Emulator cuts embedded software development time for Renesas MCUs
The emulator supports the extended debugging functionality of the RH850 Family and contributes to shortening the time required for CAN communication debugging and current consumption debugging.
One challenge with existing ECU software development is that it is necessary to download the program from the emulator to the MCU. And each time debugging code needs to be added to the control program, it increases the program size and download time. In the case of CAN communication, a significant contributor to this repetitive debug cycle is the need to use a CAN analyzer along with the emulator – these devices have not traditionally operated synchronously. In the case of low power optimization, the emulator is typically used side-by-side with an ammeter or current probe, and it is difficult to link the current consumption peak specifically to the matching point of time in the running code.
To address this challenge, Renesas has integrated additional debugging features required for software development as solutions into the E2. The emulator reduces the time required to determine the cause of an error during CAN communication by providing a connection to the bus that allows message timing to be matched with executing code; it also makes it easier to determine the cause of current consumption peak by monitoring the current draw of the device and correlating that with the code. This enables system developers to potentially reduce development time in these areas to as little as one-tenth compared with the existing method of repeated program modification and downloads. Even when the modification/download cycle is necessary, the increased download speed of the E2 lessens its impact on the speed of the development cycle.
The E2 Emulator features faster communication speeds between the MCU and emulator and parallelization of flash rewriting and data communication. These capabilities enable control program downloads up to twice as fast as Renesas’ existing E1 Emulator. The unit combines instruction-level debugging with CAN communication monitoring; as a CAN communication debugging function, the new E2 Emulator can stop the program when it detects that the interrupt response time has exceeded a specified limit, and record and display trace data relating to CAN communication reception and interrupt response processing simultaneously. The debugging function is claimed as an industry first for measuring CAN communication response time that allows for clearer correlation between CAN communication and program operation.
This solution for measuring CAN communication response time can allow trace analysis of CAN communication and program operation to be performed by the emulator alone, and can significantly reduce the time required to determine the cause of an error.
The new E2 Emulator can detect the current consumption peak and stop the program when the emulator detects that the current consumption has exceeded set limits for a certain period of time. This allows system developers to determine the conditions in the program that cause it to exceed the expected current consumption levels. Additionally, the emulator can display the program operation and current consumption together, making it easier to identify areas where current reduction should be targeted. This shortens the tuning time for reducing current consumption.
The E2 Emulator offers a native hot plug connection on supported devices with no adapter required.
The E2 Emulator supports the CS+ integrated development environment. Support is also planned for the Eclipse-based e2 studio integrated development environment, Green Hills Software’s MULTI IDE, and IAR Systems’ IAR Embedded Workbench. Renesas also plans to provide E2 Emulator tracing solution via the RH850 Debug interface and plans to offer a break solution that enables to break the program while debugging based on an external trigger signal in the future.
Renesas; www.renesas.com/en-eu/ or specification sheet here
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