MPLAB ICE update focuses on power-efficient code
Full emulation, programming and debugging is offered in the MPLAB ICE 4 in-circuit emulator (ICE) DV244140 announced by Microchip. It features wireless connectivity, power debugging and real-time code profiling.
The latest full in-circuit emulator, debugging and programming development tool is intended for Microchip’s PIC and AVR microcontrollers, dsPIC, digital signal controllers (DSCs), and SAM microcontrollers and microprocessors.
According to Microchip, MPLAB ICE 4 is its fastest and most feature-rich emulation and programming tool. It has the graphical user interface (GUI) as the MPLAB X integrated development environment (IDE). The ICE includes advanced debugging capabilities to write power-efficient code coupled with all the features needed to reduce debugging time, adds the company.
It is an “all-in-one, powerhouse system that provides new possibilities and applications with enhanced hardware and wireless connectivity options,” says Rodger Richey, senior director of Microchip’s development systems business unit. He cites power monitoring capabilities which can be used by embedded design engineers to simultaneously optimise hardware and software for a power-efficient design.
The MPLAB ICE 4 system connects using SuperSpeed USB 3.0 or High-Speed USB 2.0. There is a wireless option, using Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity.
Ethernet connectivity provides remote debugging for applications which are monitored over long distances and Wi-Fi connectivity provides isolation from environmental conditions such as highvoltage motor control applications or floating systems with no ground loop.
MPLAB ICE 4’s integrates with MPLAB X CI/CD set-up over Ethernet creating an effective combination for hardware in the loop, explains Microchip. Designers can use the CI/CD wizard to set up Jenkins and Docker on the latest version of MPLAB X IDE v6.00.
Power debugging capabilities monitor how power consumption correlates to code using MPLAB Data Visualizer. Embedded engineers use two independent current-sensing channels with varying resolutions for measuring and optimising the power consumption of a design.
Development time can be reduced via features which support many widely used instrumentation and instruction trace capabilities. There are several debug and programming interfaces and options for target connections using adapter boards which further help to reduce development time, says the company.
By debugging and programming all Microchip microcontrollers, DSCs and microprocessors, the design process can be simplified when developers migrate from one device to another. The across-the-board device support and seamless integration with the latest version of MPLAB X IDE v6.00 provides a complete development system, says Microchip. In addition to Microchip’s proprietary freeware, MPLAB X IDE for embedded applications, there is a range of free, optimising compilers, professional-grade compiler licenses, functional safety licenses and code coverage licenses for developers.
The MPLAB ICE 4 ICE DV244140 is available now and includes one accessory kit. Additional accessory kits are available separately.
