JPH10269101A - Method for developing program of microcomputer, and microcomputer and debugging device used for the same method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the flow of debugging operation and to improve the development efficiency by writing the program in the microcomputer on a board directly after connecting an in-circuit emulator while mounting the microcomputer on the board, and then performing the debugging operation. SOLUTION: In a state that the microcomputer is mounted on the board 213, the in-circuit emulator 211 is connected to the board through a probe 212 and a connector 209 and under the control of a control unit 215, the program 214 is debugged. After the program 214 is debugged, the program 214 is written directly in the microcomputer on the board 213. Consequently, a flow of mounting operation for the microcomputer in the debugging can be eliminated to shorten the flow of the debugging operation, thereby improving the development efficiency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a microcomputer, and more particularly, to a microcomputer program development method, a microcomputer having a built-in erasable nonvolatile memory, and a program debugging device.

[0001]

2. Description of the Related Art It is necessary to debug whether or not a microcomputer and a circuit board (board) on which a circuit designed by a user are mounted normally operate.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a conventional program debugging of a microcomputer. This flowchart describes a debugging procedure after creating a target board to be evaluated.

First, in a first step, an in-circuit emulator (hereinafter referred to as ICE), which is an example of a debugging device, is mounted on a board to debug a program. The situation at this time is shown in FIG.

The ICE 802 supports a debugging operation under the control of the control device 805. The ICE 802 is connected to a board 801 to be debugged via a probe 803 and a connector 804.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ICE 802. Microcomputer alternative function 807
Is a unit that realizes the operation equivalent to the microcomputer, and functions instead of the microcomputer on the board.

Therefore, input / output signals from the ICE 802 are input / output to / from the board via the connector 804 from the input / output terminal 805 for inputting / outputting the same signal as the input / output terminal of the microcomputer.

The debugger function 808 provides an effective means for debugging operations such as tracing the operation of the microcomputer and changing a program under the control of the control device 805.

[0008] The debug operator can use a program 8 to be used by the microcomputer originally mounted via the control device.
06 is downloaded to the ICE 802, and a program to be evaluated is executed by using a substitute function or a debug function of the microcomputer of the ICE 802 to perform operation check / debug.

[0009] When an alternative function of the microcomputer is used, the microcomputer is not mounted on the board.

In the second step, debugging is completed in the ICE 802, and the program 806 is transferred to the writer of the nonvolatile memory. As shown in FIG. 13, the program 806 is transferred using the storage device of the control device 805 as a medium.

The third step is to write the program 806 into the microcomputer 901. Here, there are two writing methods. One is to mount the microcomputer 901 on the board 801 and then write a program.
01 after writing the program 806 to the board 80
1 is implemented.

When the microcomputer 901 is mounted, the connector 804 is removed from the socket 902 on the board 801 and the microcomputer 901 is mounted as shown in FIG.

In a microcomputer equipped with a flash memory as a nonvolatile memory, a microcomputer capable of rewriting on a board and rewriting using a PROM writer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-26621.
9 ".

[0014] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-251498 discloses means for rewriting a rewritable memory mounted on a substrate. In general, a microcomputer having a built-in PROM is configured to correspond to a PROM writer, and can be rewritten on a board using similar means.

In the fourth step, the operation is confirmed by the microcomputer 901 in which the program 806 has been written.

The microcomputer 90 actually used
By performing the final confirmation of the program 806 by using the program 1, it is possible to eliminate a problem caused by a subtle difference or a difference in characteristics between the substitute function of the ICE 802 and the actual microcomputer 901.

FIG. 14 is a diagram in which a program 806 is written in a microcomputer 901 mounted on a board 801.

The microcomputer 901 includes a board 80
A writer 1001 mounted on the board 1 and serving as a writer of a nonvolatile memory is connected to a board 8 via a cable 1002.
01 is connected. The writer 1001 includes a control device 805
The program 806 is fetched via the CPU and written into the microcomputer 901.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the connection of the microcomputer 901 on the board 801.

A write mode terminal 1101 of the microcomputer 901 is connected to a write mode signal 1103 via a switch 1105. The write mode terminal is a terminal for pulling the microcomputer 901 into the write mode of the nonvolatile memory, and is fixed to the ground level except for writing a program.

I / O terminal / write signal terminal 1102
Is connected to a write signal 1104 and a user circuit via a switch 1106. This terminal is used in a user circuit as a normal input / output terminal except for writing a program, and is used for input / output of a write signal when writing a program. Since the input / output terminal 1103 is not used at the time of writing a program, it is connected only to a user circuit. Here, the write mode signal 1103,
The write signal 1104 is supplied from the writer 1001.

The configuration on such a substrate is disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-251498, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a microcomputer 901 capable of debugging such a program.

The microcomputer 901 includes a CPU 1
201, flash memory, PROM, EEPROM
And a peripheral memory 1202 represented by
3, input / output buffers 1204, 1205, write mode terminal 1101, input / output signal / write signal terminal 110
2. It is composed of input / output terminals 1103.

