Digilent MX3cK - Manual (Page 2)

Cerebot MX3cK Reference Manual
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Programming Tools
The Cerebot MX3cK is designed to be used
with either the Multi-Platform IDE (MPIDE), the
development software environment used with
the chipKIT™ system, or as a more traditional
microcontroller development platform using the
Microchip MPLAB
® IDE and development
tools. The Cerebot MX3cK if fully compatible
with Microchip development tools that support
the PIC32 family of microcontrollers.
The Cerebot MX3cK is immediately useable
with the chipKIT MPIDE. Additional hardware
is required to use the Microchip MPLAB tools.
Using the Cerebot MX3cK with the
chipKIT 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 Cerebot MX3cK board is designed to be
fully compatible with the chipKIT MPIDE
system, version 20111209 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 MX3cK
board is implemented using an FTDI FT232R
USB serial converter. Before attempting to use
the MPIDE to communicate with the MX3cK,
the appropriate USB device driver must be
installed.
The Cerebot MX3cK board uses a standard
mini-USB connector for connection to a USB
port on the PC. Use a standard USB-A to mini-
B cable (not provided) to connect the board to
an available USB port on the PC.
In the MPIDE, use the “Tools.Board” command
to select the Cerebot MX3cK 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 MX3cK board, the board is reset and starts
running the boot loader. The MPIDE then
establishes communications with the boot
loader and downloads the program to the
board.
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.
Once the MPIDE has established
communication with the boot loader, it
transfers the user’s program to the boot loader,
which programs it into the flash memory in the
Microcontroller.
The automatic reset action when the serial
communications connection is opened can be
disabled. To disable this operation, remove the
shorting block from jumper JP1. It is also
possible that it will interfere with the operation
of the MPLAB IDE and a Microchip hardware
programmer/debugger. In this case, also, the
shorting block should be removed from JP1.
The shorting block is reinstalled on JP1 to
restore operation with the MPIDE.
Two red LEDs (LD1 and LD2) will blink when
data is being sent or received between the
Cerebot MX3cK and the PC over the serial
connection.
The header connector J3 provides access to
the other serial handshaking signals provided
by the FT232R. Connector J3 is not loaded at
the factory but can be installed by the user to
access these signals.