Development Tools
The EFM32 Development Kit – Gecko, G890F128
EFM32 Development Kit
The EFM32 Development Kit features the EFM32G890F128 MCU (128 kB flash + 16 kB RAM) and is one of the best kits designed for low power device development.
The Advanced Energy Monitoring (AEM) system is practically a very good power monitor and logger, embedded in the Development Kit. Some other kits are doing this in the IDE, but to have it with a display onboard is awesome.
A large spectrum of techniques, from using different low power modes to switch-off peripherals can be tested directly and all with one kit.
The on-board Segger J-Link enables debugging.
The OOB configuration enables that the EFM32 can be programmed with many demo programs selected with the 320×240 TFT Display GUI and the power consumption can be monitored on the same TFT after programming.
Some features:
- Single ended and differential ADC inputs on BNC connectors
- Line-in and Line-out stereo audio amplifier with 3.5 jacks
- IrDA, RS232
- MicroSD card reader
- 4MB 70ns PSRAM+ 16MB 90ns NOR Flash + 2Kb I2C EEPROM
- Accelerometer and LDR
Links:
Product page: https://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/32-bit/Pages/efm32g-dk3550.aspx
Simplicity Studio Download: https://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/simplicity-studio.aspx
User Guide: https://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/efm32g-dk3550-ug.pdf
A Silabs video on YouTube:
Microchip PICkit 3 Debug Express Deal – July
40% Off for PICkit 3 Debug Express bundle with Coupon Code: TP1429

PICkit 3 Debug Express
The July Microchip Promo brings also other 4 Development Tools with attractive discounts:
http://www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en_us/promo/devtooldeals/
PIC18F97J94 Plug in Module
Save Over 30% – Use Coupon Code: TP1427

chipKIT Pi
chipKIT Pi Development Board by element14
Now 15% Off – Use Coupon Code: TP1428
It’s a Arduino compatible board with a SPDIP PIC32 MCU(PIC32MX250F128B). The board is supported by the free MPIDE that can be installed on a Raspberry Pi. 3v3
Element14 page: http://www.element14.com/community/community/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-accessories/chipkit_pi
PCAP Touch Pad Development Kit with Gestures
Save $30 – Use Coupon Code: TP143
– Projected capacitive board with modified MTCH6301 (base touch controller with display code integrated)
– PICkit Serial Analyzer with custom firmware
Multimedia Expansion Board
$75 in Savngs – Use Coupon Code: TP1431
Wolverine in a FR5969LCD Bundle – Is this THE Wolverine?
It seems that finally TI’s Wolverine is in the wild:
http://www.ti.com/tool/msp-bndl-fr5969lcd
A new Launchpad with a 64k FRAM MSP430 – the MSP-EXP430FR5969 – bundled with a LCD BoosterPack featuring a nice Sharp 1.3″ 96×96 pixels Memory LCD.
Price: $29.99
.
The new TI Launchpad: MSP430F5529
12.99US$ for a USB 2.0 PHY on MSP430!!! Great!
eZ-FET lite onboard:
http://www.ti.com/tool/msp-exp430f5529lp
MSP430 USB Developers Package: http://www.ti.com/tool/msp430usbdevpack
Sabre Lite Board
Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) board built by Embest Technology Co. Ltd, a Premier Farnell – Element 14 Company
The board runs a Timesys Linux very good distribution on a powerful i.MX6 Quad Application Processor and is designed following the Freescale’s SABRE specification.
Hardware quality is excellent.
I’ve noticed some heating problems at 3D rendering but the quality is very good.
Still under evaluation!
Some Start-Up Links:
Element 14 SABRE Lite: http://www.element14.com/iMX6
Embest Tech: http://www.embest-tech.com/shop/product/sabre-lite-development-board.html
Boundary Devices Sabre Lite and Accesories: http://boundarydevices.com/products/sabre-lite-imx6-sbc/
Freescale i.MX6 Quad: http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=i.MX6Q
Timesys Linux: http://www.timesys.com/
TLDP Timesys Howto by Trevor Harmon – 2005: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/html_single/TimeSys-Linux-Install-HOWTO/
Freescale’s App Note AN4581 Secure Boot on i.MX50, i.MX53, and i.MX 6 Series using HABv4
…
BeagleBone SUBARCTIC issue
Sometimes the Mighty BeagleBone may ask for a new, unknown driver named SUBARCTIC. His VID is 0451 and PID is 6141, at least in the case of a A6a board.