When the level of the write mode terminal 1101 is
If it is not a program write operation instruction, the CPU
Reference numeral 1201 executes an instruction based on a program already written in the nonvolatile memory 1202,
03 is a microcomputer 901 to be controlled and aimed
The operation of is realized. Peripheral 1203 is input / output buffer 12
Necessary signals are input and output between the input / output terminal 1103 and the input / output terminal / write signal terminal 1102 via the input / output terminals 04 and 1205.

At the time of a program write operation, a write signal input / output from the input / output terminal / write signal terminal 1102 is supplied to the nonvolatile memory 1202 to write the program into the nonvolatile memory 1202.

A microcomputer incorporating such a non-volatile memory is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-26.
6219 ", the detailed description is omitted.

In the present invention, input / output terminals are described, including input-only terminals, output-only terminals, and input / output dual-purpose terminals.

[0029]

In such a conventional method of debugging a program of a microcomputer, the ICE must be removed after debugging, the microcomputer must be mounted, and then the program must be written. And work efficiency is poor.

Further, a personal computer, ICE,
The point is that the space for performing the debugging work is increased because the writers and the like are present separately.

Further, since it is necessary to prepare signal lines for connecting the microcomputer and the writer on the board, there is a problem that the area of the board becomes unnecessarily large. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to improve work efficiency, save work space, and reduce the board mounting area and the number of components.

[0032]

According to the present invention, a debugging device (ICE) connects a writer function of a nonvolatile memory (202 in FIG. 2) and a connector of the debugging device to a microcomputer mounted on a board. Means, and the microcomputer has means for setting the input / output terminals to high impedance.

Then, the input / output terminals of the mounted microcomputer are set to high impedance, and the connector of the debugging device is connected to the microcomputer to debug the program.

The program which has been debugged by the debug device is written into the nonvolatile memory of the microcomputer via the connector by using a writer function built in the debug device.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the flow of the transfer of the program from the debug device to the writer, the attachment of the writer for writing the program, and the flow of the operation of mounting the microcomputer during the debugging. Since the functions are incorporated, the work space can be saved, and the parts and space on the board to which the writer is attached can be reduced.

[0036]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a procedure of program debugging of a microcomputer according to the present invention.

First, in the first step, a microcomputer is mounted on a board, and a connector is mounted thereon from above using a connector.
The CE 211 is attached to debug the program.

In the second step, a program is written from the ICE 211 to the microcomputer 302 on the board.

In the third step, the operation of the microcomputer is confirmed by removing the ICE 211.

FIG. 2 shows an IC used in the debugging method of the present invention.
17 shows the configuration of E211. The ICE 211 is different from the conventional ICE in that a writer function 202, a control function 204, an input / output terminal / write signal terminal 206, and a write mode terminal 20 are provided.
7. An output control terminal 208 is added.

The control function 204 determines whether the ICE is operating as a substitute for the microcomputer or as a writer for the nonvolatile memory based on an instruction from the controller 215, and outputs a writer / emulator switching signal 210. A part of the input / output signal output by the microcomputer alternative function 201 and a write signal output by the writer function 202 are selected to select the input / output terminal / write signal terminal 20.
6 is output. During the alternative operation of the microcomputer, a control signal for setting the output of the microcomputer on the board to high impedance is output to the output control terminal 208.

A writer function 202 is a writer of a nonvolatile memory on the microcomputer, and outputs a signal indicating a write mode to a write mode terminal 207 and a write signal necessary for writing.

The operations of the microcomputer alternative function 201 and the debugger function 203 are the same as in the conventional example.

FIG. 3 shows how the ICE 211 is connected to the board 213. ICE211 is probe 2
12. The configuration for connecting to the board 213 via the connector 209 and debugging the program 214 based on the control of the control device 215 is the same as the conventional example.

However, in the debugging method of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
ICE is mounted on the board 213 by connecting the connector 209 to the microcomputer 302.
Is different from the conventional example.

To implement the debugging method of the present invention, the connector 209 is connected to the board 213 and the microcomputer 3 while the microcomputer 302 is mounted.
02 must be connected.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the connector 209. The ICE probe terminal 402 is brought into contact with the terminal 404 of the microcomputer 302 mounted as shown in FIG.
The cover 401 is the main body of the connector and supports the ICE probe terminal 402. Screw the connector body 40
3, the ICE probe terminal 402 and the terminal 4 of the microcomputer 302 are fixed to the board 213.
04 stabilizes the contact. The ICE probe terminal 402 is electrically connected to the board 213 via the terminal 404.
It is connected to each signal line above.

Here, in order that the ICE 211 can operate with the writer function, the write mode terminal 207 and the input / output terminal / write signal terminal 206 input / output by the ICE 211 are set in advance on the board 213 so as not to short-circuit with each signal line on the board. The above needs to be considered.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the connection of the microcomputer, the user circuit, and the ICE on the board 213. On the board 213, the write mode terminal 207 of the mounted microcomputer 302 is fixed to the ground level except in the write mode to the nonvolatile memory, and is set to the high impedance in the write mode to the nonvolatile memory. Switch 505 is connected.

The input / output terminal / write signal terminal 20
The switch 6 is connected to the user circuit 6 in a mode other than the write mode to the nonvolatile memory, and to a high impedance in the write mode to the nonvolatile memory.

