Sonsivri
 
*
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 02:09:57 14:09


Login with username, password and session length


Pages: [1]
Print
Author Topic: difference b/w on-board debug and ICD2 for PIC  (Read 3938 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
sawaak
Newbie
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 27

Thank You
-Given: 90
-Receive: 13


« on: December 05, 2008, 07:02:33 07:02 »

Hi,

some pic boards, e.g. PIC32 starter kit has an on-board debug circuitry, does this debug support give the same functionality as MPLAB ICD2 e.g. real time debug with breakpoints etc. If there is a difference, what is the difference and do i need MPLAB ICD 2 for these sort of kits that include on-board debug support.

Also what is the difference b/w MPLAB ICD2 and PICkit2 programmers/debuggers? ICD2 is around 160 USD and PICkit2 is around 50 USD  Shocked

thanks
sawaak
« Last Edit: December 05, 2008, 07:18:23 07:18 by sawaak » Logged
Jagi
Newbie
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 27

Thank You
-Given: 26
-Receive: 12


« Reply #1 on: January 23, 2009, 02:40:24 14:40 »

The on board debug is generally limited in its ability to debug hardware issues, where as the ICD allows you to debug at hardware level. The on board debug consists of a boot-loader and debugger software preprogrammed in the chip of interest that can provide debug information about the various status registers, variables etc., using a serial communication and PC software. The on board debugger cannot provide info about the logic state of the buss lines or other interface circuitry. The ICD on the other hand emulates the microcontroller in question, thereby providing in depth information about the controller operation. Yes, ICD's are expensive because they have additional hardware to simulate the microcontroller. Hope this answers your question.
Logged
jezo
Newbie
*
Offline Offline

Posts: 27

Thank You
-Given: 37
-Receive: 13


« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2009, 06:26:41 06:26 »


PIC32 starter kit has an on-board debug circuitry, does this debug support give the same functionality as MPLAB ICD2 e.g. real time debug with breakpoints etc. If there is a difference, what is the difference and do i need MPLAB ICD 2 for these sort of kits that include on-board debug support.

PIC32 starter kit isn't classic demo board. It's JTAG debbuger + target mcu. Debbug is provided by different pins like other PIC family (ISP pins). Schematic for JTAG is very simply (pdf PIC32MX Starter Kit Schematics), but hex file for PIC18F4550 is not available and mcu is code protected  Embarrassed
Logged
micropar
Active Member
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 173

Thank You
-Given: 44
-Receive: 13


« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2009, 12:45:41 00:45 »

Hi Jagi,
The on board debug is generally limited in its ability to debug hardware issues, where as the ICD allows you to debug at hardware level. The on board debug consists of a boot-loader and debugger software preprogrammed in the chip of interest that can provide debug information about the various status registers, variables etc., using a serial communication and PC software. The on board debugger cannot provide info about the logic state of the buss lines or other interface circuitry. The ICD on the other hand emulates the microcontrollar in question, thereby providing in depth information about the controller operation. Yes, ICD's are expensive because they have additional hardware to simulate the microcontrollar. Hope this answers your question.

Info you provided is quite misleading.

ICD doesn't have any kind of microcontrollar simulation. It uses one interrupt vector, two pins of microcontrollar and few memory locations of address space. Hence it is quite limited in functionality. Break-point provided are just one or two at a time.

On chip debug provided by PIC32 is JTAG based is somewhat true Debug interface similar to what Pentium of Intel provide in current PC technology since its 32 bit i386 processor. Study how Intel processor provide on-chip Debug interface and you will realize why PC is most successful Processor of our time and very easy debugging interface with its vast on chip debug registers. Because of this excellent Debug mechanism provide by Intel, all kind of cracks are possible to write in Software and is may be the one reason of existence of great forums like Sonsivri and access to free software. Also just because of this debug mechanism, Virtual PC technology exist.

Difference between ICD2 and PICkit2 is that ICD2 can provide 400mA (2W) of power to external target PICmicro development board while PICkit2 just provide Debug interface. So while debugging with PICkit2, you have arrange for power supply of external target board yourself. Now why price difference of US$ 100 to 150 between ICD2 and PICkit2 is merely Marketing strategy and mainly due to useless high salary paid to these Marketing Managers who doesn't understand real requirements of supporting good debugging mechanism at lower cost.

With best regards,
--micropar--
« Last Edit: February 03, 2009, 01:03:10 01:03 by micropar » Logged
Pages: [1]
Print
Jump to:  


DISCLAIMER
WE DONT HOST ANY ILLEGAL FILES ON THE SERVER
USE CONTACT US TO REPORT ILLEGAL FILES
ADMINISTRATORS CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR USERS POSTS AND LINKS

... Copyright © 2003-2999 Sonsivri.to ...
Powered by SMF 1.1.18 | SMF © 2006-2009, Simple Machines LLC | HarzeM Dilber MC