Macraigor Systems is shipping a tiny, low-cost USB-interfaced JTAG debug tool with support for Freescale processors. The usb2Sprite connects via USB 2.0 to the development system, and provides access to the on-chip debugging features of Freescale's ColdFire processors and DSP 56300 digital signal processor,… according to Macraigor.

Macraigor says it has added support for the Freescale ColdFire and DSP 56300 processor families to its free, pre-built GNU tools. Additionally, the company has included sample configurations for most standard Freescale evaluation boards, including source, gdbinit, and make files for each board. The company has also “committed to supporting future ColdFire and DSP 56300 family variants as they become available.”

ColdFire processors primarily target industrial embedded applications. They are based on 68K cores, and variously support 16-, 32-, and 48-bit instructions. Some of the newest ColdFire processors have shipped with uClinux.

One side of the usb2Sprite interfaces to the USB port of the host PC, and the other side plugs directly into the OCD (on-chip debug) port of the target board. The OCD port can be JTAG, E-JTAG, OnCE, COP, or any of several other types of connections, Macraigor explains.

When connected to a host PC via USB 2.0, hi-speed USB data rates of up to 480 Mbits/sec are supported.

Macraigor says it supports all of its hardware debug tools on both Linux and Windows hosts. “Debug application programs are available to support an embedded project through the entire development cycle, from troubleshooting a prototype hardware design to writing and debugging boot code, programming in-circuit flash devices, developing application-level software, and supporting manufacturing burn-in and testing,” the company says.

Macraigor chief engineer Craig Haller stated, “The Freescale ColdFire architecture is designed to enable manufacturers of audio, video, graphics and communications products to meet and exceed users' price/performance demands.”

The company says it has also updated its flash programmer tool to support the ColdFire family, providing in-circuit flash programming of both internal flash and externally connected devices.

Macraigor Flash Programmer screenshot

The usb2Sprite embedded debug tool, with support for Freescale's ColdFire processors and DSP 56300, is immediately available, priced at $225, according to the company.

 
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