"In the" big competition "- MCU development board based on arm Cortex-M0 and M0 + cores (Part I), we compared the characteristics of microcontrollers based on M0 and M0 + boards. Next, we will continue to compare the characteristics of other boards.
If hardware represents the embodiment of strength and creativity, the development environment is the best way to communicate with users. Of course, the development environment here is not simply an IDE tool, but also the expansion of its products and the perfection of data.
development tool
The adoption of a product (especially a new product) not only has excellent quality, but also whether its design and development tools are easy to use and powerful, which also directly affects the user's attitude towards the product.
At present, the popular software development tools based on arm Cortex-M0 series are not only mdk-arm, IAR, COIDE, red suite, but also the design tools launched by major manufacturers for their own products, such as Infineon's dava3, Freescale's CodeWarrior, cypress's PSoC creator 3.0, ATMEL's ATMEL studio 6.1, etc.
The hardware debuggers based on Cortex-M0 series include ulink2, ulinkpro, ulinkme and j-link of segger company launched by arm company. These are external and slightly expensive, but they have many functions and are powerful; At present, the more popular low-power development boards generally use on-board debugging modules. These are basically debugging modules developed by major manufacturers based on their own product characteristics, which is better than low price.
Stm32f0 value line
Stm32f0 value line development board is equipped with a stm32f103c8t6 microcontroller based on Cortex-M3 core as debugging IC, also known as st-link. Its feature is that it integrates USB controller and can directly debug JTAG & SWD through USB cable and software tool (mdk-arm).
Stm32f0 value line can support tools such as mdk-arm, IAR and COIDE. These development tools have similar functions and can compile, burn and debug embedded system applications. Generally, it depends on the usage habits of R & D engineers to decide which tool to use.
Psoc4 development board is equipped with one Cy8c5868lti-lp039 microcontroller, as a debugging IC, is also based on Cortex-M3 core. In addition to programming and debugging through its own USB cable, psoc4 development board also provides a 10 pin cortex debugging interface, which can be debugged through arm tools such as ulink2 and ulinkpro.
In addition to the popular mdk-arm and IAR software tools, the psoc4 development board also has cypress's own professional PSoC creator 3.0 tailored for the PSoC series. It can change the module combination by dragging, and can directly export the software code through the hardware diagram. It is not inferior to other products in terms of ease of operation and function, In particular, it is recommended for companies with tight product cycle to have unintended effects（ PSoC creator (see here)
The debugging IC of Infineon xmc1200 development board belongs to its xmc4200 family. Therefore, it is recommended to use its own software development tool dava3 (currently applicable to xmc1000 and xmc4000 series products).
First, this is a free development tool, and users don't have to worry about annoying licenses;
Second, this is a development tool designed based on eclipse architecture. If you are an engineer who is used to using eclipse software development, I believe you can get started quickly and can easily program, download and debug the xmc1200 development board.
At present, dava3 installation version and installation free version are available on the official website.
In addition, xmc1200 development board also supports general development tools, such as mdk-arm, IAR, etc
The NXP lpc1114 development board can also be called lpcxpresso CN. Its debugging IC is its lpc1343f series. Based on the Cortex-M3 core, the biggest feature of the board is that the IDE pin with 10PIN is reserved, which can be used alone as a development tool, which is very convenient.
The lpc1114 development driver only supports IAR, so the development environment only supports IAR. It only supports SWD simulation, not JTAG.
The nuc123 and nano130 development boards use the nu-link debugging platform, Microcontroller based on nuc12sre3an. Nu-link is a professional simulator and burner.
Xintang nuc123 and nano130 development boards support arm-mdk, IAR and COIDE development tools.
The NXP lpc800 development board is relatively simple. It is not equipped with on-board debugging IC. It is only equipped with a 10 pin cortex debugging interface. Additional arm simulation tools such as ulink2 and ulinkpro need to be used. Of course, you can also use the lpc1114 introduced before to debug the LPC, but you need to fly the wire to connect the corresponding signal line.
Lpc800 software development tools can use arm-mdk, IAR, etc.
Freescale frdm-ke02 development board is equipped with an opensda debugger, and its core is debugging The chip is k20dx128, based on arm cortex-m4 core. A USB controller is integrated inside, which can be downloaded and debugged directly through USB. Moreover, the opensda debugger supports a wide range of software tools, including CodeWarrior, IAR, mdk-arm, red suite, etc.
Of course, the frdm-ke02 development board is also equipped with a 10PIN JTAG / SWD interface, which can also be downloaded and debugged directly through the simulator.
ATMEL samd20-xpro development board can be compiled, downloaded and debugged through the onboard edbg module. In particular, the 10PIN cortex interface on the front of the board can debug other cortex M series development boards of ATMEL.