A simple search about this can lead to a bunch of different opinions but the truth seems to be that is appears only in Sitara’s bootloader mode, when he waits for some other debugging options, maybe something on the non-soldered P7 JTAG Connector.
The BeagleBone Subarctic QuickFix
So, BeagleBone is built to boot something from the SD Card… Inserting the Linux SD Card all works fine, the board get into linux boot sequence, the right devices (USB Serial Port, RNDIS Gadget… ) are showing up and the drivers are loading.
The quick fix: don’t search for a driver instead put the SD Card with software in the connector and cycle power.
Here is a USBView capture of the SUBARCTIC issue:
Some TI Sitara debuggers:
XDS100 – http://www.ti.com/tool/xds100
XDS560 – http://www.ti.com/tool/XDS560
Blackhawk XDS560v2 System Trace USB Emulator, Spectrum Digital XDS560v2 PRO TRACE Receiver, Spectrum Digital XDS560v2 System Trace USB & Ethernet.
Some TI Sitara JTAG advices:
http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/XDS_Target_Connection_Guide#Target_Connection_Design
http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/XDS_Connector_Design_Checklist
Bus Pirate v.3
A great product: The Bus Pirate v.3
The Bus Pirate v.3 is a great piece of open source hardware and software bundle, built by Ian Lesnet & Co. @dangerousprototypes that can easy substitute some quick-build interfacing adapter for I2C, UART, 1-Wire, SPI, MIDI and many other serial protocols.
One important thing is that is 5.5v tolerant and supports some scriptable binary bitbang. In other words you can test at bit level various things that supports syncronous and asyncronous serial protocols.
Is built around a FT232RL converter, a PIC24 and a smart power supply (5v and 3v3 supplied to the target as software option).
Some features here: http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Features_overview
Unfortunately… somehow I managed to burn his first 3v3 Micrel LDO (VR2 on the schematic/pcb). A short circuit on the cable connector and the LDO is gone.
To use the BusPirate again I had to switch the 3v3 LDO’s, the first one powers the board and the second one is for the “power to target” mode. Now the board is without the 3v3 supply option.
A v3 vs. v4 comparison: http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Bus_Pirate_v4_vs_v3_comparison
The 3b hardware overview: http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/Bus_Pirate_v3b
Some places to buy:
Seeed: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/bus-pirate-v3-assembled-p-609.html?cPath=61_68
Watterott: http://www.watterott.com/de/Dangerous-Prototypes?x76825=eb8db1605207013dc33987d199f09e3d
Adafruit: http://www.adafruit.com/products/237
Other Bus Pirate resources:
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_Pirate
A very good Italian article about 1-wire communications and Bus Pirate: http://www.settorezero.com/wordpress/il-bus-pirate-cosa-e-come-funziona-esempio-di-comunicazione-con-bus-1-wire/
A very good I2C article: http://www.maartendamen.com/2011/04/bus-pirate-talking-to-chips-bmp085-used-as-sample/
3-wire protocol article: http://bobdasquirrel.blogspot.it/2013/01/bus-pirate-meets-93lc46b.html
The amazing small board – NXP LPC800 by NGX
LPC800 series develeopment tool
I just get my hands on this board courtesy of Element14.
It’s amazing. Simple and efficient.
The small pin number is compensated in a great way: The Switch Matrix – it connects 6 pins to any available internal module.
Of course, programming can be done in bootloader mode, where every pin is reassigned according to the original layout.
LPC810 features:
- ARM Cortex-M0+
- Switch matrix for flexible configuration of each I/O pin function
- 2 USART interfaces, 1 SPI controller and 1 I²C-bus, with pin functions assigned through the switch matrix
- Self Wake-up Timer (WKT) clocked from either the IRC or a low-power, low-frequency internal oscillator
- CRC engine
- Boot ROM API support: boot loader, USART and I²C drivers in ROM, power profiles, Flash In-Application Programming (IAP) and In-System Programming (ISP)
The debugging options supported are SWD (10 pin connector), JTAG boundary scan and Micro Trace Buffer (MTB).
The quickest/cheapest programming method is via spi*ISP (6 pin connector) with a USB/Serial cable.