The output control terminal 208 is connected to the ICE 21
The terminal 208 is fixed to the ground level except when the microcomputer 1 performs the substitute operation, and a switch 506 for connecting the terminal 208 to high impedance during the substitute operation is connected.

The other configurations of the output control terminal 208 and the user circuit 503 are the same as those of the conventional example, and the description is omitted.

Here, compared with FIG. 14 of the conventional example, the wiring for connecting the writer to the microcomputer on the board is reduced, so that the mounting area of the board is reduced.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the microcomputer 302 used in the present invention. The configurations of the CPU 601, the nonvolatile memory 602, the peripheral 603, and the write mode terminal 207 of the microcomputer 302 are the same as those of the related art, and the description is omitted.

The input / output buffers 604 and 605 connected to the input / output terminal / write signal terminal 206 and the input / output terminal 205 are used when the ICE 211 performs the microcomputer replacement operation based on the input level of the output control terminal 208. The difference from the prior art is that the output of the microcomputer is made high impedance in order to make each terminal of the microcomputer high impedance.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the second embodiment showing the connection of the microcomputer, the user circuit and the ICE on the board. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the microcomputer that can be used in the ICE in this embodiment. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the write mode terminal 509 of the microcomputer 508 and the output control terminal 5
17 is connected with a built-in pull-down resistor. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. As a result, as shown in FIG.
There is no need to connect anything to the output control terminal 510.

The ICE 211 supplies a high level to the write mode terminal 509 in the write mode to the nonvolatile memory, and supplies a high level to the output control terminal 510 in the alternative operation of the microcomputer.

Therefore, the second embodiment has an effect that the number of components on the board can be further reduced as compared with the first embodiment.

[0061]

As described above, according to the debugging method of the present invention, the ICE is connected to the board while the microcomputer is mounted on the board, and the debugging is performed. A program can be written on a computer.

Therefore, the flow of the program transfer from the debugger to the writer, the attachment of the writer for writing the program, and the flow of the mounting operation of the microcomputer during the debugging can be reduced, so that the flow of the debugging work can be shortened. And development efficiency can be improved.

Further, since a writer does not need to be brought into the debug environment, a debug work space can be omitted.

Further, by performing writing through the ICE connector, wiring and switches for connecting the writer can be omitted, so that the number of components on the board and the mounting space can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a procedure of program debugging according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an ICE of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a connection diagram of an ICE of the present invention and a board.

FIG. 4 is a connection diagram of the connector of the present invention and a board.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a connection diagram of the first embodiment showing the connection on the board of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a microcomputer of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a connection diagram of a second embodiment showing connections on a board of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating a microcomputer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for debugging a program in a conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional ICE.

FIG. 12 is a connection diagram of a conventional ICE and a board.

FIG. 13 is a connection diagram of a conventional connector and a board.

FIG. 14 is a connection diagram between a conventional writer and a microcomputer.

FIG. 15 is a connection diagram showing connections on a board in a conventional example.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of a conventional microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

211, 802 ICE 201, 807 Microcomputer alternative function 202 Writer function 203, 808 Debugger function 204, 809 Control function 205, 805 I / O terminal 206, 1102 I / O terminal / write signal terminal 207, 509, 1101 Write mode terminal 208, 510 Output control terminal 209, 804 connector 210 Writer / emulator switching signal 210 212, 803 Probe 213, 507, 801 Board 214, 806 Program 215, 805 Controller 302, 508, 901 Microcomputer 401 Cover 402 ICE probe terminal 403 Screw 404 Terminal 503, 1107 User circuit 504, 505, 506, 1105, 1106 Switch 601 CPU 602 Non-volatile memory 60 Around 604 and 605 output buffer 902 socket 1001 writer 1002 cable 1103 write mode signal 1104 write signal

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a microcomputer program development method, a debugging device is connected to a board on which a microcomputer is mounted, the output of the microcomputer is set to high impedance, and the debugging device operates the board to debug a program. A program development method comprising: a first step; a second step of writing a program from the debug device to the microcomputer; and a third step of separating the debug device from the board and confirming operation of the board by using the microcomputer mounted on the board. . 2. The program development method according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer is a microcomputer having a writable nonvolatile memory, an erasable / writable nonvolatile memory, or a flash memory. . 3. A means for setting all signal output terminals to high impedance by an external input, a writable nonvolatile memory for storing a part or all of a program, an erasable / writable nonvolatile memory or a flash memory A microcomputer comprising: a memory; and a unit for writing a program to the memory in response to an input from the debug device, the unit having a unit used in the program development method according to claim 1. 4. The microcomputer according to claim 3, wherein the means for setting all the signal output terminals to high impedance is a means based on an input from a debug device. 5. A debugging device having program debugging means and means for substituting functions of a microcomputer in place of a microcomputer, comprising means for writing a program in a memory built in a microcomputer mounted on a board. A debugging device used in the program development method according to claim 1. 6. The debugging device according to claim 5, further comprising means for outputting a control signal for setting all input / output terminals of the microcomputer to high impedance.