Digilent MX3cK User Manual

Page 3

Cerebot MX3cK Reference Manual

www.digilentinc.com

page 3 of 23

Using the Cerebot MX3cK with
Microchip Development Tools

In addition to being used with the MPIDE, the
Cerebot MX3cK can be used as a more
traditional microcontroller development board
using Microchip Development Tools.

The Microchip MPLAB

IDE or the MPLAB

IDE can be used to program and debug code
running on the Cerebot MX3cK board. These
programs can be downloaded from the
Microchip web site. These software suites
include a free evaluation copy of the Microchip
C32 compiler for use with the PIC32
microcontroller family.

When creating a new project, use the
“Configure.Select Device…”

menu to specify the

PIC32 device being used. Ensure that the
device is set to PIC32MX320F128H.

Programming and debugging a program on the
Cerebot MX3cK using the MPLAB IDE requires
the use of external programming hardware.
Typically, this will be a Microchip PICkit™3, but
can be any other tool that supports the same
connection interface as the PICkit3 and
supports the PIC32MX3XX processor family.

Connector JP3 on the left side of the board is
used to connect to the Microchip hardware
development tool. This connector is not loaded
at the factory, but can be installed by the user
if desired. The holes for JP3 are staggered so
that a standard, 100mil spaced, 6-pin header
can be press fit to the board without the need
to solder it in place. The connector at JP3 can
be soldered in place if desired for a more
reliable permanent connection.

Typically, a right angle male connector will be
used in JP3 so that a PICkit3 can be attached
coplanar with the Cerebot MX3cK board. If the
connector is loaded from the top, the PICkit3
will be upright (button and LEDs visible).
Alternatively, the connector can be loaded from
the bottom. In this case, the PICkit3 will be
upside down.

If JP3 is loaded from the top, the PICkit3 will
interfere with the USB connector and the
external power connector. A short six-wire
cable can be used between the PICkit3 and
the Cerebot MX3cK. If JP3 is loaded from the
bottom, the PICkit3 won’t interfere with the
USB and external power connectors.

Digilent has a kit available (PICkit3
Programming Cable Kit) that includes all
necessary connectors and the cable for
connecting a PICkit3 to the Cerebot MX3cK.

The MCLR pin on the PIC32 microcontroller is
used by the hardware programming/debugging
interface to reset the processor. This same pin
is used by the USB serial converter to reset the
processor when using the MPIDE. It is possible
that the reset function from the USB serial
interface can interfere with correct operation of
the Microchip programming and debugging
tools. If this happens, jumper JP1 can be used
to disconnect the USB serial converter reset
circuit. Remove the shorting block from JP1 to
disable the reset circuit. If the shorting block
has been removed, it is necessary to reinstall it
on JP1 in order to use the Cerebot MX3cK
board with the MPIDE again.

Using the Microchip development tools to
program the Cerebot MX3cK will erase the
boot loader. To use the board with the chipKIT
MPIDE again, it is necessary to program the
boot loader back onto the board. The
programming file for the boot loader
programmed into the board by Digilent at the
factory is available for download from the
product page for the Cerebot MX3cK on the
Digilent web site. Additionally, the boot loader
source code is available in the chipKIT project
repository at

www.github.com/chipKIT32/pic32-

Arduino-Bootloader

To reprogram the boot loader using MPLAB,
perform the following steps:

• Use the “Configure.Select Device …” menu to

select the PIC32MX320F128H