Links:
NXP LPC800 mini: http://lpcware.com/lpc800-mini-kit
Schematic: http://lpcware.com/system/files/LPC800%20mini%20board%20Rev%20AR2_0.pdf
NGX Tech: http://ngxtech.com/
Some NGX JTAG Probes: http://shop.ngxtechnologies.com/index.php?currency=EUR&cPath=26&sort=2a
Element14 Community: http://www.element14.com
Recorded Elektor Academy Webinar: http://www.element14.com/community/videos/8356/l/elektor-academy–lpc800-arm-simplicity–twist-your-arm
LPCXpresso Community: http://knowledgebase.nxp.com/forumdisplay.php?f=4
Code Red (actually owned by NXP): http://www.code-red-tech.com/
IAR EW for ARM: http://www.iar.com/en/Products/IAR-Embedded-Workbench/ARM/
KEIL MDK ARM: http://www.keil.com/arm/mdk.asp
Some MBED resources: https://ioclk.com/mbed-arm-rapid-prototyping-tool/
Switch Matrix Tool (Java): http://www.lpcnow.com/articles/84558/lpc800-switch-matrix-making-life-easier-one-pin-at/
a note by user mio @ MBED.org: http://mbed.org/users/mio/notebook/lpc800-mini-boards-p1-to-p44/
arm.com blog page: http://blogs.arm.com/embedded/868-the-un%E2%80%99nxp%E2%80%99ected-lpc800/
article about the LPC800 with some Switch Matrix work: http://www.microcontrollercentral.com/author.asp?section_id=1758&doc_id=255764
Microchip Development Tools Deals – June 2013
June Development Tools Deals http://www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en_us/promo/devtooldeals/
Amazing MP3 Player! $80 Off – Coupon Code: TP1328
Product page: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en555947
Features include:
- 24Bit Audio playback
- Integrated Programmer Debugger
- 2” Color TFT Display – 220 x 176 pixel
- mTouchTM slider and buttons
- PIC32MX250F128 with 128KB of Flash, 32KB RAM
- Micro SD Flash Card
Other Development Tools Deals for June:
4/30 for MSP430
TI announces some limited quantity MSP430 development kits in the TI eStore, the deal lasts 430 minutes and starts at 10AM UTC (4/30 2013).
eZ430-Chronos – $50 $58.00
MSP-FET430U128 – $150 $175.00
MSP-FET430U100B – $130 $175.00
MSP-FET430U100C – $130 $175.00
International shipping included.
TI’s marketing hits again!
The new Tiva Launchpad EK-TM4C123GXL
TI announces a new Launchpad: The Tiva C Series TM4C123G LaunchPad Evaluation Kit.
Now is on pre-order status with a 10-12 weeks delivery time.
This is a evaluation platform for ARM® Cortex™-M4F-based microcontrollers featuring the newest TM4C123GH6PM with a USB 2.0 device interface and hibernation module.
Some TM4C123GH6PM Specifications:
- 32-bit ARM® Cortex™-M4 80-MHz processor core with System Timer (SysTick)
- integrated Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC)
- Wake-Up Interrupt Controller (WIC) with clock gating
- Thumb-2 instruction set
- On-chip memory, featuring 256 KB single-cycle Flash up to 40 MHz, 32 KB single-cycle SRAM;
- internal ROM loaded with TivaWare™ for C Series software; 2KB EEPROM
- 2 CAN modules
- USB controller with USB 2.0 full-speed (12 Mbps) and low-speed (1.5 Mbps) operation, 32 endpoints
- USB OTG/Host/Device mode
- 8 UARTs with IrDA, 9-bit, and ISO 7816 support
- four Synchronous Serial Interface (SSI) modules, supporting operation for Freescale SPI, MICROWIRE, or Texas Instruments synchronous serial interfaces;
- 4 I2C modules
- 2 12-bit ADCs
- Advanced motion control, featuring: 8 PWM generator blocks, each with one 16-bit counter, 2 PWM comparators, a PWM signal generator, a dead-band generator, and an interrupt/ADC-trigger selector; 2 PWM fault inputs to promote low-latency shutdown; 2 Quadrature Encoder Interface (QEI) modules
- Timers: 2 ARM FiRM-compliant watchdog timers; six 32-bit general-purpose timers (up to twelve 16-bit); six wide 64-bit general-purpose timers (up to twelve 32-bit); 12 16/32-bit and 12 32/64-bit Capture Compare PWM (CCP) pins
- Up to 43 GPIOs (depending on configuration), with programmable control for GPIO interrupts and pad configuration, and highly flexible pin muxing
- Lower-power battery-backed Hibernation module with Real-Time Clock
Some links:
https://estore.ti.com/Tiva-C-LaunchPad.aspx
http://www.ti.com/tool/ek-tm4c123gxl
http://www.ti.com/product/tm4c123gh6pm
http://www.ti.com/lsds/ti/microcontroller/tiva_arm_cortex/c_series/tm4c_arm_cortex-m4/overview.page?DCMP=tivac-series&HQS=tiva-cseries-pr-lp Tiva™ C Series MCUs Overview
http://newscenter.ti.com/2013-04-15-TI-introduces-new-Tiva-C-Series-ARM-Cortex-M4-microcontrollers-MCUs-for-connected-applications TI’s Press Release about Tiva C Series
2.7 inch E-Paper Display Module by EmbeddedArtists
Embedded Artists brings a compact E-Paper Display module based on the 2.7″ and 264 x 176 (117 dpi) resolution Pervasive Dispalys Inc. panel
Intended as a development tool, the module can easily be used in many projects due to his low price (29€).
