How to use the

Logic Analyzer Plugin 

Index

Overview
The Project
Configuring the Plugin
Stimulus Files
Basic Interpretation
Conclusion

Overview

A logic analyzer is a very useful tool for embedded development.  The ability to watch several outputs at once while triggering several inputs at precise times would be difficult if not impossible with any other method.  
The intent of this document is to demonstrate the use of the logic analyzer plugin with the SourceBoost IDE in debug mode.

This tutorial will show how to:

• configure the logic analyzer
• setup the logic analyzer to stimulate inputs
• save and load a setup to file
• basic interpretation

This tutorial is  intended be guide to the use of the SourceBoost IDE logic analyzer plugin, not logic analyzers in general.

The Project

• Start SourceBoost IDE.
• Locate and open the logictest project.
• Build the project.

The  program is utterly simple but effective for our purposes.  The code takes an input form the lower nibble of PORT C and to upper nibble.

.
.
.
//Infinite loop
while( 1 )
{
clear_wdt();
portc = ( portc << 4);
};
.
.
.

Once the project has been built enter debug mode by clicking the bug  on the tool bar. 

Configuring the Plugin

Configure your plugin like this:

All of the inputs and output have to be on the same port, in this case the lower half are inputs and the upper half are outputs.

• Outputs are written to to the plugin by the MCU.  

• Inputs are programmed into the plugin by clicking on the signal trace where it crosses the time mark the logic state is to change.

• The scroll window: determines how much of the actual graph is displayed at once

  • Dragging the arrows changes the range of the graph displayed.

  • Dragging the white space between the arrows moves the part of the graph being displayed.

• The "Save" and "Save As" button allows the current data to be saved to file.

• The load button allows a file that has been previously saved to be reloaded 

• When the "Follow" box is checked the scroll window will move to continuously display the time line currently being executed.

• The button moves the part of the graph being displayed to the left.

• The button returns the displayed area to zero.

• The button moves the part of the graph being displayed to the right.

Stimulus Files

Once input signals have been programmed they can be saved for reuse.  This is especially handy is the signal pattern is complex or has to be precisely timed.

• To save a current pattern, press "Save As".
• To restore the pattern press "Load".
• To overwrite the current stimulus file with the current pattern press "Save".

Saving a pattern after has been run will save the output data too.

Basic Interpretation

 To show how to measure time lapse we will measure the delay time from input to output for our sample.

1. Start by movin the left arrow button on the scroll window ( the one pointing right) until the first rise on signal 0 is on the extreme left of the screen like this:

2. Draw the other arrow over to the left until the two signals to be measured are in view.  ( the output for 0 is 4)
3. Line up the input on a dashed time line using the <-> buttons.
4. Make note of the number.  (328)

5. Now align channel 4 with a time line and record the number. (417)

6. The difference of the two numbers is the number of clock ticks - in this case 89.
   if the frequency is 4 MHz  each clock tick is 1 µS, so the time would be 89 µS.

Conclusion

The logic Analyzer plugin can make the development of project with complex I\O much easier to deal with.  The ability to stimulate many inputs at once and interpret the output data in a graphical format is invaluable.

Return to Plugin Help

Legal Information

  THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

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  THE AUTHOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY LICENSE (REGISTRATION) REQUEST WITHOUT EXPLAINING THE REASONS WHY SUCH REQUEST HAS BEEN REJECTED. IN CASE YOUR LICENSE (REGISTRATION) REQUEST GETS REJECTED YOU MUST STOP USING THE SourceBoost IDE, C2C-PLUS, C2C++, P2C-plus and BoostC COMPILERS AND REMOVE THE WHOLE SourceBoost IDE INSTALLATION FROM YOUR COMPUTER.