Development tools optimised for Qorivva SoCs
Following the launch by Freescale of its latest Qorivva derivates, PLS Programmierbare Logik & Systeme is providing system developers with its Universal Debug Engine (UDE) for the multicore System-on-Chips (SoCs) MPC5746M, MPC5777M, MPC5748G, MPC5746C, MPC77xK and MPC574xP. PLS is one of the first tool suppliers to offer development tools specifically optimised for the features and functions of these multicore SoCs.
Several already prepared configurations of the UDE ensure an uncomplicated first connection as well as a fast and reliable programming of the flash memory which is integrated in various sizes on the Qorivva devices.
Using the UDE’s multicore/multiprogram loader, the relevant program codes and the corresponding debug information can be assigned to individual cores in a flexible way. In addition, the heterogeneous structure of the SoCs — that, besides the main cores, depending on the type, can contain further programmable units such as a Generic Timer Module (GTM) or a Hardware Security Module (HSM) — is optimally supported.
By core-specific grouping of debugger windows (optionally with automatic fade in and fade out depending on the active core as well as different colouring) UDE-users are provided with an optimal overview of their complete multicore system in just one single consistent user interface.
Control of the diverse cores by the debugger is carried out via the so-called multi-run control function, which enables an almost synchronous start and stop of the various cores by making use of debug logic integrated on the respective chip. In addition, debugging is simplified by the multicore breakpoints newly implemented in the UDE.
With their help, in shared code a simultaneously acting breakpoint for all cores can be very easily set. Data breakpoints allow the recognition of read and/or write accesses to a variable. A certain expected value can even be optionally taken into account.
PLS ensured efficient support of all possible trace variants in the optimisation of the UDE. While data transfer takes place via a conventional parallel port with the types MPC5746C, MPC5748G and MPC574xP, a serial high-speed interface that is based on the Aurora protocol is available for the MPC5746M, MPC577xK, MPC5777M and MPC574xP devices.
This offers type-dependent four or two lanes each with 1.25 Gbps data transfer rate, which are processed without limitations by the Aurora trace pod of the Universal Access Device (UAD) 3+. Furthermore, for parallel trace, users can make use of a pod with up to 32-bit recording width.