CMSIS-DAP debug adapter with Serial port

The iProbe is a CMSIS-DAP compatible debug adapter and serial port that lets you perform low level debug with a debugger on your target system. It comes with all cables (except for the USB cable) that are required.

It features both a processor serial debug interface, the Arm Serial Wire Debug (SWD) interface and an industry-standard UART interface. Both interfaces are available on standard Raspberry Pi 3-pin Debug Connectors which comply with the Raspberry Pi 3-pin Debug Connectors specification.

In addition to this it also comes with debug connectors that comply with our own BConnect standard, specifically the BSWD (Debug) and BSerial (Serial) connectors, as detailed in our BConnect specification. These connectors were developed to minimize board space and still provide full featured debug interfaces. For instance the BSWD connector lets you connect SWD and UART on the same small 4 pin connector.

We’ve also opted for a USB Type C connector to provide a stable connection.

The iProbe is based on the RP2040 MCU with a 2MByte FLASH memory.

The iProbe is based on our advanced hardware platform and runs open-source firmware. Firmware updates are straightforward, performed in the same way as updating firmware on our other devices, making it easy to keep the unit up to date with the latest features or to install custom firmware.

SWD

The ARM Serial Wire Debug (SWD) interface is a two-pin protocol used for debugging and programming ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers. It offers a streamlined alternative to the traditional JTAG interface by using only a clock line (SWCLK) and a data line (SWDIO), which reduces the number of required pins and simplifies the hardware connections. SWD allows developers to perform essential debugging tasks such as setting breakpoints, stepping through code, and accessing memory and registers in real-time. Its efficiency and low pin count make it ideal for resource-constrained applications where pin availability and board space are limited. By providing full debug capabilities with minimal overhead, the SWD interface facilitates efficient development and troubleshooting of ARM-based embedded systems.

BConnect – BSWD

The BSWD layout implements a feature full debug interface with one ground, the SWDIO and SWDCLK signals as well as a UART input that can be used to display debug information on the development computer. This interface is initially available on the iProbe debug adapter as well as the OpenDec02 DCC decoder.

BSerial

The iProbe also provides a BSerial source connector that allows you to connect BSerial peripherals to you PC should you want to. This can make it easier to understand the functionality and/or protocol of a particular BSerial peripheral device. Notice though that you can only use the UART interface on the iProbe for one thing at a time.

Enclosure

An enclosure is right now being designed which will be available as 3D models so that you can print the enclosure your self as well as ready printed boxes that we can provide for a small fee.