Some Specs:
- a-Si, active matrix TFT, Electronic Paper Display (EPD) panel
- 264×176 pixels @ 117dpi resolution
- Ultra low power consumption – due to its bi-stable nature, the EPD panel requires very little power to update the display and needs no power to maintain an image
- near 180° viewing angle
- No backlight – display useful in daylight applications
- SPI interface + control signals, incl a PWM signal
- Module supply voltage: 3.3V, the display is supplied with 3.0V via on-board LDO
- View area: 57.3 × 38.2 mm
- Operating temperature: 0 to +50 degrees Celsius
- No of colors: 2 – B&W
- Standard 14 pos serial expansion connector interface (2×7 shrouded pin header, 50/100 mil spacing)
- 60 x 74 mm module size
- 3.2 mm mounting holes in 52 x 66.3 mm pattern
And some E-Paper Links:
http://www.pervasivedisplays.com/products/panels
http://www.embeddedartists.com/products/displays/lcd_27_epaper.php the 29€ board
http://repaper.org/tools.html Arduino, Launchpad, aLaMode compatible
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/eink-display-shield-p-1374.html?cPath=132_134 a $49.90 Arduino Shield
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10150 E-Paper 10×2 Character Display
http://wyolum.com/re-paper-experiments/ aLaMode producer experiments with E-Paper modules
http://www.eink.com/modules.html some e-ink/e-paper info
http://www.renesasinteractive.com/file.php/1/CoursePDFs/DevCon_On-the-Road/DevCon_OnSite/HMI/Driving%20E%20Ink%20Displays.pdf Renesas – Driving E Ink Dispalys PDF – download link
Microchip Development Tools Deals – March 2013
Microchip Develepment Tools Deals Link: http://www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en_us/promo/devtooldeals/
MRF24J40MC PICtail/PICtail Plus Daughter Board – Save $17 – Use Coupon Code: TP1310
Zena™ Wireless Adapter – 868 MHz MRF89XA – $25 in Savings – Use Coupon Code: TP1311
Utility-Band BPSK 6.0 kbps PLM PICtail Plus Daughter Board – Get Over $100 Off – Use Coupon Code: TP1312
BOOK: Beginner`s Guide to Embedded C Programming – Volume 3 by Chuck Hellebuyck – 20% in Savings – Use Coupon Code: TP1313
Energia, something between TI Launchpad series and Arduino/Wiring
Energia, something between TI Launchpad series and Arduino/Wiring
http://energia.nu/ is awebsite that bring Energia, a Wiring/Arduino IDE fork designed to ease the Ti Launchpad series integration into the maker/hobbyist world.
In conjuction with the low price of the Launchpads and the growing number of the Boosterpacks I think that TI hits it big!
Right now it supports the following LaunchPads: LaunchPad MSP430G (MSP430G2231, MSP430G2452 and MSP430G2553), FRAM Launchpad aka. FraunchPad (MSP-EXP430FR5739), Stellaris LaunchPad (EK-LM4F120XL ).
No C2000 for now.
