Digilent MX4cK - Manual (Page 4)

Cerebot MX4cK Reference Manual
www.digilentinc.com page 4 of 35
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• 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_MX4cK.hex
• Use the “Programmer.Program” command to
program all memories on the device.
Using the Cerebot MX4cK 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 MX4cK 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 MX4cK
board is implemented using an FTDI FT232R
USB serial converter. Before attempting to use
the MPIDE to communicate with the MX4cK,
the appropriate USB device driver must be
installed.
The USB serial converter on the Cerebot
MX4cK board uses USB connector J8, labeled
UART on the board. This connector is a micro-
USB. Use a standard USB-A to mini-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 Cerebot MX4cK 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 MX4cK board, the PIC32 microcontroller 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 JP8. The shorting
block is reinstalled on JP8 to restore operation
with the MPIDE.
Two red LEDs (LD7 and LD8) will blink when
data is being sent or received between the
Cerebot MX4cK and the PC over the serial
connection.
The header connector J7 provides access to
the other serial handshaking signals provided
by the FT232R. Connector J7 is not loaded at
the factory but can be installed by the user to
access these signals.
Additional Reference Documentation
For additional information about the Cerebot
MX4cK board and the use and operation of the
PIC32MX460F512L microcontroller, refer to
the following documents in addition to this
reference manual.
The Cerebot MX4cK Schematic, available on
the Cerebot MX4cK product page on the
Digilent web site:
www.digilentinc.com