx Qorivva (AKA Nexus), MPC5xx/8xx,
Power Architecture S32, PX, DSC, MC56F8xx
STMicroelectronics SPC56,
MAC7xxx (ARM)

68HC08 HCS08/RS08 68HC12/S12 S12X/12Z

† ARM Cortex M4 currently supports the following families: ATMEL SAMxxx, STM32, NXP M0,M3,M4, NXP/Freescale Kinetis (all), S32, LPC, i.MX TI-Stellaris LM3S,LM4,TM4C12xx, Infineon XMC4xxx, Maxim 716xx, Silicon Labs EFM32, ERF32, SiM3, Cypress PSoC®4, PSoC®5, PSoC®6, Toshiba TX00,TX03,TX04 On-Bright OB90R, Nordic semi nRF51, nRF52, Silergy MAX716xx

For latest list of chips see http://www.pemicro.com/cyclone/index.cfm#support and also as a wide range of on and off chip SPI and off chip flash memories.

PEmicro's latest product is a version of their Cyclone box that covers the widest range of target CPUs so far. It can be used for Debugging via its fast USB or Ethernet interface with support available in most popular software packages including GCC/GDB. The same box can then be used as a standalone unit for field programming or as a production programmer in an ATE setup (batch or DLL driven).

For more details see this page

Cyclone Automated Control Package

These Windows packages include a command line driven application, Cyclone Launch a batch control system and a set of DLLs providing a range of features of value when using the Cyclone in production situations :-
Basic Edition ----- Free Download ---- Controls a single Cyclone from a PC via USB or Ethernet allowing one Programming Image to be held on the Cyclone which does not have to be downloaded every time so increasing performance.
Professional Edition ----- Controls up to 3 Cyclones from a PC via USB or Ethernet, allowing up to 8 Programming Images, which do not have to be downloaded every time, to be changed on the fly and dynamic data such as serial numbers to manipulated from the PC. Supported devices can be programmed in parallel, even if they are different devices with different data.
Enterprise Edition ----- As for the Pro version but unlimited numbers of Cyclones may be controlled from a single PC, More than 8 images can exist on the Cyclones and Licences for 5 end user PCs are included. Also provided is a full description of the RS232 and Ethernet command Protocols so that non Windows users can implement similar functionality.

For prices of all these HCS08 & RS08 products visit eVisions Web Shop

For prices of all these HCS08 & RS08 products visit eVisions Web Shop

For more Information:
For an overview of PEmicro products	Summary of PEmicro tools for programming most NXP/Freescale Families from HCS08 to PPC, Arm Cortex, Renesas, Hitachi and STMicro devices
For information on BDM cables and software	How Background Debug Mode works, software using it including Debugger and Flash Programmer.