Digilent chipKIT Pro MX7 Reference Manual page 4

chipKIT™ Pro MX7 Board Reference Manual
 Use the "File Import..." dialog box to navigate to and select the boot loader programming downloaded from
the Digilent web site. The file name will be something like: chipKIT_Bootloader_MX7.hex
 Use the "Programmer.Program" command to program all memories on the device.
1.2 Using the chipKIT Pro MX7 with the MPIDE
chipKIT and the MPIDE is a PIC32 based hardware and software system compatible with many existing Arduino™
code examples, reference materials, and other resources. The MPIDE development platform was produced by
modifying the Arduino™ IDE and is fully backward compatible with the Arduino IDE. The chipKIT Pro MX7 board is
designed to be fully compatible with the MPIDE system, version 20111221 or later.
The MPIDE uses a serial communications port to communicate with a boot loader running in the target board. The
serial port on the MX7 board is implemented using an FTDI FT232R USB serial converter. Before attempting to use
the MPIDE with the MX7, the appropriate USB device driver must be installed.
The USB serial converter on the chipKIT Pro MX7 uses USB connector J2, labeled UART on the board. This
connector is a USB micro-AB, and is located on the lower left side of the board adjacent to the power switch. Use a
standard USB-A to micro-B cable (provided with the board) to connect the board to an available USB port on the
PC.
In the MPIDE, use the "Tools.Board" command to select the chipKIT Pro MX7 from the list of available boards. Use
the "Tools.Serial Port" command to choose the appropriate serial port from the list of available serial ports on the
PC.
When the MPIDE needs to communicate with the MX7 board, the PIC32 microcontroller is reset and starts running
the boot loader. The MPIDE then establishes communications with the boot loader and downloads the user's
program, programming it into the flash memory in the microcontroller .
When the MPIDE opens the serial communications connection on the PC, the DTR pin on the FT232R chip is driven
low. This pin is coupled through a capacitor to the MCLR pin on the PIC32 microcontroller. Driving the MCLR line
low resets the microcontroller, restarting execution with the boot loader.
The automatic reset action when the serial communications connection is opened can be disabled. To disable this
operation, remove the shorting block from jumper JP11. The shorting block is reinstalled on JP11 to restore
operation with the MPIDE.
Two red LEDs (LD9 and LD10) will blink when data is being sent or received between the chipKIT Pro MX7 and the
PC over the serial connection.
The header connector J1 provides access to the other serial handshaking signals provided by the FT232R.
Connector J1 is not loaded at the factory but can be installed by the user to access these signals.
1.3 Additional Reference Documentation
Additional information about the chipKIT Pro MX7 board and the use and operation of the PIC32MX795F512L
microcontroller can be obtained from the following sources.
The chipKIT Pro MX7 Schematic, various support libraries, and example reference designs are available on the
board product page on the Digilent web site:
Copyright Digilent, Inc. All rights reserved.
Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.
www.digilentinc.com
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