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Silicon Explorer Quick Start
Connecting to the PC
Software Settings
The Silicon Explorer is the integration of two debugging
instruments into a single device that attaches to a PC's standard
COM port. The Probe Instrument controls the ActionProbe
circuitry, enabling the routing of two internal nodes dynamically
to two dedicated pins of Actel devices. The Timing Instrument is
an 18-channel logic analyzer that displays timing analysis of both
the probe outputs, and up to 16 additional signals on the target
system. Each instrument may be used separately.
Actel also offers the Silicon Explorer Lite, which only contains
the Probe Instrument and relies on an external scope or logic
analyzer for viewing signals.
The Probe Pilot and Probe Pilot Lite connect to a standard serial
port using either an 8250 or 16550 UART. Communication is
established via the 9-Pin D-Sub connector.
On installation, Silicon Explorer is set to the Demo mode. You
may select com1 through 4 by selecting the port from the
acquisition menu. The software continuously polls the Probe
Pilot for activity. Setting the port to the Demo mode prevents the
application from opening any COM ports on your system.
The serial port information is saved in the analyze.ini file found
in your Windows directory.
The software defaults to 115,200 baud — at this speed data
transfer will be less than 15 seconds for the entire buffer.
Note: Many notebook computers share the external COM port
with a built-in infrared (IR) port. You may have to enter
your CMOS setup menu to enable the external COM port.
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