The Energia Support Forum is hosted on 43oh.com: http://forum.43oh.com/forum/28-energia/
Hardware support page: https://github.com/energia/Energia/wiki/Hardware
Microchip Development Tools Deals
Microchip shows a “up to 50% off” label for development tools:
http://www.microchip.com/pagehandler/en_us/promo/devtooldeals/
January list is:
- M2M PICtail Daughter Boards >>> Get $60 Off – Use Coupon Code: TPAC320011 >>> Normal price: 199.00 USD
- Utility-Band BPSK 6.0 kbps PLM PICtail Plus Daughter Board >>> Save $75 – Use Coupon Code: TPAC164145 >>> Normal price: 225.00 USD
- Graphics Display Truly 5.7 640×480 Board >>> $90 Off – Use Coupon Code: TPAC164127 >>> Normal price: 269.99 USD
- Motor Control Starter Kit with mTouch Sensing >>> Save $30 – Use Coupon Code: TPDM330015 >>> Normal price: 89.99 USD
- Multimedia Expansion Board >>> Save $100 Now – Use Coupon Code: TPDM320005 >>> Normal price: 249.99 USD
Great! But I’m still waiting for the new tideals site…
TI TMDSHVMPPTKIT – Isolated Solar MPPT Development Kit
Some features:
- 200-300VDC Input up to 500Watts
- 400VDC Output
- 2 Phase DC/DC Boost for Maximum Power Point Tracking
- 1:1 Resonant LLC for isolation
- Onboard USB JTAG Emulation
- Single phase current mode inverter
- Supports 120-220V AC with grid-tie capabilities and anti-islanding
TI estore page: https://estore.ti.com/TMDSHVMPPTKIT-High-Voltage-Isolated-Solar-MPPT-Development-Kit-P2886.aspx
product page: http://www.ti.com/tool/tmdshvmpptkit
Development Tools: TI Control Suite which comes with all software examples needed.
A short excerpt from HV_Solar_DC_DC-Main.C about the included libraries …
/---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // FILE: Solar_DC_DC-Main.C // // Description: Solar MPPT DC-DC Stage // The file drives duty on PWM1A and PWM2A for DC-DC boost stage on the HV Solar // MPPT board. It also generates 50% duty with dead-band on PWM3A & PWM3B for // the LLC stage on the same board. // C28x ISR is triggered by the PWM 1 interrupt // // Version: 1.0 // // Target: TMS320F2803x(PiccoloB), // //---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- // Copyright Texas Instruments © 2004-2010 //...............................................some code......................................... // Following is the implementation using the solar lib function if(Run_MPPT==1) { // MPPT routine mppt_incc1.Ipv = IL_avg;//IpvRead_EMAVG; //IpvRead; mppt_incc1.Vpv = Vp_fb_Avg;//VpvRead_EMAVG; //VpvRead; mppt_incc_MACRO(mppt_incc1); VpvRef_MPPT = mppt_incc1.VmppOut; mppt_pno1.Ipv = IL_avg;//IpvRead_EMAVG; //IpvRead; mppt_pno1.Vpv = Vp_fb_Avg;//VpvRead_EMAVG; //VpvRead; mppt_pno_MACRO(mppt_pno1); //VpvRef_MPPT = mppt_pno1.VmppOut; if(VpvRef_MPPT<_IQ24(0.0)) { VpvRef_MPPT=_IQ24(0.0); } else if(VpvRef_MPPT>_IQ24(0.9)) { VpvRef_MPPT=_IQ24(0.9); } VpvRef=VpvRef_MPPT; Run_MPPT=0; }
TI BOOSTXL-C2KLED – C2000 Launchpad Booster Pack
TI C2000 Piccolo Launchpad
C2000@Launchpad
- A great evaluation tool for the electronic enthusiast, the hobbyist and the hardware/software developer who seeks a quick path to the TI’s 32bit C2000 microcontroller line wich is designed for real-time control applications.
https://estore.ti.com/LAUNCHXL-F28027-C2000-Piccolo-LaunchPad-P3088.aspx … and the price is fabulous too.
- integrated isolated XDS100 JTAG emulator
- TMS320F28027
- 8 PWM channels, eCAP, 12bit ADC, I2C, SPI, UART
https://estore.ti.com/LAUNCHXL-F28027-C2000-Piccolo-LaunchPad-P3088.aspx
… and the price is fabulous too.
Info: http://www.ti.com/tool/launchxl-f28027
Piccolo MCU Datasheet: http://www.ti.com/litv/pdf/sprs523h