The development tools of ATMEL samd20-xpro development board include ATMEL studio, IAR, arm-mdk, etc. ATMEL studio is the most ideal professional software design tool for ATMEL products. Its unique ASF box allows users to develop products in a shorter time.
By comparing the development tools of these boards, we can see these points:
1. Except lpc800, other development boards are equipped with on-board debugging modules, which reduces the user's development cost to a certain extent and is more convenient to carry, which is also a trend of development boards at present.
2. Although the general software development tools mdk-arm and IAR meet the development and application of these boards, targeted professional tools, such as Infineon's dava3, cypress's PSoC creator 3.0 and ATMEL's ATMEL studio 6.1, are undoubtedly more suitable for first-time users, and the rich routines and other applications are unmatched by general development software.
Extension interface
Stm32f0 value line development board is equipped with a prototype expansion board full of copper holes. In addition, all signal pins of its microcontroller, like NXP lpc1114, are led out through row pins.
All signal pins of nuc123, nano130 of Xintang, xmc1200 of Infineon and NXP lpc800 are led out through copper holes.
The extension interface of ATMEL samd20-xpro development board is the xplained Pro platform extension interface definition based on its 20pin.
Freescale frdm-ke02 and psoc4 development boards have the scalability of third-party boards. Freescale frdm-ke02 development board is fully compatible with Arduino R3 pins. Psoc4 is more scalable and includes compatibility with Arduino shield and Digilent PMOD ™ Therefore, a variety of third-party expansion boards can be selected.
Through comparison, we can see that if you like your DIY, there is no doubt that stm32f0 value line, NXP lpc1114, Xintang nuc123, nano130, Infineon xmc1200 and NXP lpc800 are ideal, and all signal pins are on standby at all times.
Freescale frdm-ke02 and psoc4 are suitable for users who like to expand third-party boards (such as Arduino).
If ATMEL is selected Samd20-xpro development board, at least you can only select the expansion board of ATMEL xplained Pro platform, such as I / O1 xplained pro, OLED xplained pro and proto1 xplained pro.
About product information
From the above comparison, it is difficult to infer which is better and which is more applicable. However, as users, in addition to these, they are most concerned about the integrity of product data. In particular, some small companies are more reluctant to easily try the development of a new product. "The first person to eat crab" is not just based on courage.
The most basic information is available on the official websites of major manufacturers at the time of product release. Those are also the most intuitive information seen by users, including specifications and user manuals, but these are only result data, and we can only know a rough idea.
But what we need more is R & D experience and project experience in the process from product to product realization. What can reflect these is the accumulation of time. Therefore, I believe everyone should understand that the integrity of data in these boards is the NXP lpc1114 development board (no more than early birth), while other development boards have unavoidable weakness of project experience shortage, which can only be trusted to "the first crab eater" to fill these gaps.
Board parameters
card
Power supply mode
Board size cm
Number of card layers
On board debugger
Extension interface
Price (RMB)
STM32F0 Value Line
5V mini USB
8.9*5.3
two
ST-LINK
All signals are led out through row pins
eighty-eight point five
PSoC4
5V mini USB
8.6*5.2
four
PSoc 5LP
Compatible with Arduino shield and Digilent PMOD
one hundred and sixteen point three
XMC1200
5V micro USB
8.6*5.4
two
J-LINK
All signals are led out through copper holes
one hundred and sixty-four
LPC1114
5V mini USB
11*3.3
two
LPC1343F
All signals are led out through row pins
ninety-nine
NUC123
5V mini USB
9.9*3.5
two
NUC-LINK
All signals are led out through copper holes
one hundred and fifty
LPC800
5V mini USB
7.1*4.6
two
nothing
All signals are led out through copper holes
one hundred and twenty
FRDM-KE02
5V mini USB
8.3*5.1
two
OpenSDA
Compatible with Arduino R3 version pin
eighty
SAMD20-XPRO
5V micro USB
10*6
four
EDBG
3 xplained Pro platform extension interfaces with 20pin
two hundred and thirty-four
Summary
This paper introduces the development environment, peripheral expansion and data integrity of the development board based on ARM cortex M0 and M0 + cores. Through comparison, we can't assert who is the best, but it can only be said that it is the most suitable in a certain field, such as xmc1200 in the field of LED interactive control, frdm-ke02 in dealing with complex environmental noise, and lpc1114 development board, which is the most humble one, But it is most abundant in practical project experience. " "Survival of the fittest", we choose a board that we think will stand out, and the competition in the market will eventually tell you the truth of your answer...
reference material
Infineon xmc1200
FRDM-KE02Z
PSOC4
LPC800
SAMD20 XPRO
STM32F0-Discovery
Original statement: This article is original by Aiban. Reprint is declined“
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