Hardware User Guide; On-Board Debugger Overview - Microchip Technology SAM-IoT Wx v2 Hardware User's Manual

4.

Hardware User Guide

4.1

On-Board Debugger Overview

The SAM-IoT Wx v2 development board contains an on-board debugger for programming and debugging. The
on-board debugger is a composite USB device consisting of these interfaces:
• A debugger that can program and debug the ATSAMD21G18A in MPLAB X IDE.
• A mass storage device that allows drag-and-drop programming of the ATSAMD21G18A.
• A virtual serial port (CDC) that is connected to a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) on
the ATSAMD21G18A and provides an easy way to communicate with the target application through terminal
software.
• A Data Gateway Interface (DGI) for code instrumentation with logic analyzer channels (debug GPIO) to visualize
program flow.
The on-board debugger controls a Power and Status LED (marked PS) on the SAM-IoT Wx v2 development board.
The following table shows how the LED is controlled in different operation modes.
Table 4-1. On-Board Debugger Overview
Operation Mode
Boot Loader mode
Power-up
Normal operation
Programming
Drag-and-drop programming
Fault
Sleep/Off
Info: Slow blinking is approximately 1 Hz, and rapid blinking is approximately 5 Hz.
4.1.1 Debugger
The on-board debugger on the SAM-IoT Wx v2 development board appears as a mass storage device with a CDC
on the Host computer's USB subsystem. The debugger supports full-featured programming and debugging of the
ATSAMD21G18A using MPLAB X IDE or other selected third-party IDEs.
Remember: Ensure that the firmware for the debugger is up-to-date. Firmware upgrades are done
automatically when using MPLAB X IDE.
4.1.2 Virtual Serial Port
The virtual serial port (CDC) is a general purpose serial bridge between the Host PC and a target device.
4.1.2.1 Overview
The on-board debugger implements a composite USB device that includes a standard Communications Device Class
(CDC) interface, which appears on the Host as a virtual serial port. The CDC can be used to stream arbitrary data
in both directions between the Host computer and the target: All characters sent through the virtual serial port on the
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The LED blinks slowly during power-up.
The LED is ON.
The LED is ON.
Activity indicator: The LED blinks slowly during programming/debugging.
Success: The LED blinks slowly for 2 seconds.
Failure: The LED blinks rapidly for 2 seconds.
The LED blinks rapidly if a power fault is detected.
The LED is OFF.
The on-board debugger is either in Sleep mode or powered-down.
This can occur if the board is externally powered.
User Guide
SAM-IoT Wx v2
Hardware User Guide
Power and Status LED
DS70005506A-page 8